Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #112 - You Did It!

Welcome to another installment of Fantabulous Cricut's Challenge Me Monday!  This week's challenge celebrates graduates by crafting any graduation-themed project.

For the first time in a long time, I don't know anyone who's graduating -- either from high school or college.  How weird, huh?  So I made a simple project that I would have enjoyed if I were a graduate -- a gift card holder in my high school's colors of black and gold:

 

Project Details:

• Papers - cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - gift card holder from Wrap It Up, page 47; cap tag from Wrap It Up, page 67
• Embossing - gift card holder with The Paper Studio's Intricate Swirls; white background on tag with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - curling ribbon from stash

I wanted some extra color on both the gift card holder and tag, so I carefully traced both the diploma ribbon and lower background area behind the cap onto gold paper.  I then trimmed, pieced, and adhered behind the cutouts.  I think the third color makes it a little more special.

You can enter your graduation-themed projects all week at Fantabulous Cricut -- come join us!

I Heart GG Framed Photos

Happy Mother's Day!  The framed photo spread for my mom-in-law's gift came out so well, I decided to make another for my mom.  She was visiting this past week, so I was even able to give it to her in person!

 

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns by My Mind's Eye: Magnolia; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - font and heart bookplate from Doodletype
• Embossing - hearts with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - 8x10 frame from Big Lots; ribbon from stash

You might be wondering, who's GG?  That's actually what my little guys calls my mom, and it stands for Grandma Gwen.  Cute, huh? :)

I'm entering this project into the following challenge(s):

Celebrate the Occasion: Challenge #62 - Mother's Day
Cooking with Cricut: Challenge #85 - Mother's Day Gift Ideas
More Than Favors: Challenge #70 - Mother's Day
Tuesday Alchemy: Challenge #13 - Mother Dear
Stuck on U Sketches:  May 4 Challenge - In Celebration of Mothers

Fantabulous Cricut: Challenge Me Monday #110 - Mother's Day

Welcome to another fantabulous Monday!  I can't believe it's already May -- can you?  Mother's Day is quickly approaching, so we're celebrating moms this week at Fantabulous Cricut.  Challenge #110 asks us to make a project for mom or a special lady with her favorite color.

I made a fun, framed photo spread of my son for my mother-in-law's gift.  Hubby didn't actually know his mom's favorite color -- typical for a guy, eh? -- so I picked some bright blues, greens, and rust colors to give it a modern, but eclectic, feel:

 

Project Details:

• Papers - patterns by My Mind's Eye: Bohemia; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - font and heart bookplate from Doodletype
• Embossing - hearts with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - 8x10 frame from Big Lots; thread from stash

My little guy and I had a blast this weekend taking photos in the backyard and then printing them from our computer in sepia tones. I wasn't trying to make an affordable gift, but this framed photo collage was low-cost if you're on a budget for Mother's Day gifts.  Since I didn't send the photos to a photo center for processing, the only expense was the frame -- which was a steal for just $2.50!

So often, I'm not sure what to get my mom-in-law -- someone who has everything -- but what grandma doesn't enjoy photos of her pride and joy?  Especially if it's lovingly made with tender cropping care? :)

Do you have a special lady to honor this Mother's Day?  If so, join the challenge this week at Fantabulous Cricut!

I'm entering this project into the following challenge(s):
Exploring Cricut: Celebrating Mother's Day

Save the Earth Cricut Crawl - Blog Candy Winner

Thanks for all your kind comments on my Save the Earth Cricut Crawl project!  Now it's time to draw for the blog candy winner...

Congrats, Sarah78!

Please check your email -- I'll be in touch on how to claim your prize.  (I'll redraw a winner if the prize isn't claimed within one week.)

I just checked out Sarah's blog, and she's new to blogging and papercrafting.  So glad a little candy is going to welcome her to this great online Cricut community!

Fantabulous Cricut: Save the Earth Cricut Crawl

Welcome to Fantabulous Cricut's Save the Earth Cricut Crawl!

In honor of Earth Day, each FCCB Design Team member is featuring an "up"-cycled project that includes at least one reused/recycled item and a Cricut cut.

If you've come from Jamie's Scrap Queen blog, you're in the right place!  If you've just happened across my blog and would like to play along, you can start from the beginning at Fantabulous Cricut.

Make sure to check out each DT member's blog for some awesome inspiration! There will be prizes along the way and a grand prize for one participant that submits a "Save the Earth" project at FCCB!

Now for my project...!

