Challenge #82: National Card & Letter Writing Month

Welcome to Cooking With Cricut's weekly challenge!  This week our Design Team was challenged to create a card to send to someone or to create a scrapbook layout featuring a letter -- all in honor of National Card and Letter Writing Month.  

Think back to the last time you wrote an e-mail? Probably today, during work. Or perhaps to let a friend in on plans.  Now think back to the last time you wrote a letter by hand. Was it a week ago? A month ago? A year ago? Maybe earlier than that.

In the whirlwind of texting, tweeting, and e-mail, it is easy to forget how easy and satisfying it is to simply write a handwritten letter to someone. We also forget the joy we feel when receiving such a letter.  So take time, sometime soon (if not this month) and send a card with a handwritten note or a letter to someone you haven't spoken to in ages and catch up; or send a letter to your child, niece, nephew or grandchild -- kids LOVE to get mail.  If you're lucky enough to have grandparents and parents in your life, drop them a note and let them know how much they mean to you.

Here is what our Designers came up with . . . make sure you click on their name to visit their blog and leave them a note -- let them know how much you enjoyed their projects!

Olivia

Cartridge used:  Sentimentals

Suzanne

Cartridges used:  Birthday Bash & Sentimentals

Natt

Cartridge used:  Sentimentals

Madison

Cartridge used:  Birthday Bash

Charlotte

Cartridges used:  Lyrical Letters & Storybook

Melissa

Cartridge used:  Classic Font

Jennie B.

Cartridge used:  Sentimentals

 (cover)

(inside)

Jenny J.

Cartridge used:  Sesame Street Seasons

Kimmi

Cartridge used:  Victorian Romance Seasonal

Michelle

Cartridge used:  Gypsy Wanderings

Linsey

Cartridge used:  Tie the Knot

Jessica

Cartridges used:  Imagine Black & White, Sweethearts and Mickey Font

Jen

Cartridge used:  Cake Basics

Now it's your turn!  Link up your project featuring either a card to send someone or a scrapbook layout featuring a letter and you just might be our next Top Chef!  Here are the 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!


Make sure to stop back by tomorrow for our Thursday Cartridge Showcase featuring Chef Jennie B. and the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More II cartridge.  Don't forget to join us this Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22, for our Home Decor Blog Hop.  We have two sets of designers with new projects each day and some great giveaways!

~ CWC Design Team


P.S.  A very special birthday greeting to our teammate, Madison at Funky Cards!  Today is her 17th birthday . . . we love you, Madison!!

PCW April Showers Challenge

Welcome crafty friends!
Today is another Terrific Tuesday Bi-Weekly challenge! Our lovely PCW Designers have come up with an appropriate theme for this time of year.....April Showers!

This is normally the time of year in which the Lord provides the Spring rains needed for our freshly planted crops and for those gorgeous May flowers to come along.

Unfortunately, here in Central Florida where I happen to be located, it is SO DRY....We really truly need all the water the Lord would be willing to provide.  So this challenge is special in that regard. I want to take just a quick moment to publicly ask the Lord God to please be gracious to our land and send some very need rain to the areas that need it. Thank you Lord, for your hand upon each of us and our land. May you open up the windows of heaven and allow the rains to come. Thank you for your sovereignty and your love for us.....In the mighty and precious name of Jesus –Yeshua Ha Maschiach.....Amen :)

So now on to what the wonderful DT made for your viewing pleasure.

Designer Sharon created this beautiful easel card using the Bears Under Umbrella Digi from PCW. Such gorgeous detail and coloring. Be sure to check out Sharon’s details on her blog. DIRECT LINK

Evelyn created this super cute bulletin board for school. She used the Hippo as Ballerina and Stinkin’ Cute cutting files. Get all the details on her blog: DIRECT LINK

Designer Candice created this superbly clean and striking card using the Bears Under Umbrella digi from PCW. Be sure to head over to Candice’s blog for all the “how-to’s”:  DIRECT LINK

Designer Christel created this beautiful card using the Bear in Flower Pot Digi from PCW. Be sure to head over and get all the details on her blog. DIRECT LINK

Designer Janet created this precious card using the Bears Under Umbrella Digi from PCW. Be sure to visit Janet for all the beautiful details. DIRECT LINK

Designer Marji created this precious card featuring the Tori Holding Flower cutting file from PCW. Get all the details on Marji’s blog. DIRECT LINK

The following are layouts I have created over the last couple of years. While some of them aren't all new, I figured maybe some of you hadn't seen them before. 

Here is a layout I created a couple of years ago when I used to sell them on EBay.

Here is a layout I recently created and showcases the soon coming Bunny Cutting file from PCW.

This is a page kit that is currently available at Page-Kits.com

Finally, here is one I created a couple of years ago for a class I taught at my LSS.

Now it’s your turn to show us your “stuff” Just link up your “April Showers” themed creation below and enter! You have almost two weeks to share your creation...so come on!  What are you waiting for?!!!



Here are just a few of our guidelines for this 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!!!!
Be sure to come back by tomorrow when we announce our new Wonderful Wednesday Cricut Challenge.... Plus our FREE digital stamp and cutting file will be available tomorrow as well!
Have a wonderfully crafty day!
The PCW Design Team!

Cartridge Showcase: SENTEMENTALS

Hello Bloggie Friends.  Welcome to another Cooking With Cricut Cartridge Showcase.  I'm Larelyn and I'll be showing you some projects using the Sentimentals cartridge. 

The reason I wanted this cartridge was because I thought it had the most fantastic butterfly.  I'm really guilty of doing that - ordering a cart for one special cut!  Fortunately I discovered lots of other fabulous ways to put Sentimentals to use.  It is a full cartridge that includes Phrases, Tags, Cards, and Envelopes along with the Base, Layer, and Shadow cuts.  It's a great place to find your common Tag shapes all in one place and each page in the handbook has a card with matching envelope - great for cutting and assembling a card in a hurry.

