Crayon Wreath

It has been soooo long since I posted anything. I haven't gotten much time in to craft and the few things I have created have been quick cards for birthdays or sympathy, and I am always in such a hurry that I forget to snap the picture!
My oldest started Kindergarten last week! It has been very emotional for me but he is doing great and loves it! I wanted to make his teacher something for the first day of school, and as is my habit, I waited until Sunday night to start. I laid out and glued all of the crayons on two sewing rings - a 6 and an 8 inch ring. When I did this last year for the preschool teachers I used one circle from each ring but this year I decided to use both for more stability. Monday evening - yes the night before it needed to be done - I wound the ribbon between the crayons and made my cricut cuts and adhered them to the wreath. I also threw together a quick card and packed it all up for Alex to surprise his teacher with!

Suuplies: 2 24-count Crayola Crayons. 2 sewing rings, 6inch and 8 inch. Ribbon; Walmart. Brads; Making Memories. Vinyl; Oh My Crafts. Cartridges used: Pooh Font, Pooh and Friends (frame on chalkboard), CCR Basics and Create a Critter for the card. Stickers; Mambi (I think).

This wreath is super easy to make and so cute, and would also work well with colored pencils for Junior High or High School teachers. I got the idea from a blog hop last year, but I can't remember who's blog it was and wasn't able to find it again.

Baby Shower Decorations

The last few weeks have been crazy! My husband spent a week with his parents trying to help his mom around the house and getting her to and from the hospital and helping his dad with different things. His dad is still in the hospital and we have no idea when he will be getting out.
I have been doing my usual working, taking care of the boys and household stuff, and preparing for my sister-in-law's (my brother's wife) baby shower. I started some of the decorations over a month ago - like the diaper tricycle, which by the way was a HUGE hit! Thanks again to Scrapalette! But the rest, yeah, I finished those this morning.
The banner I also started over a month ago and attempted to hang 2.5 weeks ago and it came apart - terrifically tacky tape was not tacky enough! So I stapled the pieces all together and, as intended anyway, covered them with the white scalloped circles. We tried hanging it again this morning and it started popping again to I put in a third hook and that did the trick! Note to self, do not make rosettes with card stock - it is TOO HEAVY.

 

This is one of the little decorations I had out on the tables. I used the new CTMH Artiste cartridge for the diaper!

This is one of the cuts from Word Collage. I love this cartridge! It seems silly and I could probably create the collages myself but it is sooo nice to be able to pop in this cartridge and cut.
I don't remember what all I products I used as this as been an ongoing project - sorry!
Thanks for looking!!

Get Well!

Weekly Challenge #62: Card Sketch Challenge!

The Challenge: Create a Cricut card using the card sketch provided below.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing. One entry per person, please.

How to Enter: Submit your entry using the InLinkz tool found at the bottom of this post. Please post your full name along with your entry. Entries are due by 9:00 pm MST on Thursday, July 19th, 2012.

Prize: We will select one winner to receive $25 in credit added to their Cricut.com account. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery from winner announcement.

Winner: The winners will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Friday, July 20th, 2012.

My Father-in-law has been in the hospital for over 2 1/2 weeks and they are hoping he will be able to go home next week, however, he is a "complicated" case and the doctors have yet to figure out what's wrong. My husband just spent the last week with his parents, and when he got home last night I finally got a chance to get in my craft room. Following the sketch above, this is the card I came up with. 

Paper: CTMH, Bazzill and scraps. Studio Round Tool and bubble cap: Epiphany Crafts. Gem: CTMH. Ribbon: American Crafts. Stickers: Doodlebug. Cartridges: Pretty Pennants, Everyday Paper Dolls and TBBM2. CCR and E2.

Diaper Tricycle

I am hosting, along with my mom, a baby shower for my sister-in-law the end of July. I have really wanted to try Scrapalette's, at Around the Block with Scrapallete, instructions on how to create a diaper tricycle. I finally did it yesterday afternoon!

 Front

 Side

Top

For the instructions visit http://scrapalette.blogspot.com/2011/08/diaper-tricycle.html

Thanks for looking!

Piggy Bank

Cricut Circle: JUNE MONTHLY CHALLENGE: A Gift For Baby!

The Challenge: Create a gift for baby using Cricut products.
Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 3 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.
How to Enter: Submit your entry using the InLinkz tool found at the bottom of this post. Please post your full name along with your entry. Entries are due by 9:00 pm MST on Saturday, June 30th, 2012.
Prize: This month the winner will receive $150.00 in credit to Cricut.com.
Winner: The winner will be selected randomly from qualifying entries using www.random.org and will be announced on the Cricut Circle Blog on Monday, July 2nd, 2012.


