Catch the Cricut Bug to Capture Your Holiday Memories

Lonna Joy Smoot
- Editor, Cricut CHIRP!

ANNOUNCEMENTS!

Hobby Lobby is offering special December promotions on Cricut products. Look for Cricut Expression at $289.99, all cartridges at $39.99 and Gypsy at $249.99 December 13-19.




We recently launched a fun new online card making tool. The purpose? So you can tell you family and friends what you want this holiday season.

So the next time someone asks you what you want this year just send them one of these fun customized cards. Who knows? Maybe you'll get exactly what you request!

PROJECT CORNER AND SPOTLIGHT

Name:

Marlene Gomez

About:

Hi Everyone! My name is Marlene and a SAHM of two handsome boys, ages 1.5 and 4.5. I've been scrapbooking for 4 years. For my birthday, I received the Big Bug and LOVE it!  For Christmas I purchased Design Studio. I can't wait to play with it and share all my projects. Thanks to all the wonderful people at the message board for your inspiration!

Wanda's Project: Christmas Trees

Picture:

Cartridges Used:

Paper Doll Plantin Schoolbook

Instructions:

Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact sizes I used.  However, cuts can be sized to fit your card.  Cartridges Used were Paper Doll Dress Up and Plantin Schoolbook. Cut your cardstock to the size of 10.5 X 5.0 and score your cardstock at 1.25", 2.5", 4.25", 6" and at 8.25". Fold accordion style, making sure that the smallest (1.25" fold) is folded down, as this will be the front of your card. All paper doll cuts were done at 2.75". Manger was done at 3". Animals were about 2". Ink and assemble all pieces as you wish. Cut a 2.5 and a 2.25 oval. Write desired message inside. Place manger, Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus on the 6" fold. Place the Three Kings on the 4.25" fold. And place sheep, camel and message on the 1.25" fold. Adhere star with pop-up dot to center top of the manger.

Crafting Resolution - Preparation for Friday Crops

Today's crafting resolution is from Andrea Boutilier. Thanks for sharing your great idea.

My resolution is to scrapbook 20 pages per month. Scrapbooking is my opportunity to utilize the creative side of my brain, but somehow my office and my home chores get in the way. 2010 will be the start of something great. I am working on getting my space reorganized to allow me to just sit and scrap!

MESSAGE BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

This week's highlighted threads are:

• MERRY CRICUT-MAS TO ALL!!!
• My Book for Cricut/YourStory contest
• Winter Memories Window Mini Album
• Refrigerator Notes - to do list!
• Penguin made with George!

Q. I can't find a cartridge that has a scalloped circle. Can you name some Cricut cartridge which contain a scalloped circle?

A. Absolutely! Several Cricut cartridges have a scalloped circle. Here are a few of them:

• Mini Monograms
• Accent Essentials
• Plantin Schoolbook
• Winter Woodland

Click on the named of the cartridges to view the contents of each cartridge above. Have a great day.

I want to wish all of my Cricut friends and fans a very happy holiday. I am really in the Christmas spirit?my house is decorated with lots of fun Christmas decorations and my tree looks great. My theme is snowmen?with silver ribbons and red berries for added color. Yes, my decorations look wonderful, I have to give myself a pat on the back (hehe!) I am in a good mood and since most of my Christmas shopping is done, I am going to review the new seasonal cartridges in this exploration. There are three new seasonal cartridges, "When It's Cold Outside", "Very Merry Tags", and "Snow Friends".

The great thing about these new cartridges is that you can make them into 3-D items. So, if you are struggling to decorate your tree and you want a new idea, then you can purchase "When it's Cold Outside" because it's full of different snowflake shapes. There are 20 different styles, plus you have layers to add to each of these styles. There are five different designs that you can cut with your Cricut and hang on your tree. I think this would be a fun new idea and make a cute tree, plus you can use paper that you already have and save some money on tree decorations.

If you need some quick original tags for your Christmas presents, then pick up "Very Merry Tags." This cartridge is full of some adorable Christmas tags that are quick and easy to cut with your Cricut. Some examples of images are: bells, reindeer, trees, stockings, round ornaments, candy canes, Christmas tree light bulbs, snowmen, snowflakes, ice skates, and Christmas presents. There are a few phrases that are included: "noel", "ho, ho, ho", and "warm wishes." You also can make solid tag shapes for each of the images and phrases to give that layered look and use them plain or with other cartridges to make your own unique design.

If you want a cute card or scrapbook page to go with your Christmas pictures, make your scrapbook pages in advance so all you have to do is print your images and add them to your pages. This is one way to get ahead on those time-consuming scrapbook pages. I can truly say that because I am always behind on my scrapbooking. Now you can get a cartridge filled with ten different styles of adorable snowmen. Each snowman comes with a variety of layers to cut out?like their shirts, hats, scarfs, etc. Just think how cute these would also be on a Christmas tree?too bad I decorated my tree before I started exploring these cartridges. As another idea, these images would also make great tags for your Christmas presents, or you could put them on the front of a card and "bam!" your Christmas cards are ready to send.

Now that I have finished exploring these new cartridges I can get back to finishing my Christmas presents. I'm using the Knifty Knitter to make scarves plus I'm using my Cuttlebug to emboss different designs on my Christmas cards (see picture). Having all these fun crafty tools sure makes it easier to come up with a really cool Christmas card?my only problem is there are so many possibilities and not enough time to create them. Good luck to all of you as you make your holiday presents and crafts.

Crafty Kimber