Thursday Tutorial with Michelle

Hi, welcome to the last Thursday Tutorial of the year! I can't believe how fast time has flown. Today's tutorial is how to fold and score the Snowflake "blossom" box on the Artiste Cartridge.

 

 I couldn't for the life of me find any instructions or tips on how to fold this hexagon "box"! I fiddled with  scoring different lines and finally got it to work. Artiste recommends 4", so that's what I used and it's perfect for a gift card. I recommend cutting a "test pattern" out of your "I'll never use this" pile of paper. I actually found out I didn't want a busy pattern because you can't really see the snowflake.

You can cut this up to make a pattern to dress up the box.

 This is at 1/4, which I personally didn't like, so I made a change in my cutting lines to 1/8". Do this same procedure to produce a pattern for the bottom. Trace 6 arms and one bottom to the back of your designer paper, cut them out and adhere to the box. I colored my snowflake arms silver for a little shine, and look at how nice it turned out!

So I hope you make one of these to see how easy they are now that the scoring/pattern instructions are available.

It's been fun filling in for JoNeita. Thursday Tutorials will be back in 2014!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thursday Tutorial with Michelle

Hi! I know a lot of you probably have this cool little tool, but I can't believe it took me so long to get one! A lot of us make cards-and how many times have you had to abandon a card because the envelope was too big for your Cricut to cut?  Not any more-there are at least two companies that make Envelope Punch boards-Stampin' Up & We R Memory Keepers. Here is a video from Stampin' Up that demonstrates the ease of which you can make a custom envelope!

This is so handy to have to make an envelope for an odd sized card! You can make over 66 different sizes of envelopes, and there are quite a few YouTube videos for making boxes, file folder cards, etc.  It's really great to use up all those papers that you'll never make a card or layout with, like these:

Just a little hint-on really thin paper, be very gentle with your score lines, or your envelope will tear all by itself!

Remember, this would make a great gift for yourself or someone else!

Thursday Tutorial: The Mix and Match button & how to use it!

Happy Thanksgiving!

This weeks tutorial is on the mix & match button you find on the Cricut Expression. Recently I was doing a project where I could have really, really used this feature-making it easier on myself and saving frustration. I used to use mix & match a lot, and slowly forgot about it. Let's review its use with Megan at Above Rubies Studio!

Mix and Match button-
•Allows you to use multiple Creative Features at the same time.
This is trickier…the order you select the buttons matters!
•Press Mix and Match
•Next the character you want to cut and then Creative Feature on the keypad
                                   *Character then feature key*
You can only choose one dial size even in mix and match. If you want different sizes, you need to cut and then change the dial size.

 This tutorial is a great memory refresher, with a bunch of cool tips!

Thursday Tutorial 11/21

Welcome to Thursday Tutorial! Today I'm sharing a video I made about the Jo-Ann's Exclusive Cricut cartridge Edge to Edge. If you don't have this cartridge yet, or even if you do, I have hints on how to cut these images!

There are some beautiful overlays you can use in cards, scrapbooks, home decor-the possibilities are endless!

Here is a picture of the images you'll find-(this is how they will look in CCR). Images are from Scrapalette.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday Tutorial with Michelle

Hi! Today I found my Cri-Kit embosser in a box of crafting supplies that was "unearthed" during a clean-up of my storage shed. I did make a project with it! Cri-Kit has such great products, and I'm going to order the mat to make my life easier when I want to emboss vellum. Here is the link to the Cri-Kit site. Take a look-

I used the wide tip on the embosser to create this tree from the Christmas cartridge. I did use an embossing mat from Spellbinders to put under the metal I used. I taped both of them to the mat so nothing would shift.  A paper piercer was used to add the star brad at the top, and regular crafting scissors to cut the tree from the metal sheet. The metal is so thin, its easy to cut. It was hard trying to show the embossing detail on a shiny surface.

Give this a try!

This would be a great addition to any card, mixed media project, or home decor project!

Thursday Tutorial with Michelle

Hi! My name is Michelle, and I'll be filling in for JoNeita for the rest of the year. This week, I'd like to share a Tutorial from Joy's Life about the Universal Overlay. I thought this might be a great time to preview this new feature to the new cartridges in case you get some for Christmas!