June's monthly challenge on the Circle Blog coincided perfectly with all of the baby presents I need to get made/bought. I have actually had this idea in my head since the challenge was announced, bought the piggy bank and removed its tu-tu and then left it in my craftroom until today - yes the last day of June.

My brother and his girlfriend came over and I forgot to take a before picture.
Printable Vinyl: Provocraft. Cartridges: Baby Steps, Art Philosophy, All Wrapped Up and Nursery Tails. CCR build 132 and my Imagine.
Thanks for looking!!

Card for Victoria

A fellow circlet asked if anyone would be interested in sending her daughter cards while she's in boot camp. As my husband, father and grandfathers were all in the Navy, which happens to be the branch that Victoria chose, I was compelled to do this. As I said in my previous post, the last couple weeks have been hectic, so I worked on the card last night, along with all of the Father's Day cards, and this morning.

Hope Victoria likes it - now I just need to figure out what to say and address it - white envelope, black ink or extra push-ups. 

Thanks for looking!

Happy Birthday - Explosion Box

Tomorrow is my grandfather's 85th birthday and we are celebrating this afternoon, along with Father's Day. Rockin'Renee made an adorable birthday explosion box back in April and I've been meaning to use her CCR file to recreate it. So last night, I finally did!

I really like the way this turned out, and having Renee's file made this quick and easy, which I needed this week! I have had a really difficult time finding crafting time the last couple weeks, and then to add to the chaos, I booked a trip to Disney World for October - I think I've lost my sanity taking 3 boys 5 and under but we're all looking forward to the trip!

Thanks for looking!!

I won!!

May Monthly Challenge WINNER!


Posted by: Jana Eubank





The WINNER of the May Monthly Challenge: Milestones & Memories Challenge and $150.0o of credit to Cricut.com is . . .





CONGRATULATIONS, Elizabeth! We will be adding your winning credit to your Cricut.com account within the next few weeks. Please contact me at ccjana@provocraft.com if you have any questions. Enjoy your Cricut Cash!

4th of July

This week's color challenge at I came I saw I created is red, white and blue! What better way to showcase those colors than a 4th of July layout! We take the boys to see fireworks every year for the 4th and try to take pictures (we've had some freakouts due to the loud booms, and sometimes pictures go by the wayside) but I do have some.

Paper: DCWV and American Crafts.Stickles: Ranger. Cartridges: Phrases and Stand and Salute. Gypsy and E2.

Thanks for looking!

A Duel!

The magazine challenge on the Cricut Circle Blog is to:
Please use at least 3 Cricut Cuts in “dressing up” your collectible from any cartridges you choose. You have seen the fun things we have done with the collectibles since last fall and now it’s your turn! You can take a picture of your “dressed” collectible out and about or create a little oasis for it. Please upload a working link or picture of your project to the blog under the Magazine Challenge tab. Entry deadline is June 16th, 2012. You are welcome to submit as many entries as you would like. If you use Cricut Craft Room design tool, save your file so if you win, we can share it with the Circle members! The winner of this challenge will receive $150.00 credit to Cricut.com and your project picture will be featured in the magazine!
My original plan was to create a camping scene, but when I looked yesterday or the day before, someone else had the same idea - same tent, same background and roasting marshmellows. I might try to change up my idea a bit and make a second one, but for now I created a duel in front of the saloon.

Paper: Bazzill and CTMH. Marker: American Crafts. Cartridges: Old West and Campin' Critters. Gypsy and E2. 

Thanks for looking!

Weekly Challenge #59: Birthday Challenge

This week's challenge on the Cricut Circle Blog coincided perfectly for two birthdays this week. My mom turned 60 on Tuesday and my oldest son is going to a birthday party for a friend from school today. The first card is my mom's. This was also my first attempt at a cascading card and I really like the look but need to find more time to embellish them.

Paper: American Crafts and scraps. Twine/String: Divine Twine in Cherry and CTMH. Stamps: CTMH. Ink: VersaMark. Emossing Powder and Zap! Gun: American Crafts.Tooth picks. Cartridges: Create a Critter and Celebrations. CCR and E2.

The second card is for my son's friend. Paper: Fancy Pants, Bazzill and scraps. Twine/String: CTMH and Doodlebug. Cartridges: Create a Critter and Country Fair. CCR and E2.

