Original Cricut Expressions Machine

Price:$199.99


Some of you ladies know how much I love the Cricut Expressions and we don't have the machine at Jo-Ann's at this time. But you can get them elsewhere. I found this sale in my email. It is from Cricut.com. This is a website that carries a lot of Provo Craft products. They have the Pink Cricut Expressions that was designed to support Cancer Research. You get the two normal cartridges that I received with my machine and in addition you get a special cartridge called Journy, that you can only get with the pink machine. It is priced at $199.99. You also get two mats instead of the one 1 I got with my machine. And you get a pack of Vinal. I printed the add details.  You can go there to their site and order it. Craig's List, EBay and Amazon, are some other places you can go. There are still some stores who carry them too. There are some other online stores who carry then. Just Google it and they will come up. I have seen them for $169.00 on some of the sites. I know some of the Walmarts still carry them. If you have any questions about the machine or want to learn how to use the many buttons etc. I have a 2 hour class for called "Cricut Workshop" for $5.00 at Jo-Anns' in Hurst where I teach and show you all the great things you can do with your machine and give you some cool tools to use with it. The Cricut is not just a Scrapbooking tool as some think. I use this machine for  so many craft projects, school projects, cards, Girl Scout projects etc.

 

Pink Cricut Expression with Pink Journey, Accent Essentials, and Plantin Schoolbook cartridges

Make your crafts impressively expressive.
Whether you’re designing a scrapbook of your family vacation or making 200 wedding invitations for your best friend, the Cricut Expression^® easily ensures your creative possibilities are truly endless.
Larger than the Cricut^® Create or the Cricut^® Personal Electronic Cutter, the Cricut Expression^® precisely cuts letters, shapes, and motifs in impressive sizes using the 12" x 24" mat or the 12" x 12" mat. You can also create bigger die cuts for classroom decor, scrapbook layouts, signage, and so much more.
Buy your Cricut Expression^® today and start exploring the depths of your creativity.
Includes the Pink Journey Solutions cartridge, Plantin SchoolBook font cartridge, and the Accent Essentials^® shape cartridge.

Machine Resources:

·         digital user manual

·         digital quick start guide

·         message board forum

·         warranty

·         replacement blade housing

Cricut® Vinyl Rose Pink

New Decor Vinyl from Decor Basics comes in two 12" x 24" sheets per pack. These adhesive-backed sheets of 3 mil vinyl are available in a range of colors for trendy home decor, window signage, and crafting!

Cricut® 12 x 24 Cutting Mats

By Provo Craft®. 2 mats per package, the Cricut® cutting mat has a tacky surface to hold paper in place. Using both mats allows you to cut one thing while working on another. Mats last 25-40 full mat cuts depending on paper used. Never try to use a spray adhesive with these mats or your Cricut® machine. Doing so would void its warranty.

Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com












 

Look what you can do with a Mistake!

Over at Just-a-scrappin.com, they asked us members of the Design Team to create something for Christmas but not to use the traditional colors of red or Green. Here is what I made by accident while I was trying to print these cute pictures of a Snow Friends, I ran out of ink and printed two pages of them but in Black & White for our last  "Craft & Crop" night card project. I was going to through them away. But, when I was asked to make something with out green or red, the idea came to me to recycle these instead of discarding them. And here is what I came up with. They came out so cute!

I cut out the Black & White Snow friends pictures and framed them using scraps from black , white and glitter paper from Martha Stewarts' Birthday Party pack. Then I created 4 1/2 X 5 1/2 (A2) cards I cut out of left over card stock from Cloud9 Specialty pack. I found a darling quote and printed it from my computer, cut it out and framed it in black. Aren't they adorable? So, you can recycle those mistakes and make them beautiful gifts.  Hope you enjoyed this as much as I did.
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

Design Team Request

Here is Vacation Time project. This the first of more pages I am creating for a friend of mine. Her and her sweet Husband went to Atlanta for their Anniversary. The page on the left you can see that I created a way to hold the flyers and items they brought home for keepsakes. There are photos of the Gladys Knight famous resturant. They have photos, pictures of the inside of the resturant, Gladys, and the menu thay looked at to order their special meal. She has not seen this yet but I know she will love it.

