Cricut Expression users need to READ THIS

• Cricut has announced that the Cricut Craft Room will CLOSE as of July 15, 2018. 
• Legacy Machines are NOT compatible with Design Space.
• Legacy Machines CAN continue to be used as stand-alone devices.
• Cricut is offering $75 off new Explore machine or bundle for customers who haven't yet upgraded.

Read complete details from Cricut here.

I started with Expression and currently use Explore Air. If you have any questions about differences and transitioning, feel free to contact me. The decision to discontinue CCR (as well as to drop physical cartridges) was made by Cricut, not Close To My Heart. In fact, CTMH advocated for keeping physical cartridges. If you have specific comments about the decision, contact Cricut/Provo Craft.

One of the main reasons people have not upgraded yet is because Design Space is an online program and scrapbookers often craft where there is no Internet availability. Cricut has been working on this issue and currently offers Design Space Offline for iOS.

One of my favorite features of Design Space (DS) is that you can share files! For the Pretty in Pink promotion in February, we offered a Butterfly Mobile project and supply bundle. CTMH gave the DS file for everyone to use. 

Files look like this https://design.cricut.com/#/design/80804880. When you click on a DS file link, or cut and paste into your browser, the link will open the Design Space program and open the file. As long as you have the rights to use the images from the file, you can cut immediately. What a time saver! You can also share files with friends. I can send you files for Cricut Coordinating stamp sets that you purchase or help you re-size images for a project. 

The Explore machines use the same tools, mats and blades as the Expression. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

I did get my St. Patrick's Day cards made before the holiday, and mailed, but they won't be arriving on time. Fortunately, my family doesn't have high expectations, LOL. I found this design on Pinterest. An easy way to make a shamrock is to put several heart shapes together.

Almost everything on this card is retired. I've been wanting to do something with the All About the Golds Fundamentals overlay sheets from the clearance sale. I ended up using the Limeade Washi Tape also on clearance. The heart stamp is from Family is Forever, S1409. This set works with our Artiste Cricut Collection. Maybe next year I will try the same design with the heart from the Artbooking Collection. To make the green shamrock I went to Cricut Design Space, enlarged the heart shape and welded four together. The colors on the card are Topiary and Pear.

Here's a version with a stamped border. The sentiment is from the Sending Smiles stamp set, part of the Flower Market Cricut Collection.

The overlays have a film on the back (silver) side. I removed it after I cut the piece. I don't know that it would matter if you took it off first. I believe is is there for manufacturing purposes. The gold is actually on the front (gold) side. If you have trouble grabbing the plastic, use your paper piercer. I cut the overlay with my Fiskars Paper Trimmer.

I cut the front of my card base 1.5" from the top fold, and another 1.5" from the bottom. The overlay piece is 2" x 5.5". I attached the overlay piece to the bottom card base piece first. That made it easy to line up this piece on three sides with the card base when attaching to the front.

Here's how the front of the card looks on the inside. You could cover the seam with B&T, washi, ribbon, etc. I like the see-thru affect so I didn't cover them.

When I design or adapt a card design, I often try different variations trying to get everything "just right." I made six cards and there are four different designs. Which one do you like the best?

The green on the other cards is current: Willow Exclusive Inks and cardstock, the Willow watercolor wash paper is from Adventure Fundamental Paper Pack. I used the Thin Cuts - Scallop Border instead of the washi tape. This month we are having a sale on Thin Cuts including many retired sets.

Congratulations to the giveway winner...Linda!!

Give Away Winner and Retired List

And the winner is...Courtney!! I'm sure she'll Celebrate With Cake for winning the stamp set.

The CTMH Corporate Office recently announced a list of products that will retiring These items will no longer be available after July 31, and are available while supplies last.

Here's a printable list that I will update as often as possible as things sell out.

Here's the list in a nutshell...

Page 16 #AllTheAlbums

Page 18-91 All the workshop kits, paper packs, compliments and matching accessories (as expected)

Page 112- 115 all PML cards except gold & silver overlays

Page 120-121 Cricut Collections Art Philosophy, Artiste, Artfully Sent

Page 123 all the embossing folders except Confetti and Confetti Stars

Page 126-127 Instalife albums, cards and roller stamps. NOT the Memory Protectors

Page 129 both Cut Above kits (expected, stamps are on the retiring stamp list)

Page 130-133 all of the Designer Creations and Designed Decor items

Page 137 the four style sheets

Page 140-41 the red hearts, white stars; all the right page items except sequins and bitty sparkles

Page 142 shimmer trim in pink, Aqua, blue, purple, bronze only

Page 143 the older four colors of EXTRA thick twine

Page 144 everything except the calendar

Page 145 the separate envelopes only

Page 150 the three border punches and the two Base and Bling adhesives

Page 153 the Rolling Tote

Here's the list of retiring stamps from a few months ago.

Wedding Project #2

Continuing with projects from our son's wedding...

REHEARSAL DINNER INVITATION

This time I edged the Claire paper in Outdoor Denim ink. 

Stamp Set:  My Sunshine (retired)

Compatible with:  Cricut Artiste Collection

Stamp Set:  Little Reminder (retired)

Colors are:  Sorbet, Outdoor Denim and Colonial White

For this invitation I used regular printer paper.  Print first, stamp second.

Stamp Sets:  Solo "2" (retired) and

D1497 from the Cricut Art Philosophy Collection

Coming Next:  Shower Invitation and gift