Weekend Flash Sale at Cricut.com

Digital images are 40% off this weekend at Cricut - Flash Sale Extended!

I just had to order Paper Pups! Can't wait to start scrapbooking with it!



**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Last Chance to get your May Mystery Box

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Hurry! There are only a few days left to get the Cricut Premium May Mystery Box! The box includes 4 cartridges any crafter will enjoy. The contents are a mystery, but they’re a $139.96 value! Don’t wait! Supplies are limited, so buy now and before the end of May - you'll get free shipping when you use code MAYSHIP!

Shutterfly 101 Free Prints with Promo Code

Shutterfly Deal on now - ends May 27, 2015

All customers enjoy 101 free prints with promo code MEMORIALDAY at checkout



**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

CTMH Taste Of Summer Card Workshop

Close To My Heart brought out these fun, fruity patterns of paper and a co-ordinating stamp set to celebrate National Scrapbooking Month.

The colours are so vibrant and fun - and I am loving the CTMH White Shimmer Trim that came out in the SE1 catalogue. I've been using it on everything.  

Love the use of the Rock and Roll technique on the stamped Orange images.

This Workshop file is available with purchase of the 

CTMH Taste of Summer Paper Pack & Stamp Set - available only in May 2015.  

Order yours today or contact your CTMH Consultant for more details.

CTMH Products Used:

Inks:

Hollyhock

Canary

Sunset

Topiary

Cardstock:

White Daisy

Taste Of Summer Paper Pack

Sunset

Juniper

Tools & Embellishments:

White Shimmer Trim

Pixie Extra-Thick Twine

Flaxen Extra-Thick Twine

Sparkles

Corner Rounder

Stamps:

Taste of Summer Stamp Set

Workshop Details are listed on my Workshop & Gathering Page.

 Receive regular updates of upcoming Classes & Workshops 

by signing up for my Monthly Newsletter.  Link in right hand column. 

In Canada? You can purchase the products to make this item on my CTMH website:

http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Or start your own CTMH business or join as a Hobby Consultant 

and receive approx. $400 worth of product for just $109.  

Contact me for more information: nshelmer@icloud.com

New Cricut Cartridge - Classically Modern Cards Now Available

Create intricate paper-cut greeting cards for every occasion, including wedding congratulations, baby announcements, get well soon cards, birthday wishes, love notes, and more!

Designed by Alexis Mattox, the Cricut® Classically Modern Cards cartridge includes 30 whimsical cards for all occasions, many with interchangeable sentiments for even more versatility. Create handmade cards you can be proud of with customizable details that show a little extra love!

• Use with all Cricut® electronic cutting machines
• Contains 30 intricately cut cards and coordinating envelopes
• Cards for every occasion, including thanks, congratulations, sympathy, valentines, weddings, baby showers,  well wishes, and more
• Designed by Alexis Mattox for Cricut®
• Ideal for cardmakers and DIYers—anyone who loves to craft with paper!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Scrapbook Title in Inkscape using Crafts By Two Font Art Tutorial

While I've been working on my album for 2003 I've been learning how to use Inkscape so I can design some of my own titles and cutting files to use with my Cricut Explore.

In a previous post I went over the tutorials from Crafts By Two using colouring pages to make your own cutting files for personal use.  

I made another cutting file this week for my Christmas pages and love how it turned out.

Here are my finished files imported into Cricut Design Space and ready to cut.  

I used another great tutorial on Font Art from Crafts By Two to make my own title in Inkscape.

I started off in Inkscape using Waltograph Font & Alex Brush Script Font.

I typed out my words and positioned them where I wanted them. 

Then following the tutorial I made the different shadow layers.  

Once it was finished I imported my svg file into Cricut Design Space.  

I made a duplicate of it so I could add the two gifts shadow layers to the title.

I also duplicated the gift images because when you weld it all together it becomes just one layer.

I cut out all the different title layers and gift layers and glued them all together.

I used foam tape on the title piece to pop it up from the base layer.

I used CTMH Black, Glacier & Cranberry Cardstock along with CTMH Snowhaven patterned paper.  I had a scrap of CTMH Silver glitter cardstock that I used to back the gift on the left.

Here is my finished title - ready to add to my scrapbook page.

I love how precise the Cricut Explore cuts - the word "from" and Pluto's tail are very fine cuts and cut beautifully. 

Cricut May Mystery Box Now Available!

Cricut's May Mystery Box is now available!

The May Premium Mystery Box includes 4 cartridges any crafter will enjoy. 

The contents are a mystery, but they’re a $139.96 value! 
Don’t wait! Supplies are limited, so buy now.

Free Shipping with code: MAYSHIP

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Layout with CTMH Snowhaven Paper Pack

I'm working on my album from 2003 - feels good to be getting it done.  I put the bulk of my pictures in pocket protectors and then am doing the rest as traditional layouts.   

