How to Make An Elegant Mother's Day Home Decor Project!

May is National Scrapbooking month and Michaels Stores is showcasing all kinds of fun ideas and projects that "Make Every Moment Count".

To see Michaels "Look Book" of scrapbooking ideas for the "Make Every Moment Count" theme, head over HERE.  There are some quick,
fun Mother's Day ideas there, as well as graduation and Military themed projects.

I promised more details on how to create my Mother's Day Home Decor Project that I made for the Michaels Make Every Moment Count Challenge.  Here are exact instructions on creating this:

First, here is a list of the materials I used to create this project.  All of the items are available at your local Michaels store.

- Cricut Expression 2 with Cricut Alphabet font included
- Cricut Flower Shoppe Cartridge
- Cricut Ribbons and Rosettes Cartridge
- Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Paper Pad
- Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Embellishments
- Bazill cardstock in raspberry
- Raspberry Ink
- Imaginisce Cordless Hot Glue Gun with glue sticks
- Mod Podge Gloss Lustre with foam brushes
- Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive
- 3 wooden blocks (3-1/2" cubes)
- 4 wooden feet
- Apple Acrylic Paint
- Martha Stewart Dry Embossers
- Brayer
- We R Memory Keepers Piercing Mat

Follow these steps to create the project:

1) Using the Apple acrylic paint, paint edges of the three cubes (as shown).  Make sure to paint whole face on one cube for the bottom of the project.  Paint 4 wooden feet.

2) Using the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper pad, cut 13 pieces of paper at 3-1/4" x 3-1/4" in various patterns.  

3) Using Mod Podge Glossy Luster and a foam brush, put a medium layer on Mod Podge on the cube itself.  Lay paper on top and use brayer to smooth out paper.  Wipe up any Mod Podge that leaks out of the edges.  Apply another coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper.  Cover 4 faces on two cubes and 5 faces on one.

4) Glue feet on bottom cube using hot glue gun.  Arrange cube faces in a pleasing manner, offsetting the middle one.  Glue cubes together using hot glue gun.

4) Cut out "MOM" letters using the Cricut Expression 2 and the Cricut Alphabet Font using Font 3, regular and shadow at 2.5".  Adhere regular to shadow section using Scotch Quick Dry glue.

5) Using the Ribbons and Rosettes Cricut cartridge, cut out seven Scallop 2 at 1-1/2"in various colors.  Assemble using hot glue gun.

6) Adhere letters to rosettes using hot glue gun.  Adhere rosettes to cubes as shown for both the title and other sides of the cube. Decorate cube with photos and Heidi Swapp embellishments.

Assemble the paper flower OR use artificial flower:
7) Using the Cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge, make the cabbage rose for the top.  You will need to cut out 6 of the Fun2 flowers at 3.5" using raspberry cardstock.  Ink edges.  Using scissors, cut into each flower to form individual petals.
8) Using largest dry embossing stylus and piercing pad, place flower on pad and go around edges and center of each flower until the flower folds up to the middle.  Curl edges of petals. Adhere the first 3 flowers together by nesting them using the hot glue gun.  Make sure that petals are offset from the adjacent layer.
9) The next three layers need to get progressively tighter and smaller.  Use stylus and hands to compress and overlap petals.  Glue into flower base.  Place jewel in center of flower.
10) Cut Ruffle5 leaf at 3.5.  Use stylus to create center line of leaf.  Ink edges.  Curl edges.  Arrange leaf and flower on top.  Adhere with glue gun.

I loved using the Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic paper pad - the colors were fun and made the project pop.  the pad actually has some bonus journaling boxes, borders, letters and other goodies that you could cut out.  It's a great value!

I know that looks like a lot of steps but honestly, the project went together in less than 2 hours.

Please leave a comment below letting me know what you are making (cards, frames, food, etc.) for the upcoming Mother's Day, Veteran's Day, end of the school year and Father's Day holidays.

Want to see more of my projects?
Click HERE to see my gallery!
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Make an Elegant Mother's Day Home Decor Piece!

May is National Scrapbooking month and Michaels Stores is showcasing all kinds of fun ideas and projects that "Make Every Moment Count".  To see Michaels "Look Book" of scrapbooking ideas for the "Make Every Moment Count" theme, head over HERE.  There are some quick, fun Mother's Day ideas there, as well as graduation and Military themed projects.

