Swatch Series #2

Hello Fantabulous Readers and welcome to another Quick Tip Tuesday! Like I mentioned in last week's Quick Tip, I'll be showing you fun ways to use swatch books to organize and get your crafty mojo going on! In this week's tip, I'll be showing you how swatch books can be used showcase your distress inks!

I found both of these talented crafters via Pinterest. 

# 1: Kottens from Scrapbook.com created this amazing swatchbook to display her collection of distress inks.  

On her post she describes:

"Lessons learned from my old one: I used eyelets and a ballchain, thinking it would last longer. It was very clumpsy to use. Not easy to make a tight pad of it. So this time I used some ribbon. 

It's always nice to see the stamped image on a white background, so I only used an ink blending tool on half of the tag. I remember I've seen something like that before." 

You can click HERE to see her original post. 

#2: Ink Stains Roni did something similar. Here's a closer look. 

To see her original post about these tags click HERE. 

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow for the Wednesday Winners! 

Challenge Me Monday #122

Hello everyone and welcome back to another wonderful challenge at FCCB!  Summer is the perfect time to play outdoors and there's nothing like a summer campout.  One of my favorite things about a campfire is S'mores.  Although I camped a lot as a kid, these days I do not campout as much.  For those of you who love S'mores but not the outdoors part, I do have a secret to making indoor S'mores.  Put your oven on broil, place aluminum foil on a cookie sheet, grab as many marshmallows as you would like to roast and place them on the cookie sheet.  Watch the marshmallows closely for a couple of minutes and they will brown, flip for another couple of minutes to brown the other side, then assemble your S'mores.  They turn out wonderfully!  With that said, I hope you are inspired to join us this week with your camping themed projects.

#122 - Smore' Anyone?

Make a project camping theme (tent, bon fire, canoe etc.)

When linking your project, please remember to list on your blog what Cricut cartridge you used.
Design Team Inspiration
Sonya

Going Places and 3 Birds on Parade cartridges

Holly

Graphically Speaking cartridge

Belinda

Create a Critter, 3 Birds on Parade and Yee-haw cartridges

Tammy B.
Create a Critter, Everyday Paper Doll and Paper Doll Dress Up cartridges

Cicily
Art Philosophy, Varsity Letter, Gypsy Font, George & Basic Shapes cartridges

Kathie
Pooh and Friends, Campin' Critters and Plantin SchoolBook cartridges

Megan

Campin' Critters, Plantin Schoolbook and Everyday Paper Dolls cartridges

Nikki

Everyday Paper Dolls, Elegant Edges, Straight from the Nest cartridges

Arin

Going Places, Potpourri Basket & 3 Birds on Parade cartridges

Janea
Stretch Your Imagination, Art Philosophy & Wild Card cartridges

~ This Week's Sponsor ~

This week Fantabulous Cricut is delighted to be sponsored CropStop!  CropStop has very generously dontated a Cricut Robotz Cartridge to be given to one lucky participant to be drawn at random from all eligible entries.   

If you’re passionate about paper-crafting whether it be scrapbooking your memories, making cards or altered art, CropStop is your one-stop solution. We offer an extensive selection of dies, embossing folders, inks, stamps and punches by all the popular manufacturers and the CropStop die and embossing folder storage solutions Pocketz Pages™ to keep everything organized.  Our selection of embellishments and adhesives is continually expanding and we are excited to be the home of the colorful Ribbon Candy™. 

In need of inspiration? Visit the CropStop Gallery, Blog or Message Board and participate in a competition or class. If you have questions concerning your machine, we have a team of experts waiting to help you.

CropStop ships internationally as well as domestic. Our personalized customer service is only one of our strengths. Call or come visit us at www.CropStop.com and see what’s new in the world of paper-crafting.

Join the CropStop community:

Store | Blog | Message Board | Gallery | YouTube | Facebook | Twitter

To link your project for this week's "FCCB's S'More Anyone?" challenge,

click on the blue "add your link" button below!

This challenge ends at Midnight August 5th (Mountain Time).

