Cricut Tuesdays with Michelle

Happy New Year and Happy 1st Tuesday of 2010! I want this year to be year that you continue to play, grow creatively and be constantly inspired to try new things ‘outside of your comfort zone’. Scrapbooking, cardmaking and paper-crafting are all wonderful outlets to express yourself while crafting keepsakes that will be cherished. Personally for me that is why I fell in love with this hobby.

In keeping with my wishes for all of you, I have decided to stay true those wishes and bring that upon myself; therefore my weekly Cricut Tuesday column will change to bring you more die-cutting ideas, tips & tricks and inspiration using other die cutting tools such as punches, the Big Shot and the Slice machine. Now don’t worry… I still adore my Cricut (it has not been abandoned); I am simply shifting the focus away from the Cricut machine to incorporate other tools to mix things up a bit for me as a paper-crafter.

So let’s take a walk down memory lane as I gather up for you my best tips, tricks and past projects to hopefully give you the inspiration to best utilize your Cricut machine to its full potential.

Tip #1:
Layer, layer, layer… Take any cartridge that you have and layer on all the creative features possible to give that ‘pop’ factor to your projects. Use solid cardstock, mix and match patterned papers; try even mixing and matching solid cardstock with patterned paper for a unique look. Also try it with phrases, shapes, and letters. I bet ya you’ll be amazed with the results. Here’s an example of one my favorite layouts below featuring the Storybook cartridge:

Tip #2
Create your envelope first when cardmaking… This tip is true for any cartridge Provo Craft has created that has a coordinating envelope with card. Cartridge examples include: Wild Card, Beyond Birthdays, and A Child’s Year. Whether your card is going to be a shaped one or a standard shape such as rectangle or square; you will need to create your envelope first to ensure the optimal fit for your card to be inserted inside.

• Trick #1: Press the Fit to Page button ON. Your Cricut machine will automatically calculate for you the maximum size of envelope. Don’t forget to turn off that button once your envelope has finished cutting.
• Trick #2: Remember that calculated number so that you can adjust your size dial accordingly to create your card.
• Trick #3: To mail your cards use a heavier weight cardstock such #65 or #80 for your envelopes and lighter weight cardstock/patterned paper to create your card (I mention this because in Canada our mailing system is based on weight and size; if your country does not charge you to mail your cards in this fashion; this trick is completely optional for you). Reverse the papers/cardstock used when personally giving the card to the recipient.
• Trick #4: Have any doubled sided patterned papers to use up? Using these types of papers automatically creates a ‘liner’ for your envelope. This trick is especially useful when using the Wild Card cartridge; the ‘liner’ creative feature now becomes optional.

Here are 2 photos of some of my favorite cards and coordinating envelopes created this past year:

Tip #3
For quick assembly of a paper crafting project; use 1 cartridge that has coordinating fonts, phrases and/or shapes such as Walk in My Garden or Storybook.

Here is a coordinating card, tag and envelope created all from the New Arrival cartridge:
(This next statement is an oxymoron but…)

Tip #4
For added interest, mix up your cartridges to creative a unique paper crafting project. If you have the Provo Craft Gypsy or the Cricut Jukebox; these tools will maximize your ability to coordinate fonts, images and phrases from all the cartridges in your personal Cricut library.

Here is my layout created for the PDSS Sketch Challenge that used the Accent Essentials and George and Basic Shapes cartridges:

I am looking forward to the upcoming year where I will be stretching my creative muscles in order to inspire and help you. Together let’s become better paper crafters. Welcome to your new Tuesday – Die Cut Tuesdays with me!

Happy Crafting!
~Michelle