Cricut Joy

I am continuing in my trend of acquiring scrapbooking supplies at a faster rate than I am creating pages.

For Christmas I got FOUR new cartridges for my cricut. Now I own SEVEN! I went so long with just the one that now it seems like an overabundance. Two of them I picked out myself for my gift from my husband, I got them at Michaels the day after Thanksgiving for $27 each. After much consideration I picked out "Going Places" and " Opposites attract." I wasn't there first thing in the morning so the selection wasn't the best. Then both my sisters presented me with carts on Christmas day, Calligraphy and Paisley.

When I opened those two there were certificates inside for "cricut rewards" but not in any of the other ones. When I went online I found out that these rewards are only found in carts released after 2008. But the stuff you can get for your points are really good, after a few hundred they are giving away cartridges!

I wish I had known this because I would have picked out more recent ones for myself when I had the chance. Plus I just love love love the Calligraphy one, it can do so much more than the older styles.

Here are the results of some of my playing:

Back in the scrappin zone!

I seemed to have fallen into an extended hiatus from scrapbooking. Mostly because it was summer. I continued to buy things, but wasn't actually making any pages! Well, now that the skies are nice and gray I have finally pulled out the scissors and gotten to work.

This page is one that I did last spring but was waiting to put the title on before I posted it. I just did that today! It began as my response to challenge 17a but I it didn't end up with much of a resemblance. I had saved a spot in the lower lh corner for the title, but then when I cut the word "Easter" I misjudged and it came out too big so I stuck it across the top. Anyways, it's done.

Here is the page that I credit for getting me back my scrappin mojo. My friend Yvonne invited me to join her for the afternoon at the store "Scrapbook Tree." I based this layout on one they had in the store and used my SisTaZ skillz to create my own interpretation. I wish that the word "ROAR" stood out better but at least this got me going again AND showcases a rare picture of me with good hair.

Mega Meet Goodies

I had a great time at the Mega-Meet with the SisTaZ. It is like a whole new world of scrapbooking supplies for me. Coming home and going through all my stuff (again) was like opening up a Christmas Stocking. I like what I bought, now I have to put it to use! Here's what I got:

Challenge 11b and 8b

I went on a scrapbooking retreat last weekend. (Creative Passions in Chesaning) I only got 19 pages done but I am caught up to the current time, and I did two Challenge layouts:

Challenge 11b:



And Challenge 8b:

Challenge 7a and 7b

Since I was at a workshop and I was trying to work with the 2008 pictures that I already have printed, it was a bit of a struggle for me to try to incorporate them into the challenges that I have yet to complete. So my interpretations are rather "loose" this time, but it is clear to me that my pages are coming out WAY better than the way I would usually do them, thanks to the SiStaZ!

I am calling this one Challenge 7a although it bears slim resemblance to the original. I started with it though! I had planned to put the title sideways along the picture, but once I cut the letters out they didn't fit and I ended up doing it this way. Then I added the leaf punches (Creative Memories, borrowed from Stephanie) and the bike sticker for embellishment.

I am still working with just the one cricut cartridge (Don Juan) but to get these letters I pushed the "under pressure" button and got what looks to me like an entirely different font. The more I use this thing the more I learn about what it can do.

This one was based on Challenge 7b (You Rock) and again doesn't resemble the original very much but it helped me with the title (not putting it at the top LH corner) and overall layout of the page. I had a close-up picture of the food that I wanted to include but just couldn't fit it all onto the page. Then I had the brilliant idea to cut the letters out of the picture, using my magical cricut. Cool! I used Creative Memories papers and the stickers were given to me from the stash of Alisa, always willing to help a friend!

Challenge 4a

This Thanksgiving page was based on Challenge 4a. I used Creative Memories papers and the "tearing tool" to duplicate the torn look from the challenge. I lifted the way the challenge cropped the six photos for the RH page, which I would not have come up with on my own, and I'm pleased with the way it looks. For the LH page I had more pictures that I wanted to use than in the challenge, so it looks a lot different, but I still like the way it came out, still way better than my usual pages.

Challenge 4b

Here is the Challenge page:


Here is Kim's Page:


And here is my interpretation:



I had it lined up along the right hand side and I just couldn't stand it and moved everything to the middle and rounded the remaining corners. I can't help it, I'm all about symmetry.

I didn't have plans to do this challenge but when I saw Kim's layout I remembered recently running across a photo of my very similar car, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I used unusual sized paper and don't have an album to put this in, but it was fun creating it.

I used my cricut of course for the letters (still lovin that thing) but was too lazy to go and print the words for the journaling on my computer (although here I am now!!) I used a gel pen and when I went to erase the guide lines I smeared up the words. I am also too lazy to fix that but I will if I ever use this in album. I did not include the pictures of me with my big hair, ray-ban sunglasses and mini-skirt that go with it.

The page could probably benefit from one final snazzy embellishment, such as the ribbon bow in the other pages, but I don't have anything like that on hand so for now it's plain.

Challenge 3

I knew that I was going to a workshop so I planned ahead to do Challenge 3 and 4 there.

Here is challenge 3:

and here is my interpretation:


The pictures are from a recent trip to the Kalahari indoor water park with my boys and my nephew. I used three pictures instead of 1 on the LH page since I was doing 12 x 12 and it looked bare with just one picture (I'm still only using 4x6s) and I had a lot of pictures that I wanted to use. The papers are Creative Memories and the word SWIM is made with my new cricut, Juan Wan font.

