CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION
Apparently, Kate's ABCs is all the rage. At least that's what I find on the cricut.com message board. I have to admit, I agree with you! As soon as I got this cartridge, I dived into the handbook and started creating. I found some sticky notes, wrote my project ideas down, and posted them on the handbook pages. Now, to find the time to make the entire project list! I did find some time to make a few projects, though. I made a really cute "ABC" sign for my niece's room using Kate's ABCs, and I made myself a May home décor item using Florals Embellished.
  Florals Embellished reminds me of pattered quilts. Notice that the flower on my project has six different layers all combined to make one flower! I added the pearls to the design to make it three-dimensional. The creative features on this cartridge are: Layer 1, Layer 2, Silhouette, Silhouette Blackout, Phrase, and Shadow. Now's the time to start making those Easter and Mother's Day cards, and these flower designs would be so cute for either. There are a bunch of different types of flowers (from sunflowers to tulips); some with leaves, others without. This cartridge also comes with fun patterns in circles and diamonds, and in filigree, paisley, and raindrop shapes. A few examples of the phrases on this cartridge are: "Happy Mother's Day" (see pic), "You're the Best," "My Mother, My Friend," "Thank You So Much," "With All My Heart," "You Deserve the Best," "Love You," "Amazing," "Genuine," "Queen," "XOXO" (this would be really cute for a Valentine's wood project!), "Best Wishes," and "Godmother."
 Now for the Kate's ABCs project--I love this cartridge so much! If you see it in stores you will want to pick it up right away, because if you wait the cartridge could be gone. The creative features on this cartridge are: Layer 1, Layer 2, Phrase, Baby Girl Font 1, Baby Girl Font 2, and Baby Girl Font 2 Shadow. When I first glanced at the Baby Girl Font 1 images (this font is the letter centered in the middle of a scalloped square), I thought about making the whole alphabet on wood blocks to decorate a baby's room. You could easily build a pyramid of them on a shelf. I don't have any kids, so I decided to wait and do this for my next baby niece. The project I ended up creating was the "ABC" phrase on a wood block (see pic). I added the cluster of butterflies and some girly nic knacks. Some other examples of phrases that you can cut with this cartridge are: "123," "BFFS," "Buddies," "No Boys Allowed," "Cute as a Button," "Sweet," "For Queen Bee," "Is for Egg," "Is for Teacup," "Is for Ladybug," "Is for Mushroom," "Adorable," "Dress Up," "Bubble Bath," "Pets," "Blossom," "Play Date," and "Picnic at the Park."
The other project that I am in the middle of is a home décor item for Easter. I am using the letters from Baby Girl Font 2 and spelling out the word "EGGS" on some wood blocks painted brown. I am going to cut the bunny image from Kate's ABCs (page 34 in the handbook) and place it next to the letter "E"; the flower pot (page 67) would be great to place behind the letter "S". I like glitter, pearls, and sparkly accents so I will be adding a bunch of girly touches to my wood blocks. Other images that are included on this cartridge are: four different styles of hats, a wagon with flowers, a bird, a bunny, a queen bee, house slippers, a tea cup, kittens, a child in rain gear with an umbrella, an owl, a purse, an apple, a winter coat, dress shoes, flowers, a cat and fish bowl, butterflies in a jar, a ladybug, a hat with a butterfly net, mushrooms, a little girl reading a book, a tea pot, a tricycle, and a bath tub.
Well this wraps up my exploration for this week. Happy Crafting!
Crafty Kimber |