Love My E2 and a Sneak Peek

I know some gals are complaining about their Cricut Expression 2, but I must say that I've fallen in love with mine.  I was asked to teach an E2 class at my local scrapbook store and in preparing for the class I really learned a lot about the E2's features.  Being able to use multiple cartridges and sizes on one screen/mat is amazing.  Being able to see where your cuts are going to be placed - woohoo! Anyway, I designed two projects for my gals to cut during class.  I tried to build in as many features of the E2 as possible when I created these.  I did not embellish, ink, doodle, or add anything (except ribbon) because the purpose was to do everything with the E2.  I'm sure when they took the projects home, they applied their own special touches.  

Our first project was this card where we used the fit to length feature and learned to move the images on the mat to that we could cut 4 different colors at the same time.

 

On this page layout, we used fit to length, the reverse/flip button, and cutting different sizes during the same cut.

 

I had two gals come into class saying they hated their machines.  They left with a much better appreciation of all that the E2 can do and I think they'll be a lot happier when using their machines at home.

Mission Accomplished!

 

Monday will be my debut for the Getting Cricky design team which I've recently been asked to rejoin.  I hope you stop by and see what I'm sharing.

Here's a sneak peek

 

 

Anything But a Card

You'll see all sorts of adorable crafting ideas when you visit Delightful Challenges.  The designers, using images from Digital Delights by Louby Loo, have come up with some super-creative ideas that you won't want to miss.  To see all of the DT projects, click HERE.   My project is an altered composition book which I turned into a reading log using Wendy's cute little character, Bookyworm.  Bookyworm and all of Wendy's images can be purchased HERE.  

  The wonderful thing about using digital stamps is that you control the sizing of the image so you can adapt it to any of your projects.  I colored Bookyworm with Copics.  The patterned papers were adhered to the comp book using Modge Podge.  The title was cut using Cricut American Alphabet - a cartridge built in the E2.   You can join in this challenge by linking your "anything but a card" project HERE. This week's sponsor is

 

Designer Bingo

It's challenge day at Delightful Challenges and we're inviting you to play Bingo!  The challenge is to select three Bingo squares: across, down, or diagonal, and incorporate those into your design.

My choices included patterned paper, a die cut or punch, and flowers.  Instead of using a digital image from Digital Delights by Louby Loo, I chose to use a digital paper design from the Valentine Digital Papers Pack, also available at Digital Delights by Louby Loo. I added Prima flowers and a die cut from the Cricut American Alphabet cartridge.  I also used a corner flourish die from Sissix.

Come and join our Bingo challenge.  Chose your three Bingo squares and start creating.

Be sure to link your creation to the Delightful Challenges post for a chance to win a gift certificate to

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



A Double Post

Good Morning.  I have two things to share with you today.

First, it's Challenge Me Monday at Fantabulous Cricut.  Challenge #85 is called Book Lover.  You can make a book, a project with a book, or a bookmark.  Don't forget that there must be a Cricut cut somewhere on your design.  I decided to make a mini Wish book.  The purse size allows you to take it with you when you go window shopping.  I used Cricut American Alphabet for the gift and Stamping for the sentiment.  The little sunflower is a Jolee sticker.  The papers are from my scrap drawer. This mini composition book measures 2.5 x 4.5.  Be sure to visit FCCB.  Today is the first day that some of our DT members will be posting their projects.

And, it's Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas at Digital Delights by Louby Loo.

On the 7th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . .

7 swans a-swimming.

Hop on over to the Digital Delights blog to see some more images and catch up on any days that you may have missed.  Remember that all of the images will be available November 12.

Well, that's it for today.  I spent the entire weekend cleaning and reorganizing my craft room.  It feels so good to know where everything is and that it's organized.  I may share pictures later this week.  Mine is the poor scrapper,s room - all with make-do furniture (because it is a bedroom), plastic storage, and baskets, but it's my space and I love spending time in it. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn



New Challenge, New Design Team!

Did you find my hint on the sidebar?

