Cricut Banner Contest Entry #2 (My Favorite But Don't Tell #1)

I had originally planned to wait to share my Cricut Banner Contest entry until closer to the contest date, but it seems many of us are sharing on the Cricut Message Boards.  So once I shared this project on the MB on Tuesday, I decided I should post it here also. 

I used two Cricut machines and five cartridges to complete this banner:  Cricut Imagine and the Imagine Black & White cartridge, Cricut Expression with Straight From the Nest, Elegant Cakes, Calligraphy, and Everyday Cricut.

I had such a good time making this banner; it just seemed to all come together for me.  I began by printing sheets of cardstock in my Imagine machine.  Using the Black and White cartridge I printed the cardstock for the back layer using white cardstock with black print.  Next I printed the pink and black cardstock by printing on pink cardstock. 

I had previously created a cut file in Cricut Design Studio.  I used Calligraphy to cut the base pennant layer using the black and white I cardstock I printed.  Next I cut the solid pink pennant layer.  And finally I cut the black and pink pennant layer.  I used my ATG and adhered all three layers together.  

Next I cut the white scalloped pennant tops.  At this point I moved on to the Elegant Cake cartridge cuts.  I started with the elegant scroll cut at the top of the pennant pieces.  I used a Xyron to apply adhesive to the scrolls and then attached the scrolls to the pennants. 

I cut the two piece elegant scroll frames with the Elegant Cakes cartridge.  I used solid black and solid white cardstocks for these cuts.  Again I used the Xyron to apply adhesive to the scrolls before attaching them to the white base layers.

Using bright pink cardstock and the Everyday Cricut cartridge I cut the word "Cricut".  I also cut to green, white, and black Cricut logos.  Using liquid glue, I glued the Cricut Logo pieces together and glued them onto two of the scroll pieces.  I glued the Cricut letters to the remaining scroll pieces.  I used pop dots to affix the scroll pieces to the pennant sections.

Using diamond bling, I added highlight of bling to the letters and scroll pieces.  I did not want to over do with diamond bling as I planned to add the pink crystals.

I am going to admit that I had to go on-line to find the pink crystals.  I knew what I wanted to do with this pennant, but had trouble finding the right crystals.  Finally I got lucky and found the pink crystals on ebay!! 

The crystals came with gold tone hardware to attach them to the pennant.  Sadly, gold tone did not work with my color scheme.  Then I remembered that I had a silver leafing pen!! Woo-hoo for the silver leafing pen.  It completely covered the gold as simply as coloring with a marker.  I will use this technique again!!  After the coloring, I pierced the pennant tips and attached the crystals.

The last step of the project was to add ribbons.  I used 1.5 inch wide white organza ribbon to tie the pennant pieces together.  I then added solid black ribbon as well as pink and white ribbons to the pennant.

I will admit that I am quite pleased with this pennant.  I viewed some fabulous banners on the Cricut MB, but I still like this one.  And while it may not win the contest, it made me happy to create it!!

Pyramid Party Favor Boxes For Everyday Cricut

Happy Saturday everyone. As most of you know, I usually have a guest spot at Everyday Cricut on the third Saturday of the month. This month the schedule did not work out correctly so I opted for the fifth Saturday!

As you all know, half of my mind is constantly focused on weddings these days – between my friend Kathy’s son’s wedding, my friend Beth’s daughter’s wedding and of course, my older son’s wedding next year I seem to be constantly having wedding thoughts. This week’s project is favor box that would be great for a party or, yes, you guessed it – a wedding!

For all of the details on how to create these treat boxes for yourself, drop by Everyday Cricut. It is Melanie’s, Joy’s, and Everyday Cricut’s anniversary so be sure to check out the FABULOUS anniversary giveaways while you are there!!

Graduation Card for Mark

This may not look like a traditional graduation card, but then the graduate is not a traditional kind of guy.  Mark is the son of one of my friends, but more importantly he is a young man that we watched grow from a fourteen year old teen into a more mature twenty-two year old man.    Mark graduated from the College of Charleston last Saturday and I bet it was the best Mother's Day gift that his mom has ever received. 

I have always liked Mark. As a teen he had a mischievous, infectious smile. I have a sneaking suspicion that Mark was always with my older two children back in high school when they were someplace doing something that they should not have been doing. Not that Mark was ever bad. No, he was and is FUN to be around. And he has always been caring and compassionate. He has always been fun to have around and to be around.

I used three cartridges to create Mark's card:  Elegant Cakes, Just Because Cards, and Calligraphy.  I cut the layered scrolling frame on the front of the card from Elegant Cakes.  The lettering all came from Calligraphy.  And the rest of the card was cut using Just Because Cards.  I went with primarily maroon and black papers, the traditional College of Charleston colors.  I did toss in a bit of metallic gold paper to make the front of the card more festive.  I finished the card with two inside borders and the word Congratulations. 

I hope that Mark likes the card.  I was going for "guy elegant" and I think this fits the bill! And even if he hates the card, Mark should like what I plan to put inside!!!  :-)