Melin & Jen Are Monkeying Around!

It's just another Monkey Monday . . . no Cartridge Showcase today . . . just Melin and Jen monkeying around!  We decided to collaborate and bring you some fun projects with a "monkey" twist.  One of Jen's nephews just turned one and his mommy always calls him her" little monkey."  So a monkey party was an obvious choice!

Did you know that there are monkeys on 17 different Cricut cartridges?  So many to choose from . . .

• Animal Kingdom, pg. 45 and 49
• Birthday Bash, pg. 36
• Birthday Cakes, pg. 45
• Create-A-Critter, pg. 46
• Creative Memories - Storks Delivery, pg. 64
• Disney's Dreams Come True, pg. 66
• Everyday Paper Dolls, pg. 75
• Imagine - Buccaneer, pg. 10
• Life's A Party, pg. 36, 46 and 56
• Lite - B is for Boy
• Lite - Carousel
• Lite - Sugar & Spice
• Nate's ABCs, pg. 57
• New Arrival, pg. 56
• Paisley, pg. 30, 31 and 32
• Sweethearts, pg. 43
• ZooBalloo, pg. 37

Jen used monkeys from Create-A-Critter, New Arrival and ZooBalloo for her banner, party decorations and cake.

The pennant and pennant mat were cut using the Girl's Make-Up Party cartridge
the text is from Cake Basics, the monkey on the left is from ZooBalloo
and the monkey on the right is from New Arrival.

These little monkeys and vines are from the Create-A-Critter cartridge.

Jen used her Cricut Cake to cut the fondant decorations for the cake.
The monkey on the left and the  palm tree are from Create-A-Critter.
The monkey on the right, grass, vines and party hats are from ZooBalloo.
The text was cut using the Mickey Font cartridge.

Isn't this little monkey "smash" cake the cutest thing ever!!!
The text was cut using the Mickey Font cartridge
and the stars are from Plantin SchoolBook.

For more details on sizes and the papers Jen used visit her blog.

Melin created this layout using the sweet little monkeys from the Sweethearts cartridge. She used the "flip" feature on her Expression to create the mirror images.  

Here is a close up of the cute little title.

Melin created this adorable birthday card using the Birthday Bash Cartridge. She also used her Gypsy to "weld" the face pieces together.  The smaller the "Cricut" faces, the less appealing they are to Melin, so she will use her Gypsy to "hide contours" and add her own eyes and nose. Just find an oval or circle on the same cartridge you are using and re-size it make your eyes and nose fit your face....easy peasy!

Last but not least, Melin created this card using the Paisley Cartridge. She also used her Gypsy to "Hide Contours" for all the monkey's body pieces and face. She used a couple of EK Scallop punches and a circle punch to add the sentiment.

Thank you so much for taking some of you crafty time to join us today! Be sure to do a little "Monkeying Around" yourself and create, create, create!  Join us tomorrow as we have another great post with more inspiration from our PCW girls!!!

Jen and Melin

Cartridge Showcase: Create-A-Critter

Welcome back to Cartridge Showcase!  Our Design Team members will be featuring their favorite cartridges on Mondays and Thursdays each week.  It is our hope that you'll be inspired to drag out an old cartridge and find a new way to use it -- or be compelled to purchase a new cartridge 'cause you just gotta have it!  (Disclaimer:  Cooking With Cricut accepts no responsibility nor is liable for any "unauthorized" or "compulsive" purchases.  So don't sic your significant other on us when the bank statement or credit card bill comes in!!!!)

Today, Chef Jen is featuring an oldie but goodie -- Create-A-Critter. 

There is just so much cuteness on this cartridge!  And a lot of versatility too.  Great critter images, habitats for those critters, sayings, and so many extras.  I have used this cartridge for t-shirts, cards, scrapbook layouts, and most recently my sister's zoo-themed Baby Shower.    Here are a few of the projects I created for the shower.

