The Stamping Boutique: Christmas Popcorn

It's official, I have converted from "Sure Cuts a Lot" to "Make the Cut"!

The biggest motivator? The Beta 3.0 release of MTC that includes the ability to PRINT and CUT!

Yep, you read that right!!! I can print an image, texture or pattern on cardstock, 

and the MTC software will show me EXACTLY where to place my print out

on my Cricut Expression mat so that it cuts perfectly!

Does this sound like a familiar machine 

(that costs $600 PLUS the cost of cartridges) ???

Make the Cut is on sale for a limited time and costs less than $60!!

I've had this cute image, called Christmas Popcorn from the Stamping Boutique colored for weeks and have just been trying to figure out how to put it inside the window and make it "work"...

Thanks to Cely at Creating in Carolina, I had the perfect file to cut for my window. 

I made a few minor adjustments to her file to suit my card...

The sentiment was written with Cri-Kits pens.

The flourish is from SVGCuts.com, Breezy Backyard Lever Cards Collection.

The holly and berries are in the MTC Gallery! 

The Gallery is one reason I prefer MTC over SCAL!! 

All I did was click "Import from Gallery". 

It brought up a search box. I typed in "Holly". 

It brought up 3 pages of possibilities! 

I chose the one I liked, clicked "Download" 

and it was popped right in on my Virtual Cricut Mat!

There are actually several features to MTC that make it appealing,

 but one of my favorites so far, besides the PRINT AND CUT (!!!) 

is the "Bezier Warp"... type in any text, hit that button 

and it puts it on a path that you can bend or stretch nine ways to Sunday! 

Oh, and it can import JPEG's, PDF's, SVG's, and SCUT files!!

I plan to spend a little more time this weekend getting to know my new friend MTC!

Don't forget about the FUN!! FUN!! 

challenges at the Latte Lounge!!

Right now, there are three running:

1. Digi Papers- get a FREE digi paper to download and play along

2. Thanksgiving- Rhonda's challenge, just started and there are some great entries already!

3. Wacky Wednesday- Use real wood! 

Sounds strange, but you should SEE some of the creative projects that have been submitted!! 

WOW!! WOW!!! WOW!!!

Tiny the Turkey

I often get comments about my coloring and I have to say, I think this is one of my favorite creations so far!

This little cutie is called "Tiny the Turkey" from Digital Delights.

The sentiment, which reads "Stuffed to the brim with thankfulness" is from Create with TLC. Paulette was even kind enough to post my picture with her word art! She's so sweet!

I colored "Tiny" with Prismacolor pencils and cut him out using the "Shadow" feature on my Cricut, using Sure Cuts a Lot.

The background is Tim Holtz Distress Ink Walnut over K & Company papers.


There are several challenges that are running this week that Tiny qualifies for.

The first is "Thanksgiving" at the Latte Lounge
The next is "Stitching (real or faux)" at Delightful Challenges. I have used a Zig Memory Writer marker to add rows of stitching on all of his feathers and feet, so he looks like a "stuffed" turkey!

I'm sure there are others and I may come back to edit this post as I find them.

Don't forget about all the other SUPER-FUN challenges at the Latte Lounge this week!

JLJ Designs is hosting a Digi Paper challenge and offers a FREE digi paper to anyone who wants to play along!

And there's still time to enter my "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge: use any piece of real wood! There are some really cute and original entries coming in! C'mon over and play with us!


Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Oh my darling craft area! I have missed you so!!

I haven't had time to make one single thing in several days and thought I was going to have DT's (not Design Teams, Delirium Tremors) from withdrawal!!!

So, I finally managed to carve out some time and made this little cutie for the Digis With Attitude! Challenge

This week is a sketch, which I think I followed EXACTLY... no deviation for me... (-:

It may not look like much, but it's a "Big Deal" card for me because I FINALLY learned how to use a Nestabilities Shape and have the image "hanging over" without cutting off her legs!!! WOO-HOO! To me, this was a BIG accomplishment, considering all the amputees I have strewn around my craft area!! (-:

The image is actually a Freebie called "Posey Bratz" that Cindy-Lynn offers on her Inkie Fingers site. I was PLANNING to use one of the new Grumpy Gretchen's for this project, but, well, let's just say it didn't work out as planned and leave it at that (see comment above regarding amputees)!!