#2 Craft for Octorber "Craft & Crop"

I was looking for something for a ladies event at church and I found an adorable box.

I could not copy it because I did not have the cartridge that was used. The box came from one of my favorite blogs. "Above Rubies Studios". Here is a perfect example of improvising.

 

 

I used Cricut Cartridge "Bridal Shower" Events and cut the bottom and the top of the box at 11".

 

 

I love this cartridge!

It's not just for Baby Showers!

 

 

Set your machine for 11 inches, make sure you do the top at the same size.

 

Next I used "Flower Shoppe" Projects cartridge and cut the flowers.  This cartridge has a variety of Flowers you can create. 

 

Here is a sample done in what for testing the size. You want to cut 9 Flowers of your choice at 3 1/2 inches. If you use a 12X12 piece of card stock you can use the button (Auto Fill) and it will cut 9 for you.

 

Then you will layer them on top of each other

 

 

 

This is what it will look like. Then take each petal and curl it with your fingernail

Then I took cartridge "A Child's Year" on page 37 are the leaves I cut 3 at 2 3/4 and 1 at 2 inches. If you don't have these cartridges take a look at the ones you have and see what can be used instead.

 

Than attach your leaves and this is what you get. You can can pinch the tips and make then look 3-D for a more natural look.

 

 

The finished project is so cute. You can make tags for them, add ribbon or bows. Thanks to "Above Rubies Studios" for the inspiration.

Marye Bird

passionatlycrafty.blog.spot.com

 

 

"Craft & Crop" Night Craft #1

I am sponsoring a table at a function at church and the theme is Thanksgiving. I created these napkin holders for a setting of 8 using flowers left over from the centerpiece I also created. You know how I love to use recycled materials when ever I can. It saves me money, and there is less going into the land fills. Here I took a paper towel roll and cut it into 8 rings.

Then I covered them with a fall themed 1/12 inch ribbon (found at Jo-Ann's Fabric and Crafts on Clearance) inside and out. I used a hot glue gun to attach the ribbon to the ring, folding the end of the ribbon under to give it a clean look.

 

Here you can see the ribbon I chose and the finished napkin holder.

Since the centerpiece will be on a round table I added a bow to both sides. I used the smaller orange and yellow sunflower style flowers left over, cut them almost flat and hot glued them to my napkin holders then I took the sprigs of long leaves on them and cut them down into small leaves and added them to the napkin holders also. You can make these rings for any occasion. This was so much fun to make and they are beautiful.
Hope you liked them too.
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

 

"Craft & Crop" October Free Pages

Here is the pages I created for the ladies who attend Octobers "Craft & Crop" night at Jo-Anns on Oct. 27. We have so much fun. It runs from 6:00pm to 12 Midnight. We get to stay after closing and shop with no lines, try the dishes the ladies bring and have drawings every 20 min or so. We have Cricut machines and I bring my personal Cartridges along with the ones in the Educational Classroom and those who attend can use them till their hearts content. We will also be doing three Crafts that the ladies can take home and re-make for school, church or just when you have a few girls over for fun. Come and join us. The seats are limited so sign up soon. You can sign up over the phone too.

Hope you like it!
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

September Craft & Crop at Jo-Anns!!

Along with the Halloween two page scrapbook page I have posted below, each person who attends will get to create this cute Halloween envelope. You can fit a candy bar in it and pass them out to the kids at school, you Girl Scout troop or friends at a party, even at work. They are very simple to create.