As a courtesy to our design team, please consider turning off the word verification on your blog. With the new system, it has become quite difficult to leave comments for our FANTABULOUS followers.

When linking your project, please remember to list on your blog what Cricut cartridge you used.

Sunday Spotlight

Hello Everyone,

Where has July gone? Before to long school will be starting. I am just trying to enjoy the rest of the summer. Today we have 3 more design team members to spotlight. First up is Janea her blog is Recollection Alley.

Janea's craft room

Here are the answers to the questions we asked her.

5 top go to  cartridges:
                      Art Philosophy
                      Create a Critter
                      Paper Doll Dress Up
                      Storybook
                      Sweethearts

Favorite Adhesives:  Hands down - 3 in 1answers to the questions from Beacon and I also use ATG

Organize my cartridges in my Gypsy

Favorite creative feature would be boring, but the Shadow

Next up is Jayne her blog is Jayne Designs.

Jayne's craft room

Here are her answers.

What are your top 5 go to Cricut Cartridges?

Art Philosophy
Tag, Bags, Boxes and more 2
Wild Card 2
Walk in My Garden
Doodlecharms - oldie but such a goodie

What are your favorite adhesives?

My favorite is Cosmic Shimmer Acrylic Glue, never fails. Doesn't buckle card and holds the heaviest embellishments.
I also use Glossy Accents and my ATG Gun.

How do you organize your cartridges?

Stacked on top of one and other at the end of my craft desk....the ones I like to use most are placed easiest to reach! Not the best organization!

What is one of your favorite creative feature key?

The card feature on a cartridge. On my Expression the creative feature key I like most is the multi-cut.....I do not have a deep housing blade but with multi-cut can use my ordinary blade for the same thing.


I do lots of different kinds of crafts, but it is my Cricut I use most. I love using my Cricut and I am so pleased to be part of the FCCB design team.

Lastly  is Judy and her blog is Crafty Jar.

Judy's craft room

Here are Judy's answers to the questions we asked her.

What are your top 5 go to Cricut Cartridges?

My favorite carts are Create a Critter, Everyday Paperdolls, Elegant Edges, Lyrical Letters and I have been using Stand and Salute a lot lately. 

What are your favorite adhesives?

I have quite a collection of adhesives. 

Scotch ATG - I rave about this so much that all the ladies that come to my Michael's class are getting them.

Scotch Quick Dry - I love how fast it dries and that it dries clear.

Zig 2-way glue pens - For attaching small cut out pieces

I love Fabric-tack its like liquid hot glue, I use it on metals, ribbon or another hard to adhere embellishments. 

How do you organize your cartridges?

I have all my cartridges linked to my Gypsy so I really don't used them except for flipping through the handbooks when I am looking for an image. I do have all the carts in their boxes on a book shelf in my scraproom. The shelves have them 2 deep because I own 97 full carts and 8 solutions carts which I store in boxes that look like double cartridges.

What is one of your favorite creative feature key?

My favorite feature key is the Shadow Buttons. I like being able to use a shadow behind an image, but I absolutely love the feature for making the base for shape cards. I also love any carts that have an Accessories Button.  You get so many more images on carts that have that feature.

Wow, these are some amazing ladies, I hope you get to know better and give them some love.  If you haven't checked out their blog do so you will definitely be inspired. Now don't forget to stop by tomorrow for a new Challenge Me Monday.

Happy Crafting,

Scrappin' Saturday - Wedding Bliss

Happy Scrappin’ Saturday Everyone!!  With Summer having the highest number of Weddings...this weeks challenge is perfect!!!  I am sure that all of us know someone that is either getting married or has an Anniversary, so it is great timing for this week's challenge.... :) #121 – Wedding Bliss - Make a project for a special couple (Wedding, Anniversary).  You still have time if you haven't submitted a project for the challenge this week!  There have been some great projects already submitted and I wanted to share a couple with you....  Sarah over at Scrap From Scratch made this card for her best friend's Wedding.  I love the color choices along with the couple!  Such a beautiful card to give on a beautiful day! :)


