Fun in the Sun

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #204 Sketch Challenge

This Weeks Sponsor

Stamp set of Winner's Choice

~Design Team Inspiration~

~This Weeks Challenge~

Create a project inspired by the sketch below:

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

For my project this week, I decided to look toward the coming summer and sitting by the pool, feeling the grass on my feet, and wearing my new sunglasses. Literally, this card came from me and my summer experiences. I image sending this card to a friend from out of town to come and stay with us for a long weekend.

I love this image and phrase from the Cricut cartridge, Summer Celebrations. I used bright colors on the circle and the umbrella. I thought about adding glitter, but the bright colors felt real to me without the glitter. I cut the grass from the Holiday Frames & Tags Cricut cartridge. The sunglasses were also from the Summer Celebrations cartridge. The patterned paper background is from the Recollections, Bold Basics stack. The white cardstock is embossed with a small floral folder from Cuttlebug. I used a gem from my stash for the center of the sunglasses.

Challenges Entered:

Allsorts Challenges: Use those Die Cuts

My Creative Moments - Wordplay: Anything

Alphabet Challenge: D for Die Cuts

Cut it Up: Anything Goes + Die Cuts

C.R.A.F.T Challenge: What Season are You? 

Steampunk Pirate

It's time for another challenge this week at Through the Purple Haze. The challenge this week is to go steampunk! You don't want to miss out since our sponsor is Rick St. dennis.

For this challenge, I was given the Privateer by Rick St. dennis to work with.

I wanted him to be rugged, handsome, and a bit disheveled from his pirating ways. So I started with the inking. Spectrum Noir:

Face, Buckle, Charm: FS1 - 3, TN2, TN6, GB2

Hair: TN4, TN7

Hat, Boots, Sword: IG1 - 7

Feather and accessories: LG 2 -5

(Not sure of the colors on the pants. They were an experiment.)

With the coloring done, I wanted to keep that the focus of the card.  

I used a deep green for all the mats, the first layer of patterned paper (script writing) is from my stash, and the next layer (keys) is from BoBunny Timepiece. I added mesh from my stash since it reminded me of netting. All of the other embellishments such as the gear and the charm are from my stash. 

I love the parrot at the top right corner, and I imagine this steampunk parrot following our pirate around on his adventures.

The best part: a treasure map!

Challenges Entered:

Challenges for Everybody: Anything Goes
Creative Knockouts: Texturize it
The Male Room: Vintage

Challenge #9 Anything Goes + Vinyl

ScrapbookerPhD

Challenge #9: Anything Goes + Vinyl

How do you use Vinyl? On a paper craft project? On a window or car? Show us your latest vinyl creations no matter what the form or format. 


Codes: M, 3E, C10
Challenge ends April 21st.


Sponsor:
We are tremendously lucky to have CricketVinyl Supplies as our sponsor. 

The design-team-chosen winner of our challenge will receive a $10 gift certificate to CricketVinyl, and a random chosen winner will receive a $5 gift certificate to CricketVinyl. With multiple ways to win, make sure to enter the maximum number of times: 3. 

Need supplies, CricketVinyl is offering our participants a 15% off discount! Just use the following discount code: scrapbookerphd

Here's what our design team has come up with:

Faith

Kelly

Randi

An InLinkz Link-up

Hello, Sweetie

I must finally come clean. I am a huge Doctor Who fan, so much so that I consider myself a Whovian. When I want to make projects that are Doctor Who themed, I sometimes have to stretch my imagination to find the right embellishments.

The most important part is the spaceship - well, the transport ship that travels through time and space. That's the phone box you see in the card. It's in disguise. It's bigger on the inside, and it is called a TARDIS. I found a .jpg of a basic TARDIS, uploaded it to my Cricut Explore, and cut in blue Vinyl. TARDIS blue is the actual name of the color. It is my favorite color... and the doctor and his red bow tie or fez are the best color combinations.

All of the other elements such as the fez (cut from an SVG file from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbon) and the shoe (cut from Cricut Bridal Shower) are references to characters in the show. The Jim Holtz embossing folder, Blueprints, really finished the look.

Watch the video to learn more about how this card came together. And learn some Doctor Who trivia as well.