So here we go with some projects using the Sentimentals cartridge.

The first two projects feature the butterfly - the original reason I purchased the cartridge.

These next two feature two of the mats that are found in the Base images.

Here is one of the many Phrases.

And finally, a really easy envelope and card.  I set the envie size at 4.5 which made a perfect A2 envelope and then cut the card at 4.0  I also included the Layers (Hello and heart)

Thanks for joining me today.  It's always fun to dig into our cartridges to discover different ways to use them.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn


A-MAZE-ING! What a wonderful showcase Larelyn! What great ideas and inspiration. Please be sure to head over to Larelyn's Blog and give her some love for this wonderful post!

Cards For Patty and Emily–Recap

Good morning crafty friends,

Today’s post is a recap of the activities we had here this week and a couple of cards for our special Wonderful Wednesday Cricut Challenge.

Monday: Designer Linsey shared a wonderful cartridge showcase on the BEEP BEEP Cartridge. Be sure to check it out....CLICK HERE

Tuesday:  A few of our PCW Designers shared a reminder post on our current die cut and or stamp challenge. To see their reminder post, CLICK HERE. There is still time to join our challenge. Just go to the post and upload your project. For that link, CLICK HERE

Wednesday: Wednesdays Wonderful Wednesday challenge by our amazing CWC Designers was all about sharing some love with two precious girls who are both battling cancer. PLEASE join our challenge this week and share some love! To do that, CLICK HERE

Thursday: Designer Jamie A. shared a wonderfully inspirational cartridge showcase using the NEW TESTAMENT Cartridge. Head over to that post to see her beautiful projects. CLICK HERE

Friday: Madison our most beloved Prize Coordinator shared our wonderful challenge buddies who won top chef prizes for sharing their AWESOME creations. To see their wonderful works of h(art), CLICK HERE

Saturday: I shared a few new page kits that are available at Page-Kits.com. So be sure to check out these wonderful layouts for those recent Easter and Springtime Memories. CLICK HERE

So Now on to today’s projects. As I stated before, Wednesday’s challenge was extra special here. We are sharing some crafty love and encouraging everyone to do the same. Each month Madison picks a recipient for her I Feel The Love Project and so she chose the super cute and very courageous Emily. Then one of our Senior Designers shared about a friend of hers daughter Patty who is a spunky and beautiful teenager who is battling a rare form of cancer. So we wanted to share with these two girls!  Here are a couple of cards Melin made for them.

Card For Emily

Here is a close up shot. This card was created using the Bloomin’ Beauty Digital Stamp from PCW. I used the following Copic markers.

G00, BG11, BV20, Y11, C1, RV32, RV02, RV10, E23, E37, E39, E93

I also used the following:

Floral Stamp from CTMH Pemberley Workshop On The Go Kit.

Smoothie Ink from CTMH

Patterned Paper: DCWV Fresh Floral Stack

Pink and White Cardstock (Bazzill)

Martha Stewart Heart Lace Border Punch

Ribbon and Darice Pearl Embellishments

Finished Card Size: 4.25” Wide by 5.5” High

Card For Patty

This card was created using the 
QT Patootie TWEENZ Tori Holding Flower Digital Stamp from PCW.

Here is a close up of the coloring. I used some foam dots to give her a little lift.

I used the following to complete

Copic Markers: Sorry, I will have to fill this in later. I can’t find the slip of paper that I wrote this down on :(

Spellbinders Oval and Oval Scalloped Dies

Patterned Paper: ColorBok Pattern Pack (Hot Pink and Orange Papers)

Green, Yellow and White Cardstock

Bo Bunny Gems

Misc. Ribbon

The finished card size is 5.5” x 5.5”

I have yet to mail these out to the girls but will be doing that this week. While the challenge is over on Tuesday night, you have until the end of the month to get your cards to Madison and Kemma. If you need the addresses, please see our challenge post. They are both on there. DIRECT LINK.

Thank you so much for stopping by and making us a part of your crafty time :)

A Couple of New Kits

Good morning crafty friends,

I just wanted to share a few page kits that are now available at Page-Kits.com.
You can head over and grab yours while supplies last. PLUS ALL page kits are on sale with many at super clearance prices!

Eggstra Cute Page Kit

Here is a view of the entire layout.

Here is a close up of the bunny holding the egg shaped background photo mat.

Here is a close up of the cute little bunny topper.

Here is a close up of the die cut title.

Eggstra Cute Page Kit: DIRECT LINK

Baby’s 1st Easter or Easter Day Fun Page Kit

 

Here is a view of the entire layout.

Here is a close up of the ADORABLE baby chick with bunny ears paper piecing.

This kit will come with both title blocks...."Baby's First" or "Day Fun" with the Easter die cut so you can create either title for your layout.

 Baby's First-Easter Day Fun Kit: DIRECT LINK

Outdoor Fun Page Kit

Here is a view of the entire layout.

Here is a close up of the little bear with his little froggy friend and one very nervous worm on his pole :)

Here is a close up of the little froggy on his lily pad paper piecing.

Outdoor Fun Page Kit: DIRECT LINK

Cute As Can Bee Page Kit

Here is a view of the entire layout.

Here is a close up of the bear as bumble bee paper piecing.

Here is a close up of the bear as bumble bee topper.

Here is a close up of the bee title with one of the flower die cuts.

Cute As Can Bee Page Kit: DIRECT LINK

Hope you enjoyed today's post. Be sure to come back tomorrow as we do another weekly wrap up and have some more cute projects :)

Thank you for stopping by and making us a part of your crafty day!