This week's challenge at Practical Scrappers was to use a die cut machine (any type) so I chose to use my Cricut Expression. I love all the choices I have at my fingertips with my Cricut machines and cartridges.

Here's my layout for this week's challenge:

The photo has been sitting in a box begging to be scrapped since 2004 - yep, I'm a little behind. My son Zack, the little guy in the front, turns 10 today so I guess I better get that entire trip scrapped soon!

I used Animal Kingdom for the animal blackouts and just adhered them to the page. The funky palms were cut from my Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge (cave girl) inked, cut apart and 3d dotted on for dimension. The title letters were welded in Design Studio and cut using Don Juan.

The tag was crumpled and distressed with Tim Holtz Distress inks then spritzed with a perfect pearls mixture. You can't tell in the picture but there is a little shine on the tag when light hits it - fun!

Be sure to stop by Practical Scrappers and check out all the projects that the talented ladies on the Design Team have created and submit your die cut project before Saturday at 5pm ET.

See you next Wednesday on Practical Scrappers, but I have a lot more to share in the meantime here on my blog so be sure to become a follower and visit often.

Happy crafting,
Barb!

Practical Scrappers Friday sketch 1/29/10 (an update)

Here's this weekend's sketch from Practical Scrappers:


And here's my layout using the sketch:


I used DCWV striped paper from the "Spring Stack" for the background paper and mats. I ran the blue photo mat through my Cuttlebug using the "Tiny Bubbles" embossing folder then lightly sanded it to bring out the white core in the paper. I really like how it actually looks like bubbles when sanded!


The title letters were cut on my Cricut using Tear Drop cart, which just may be my newest favorite font cartridge due to it's whimsical playful appearance. "Bubbles" was also run through the Cuttlebug and lightly sanded to reveal the white core.

If you look closely right above the polka dot ribbon that runs across the page, there is a scalloped border. I created this by using an EK Success Corner Adorner "bubbles" punch, removing the corner guide and aligning the punch holes to create a border. By using DCWV adhesive matstack paper, the inside cuts created by the corner punch adhered flat and blended enough so they are barely seen. I'll have to experiment with my other corner adorners now to see how they look as borders.

A scattering of EK Success vellum bubbles completed the layout.



Thanks for looking and...


Happy crafting,
Barb!

I'm a Grand Prize Winner!!!

(originally posted December 1, 2009)

WOW! I won the Grand Prize for the Cricut + YourStory Design Challenge - a fully loaded Gypsy (and ALL the Cricut Cartridges to go with it!!!)

You can find the details about my winning entry, the Disney shape book pictured above, here: http://www.cricut.com/yourstory/

I can't wait to get my Gypsy and start creating some cool paper crafts and scrapbook layouts!!!

Happy crafting,
Barb!