Challenge #85: Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Happy Wednesday!  Welcome to Cooking With Cricut and our weekly Design Team Challenge Day!  Today we salute our Moms and all of those incredible women in our lives that may step-in and fill that role -- Step-Moms, Mother-in-Laws, Aunts, Grandmothers, Sisters, Cousins, Best Friends, Mentors, Teachers . . .  Our Team was challenged to come up with gift ideas for that special lady in your life, no cards this week (well, one or two may have snuck in!).

Please make sure you click on our Designer's names to visit their blogs -- let them know how much you enjoyed their project -- your wonderful comments mean so much!

Jamie A.

Cricut cartridge used:  Tags, Bags, Boxes & More

Suzanne

Cricut cartridges used:  Tags, Bags, Boxes & More 2 and Spring Cottage

Melissa

Cricut cartridge used:  Straight From the Nest

Natt

Cricut cartridge used:  Heritage

Madison

Cricut cartridges used:  Florals Embellished and Jubilee

Hattie

Cricut cartridges used:  Alphalicious and George & Basic Shapes

Jennie B.

Cricut cartridges used:  Giant Flowers, Elegant Edges,

Sweethearts and Florals Embellished

Linsey

Cricut cartridge used:  Storybook

Yvette

Cartridges used:  Storybook and Lacy Labels

Michelle

Cricut cartridges used:  Doodlecharms and Walk In My Garden

Xochitl

Cricut cartridge used:  Art Philosophy

PaperCraftingWorld.com cutting file:  Rolled 3-D Flowers

Court

Cricut cartridge used:  Mother's Day Bouquet

Jen

Cricut cartridge:  Cake Basics

And now it's your turn!  Link up your Mother's Day gift idea -- you just might be this week's Top Chef!  Here are some 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 through Inlinkz and not just your blog.
• Must use your Cricut in some capacity.
• Must have fun!
• You may gladly combine challenges . . . we love to pile it on TOO!

Thank you once again for stopping by and making us a part of your crafty time! We appreciate each of you so much!  Don't forget to stop by tomorrow and check out what Chef Xochitl has whipped up for the Thursday Cartridge Showcase.

~ CWC Design Team

PCW Mother’s Day Challenge Reminder

Good morning crafty friends,

Our PCW designer’s are back today to share a few super cute projects they made for our current die cut and or stamp challenge reminder post. Be sure to join us for a chance to win a Digital Stamp or Cutting File from PCW.  So here is our what they came up with....

Designer Janet created this STUNNING card using the Christel Bear with Flowers Digital from PCW. Get all the details on her blog. DIRECT LINK

Designer Evelyn created this absolutely adorable card for a first time mommy using the Baby Set 3 Giraffe cutting file and the Flower in Pot for the sun. What a clever girl! Get all the details on her blog. DIRECT LINK

Designer Candice created this soft and precious card using the new Mom and Baby Bear Digi from PCW. Be sure to head over to her blog for all the great details. DIRECT LINK

I created this card using the new Mom and Baby Bear Digi from PCW. I also used the flower from a file set coming soon to PCW. The heart, lattice border and butterflies are all punches from Martha Stewart.

Now it’s your turn to share your amazing Mother’s Day projects with us! Here are a few guidelines to help you with our challenge.

* Project must be new and for this challenge. Please no back dated posts.

* Project must follow the theme – challenge as described above.

* You may use one of the free files in your project. Or one you may already have from PaperCraftingWorld.com. This isn’t mandatory, but we would love to see what you do with them!

* Your project must include either a stamp: rubber, clear OR digital and OR a digital craft cutting file or a die cut from a hand machine die cutter (Spellbinders, Big Shot, Sizzix, Lifestyle Crafts, etc.) Pretty much anything besides a Cricut. Punches would be fine too!

* You will have almost two weeks as this is a bi-weekly challenge.

* Add the link to your project post below. Please link your direct post and not just your blog.         

* HAVE FUN!!!!

Cricut Showcase: Happy Hauntings

This week we are featuring  Kimmi from Impressively Yours Gifts.  Kimmi is one of our newest Design Team member and we are thrilled to have her as a part of our team..  She is a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, and loves crafting. Kimmi loves her family.  And  spending time with her granddaughter is one of her favorite pastimes. 