 

I took the template created by Valerie Salmon of Fiskars, Inc. and cut the envelope out of Halloween paper I had from last year. I purchased it from Tuesday Morning. Did you now you can get some really cool paper and paper packs from their stores? Then you fold on the lines and I used my Scotch Advance Tape glider (glue runner) to glue it closed except the top flap.

I used a scalloped punch and orange card stock, then cut around a pumpkin from a scrap piece of Halloween paper and centered it on the scallop using a foam square. I cut a piece of green paper slightly smaller then the front of the envelope and centered it to the front of the card. I then cut some Halloween words and framed them a couple of times and used foam squares to attach them to the front of the envelope along with the pumpkin.

I hope you will join up September 22 from 6-Midnight with some other fun crafts food drawings and lots of fun and food.
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

September 18th Design Team Project "Sympathy"

 

 

 

Just-a-scrappin has asked the Design Team to create a project with the theme of "Sympathy" using a gate Fold Card and a punch. I used my favorite Martha Stewart punch to trim my card. I used another Fiskar corner punch on the frame of the Bird House that was created with my Cricut Cartridge "Cindy Loo".

 

 

 

 Inside the gate fold card I printed with my computer part of a verse from the Bible, John 11:23-26 and framed it a couple of times with coordinating card stock and left room below that to sign the card.

Here are the directions.
Cut an 8 1/2X5 1/2 piece of card stock for the card base. I used my Martha Stewart Score board and scored it at 2 1/8and again at  6 3/8. Fold at both score marks to center of card. Using "Cindy Loo" Cricut cartridge, cut all 3 layers of Bird House at 3 inches and glue them on top of each other, then glue the bird house in center of frames as shown above. I attached the framed birdhouse to the left lower portion of the card with foam squares being careful not to attach the right side so you can open the gate. I printed the quote and framed it too. Again using foam squares to attach only the left side so you can still open the card. On the inside I attached the frame with the verse at the top portion of the inside of the card leaving room at the bottom for signatures. I hope you enjoy this card.
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

September Craft & Crop at Jo-Anns in Hurst



Here is our "Craft & Crop" page for September 

You will be ready for those cute photos of the kids or grandkids after they have had their Halloween fun.

 

I have used the Cricut cartridge "Mini Monsters" for all of the cuts for this set of pages.

 

 

 

It has some really fun cuts. If you have not seen it take a look. I love the haunted house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you enjoy this one. If you are interested in Craft & Crop remember sits are limited so sign up as soon as you can. You can even call the store and sign up over the phone. It is scheduled for September 22, 6-Midnight. In our new Educations Room at the back of the store. You can bring a dish if you like. And a copy of your recipe to pass out. Hope to see you there!

Marye Bird

passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 11th Design Team Project "Volleyball"

I started with a Maroon card base cut at 8 1/2X5 ½. Next I cut a piece of patterned paper from EKsuccess
And cut it 4X5 ¼ and centered it on the card, next I used a gold piece of Embossed Specialty Paper from an EKsuccess pack and cut it 3 3/4X4 ¼ and centered it on previous layer on the card. Then I used my Cricut Expressions and Sports Mania cartridge. Page 43 using gray button “Borders” at 1 ¼ for the volleyballs and then again at  1 ¼  pushed shift and regular cut to get the “I dig VB”. I framed the Volleyball border with Maroon, then larger with white. I used foam squares to attach it to the left side leaving ¼ inch from side. And then framed the words separately in patterned paper and larger in maroon paper and attached them as shown above.

I added a maroon bow to the top corner with a small brad. Then I added some gems .
Hope you like it. "-)
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

“Touchdown” Design Team’s Sept. Challenge

Over at Just-a-scrappin, they ask for Design Team 2 of which I am one, to make a project using the theme “Touchdown”.  So here you go.

