brrr bit chilly

Bit chilly today, wind is whistling the wind around up ya trouser legs, think if I had any long johns I would be wearing them! Not that I do own any! and not that I am going to go out much today. I need to pop into the garden to clean the "wonderpets" out. One lady made me laugh when chatting about the gineau pigs somewhere online, she said her husband called them "poop machines" LOL This is sooooo true! Mind you Ming Ming has started a one rabbit crusade to keep up the poop with the two pigs.

So yesterday I was at Creative Living playing with the wonderful Cricut and Expressions machine. I made a few little things with it. It was nice to get to know the bugs again as I dont get as much time as I want using these fab machines.

I made this pritty (but un finished) Hydrangea from Walk in my garden cartridge, this cut is what WOWed me into buying this cartridge. The butterfly is from the cartridge too.

This cute little pup is from my favourite cartridge of them all, Paper Pups, roll on the day Provocraft WAKE UP and bring us the cardboard cats we have been long shouting for. Too cute.

This card, yes it is a card and opens up. Was made using the Mirror feature on the Tag, Bags and boxes cartridge. It was cut at 5.5 inches and would fit in a 6 x 6 envelope. The writing is from Alphalicious, I forgot how much I loved that font...

Two scrummy packs of hydrangeas... how did that happen?? they followed me home!!

All materials used for todays projects are from www.creativepastimes.co.uk their shopping website isnt up right now so give them a ring. And tell them Caz sent ya!

Expression Tutorial

OK, this is a bad tutorial, but I was in such a rush for a few reasons, 1/ both boys were asleep and 2/ my camera batteries about to die!

Paula (see UK blog list) showed me the other day how to make a 6 x 6 envelope using the Cricut Expression machine using a piece of 12 x 12 card and the 12 x 24 mat. Ordinarily you can not make a 6 x 6 out of a 12 x 12 but with this clever paper placement you can.

You will need

1/ Expressions Machine - Crafts U Love is a great place for them

2/ 12 x 24 Mat - Again you can get these from Crafts U Love

3/ Piece of 12 x 24 paper if possible

4/ 12 x 12 paper

5/ Plantin Schoolbook cartridge that came with your expression.

OK for starters Paula suggests cutting the envelope on the big mat with a piece of 12 x 24 - this just helps with the placement of the paper, but you should be able to judge the placement even from these bad photos.

So here I have cut the envelope. 12 x 24 mat must be selection, FIT TO PAGE, ROLY POLY function - here we have a 6 x 6 (just over) envelope

Take the green away. You can either now use the outside of the cut out as a guide for the paper or as I did I looked at the mat where the image has just scratched the outline of the envelope and place the paper. I will draw some lines with a permanent pen to show me where I place the paper for next time, not across the whole mat, just the very top and the side bits where it is not sticky.

Now you need to cut the side that are overlapping away. I very crudely did it in the next picture and I stuck the mat in the machine.

Now remember to tell your machine you have 12 x 24 mat in there and let it assume there is a full sheet of paper. FIT TO PAGE, ROLY POLY. and you will get a 6 x 6 or very close (slightly bigger) envelope.

Thanks to Paula for experimenting with, I would have never thought to do this but am so pleased she did as 6x6 is my preferred card size. BTW Paula your directions home were fab, lot more straight forward than they way I got there!! :0) Hope the boys didnt leave you with too much tidying and WOW your studio is lovely, no scrap that, your house is lovely!

Edwin with Broom

Meet Edwin, he's doing one of those jobs we all hate, sweeping leaves, it seems such a no win task, they keep on blowing down and you keep sweeping! I love this stamp and Yes its another Magnolia design and another one from Sharon (BIG thanks). For the first time I used my expression for small cuts and oh my word it goes small. I cut the leaves from the doodlecharms cartridge this first I cut at 1/4" and its tiny! Too small to use for this but amazing that it did it. So I used 1/2" and 3/4" for this card. I am very impressed with the expression on how it coped so small.

Materials used :

Magnolia stamp, SU Doodle set, cricut expression machine to cut doodlecharms leaves, small doodlebug jewels, crate paper, watercolour pencils, PC to print word circle (designed by me) SU Scalloped punch

I am making something.... I cant share.. but

I am making a project for Cardmaking and Papercraft using the FAB expression machine and Christmas Cheer cartridge. I am really excited about it and think it will come out cute. I just wanted to tell you how much easier the FLIP function on the expression machine is making it. Granted, I could do it on the "normal" bug by putting the paper face down on the mat and cutting but the expression just makes it easier. I am making double sided figures and I just press FLIP and I have parts to match perfectly front and back. If you are still thinking about the expression contact www.craftsulove.co.uk and order it, you will be so glad you did. Not only things bigger but smaller too, down to 1/4" and so many more sizes as it goes up/down in 1/4" intervals. I started to try and make it the other night, Harvey upstairs and Caiden screaming downstairs with Daddy (coz he knew I was upstairs)... anyway I gave up and I am taking my machine round to my parents and make it Sunday... wish I could show you, in my head its going to be really fun! I will make sure the magazine sends this one thing back to me for me to use for my festive decorations.

