Twinkle Twinkle FREE.cut File now available! (Thanks for being patient!)

Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that the FREE .cut file and full instructions for the Twinkle Twinkle Baby Frame you saw at Everyday Cricut are available HERE at Custom Crops. Thanks again for your patience and support. Would sure appreciate comments on the CC site (as well as here) I know it's a PITA to have to sign in, but... TIA. xxD

BBTB2 Ready 2 Rock and Butterfly Kisses free .cut file

Happy Monday! This week at BBTB2 Our fabulously talented DT sister Enfys chose the Ready 2 Rock cut from Hannah Montana. This cartridge is alot more versatile than you'd think, with cool fonts and alot of musical images that would work for both girls AND guys. I made a shaped front card using Cricut DS by welding the phrase to the winged guitar for the front, and then using the rounded square from George for the back.

The papers aren't photographing that well. I glittered the guitar base using my Xyron and my purple Doodlebug sugar coating and then used iridescent holographic paper for the overlay so it really sparkles. The red is foil board and the inside top is charcoal matte metallic. Those tiny stars are available at M's in the same place the adhesive beads, gems, and pearls are and are also the Recollections brand.

I used the new Tim Holtz Texture Fades Cracked folder for the inside and also the 2 on the front. Is that cool or what? I'm not quite sure what sentiment I'll be using for this just yet so I've left it blank. I think it could be used for a number of occasions and the colors definitely say "guy" to me. Be sure to stop by BBTB2 to see the creative ways my DT sisters have rocked this challenge. Also, be sure to stop back to BBTB2 on Wednesday for an exciting giveaway.

Thanks also for those of you who have been patiently waiting for the .cut files for my Everyday Cricut projects. Although I'm not quite done with the baby frame, the Butterfly Kisses FREE .cut file and complete article is available HERE. If you plan to use it, be sure to read the instructions for cutting the inside mat because it's kinda tricky. I've also included pictures of how I printed the inside sentiment. Hang in there and please check back for Twinkle Twinkle.

Criss Cross Cards x 2 for Everyday Cricut and a Giveaway! (.Cut File Available)

Did you know there are criss cross cards for the cutting on Tie the Knot? Well I sure didn't until I started browsing through my manuals looking for fun stuff for Everyday Cricut. These are my Tuesday cards and I hope you like. As you can see, I did another cream and back card because I just think they're sooo elegant and that gorgeous monogram so inspired me. On a lighter note, I did the same card in picnic colors using "Celebrate" from the From the Nest cartridge. To find out more about them, click HERE to visit Everyday Cricut. And, just because I love you guys, I'm offering an 8 x 8" pad of this elegant ivory and black K & Co paper so you can make one too. Just leave me a comment. The winner will be announced Friday.

Click HERE for the free .cut file and detailed instructions at Custom Crops.

Jubilee Layout (Yes, you read that right!) for Custom Crops- .Cut File Available

Don't faint, but I actually made a layout. Of course I couldn't find the picture I had in mind to put in it, but it's a layout nonetheless. Those of you who know me know I have NEVER done a layout in my life. But this was a challenge from Custom Crops so I just couldn't refuse. (It does hopefully excuse the quality, though, I hope. LOL) Anyway, besides it having to be a layout, it also was to feature the Jubilee cartridge. (Another one of those I thought I needed and have NEVER used.) I didn't go all creative because, quite frankly, it's the houses that I bought this cart for so I focussed on them. I hope you can tell that the huge mat in the background is a house with a porch. (My dear friend Leah, who's the QUEEN of layouts, didn't immediately get that so it sort of made me nervous.) I planned to put a 4 x 6 picture of our house the day we moved in on this but as I said, I couldn't find it. Thought this "Welcome Home" theme could work for a number of different Homecomings though; new baby, returning soldier, you get the picture. Only the big cloud from Create a Critter (which I thought could be used for journaling) and the grass and rectangular mat from Plantin Schoolbook were not cut from Jubilee. The DPs are from Heidi Grace and I added a few Prima flowers and texture with my cuttlebug Spots and Dots and Swiss Dots folders. The article and .cut file are available HERE on the Custom Crops site. Now I'll happily return to my comfort zone (much to everyone's relief! LOL)

Very Merry Tags for Spring -.cut file available

The DT at Custom Crops was given a challenge this week to use Very Merry Tags for a Spring/Easter project. I really love the bird tag and thought it would be perfect for a Springy card. The color scheme is inspired by the pretty colors in ths Basic Grey paper from the Kioshi line. (I'm really partial to plaids and checks). I used Calligraphy Collection for the word "Spring" and welded the letters in DS. The shadow for the tag is done with Plantin Schoolbook wince there are no shadows on the cart. It's really quite simple but I do love the way it turned out. I think I may make 3 more for the other Seasons and perhaps frame them as wall art. There are many more pix and a free .cut file available HERE. Sorry for the short post but we're planning a road trip to go look for garden urns and I've got to get moving. Looks like it's going to be a gorgeous day!