The challenge rules Using a bouquet of birthday balloons as your inspiration, create a project of your choice using string in a creative way on your project somewhere . . . you could use it to create your own bouquet of balloons, dangle a set of chinese lanterns across the top of your page, hang a series of Cricut cut charms from a tag or journaling spot, use it to anchor a banner strung across your page, or swirl it on a lollipop shape. Whatever it is, show us how to use string in a fun way on your project.

Thanks for Looking!!

No Training Wheels!

May has been a big month of accomplishments for 2 of my boys. Alex kicked it off mid-May by learning how to ride his bicycle without training wheels! Aiden mastered coming back down the stairs (he'd been flying up them for two months, and then yelling until someone went to get him) and started walking unassisted last week! 

We had been talking to Alex since the end of April about learning how to ride his bike without the training wheels and we knew he was ready because of the way he flew on his scooter, but he's our cautious one and wasn't ready. We took off the training wheels and my husband attempted to get him on, but Alex wasn't having any of it. We just kept talking it up and told him to let us know when he was ready to try, and on a Tuesday mid-morning, out of the blue, he came tearing into the house, shouting and cheering! He had picked up his bike, got on, and started riding it all by himself. I grabbed the baby and the camera and we went out to record him and take some pictures. Then, of course, we had to call dad and grandma and grandpa to let them know! He was grinning from ear to ear and was so proud of himself!

Alex's amazing accomplishments is perfect for the Cricut Circle Monthly Challenge, which was: Milestones & Memories. 

The Challenge: Create a layout about a recent milestone in your family. Whether it is graduation, a birthday, moving into a new house, losing a tooth, or whatever it may be. Be sure to include at least 2 Cricut cuts and use 2 Cricut fonts in your page title.

Rules and Guidelines: Circle Blog Challenges are open to Cricut Circle Members only. Your project must be newly created for this challenge and include atleast 2 Cricut Image Cuts. You must submit a project to be entered into the Challenge Prize Drawing.

Paper: Fancy Pants, American Crafts, and scraps. Brads and Twine: Doodlebug. Buttons: Craft supply. Ink: CTMH. Cartridges: Everyday Paper Dolls, Create a Critter, Baby Steps and Art Philosophy. Cuttlebug and Distressed Stripes folder. CCR and E2.

Thank you for looking!

Wedding Coin

What a week! I had been playing around with the Cricut Circle Weekly Challenge in my mind all week, but we've been so busy that just got the chance to work on it today. The challenge was:

Weekly Challenge #58: Family Mementos Challenge!

The Challenge: Scrapbook a page with a photograph of a special family memento. In your journaling, tell the story behind your special object.

Here is my take: my mother's family has a tradition of putting an old coin in the bride's shoe before she walks down the aisle. My father is putting the coin in my shoe. The coin is from Europe and was passed down from my Great-Grandmother to my Grandmother to my Mother and then to me. I only hope that I will have a girl someday to pass this onto.

Paper: Bazzill and scraps. Doily flowers: CTMH. Brad: Doodlebug. Cartridges: Hey Diddle Diddle, Imagine More, Jasmine and Mother's Day Bouquet. CCR, Imagine and E2.
I am also entering this in the Creative Color Challenge at I Came, I Saw, I Created.

Very Vanilla RGB: 255, 250, 226

More Mustard RGB:  212, 161, 80

Basic Grey:  118, 122, 121

Thanks for looking!

Flowers for Teachers

My middle son's last day of school was on Friday and I didn't know what to do for the teacher, aide and parent educator. I gave the teachers crayon wreaths for Christmas, and that, at least right now, was too hard for me to top. It doesn't help that I was in a funk this week - or burned out from NSD and all of the challenges.

Anyway, I was planting my flowers and decided to get each of the teachers a plant: the boys picked out Dahlia's. I also let them each pick out the three pots they both needed (the oldest is done June 7th, so we need to get more plants, but we got the pots.)

After I got the vinyl on and took a picture of the pots themselves, we put the dahlia's in and brought outside to the bench for another picture. The flowers looked much happier before the boys got a hold of them with the hose. They were all asking questions about how I did it and surprised that the vinyl was so versatile.

Pots: Menards. Dahlia's: Home Depot. Vinyl: Oh My Crafts!. Cartridges: Letter Envy and Cuttin' Up. CCR and E2.