I love the How-To Books by CTMH - I used a pattern from Magic for this layout with 

CTMH Snowhaven patterned papers and co-ordinating solid cardstock.

My Cricut Explore came with a free 6 month subscription to their image library. 

 I used Teresa Collin's December 25th Cartridge for the Title & Snowflake Flourish.  

I embellished the snowflake with CTMH Bitty Sparkles.   

The "25" is cut from Teresa Collins Christmas Holly Digital Set.

I used CTMH Stitch Guide and then hand stitched around the Whisper cardstock.  

I used CTMH Cranberry and Slate Inks and sponged around the edges of the Cranberry and Slate Cardstock.  

I triple layered the Yuletide Season title with 

Cranberry, White Daisy and Snowhaven Black patterned cardstock.   

I used CTMH White Shimmer trim to add some sparkle to both pages. 

Cherry Pickin' Scrapbook Page with CTMH Taste Of Summer

Here's a different take on CTMH Taste of Summer papers.  These papers feature berries and oranges and limes but I decided to change it up and use them for some pictures of my kids picking cherries in the backyard with some friends.

I cut the titles and flowers with my Cricut using the Nifty Fifties cartridge and the Tie The Knot cartridge.  Pickin' with friends was cut with Birthday Cakes.  I also used my Cricut Explore to write the kids names on the yellow paper.

CTMH products used:

CTMH White Daisy Cardstock

CTMH Black Cardstock

CTMH Sweet Leaf Cardstock

CTMH Taste of Summer paper pack - Yellow striped, Purple grid and 

Green Blossom patterns

CTMH Gold Bling Gems

Burlap Ribbon & Dark Pink paper from my stash

Introducing Cricut's newest machine - Cricut Explore One!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

If you're new to the wonderful world of crafting -- or even if you consider yourself to be more of a "basic" crafter -- then Cricut's brand new machine is just for you! This nifty new machine is called the Cricut Explore One™ and it's perfect for crafting beginners and basic crafters because it offers a simplified design-and-cut system that is incredibly user-friendly. The Explore One™ actually offers most of the same features as Cricut's other Explore machines, it's just priced lower!

In addition to its affordable price, here are a few other things about the Cricut Explore One™ that you're sure to love:

• It can cut over 60 different materials, from the most delicate materials like vellum to thicker things like leather. It can also cut cardstock, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather, and more…without complicated settings.
• You'll have free access to Cricut's Design Space™ online software and iPad® app so you'll able to design on your computer or your Pad®. You'll also be able to use a Bluetooth® adapter for wireless cutting.
• The Explore One allows you to cut a wide range of shapes and sizes with exceptional precision, from ¼" tall up to 11½" wide x 23½" tall. You just select the material that you're using on the Smart Set® dial. From there, the machine's Cut Smart® technology will deliver a clean, professional cut.
• You can upload your own images and use your own fonts -- for free!
• Each machine comes with over 25 free 1-click projects and 50+ free images to get them started right away.
• If you want to use the machine to write or score, you can easily swap out the cutting cartridge with the Cricut Explore One™ Accessory Adapter and Pen.

The Cricut Explore One™ makes it easy, fast, and affordable for you to explore your creativity and delight your loved ones with personal handmade projects and gifts! And if you purchase your very own Cricut Explore One™ before the end of May - you'll get free shipping when you use code MAYSHIP!

Bendy Fold Anniversary Card

My Grandparents are celebrating their 65th Wedding Anniversary this month and I wanted to make them a special card.

I ended up going with a free file from Birds Cards that I had downloaded earlier this month.

I went online to see what the traditional colours are for 65th Anniversary - 

Sky Blue according to About.com

In Cricut Design Space I resized the card so that the back part of the card measured 5x5.

Then I made 2 labels - one for the back of the card that was personalized and another for the inside with an Anna Griffin Anniversary sentiment that I found in Design Space.

I used the writing feature with my Cricut Explore with the Pilot Precise V5 pens - I was so impressed with these pens in the Explore.  I took a short video clip with my iPhone as it was writing.  

The fine detail is amazing!  

Inner label with Sentiment from Anna's Garden Cards & Embellishments written with Cricut Explore.

I cut the base of my card using CTMH White Daisy Cardstock 

and covered the front opening with light blue vellum.

I cut the outer frame piece out of CTMH Silver Glitter paper and carefully attached it so nothing stuck to the vellum.  I wanted the vellum to bend with the front of the card and hide the inner sentiment label.   

                                                

I used my CTMH Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge to cut a 5x7 Envelope out of CTMH Glacier Cardstock in keeping with the 65th Sky Blue Anniversary theme. 

Birds Cards cutting files are available free for personal use only.

Close To My Heart products are available for purchase on my CTMH website

Cricut Explore Air & Anna Griffin Cartridge are available at Cricut.com