I think with all the recent bumps..

This would actually be a good look for him! Here is Harvey in his amour cut with my Charlie Bug at 11 1/2" I have included 2 photos, one on a chair, you can see the rub ons shimmer more on this one and one with Harvey so you can "get" the feel of the size. I am going to make a Wizard of Caiden soon ;) Mind you with our bedroom arrangements I wouldnt know who's door to stick it onto!

One of the main reason I got the dolls cart was to be able to do fun things like this for their rooms but after my first try it become apparent I needed the big bug to make big things for them, also was thinking the school would love things like this too. They had a room between the nursery and reception room which is themed ie seaside, doctors, supermarket ect it is changed each term and I thought I would offer to make them stuff. I would love to help out in the class, but having Caiden means I cant, but this could be my way of helping out.

Also of course the reasons for the big bug purchase as explained before for the fantastic features it offers you, fit to page, fill page, flip ect ect ect.... which reminds me I must have a go at chipboard soon! Get yours ordered from http://www.craftsulove.co.uk/ they have a fab shop, great service and knowledgeable staff. And in true parrot fashion repeat after me "dont forget to tell them Caz sent ya" BTW I am NOT on comission with anyone that I mention, but they help me out with stuff for magazines ect so I like to repay their kindness :)

Meet Charlie

Named by Zoe at Crafts U Love meet Charlie.... he is big, clever and all mine!!

All I can say is what a difference 6 inches makes! My paper dolls are huge and I can only imagine that Mickey and Friends will be fab, not to mention the envelopes and boxes I can now make.

Zoe asked me, so what exactly are you wanting to do on this one that you can not do with the lil cricut. Well.... Cut thin chipboard with the MULTICUT function.... Flip images to have them looking the other way. Choose landscape or portrait for the cut to change the orientation, cut 12" borders, make 11 1/2 paper dolls, fill page so you can just fill a page with multiple images at a touch of a button, as well as a fit to page button that will calculate just how big you can cut to the size of paper that you have loaded and more more more!! Visit their store at http://www.craftsulove.co.uk/ to order yours, they are FAB and PLEASE if you do, tell them Caz sent ya!

OK, so my kids are brainwashed, they love what I love and it is apparent. Harvey all on his own accord hugged Charlie as he did my last cricut, he knows what Charlie can do and he loves it. Caiden however was standing near and I said "ahhhh cricut" and with that he put his head to it :) Just like he does when we hold a blanket or teddy near him and go "ahhh" Of course they had to repeat it for the camera!! ha ha

I have had a little play with Charlie to see he works and he does. I have made a 11 1/2" knight from Paper Dolls which I will finish later put on Harveys door. I have made an envelope which has come out slightly bigger than C6 so I need to play a

little to see how this works and how close I can get to C6 size. I have also made a flower border from one of the two cartridges that come with this machine.



Pictures to come later. I do not think me and Charlie will have any more time today. I have to prep for two classes Saturday. Waterfall card and fun with a mega fun and cute Woodware polar bear set.









Here is some MORE stash I got today. Fun Halloween Stamps by Penny Black from http://www.theglitterpot.co.uk/ . My word, I havent seen a craft shop as busy as they were today and I think the new penny black might have had something to do with it. Hardly got to speak to Bryan and Carolyn as it was soooo busy!

Also a great cuttlebug folder and mat for embossing your metal stencils, now to find my stencils!! I got those from http://www.craftsulove.co.uk/ Oh if I had the time to use all this! I wish I didnt have to prep tonight, but if I get it done tonight maybe I have time to play tomorrow night :) Harvey and Caiden wrecked the CUL shop, Harvey was trying to stop Caiden do something, Harvey fell over onto a spinner, broke 2 plastic shelving things and got two lovely scratches on his chest to proove it. He was very upset as mummy was cross. Zoe and Co were saying its OK ect but I was very cross with Harvey for doing it, of course then when we were in the car and he showed me his scratches I felt bad for going on so much. Kids eh!

All this talk of the expressions machine...

I just thought I would tell you where you should be getting your expressions from! HERE is where I will be getting mine from. A lovely friendly store, great staff and fab stock. They have as well as the fab expressions machine got a HUGE range of Cuttlebug cutters and the machines. The machines come with a starter embossing and die set. 1 cutting die and 3 mini embossing folders and a great littel booklet which tells you more about the machine the plate sandwiches you need for using other dies and some fab samples. NOT ALL CUTTLEBUGS have these in, but crafts U Love do! PLEASE if you do go to this store to purchase either machine tell them Caz sent ya. Just means they know I am doing my job in helping promote these fantastic machines and their fabby shop!

So there is no guessing what my latest saving fund is for. Darren is fed up of me talking about he, he told me to get one and shut up! if only it were that easy, it helps to have the money :) LOL OK I am taking bets now..... how many days from todays post do you think it will take me to get the expressions??? Winner will get something of their choice cut from the BIG BUG when I get it :)