Float My Boat

I have had a really hard time this week getting myself into any crafting. I have to make two separate postings today because, while I finished DS#2's teacher presents, I didn't get the pictures posted on Friday.
I made this card for the Creative Color Challenge at I came, I saw, I created. This week's colors are:

Baja Breeze RGB: 141, 189, 193

Not Quite Navy RGB: 52, 103, 120

Calypso Coral: 245, 116, 97

Last week was crazy and this week hasn't been much better, so I did this quickly last night. I am not sure if I will just put it aside for something later, keep for DH and our anniversary or give it to one of the boys. Nothing fancy, but I got to use my new Wild Card 2 cartridge!

Paper: Bazzill. White gel pen. Gems and ink: CTMH. Cartridge: Wild Card 2. CCR and Imagine.

Color Challenge #2

It was not my intention to submit this but I figured I might as well finish since I had all the pieces cut and the flowers rolled. It turned out okay, I just shy away from orange.

Paper: American Crafts and CTMH. Ribbon: American Crafts. Brads: craft supply. Cuttlebug machine and Simply Charmed companion folder. Cartridges: Flower Shoppe and Art Philosophy. CCR and E2.

Scraps Only - #2

I was playing on the CCR and decided to try for a second scraps only layout - its not like I don't have plenty of scraps - too bad I need to get up super early tomorrow for a class, or I'd stay up and continue creating.

Cartidges used: Mothers Day Bouquet, Pretty Pennants and Art Philosophy. I'm not sure about the paper, since its scraps and even the full sheet was in my color bins and I'm not sure whose it is. Brads; crafty supply. Adhesives: Scotch double sided strips and Terrifically Tacky Tape. Cuttlebug machine and Devine Swirls and Simply Charmed folders. CCR and E2.

Something Old / Something New Challenge

I made a "Thank You" card for my middle son's teacher. He is done next week and I need to run to Home Depot or Fleet Farm and buy flowers, pots and get decorating! Luckily, this time I only have the teacher, the aide and the parent educator to do (last semester, I also had 3 sibling care aides to buy/create for). More on the present later, for now I made the card.

I used Pretty Pennants, Simply Charmed and All Mixed Up, so technically I used two older cartridges and one new cartridge. Paper is Fancy Pants. Sakura Gelly Roll pen, white. CCR (I got it working) and E2.

Me and My Scrap Space

I was trying to use the CCR. My E2 and Imagine are behind me.

NSD CROP: Color Challenge!

I used the color challenge to create a Mother's Day card for my mother-in-law. I had a hard time with this challenge - I started two different projects but wasn't thrilled with any of them. I think a big part of my problem is my aversion to orange and I couldn't get the green to work with the two shades of teal. This is what I came up with . . .

Very disappointed in the CCR - I had this already to cut and then the CCR couldn't find a device. I restarted the computer, tried switching to my Imagine, reset the white cord; nothing worked. Hoping it will come back up so I can get my last submission in tonight.
Paper: CTMH. Brads: craft supply.Cartridges: Accent Essentials, Mother's Day 2010, and Sophie. Gypsy and E2.

Scraps Only Challenge

I started with something completely different for this and then started paging through the pictures of the boys on the camera (I am waiting for Walgreens to have a great deal before I go into print the 600+ pictures on the camera) and saw the cutest picture of the older two splashing in the puddles in the rain.

I would show you my box of scraps, but DH is sleeping in the craftroom tonight because he needs to be in the office at 4:30am (glad I'm not him). Sad thing is, there are a lot of "scraps" that only have an inch or two cut out.

Full sheet: Bazzill. Scraps, not sure on all, but includes CTMH, Piggy Tales, American Crafts. Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots and Distressed Stripes folders. Sakura gelly roll white pen. Cartridges: H2O, A Child's Year and Nate's ABC's. CCR and E2. 

Art Inspiration Challenge - Cricut Circle for NSD

Here is my submission for the Art Inspiration Challenge on the Circle Blog. Using the inspiration I made a mother's day card for my mom. This was my first attempt at the twisted easel card, and I really like the look.

Paper: Bazzill, CTMH, and scraps. Stamp sentiment: My Pink Stamper. Ink: CTMH. Decorative pin: Maya Road. Cartridges: Art Philosophy and Giant Flowers. CCR and E2.

Aiden's Banner

I finally made up my mind and got Aiden's banner completed. I cut everything out last night and put some of it together and then finished up today. The other two looked similar to me (probably because they were both red and blue) that I wanted something different.

Cartridges used: Don Juan, Art Philosophy, Life's a Party and Create a Critter. Paper: Bazzill and Fancy Pants. Stickles: Ranger. Twine and brads: Doodlebug. Spots and Dots folder and Cuttlebug. CCR and E2.