The new Cricut Universal Overlay is a big change from the previous overlay style.  Not only has the look changed but there will no longer be individual overlays for each cartridge.  This video shows you how to use the new Universal Overlay, including how the digital Universal Overlay works with the Cricut Expression 2.

I also use my UO for most of my older cartridges (Always check for compatibility to this system, as there are some that don't follow this). I took a class from Cara Miller at My Creative Classroom, and she showed us a way of making the handbook more user friendly.  We did it a little differently, by naming the rows from top to bottom A,B,C,D,E. And since there are 10 buttons in each row, the first image page became A1, then A2 for the second, on down the line until the next row, which became B1, B2, etc. Here's a picture of one of my handbooks-

All I have to do is look at the lower right hand corner, see that it is B8, go to the 2nd row under the eight and I can find my image with no fuss! The Creative Feature keys can be used in the same way once you know that F1-F3 are on the top row, and F3-F6 are on the bottom row.

Choose a system that works for you, either the alphabet or numerical button code. Write it in your handbooks during TV commercials in the evening, like I did.

I hope this helps!

Thursday Tutorial - 3D Pumpkins



Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita, with today's Thursday Tutorial.  I found this wonderful video by Melody Lane at Melody Lane Designs, where she shows us how to make the 3D pumpkins.  She does it a little different than how Cricut shows to do it, but I really love how her project turned out. 

When she made this video, the 3D pumpkin cut was the free cut of the week.  I am not sure it they are still free to cut, but either way you can find them on the Home for the Holidays Fall and Winter Cartridge.

Happy Halloween everyone!!! Be safe tonight as you go out to trick or treat!

Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorial - Downloading and Uploading Craft Room Files

Hello everyone, JoNeita with Create with JoNeita here with your Thursday Tutorial video.  I recently saw where some crafters are starting to share their Cricut Craft Room files with friends and the public.  Since I had never tried to do this, I thought I would look for a video tutorial to help me figure this all out, and it has been really helpful.

 

I found this wonderful video by Melody Lane Designs, on her You Tube page.  In it, she shows us how to download, export files to and from Cricut Craft Room. She also tells a couple of tips to make things a bit easier, and how to upload your project files to the Cricut Project Center.

 

 

 

One thing to remember is that you have to own the cartridge that the file is from to be able to cut it. 

I hope this helps you all to share some projects with your fellow crafters.

Happy Crafting!!!

 

 



Thursday Tutorial - Cutting Fabric with Cricut

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here with today's Thursday Tutorial.  When I was teaching and coaching drill team and cheer, we always had a need for special t-shirts for different events.  This video will show you how to cut fabric with your Cricut and how easy it is, to use a bonding paper to turn your fabric into an iron-on.  This saved me a dozen times as a teacher. 

 

I found this video on the Obsessed with Scrapbooking blog by Joy Tracy.  Her instructions are great, and easy to follow.  Enjoy!!!

 

 

 

Happy Crafting!!!



Thursday Tutorials - Downloading Cricut Handbooks

Hello all, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here with a video tutorial.  I find that I need to look through my cartridge handbooks a lot when I am deciding what images I want to use.  I found this great video that shows how to download the handbooks to the cartridges that I own from the Provo Craft website.  This video, that I found on the Simple iPad Tips website, shows how you can then add the handbooks to your iPhone or iPad. 

I love the idea of adding the handbooks to my iPhone, as it would be a great way to know which cartridges that I already own, when I am shopping.  Also, once they were downloaded on my laptop, it was really easy to side load them onto my nook.  This has been useful, as now I can plan my next project when I am waiting in line to pick up my son from kindergarten.  It's so easy, since it is all right there together. 

I also want to point everyone to FCCB design team member, Jilliene at Jilliene Designing.  She has a blog post where she had linked almost all of the cartridges, just updated in September 2013.  Using her post, I was able to download almost all of my handbooks really quickly. 

I hope you find this a useful tip and spend some time getting organized.

Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorials - Twisted Easel Card

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita, with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I have seen  so many new card types and folds and wanted to share one with you.  This video is from Mary at Cardz TV, and she is showing us how to make the cutest, Halloween, twisted easel card.  The video is a part of her fun card folds series, and I recommend that each of you visit her blog and check them out.   They are all wonderful, but this one is my favorite. 

Have a great time, trying out this new technique.

Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorials - Making Your Own Designs Using Craft Room

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita, here with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I came across this fantabulous video by Cara Miller.  In it, she shows us how to re-create a image from a cartridge that you do not own.  How great is that?  Though I would love to own every Cricut cartridge, it's just not financially responsible to do so. This is a great way to get some extra use out of the cartridges that you do own.      I also wanted to share my experience with this technique.  Last year, I wanted to re-create the "Lowe's" logo for a scrapbook layout.  My son, loves to go to Lowe's and buy the little building kits, so that he and his dad can "build" when they have free time.  (I think everyone on our block has a birdhouse or birdfeeder built by my son and husband, LOL.)      I layered basic shapes from Craft Room Basics to build the base of the logo.  Then I welded them together and grouped them to make it easier to work with.  Next, I copied it and enlarged it a little bit to make a shadow type effect.  I then used the font from Craft Room Basics to add the word Lowe's.    I love how it turned out, and I think it was a perfect touch for my layout.  You can view the original post on my blog here.    Here is the finished page.  I hope you will go try out this technique.  It has saved me a ton of heartache, over not having the 'perfect' image for my projects.    Happy Crafting!!!  

Thursday Tutorial - Linking Cartridges to CCR

 

Happy Thursday!!! JoNeita from Create with JoNeita, here with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I have found that I love using my new Cricut Mini and my old, trusty Expression with Cricut Craft Room.  I really love that I don't have to dig out my cartridges and change them each time I craft.  It is also nice that I can cut multiple different cartridges on the same mat, which saves me time and paper. 

 

I found this video by Cara Miller, from www.caramiller.com.  She has a wide variety of tutorial videos to choose from.  This video talks about two different things.  The first is "how to link" your cartridges to Cricut Craft Room.  The second is a tip on how to keep track of any cartridges that have been linked to other accounts.   

 

 

 

I think this is a great tip.  There are so many good deals out there, that sometimes it might be worth it to purchase a used cartridge, even though you wouldn't be able to link it.  (I found the Sports Mania cartridge and a couple of others at a garage sale for $5.00 each...totally worth the buy).  Cara suggests using the bookmark feature to track these types of purchase.

 

Happy Crafting!!!

 

 



Thursday Tutorials - Cricut Iron-On Vinyl

Hello all, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I hope everyone has had a great time learning all about using vinyl.  Remember there is still time to enter a project, and that if we reach 100 entries, then our wonderful sponsor, CricutVinylSupplies.com will be giving away a Cricut Expression to one lucky winner. 

I have been wanting to try the Cricut Iron-on Vinyl, but was a bit uncertain about it.  I started looking online, and to my surprise there are not many videos about this product, but I did find a great one, which explains the process.  This video is from the Smith Simple Crafts You Tube page.



The main things that I learned, is that you have to flip horizontal your images, especially text, when using Iron-on vinyl.  The second is that the Iron-on vinyl comes with the transfer sheet already on, and that the shinny side (the transfer sheet) should be placed down on your Cricut mat. 

I hope this helps you to make a great project.  Don't forget to enter a vinyl project in this weeks challenge so you will be entered to win a Cricut Expression!!!  

Order your vinyl supplies from CricutVinylSupplies.com and enter the code:
fantabulous
to receive at 15% discount on your order.

Happy Crafting!!!
 

Thursday Tutorial - Cutting Vinyl with your Cricut

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I hope that you are looking forward to our FCCB Vinyl University and that you are ready to learn something new and having fun trying things out.   

Our fantabulous sponsor for next weeks FCCB Vinyl University, CricketVinylSupplies.com , has a few really great how to videos, showing how to cut vinyl.  I found that the video was really helpful, the first time I decided to create a vinyl project.  This video is a bit long (8 minutes), but it shows everything from how to get started, settings for your Cricut, how to "weed" your cut, and how to use transfer tape.

To view the videos, click here!!! (Sorry, I couldn't figure out how to post the video)

Don't forget that is we reach 100 entries, our sponsor will be giving away a Cricut Expression machine. 

Also, Cricket Vinyl Supplies is offering a 15% discount on orders, just type in the coupon code:
fantabulous

Happy Crafting!!!
 

Thursday Tutorial - Organizing Paper Scraps

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here to share a video tutorial on how to organize your paper scraps.  After I saw this video, I tried it and it is super easy and a great way to keep all those leftover paper pieces you have from using your Cricut.  

