Monogram Coasters

Aren't these pretty?   I created these coasters as a Christmas gift for my brother.   They came out so well, I may make more for myself.

Here's how they are made:

Supplies
1.  Glass tiles bought at Home Depot. (four tiles)
2.  Glass etching cream (available at craft stores)
3.  Cricut cartridge Songbird to create stensils.
4.  Cork self-stick roll bought at craft store.
5.  Vinyl

Instructions:
Cut designs from Songbird onto vinyl.   Place vinyl on glass tiles and cover top of tile with etching cream.   I waited for 45 minutes then washed cream off in the sink under running water.   Cut cork and stick to back of tiles.

Diaper Cake - Cricut Style

This is a fun project to make for your next baby shower.

Cake Ingredients:
 1.  Diapers.  I purchased a box of diapers (#2 size) to use.   I believe there may have been 72 diapers in the box.
2.  4 baby receiving blankets (bought in package at Target)
3.   Lots of rubber bands
4.   Multiple (I think I made a dozen) 4 inch and 3.5 inch Cricut cuts (I used Create a Critter, 9 Months, Simply Charmed cartridges).
5.   Colored popcycle sticks (bought at Michaels).
6.  Hot glue gun.
7.  13" charger plate (bought at Michaels)
8.  Ribbon

To assemble the cake:
Start out rolling each diaper and placing a rubber band around each one.   (I did this a couple of days before in front of the TV).

Make 3 tiers of diapers:  large, medium,small.   I put a big rubber band around each tier which was then covered with a baby receiving blanket (I folded the blankets length-way in fourths).   Add another big rubber band around the receiving blankets to hold in place allowing you to tie up with a pretty ribbon.   The bottom tier will take two receiving blankets.

Cut out a dozen different Cricut shapes.   The bottom and middle tiers need about a 4 inch size; top tier need about 3.5 inch size.   Hot glue your Cricut shapes to colored popcycle sticks.   Insert around the cake...make sure you make one for the top of the cake.

Once done, place cake on the charger plate and wrap.   Super cute.

Hang in There : Create a Critter Monkey

Get well card made from Cricut cartridge Create a Critter. I used brown flock on the monkey for the first time - really cute - don't think it shows up in picture.

Glitter Ornaments

Aren't these pretty?   I made these glitter ornaments using with only three ingredients:

1. Glass ornaments
2. Floor wax
3. Glitter (use fine or extra fine)

I decorated some of the ornaments with white vinyl.   Designs were cut from Accent Essentials Cricut cartridge and Cake Basics Cricut cartridge.

Gable Box ... or maybe a Doll House

This is really a gable house box.  

But wouldn't a little girl have fun playing with this?   It could be a doll house, too. 

Oh, and found something else to do with one of the flowers :-)  Hot glued to the front of the house.

Remember those flowers?

Remember those flowers that were so much fun to make?   Now they're magnets.

Looking good on the refrigerator.

Quilling on a Sunday Afternoon

Cuttlebug has new quilling dies. The dies come with a quilling tool. Just cut paper with the dies using your Cuttlebug, twirl paper around quilling tool and glue. Simple. Results are kinda pretty.


Only had one issue - you'll need to get the longer Cuttlebug plates - A, B & C - as the dies are longer than the normal plates can handle.   Place B plate, A plate, die, paper, then C plate to cut paper.

SVG Cuts - Yellow Purse

Using Cricut and SVG Cuts layout Amelie's Accessories SVG Kit, I made this cute little purse.  Supper simple to cut and put together.

View of same purse opened.

Bridal Shower for Jennifer Leonard - soon to be - Andrews

My husband's niece is engaged to be married July 9, 2011.   I did some Cricut / Glass Etching / Vinyl crafting for her upcoming Bridal Shower.

The flutes have the initial "A" etched on them.   Candle holder has initials "mAj" etched (Myron / Andrews / Jennifer).  Black tub has white vinyl "Andrews" added.  

Also, made the card with Bride in front of argyle background.   Bride's dress has been embossed with Cuttlebug swiss dots.   There's more bling on the card, but doesn't seem to show up in this photo.

Cricut Cake

I have an awesome, sweet and beautiful granddaughter, Rachel, who is learning how to decorate cakes.   She's really good at it too.   She designs using an old fashioned method called talent.   Becasue of this, I decided to purchase the Cricut Cake machine.   After all, I love to play with my Cricut Expression and I love Rachel - natural conculsion.   The Cricut Cake machine works much the same as the Cricut Expression with one difference, the cake machine uses icing (fondant / gum paste) instead of paper.   And there lies the big issue.   Icing doesn't play nice - at least not for me.   Rachel, Kristin (Rachel's mother) and I tried all day to make a simple decoration to go on top of cup cakes.   Several HOURS later we have a few done.   How is this better than just using a cheap cookie cutter?

I decided to research via YouTube.   First there aren't that many videos out there.   The few I found that had success labored about as long as I did.   Some made their own fondant.   Once the icing is on the Cricut Cake mat, you have to put it into the frige for 20 minutes, cut a few, then start all over again.   What ever you do DON"T take a break or answer the phone.   My suggestion to all that may be interested in the Cricut Cake Machine - don't bother.   Save your money until ProvCraft figures out a way to make this a useful product.   Stick to cookie cutters and talent.

Becky's Getting Married

The big news at my work place is about Becky.   Becky is everyone's friend.   She loves everyone and everyone loves Becky.   Anyway, Becky just got married last Friday, April 8, 2011.    I kicked into my "Crafting Mode" and made a banner for one of her bridal showers.

 I also made this tile for her.   I placed it on her desk at the office for her to see when she returns.   Hopefully, she'll like it.   All things for Becky are a labor of love.

Marilyn's Cricut Crafts

April 9, 2011 - I'm starting my own craft page.   Not because I'm such an awesome crafter; in fact I only started a couple of months ago after I purchased my Cricut Expression via Walmart.    I'm starting this blog so as to not "spam" my Facebook friends with constant "Look What I Just Made!" images.

Also, I would like to participate with some of the other Cricut crafters out there who do "blog hops"... (maybe)

Anyway, here I go.   First car decal.  Made out of vinyl and cut using SCAL program on my Cricut.