Challenge #135 Seeing Spots over at FCCB x

This is the last challenge for the current DT term over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog,
it has been a wonderful 3 months and lots of fun has been had by all ...
Many of the DT are "retiring" so we will have lots of new talented ladies joining us from the 1st November.
Please look out for them and show your support.

Back to this week and we are seeing spots !!

"Make a project using Polka Dots"
with
at least one Cricut cut.

Challenge #135 runs from 0800 Monday until 2400 Sunday US Mountain Time 

Please come and visit the DT at FCCB and add your own project !!

My project is made with 3 toilet rolls and a kitchen roll cut in half !!
I thought it was time for a bit of up-cycling having spent the last few weeks throwing things away in the name of decorating !!

I have also used a freebie 6x6 paper pad which is definitely seeing spots and scraps of ribbon from my jar.
The only purchased items are the rings from my stash and 2 sheets of lilac 12"x12" Basil Basics cardstock.

Step 1 is to squash and score the rolls so they are as flat as possible.
6x6 is the perfect size - quick tip is to trim BOTH sides rather than using 1 edge as the rolls are by no means straight !! (OCD alert lol !!)

Step 2 is to make holes in the rolls by whatever means you have- I used my trusty hammer and had fun making a little more noise that strictly necessary !!

Step 3 In comes the Expression to cut lots of shapes to use for photos and journalling. I'm going to use mine as an address book and birthday reminder for cards that need posting.
I used George and Basic shapes in various sizes to fit snuggly in the rolls and then added "Family" from Cricut Sampler.

Step 4, once all the shapes were cut, was to distress every edge with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. I doodled on all of the shapes to make them pop.
I then used lots of stamps and randomly scattered them over all the pages, again using Vintage Photo - I decided not to use embellishments inside because it was already quite bulky.

Step 5 was to add lots of ribbon around the edges of the rolls and on the silver rings, it's a fab way to use up some of the scraps I can't never bear to throw away !!

I found one of my hand made flowers which matched perfectly hiding in the ribbon jar (Made with my favourite Spellbinders) and stuck it onto a George and basic shapes flower blending and stamping on it as before.
These mini books are fun to make and I'm in danger of losing it to my daughter before I even get it finished lol,  they are great for memory gifts filled with pictures and precious memories !!

Please don't forget to visit  FCCB and look out for a few changes happening from 1st November in addition to our new teamies... I'm super excited all over again .....More soon x

FCCB Cricut Crawl !! !! !! x

Welcome to my blog Crafty Calamities...
and the 
EIGHTH Fantabulous Cricut Crawl...
Fantabulous Cricut's version of a Blog Hop !! !! !!

It's my very first crawl and I'm so excited, we have been planning our projects for weeks, 
20 talented ladies (No modesty there then ha ha ha !!) means 20 super sensational projects for us all to enjoy !! !!




So with less woffle and a huge drum roll ....here's the deal...
Summer is coming to an end and we are all getting ready to go BACK TO SCHOOL...Each of our fabulous Design Team member's blog features an original 
BACK TO SCHOOL  PROJECT
that includes a 
SCHOOL RELATED ITEM
(crayons, rulers, pencils, book, school bus etc) 
along with at least ONE Cricut Cut.

If you've come to my blog having just visited the amazing MEGAN at SAXEYDESIGNS, you're in the right place !! 
If you've just happened across my blog, or are one of my lovely followers and would like to play along with our Fantabulous Cricut Crawl, start HERE 
Make sure to check out each of our DT member's blog for some amazing inspiration !! !! !!
There will be PRIZES along the way at some of our DT members' blogs
AND
there will be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one participant that submits a "Back to School" project at FCCB!

What a fun start to the week !! 

For my project I decided to buy some real life note books and use my Cricut to make them fun to take to school.

My note books were a bargain at a pound for 6 in 3 different sizes...




...but of course at that price they are a bit cheap and flimsy looking...so I started with a collection of purple and pink papers and covered each book...

...looking better already me thinks !!

To fit with the theme of Back to School I chose the Simply Charmed Cartridge because I just love the super cute faces bringing the characters in it to life.

Using my Cricut Expression 2 makes the decorating really easy to do ...
I cut the cute scissors and glue bottle at 10cm with all the elements resized in proportion automatically for me, stuck them on with Pinflair glue gel (silicone style but with no silicone or smell)  and then  added 3 Cricut Sampler scalloped tags to make some cute dividers and used Cricut Alphabet cut on self adhesive pearl papers to make all the letters. 

I then made a Tags, Bags Boxes and more 2 envelope cut at fit to page to create a "secrets" envelope to store all the fabulous things kids love to keep.

I used the last of my shiny gem stars to decorate and doodled the afternoon away. 

You can see the doodling a little better here...

...Its a brilliant way of bringing the project together without it becoming too busy, and makes the characters pop off the page.

I used the crayon and pencil, again, from Simply Charmed for the smaller jotters and I think the tiny one is my favourite !!

SO

Now it's your turn! Let's see your BACK TO SCHOOL projects! Make sure you include a Cricut Cut somewhere on your project !!

Next stop...the awesome SHEILA, please go and see what she has in store for you today at her blog SHELOVESHOES
And if you want to play along, please link up your project to FCCB's Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post to be entered into the contest !! 
The DT will, as ever, be visiting all your blogs, ooing and arring, gaining inspiration and leaving lots of comments !! !!

Happy Crawling !!

Adoption Commission Card

This is the first adoption card that I've ever been asked to make...such a special arrival!!

Cricut Sampler Cartridge and Nit Wit papers with you guessed it Spellbinder flowers 

Nothing if not consistent I guess !! 

No ink on this one I wanted it clean and tidy, my new trick is blobs of glossy accents making the flowers look fresh and dewy
What a beautiful name for a baby girl with a very special mummy and daddy to be !! x x

Wedding Card Commission

Today I am sharing a wedding commission card, as ever, my Cricut  and Spellbinder die flowers take centre stage.

I have used Antique Linen distress Ink and Shimmer card to make this not quite all white card - I was reliably informed the colour scheme was gold so I added a little Stampendous white and gold embossing powder and used gold gems.

I cut feathers instead of leaves to go with the Doves.

No time to chatter I have an adoption commission to make, back later !!

Commission Card...Baby Vinnie x

This card is a commission, made to welcome a very special baby into the world and to congratulate his Mum and Dad on his arrival. The lady who requested the card tells me they have had a very long hard journey and many tears to get him here, their story reminds me of just how much we all take for granted every day !!

 xhugsx 

I have used my faithful Cricut and Sampler Cartridge to make this card, using Me to You backing papers, gorgeous blue lace and lots of gems. 

I used Faded Jeans distress ink for definition...

...and Papermania letters and peel off numbers, on a spellbinders die cut oval, for the most important part topped off with a triple bow!!

I am entering Vinnie's card into the following challenges: 

Allsorts "Ice Cream Colours"

The Paper Shelter "Anything Goes"

Fussy and Fancy "Boy Attitude

"Try it on Tuesday "Anything Goes"
The sponsor for this Challenge is:

Congratulations x

My hairdresser Kirsty has just had a beautiful baby boy....he is absolutely gorgeous I met him this morning !! Oh he's soooo very very cute !!

Here is the card I made for her to celebrate his birth.

 I used a spellbinder die for the name plaque and made the rattles from the Cricut Sampler Cartridge. I  kept it clean and simple, matting and layering the co-ordinating Me to You papers with a piece of Papermania.textured card.  I added pretty ribbons and lace and some capsule collection gems .

I love the 'itty bitty little feet but cannot remember where they came from :-( 

xHugsx