 Now on to Kimmi and her oh so haunting showcase! 

My first project was this photo frame on page 68.

 It is cut on the "Fit to page" setting out of a 12X12 sheet of cardstock.
This was a very simple project to make and will make a great addition to our "Halloween" mantle in the Fall.

My second project was these adorable little treat boxes on page 100.

 They are both cut at 5 inches, so they are really small, but still very cute! I'm thinking maybe some candy corn will fill these up!

My third project was very quick and simple! It's the 3D tree from page 71 and boy is it cute!

 I just had to make it to go along with my fourth project!

My fourth project was a doosey! It's the 3D haunted house on pages 73-99 (and MANY more)! lol

 I had so much fun making this, although it was quite challenging. It was hard, so to speak, just time consuming. The cutting out was really quick, I cut everything at 7 inches, it was the understanding of the picture instructions that threw me off. Once I figured out the first couple of pieces, it went really quickly! I challenge all of you to try this cut file if you have this cartridge.

And last but not least, is my fifth project! It's a large wooden sign for my front porch, with the "trick or treat" cut file from page 32 + phrase feature!

I cut this using the "Cut to length" feature and a 24 inch cutting mat a piece of outdoor vinyl. The board is 24 long X 8 tall and is painted using black and orange acrylic paint. I topped it all off with some black and orange ribbons and black bakers twine to hang it!

Please hop on over to Kimmi's blog, Impressively Yours Gifts for tons more pictures and details on how to do the "faux crackle paint" technique that I've used on the sign.  No wonder the cartridge is called Happy Hauntings.  The name of the cartridge says it all.
Thank you Kimmi for a fabulous showcase!

We showcase cartridges and have new challenges every week.  Our Second Blogaversary is coming up and we will be celebrating May 19-26.  You will not want to miss it.  So come back and visit often.

Happy Cinco De (Meow) Mayo

Good morning crafty friends and Happy Cinco De Mayo!

I was speaking with our DT Coordinator Jen and I mentioned that I wanted to do something for the Cinco De Mayo celebration. I hadn’t really thought of anything and she mentioned that her local pet shelter was having a Cinco De Meow adoption event.

I LOVE animals.....especially Dogs. I would gladly have some kitties in my life too....BUT my hubby is VERY allergic to them. His mom has some and the poor guy really has a tough time when he goes to visit her. Anyway, I thought it was such a cute idea that I decided to make a card with that theme in mind.

I recently acquired the Ole cartridge and took a look at what images they had. Much to my surprise they had a cat! So here is my card.

Here are the cuts I used

Cat pg. 36 at 4”

Sombrero pg. 33 at 3”

Maracas pg. 22 at 2.5”

MEOW letters all CAPS and all at 1”

Cinco pg. 26 Phrase 1 at 1”

De pg. 66 Font Black Out at 1”

The eyes I cut from smaller ovals. I generally don’t care for the facial features on most of the Cricut cuts, so I will “improvise” and add my own “eyes” mostly.

So please consider making a home for a pet if you don’t already have one. With our economy being what it is, even the poor animals are feeling the pinch. If you already have a beloved animal in your life then make sure to give them a big fat hug!

Here is a picture of my “baby” She is  a spoiled girl to say the least!

Plus as it turns out, we found a stray so here is a picture of “Tyson” He is a loveable dog and very good natured. He is already “fixed”. The animal control guy said that he didn’t think they would have too much trouble finding him a forever home, but in the off chance that they can’t, my husband took a liking to him and so he may be back......Ay ya yah Caramba....Three dogs!

So I am praying he finds a nice home that maybe isn’t ours....rofl!  PLUS I am currently dog-sitting my brother’s new puppy. His name is Karamel Frappuchino.....He is a little cutie.  Here is a picture of him. It was hard to get a good pic of him because he is so squirmy!

Okay, I know this wasn’t a seriously “crafty” post, so to make up for having to suffer through my personal fur-baby ramblings...I thought I would give you all a free digi stamp set.

So here you go.....

