Cricut Christmas In July: MIN Watercolour Christmas Card

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

I love the Make It Now Projects in Cricut Design Space, especially the pen projects.  

Here is a MIN Project called Watercolor Christmas Card.  

Instead of using watercolours, I decided to try out a new set of Prismacolour Pencil Crayons that I had purchased off of a local garage sale site.   It's been a long time since I've done any colouring but I really liked how smooth these pencils are - not bad for a $7 purchase.

I used a Pilot Precise V5 Black Pen in my Explore,  it was perfect for the fine lines in this project.
After colouring I added a sequin and a bit of silver cord for embellishment.

The images in this Make It Now Project are from the Anna's Christmas Cards and Embellishments Cartridge - on sale for $14.99 during Cricut's Christmas In July.


Also on sale for Christmas In July:

Cricut Explore Air Bundles starting at $229.99

40% off Supplies and Materials

Cartridges $14.99 or less

Clearance items starting at $.99

Free Shipping on all orders to the US and Canada using code JULYCHRISTMAS

CTMH Blossom Scrapbook Layout with Springtime Wishes Thincut Dies

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


Working on layouts right now using up retired CTMH cardstock from 2015.

This layout uses the Blossom paper pack from last year's Seasonal Expressions 2 Idea Book and I got my inspiration from the cover of the 2016 Seasonal Expressions 1 Idea Book.   I love the new Thin Cuts metal dies that CTMH introduced in this Idea Book back in January.  

I also used a pattern from the Regatta Workshops Your Way Guide.  The Workshops Your Way program was also introduced in the SE1 Idea Book - the layouts for these workshop kits are available to download for free right off my CTMH website.   Each guide is only available until that Idea Book retires so make sure you download the current layouts and then check back in September for the Holiday WYW layouts - each guide features card and scrapbooking layouts.  

My son, the clown...

Springtime Wishes Flower on Blossom patterned cardstock with Lagoon and Pear die cut accents.  Embellished with Coral Reef Sequins and Bitty Sparkles.

Large cluster of Springtime Wishes Flowers using the cover of the SE1 as inspiration.   Embellished with Bitty Sparkles.  I cut the title and date pieces with my Cricut and sponged the edges of the Sunset and Glacier Cardstock with the coordinating inks.  

 I used a Ranger Clear Embossing Pen in my Cricut Explore to write the words out, then heat embossed with Ranger Super Fine While Embossing Powder.  

CTMH Products Used In This Project:

Springtime Wishes Stamp Set (retired)

Springtime Wishes Thin Cut Dies (retired)

Blossom Paper Pack (retired)

Sunset Cardstock

Pear Cardstock

Sweet Leaf Cardstock

Lagoon Cardstock

Glacier Cardstock

Sorbet Cardstock

Coral Reef Sequins

Bitty Sparkles

Glacier Extra Thick Twine

Mini Staples

Mini Stapler

Ranger™ White Super Fine Embossing Powder

Glacier Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Sunset Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Cricut Cartridges Used:

CTMH Art Philosophy - Frame 

Days and Dates - Oval

Haley Font from Cricut Access

Other Products Used:

Ranger Clear Embossing Pen

Sizzix Big Shot Machine

Sizzix Magnetic Platform for Wafer Thin Dies

Skipping Rocks Layout with CTMH Jackson Paper Pack

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

I just completed another layout from a day trip to the lake using  CTMH Jackson Paper Pack with the latest CTMH Cricut Cartridge - Artistry.  

I used the layout pattern included in the CTMH Zoe Workshop On The Go Scrapbook Kit.  

The Skipping Rocks title is cut from the font on the CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge. 

I cut the journaling tag from the CTMH Artistry Cricut cartridge and wrote on it using my Cricut Explore with the Artistry font (writing style) and a Pilot Precise V5 Pen.  I sponged the edges with CTMH Glacier Ink.  

I embossed the CTMH Glacier cardstock with the CTMH Woodgrain Embossing Folder.

The date tag is cut from the CTMH Artistry Cricut cartridge and I used the Artistry font (writing style) to write the date on the tag with my Cricut Explore. 