I'm still working on organizing my scrapbooking workspace at home, but the truth is I rarely scrap there anyways. I get a lot more work done at my friend and Creative Memories consultant Lynn's house. She recently had her basement redone and that is where the workshops are held. Here I am working on my page:

Here I am with Lynn and Alisa:

Alisa likes to admire her own work:

Jenny and Stephanie made ABC books:

I never did get around to challenge 4, I think I may end up skipping it. I just couldn't figure out a way to do a layout like that with the kinds of pictures that I have at the moment, which are mostly from family parties. Maybe I'll get back to it.

New Toy

I didn't get this weeks challenge done yet. I did pick a subject and fool around on Picasa trying to make a collage, but wasn't happy with that so it stopped there. I also got busy cleaning up my scappin station so I could take a picture of it. I got a lot done but want to do more before it is Picture Worthy. Then I went shopping. I got a cricut!! They were on sale at Michael's and I couldn't resist. Happy Birthday to me! My birthday isn't for 2 months but I'm enjoying my present NOW. I also bought a Xyron, I've always wanted one of those. Eventually I will have all the gadgets, supplies, and a neat and ready workspace...and less excuses!

Challenge 2

Well I finally got my printer working, and am 1 day late in getting this done.

Here is the challenge:









And here is my page:





Doing this layout turned into a mathematical challenge for me. I was trying to figure out what the sizes and proportions were in the original layout so that I could duplicate it, but what I eventually figured out is that it must have been an 8 by 10 book or some other rectangular size, and that my 12 x 12 could not be the same. Once I let go of that, I did the best I could.


This is a continuation of the Christmas Party that I did in the last challenge, and I used papers and embellishments from the same CM pack, since they are pre-coordinated which helps me. Unfortunately they do not photograph well. They are designed to have "that damaged look."


I'm not sure if I can go on living any longer without one of those Cricut machines. Maybe I should go in on one with Amy and we could have joint custody or something.


After I finished the page I thought of more journaling I should add, but now it would wreck it. For those who read my other blog, the picture on the lower left is Aunt Chris opening the tin of popcorn I bought her.

Excuse Me

I had BIG PLANS to complete Scrapbook Challenge #2 by tonight's deadline, but I needed to print out some more pictures in order to do that. Last week when I tried I kept getting error messages. Then it happened again tonight. Major frustration! After much fiddling with it I went to the Kodak website and tried to do a live chat with the help guy. Except he asked me more questions than I asked him, and took 5 minutes to respond each time. I could tell that English was not his native language and that he was consulting some kind of stupid "how to help people" manual. It got really frustrating and I think took almost an hour before one of the many things he had me try required a reboot of my computer. I told him that would mean I'd lose the chat. He gave me a ticket number and said to try again if I was still having problems. Of course after the reboot the problem was still there but then I just tried more of my own ideas and FINALLY got my pictures printed. I started on the layout but now the Bachelor is going to the set of General Hospital, so this is going to have to wait until tomorrow now.

There's my excuse, thanks for listening SisTaZ!

Challenge 1

Here is the very first Scap Sistaz Challenge Layout:




And here is the layout that I created.






I think that the original layout used patterned paper with ornaments printed on it, and then the scrapper cut out some of the ornaments and added ribbons, strings and brads. And it went well with her picture of the Christmas tree and other assorted pics of different sizes. Well, I don't have that paper, I don't use brads or ribbons, and I didn't have a picture of a Christmas tree for this layout!

What I did was use some round Christmas-themed stickers that I had and tried to make them look like ornaments. I think they came out ok. I used pre-cut paper strips for the line and the scallops. I don't have a cricut (waaahhh!) so I used a gel pen and tried to copy the type-style for the title since I liked it.

What I liked about doing this layout was that it forced me to really notice some things that the creator did, that I wouldn't otherwise think about if I just saw this in a magazine and thought to myself "I wish that I could do great pages like that."

-I never would have lined up the pictures across the page this way. Yet by doing this I was able to get a lot of photos in and still have ample room for the cute embellishments, titles, and journaling. I usually run out of space just trying to cram 6 pictures on a 2 page spread.

-The "line" that cuts the page in two is not in the middle of the page, it is off-center horizontally. I know that is a norm of design but unless I think about it I would naturally divide the space into equal pieces.

-Repeating the ornaments in the lower half of the layout is what really brings it together. The way that she framed it with the red ones appears intentional as well, to good effect.


I really enjoyed doing this, and I think these exercises are going to make me a better scapbooker! Thank you Tina, I look forward to the next Challenge!

What is ScRap SiStaZ?

"I love to scrapbook but I have not been making the time to do it. One of my resolutions is to get back at it. A lot of my friends were feeling the same way and Tina came up with an awesome idea! She is hosting an on-line scrapbook club! Our group...the ScRap SiStaZ...has 11 members, some who have never met, but we all share a love of friends, family and creativity. Each week she will post a lay-out on her blog and we will all have the week to complete our own layout based on the idea of what she posts. We will then post our creation to our own blogs for all to see! We have all committed to each other to do each challenge each week. At the end of the year we should have 50ish layouts! This is a big deal!"

~Amy

Scrapsistaz!

This is where I will post my scrapsistaz layouts!