Tea for 2 - .Cut File Available

The Alice craze has gotten me VERY into tea parties lately, so I thought I'd do this tea related card for Custom Crops using the new Once Upon a Princess cartridge. Originally I was gonna pass on this cart, but upon further investigation I found it's not only good for your girly princess related stuff, but it has some great sentiments as well. For once I actually designed a card using ONLY one cart. Amazing!

It's pretty straight forward and the full instructions and FREE .cut file is available HERE. As in all of my cards, they can be assembled with out dimension as well, but you know me, I've never met a pop dot I didn't like. LOL If YOU like it, I sure would appreciated a comment on the CC site so they know you guys are lovin' the articles. The paper here is from Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess and I LOVE IT, don't you? Anyway. The week is getting away from me and I haven't been able to craft as much as I'd like what with my hair appt. on Wed. , lunch out with DH, and today a Scrapbook Expo. WooHoo! I'm afraid I'll be missing out on a few of the challenges I'd hoped to do and I haven't even begun my DT stuff for next week. Wish me luck as I hope to be in major debt by the end of the day.

Thank Ewe or Baby Announcement- .Cut File Available

I love all of the new Cricut Seasonal carts and decided to do something quick and simple with the Easter one to show it's versatility. I took the sweet little lamb head and welded it a frame from Storybook to make a quicky shaped card. I used Tear Drop for the sentiment because I think it's a sweet one, but I always have trouble with the regular cut when I'm cutting it small so I just used the shadow and cut it twice and offset. Certainly you can use the font of your choice. To give a little texture to the lamb I embossed it in my Cuttlebug with D'vine Swirls. It would also be cute in a flocked version, don't you think? The free .cut file and instructions are available HERE at Custom Crops. After assembling the card, the papers I chose made me think "baby" so I did another version that could be used as a baby announcement with a different sentiment. Click HERE and scroll down to take a peek. I'm trying hard to get back in the swing of things after being gone a whole 6 DAYS at CHA! Gotta get movin' on my Design Team projects because tomorrow is the monthly BBTB2 Blog Hop so be sure and check back. There will be CANDY!!!

It's Plain to See Girlfriend's B-day card -.Cut File Available

Here's a girly B-day card I made for my good friend and neighbor. It was inspired by a card I saw on the Cricut mb over a year ago and I sure wish I remembered who made it. I'm pretty sure she was from "across the pond" and she used actual reading glasses and made a box for the card. I even bought reading glasses to duplicate her card and never got around to it (besides I can't find the glasses. LOL) so when I found this pair on the new Paisely cartridge I was elated! We're at that age when "readers" are a must and she's quite the fashionista as well so I thought she'd get a kick out of a flamboyant pair in zebra print (I sketched and colored the print with permanent markers) with a hot pink chain and rhinestones. (We'd never be caught DEAD with them around our neck! LOL) The welded sentimment is from Beyond Birthdays. It's available as a free .cut file with detailed instructions, including how to curl that ribbon, at Custom Crops so if you're interested click HERE.

For some reason I forgot to take a dimensional shot before I sent my article to Custom Crops, but since I still have the card, here it is.

Inside I did a computer generated sentiment and layered on another pair of glasses. I'm pretty sure with the color scheme and zebra print she'll get a real kick out of it. Hope you do too, and if you have a chance, I'd love it if you could leave a comment at CC too. Thanks so much! xxD

Dream Big - .cut file available

Hi guys, did you miss me? Just relaxing a bit with my hubby for a change. Here's a card I did for one of my BFF's son who turned 16 recently. He had visions of getting a car which I think we ALL knew wasn't happening so this was my little tease. Of course I made it in manly colors but think it would also be pretty cute in girly colors as well. And wouldn't it REALLY be cool if someone was actually GETTING a car? This shaped card uses the the car from Graphically Speaking as the back and the key from Locker Talk along with the sentiment (also from GS) for the front. The free .cut file and full instructions are available HERE at Custom Crops.

Inside I used the Cuttlebug Birthday Wishes Card Making combo for the sentiment. As I said in the article, I did doodle a bit around the car windows, etc. after seeing this pic but I didn't have time to take another because we were late for the party. I've got a few more b-day cards to make (including Dh's on New Year's Eve) but I really haven't quite gotten over Christmas yet. Does anyone else feel that way?

