My First Word Book

My first word book. A lot of work - but so fun to decorate and embellish. This was made for my great-niece, Teagan, as a present for her christening.
Word books could actually become quite addicting - like I need another craft addiction!

My Daughter's Room

The first wall mural that I ever painted was this one for my daughter's new bedroom. She wanted a picket fence with flowers and, of course, a bunny. Since then, her room has been painted over with a couple of different color schemes. This summer I hope to paint a portrait of Marilyn Monroe on her closet doors.

My Son's Room

This is a painting that I did for my son's room when he was younger. Zelda was painted on his door - to stand guard over those who dared to enter. He is older now and would probably prefer to have his door once again white - but somehow I just haven't mustered up enough strength to paint over all that hard work!

Circle Handle Mini Purse

One more different take on the mini purse. My sample is pretty plain - but could be dressed out really cutely! I can see this one done up in beach colors. It is VERY easy to assemble.

Purses - My_Purse__4.cassell.cut

Scallop Edged Mini Purse

Perfect for party favors or just the right size to hold a gift card. I am having lots of fun creating different types of mini purses. I also think this would make a really cute small Easter purse. It is Baby Bug compatible!

I should mention that for this purse, you cut out two of the main purse pieces. Then glue the bottom flaps together. The side tabs will not meet, but will be glued to the purse strap.
Purses - Purse_5.cassell.cut

Happy Birthday Son!

Here is a really simple (my brain is not working on a more complicated scheme at the moment) money or gift holder made with the Going Places cartridge. I almost forgot I even had this cartridge. I was looking for a camera, and low and behold I found one and happened to rediscover I had bought Going Places!

All I did was cut two camera shapes, with one having the circle for the acetate lense. The envelope is one of the slider envies on the cartridge itself. Simple but perfect for my son, a very fine photographer in the making!

Taking Time From Crafting

I know, take my temperature, because something must be wrong. Seems I have the winter blahs! I know it's bad when I don't even feel like crafting!

Hope to have some new things to post this weekend!

Mini Purse #2

Here's a mini purse that measures about 2 1/2 inches tall x 1 3/4 inches wide. Again, it can hold whatever you wish to fill it with. I'd love to see what others do with my files, so please, if you make any .... share, share, share pictures!

Purses - My_Purse__3.cassell.cut

Mini Purse #1

I just posted these to the Cricut Messageboard. Two new mini purses - to hold whatever goodies you wish. This one is about 3 1/2 inches tall and about 1 1/2 inches wide. I didn't embellish this one yet, but wanted to get a picture up. I also included a picture to help show where to score.

Purses - My_Purse__2.cassell.cut

A Wall of Quotes

I know, call me crazy, but this too took me a total of 24 hours to paint. It is a wall in my sitting room that was just calling out to me for attention. There are a total of 24 historical quotes - some from the American Revolution, Civil War, and some from historical speeches. I first printed each quote on my computer in a banner format. I then taped them together (to get the size right) - used white chalk on the back to get the quote onto the wall - and then used white paint to painstakingly paint each and every letter by hand. The top picture is a close up of the quotes, and of course, of the bottom picture is of the entire wall.

I am very pleased with the way this project turned out!

A Full Size Wall Mural

This is a wall mural I painted for my neice as a birthday present a few years back. I took a piece of her matching wall border, and having a wall projector, drew the image onto her wall. Then proceeded to paint. It took me a total of 24 hours over a weeks time to finish it. We had to keep her out of her room til then, as it was a surprise! (The seam down the middle is because it was too large to fit into one picture, and therefore is two pictures taped together). It is one of my projects that I am most proud of. Definitely a labor of love!

And the 3 Nugget Purse...

Here is the 3 nugget purse. This one, the top of the purse can actually tuck inside the box. (I couldn't wait to post - so I could eat the nuggets - LOL)

Nugget Boxes - My_3_nugget_purse.cassell.cut

New Ways to Give Nuggets -

Yes, Nugget Purses...

There was a tutorial for making these over at Inspirational Techniques & Tutorials.blogspot.com. Of course they were made all by hand. Well, I just couldn't leave well enough alone, and created two cut files. One for a 2 nugget purse, and one for a 3 nugget purse. I think they are just darling!

This one is the 2 nugget purse. The closure on this one is a tiny velcro dot.

Nugget Boxes - My_2_nugget_purse.cassell.cut

Teapot Gift Card Holder

After seeing a teapot gift holder by the very talented Susan Edwards on the Cricut Messageboard, I knew I had to have one. Unfortunately, I didn't have the Dreams Come True cartridge that she used to make hers...so I decided to try to recreate one using George and Plantin Schoolbook. I think it came out pretty darn good. I can't wait to have a reason to give one away!

Gift Card Holder - my_teapot2.cut

What I Worked On Today...Part Two...

The second project I finished today was this Valentine for my daughter. I used the file from Carla over at ScappedLives. The file is for a multifunctional holder. There are many pockets to make and add, inside and/or out. Inside I only added one pocket for a box of Andes mints. I just love this file - Carla is one very talented lady! You should hop on over to her blog - there is a link to it under my "Gotta Love These Blogs" section over on the right hand side!

What I Worked On Today...Part One...

I was lucky enough to have the day off of work today, so what else would I choose to do but craft! Just think, house to myself, no one to bug me...heaven!

Today I worked on two Valentine projects. This first one is an original design of mine for a "Key To My Heart" card. It is entirely made from the GBS cartridge. It was one of those ideas that kept running through my mind so today was a good day to act on it. I've included the cut file, if any one is interested.

