We're Back and Our Guest Designer as Promised is Steph Guerra !

Typically, Steph just loves to do cards (as I've noted below), however, I wanted her to design a home deco project and I just love this!  So if you have a teen, pre-teen or if you just love it like I do; below are the instructions on how to put this together.

But first, lets get to know her:



This is Steph!



She is 18 years old and she hails from South Florida.

She has had her Cricut for approximately a year and a half.

Her other fave tools: Cuttlebug, ATG, Gypsy

She owns 143 carts (Lucky!)

She has two siblings and she doesn't feel she has talent; she

states this is just something she likes to do.   I really believe she

has so much talent that I'm linking you to her blog. 

Can you say Fabulous? http://lovetocreatecards.blogspot.com/
You really just have to visit; you will be an instant follower.

She will be a Freshman in College next year.  Her

Major: Not 100% sure but she's leaning towards English Major



DIRECTIONS

This is a hanging to hang on the front door for the New Year'
My thought is what a great thing to do each month and
re-decorate for each month. 
Cart Names: Smiley Cards    (Smiley Faces)

Songbird  (2011)

Sesame Street font  (Happy New Year)

Batman   (1/1/11)

She used the gypsy to set up the icons to cut them out.

This really was a simple project so there aren't too many steps

1. Cut out the 2011 bigger than the rest.

2. Then cut out the Happy New Year and 1/1/11 at a smaller size and place on top of the hanging.

3. The hanging is cut at 8x5.

4. Cut out the smiley faces with it's layers and paste onto wall hanging

5. Paper used is from the Tim Holtz Lost and Found Paper Pad

Let me know if you have any questions.  Again, I want to apologize for being late at posting.  I have literally had seven, yes seven family emergencies including my mother whom I am so close to.  She'll be a guest designer making the classiest cards ever when she is feeling better; she's 85 this year!  I really am trying not to let family situations pre-empt my blog but there was no way around this.  Please forgive and we'll try not to go there again.

I have four guest designers set up and I can not wait for you to experience their projects.  Steph you did a fabulous job and next time; I want you to do your cards.  We need to get the youth of our country involved in this fun hobby.  Thank you for all you have done for me and hope you'll visit again!

                    
                                           Craft Yourself Away…with
                                                                                   CraftyPinkNayNay

 

Finding a project to finish.

I realize that a lot of us are busseling to get our Christmas projects completed.  I myself am donating some cards to Chris Wootens Charity http://turnedgypsy.blogspot.com/.  That is to make all types of cards (birthday, thank you, etc.) and send to the address she notes on her blog.  After that, I have a charity project also, the only difference is I have been supplying cards alone till now.  And God Bless Chris for posting her challenge as I was feeling the pressure getting all of mine done and giving shouldn't be stressful.  Please look for that challenge in January, 2011!

Here's a great project to accomplish.  Between now and the Fifth (5) of December, 2010, find one project that you have set aside {you know, so you can do it later and make it better}.  Below I will break it down step by step.  Please, please participate as I will be drawing a name from those that comment and enter daily and that crafter will earn a fabulous prize on December 6th.   I will upload a picture of my project in an amendment made later tomarrow; but for yours; if you can please do the following:

1.  Upload a .jpg file of your unfinished file and load it into your comment. 
2.  Comment daily as to what your plan is to finish and what you've done.
3.  When finished (if you can't post the file into your comment let me know in the comment and I will contact you with my email and have you send the .jpg to me and I will post your picture and post anything you'd like to say about your completed project. 

I love this idea!   I have actually done this in a class I taught a few years back and everyone loved it.

http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCricut?v=wall - 141k

The Cricut Page posted a picture and question on my FB page so I thought I would answer it there.  I've been making beads using the Cricut cart George.  That cart has all the shapes you would ever want.  I have so many items.  Like my favorite (which my bff made for me a couple of years ago).  They were leaves, iridescent painted and hung on a jump ring and attached to an earring wire.

Anyway, here is what I do when I make necklaces like you show in your picture.  I cut out a moon that is the same size of what I need then paint a coat of Jesso over the top.  On the back I cut the same size moon shape to place on the back of the "bib" so not to scratch any ones breast bone.  Then I cut several long shapes and layout on a table, glue a small amoun) of glue (glue Crafter's Pick, the Ultimate--this glue will glue metals, plastics, glass & more).