"It's A Boy" Banner

The pennants were created in Cricut Design Studio using the Plantin SchoolBook cartridge.  I welded a square and two triangles flipped on their side together -- they measure 8" tall and 5 3/4" wide.  The text was also cut from PSB at 5" tall.  My cute little animals were cut from Create-A-Critter (zebra, monkey and vine) and Everyday Paper Dolls (lion and elephant).  I used Everyday Paper Dolls critters because the elephant and lion on CAC were too wide.

The zebra is cut at 5" wide.  The monkey is cut at 3 1/2" tall and his vine is cut at 5 1/2" wide.  The lion and elephant are both cut at 5" tall.  All of my card stock is from Recollections or Bazzill.

Diaper Cake

This diaper cake was made with 112 size one Pamper Swaddlers, 10 cloth bibs, a Monkey Rattle (on the back) , Elephant & Lion rattles, two pacifiers with paci clips, and an Elephant toy (topper).  It is sitting on a 16" Wilton cake base trimmed with a lime green and white 5/8" wide ribbon from Michaels.  The ribbon on each tier is also from Michaels and is 1 1/2" wide.  The monogrammed medallion and text on the front of the diaper cake was cut using the Cake Basics cartridge and measures 3 1/2" wide.

There are three Create-A-Critters on this cake.  An alligator measuring 8" wide; a lion cut at 7 1/2" wide; and the hippo cut at 6" wide.  I used Recollections and Bazzill card stocks.  They are stuck to the ribbon using the super sticky red line tape.

 

Door Sign

The door sign was my Cooking With Cricut challenge project on October 5th.  For more details on the cuts, please see my blog entry by clicking here.  The sign measures 12 x 12" and my sister has hung it on the baby's room door.

There are several other baby shower projects featured on my blog post that did not include the Create-A-Critter cartridge.  I hope you'll pop on over and check them out!

Here are some other projects I've created using the Create-A-Critter cartridge.

Have you ever seen so much cuteness in one spot in your life!?!  My daughter and her cousins are all wearing t-shirts or onesies, tutus and hair bows (just the girls, of course) that I made for them.  And, yes, we are all die-hard Gator fans -- win or lose, we love our team!  The girl's tops have a fabric gator cut on the Cricut using the Create-A-Critter cartridge.  The boy's shirts have "G" is for gator -- the "G" and the gator were also cut from fabric using the Cricut.

Here is a close-up of my daughter's shirt . . .

 I use "Heat 'n Bond" brand interfacing to attach the fabric to the t-shirt and Tulip fabric paints to seal the edges and do the writing.  The rhinestone eyes are adhered with a fabric glue.  We wash these inside out and hang them to dry and haven't had any problems with the design peeling. 

And here are a few cards and other projects - for details on these and lots of other projects, head over to my blog and search on "Create-A-Critter".



Thanks for checking out my critter-filled showcase today!  Make sure you check back on Wednesday to meet some more of our new Design Team members and see our latest challenge.  And don't forget to stop back by on Thursday to see what Debbie has whipped up using the Cricut Lite Handy Man cartridge!



~ Jen

Challenge #54: Anything Goes!

Happy Wednesday and welcome to challenge day at Cooking With Cricut.  We're stirring up some of our all time favorite projects to share with you today.  Enjoy!

Gaby used the Pop Up Neighborhood and Locker Talk cartridges

for this amazing layout.  Click here to check out all the details!

Jenny created this super cute card using the Create-A-Critter and

Mickey Font cartridges!  Check out her blog for the details.

Madison created this awesome birthday card for her cousin using the ZooBalloo

and Teardrop cartridges.  Hop on over to her blog for the specifics!

Jen created this door sign for her sister's zoo-themed baby shower this weekend. 

She used Create-A-Critter, Cindy Loo, Mickey Font and

Everyday Paper Dolls cartridges.  Check out all the details on her blog. 

Now it's your turn!  Share your all time favorite project or create a new one -- your choice!  Here are a few guidelines --

* Must follow the challenge topic.

* Must have a link back to this post on your blog.

* Must link your project post through Inlinkz and not just your blog.

* Must use your Cricut in some capacity.

* Must HAVE FUN!

Don't forget . . . we have a Design Team Call going on and would love to have you join our fun! The deadline is TODAY, Wednesday, October 5th -- here is the link with all the specifics.