"Touchdown"

 

 

 

 

I started with card stock and cut it @ 8 ½ X 5 ½ . This will give you a folded card 4 ¼ X 5 ½.  Then I took a (scrap) piece of blue card stock and cut it @ 3 ½ X 4 ½. Next I took a (scrap) piece of green cardstock cut @ 3 3/8 X 4 3/8. I then used my Sizzix Texture Boutique and a Pok-a-Dot folder and textured the green piece. I layered them on my card at the top right leaving ¼ inch on top and side. Next, I took my Cricut “Sports Mania” and cut from page 76. The football @ 4 inches I cut the regular in brown textured cardstock and then again using the gray bottom “Shadow” and white cardstock. I layered them and attached them to the upper corner of the green textured frame as shown.

 I found a cute prayer on line called “The Football Players Serenity Prayer”. By Carol Catiller and printed it on white paper, cut square and framed with Brown, Green, and blue (scraps) of cardstock. Then I used foam squares to attach it to the lower left corner of the card leaving ¼ inch on bottom and side.

 I had some large brads that I bought two years ago on clearance with letters on them. I used those t spell out the name.

I love how you can use things around you craft area to create some really cool projects. Cards are especially good projects to help you save money and use up some of the   scraps you have been collecting. I save everything large enough to use with a punch. You can create a file for each color so you cut down your search time and you are not so temped to just grab another new piece of paper.

 

Well that’s that. Hope you love this card as much as I loved creating it. I know it will give you some ideas for the game season.

Marye Bird

passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Back To School "Craft & Crop" at Jo-Anns!

OK girls, here it is. This will be our page for August Craft & Crop night at Jo-Ann's in Hurst. I want to dedicate this design to all the teachers who influenced my life and the lives of my children and my 12 Grandchildren. It takes a special person to become a teacher. To stick with it when they have so many obstacles. I will never forget what you have done for us.  I will add the particulars later.

Back To School

 

 

I found this cute quote that really fits how I feel about all you teachers

 

I used Printing 101 which is a "Class Mate Cartridge created especially for teaching.

 

 

I love the puzzle pieces and all the fun things you can do with them.

 

 

 

For the pencil, books, and ruler, I used "All about School" cartridge another "Classmate Cartridge.

 



The font for this page is also from Printing 101. The chalk board was created with black paper with white core. I used my Martha Stewart Scoring board and made the lines and then used a sanding block to go over the raised lines and it gives it the appearance of the chalk boards from when I was a little girl. the frame was created using Printing 101. I hope you like this page it was fun creating it.

August "Craft & Crop" filled up fast so if you are wanting to attend the September session, you should sign get signed up soon the spaces are limited. You can even sign up over the phone.

Marye Bird

passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com



Blessed with "Signs of Full"

Blessed with “Signs of Full”

Baby Shower Invitation

I started off using my Martha Stewart scoring board, (one of my favorite tools). It comes with instructions on how to make a Gate Fold card. It will end up a 4 ¼ inch by 5 ½ inch card that will open from the center instead of the side or bottom. I love this style of card you can do so many cute things with them.

Next I used my computer and printer and typed Blessed with “Signs of Full” and the Bible Verse from Psalms 139:13-14. Then I took the Blessed phrase and framed it in dark green then again with lighter green and attached it to the top of the right front flap of the card. Then I took the Bible verse and framed it with dark green. I cut one white square ¼ inch smaller then the inside of the card and attached it in the center, then used scrap pieces of the patterned paper I had left and made two more frames and attached them in the center of the white one. Then took the Bible verse and centered it from top to bottom. Then I added some leaves for embellishment that I cut from Cricut Cartridge “Plantin Schoolbook” at ½ inch.

I used Cricut Cartridge “New Arrival” page 82 and cut the regular cut <mommy> at 5 inches with peach colored cardstock and then <mommy-s> with patterned cardstock at 5 inches. I cut it a second time using a different patterned paper to coordinate the cloths and accessories, then one more time with gold cardstock for the blond hair.  I tied 1/8 inch green ribbon around the bodice of the dressand the handle of the purse. Then cut a piece of cardstock to make the band on the hat. Then I used two small black brads on the hat and purse flap. Then I used more leaves to trim the bottom of the card. This card was just too much fun and we are actually going to give it to my granddaughter’s Sunday school teacher during her baby shower. 