On another note, look at this AWESOME card Jennifer from JLJ Designs made for the "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge at the Latte Lounge!!

I LOVE IT!!!! And her helper, Peanut, gathered the twigs!!
The inside is just as fabulous as the front. Jen has been creating a series of gift card holders inside her cards and it really is a neat technique!! You can read all about it at here blog HERE

There aren't many entries yet for the "Wacky Wednesday" Challenge, and there's only one week to go!

C'mon over to The Latte Lounge and play with us!!

It's actually kinda fun using something other than the same old regular stuff and there are TWO Stamping Boutique images up for grabs... ANY two you like! (and considering all the GREAT stuff available at The Stamping Boutique, choosing only two can be a challenge all its own!!

Hope to see you there!!



Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE

A Chance to WIN an ENTIRE SET of PROMARKERS!!!

WOW!!! Check out this HUGE giveaway being offered by Enfy's at Going Buggy:

This is a direct copy/paste from her site:

With huge thanks to Letraset, the UK makers of promarkers, I am able to offer

a complete set of 148 markers to one lucky follower of Going-Buggy

This prize has a value of £225 or $330To be in with a chance, all you have to do is:

1. Leave your name on this post, making sure I can identify you if you win

2. Link to the contest from your blog please - this has been requested by Letraset

(if you don't have a blog, of course you can still enter..)

3. Visit Going Buggy every day whilst the contest is running, to see the video links and tips

and that's all you have to do - easy peasy!

The topics that will be covered include,

colouring skin, colouring different hair colours, colouring clothes, colouring teddies, shadowing, two tone colouring, sepia tones.......... lists of Promarker colours that blend well together, lists of starter colours - and a lot more. I have been a very busy bunny for the past week or two

Finally, don't forget that I am not an expert, nor do I pretend to be one, just an ordinary crafter who has never taken any colouring classes. a lot of you seem to like my stamped image cards, so just remember if I can do it, you certainly can, and have fun doing it as well

As always, this is open to all you lovely Going Buggy followers from anywhere in the world. The comments must be made by noon EST (5pm UK) on sunday 14th November. The winner will be drawn by random generator after that time, and published here on 15th November

The Latte Lounge Digi Paper Challenge #1

Things are really getting interesting at The Latte Lounge!

JLJ Designs is hosting our
FIRST EVER DIGI PAPER CHALLENGE!!!


This was SUCH a fun challenge!

She provided a FREE Thanksgiving Digi Paper and challenged us to create something, anything, with it!


This is my creation! I LOVE how this turned out and have been chomping at the bit to post it and am so happy the challenge is finally here!

Jen was generous enough to let the Latte Lounge DT play with the Paper Pack that she is giving away as the Prize for the challenge! I used EVERY paper in the pack for my paper-pieced little guy!

The image is "AJ the Pilgrim" from The Stamping Boutique. The background is two MORE TSB images, "Farm Pantry" and "Pantry Shelf", both colored with Prismacolor Pencils!

The sentiment is computer generated using the "Tinkertoy" font. DH actually thought of it and I thought it was pretty funny... a new take on "Look who's coming for dinner"... the way AJ's arm is around the turkey, it looks like they're going out on a date... but WHO is going to BE dinner!?! Hee-hee! Is that warped??? (-:

Here's a little closer shot of how the paper-piecing worked out! I LOVE it and even tho it took awhile to cut those tiny pieces, I sure do think it turned out cute!

I'd like it very much if you could jump on over, download your FREEBIE digi paper
and play along with us this week!
The prize is the ENTIRE paper pack AND two Stamping Boutique Images!!!

The winner will receive the ENTIRE Thanksgiving Paper Pack
AND TWO images from The Stamping Boutique!

And don't forget about the Colors of Fall Challenge that ends November 4th!

and the Wacky Wednesday Challenge that ends November 16th!

Need Sure Cuts a Lot?CLICK HERE