Jackie
over at Luv 2 Scrappp made this beautiful bouquet for not only her 10 year Anniversary but for when she renews her vows with her husband.  I think this is gorgous and such a special touch for Jackie's special day! :) 

What kind of projects have you created for a Wedding or Anniversary?  We love comments...so leave one with your blog address so we can stop by to see your great creations!  Hope you are able to find some time to do some Scrappin’ this Saturday!!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Melissa

FCCB Fantabulous Friday- Wedded Bliss

Hello everyone it is Suzanne here for another Fantabulous Friday at FCCB.  This week the challenge is Wedding Bliss  

Make a project for a special couple (Wedding, Anniversary) 

I found three Fantabulous projects I wanted to share with you in hopes they would inspire you to enter our challenge this week.  

This first gorgeous card is from 

NannaDonna'sCardDreams using Art Philosophy

So pretty and soft and I love the heart doily cut. 

I

Next is this wonderful card from 

FaithAbigalDesigns using Sweethearts

Lovely cuts and embossing.  

and then this lovely card by 

Kathy's Corner using  Mother's Day, Spring Cottage, Forever Young and CM Divine Wedding

Check out these other fun cuts for your Cricut 

Summer Celebrations

Tie the Knot

Beautiful monogram for your wedding needs 

Imagine Greeting Cards Inside and Out 

I hope you enjoyed this post and would love if you would stop by and give the talented ladies above some bloggy love.  Also I hope you have gotten some inspirations to join our challenge this week at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.  Happy Craftin!

Thursday Tutorial - Cricut Embossing!

Happy Thursday everyone!

This is Cicily the Pink Dalmatian Scrapper & I have an exciting video tutorial today.

I have been scrapbooking for several years now, but I don't always try new techniques. I do love embossing, so I was very intrigued when my scrappy mom found this video! My mom is the one always trying new techniques.

This video is from Joy's Life.com. It's actually from a couple of years ago. I had heard vague rumors about this, but now I'm excited to try it myself!

Pretty cool huh?

My adventurous Mom & Sister decided to try it as well. Here's what they did.

For the mat they found that the CTMH spongy mat that comes with each stamp set works as an embossing mat. Attach it to the Cricut mat, then tape the paper to be embossed right side down. A heavy paper works best. Also remember to leave plenty of extra paper to allow for the tape so as not to interfere with the image.

Remove your blade housing & turn your blade upside down. Joy shows how to do this on her video. Set the housing setting to 6 & the pressure dial to 5.

With the Gypsy they were able to center the image & get an exact placement.

Here's the embossed image.

Now remember to put your blade back & adjust your settings.

This is where the exact placement comes into play. By placing the paper, now without the embossing mat, back in the exact place on the mat, the outer image is cut. Make sure you use the shadow feature or the hide contour feature.

Here's the cupcake image embossed & shape cutout.

To highlight the embossing, they took an embossing stylus & went over the lines.

This is the final result!

I hope to be trying this myself soon.

Thanks to Joy's Life & my Mom & Sis!

Happy Scrapping!

Wednesday Winners #120 Sunny Days

Hello Fantabulous Friends!

Thank you so much for playing along with our "Sunny Days" challenge.  You wowed us with some bright and cheery creations!  Are you ready to see the winners--put on your "shades", you'll need 'em for these super sunny creations!

~This Weeks Winner ~

(chosen by random.org)
Prize from  Scrapbuck

#17 Becky 

To claim your prize please contact Marlene at... hearts0314 @ msn .com (remove spaces)

You have two weeks to claim your prize.
Remember to grab your "FCCB Winner" blinky to display on your blog, you can find the blinky code in the right hand side bar.

And now for the DT picks....

  ~Design Team Top 5~

#20 GiGi

 

#18 Jenny 

 

#4 Cindy 

 

#11 Ginger 

 

#19 Maria 

Remember to grab your "FCCB Top 5" blinky to display on your blog! 

You can find the blinky code on our right-hand sidebar.  

Congratulations to all our winners!!  

We hope you'll join us for this week's challenge, which is our #121 Wedding Bliss Challenge.  Don't forget to use at least one Cricut cut on your project.