It is my version of a Happy Cinco De Meow set!
There are four images two pre-colored as shown and two black and white. Each set is with and without the sentiment for a total of four images.

Just click the add to cart button. It will not cost you anything to check out during the free offer.

Thank you so much for stopping by and Happy Cinco De Mayo and National Scrapbook Day TOO! Be sure to come by tomorrow for another post :)

Winners Announced

Welcome to Cooking with Cricut

Today we would like to announce the winner of Challenge #84- Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend. The winner of the Top Chef prize was chosen by Random Organizer.

The winner is...Cindy-  Pink Lady's Paradise

Congratulations Cindy:)

Cindy created this racy card using the Rock Princess Cricut Cartridge.  You can "pick up" your top chef button on the left column and proudly display it on your blog.  As the winner Cindy will receive her choice of digi stamp or cutting file from Papercraftingworld.com. 

Cindy, please contact Madison at FunkyCards @Charter .net (no spaces) within two weeks to claim your prize.

The Top Three Chefs were chosen by the Cooking With Cricut Design Team. You can "pick up" your top chef button on the left column and proudly display it on your blog. 

Lisa- A Mermaid's Crafts

 Holly- Ribbons and Glue

Karen- Karen's Craft Creations

Teacher Appreciation:  This week are celebrating the under-paid and under-appreciated heros that shape and mold so many lives.  Once again you have until next Tuesday at midnight to post your projects. One winner chosen at random will receive his or her choice of digi stamp or cutting file from Papercraftingworld.com.

Have a wonderful day!

~Madison - Prize Coordinator

Cartridge Showcase: Florals Embellished

Welcome to CookingWithCricut.com and another super Cartridge Showcase! Chef Suzanne of Cricut Craftin' Grammy is  here to share some projects she has created using the Florals Embellished cartridge.  This cartridge has some amazingly detailed images that will make your projects come to life with such beauty.

So let's see what Suzanne has for us....

Hello everyone.  This is Suzanne from Cricutcraftingrammyblogspot.  I am really excited to share my first cartridge showcase with you today.  I selected Floral Embellished as it is a wonderful cart for Mother's Day.  I first saw this cartridge when it was introduced at a Cricut Circle event.  At the event they showed us a binder with every single cut and I fell in love with it.  On the cart you will find medallions, birds and butterflies in beautiful colorful layers and silhouettes.  There are also an abundance of phrases about moms, grandmas, etc. 

When preparing my showcase I realized I had used Floral Embellished for cards but never a layout yet.  

So this is what I created using pictures of my granddaughter Kenzie kissing the ultrasound picture of her new brother or sister.  

The flower was cut from page 59 cut at 4 inches 

The xoxo is from page 59 cut at 2 inches 

Bunches of love is from page 29 cut at 2 1/2 inches 

The circle is from page 60 at 11 inches.

I chalked the edges and then added flowers and bling.

(I realized while looking at the pictures I have lost a flower in the center of the large pink flower. I have already sent the LO to my daughters so will have to fix it later. )

I also wanted to show you the silhouette feature.  This was cut from page 59 at 4 inches.

I added gems, MS corner punch and ribbon

Inside of card which is left blank for now until I need it. 

Now I want to share some  other cards I have made using Floral Embellished 

Bird from Page 61 made using DCWV Lemon Stack

Butterfly from  page 70

Flower page 21  phrase page 63 

Inside of card phrase page 68

Dove page 63 

Butterfly page 64  phrase page 62

Inside of card Phrase page 68 I hope you have enjoyed the showcase.  


What gorgeous projects and such fantastic inspiration Suzanne! Thank you for sharing your wonderful talent and amazing projects with us! Be sure to head over to Suzanne's blog and leave her some love for all her hard work.
Cricut Craftin' Grammy Blog


Be sure to come back tomorrow as Chef Madison announces the winners from our last challenge. Plus we will be headed into a weekend of some more great crafty inspiration.


Don't forget about our two current challenges: Our Die Cut and or Stamp Challenge and our Cricut Challenge! Just click the links at the top to join the fun!


Thank you for making us a part of your crafty time! We appreciate you all so much!
Court and the rest of the CWC-PCW Designers.