This video is from Linda at the Paper Boutique, and she shows us how to make our own paper pads using scraps and duct tape or wonder tape.  I can see how this could be really, really useful not only for your pattern papers, but with solid cardstock as well.  Since you can make these in any size, you can organize all those leftover scraps.

Go try this and get those scraps organized. 
Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorial - Story Vids with Cricut

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita, with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  I found this wonderful story vid, about three girls on a camping trip.  It uses the Paper Dolls Teen Scene and the Campin' Critters Cricut Cartridges. 

I'm sure you are saying, what in the world is a story vid and what can I do with one.  A story vid is a short video made with a series of still images.  Some have sound as well, though this one does not, it only has subtitles.
So what can you do with a story vid?  I instantly thought, what a great project to do with my 5 year old once he begins to learn to read.  We could create a story, cut all the scenes and characters, put them together in a mini album, then finish it up by recording us reading it together and putting everything in Windows Movie Maker.  Then we would have a book to read and a story vid to share with all our friends. 

I can also see how this could be a fun project to send to someone who lives far away.  You could make a story vid to say happy birthday, miss you, thank you, or just because.  From a former history teacher, this would be a great method to use for a class project.  I would have been super impressed if one of my students presented their information in this format.

There are so many ways that would make this a great tool.  I will also say, if you have never used Movie Maker, it's pretty easy and you can find you tube tutorials that will walk you through the process.  If you don't like Movie Maker you could use Roxio, IMovie, or any other video editing program. 

Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorial - Using Cri-Kits

Hello everyone, JoNeita from Create with JoNeita here with this weeks Thursday Tutorial.  Our challenge sponsor this week is Cri-Kits.  If you haven't tried these out yet, you really should. You can use them to draw any image that you would normally cut using your Cricut. 

I found this video by Raven B.  She does a great job showing us how to use the Cri-Kits to draw and then to cut the image out.  She made a little stamp-like image, and I can think of a million different ways to use this technique on my scrapbooks and cards.

 

There is still time to enter this weeks challenge, Cool Treats, and win your own Cri-Kits.

 

Or visit their website at http://www.cri-kits.com/

 

Thanks for stopping by today and happy crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorial - Artbooking Mini Album

JoNeita here from Create with JoNeita, here with my first Thursday Tutorial.  I'm excited to be a part of Fantabulous Cricut, and hope that you will enjoy the videos, projects, and ideas that I find to share with each of you.  I would love for you to visit me at my blog as well.

A little about me.  I am from Texas, born and raised, currently living in Denton with my wonderful husband, Vertis, and our little boy, Dallas.  I work in the education department for a historical association and love what I do, working with teachers and students to improve the study of history in Texas.  I also work for a dance/drill team company, Showtime International, as the contest administrator for the DFW area.  I love my camera, and take pictures whenever I can.  My newest workout obsession is Zumba (who doesn't love burning 1000 calories in an hour).  I craft for fun and to relax.  I love that I can hid away in my craft room and just chill out and be creative.  I started blogging because I wanted to share what I do with others.

Enough about me, on to this weeks tutorial.  I found this video on Justine Hovey's blog.  In the video, she shows you how to make a mini album using the new Artbooking Close to My Heart Cricut Cartridge.  I haven't bought this cartridge yet, but after watching this video I think I might.  Also, you can use the techniques found on this video and make a mini album with just about any cartridge. 

I hope this inspired you to make your own mini album.  They make great gifs and coffee table books. 

Happy Crafting!!!

 

Thursday Tutorial Easy Shape Card Video

Hi everyone,

This is Robin and I wanted to share a super easy shape card idea with you.  Some of you have made shape cards using your gypsy machine or the Cricut craft room by welding two images together, but did you know that you can still make a shape card with any of your Cricut cuts even with out these two divices?.... and it's so easy!

Here is a video made by The Paper Variety, she'll teach you how to turn a Cricut cut image into a shape card

Now that you know how easy it is to make a shape card, join us this week for our Shape Card challenge -HERE and see more amazing ideas made by FCCB design team.

When you join our Shape Card challenge you could win a free stamp set of your choice from this weeks sponsor...

My Craft Spot

Thank you My Craft Spot!