Snowflake box made with Silhouette Cameo

Here is a box I cut out using my new Silhouette. I downloaded the file from the Silhouette website for only 75 cents. I cut the base to fit a 12 x 12 page and then the top was small enough to fit on a smaller standard size paper. It was easy to put together and I am rather impressed with the results.

The best part is that the box is pretty big. 5 1/2 inches wide (from side to side, not point to point) and 3 inches tall. I think I am going to put some clear acetate inside to seal off the box before I use it.

Now just what treat should I put inside.

Cricut not so much my way

When I first got my cricut, it was so long ago that there was only one choice.  I researched and I loved it from the moment I got it.  And I still do today.  


Six months later, I picked up  a Silhouette.  I returned it because I hated it.  I became that day a very loyal Cricut user.  
However, today I used the new Silhouette Cameo.   Can I say I love this machine.  I bought it for the print and cut versatility.    I will say that my expectations were high and it indeed meets everything I wanted it to do.  I just have not been sold on the imagine and this ended up being a better fit for me.


Above is the first thing I tried after a brief learning curve.  Basically 20 minutes after it came out of the box.  I was able to make the image above.  I used the shield that came with the cameo and a font on my computer.


Next, I tried opening a jpeg and seeing if I could do the same thing.   Here next thing I printed and cut.


It did it perfectly.   I love this machine.  Any thing that can be made in Photoshop can be cut.     I made these Hot cocoa sundaes a few weeks ago.  The idea came from the family fun magazine.  I ended up cutting this tag square, because I didn’t want to hand cut it all out.   Now I can do it any way I want.


Lastly,  I wanted to be able to cut a shadow (not on the printed line, as I did above).  Can I say “Cameo, where have you been my whole life?”

     











Cameo, you have earned your spot next to my cricut.  Welcome home. 

CCC #97

Are you ready for Cricut Cardz Challenge #97? This week "A Caroling We'll Go!" Make a card for Christmas based on your favorite Christmas song, using any cartridge(s) and using any colors you'd like.

My card is Noel card for the "First Noel" I have so many favorite songs this season, and this is one of them.

Hope you join us for this challenge at Cardz TV.

Advent Calendar 2011 gold and silver boxes

I do an advent each year. Most years it is done nightly by candlelight.  Scripture, 4-5 songs and a Christmas story.  This year I thought I would mix it up  a bit by having a theme.   I thought I would share our plan for this year. This was adapted from an advent I found on Sugardoodle.  We will also still read some stories too, as this is a favorite part of our tradition.  

Here is the link to what we did last year here.


Each of these below is put in a handmade box and place on our tree.


O = Ornament
S = Scripture
T = Theme for that day
A = Activity

DAY 1:
O: Christmas Tree
S: John 3:16; Moroni 7:22-23
T: Represents eternal life, evergreen needles point heavenward
A: Sing "O Christmas Tree", "I'll be Home for Christmas"

DAY 2:
O: Mary 
S: Luke 1:26-38
T: Gabriel visits Mary
A: Sing "Silent Night", "Mary's Lullaby", "Picture Christmas"


DAY 3:
O: Joseph
S: Matt. 1:18-23
T: Joseph's dream
A: Sing "Picture Chrstmas",  "When Joseph Went to Bethlemhem"

DAY 4:
O: Instead of an ornament, they find the chocolate gold coins
S: Luke 2:1-5; Micah 5:2
T: Caesar's tax/Bethlehem
A: Sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem", "Once Within the Royal City"

DAY 5:
O: Baby Jesus
S: Luke 2:6-7; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7
T: Birth of Jesus
A: Sing "Away in a Manger", "Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel"

DAY 6:
O: Instead of an ornament, they find a cocoa packet
S: Luke 2:6-7 (again!); Matt. 25:31-40
T: "no room in the inn" vs. "I was thirsty--and ye gave me drink"
A: Drink cocoa and let kids choose a family to serve on "red bow day" below....
Sing "12 Days of Christmas", "Drummer Boy"


DAY 7:
O: Angel
S: Luke 2:8-14
T: "Good tidings of great joy"
A: Sing the Angel songs--"The First Noel," "Angels We Have Heard on High," "Far, Far Away," "Hark the Herald Angels Sing..."

