My Cricut Explore is HERE!

My Cricut Explore is HERE and I have been super busy trying all the new features that are now available to me for crafting.  First, I want to tell you how well it cuts Stampin' Up! 80lb cardstock.  I have always had trouble with the finer more delicate cuts with my Cricut and this cardstock.  Now, no problem!  Cuts like butter!  I have also tried using the draw function to fill in lettering, then cut the shape. Journaling, anyone???  Now, I just tried cutting a vector of my Sock Monkey stamp set.  It works!!!  I need to resize the banana, hat and cupcake a wee bit, but other then that, it's ready to go!

Here is a quick video I made showing you how to do this.  Please excuse the lighting and grain. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hbHsof4X9I

And here is an example of the journaling you can do:

While We Wait...

I know that many of us are patiently (or impatiently ;)) waiting for our Cricut Explore to arrive with the exclusive Anna Griffin content.  I thought I would create something you can make right now with your current Cricut machine.

Materials Used:

• Cricut Cartridge Winter Wonderland by Anna Griffin
• Anna Griffin Willow collection cardstock
• Anna Griffin All Occasion card making kit
• Anna Griffin Chalkboard stamp set
• Anna Griffin Fresh Tints ink pad
• Anna Griffin Fluted Damask Cricut Cuttlebug folder set
• Stampin' Up! solid card stock in Regal Rose, Very Vanilla & Green Galore
• Stampin' Up! border punch
• Doily
• Pearl flower pin

Anna Griffin - New Toys

Did you get the new Cricut Explore with Anna Griffin content?  I can't wait to get mine at the end of this month!  In the meantime, guess what came in today?  New Anna toys!

I am so excited to try her Chalkboard Stamp set!  I also bought her ink pads in the Perfect Pastels collection. I will show you pics as soon as I give them a go.

Archiver's - New Toys For Me

I  am so sad that Archivers is going out of business.  It was a fun place to visit during Circle Mania.  I figured I better use up a gift card I got last Christmas before the online portion goes out too.

They have a few October Afternoon collections still in stock so I chose Farm Girl.  In addition, I added a few more Tim Holtz distress inks to my collection and a paper collection for the men in my life.  

2014 Valentine's Day Blog Hop

Welcome to our 2014 Valentine's Day Blog Hop!  I am kicking off the hop and am excited to share a variety of Valentine's Day projects with you created by me and my crafty Cricut Circle friends.  For my project, I used my newly acquired Cricut Artbooking cartridge and created the Valentine's Day mini included on this awesome cartridge.

Materials Used:

• Cricut Artbooking art cartridge
• Stampin' Up! Loves Me designer paper
• Stampin' Up! Large Hearts Eyelets
• Stampin' Up! grosgrain ribbon
• Misc pink and white ribbon from my stash
• Stampin' Up! Button Latte button
• Stampin' Up! 1/2" white library clip
• Inkssentials white enamel accents
• Stampin' Up! Glossy Accents
• Pearl hat pin
• White Gelly Roll pen

This was the first time I used the cartridge Artbooking and was pleased at how fast and easy it was to create this mini album.  The pages and embellishments to the mini can all be found on page 48 and 49 of the booklet.  First, you simply select the size you would like your mini to be.  I chose to create the mini in the recommended relative size of 8".  Next, you cut all the pages for the mini.  Assemble the pages in the order you like and combine them together using ribbon or book rings.  Continue to cut the embellishments, still using the 8" relative size, and adhere to your pages in any manner/style you would like.  I added a few more embellishments to dress the mini up a bit more:

Heart eyelets to weave my ribbon through.

White enamel accents to highlight the heart on the envelope page.

Glossy accents on the heart flowers and on the "LOVE" lettering for added interest and durability.

The bread clip hanging from the ribbon bow.

And a pearl hat pin and ribbon bow.

That's it.  The total time to create it was about two hours.    I love the simplicity in the creation of the mini.  Everything is already sized for you and images grouped for a cohesive theme.  All  you have to do is cut and adhere. 

To thank you for visiting this hop, I will be giving away some blog candy.  Simply leave a comment and a way for me to reach you.  I will be choosing a winner on Tuesday morning, February 11. 

Your next stop on the hop is with HappyScrapper64.   Be sure to visit her and each stop along the way.  Happy Valentine's Day creating my crafty friends!

Here is the entire blog list in case you get lost along the way:

1. RockinRenee - I came, I saw, I created.  You are HERE

2. HappyScrapper64 - Random Thoughts of a Scrapbooker   Go here NEXT

3. gonescrappin - Col's Creative Corner 

4. Hrvatica  - Croatian Crafter

5. Scootingranny - Scootingranny's World

6. MamaC - Carolyn's Creative Corner

7. Greenie8705 - Gina Beana's Crafts
8. MariaJ - Stamp, Cut, Create!
9. Di&Co - Creating Is Like Breathing
10. Dragonfly50 - Designs by Dragonfly
11. TiffysMom - Angie's Paper Passion
12. *Violette* - Whimsical Treasures
13. cricutaddicted - ScrappingForMoreFun
14. LoriSjogren - The Singing Shell
15. Scrapalette - Around the Block with Scrapalette

Anna Griffin ALL ABOUT LOVE Card Kit ~ Set 4 Happy Valentine's Day

Here is the final set created from Anna Griffin's All About Love card kit.  These cards are all perfect for Valentine's Day. 

That's a total of 20 cards!  One of the great things about Anna's kit's is that you can create the amount of cards intended and still have left over bits and pieces to create with. 

Anna Griffin ALL ABOUT LOVE Card Kit ~ Set 3 Me to You

Here is the third set of cards I made using Anna Griffin's All About Love card kit.  This is a great universal set that you can send to anyone you love. 

Anna Griffin All About Love Card Kit ~ Set 2 Anniversaries & Engagements

Here is the second set I created from Anna Griffin's All About Love Card Kit.  This set centers around anniversaries and engagements.

Anna Griffin All About Love Card Kit ~ Set 1 For My One & Only

Whew!  I have been busy crafting with Anna's new All About Love Card Kit.  The kit comes with enough material to make 20 cards.  And, I made ALL 20!  I will be sharing them with you over the next few days, so be sure to come back and visit. 

Circle Mania III - Christmas Tags

Here is the third class in the lineup: