Cricut Explore / CASE card

Lace Floral Card - Cricut Design Space

My card today was CASEd from the example above and cut from my Explore Air.  This was a free make it now project that was included in my Cricut Explore Design Space subscription.

I changed the color of the flowers, the center panel, and used an SU Doily to replace the cut doily from Cricut, used a SU button from the Christmas selection, and added the sentiment from SU's Flower Patch. The papers are from unknown sources.

Although the doily was perfectly cut using the Explore, the   paper was a little too heavy. I just didn't like the look. It really is still amazing how this machine cuts these intricate cuts so perfectly. This is my 3rd. Cricut and the 2 others certainly don't hold a candle up to this new Explore.

Make it a wonderful Monday and go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

yay/Cricut Explore/DS196

This sweet little Pail card was cut with my Explore Air with an image from the Simply Charmed cartridge included in my subscription to Design Space paired with the deconstructed sketch196 .

It was jump started by the 2 little munchkins below, my grandsons, Kempton and Renior. I had sent them some money for Easter and they decided to spend it on these colorful pail and shovel beach sets. 

I fell in love with the image and just had to make a card. The SU DSP is High Tides  paired with Calypso Coral, Pacific Point, Smokey Slate, and Summer Starfruit. I used 2 of the dies from the Circle Card thinlit, the star punch and the Star EF. I thought the sentiment from, Remembering Your Birthday fit perfectly. Don't you? 

One of the boys has a birthday in a several months and hope I remember that I made this so I can send it to him. :0)

Make it a great Friday and go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,

BernieBee

Your Simply Wonderful / cQc#286 / FMS181

Here is a card I created yesterday for two challenges, Freshly Made Sketches and ColourQ.

The butterfly (Butterfly Thinlets Die) was inked to obtain the"Ombre" look using Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, and Crisp Cantalope. 

I embossed the the Bermuda Bay with the Spring Flowers Textured EF, used the Gorgeous Grunge stamp plus a stamp from an older Paper Pumpkin Kit to add interest to the main layer, then added some sequins for the bling factor. 

That's about it for todays post. Make it a great Thursday and as always, go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

Smile/Cricut/MOJO #392

Just a quick post today using the MOJO#392 challenge sketch.  I went back and forth trying to decide what would be my focal point and my final decision was this cute camera from the Summer Vacation cartridge.  I'm loving my new Explore Air and the Design Space. I seem to learn something new everyday about the capability of this machine and the program. LOVE it!

I paired the card with retired SU products, Retro Fresh DSP and the Happy Day stamp set. I will be sad when I use up that DSP. I love the patterns and the colors.

I glued three of the camera cuts together to give it some dimension and added a piece of foam tape on the back, doodled around the edge, and added the hearts. Since I didn't want to leave the Tangerine Tango strip plain, I decided to emboss it with the Stylish Stripes EF to mimic the the paper along the edge.  I'm not sure what occasion I will be using this card for, so I left the inside blank.

Well, I'm off to do a little reorganizing of papers in my Studio today.  Gosh, it seems like I'm always organizing. How about you?

Make it a wonderful Wednesday and go do something CRAFTY!

Hugs, 
BernieBee

A Wonderful Time of the Year

This weekend, as Christians, we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. I'm blessed that 45 years ago, a sweet woman named Elaine, introduced me to Him. My life has been dramatically changed for the better. I have since been able to celebrate the true meaning of  His resurrection power, his love, his grace, his forgiveness, and his mercy working in me and through me.  For that, I'm eternally grateful.  If you don't know Him, I pray that you seek Him.  May you enjoy your Easter Sunday!

Tomorrow is my 70th. Birthday. I can't believe that is true, but that's what my birth certificate states! I found this quote on Pinterest that sums up how I feel.

"I'm not 70. I'm 18 with 52 years of experience!"

I celebrated with cake little early this week with the Home Group that we facilitate in our home. The cake is a Princess Cake. I had the pleasure of tasting this for the first time when I was in Malmo, Sweden 8 years ago. Oh, so, so good. My husband was able to find bakery close by that made them. I was doing the happy dance.

A princess cake is a traditional Swedish layer cake consisting of alternating layers of airy sponge cake, pastry cream, and a thick-domed layer of whipped cream. This is topped by marzipan, giving the cake a smooth rounded top. Wikipedia 

My cake also had a layer of raspberry cream. YUM...

This photo is from this site: http://semiswede.com/2011/09/21/princess-cake-demystified-prinsesstarta/

The above site has information about the origin of this wonderful cake with pictures if you are interested in knowing more.

My children sent me a combined gift which I tried, I REALLY did, not open until tomorrow. But, the excitement and curiosity got the best of me. Sooo...I opened it last night. :0)

I love it. I have been talking about buying one for more then 2 years, but just never had, and the cobalt blue matches the accessories in my kitchen and living room perfectly. The only problem I foresee is drinking more then 2 cups of coffee a day... 

Have a blessed and wonderful Easter weekend. We have plans to go to my favorite Italian Restaurant tonight, Balboa Park tomorrow, and an Easter Brunch at San Diego Safari Park Sunday.  Your only 70 once, so why not celebrate ALL week.

Go do something CRAFTY !
Hugs,
BernieBee

 

Playing with the Explore Air

Just a quick post today showcasing some cards that I cut on my new Cricut Expression machine.  I have been playing with settings, images, free projects, pens, etc. for the past 4 or 5 days. It is certainly an amazing machine and I haven't nearly explored all of it's possibilities.

Right now, I'm on the low end of the learning scale, and it's been a little bit fun and a tad frustrating. Thankfully, there are many tips, tricks and tutorials on Youtube and on the Cricut site. I'm slowly going through them to learn as much as I can.

Although I love this new machine,it will probably never take over my love of stamps and the smell of ink. I still love my card making supplies and creating with them, but it certainly takes my crafting to another level.

The teeth on the saw are are amazing.

The telephone cards below were done using one of my free projects. The phone cord and the hello are sketched first, then the machine blade cuts the phone. It's great having the dual carriage. No changing out the blade for the pen to complete the project.

Felt Blue metallic marker

 Midnight fine line marker

Felt Silver Metallic Marker.  I think this card is my favorite.

Felt Violet Metallic Marker

Felt Copper Metallic  marker

That's about it for today. I hope you have a wonderful day and are able to do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee

Happy Easter / Cricut Explore Air / MOJO#390

MOJO #390

 

Today's card design is one that I will be using for Easter Cards for my younger grandchildren. Minus the bows for the 3 little guys. :0)

I have been laboring over this card for almost a week. I knew what images I was going to use, paper, and sketch, but just couldn't get my "mojo" in gear to put it together. I'm just as glad I didn't. 

As an early birthday gift, my husband bought me a Cricut Explore Air. I'm excited to say the least. This is the 3rd. Cricut I have owned, and I must say, WOW. The machine has come a long way since I received the Original Cricut for a Mother's Day gift years ago (maybe 8?).

There seems to be a lot of chatter on the net. Both Pro's and Con's regarding this machine. I've read through some, but have not worked with the machine enough at this point, to give my opinion. I worked with it some last night and for several hours today, just trying different weight papers and images. 

I'm still learning the in's and out's of the Cricut Design Space. I do have to say, at this point, I feel Cricut Craft Room was a little easier for me, but I'll give the new program some time.  Thankfully, there is a plethora of info and videos on the web to lessen the learning curve.

Mine was bought at Micheal's @ $30 off plus, a Lia Griffith Bundle, and a free month subscription to the Cricut Image Library. I have looked at the library, and I must say, it's huge! I can't imagine being able to use half of the content.

The picture below was another reason I didn't get this card done until today. One of my first cuts using the Explore was Create a Critter lamb. I had seen on the internet that the Explore cut cleaner then my Expression,but of course,I had to do my own test.

Even though the images look different sizes, they were not. I'm not sure why that occurred. Weird...

Can you notice the difference? I was somewhat amazed. Not a lot of difference, but the Explore image is definitely more precise. Larger, rounder eyes, more oval nose, crisper mouth, and more definition in in the leg region. So,I was back to re-cutting images for my 6 cards!

That's about it for this evening.I do hope you have a wonderful one and are able to do something CRAFTY!

Hugs,
BernieBee 

*The paper,stamp,EF,button and twine are all SU products.