You can see that the tummy sticks out past the center opening.

I hope you enjoyed this card and try making it, you will love it.

Marye Bird

passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

Back-to-School girft Box

Back-to-School Gift Box

This is the Back-to-School gift box I created for my group who will be attending the August 25th "Craft & Crop"night at my Jo-Anns store in Hurst Tx. I took a pattern I found on Pintrest and added a piece to raise the back. I put items that my granddaughter would love to use in class and stuffed the box. FYI: This box is the French Fry style box. I used two sided cardstock for durability and so the inside would have a design too. I added at the top the use of a trim punch from Fiskars and the words came from a page I have had for 2 years. I framed them and add with foam squares. The glitter star sticker and A,B,C, bubble stickers I purchased at Jo-Anns they were on clearance.

The pensils I had from multiple Birthday party gift bags, The sticky note pad clearance item from 4th of July, the spiral and cute erasers & glue stick from the doller bin at Wal-Mart and Jo-Anns. This is a sweet gift you could give out to your students for the first day of school, and they where easy and fun to create.
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

Unsceduled "Open House" at JoAnns Fabric & Crafts

For all my friends who love to take the classes at JoAnns, they have informed me that Sat. Sept. 8 they will be having an extra "Open House"! That means that you can sign up for any of the classes at 50% Off! So you come in or call and sign up over the phone all day long and you can get all the classes you want for Sept. Oct. schedule at Half off. Some of the classes have free supplies while they last so at half off and free supplies you are getting a great deal and can sign up for more classes. I will be doing a class showing how to create the Pop-Top Jewelry. So if you have seen my earlier blog there are samples of the different styles. If you have any questions call me at JoAnns in Hurst. When you are in JoAnns pick up the Sept. Oct. catalog and see the new projects that are available. We will have samples of them displayed during Sept. 8 "Open House".
Marye Bird
passionatlycrafty.blogspot.com

Recycled Jewelry for a Cause

My granddaughter is working towards a goal in Girl Scouts and she has decided to use as her project "Recycled Jewelry" The profits from this project will be divided between "The Battered Womens' Shelter" & a ministry at our church. They go to the poorest of poor in Africa and start new churches and help and encourage those ministering in them. This is a wonderful opportunity to help share the Gospel with those who have not heard. The Women's Shelter is a safe haven for women and their children who live in fear of abuse . To remove their children and themselves from a dangerous situation and emotionally unhealthy environment. The photos below show different styles available and you can choose the colors you like. If you find something you like or that you would like to give as a gifts. You can send your choice to bdmebird@yahoo.com. You can pick up the finished product. Or if you see one you like, I can send you a invoice and you can pay through Pay pal. There are necklaces, earrings and bracelets. You can purchase one or a set.

Necklaces

#1N. This style necklace comes with matching earrings ($10.00).

I can create these in any color you prefer.

#2N This is Style ($7.00)

 #3N This Style Larger bead sizes vary.  Choice of colors. ($10.00)

#4N This Style has Choice of 6 beads on bottom row. ($8.00)

Bracelets

#1B  This style of beaded bracelet in your choice of bead color ($5.00).

made with elastic cord to slip over hand easily.

Pop Top Earrings

#1E This style of earring can be made with any tone of colors you prefer. ($3.50)

Brown Tones

Blue Tones

Black & Clear

Metallic Pop Top Earrings

#1ME Green Metallic ($4.00)

#2ME Blue Metallic ($4.00)

We will be posting more styles soon. Hope you will help us with this project. Christmas is coming up and these would be nice for gifts. But, the gift of hope that you will be providing is the best gift ever.

Thank you for your interest and help

Brooklyn, Girl Scouts & Fort Worth City Battered Womens' Shelter