Challenges Entered:
Craft-Room Challenge: Transport
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
Creative Cutting Challenge: Anything Goes + SVG file
The Pink Elephant: Color Combination
Artistic Inspirations: Anything Goes

Celebtrate Art

Exploring Cricut is hosting their second challenge of the month. The challenge is to use 1 pattern + color. I'm so pleased to share my project with you today.

Crafters are truly artists. I find that we dabble in with many different styles and types and tools. When I found this Paper House, Artist paper stack, I fell in love. I wanted to push my own style with these patterns that are all about art, love, and imagination. For this card, I let the paper be the focal point of the card. I used a matching blue cardstock for the frame, and then used the same blue in a pearlescent style to punch the paint splotch for EK. Finally, I cut the sentiment from a scrap of pearlescent paper, so the sentiments would shine. The cut is from the Cricut cartridge, Quarter Note.

Superhero Card

This is for the special little superhero in your life.

I used the Cricut cartridge Artbooking for the overlay and Create a Friend for the sentiment. Most importantly, I used this fantastic Superhero Badge (svg cut) from Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons. Watch the video for tips on putting this card together and using Cricut Explore Design Space.

Challenges Entered:

Allsorts Challenge: About a Boy
4 Crafty Chicks: No patterned paper
Crafting for all Seasons: No DP
Fab 'n' Funky: Boys to Men
Brown Sugar: Anything Goes
Cut it Up: Anything Goes
Pretty Papers, Pretty Ribbons: About Kids

Discover Camping

I'm so excited to share this card for Exploring Cricut. There is definitely a fun story behind this card. While some families participate in sports like baseball or basketball, my family competes in canine sports with our dogs. Our favorite sport is agility. It's like an obstacle course with you and your dog. There is a group of us that camp at competitions that are far from home. It's a lot of fun. At one competition, I was practicing some new functions I learned about my Cricut Craft Room. So there I was designing. I was working off of a sketch that I liked. A friend came over, and she suggested I make the theme about camping. And here is the finished product:

I started with the base green and embossed it with a tree bark folder from CuttleBug. Next, I added the brown tags and scalloped border. The tent and background was cut from Cricut's Camping Critters, and I wanted to add pops of color here. The two blue pattern papers (the outer circle is cream and blue dots) was cut from BasicGrey, Hey Girl! stack and Crate Paper unknown paper stack. I used the same cream and blue dot papers to cut the word "discover" to place across the tags. This was cut using the Cricut cartridge Boys will be Boys. 

Challenges Entered:

Fab n Funky: Masculine

Stampavie and More: Sports

Crafty Girls: Anything Goes

Aud Sentiments: Anything Goes + a sentiment

Cute Card Thursday: Wild World

Sweet Music

I have had my Cricut Explore for a couple of weeks now, and while there is definitely a learning curve, I think I have a handle on the basics. I'm documenting my journey of learning and creating with the Cricut Explore, and I hope these videos help someone else.

In this tutorial, I talk about the difference between searching using the "all image" function vs. the "my image" function.

Final Product:

I wanted this card to be loud with color to remind me of my childhood memories of making music mix tapes, and that reminded me of the movie, Say Anything, with John Cusack. I remember the scene where he holds his boom box underneath the window of the bedroom of a girl he loves. The song that is playing at the time is In Your Eyes. A sweet and touching song. Hence, my sentiment.

The best part about this card is that I finally got to use the Groovy Times die cuts. I have been wanting to use the music images (especially the disco images) for so long, but I didn't have the cartridge. Now that I have the Explore, I have access to Groovy Times. Yeah!

The card is mostly basic cardstock (the bottom layer of blue is embossed with circles), and the yellow dot paper is from The Paper Studio. The ribbon and brads are from my stash.

Cricut Cuts:
The cassette tape is cut from Groovy Times, and the sentiment is cut from Quarter Note.

Challenges Entered:
LEJ Designs: Die Cut
Crafting From the Heart: Inspired by a Movie
Bitten by the Bug 2: Music
Crafting for All Seasons: No DP
Try it on a Tuesday: Music

Spring

I have to say that this entire card started with the color challenge at Dynamic Duos, and thanks to my new Cricut Explore, the card built itself. 