This glue is awaesome because when it dries its moveable.  Meaning the flowers can be crushed and they'll bounce back without getting crushed. 

 rolling with someone else is easier.  Then I distress the tops of the flowers where I may see one or two place which need a little somthing extra.  I will start embossing using Yvonne Albritton Extra .  This has to stay wet while building up your design.  At this point I add charms and whatnot.  Also, if you don't want that look; another great look is Heritage Handcrafts Dimensonional Paint.   http://www.heritagehandcrafts.com/ ;  
This paint does a lot of cool and different looks after "setting up".  If you're not sure, use a small stencil of a pattern you like out of the clear acetate that came on top of our Cricut Expression cutting pad. (Don't waste anything!). 

Then I use JudiKins Glass Beads using the same glue).  They come in many different colors so get them all, you will use them quickly!  I'll make another necklace as soon as I can.  If you complete your project first,  I will post on my blog and praise you highly!  That was a great question!

Now I'll have to get one more problem; to start another piece of jewelry from out Cricut Cartridges.  Hope to hear from you soon.
                                                                          Keep Crafting      NayNay

Tip for the day:  I just learned that we can use a ball point glitter pen in our cricut expression.  My pen for too thin so I put on a rubber finder.  It opens up a who new world of creativity on our parts.

I was so antsy because alll I wanted was to bring to DVR into my room and sit up in bed; but he said NO and it was infatic, so I want to get into my stud

Weather and Crafting

Canby, Oregon sits just Southeast of Portland, Oregon.  We are all a bussel here and preparing for Christmas.  All of our major holiday bazaar's are open this weekend; in fact, one large one opened last weekend.  I absolutely love this time of year!  Not only does the weather lend itself to crafting, but it's just cozier.

I have a list of Christmas projects so long, I cannot believe it.  However, I'm not going to worry about it at all.  I know I'll get it done.  I decided to do everything just like "we" (my employees and myself) use to do when we had a large project at Swedish Hospital in Seattle.  List the products needed, set each step up in order (an assembly line), wrap and mail those items that need mailed prior than December 23rd.  I'm so blessed to have a Cricut, the Christmas cartridges and the Gypsy to help me accomplish all of my holiday projects.  I was going to list all of the items I would be utilizing this holiday season, but at some point, it becomes bragging and not just a mention of the products we love so dearly. 

I just have a feeling that this year will go smoothly.  Believe me, I will let you know as I go along if I'm on course or not!  Good luck to all of you and please share with us if you have any ideas about how you are accomplishing your list of holiday projects. 

Oh, just a side note.  I said I would list the other two binding products I use for putting together all types of books that I use.  They are Bind It All and Tozicle,  The basic difference is the Bind It All binds with wire and the Tozicle binds with plastic combs.  Both projects will accommodate most lengths however, only up to 1 inch on the Bind It All.  The other is much smaller.

What Can I say about Provo Craft?

Seriously, I love Provo Craft, then I dislike them very much, then I  realize that I cannot live without them.  I just found out (from the BFF, Michele) that she purchased a My Story for Christmas, brand new for a crazy, crazy low price--I mean 75% off.  How could she go wrong.  I love making books and that's what I'm all about.  Well, that; cards and scrapbooking.  I don't know what I did before I had all these goodies to enhance my art.  It's safe to say I will use this book binding system a lot, even though I own two other systems also.  All three have special things about them, so I'm not sure which I will like best.   I also have a Big Shot, the mini Sissix and a Xyron Personal Electronic Die Cutter along with my Cricut Expression; and of course the Design Studio and the Gypsy.  Can you believe that I'm even part of the Cricut Circle; however, decided at this time not to order the Cricut Imagine.  I have decided to try to wait a good six months prior to purchasing the Imagine until all the "bugs" get worked out.  Notice I said try?

Any way if you've not noticed this yet and you own a Gypsy, as long as it was registered with PC prior to October 31, 2010, you will receive four downloads when you go on the Cricut Sync found by doing your regular gypsy sync  After that is completed delete the program Gypsy Sync but check first and make certain once the new information "Cricut Sync" is loaded on your desktop which has it's own icon.
Once this has been completed you will be able to upload your photos to the Gypsy and also do your layers.  I have all day tomorrow to play with this and I can hardly wait. 

One last little note.  My mother is somewhat of a hoarder and the other day she brought over several little cards that I made when I was about five.   I guess this is just in my blood.   I will pull them out soon and upload pictures of them.  They really aren't too bad considering they were made when I was five and the time was in the early 60's.  Acid free?  Ah, no acid free, archival, nothing just good ole construction paper!  I love them.  Watch for those soon.  God Bless and have a great day!