DAY 8:
O: Shepherd
S: Luke 2:15-20
T: "Let us now go to Bethlehem"
A: Sing "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Far, Far away on Judea's Plains", "The Shephard's Carol"

DAY 9:
O: Bells
S: Psalms 66:1-2
T: "Make a joyful noise"
A: Sing "Joy to the World", "I Heard the Bells", "Silver Bels"

DAY 10:
O: Candle
S: Luke 2:25-38; John 8:12
T: Simeon and Anna ("a light to lighten")
A: Sing Christmas carols by candlelight tonight everyone pick one song each

DAY 11:
O: Wisemen
S: Matt. 2:1-12
T: Seeking Jesus
A: Sing "We 3 Kings"

DAY 12:
O: Star
S: Helaman 14:1-6
T: "A new star arise"--a Heavenly promise to ALL of God's children
A: Drive around to look at Christmas lights in the neighborhood
Sing "Stars are gleaming", "Samuel Tells of Baby Jesus", " O Holy Night"

DAY 13:
O: Oxen
S: Abraham 4:24-25; Isaiah 1:3
T: Savior as Creator "Ox knows his master"--do we?
A: Bundle up good and go on a walk together to appreciate His other creations!
Sing "The Nativity Song"

DAY 14:
O: Donkey (that carried Mary)
S: Matt. 21:1-9
T: Triumphal Entry
A: Sing "He Sent His Son",  "The Nativity Song"

DAY 15:
O: Candy Canes
S: Ezek. 34:11-16, 31
T: Jesus will seek out His flock
A: Give away a Book of Mormon/Church video to a nonmember family today!
Sing favorite Christmas songs

DAY 16:
O: Red bows
S: Isaiah 61:1-3
T: "BIND UP the brokenhearted"/ tied in bonds of brotherhood....
A: Put red bows on tree, and n top of a treat that you deliver to someone who needs to be loved
Sing "We Wish you  a Merry Christmas", "Deck the Halls"

DAY 17:
O: (Today they just find the scroll in the box), but it's EGGNOG day!
S: D&C 38: 17-20
T: God's blessings to His people--"land flowing with MILK and honey"
A: Drink eggnog and take turns expressing a blessing you're grateful for

O: Candy Canes
S: Ezek. 34:11-16, 31
T: Jesus will seek out His flock
A: Give away a Book of Mormon/Church video to a nonmember family today!

DAY 18:
O: Stocking
S: Luke 10: 38-42
T: Do we "sit at His FEET" or are we busy with parties?
A: Discuss how we can think of Jesus and serve Him
Sing " I stand all Amazed"

DAY 19:
O: Gingerbread men
S: John 6:28-35
T: "Bread of Life"
A: Make Gingerbread men/house
Sing " A Holly Jolly Christmas", "Frosty the Snowman"
DAY 20:
O: Holly/Mistletoe
S: Mosiah 3: 5-11
T: Red berries/ green thorns-- "blood cometh from every pore"/crown of thorns
A: Hang mistletoe above the door
Sing favorite songs about Jesus

DAY 21:
O: Snowman/ icicles
S: Isaiah 1:18; Revelations 3:5
T: Forgiveness ("white as snow")
A: Sing "Let it Snow!" or make snowman/snow angels, cut out snowflakes....

DAY 22:
O: Poinsettia
S: D&C 49:22-28; D&C 133:46-51
T: Second Coming ("blossom as the rose," "red apparel")
A: Make or buy a poinsettia and display in a prominent place

DAY 23:
O: Pannetone (or fruit cake)--pannetone or favorite Christmas treat
S: D&C 135:3
T: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOSEPH SMITH!!
A: Sing happy birthday to him and eat his birthday (fruit) cake

DAY 24:
O: Gifts
S: James 1:17-27
T: "Every good gift from above"
A: Think of a meaningful gift to give to Jesus this year

Read Luke 2 Nativity Story

CCC # 96 Christmas card that starts with an "S"

Welcome to the challenge on Cardz TV for CCC # 96.   This time we were make a Christmas card with something that starts with the letter "S". 

I chose to do snowflakes.

I welded these snowflakes from the Cricut Cake Basics cartridge that I just go this last week.  It is one of my favorite snowflakes right now.

I also used some paper from from the My Mind's Eye paper stack "Merry Little Christmas"

It is really cute paper.  I think I like all of them.