I am so excited to share that I have been selected as a design team member for the

Cooking With Cricut blog.  Today is the design debut of the newest team members.  You will find a  challenge every Wednesday so I hope you'll take a look and then join in the fun.  The challenge for this week is to design something that has either a cake (in celebration of National Cake Decorating Day), a cupcake (celebrating Chocolate Cupcake Day), or a teddy bear (Bring Teddy to Work Day).  The only requirements are to follow the theme and include something from Cricut.

I chose to design a birthday card with a cupcake. 

This is an A2 sized card.  The white mat was embossed using the Happy Birthday Cuttlebug folder.  The cupcake and layers are from Cricut American Alphabet cut at 2" on the E2.  The sentiment frame is the scalloped clover from Savvy Stamps matted with glitter paper.  The banner is hand-cut supported with Baker's Twine.  I did add Glossy Accents and Stickles to the cupcake.

I'm just so happy to be a part of this great team.  It's another destination in my papercrafting journey.

We also have a sister site, Papercrafting World.  Here you'll find Melin's online store which includes digital stamps, cut files, kits, and some essential crafting supplies. 

I hope you'll visit both sites for some great inspiration.

Don't forget, a new challenge every Wednesday. 

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

Welcome Baby

It's Scrappin' Saturday at Fantabulous Cricut.  Sandee asked the design team members to create something using a sketch of our choice from Pagemaps.  What a great website to get inspiration for cards and layouts. 

I made this card for a dear friend who just became a great grandmother. 

The papers are DCWV Nana's Nursery - I love the colors!  The cut is from Cricut American Alphabet with all the layers.  I also used the Cuttlebug to emboss the white mat.

Be sure to visit Fantabulous Cricut to see which sketches the other design team members are featuring and check back here for Challenge Me Monday and Quick Tip Tuesday.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

It's Teacher Feature at Fantabulous Cricut

It's time for Challenge Me Monday #59 at Fantabulous Cricut.

The theme this week is Teacher Feature.  School's end is just around the corner and it's time to say thank you to our hard-working teachers.

The challenge is to create something for a teacher and include a Cricut cut and the color red. 

I made a candy box which holds 7 Hershey Nuggets.  The box slides out of the cover.  I used Cricut American Alphabet (right now an E2 exclusive) for the letters on the candy wraps and A Child's Year for the apple and it's layers.  The paper is DCWV Grade School Pack.

You can join in the fun by linking your own creation to the Challenge Me Monday post at

Fantabulous Cricut.

And to all of you who are or were teachers - a HUGE thank you.  You are truly appreciated.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn

First E2 Project and Some Notes

Woohoo!  My E2 arrived a week earlier than expected.  I used CricutSync to update it and made this card while my Gypsy was updating.  I used the preloaded Cricut American Alphabet - I think I'm going to LOVE this cartridge.  I cut Doily9 at 3".  I figured out how to move the cuts around the virtual mat so that I could place all four papers on the sticky mat to cut the images at the same time (you can't drag and drop).  It will be fun learning how to use the machine to its fullest advantage.

While I was updating the Gypsy, I got a "missing fonts" message.  Although my G showed that the latest updates were installed, when I clicked on the newest carts, my Gypsy returned to the start-up screen.  After reading the message boards, I discovered quite a few gals had this problem.  It's solved by reopening Cricut Sync, reconnecting the G to the computer and turning it on.  Click, "don't update now" so you can get to the Help menu.  Click "yes" to the next three questions and Sync will reinstall all Gypsy content.  It took a little over an hour.  When I clicked out of Sync, disconnected the G, turned it off and then back on, it all worked.  All new carts (from the E2 and Hello Thursday) were listed and could be brought up on the screen. Yay!!!

I made a practice cut with the Gypsy connected to the E2.  I used Mini Monograms and it cut just fine.  I've read that the pre-installed carts, although they show up on the Gyspy, can't be cut from the G yet.  There's no way to show your G that you own those carts so they're listed in red.  A future Gypsy update will solve this problem.  I'm sure it has something to do with having your E2 registered, so be sure to do that right away.

Hugs and Happy Crafting,

Larelyn