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I took a few days off to enjoy time with DH and we've been playing alot of dominoes. Isn't that funny? He complained that although we're in the same house most of the time, I'm in the craft room and he's practicing piano and when we finally sit down together it's often in front of the tv so that's really not "together". I said that I'd love to play games but he isn't particulary thrilled with them, but he used to play dominoes with his grandpa as a kid so Santa brought me dominoes. I'd never played but it's easy, fun, and quite addictive. WooHoo!

Finally, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe -.cut file available

So sorry this has taken so long. The file took while to clean up and originally hadn't planned to share it because it was such a mess but Custom Crops liked the design and I had so many requests that here it is. I didn't take pics while assembling but more pix, the instructions and Free .cut file are HERE. At least with the .cut file there's still time to make this for your Sweetie. Hope everyone is all ready with their Christmas preparations (unlike me LOL). OOh, I just read the post and I sound sort of crabby. I'm not, just harried. Better get moving. TTYL

Snowman Snow Globe -.cut file available

Well I finally managed to get this card made. It's been on my mind since last year. Instead of the shaped card I had planned, due to technical difficulties he ended up as an easel. Still cute, though. I'm a big fan of Terrifically Tacky Tape and always save the packaging. Yea me for more recycling! That's what his tummy is made from and it's a blizzard in there. LOL The snowman is from Doodlecharms and he's a biggie, almost 7 inches square but I think it's worth it for the "cute" factor. The sentiment is from Winter Woodland. I've used it quite a bit. I seem to be a bit obsessed with snow these days. Anyway, full instructions, more pix and the .Cut file is available HERE on Custom Crops. Hope to see you there.

Snow Friends

Oh I just love snowmen! For some reason I just can't get enough of them this year so I created an accordian card/decoration for Custom Crops using my 2 favorites from the Snow Friends cartridge. I welded them hand in hand and made them double thick so they would stand nice and sturdily and finished them both back and front. They require a 12x24 inch mat to cut but they were loads of fun to do. For full intructions, more pix and the FREE .cut file click HERE.

Now don't forget that you have only two more days to comment for the chance to win my BLOG CANDY. Click HERE, scroll down, or click on the pic on my sidebar and don't forget to come back on Friday to see who WINS!

Reindeer Wreath- .cut file available

Doodlecharms is one of my favorite cartridges and this little Rudolph is one of my favorite cuts so I just couldn't resist decking him out for the holidays. I'm really partial to the sort of rustic lodgey decorations at Christmas (although I don't really have any, LOL) so I was thinking along the lines of a wreath around a deer head that you might see in the mountains. Then because this deer is so whimsical I thought a tangling of Christmas lights in his antlers might be in order. They are from Jolee's and I believe I bought them at my LSS, but I'm pretty sure they're also available at M's. This shaped card also uses Joys of the Season and has quite a bit of texture with the Cuttlebug embossing, flocking, and Glossy Accents for his nose. Because it was designed for Custom Crops the free .cut file and full instructions are available HERE. Just a note. If you're looking for the projects on the Custom Crops site they are now located near the top left of the home page, and if you're looking for my projects specifically, you can click on the Custom Crops Designer blinky on the right of my blog, or on my name in the top right hand corner on any of my projects at Custom Crops.

Penguin Pyramid Revisited-.Cut file available

Well the wait is finally over for those of you who wanted a .cut file for my penguin pyramid. Custom Crops had decided that cards submitted for challenges would no longer be considered for the site (they really prefer exclusivity) so when I made my original I took no pix during assembly and left my .cut file unfit for human consumption. LOL However, I got so many requests that I decided to redesign it (oh so very slightly) and told Kelly what I'd done and she decided she'd accept it, this time. Now don't go thinkin' this is gonna happen every week, but it's tough since alot of my best work is done for BBTB. Anyway, I'm grateful for the slight bend in the rules this time. I kinda like the addition of the snowflakes to the back of the card, but if you prefer it without, just delete them from the file.For full instructions and the free .cut file click HERE. If it's Tues and you're having problems downloading the .cut file it may be because the site is overwhelmed because of their sale. Try again tomorrow and let me know. They actually took the articles from their sidebar in anticipation but I linked anyway.

The addition of the snowflakes to the back really jazzes up the inside of the card, don't you think? Also, I have to tell you that Custom Crops is having their "Pink Tuesday" sale TODAY until 12:00 midnight CST so HURRY over there. This blows Black Friday WAY out of the water!Honestly, the deals are fantastic (would you believe 12 x 12 Cricut mats for $7.99!?) so be sure to take a look.