Cards - My Heart Valentine.cut

Milk Carton & Carrier

Here too, is my version of a carrier with 4 tiny milk cartons. I actually have not made any myself (now what's wrong with that picture) other than the sample one I always cut before sharing. But, I added two links to the Cricut Messageboard and two fabulous projects that were created using this file. There are different versions of this carrier made in different sizes, so do some digging if this one isn't right for you! I've included this picture to help you with the scoring of the top of the milk cartons.

Check out what these two very talented ladies made using this file. Thanks ladies for sharing with me!

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=3987623
http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=3983329

Boxes - My milk carton and carrier (4).cut

Oragami Box

Head on over to http://www.scor-pal.com/projects.htm and check out their projects section. All of these projects DO NOT require a cutting machine, like the Cricut, to complete. Most of them are fairly easy to make. This is just a sample of one of their boxes. It was made from one sheet of 12x12 paper. I really liked the way it opened. Sometimes, I still enjoy doing projects the old fashioned way - without my fabulous Cricut!

Gift Card Wallet

This is my version of a gift card wallet that I had seen floating around. I made these for my father and father-in-law for Father's Day. I put lottery tickets in the front pockets and actual money in the main section of the wallet. This would make a great graduation gift too! The file contains cuts for George and Plantin Schoolbook. There are pages for the Baby Bug, along with pages for the Big Bug. Enjoy!

Gift holder -My Wallet george OR plan schbk..cut

Small Party Favor

Here is a small party favor that I created to be used for any special occasion. It can be filled with small candies or treats. When finished, it measures about 5.25" x 1.25" . I think one would look great at each place setting for a party.

Made with GBS cartridge.

Boxes - My Party Favor.cut

Baby Bug Nugget Files - Request Here, Please

I have finally gotten around to resizing some of my nugget boxes to be used with the Baby Bug. There are four files in all -
one with a 2 nugget & 3 nugget box
one with both a 4 long (4x1) and 4 short (2x2) boxes
one with a 5 nugget & an 8 nugget box
and one with a 6 nugget (2x3) box.
You will have to leave request for my files here in the comment box - BUT be sure to leave an email address for me to send them to. If you are a member of the Cricut Messageboard you can just PM me. This is the easiest way for me to get the files out to you. Sorry for the inconvenience! Would you please also let me know that the files I sent made it to you safe and sound. (there are times when my attachments don't work!)

Swinging!

For this layout I wanted to do some editing of the picture before making a scrapbook page. My son was swinging at my parent's house, and their swing just happened to be hanging off of the poles of their clothesline. At the time, it was full of clothes, and didn't make for the best background. So I searched for images in one of my computer programs and found this tree. I very carefully cut out my son and the swing from the picture and combined the two together.

Valentine Bookmarks

Working in two 3rd grade classrooms, and being a remedial reading paraprofessional, I decided for Valentine's Day to make the student's their own personalized bookmarks for their books. (They get way too much candy from everyone else!) I combined three Cricut cartridges to make these, George, PDDU, and Cricut Keystone. It took me about 3 hours to make 36 bookmarks. I then brought them to school so I could laminate them (one of the perks of working in a school), used by Big Crop-A-Dile to punch eyelets, and added the ribbon. They got a big kick out of them. (Of course, I did also give them a heart shaped lollipop to go along with them).

On The Road Again....

Here's a page I did for my daughter's book for the day she got her driver's license. The big yellow sign was actually something we put in the rear window of our van while she was learning. This helped keep the impatient drivers from honking and getting upset since she WAS doing the actual posted speed limits!!
I added a scanned image of her actual driver's license (with the mug shot picture - LOL) and added some Cricut made signs and a road for the finishing touches.

Nuts About You!

Here's a nutty idea for a Valentine's Day Card. It was made using the Doodlecharms cartridge. There was a similar idea in the March issue of PaperCrafts Mag. and I thought a cut file just had to be made. Happy early Valentine's Day!

cards - My acorn card.cut

All Big Bug Nugget Box Request Here, Please

If you are interested in any of my nugget box files - please leave a comment with your email address, and which of the nugget boxes you are interested in. I will gladly email the files to you. I am getting no response from 4shared.com regarding the abuse, and therefore would like to get them out to you this way...sorry for the inconvenience! Just to let you know that this is not an automatic email response, where if you leave a message, the file will automatically be sent to you. So it is very important that you leave your email address, so I can, in return, send you an email with the files - when you receive the files would you kindly leave me a message here so that I know they made it to you! Thanks!

Umbrella Shower Cards

A quick card I made to be used for Baby or Bridal showers. For some strange reason, I have babies on my mind, so I decorated mine for that purpose. This file has a Big Bug file and a Baby Bug file - the Baby Bug card is a trifold, whereas the Big Bug card only the umbrella lifts up. I hope you enjoy this and please, if you make any cards, share them with me by posting on the Cricut Messageboard.

Cards - My Umbrella Shower Card.cut

Where's My Blankie?

This is another layout I did for my now 22 year old son's scrapbook. I got interested in scrapbooking when my kids were in their teens, and had a lot of catching up to do. (Of course scrapping is now much more fun with my Cricut!)
On this page he is getting a much needed "snuggie fix". It was SO cute, we were having fun playing outside when all of a sudden he heads for my laundry drying on the line - insert thumb in mouth - all better!

Dress Card

There was an adorable little dress card in the March/April issue of Paper Crafts magazine, and so I got this idea for my own dress card. There are two different styles - one a little bit fancier than the other. I can see this made for baby girl shower invitations, announcements, parties, and so much more!

Cards - My Dress Card.cut

Cards - My Baby Bug Dress Card.cut