The Dynamic Duos cards were black and mustard (and white). 

First, I created the background - black mat, chevron with a brighter mustard. Then, I search through the Cricut library and found these beautiful flowers from Botanicals. I complete the look with the layered circles that say spring. 

Challenges Entered: 

Dynamic Duos: Colors
2 Sisters Challenge: Black, White, and one other color.
Catered Crop: Spring, Flowers
Lexi's Creations: Die Cuts

Little Shark

This card was just so much fun to make because it is my first project using the new Cricut Explore. My membership gave me access to all cartridges - yes, pretty much every cartridge, and I took that opportunity to search for a shark, a cute little shark to be exact (from Zoo Day). It is the perfect birthday card for one of my five nephews. (The little tag at the top says, Happy Birthday.)

Challenges Entered:

Simply Create Too: Animals

Splendiferous Creations: Happy Birthday

Crafty Creations: Happy Birthday

Fab 'n' Funky: Animals
Crafty Calendar Challenge: Animal Antics

Princess Bride

It's time for another challenge at Through the Purple Haze. This week's theme is Anything Goes (Bling Optional). And we have two fabulous sponsors:

For my project, I used Time for Tea's Princess image. I didn't want to use pink or red because that was my first thought. I colored her face and hair with my Spectrum Noirs:

Face: EB1, FS1 and 2, BP4

Hair: EB1, TN 1, 2, 3, and 4

It was then I decided that she wasn't a princess, she was a bride. 

I used a glitter pen to color her tiara, the top of her dress, and around the sides of the dress. I used my Cricut Elegant Edges to cut the frame. 

The tag on the right side of the frame says, forever, and it is from, Me & My Big Ideas, Marry Me kit. 

The blue and green floral dp is glittered and embossed. I thought this was gorgeous dp to go with the wedding theme because of the flowers. I had blue flowers at my own wedding, and of course stems and leave are green. The dp is from DCWV, the Blossom Song stack. Finally, I placed three blue flowers with silver brads at her feet. 

Challenges Entered: 

A Gem of a Challenge: Special Lady

Sweet Stampin' Challenge: Special Lady

Chocolate, Coffee, and Cards: Colors

In the Garden

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #202 Use the Color Green

This Weeks Sponsor

Be Wild and Free stamp set

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

For my project this week, I was fortunate enough to use Mark's Finest Stamps, Garden Bunny set. 

The challenge this week is to use green, and I immediately thought of a garden. Maybe that is because I have so many garden craft supplies.

I started with the Garden Bunny stamp set from Mark's Finest Stamps and this fabulous inspirational sentiment. I stamped the sentiment in the middle of this shaped card from the Cricut Life's a Party cartridge. That led me to create a small garden underneath the sentiment. I used the Garden Soup Cricut cartridge to cut out the individual vegetables, and I added this fun bee brad to the top. 

Challenges Entered:

Crafts for Craic: Use Green (M, Th)

Craftitiude: Green (2W, F)

Cut it Up: Green (Spring) (2W, F)

Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes (W, F)

Totally Paper Crafts: Shaped Cards (W, F)

Say Hello to the Cricut Explore

Just a few short weeks ago, my Cricut Explore arrived, and I have spent that time learning the ins and outs of this incredible new machine. 

Stay tuned as I will start posting tutorials very soon. 

Happy crafting. 

Challenge #8 CASE yourself + die cut (W3)

Challenge #8: CASE Yourself + Die Cut (Show us your original project and your new project (and explain the CASE if isn't obvious) News: We've moved to a monthly format and increased the number of other challenges you can enter to 10. We are also increasing to a Top 5 for the winners list. More exciting changes coming soon. 

ENTER HERE

Codes: M, 3E, C10

Sponsor:

The winner will receive a custom  Kathy's Cozy handmade die cut machine cover. Do you have a Cricut? A Silhouette? Something else? Kathy has it. Don't have a die cut machine, she has so much more. This is a fantastic prize. You don't want to miss out. 

Also, a random winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to Kathy's Cozy. Buy one for yourself or buy someone else a gift. 

Check out what you can win HERE & HERE
Kathy has a BLOG too. 

To claim your prize, email scrapbookerphd@gmail.com. 

For inspiration, meet our newest Design Team Member!!! Kelly Dawkins:


I am Kelly 26 years old (quickly approaching 27) and from England, I am married to my lovely supportive husband Alan and we will be celebrating our 5th year wedding anniversary this year. I started cardmaking in 2006 just after purchasing my first house, for something little to do on a night, I certainly didn’t realise it was going to take over like it has. I started scrapbooking in 2009 and my first album was my wedding scrapbook. I love using all different kinds of techniques, but my favourite style I like to make is “cute” with soft pastel colours. I am so pleased Faith has invited me to join her Design Team and I look forward to seeing you in our future challenges.

Here is what Kelly did with this challenge:

Original Card: 

CASE:

Happy St. Paddy's Day

It's time for a challenge at Exploring Cricut. This week's challenge is St. Patrick's Day. It's only fitting since St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner. For my project this week, SURPISE, I used green and yellow!!!

I started with a green base, and added a layer (yellow dots) from BasicGrey's Hey Girl! stack. I used the Cricut cartridge, Elegant Edges, for the center frames. From Cricut's Celebrate with Flourish, I layered the shamrocks, and made sure to add green glitter as the top layer. Finally, I added a felt sentiment at the top of the frame. The felt sentiment is from Celebrate It. 

Challenges Entered: 

Time for Scrap: St. Patrick's Day (2W, S)

Brown Sugar Challenge: Make it Sparkle (W, F)

Craft for the Craic: Something Green (1M, F)

Cut it Up: St. Patrick's Day (2W, F)

Cupcake Love

It's time for another challenge at Through the Purple Haze. This week's theme is digital elements. And we have two fabulous sponsors:

Crafts U Print

Milk Coffee

For my project, I used the Fionna and Cupcake image from Milk Coffee. Fionna simply had to have blue wings. That's where all of my inspiration came from, blue wings, and then the blue expanded to the cupcake wrapper and fork. I used my Spectrum Noir's: TB1, TB2, TB3.



The blue felt like the perfect contrast to all the pink I wanted to use. I used Spectrum Noir colors PP4 and PP6 to color the plate, the icing, and the flowers in her hair.











I layered the heart patterned papers from BoBunny, Head of Heals stack, with a hint of a a blue mat. Then I added a little blue bling cupcake embellishment (from Recollections) and the small floral embellishment that says, "loves me."






Challenges Entered: 

Emerald Fairies: Pretty in Pink

Just for Fun: Anything Goes

The East Wind: Use Digi

JellyPark: Things with Wings

Jo's Scrap Shack: Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge: Anything Goes

Happy Birthday Boy

I'm thrilled to be posting this project for Exploring Cricut.

The story for this card starts with the fact that I have 5 nephews from age 2 to age 9. That means I always need 5 of everything and all boy related... and birthdays are starting up again. Five sets of boy cards can be a challenge. Here is what I came up with for my youngest. I wanted to use plenty of blue and primary colors... (a touch of pink never hurt a boy). I used "boy" themed sentiment paper (scraps) and and added the blue dot border from The Paper Studio, Basics stack. Then, I cut the banner from the Cricut Birthday Bash cartridge and dusted the banner with glitter. I recreated the bird to place over the sentiment (mat in blue) and added the orange dimensional balloon (stash) to finish it up.

Challenges Entered:
Fussy and Fancy: Birthdays (F, 2W)
Crafty Creations: Birthday (W, 2W)

NOEL

 Happy Monday and welcome to another Monday challenge!

Challenge #200: Pick a Holiday

This Weeks Sponsor

$10.00 Gift Certificate

To qualify for the prize, be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project and if it's not obvious, let us know what cartridge you used.

I am so thrilled to be presenting this card as part of the Design Team for the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  Join us in the fun. This week the challenge is Holidays.

Last Christmas I ran out of cards. This year, I'm starting now on my cards so that I'm ready to go when holiday time comes around. I started this card with the embossed frame and the word Noel. Then I chalked it in reds and greens. The patterned paper is from a DCVW mat stack. Using the Joys of the Season Cricut cartridge, I used pearlescent paper to cut the mistletoe. I wanted to break up the green with a little yellow, so I added a bit of bling and the flowers.