O Holy Night- .Cut File Available

Okay, I know it's Monday so where is BBTB? I'm so sorry to say I dropped the ball this week. My dear DT sister DeeDee came up with a really fun but challenging cut but the Mystery Box Challenge for Custom Crops took 3 solid days of work plus several additional days of shopping for more stuff and my mojo was totally drained. Obviously this was not a problem for most of the team so be sure to pop by BBTB and see the marvelously creative things they came up with. So where is the Mystery Box? Hopefully to be posted later this week along with The Cuttlebug Spot. Poor Nilda is down with the flu. Check back later for our turkey challenge. Fortunately I do have a new design for Custom Crops using the new When It's Cold Outside cartridge. I was blown away by this gorgeous creche and set about making a shaped card that resembles an ornament and could sit on a mantle. I welded the title using Blackletter and enhanced the star using Joys of the Season. The base is made from shaped from Plantin Schoolbook. The FREE cut file and full instructions are available HERE.

BINGO! - .Cut File Available

Bingo cards seem to be all the rage so I decided to use Design Studio to make some of my own. I did several versions, a regular one and some with different headers for holiday time. The FREE .cut files are available HERE at Custom Crops.

I made the generic Bingo card into a card. Thought it would be great for a male birthday or to celebrate some other important day.

These are some of the holiday ones. In the article I explain how they could be used for a Christmas countdown for the whole family. There are plenty of different headers (including WISH, BELIEVE, and even HUMBUG) that could also be used for different occasions.

If you're really careful, you can use the negative cuts to make even MORE Bingo cards! I turned this one into a tag. I really had fun with these. What do you think, Lillie? (She's the BINGO QUEEN!)

Give Thanks- .Cut file available

I decided this year not to just skip by Thanksgiving and go directly to Christmas so I designed this card for Custom Crops. I intend to send it to my cousin who lives in Michigan. When DH was still in grad school we spent many a Thanksgiving there in Lansing. We talk far too infrequently and she really enjoys my cards (when I get my butt in gar and send them ). It's a shaped front card using Opposites Attract, Doodlecharms and Plantin Schoolbook. I really love the look of the mixed fonts on OA and wonder why I don't use it more often. Also really love Fall colors and beautiful warm plaids. Was happy how the herringbone texture looks on the word "Thanks".

Big surprise there's lots of dimension, inking, and of course adhesive beads but I was happy to find it still fit in a business size envie. Full instructions and the FREE cut file is available HERE. I sure hope everyone is enjoying these projects. It takes loads of time to clean up my .cut files and take extra pix and write the article. Unfortunately we don't get any feedback from that site unless you leave a comment. I REALLY appreciate the extra effort those of you have made to leave a comment there. Thanks sooooo much!

Vintage Christmas Card with Woven Background- Free .cut file available

I couldn't resist doing another Christmas card with A Child's Year. The adorable vintage images really speak to me, and although I know Scherenschnitte (papercutting, actually "scissor cuts") originated in Germany, it reminds me of my Swedish background, especially when done in red and white. I did a bit of welding of the image to a frame from Storybook. The holly accents are also from A Child's Year. I thought the simple design might look pretty against a woven background which I then embossed with D'vine Swirls in my Cuttlebug. Unfortunately this picture really doesn't show the detail. For more views and a full tutorial on weaving the background please click HERE. There is also a free .cut file available for those who are interested also on the Custom Crops site.

Witch in the Moon Halloween Hanger -.cut file available

Gotta post this quick if anyone still wants to do one for Halloween! Gotta write this quick too or I'll be late for a hair appt. LOL I did this Halloween Hanger for Custom Crops. with the exception of the shadow for the moon it really doesn't require Design Studio but if you'd like the .cut file click HERE. There's a full explanation, more pix as well as how to do the dimensional stars in the article. I just LOVE A Child's Year! Sorry so short! Gotta go!

Witch's Shoe -.cut file available

Here's a little Halloween card I did for Custom Crops using the Witch's shoe and several other cuts from Paper Doll Dress Up welded to a rectangle fromm Plantin Schoolbook. I had some great specialty paper that I used that I think I got at J's. This witch is stylin' right down to her glitter socks! For full instructions and the .cut file click HERE.

Instead of a buckle I decided to use a spider web and popped a glitter pom pom onto the spider cut and added some google eyes and ribbon. You can NEVER have too many google eyes, especially around Halloween.

My "Teen Queen" card is also now available at Custom Crops and is a good example of how I build my layers on a shaped front card for those who are interested. You can easily swap out the numbers if you have a teen of another age I would think. Click HERE for the free .cut file and article. Well, time is flying so it's back to the drawing board. See you soon! xxD