The solid red is core'dinations paper

White and silver embossing powder  (wish I had solid white, but this will do)

Stamp is from Sweet Anna Bee Designs,  "Joy to the World" collection

Stickles

Test

Cricut cookies

So here are the pictures of the cookies I cut with the cricut cake. Leaf was from create a critter (cut 4 1/2), snowflake and butterfly are both from Cake Basics (cut 3 3/4).

I was very pleased with the cutting, but the glaze was better on the leaves. I need a thinker one next time for  the decorative glaze.  Here is the recipe I used and here is the recipe I want to use next time.   This one has the same ingredients, just more powder sugar. 

A new toy

When these first came out, I thought they were cool.  I had seen what people had made with the regular expression before the cake ever existed.  However,  I just did not want to spend the money on something that I would only use occasionally.  However,  when I saw this listed for $49.99 online with free shipping (that ended up even being express shipping),  I just could not pass it up.  It came with a cartridge too.  Now a days I try not to spend more then $25 on a cartridge, but I remember the day when I thought $40 was a good deal.  So to get a cartridge and a machine for $50 is pretty hard to pass on. 

However,  I have not made fondant before and I live a ways from any craft store, so I did what I could easily do today.   Sugar cookies of course.

I used the recipe on cricut.com site for cookie dough.  I had heard you have to freeze the sheets of dough first and after you cut, so I did, in addition to using parchment paper to cut on.  I found a pressure set at 2 was perfect.

The cookies turned out cute, but my frosting glaze could use a bunch of help.  I am going to try a new recipe next time.   I was hoping to use royal frosting, but I am not one who likes to use raw egg for anything.

Maybe I will take some pictures of the finished product tomorrow, before they are all eaten.  Or maybe I will have to just make more. 

Overall after a few youtube videos, it really was easy to use.  So glad I got to give it a try.  I hope to make many more fun edible treats soon.

Halloween treat bags

Last Christmas I requested these stamp faces from Peachy Keen, after seeing so many cute Halloween projects. Now 10 months later I am delighted to have an excuse to use them. I heard my daughter's 3rd grade teacher was going to have a celebration (too old for a Halloween Party), but I could send a treat to school. So my daughter and I together made 33 treat bags (yes that is a big class of 8 and 9 year olds). We both had fun. I got to do the stamps and she embossed and did much of the gluing.

So Grateful Scarecrow card

I have been eyeing these scarecrows in the Simply Charmed cartridge.  So the card didn't turn out exactly how I was hoping, but I adapted as I went changing things here and there.   I will have to play with these two some more.  They are too cute not to use again and again.

I am going to enter them on the Cooking With the Cricut Challenge # 57.


 

CCC # 94

Welcome, this is for CCC # , for Mary at Cardz TV. The challenge was to use any cartridge and colors for a Halloween card. This was on my mind ever since I made a bunch of treat bags for one of my kids class party. I just love these colors from Papertrey Ink. Face stamp is from Peachy Keen Stamps.  The pumpkin is cut at 3 inches from Mini Monsters. 

Sweet Tooth Cupcake box #1

So when you find a great recipe for a cupcake, you just want to share it with others, so why not use a cute box. So when I picked up the Sweet Tooth Boxes cartridge recently I was super excited to make one. My only worry was how big to cut it so it would fit a cup cake. Well guess what Cricut fixed that issue too. Even though you can cut it any size, there is a red box that tells you the recommended sizes. In this case it was to cut at 11 inches. All I can say is this box is super easy and fast to make. I will be back with more soon.

Yum, yum  this was so tasty and pretty too.  I got the recipe from a Annie's Eats.  I love her recipes and really wish she lived next door to me.  Her recipes are really amazing and this mint chocolate cupcake was not exception. 

CCC #93

I first have to apologize for being missing in action for so long on my blog.   Where has the time gone?  I am so thankful to still be on this design time, so that when life gets busy I have an excuse as to why I "have to craft".   I am hoping that this post is the beginning of  some regular posting and regular checking of others blogs.  I haven't been very good at doing that either for a while.

So on to business.... This week I got to participate in a challenge for Cardz TV.  The challenge was to "Think Pink" in remembrance that October is breast cancer awareness month. 
Cut is from:  Forever cut at 3 3/4 inches.