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us once again! We appreciate it! Have a wonderfully crafty day.

Challenge #52: The Colors of Autumn

Happy Wednesday and welcome to challenge day at Cooking With Cricut!  The Design Team was challenged to use the colors of autumn in their projects this week -- red, orange, yellow, brown, and/or green.  With the offical start of autumn coming up on Thursday, I am certain that cooler weather and beautiful leaves are on their way for some of you out there!  However, here in sunny Florida it is still hot and muggy, with the occasional cool morning.  Happy Fall, y'all!

This is Stacey's last Design Team Project.  We wish her well ~

she will be missed!  Stacey used the Cricut Lite Bloom cartridge.

Make sure you check out her blog for the details on this lovely card.

Madison used Kate's ABCs cartridge for this super cute

birthday card.  Check out all the details on her blog.

Gaby used the Christmas and Pooh & Friends cartridges for her Fall sign.

Hop on over to her blog for the recipe!

Jen used the Create-A-Critter cartridge for her Fall wreath.

Check out her blog for the details!

Melin used the Elegant Edges and Cake Basics Cartridges to create this layout.

Here is a close up of the Cricut cuts. The border and Circles are from Elegant Edges.

The Butterfly, inner circles and leafy flourishes are from Cake Basics.

The Designer Paper is from Quick Quotes Khaki Collection

The Red Shimmery Sheer Ribbon is also from Quick Quotes as well as the quote below. The quote is from their Itty Bitty Quote Box: Babies, Kids and Family.

I inked the edges of most of the elements with either the Midnight Confessions or Amaretto Powder Puff Chalk Inks by QQ.

Lastly I used some Green, Goldenrod White and Brown Bazzill Cardstock and some Cinnamon and Red Stickles.

Now it's your turn!  Link up your Autumn Colors project . . . Here are a few guidelines:

* Must follow the challenge topic.

* Must be a new project for this challenge…please no back dated posts.

* Must have a link back to this post on your blog.

* Must link your project post through Inlinkz and not just your blog.

* Must use your Cricut in some capacity.

* Must HAVE FUN!

 

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us once again! We appreciate it so much!  Have a wonderfully crafty day.

~ CWC Design Team

Challenge #51: Heritage/Grandparents

Happy Wednesday and welcome to Cooking With Cricut's weekly challenge!  In honor of Grandparent's Day (September 11), the Design Team was challenged to create a project about or for their grandparents or a heritage project.  Almost everyone has a fond memory of a grandparent or older adult who played that role in their lives.  Some are even lucky enough to have memories of or still have their great-grandparents in their lives.  They are our connection to our roots.  And if we ask the right questions, they will provide us with immeasurable wealth -- stories of their past -- of our past!

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

Stacey created a beautiful Grandparent's Day card using Plantin SchoolBook

and Lovely Floral cartridges.  Make sure you check out her blog for the details.

Jenny used the George & Basic Shapes cartridge for this super cute card.

Stop by her blog for the recipe!

Madison made these cute photo frames of her older brothers using

the Create-A-Critter cartridge.  Hop on over to her blog for the details!

Jen created a heritage layout of her great-grandparents using the Accent Essentials

and Plantin SchoolBook cartridges.  Check out all the details at her blog.

Melin used the Heritage Cartridge to create this layout.

Melin used her Cricut and the Vintage Bear cutting file from PCW to create this layout.
This file includes a PDF printable pattern for those who need to hand cut the pattern.
There is also a Vintage Bear Digital Stamp version for those who can not use the cutting file.

Now it’s your turn!!!

Let’s see your grandparent or heritage project.  Here are our few guidelines:

* Must follow the challenge topic.

* Must be a new project for this challenge…please no back dated posts.

* Must have a link back to this post on your blog.

* Must link your project post through Inlinkz and not just your blog.

* Must use your Cricut in some capacity.

* Must HAVE FUN!

Thank you SO MUCH for joining us once again! We appreciate it so much!

Have a wonderfully crafty day.

~ CWC Design Team