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!!

Cricut's Banner Contest - "Warm Up" Entry

Just as when I am playing a sport, I often need a warm up with a big project.  I know that sounds crazy, but I find that I do better on the second project if I "warm up" and get the creative mojo flowing.  The Cricut Banner Contest was no exception.  This is my warm up contest entry.

I began with with several sheets of acetate - clear plastic-like material - and using the Cricut Expression set on 4 multi cuts, I cut the bottom layer for my banner sections.  Three Cricut cartridges were used to create this banner:  Art Philosophy, Cricut Everyday, and George & Basic Shapes.

I used the new Art Philosophy cartridge to create the banner main structure pieces - the acetate base layer, the pennant shaped colored layers, the background shape under the rosettes, the scalloped topper, and the scalloped circles.

George and Basic Shapes contributed two shapes to the banner - the circles in the middle of the scalloped circles and the long rectangles used to create the rosettes.  The circles were sized to fit the middle of the scalloped circles and to be just a bit larger than the letters. 

To create the rosettes, I looked at my Tim Holtz Sizzix rosette die and decided to create a Cricut version.  After all I could not use a Sizzix die on my Provo Craft project!  Using Cricut Design Studio, I cut eight rectangles measuring 11.5 inches tall by 1.5 inches wide.  I place score marks (created by shrinking the rectangle down to a tiny dash) every 1/4 inch along the length of the rectangle.  After cutting the rectangles, I used my score pal and scored across the width of the rectangle on each hash mark.  I then folded on the scored lines and glued the ends together.

I assembled the banner in layers beginning with the acetate pennants, followed by the colored pennant, then the light green matting, followed by the rosettes, then the scalloped top piece and finally the scalloped circle, regular circle, and letters. 

I added Stickles to the bottom of each pennant section in colors to match the individual cuts and to all of the letters and Cricut heads. 

I completed the banner by with coordinating ribbons.  I used 1.5 inch white organza ribbon to tie the sections  together.  I then used green, pink and aqua ribbons tied to the organza ribbon to add additional festive colors. 

This banner was a lot of work as warm up projects go.  However I think it was worth it.  My second banner turned out really well.  And while it may not win, it is still very pretty and something that had fun creating.

Happy 5th Birthday Cricut Day 2

Happy Birthday, Cricut!  It's day two of the Cricut's birthday celebration and I have another birthday layout to share.  This was the second of the three layouts that I submitted to the Cricut Birthday Celebration.  I love the large background doily from the Basic Cake cartridge, especially in Cricut Green!

**** UP DATE **** This layout won!!! At 6:37 am this morning Cricut announced that this layout won for best Cricut theme!!!!  Woo-hoo!!  I am so excited that I am having trouble typing!!!

Using my lastest Cricut Circle cartridge, Cricut Everyday, I cut the large logo cricut circle, then used scissor to cut away part of the top circle to create the letter "C" in the work Cricut.  I used bright colors - Cricut green, pink (for the Pink Cricuts) and blue because I have a blue expression. 

I have always loved this party horn cut from Celebrations.  I cut the top layer twice and used scissors to cut away the mouth piece on the pink cut and to keep only the mouth piece on the blue cut.  The shadow cut is in dark blue.

I put a fun party hat on the "C" cricut head - It is Cricut's birthday after all.  I added a flower behind the top of the hat and I added a gem to the middle of the hat top.

I have one other thing to share today.  I ordered a glass tile backsplash tile kit from DIY Network last week and it arrived this afternoon.  The box claimed that the entire project could be done in two hours, which I did not believe, but I decided to install my tile last night anyway.  Over all, including cleaning up, the tile took me about three hours to cover 15 square feet.  I hope you don't mind, but I am going to share photos of my first tile project.

I went with Almond colored tile, which has a touch of metallic copper and gold as well some tans and light browns.  I thought that the almond would work with our white cabinets and multi colored earth tone counter tops. 

The almond tile also blends well with the 4x4 ceramic tile over the sink and cook top.  I just need to do a few finishing touches, but the work is really finished. 

I will be back tomorrow to share my final Cricut birthday layout.