Michaels contacted me recently and asked me to create a project around this theme. A 3-D Mother's Day project seemed to be a fun way to showcase kids' photos.

Supply List (all available at Michaels Stores):

- Cricut Expression 2 with Cricut Alphabet font included
- Cricut Flower Shoppe Cartridge
- Cricut Ribbons and Rosettes Cartridge
- Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Paper Pad
- Heidi Swapp Sugar Chic Embellishments
- Bazill cardstock in raspberry
- Raspberry Ink
- Imaginisce Cordless Hot Glue Gun with glue sticks
- Mod Podge Gloss Lustre with foam brushes
- Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive
- 3 wooden blocks (3-1/2" cubes)
- 4 wooden feet
- Apple Acrylic Paint
- Martha Stewart Dry Embossers
- We R Memory Keepers Piercing Mat

Exact instructions will be in my next post, up later today!

It's time for Lain Ehmann's monthly FREE scrapbooking webinar:

Addicted to washi tape but not sure how to use it? Or maybe you’re in love with the sticky stuff and want to learn MORE ways to put your favorite trend to good use. In either case, washi guru Monica Bradford has some creative tips up her sleeve. In May’s free scrapinar, Monica will wow you with her prowess as she wrangles her washi and makes it do her bidding. You’ll never look at washi the same way again!

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• ALL NEW tips and techniques for using washi tape on your projects
• How to incorporate popular trends using washi
• How to create your own washi tape
• Storage ideas for your rolls
• And more!

Spend an hour with Monica Bradford and me, and you’ll be ready to holler Washi Wahoo!

Join Us May 17th for Free!

Click HERE to register for this FREE scrapinar!

Can't make it that day?  No problem, there will be a replay for a limited time afterwards.

Wondering what washi tape is?  It's paper tape that has become all the rage - you can find some really cute rolls of it at Michaels under the Recollections brand.

Disclosure Note: Michaels provided a gift card for supplies to make the project. This post may contain affiliate links.
Want to see more of my projects?
Click HERE to see my gallery!
Subscribe to Obsessed with Scrapbooking to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your scrapbooking!

My Card is on the Flower Shoppe Video!

I'm so excited to see my card on the video on the Northridge Publishing blog where Jinger Adams showcases the new Cricut Flower Shoppe Cartridge cartridge!  It's the blue and white card below! Woo Hoo!

If you can't see the video, click HERE!



To see more from Northridge Publishing, the people who publish the Cricut, Cards and Scrapbook Trends magazines, head over to their blog, Create.

Want to see more of my projects? Click HERE to see my gallery!

Subscribe to Obsessed with Scrapbooking to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your scrapbooking!

New Cricut Mini Machine!

INTRODUCING Cricut Mini™ Cricut Mini is a small, lightweight, ultra-portable way to make almost anything you want – out of many different types of materials, including thick and thin paper, fabric, vinyl, magnetic material, craft foil, and lots more. With Cricut Mini, it’s easier than ever to make projects and be more creative! Small, portable, and lightweight for ultra space savings. Works with any computer PC or MAC with a standard wireless or wired Internet connection. Simply plug it in, turn it on, connect to Cricut Craft Room – the online design tool where you can see and design with every Cricut cartridge – and start making projects.. Cuts up to 8.5” x 12” paper and other materials. Cut small shapes and fonts from ¼” to larger cuts up to 11½”!

Provocraft announced this new machine yesterday at the Craft and Hobby Association trade show.  I can't wait to check it out!

Cricut Mini will be priced at $119 MSRP and is compatible with Cricut Craft Room and/or the Gypsy.  It needs to be hooked up to either of those to work.

Here's a video by the Craft Critique site (click HERE if not able to see):



Craft Critique has a very thorough article about the Cricut Mini that you can read by clicking HERE.

Also, Craft Critique is covering the Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) show and they have tons of fun pictures and articles.  Lots of great eye candy!

If you want to see TONS of photos from CHA, check out Christine Urias' photos HERE!  Christine runs the site Scrap Time and also has a huge podcast show on iTunes.  She is fabulous and has some great write ups on her site Scrap Time.