I really like this quote from Christopher Robin given to  Winnie the Pooh:

"You are braver than you believe,
stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think."
-Christopher Robin

I believe this quote is important for anyone going through a hard time, especially a battle with cancer.  My heart goes out to any who are currently struggling or recently have fought this battle.  Even more my heart goes out to those you have lost loved ones to this.   May those loved one always be remembered and loved and most of all may we all appreciate those who are still in our midst.  One day we will all conquer this disease. 

ccc # 89 Birthday Monkey

This week our challenge was to make a birthday card for a kid using a juggle animal.  No animal reminds me of a jungle more than a tiger or a monkey.  I didn't have a cute tiger, so I decided to use this monkey form Birthday Bash.  Pretty simple card.  It was fun to make.  Hope  you join us at CCC for this challenge.

Doodle Charms Penguin Throw Back Thursday Challenge

Throw Back Thursday Challenge with Emma at My Creative Time was to use a retired cartridge.  I used Doodle Charms for the Penguin and then added a shaped card as an igloo from Create a critter.  I think it turned out to be fun little card.

CCC # 87

CCC # 85

I just love these little houses on Jolly Holidays.  I made if for CCC # 85 challenge,  any holiday, any colors and any cartridge.  How flexible and fun is that?

Argyle card for Throwback Thursday

 

Emma from My Creative Time has fun challenge to use Wild Card or Just Because Cards and embossing for her challenge.  I have been wanting to make something with this argyle and think it turned out pretty cute.  It is a bit manly, so I had to really constrain myself to not use ribbon or add a flower here or there.

Hope you enjoy and feel free to play along at My Creative Time.

CCC # 81

This week at Cricut Cards Challenge we got to make a card with a cook-out or picnic theme.    I recently picked up 3 Birds on Parade  and really wanted to make a card with it.  Thankfully it had a perfect cut for this weeks theme.  Hope you join us this week.

More Cookie Dough Goodness

If you didn’t see the last post on the Cookie Dough Cupcakes, go back to them.  They are so pretty.  These Cookie Dough Truffles are not as pretty, since I was rushing to finish them before I needed to leave.  Tempering the chocolate took longer than I was expecting it to take.  None the less these taste great too.
Again this is another wonderful recipe from Annie’s Eats.  I love her blog and her pictures are great.    Here is the link to this recipe here.
I also made the box.  The lid has a acetate window.

Cookie Dough Goodness

I recently saw a post for these yummy and super rich (like so rich you can’t possibly eat a whole one) Cookie Dough Cupcakes.  I just couldn’t wait to make them.  Best part yet, I now know how to make my own non-egg cookie dough.  Regular cookie dough doesn’t quite work right and I have been wondering how to make it for a while. 
Thanks to Annie's Eats for this  great cupcake recipe here.




Stay tune for Cookie Dough Truffles on the next post.  Yum!!!!

So Saturday Challenge

This week we have the challenge at Cards by Christina and More to do a July 4th card. This is my last challenge on this design team. It has been wonderful to work with Christina. She always has such positive comments and I will miss this opportunity. Part of me wanted to stay and the other part knew that it was time to take a bit of a break until things slow down a bit for me. Maybe in the future she let me be on her team again.

Any way I hope you play along.

# 1 Dad CCC# 79 Challenge

This weeks challenge was to make a Father's Day card. Here is one for my kid's dad. Hope you join us at CCC for this challenge too.

Gift bag to match

If you saw my recent post of the monkey card I made to match a onesie set I gave to someone who recently had a baby, then you will know why I had to make a matching bag.  It was fun to do and I love having it all match.  Of course I will not make this a normal trend, but it was fun to do every so often.

So Saturday Challenge # 11

This week we were to make a shape card out of any image. I chose to use the watermelon from Simply Charmed and just weld the top together.  It is pretty fun and easy to do.  I hope you join us this week at Card creations by C for the challenge.

LFIF challenge- Designer's Choice

I saw this adorable 3 piece onsie set that I picked up from a store for a gift for some one who just had a little girl. It was my inspiration to making this card. Rather fun to try to match. Words from New Arrival and flower and monkey from Create a Critter. I thought they would be perfect for the PKS challenge, because I love the face and eyes on this monkey on the card.

Throwback Thursday

This week at My Creative time with Emma, our throw back challenge is any cartridge. Just use the colors yellow and green. Since the college I went to had its rival school's colors as yellow and green, I am rather selective on using yellow with green. Except with flowers of course. One can never go wrong with flowers right? The flower cut is from Walk in My Garden, which is a oldie but still a goodie. I had never before used this cut and hope to using it again soon. The punch border is new. I got both of them for my birthday recently from my kids. Aren't they sweet?