Cricut Christmas Cartridges
Well continuing on with my holiday preparation, I’ve been considering purchasing the Cricut Joys of the Season Christmas Cartridge. I love the Christmas Cheer cartridge so much, I can’t believe I need another one. But Joys of the Season does look really cute… so here’s a side by side comparison just in case someone else is struggling with the same decision.
Cricut Christmas Cheer Cartridge:
Cricut Christmas Cheer Cartridge
And here is the Cricut Joys of the Season Cartridge for comparison:
Cricut Joys of the Season Cartridge
The thing that I really like about the Joys of the Season cartridge is (1) the 12 days of Christmas set and (2) the gift tags. I think those would really come in handy. That does it, another cartridge added to the wishlist. I just hope I get it in time to use those gift tags on Christmas presents this year!
While I’m in this wild and crazy early Christmas preparation mode, I’ve got one more bit of Cricut Christmas inspiration for you: Christmas ornaments. Created by Greta Hammond for the Creative Xpress Design team and totally adorable!!
Cricut Christmas Ornaments
link to view close-ups of each ornament and a supply list:
http://creativexpress.com/community/xpressions/showthread.php?t=30347
Buying Cricut Cartridges
Just a quick reminder for my fellow Cricut addicts… when you are shopping for Cricut Cartridges, be sure to check on eBay. You can really get some great deals there, even pre-orders for the new releases like the new Sesame Street cartridges! I am just mentioning this because it drives me crazy to hear people complaining about the crappy selection and total lack of customer service at Michael’s and JoAnns. Wake up people, you have a choice! I love getting a great deal and being able to shop from home without dragging the kids out to the store. And the happy mail days!! The kids have started doing a happy mail dance and enjoying it just as much as me because we’re always receiving something fun — books, toys or clothes for them or scrapbook supplies for me… so much happiness inside little packages.
So anyway, because I know people don’t often think about checking ebay, and sometimes it’s a hassle to dig through the many many listings there, I’ve got a handy dandy widget on this blog to make it more convenient to shop for Cricut stuff. Just check out the links below on the right side.
And please come back and tell me here about the deals you scored. Shop Victoriously!! 
Christmas Papers for Christmas Cards and Christmas Outfits?
Making all those Christmas cards yesterday really has me in a holiday spirit! Today I’ve was starting to plan out what the kids should wear for their Christmas picture session and the crazy obsessive scrapbooker in me thinks I should make sure it coordinates with the paper I’m going to use for the cards. Yes I am a little nuts, I admit it! Now unfortunately I haven’t been paying too much attention to papers lately so I’m not totally sure what’s out there. Anyone have any suggestions? Here are the outfits I’m looking at.. they’re from Gymboree.
For the boys (they’re 6 and 8):
And for the girls — they’re almost 3 — just the outfit on the left. Yes of course they have to match (I don’t do it every day, but for special occasions it’s a must lol. We’ll do different hair ribbons on them but that’s it. I’m getting the sweater dresses but that won’t be for the Christmas pictures, it’s just so adorable I couldn’t resist :
How cute is that faux fur hat!?!?!? I would love to also get them these wool dress coats but I think Mark would lose it. He lets me get away with a lot of cute outfits, scrapbooking supplies galore, etc. but I think he would draw the line at something we’d use so little before they outgrow them.
So anyway, i can’t find any Christmas papers to go with these outfits. I haven’t bought the outfits yet so I can keep looking but I really do have my heart set on them. Here are the Christmas scrapbooking papers I have found that I love but don’t go perfectly. Maybe I will just have to make it work.
Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Christmas Scrapbook Paper
I only have about half the pack left of Figgy Pudding after my card making craze yesterday. Here are some other Christmas papers I like which don’t seem to work with the red white & black outfits:
Ok now that I see them all next to each other, I am really close to ordering BG Wassail!
Cards For Heroes Challenge
I am so proud of myself right now! This morning I read about the Cards for Heroes Challenge and this afternoon I had an hour and a half while the kids were napping. In that time I made 20 cards and packaged them up just in time for the mailman to arrive. I was worried if I didn’t send them right off they would just sit here forever and I’d end up missing the deadline. I was in such a rush I didn’t even get a change to take a picture for the blog!! No way could I have finished them all so quickly without my beloved Cricut Expression!
I will describe them for you though. I used the Cricut Christmas Cheer Cartridge to make 3 fancy little trees in across the front of the card. Supplies I used:
- Cricut Expression — of course!!
- Cricut Christmas Cheer Cartridge
- Basic Grey Figgy Pudding paper
- Bazzill cardstock
- Xyron adhesive — key for getting those little swirlies properly stuck down without coating everything - including myself and the envelope — in glue
They were super simple and totally adorable. I hope some hardworking military guy or gal enjoys sending them to their rellies for Christmas!
Christmas Tree Card
My inspiration was this cute little card posted at twopeas. The creator of that card, GIPFunny, used a Sizzlet die and then brads to embellish the tree. It looks absolutely adorable but I don’t have the patience for that (I never would have finished in time!!). Using the Cricut to cut out the trees and the Xyron to adhere them saved me A TON of time.
here is a link to GIPFunny’s card:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1186725&f=n
I haven’t figured out yet what to use as a Christmas card for our family cards this year.. maybe I’ll just do more of these.