They are doing tons of make 'n takes and classes at CHA with the Cricut using the new project and event cartridges, as well as one of my favorites, Sentimentals.  My favorites of the new project cartridges are the Flower Shoppe, Frames and Sweet Tooth Boxes - check out some of those projects I've made using them:

Want to see more of my projects?

 Click HERE to see my gallery!
Subscribe to Obsessed with Scrapbooking to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your scrapbooking!

3rd June Hello Thursday Cricut Cartridge Release & Giveaway!

Can you believe we have one more Cricut Cartridge release this month? Whew! It's been busy!

Let's start off with two giveaways!

1) Cricut Cherry Limeade Lite Cartridge (one of my all time favorite fonts!):

2) Cricut Botanicals Lite Cartridge (so elegant!):

How can you win?

1) Leave a comment letting me know your favorite of all the new releases below.
2) Subscribe or follow the blog.

That's it!  Winner will be announced next Thursday, June 30, 2011.  Winners have two weeks to claim their prize.


Here are the new cartridges:

1) Cricut Princess Party - This is a new type of cartridge called an "Events" cartridge.  The idea behind it is that you would have everything you need to decorate for an event or party.  So, typically, that would include 1-2 invitations, 1-2 treat boxes, regular images, banner, envelope, drink wrapper, placecard, nametag, etc.

As soon as I saw this 3-D shoe, I knew I wanted to cut it!  I wanted it to be a formal shoe, hence the pearls and the flower decoration.  Making and decorating this shoe would be a fun activity at a Princess party or sleepover.

2) Cricut Frames Cartridge - The second type of cartridge released today is a "Projects" cartridge.  These cartridges have type of image (subway art, flowers, etc.) in many forms.  This Frames cartridge has all kinds of layered frames and also easel stands for the frames.

I chose to make my frame into a card.  I also used a flower from the new Cricut Flower Shoppe cartridge for decoration (more on that below).

3) Cricut Flower Shoppe Cartridge - LOVE THIS CARTRIDGE!  I have used this on many projects so far and love how the 3-D flowers turn out.  I will be showing a video on how to make these so keep an eye out.  It's really easy and quick!

This elegant Anniversary card was so quick to put together.  Using a low temp glue gun and some different layers, I made the flower below in about five minutes (including cutting time).  The flower below is my first one!  That's how easy it is!  I planned to just try it out and test it but when this turned out so well, I decided to use it!  I did run the layers through the Cuttlebug before gluing it together.

4) Cricut Word Collage Cartridge - Now you can make beautiful Subway art wall decor, plaques and even cards!  I love all the different fonts on this!  Can't wait until it's compatible with the Imagine so I can print it out!

I made this card by first cutting the "Stitch" word collage at 4" and then carefully applying the letters to the stitching-like paper.  I did this by using the background as a stencil and outlining the letters with a pencil so I would know where each letter went.  This was time consuming.  Vinyl would have been easier but I didn't want shiny letters.

5) Cricut Sweet Tooth Boxes - This cartridge is specifically for fun gifts and yummy goodieds.  Many of the boxes on here have inserts for cupcakes.

I loved this cake slice and thought it would be fun to cut!  I double layered the top section and then added a flower from Flower Shoppe and ric-rack to dress it up.  Paper was sprayed with shimmery mist and pink layers were embossed with the Art Deco Cuttlebug folder.

6) Cricut Girl's Makeup Party - Another "events" cartridge for a girl's makeup party.

I used Teresa Collins Black and White Imagine cartridge to make the striped background paper.

7) Cricut Robot Party Cartridge - A boy themed party cartridge with some super cute robot-themed decorations!

8) Cricut Space Party Cartridge- Another boy themed party cartridge - now featuring space and alien figures!

Be sure to head over to my BFF Melanie's blog at Courtney Lane Designs to see all the fabulous things she made.  Her frame project is to die for, as is the super cute little house box she made, just to name a few items.  Oh, and wait until you see the card she made with Space Party - it's out of this world!

Want to see more of my projects? Click HERE to see my gallery!

Subscribe to Obsessed with Scrapbooking to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your scrapbooking!