Time has been flying since we moved.  Getting adjusted to the new town and even the new time zone for us has been exciting.  But with all of the great distractions, it is time to get started and make time for getting creative and to make our handmade Christmas Cards.

This year I need to incorporate our new address along with a Christmas theme.  So I decided to make a Christmas ornament using the Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge, and a We’ve Moved rubber stamp from PSX. (I just wish this stamp had two cats in the window to represent my two boys).

Now deciding what color to make the ornament and back panel.  I choose………. Christmas green and red (how appropriate – LOL)

I used the Cricut Expression Machine to cut the ornaments.  Then I used a Cutter Bee paper trimmer to cut the red back panel.

Some other supplies that I will use is Copic Sketch markers, Elmer’s permanent dot runner, pop dots, natural polished hemp rope, Memento tuxedo black dye ink, and some sea shells from our beach (if you don’t have a beach near by, then you can always purchase shell online or in a craft store).

I printed our address on blue cardstock and used an oval paper punch from punch bunch to cut them out.  The reason why I had to do that was the space that the stamp provided was way to small for our address and if I did write that tiny, no one would have been able to read it.  So when I stamped the image on white cardstock I just masked that part of the image so it wouldn’t stamp.   Then to add some dimension I used a pop dot to raise the address from the card.  The finishing touch was attaching the sea shell with the hemp rope along with our inside message.

Wishing All Of Your Dreams Come True This Holiday Season

Merry Christmas Everyone

]]> http://joanscraftworld.com/its-time-for-our-2011-handmade-christmas-cards-using-joys-of-the-season-cricut-cartridge/feed/ 0 http://joanscraftworld.com/making-handmade-easter-cards-using-rubber-stamps-copic-sketch-markers-cricut-expression-machine/ http://joanscraftworld.com/making-handmade-easter-cards-using-rubber-stamps-copic-sketch-markers-cricut-expression-machine/#comments Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:10:25 +0000 joanscraftworld http://joanscraftworld.com/?p=2557 Ever since I went to my local rubber stamp convention, I have so many new ideas for handmade cards.  And the best part is that it is not costing any more money, since I have all the supplies.  I am using all of the stamps that I have already owned but am using them in a totally different way.  I went from just stamping on cardstock to making 3D images.

So here is a bunch of supplies that I have used to make this Easter Card.  Rubber stamps from Stamps Happen Inc, and Stampabilities.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Cutter Bee Scissors, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page paper punch, Cardstock and alot of Copic Sketch Markers.

I also used my Cricut Expression machine to cut out the border grass from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and also used the Pooh and Friends Cricut cartridge for the small patches of grass.

The template was used to cut (with X-Acto knife) small lines and then folded to make a 3-D platform.  It took awhile to get the folds just right, but it was sure worth the effort.

It was so much fun coloring these stamped Easter eggs, then I cut them out and added them  onto the card.

I almost forgot to tell you.  I wanted the front of the Easter card to be really simple since the inside had all of the fun stuff .  So all I did was stamped Happy Easter on the bottom corner and then I used some Easter egg ribbon from Bobbin Ribbon, that I wrapped around the card and made a bow on the front.  That’s it really simple.

Look how cute this Easter card came out.  This little chick is so adorable.

Happy Easter Everyone!

1.  Go to a Parade or watch it on television

2.  Eat Corned Beef & Cabbage

3.  Drink Green Beer

4.  Where clothing that is Green

Well that is all that I can think of, anyway I found a cute Mug of Beer (or root beer) on the Smiley Cricut Cartridge and decided to make it into a Saint Patrick’s Day card.  After I set it all up on my Cricut Gypsy, I used the Cricut Expression to cut out all the pieces.

I added some lime green Stickles to the foam of the beer, I just have to add some “bling” to this card, it makes it look so much better.  Then used a rubber stamp from PSX (Personal Stamp Exchange) with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink for the sentiment on the cover.

~ Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone ~

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

After looking though all of my Cricut Cartridges, I decided to use my Gypsy and the download cartridge called Smiley Cards.  There is an image of a present that has the cutest smiley face, and I know that it will make Tyler smile when he opens up this card.

What I did to put some “bling” on this card was used some Stickles (cotton candy color) on the cheeks and mouth to give this smile a little shimmer.  I also used two rubber stamps.  One is from Inkadinkado with Tyler’s name and the other is the Happy Birthday rubber stamp from Hero Arts.  The ink that I used is Memento and the color is Paris Dusk (dark blue).

I just think that this cricut card idea turned out fantastic.  Making handmade greeting cards is the way to go!  Wishing Tyler a Very Happy Birthday.

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Look how cute this tea cup turned out.

I made a tea bag label with beige cardstock and stamped happy birthday with a Hero Arts stamp set. I layered the tea cup onto first lavender Stampin Up cardstock, that was then layered onto polka dot paper from  DCWV the summer stack paper pack, then one more layer on burgundy cardstock that I also used a border punch by EK Success that has birthday candles.  I used gold stickles for the flames of each candle and then also used Martha Stewart Opaque white marker for the base of the candle.

This is just another great Cricut Card Idea that is sure to be a keeper in your handmade card file.  You don’t need alot of paper for this tea cup so you can use up some scraps that you have laying around if you like.

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

So after looking though my library of Cricut cartridges, I Love them all, but picking just one favorite would have to be… 3 Birds on Parade.  I purchased this cartridge when it was an exclusive on HSN, but now you can buy this cartridge everywhere cricut cartridges are sold.

This Cricut Cartridge has a bird for every occasion, really fun phrases, accessories for each bird.  Look how cute they are ~ I love the football one ~ Are you ready for some football?

Then there is another cartridge that I received with my Gypsy update, and it has got to be my next favorite.  It is the Smiley Card Gypsy download cartridge.   This cartridge is not available as a cartridge it was only available as a download as a promotion.  I do hope that if you didn’t get this download because you don’t have a Gypsy or the you missed the deadline to get this cute download, that  one day real soon, Provo Craft will make this a cartridge that everyone can have.  The images on this cartridge can really make you smile that is how cute they are.

This past year has been a little crazy, with my health being not so good and just normal life situations that we encountered.  So, I can’t wait for the New Year.  2011 is going to be the best year yet.  I plan on making more cards using my Cricut Expression Machine,also my Cricut Gypsy and Cuttlebug and then sharing all of my Cricut Card Ideas with all of you.   I am looking forward to a fun, happy, healthy and creative year.

Wishing You and Your Family A Happy New Year ~ 2011

Make if a Great Year and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

]]> http://joanscraftworld.com/my-favorite-2010-cricut-cartridges/feed/ 0 http://joanscraftworld.com/my-favorite-cricut-card-ideas-from-2010/ http://joanscraftworld.com/my-favorite-cricut-card-ideas-from-2010/#comments Thu, 30 Dec 2010 22:12:02 +0000 joanscraftworld http://joanscraftworld.com/?p=2408 I have had so much fun this year making and sharing the cards that I have made with my Cricut Expression Machine with all of you.  I can’t believe all the Cricut Card Ideas that you can have with just one cartridge, then when you have alot of cricut cartridges the possibilities are endless.

But looking though all of the posts that I have made, I think that my favorite  Cricut Card is….drum roll

This was the card that I made for Mother’s Day.  I used the Sweethearts Cricut cartridge for this and some flowers from Walk in my Garden cartridge.  Our Mom’s loved it I think because they were able to see our faces on a card.

My second place favorite Cricut Card is….

I made this birthday card for my brother-in-law after he ran the New York City marathon.  I used the Paisley Cricut cartridge for the sneaker and for the background was a city border from Plantin Schoolbook cartridge.  I put his running number on the back along with the same medallion that he received on the side of the sneaker. It looked like a subway token.

I have always said that making handmade greeting cards is like you are giving a present too!

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!