Close To My Heart Products Used:

CTMH Jackson Paper Pack (retired)

CTMH Cocoa Cardstock

CTMH Juniper Cardstock

CTMH Barn Red Cardstock (retired)

CTMH Glacier Cardstock

CTMH White Daisy Cardstock

CTMH Bronze Shimmer Trim

CTMH Woodgrain Embossing Folder

CTMH Thin 3-D Foam Tape

CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge

CTMH Glacier Exclusive Inks

CTMH Zoe Workshop On The Go (layout template)

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

Cricut Flash Sale: 40% Off All Supplies + Free Shipping

Cricut Flash Sale: 40% Off All Supplies + Free Shipping

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

Cricut's Flash Sale is going on now! 

This weekend, shop the Cricut Flash Sale and get 40% off all supplies. Stock up on all of those much needed supplies and throughout March, all orders ship for free with code MARCHSHIP (No Minimum!). 

Hurry over to Cricut to catch these savings before they are gone! 

Cricut Explore Make It Now Card with CTMH Hopscotch Paper

One of the features in Cricut Design Space Software is the Make It Now projects.  There are all sorts of projects available, like cards, scrapbook pages, home decor and vinyl projects just to name a few.

One of my first projects was a Make It Now Birthday Card.  It was really easy - they give you a list of materials and instructions.

The machine cut, scored and wrote "Happy Birthday". I added the liner piece which was also a cut from the project, then went over the Happy Birthday sentiment with a white Jelly Roll gel pen since the silver pen that came with the machine was too light for that colour of cardstock.  Whole project only took a few minutes from start to finish.

You can also customize the Make It Now projects by adding different images from your own cartridges or from the Cricut subscription images.

CTMH products used:

Hopscotch patterned paper & CTMH Sunset solid cardstock

 Visit my CTMH website for more information on these products.

See all the Free Projects in Cricut Design Space

Check out the Cricut Explore & Bundles at Cricut.com

They also have the wireless adapter and other accessories available online.

Free shipping with code: FREESHIP35

Cricut Explore First Project

Here is the project that I did with the materials included with my Cricut Explore.  It was very quick - two pieces of cardstock and the silver Cricut pen.   I did this right after unpacking my Explore.  I think the pen had been sitting on an angle for a while. The ink started to fade away as it was writing.  I left it overnight standing cap down and it works great now and I'm storing it horizontally like usual. 

Here's a quick video I took with my phone as it was printing and cutting. I love how quiet this machine is compared to the Expression 2.

See all the Free Projects in Cricut Design Space

Check out the Cricut Explore & Bundles at Cricut.com

They also have the wireless adapter and other accessories available online.

Free shipping with code: FREESHIP35

Unpacking Cricut Explore

My Cricut Explore arrived on Friday - I was so happy to get it.  My daughter had ordered it through her work so I wasn't able to login to get tracking information. We were expecting it on Monday - so I am going to be doing alot of crafting this weekend.  I'm so excited.

I put off a couple of projects because I wanted to see if this machine would live up to all the hype that I've been hearing the past couple weeks because of the release of the Explore Air on HSN.com   After watching a ton of YouTube videos, joining some Cricut Explore Facebook Groups and playing with the Design Space software, I decided to order the Explore now with the Bluetooth Adapter instead of waiting for the Air to be released in Canada.

Open the box and there is a package of materials in an envelope and instructions for setting up in the smaller booklet.

So you get some cardstock for the starter project and there are a couple sheets of Duck Tape, a sheet of Cricut Iron-on and a sheet of Cricut Vinyl.

The Cricut Explore comes with it's own bag, which is great. I bought a bag for my Expression 2 at the same time that I ordered the Explore. 

You also get a mat, a Cricut pen and the adapter for usb and power supply.

Nice looking machine - very sleek.  

Here it is beside my E2.   They are almost the same size. The E2 looks larger than it actually is.

The Explore has great built in storage.  There is a section on the top and once the top and front open there is a couple hidden compartments for blades, housing and tools. 

Inside the housing on the left holds either a pen or a scoring tool.  And the blade housing is on the right.

While I was waiting for delivery of the Explore I ordered a Score Tool and a Bluetooth Adapter from Amazon.ca.   There is a slot on the right side of the machine for the Bluetooth Adapter and the Score Tool is interchangeable with the pen. 

So that's the unboxing of my new Explore.  

In my next post I will show the making of the included project. 

Check out the Cricut Explore & Bundles at Cricut.com

They also have the wireless adapter and other accessories available online.

Free shipping with code: FREESHIP35