Cricut Storybook Cartridge
I am loving the Cricut Storybook Cartridge! Here is the description from the Provocraft Website:
Recapture the imagination and art of nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and fables. With the Storybook cartridge, it is easy to create flourishes that can be layered onto each letter and add that extra childhood magic to any project. Other features include decorative corners, borders, frames, and icons all guaranteed to give your project a “happily ever after.”
Cricut Storybook Cartridge
I have so many ideas in mind for this cartridge! The swirly vine border can be used on just about any layout and how incredibly cute is that owl in the super tall skinny tree? I can’t wait until my girls are big enough to have a Princess party, I’m planning to use this cartridge for the invitations along with a Disney cartridge. So fun! But since I don’t have anything ready to show you, let me share these super creative projects using the Cricut Storybook cartridge!
First of all, 2 super cute cards from shelly49:
Cricut Storybook Cards
I just love that “Hi” card with the owl and the scalloped trim. The font is perfect for the word Hi too.
links:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1375217
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1375383
And one amazing scrapbook page from peasful mama:
Cricut Storybook Scrapbook Page Layout
She used the Storybook and Graphically Speaking cartridges. I love the daisies in the “all” letters, the flowers, the bling, the texture and all the swirly girly happiness!
link: http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1386544
And while we’re talking about Storybook settings, how amazing is this picture? it was taken and posted at twopeas by Dewey06, it’s a Children’s Museum but wouln’t it make the most beautiful children’s nursery?? I might just need one more little one just to try out this decor design!
here’s a link to the original post:
http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/pg.asp?cmd=display&layout_id=1288405
Cricut Dust Covers
Follow up to my last post — I found Cricut Dust covers on ebay! There are several patterns to choose from. Here’s a link to the Cricut Dust Covers.
Halloween Card made with Cricut Expression and a Cricut Dust Cover!
Cricut Pumpkins Halloween Card by Deanna Marie
I am loving this Halloween (or Fall or Thanksgiving?) Pumpkin Card made by Deanna Marie and posted in her scrapbook.com gallery here: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image&id=1750003&type=searchwords&s=cricut&page=1&vote=0 . So cute! I love the googly eyes, they are perfect, and the ribbon for a top on each pumpkin. It would make an adorable Harvest party invitation, Halloween party invite, or an invitation to a pumpkin carving get together!
Also today I found this super cute dust cover for the Cricut Expression. I do not sew so I can’t make one, I wish ProvoCraft sold them!
Cricut Expression Dust Cover
Cricut Expression Rolling Totes
I have a real dilemma here. Which rolling tote to purchase for the Cricut Expression? I definitely need to be able to take it on the go, I don’t think I can scrapbook without it anymore! But I also don’t want to damage it by tossing it into my crop bag. So here are the two Cricut bags I am looking at:
Cricut Expression Rolling Tote
Cricut Expression Rolling Tote
This first one is available on ebay. It has adorable polka dots and cute side pockets. It is not made by ProvoCraft but it was designed for the Expression and it has straps inside to hold the Expression machine securely. And it appears to have plenty of extra room for cartridges and accessories. It has a telescoping handle and wheels.
The other Cricut storage bag one I was looking at is also on eBay as well as other Cricut retailers. It looks like this:
Cricut Wheeled Storage Tote
It is also a wheeled bag and it has an extending handle to pull it like a suitcase, but I just read that it doesn’t fit the Cricut Expression. Pfffft. It’s only for the regular size Cricut. OK so not much of a dilemma after all! I’m tagging this for my wishlist so hubby knows what to shop for!
Fall Altered Printers Cart
I am loving this amazing altered printers cart posted by stampmom9 at scrapbook.com’s gallery. She used several different Cricut cartridges to make this amazing work of art: Home Accents, My Community, Disney Friends, Doodlecharm, 50 States. I just love the Chip (or is that Dale??) next to the big tree. So fun and whimsical! The swirls on the corners are beautiful and I love the flowers, leaves, and pumpkins inside the various boxes along with her family pictures. Now I have to find four of these printer’s carts and make one for every season!! I’ll be haunting estate sales and flea markets for the next few years ha ha!
Altered Printers Cart - Fall Theme
LINK: http://www.scrapbook.com/gallery/?m=image&id=1727615&type=searchwords&s=cricut&start=100&page=1&vote=0
Cricut Accent Essentials Cartridge Home Decor Project
Altered Tin Project using Cricut Accent Essentials Cartridge
I should be sleeping but instead I’m up surfing for more Cricut Ideas. I found this incredibly beautiful home decor project using the Cricut Accent Essentials Cartridge. Tammy Tutterow deisgned it for Cricut and posted it on two peas. She used Basic Grey Figgy Pudding papers, Prima flowers, and tons of yummy texture!! I love it and am on the hunt now for tins to alter using my Cricut!
If you’re looking for this Cricut cartridge, here are some links for you: Cricut Accent Essentials Cartridge
