Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day!

For a little surprise for my daughter, I have a Fourth of July present.  We don't usually do gift-giving for this holiday, but she has been wanting something special so I thought it would be a fun time to give it to her.  For the first time in years, my husband and I are not working out-of-town on July 4th-- so that's even more reason to celebrate together as a family!

This is my challenge project for the Cricut Circle Blog Weekly Challenge #61:  Stars and Stripes.  The challenge was an easy one so I jumped on it for my gift tag!

We were required to use at least three stars and stripes and at least two Cricut cuts on a project of any type.  My tag cuts were done on the Expression using cuts and cartridges as described below:

• Girl:  Block Party cartridge, cut at 6".  I discarded her flower so she could hold a sparkler.  I added bows and stars (see below) to her hair.  She is popped up with 1/8" pop dots on the finished tag.

• Sparkler:  Stand and Salute, 1-1/2".  I used a mix of fine and chunky glitter for the surface.
• I hand-cut the stripes on her shirt using a stencil as a guide made from the negative space around the same t-shirt cut.

• USA design on t-shirt:  Stand and Salute, 1/2" (border page 63), trimming off the stars to make it fit.

• Stars in her hair and on her t-shirt:  Stand and Salute 1/2" (border page 32).  The stars on her shirt on the negative space of the cut; the stars in her hair are from the border, cut apart.
• Tag base:  Art Philosophy, 8" (page 60), embossed with a Cuttlebug folder from "Skyward Set."

• Banner:  Text printed with 'Tall Paul' font at 48 point.  Banner and red stripes were cut via paper trimmer.
• Stars for the package:  Stand and Salute, cut at 2-1/2" and 1-1/2".

I used this tag on the gift package.

And I got it all done before she woke up!!  Yippee!

Thank you for checking my blog post today.  You can see many of my previous projects by viewing My Project Gallery.  Best wishes for a happy and safe Independence Day!

Edited to add:  I am feeling a little 'linky' today so I have also linked to BBTB2, Die Cuttin Divas, Cooking with Cricut, and Exploring Cricut!

Patriotic Bug

Although I prefer to buy vinyl collectibles for children, recently the Cricut Circle Magazine announced a challenge to use Cricut cuts to dress up the little Cricut Collectibles.  That, and a sale at the Cricut website, was all it took for me to buy one for myself.  These are ordered with their identities unknown.  When mine arrived, I found that I had received a red Cricut Cake collectible!  That meant one thing to me:  I had to go with a holiday theme!  Since we are so far from Christmas and Valentines Day, I went patriotic!

I started with the gazebo because that was an element I really wanted in the background.  I cut two from Spring Cottage; one at 5-1/4" and one at 4-3/4".  I bent the larger one and put the two together to make a 3D form.

I decorated the gazebo for the holiday with flag bunting cut from Independence Day at 1" for the upper bunting and 3/4" for the lower ones.  I folded the bunting to follow the fold of the gazebo.  The smaller gazebo cut is adhered flat.  The larger, bent cut is attached only at the very top with a 3/4" pop dot.

I cut fireworks using the Stand and Salute cartridge, cutting at 2" and 1-1/2".  I ran the cuts through my Xyron and applied Martha Stewart fine glitter.

Next, I worked on the Bug's accessories.

His drink was cut from Cherry Limeade at 1".  Because the cut was so small, I used markers for color instead of some of the extra tiny layers.  I ended up trimming that straw a bit in the end. 

His hat was cut from Stand and Salute at 2".  I bent the brim up and curved the cut a bit to give it shape and dimension.  

His shirt and bow tie were cut from Formal Occasion (page 33).  The shirt was cut at 2" and I trimmed off the lower tip.  The bow tie was cut at 2-1/2".  

I cut his little flag from Stand and Salute at 2-1/4".

For the little scene, I cut grass from Paper Doll Dress Up at 1", trimming it down for the front pieces.

My cut summary (all were made on the Expression):

• Gazebo- Spring Cottage cut at 5-1/4" and 4-3/4".
• Bunting- Independence Day cut at 1" and 3/4".
• Fireworks- Stand and Salute cut at 2" and 1-1/2".
• Drink- Cherry Limeade cut at 1".
• Shirt and tie- Formal Occasion.  Shirt cut at 2" and bow tie cut at 2-1/2".
• Hat- Stand and Salute cut at 2".
• Flag- Stand and Salute cut at 2-1/4".
• Grass- Paper Doll Dress Up, cut at 1".

Thank you for reading my blog post today!  You can see many of my previous projects by visiting My Project Gallery.

Happy Veterans Day!

In honor of Veterans Day, I made a little card for Challenge #1 on the Spectacular Circle On-Line Swarm!  This was a challenge to use stars on a project.

This card was made with images from Cricut Cartridges Stand And Salute and George And Basic Shapes.  I had a little fun with some non-traditional colors for this patriotic holiday! 

From Stand And Salute:
"Life" was cut at 2" and 2-1/2" (border cut).  "Liberty" was cut at 1-3/4" and 1-1/4" (border cut).

From George And Basic Shapes:
Stars were cut at 1", 1-3/4", and 2".

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! ~ Maya Angelou

If you are looking for a way to thank the Vets of our country, you may want to check out The Wounded Warrior Project .

 Happy Veterans Day!