I have tons of gift bags stashed in my spare closet -- always with the intention of reusing them to wrap a gift, but it rarely happens.  I was inspired by our Cricut crawl to actually use one and make it extra-special.  I added some Cricut cuts and used another recycled item -- a page of text from an old book I no longer wanted.  I even made a matching notecard!  I think the result is super chic:

Here's some close-ups...

Project Details:

• Recycled Items - pink gift bag; book page
• Card Base - DCWV Brights Collection (A2)
• Papers - black cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - butterfly and background from Kate's ABCs, page 62; flower from Kate's ABCs, page 68
• Embossing - butterfly and background with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots
• Other - gemstone and pink paper flower by Recollections

I'm really pleased with the result, and I'll probaby try incorporating book pages into more of my projects.  Another variation would be newspaper -- curious to see how it would cut on a Cricut mat. :)

Who's up for some blog candy?  Me!  Just leave a comment below, and I'll draw a winner on Monday, May 7th with random.org to receive the following cute gemstone flowers (sorry, I can only ship to US addresses):

Now it's your turn...let's see your Upcycled-Themed projects at FCCB! Make sure to include a Cricut Cut somewhere on your project, too.

Your next stop is Judy at Crafty Jar -- go see what she has in store for you today.  And when you're done, make sure to link up your project at Fantabulous Cricut to be entered into the contest.

Happy Crawling!

I'm also entering this project into the following challenge(s):

My Craft Spot: Challenge #54 - Mother's Day
Paper Playtime: Challenge #73 - Anything Goes

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Me Monday #105 - EGG-ceptional Easter

Easter is right around the corner, so it's time to bring out those eggs and celebrate with Fantabulous Cricut!  This week's challenge is to make a project featuring Easter eggs.  I have a super special project for you today -- an Easter layout I recently made for my son's scrapbook:

I had so much fun adding lots of Easter details.  Here's some close-ups:

Project Details:

• Papers - patterned paper by The Paper Studio; cardstock by Recollections
• Cricut Cuts - "Hoppy Easter" from Celebrate with Flourish; eggs and basket from Doodlecharms, page 30; bunny from Create a Critter, page 26
• Embossing - eggs with Cuttlebug's Perfectly Paisley and Swiss Dots and The Paper Studio's Doodleborders; basket with The Paper Studio's Mesh Texture
• Other - all cuts on pop dots

I love this layout because it's the last time Jonathan agreed to sit with the Easter bunny -- even though it only lasted about three seconds until he burst into tears.  It was stressful at the time, but hilarious now!  He still has an intense fear of "EB" and avoided him like the plague at this year's egg hunt.

Are you ready to show off your egg projects?  Head over to Fantabulous Cricut for Challenge #105 - EGG-ceptional Easter!

I'm entering this project into the following challenges:

Amanda's Crafts and More: Getting Scrappy Challenge - Easter Egg-citement
Carson's Creations: Embossing Blog Hop
Getting Cricky with K Andrew: Simply Sunday Challenge - Easter Blessings
Krafty Girls: Challenge #4 - For Peeps Sake
My Craft Spot: Challenge #50 - Easter

Guest Designer for My Sheri Crafts: Challenge #82 - MSC Turns 2!

I'm so honored to be featured as Guest Designer at My Sheri Crafts this week -- especially as they celebrate their second anniversary!  I love all the inspiration the designers bring each week, and this week is packed with project ideas for a child's birthday.  This challenge is perfect for me because I'm always making something for my son's toddler friends.

For this special occasion, I decided to make a shaped card with fun, cheerful colors:

Card Details:

• Card Base - gumball machine from Wrap It Up, page 44, cut @ 5.5 inches
• Papers - solid cardstock by Recollections; blue polka dots by Heidi Grace Designs
• Cricut Cuts - gumball machine from Wrap It Up, page 44; tag from Wrap It Up, page 63
• Other - sentiment stamp by The Paper Studio; bakers twine from Really Reasonable Ribbon; patterned embellishments by Recollections; doodling with white Gelly Roll pen

I've seen some super cute versions of this card using colorful buttons.  But as soon as I saw these patterned button embellishments in my stash, I knew they were calling my name for this project.  The colors work for a child's birthday card, but I think a fun-loving adult would enjoy it just as much.  :)

Again, I'm super-honored to be part of the MSC team today.  Head over to My Sheri Crafts to see what the other designers have made in celebration of their second anniversary!

I'm also entering this project into the following challenge:

My Creative Time - Throwback Thursday Challenge / Episode 336