Sewing results: Bunting bag

Cute pattern, it was easy enough to sew.  I used polar fleece kitty fabric for the outside & flannel paw print fabric for the inside.  The biggest DOHHHHH! was realized after I cut the polar fleece out.  I'll let you see if you can spot the goof.  It should be nice & cozy anyways!

Seventh Challenge, reveal photos

Here's the reveal photos of our photogenic felinne, hee hee!  You will have to pardon my shirtless teenage assistant in the background.  All cats have a super power, shedding like mad when they don't really want to do something.  I can't imagine why Boomer would have trouble posing for pictures?

The 'stashes were stuck to the bathroom mirror with temporary poster tack.  No one was injured in this photo shoot, thankfully!

I like the blue 'stashe since it complements Boomer's blue eyes nicely.  The red one is kindof rakish and dapper.  The white & silver ones are quite distinguished looking don't you think?  So many looks!  I didn't get photos of all the moustashes since Boomer ran out of patience.  That & 2 fell down behind the vanity never to be seen again.  Wouldn't these be a great April Fools joke too!

Seventh Challenge, Canadian Swarm 2012

Seventh Challenge by: Lilygirl:  Here is my challenge to you!!
1. Steal an object from a family member, friend or neighbour ( for the faint of heart an object found in a thrift store will do in a pinch)
2. Alter object using at least 2 Cricut cuts.
3. Quietly and unnoticed return altered object to original owner/spot (if this is a thrift store find, gift it unnoticed to someone ie. hang on neighbours fence porch, door etc..)

What did I "steal" to meet this challenge?  Identity?  Maybe.  How about I steal some dignity?  We all need more Ha ha's in life!

I was able to use some of the gypsy freebies that came with my circle memberhsip renewal, specifically the "Moustashes & Glasses" digital cartridge.  I figured out it is about 4cm the width of the average nose, very scientific guessing with a ruler, right?  I picked out all the moustashes, and made the very skinny one 43.8mm wide x37.5mm high, and let the others automatically proportion themselves a la gypsy.  These are different types of vinyl, the brown is wood grain ConTact paper, the white & silver is Dollerama shelf liner. 

 The silver is ConTact paper.  It looked quite blah.  All cuts were done "kiss cut,"  blade dial 3, cricut pressure dial 3.

Look how nice they become with some help from Sharpie markers!  The brown & plum coloured ones were done with Permapaque markers by Sakura.  They're nice, but they don't reveal the metallic shine as nicely as Sharpie does.  

 I have another post coming, I just need a photogenic feline for the final reveal of this crime!

First Challenge, Canadian Swarm 2012

Create a Halloween Decor Item. It can be a sign, banner, luminary, treat bag, etc. The sky is the limit.

Your project must include the following:
1) At least one Cricut Cut
2) The colour purple

Your project must include one of the following:
1) Glitter
2) Ribbon
3) Use of a cuttlebug folder.

I'm doing double duty with this challenge.  I was inspired to make a "treat bag topper," which I've always kinda wanted to try but never done before.  A treat bag topper is something that pretties up the open end of a bag.  I used my new CTMH Artiste cartridge, choosing the toombstone "RIP" image at 5.65"high x 3.12" w on my gypsy.  I used my trusty silver ConTact shelf liner for the RIP, and edged with a Permapaque purple pen by Sakura.  The base is sized accordingly from plum paper & inked the edges with purple ink, both from my stash.  I used purple ribboon to tie the loot securely, & my TimHoltz mini-stapler to attatch the toombstone.  I wasn't sure about using the CTMH gift bag since it was so big, but I really like the swirly pattern and the way it poofs out the top.  I handwrote under the RIP "Summer 2012".

Of all the early stuff in stores for back-to-school, Halloween, and Christmas, I enjoy Halloween most of all.  Happy Spooking!

Fifth Challenge, Canadian Swarm 2012

I am so pleased with myself to have finally made something.  This swarm is a good motivator.  I chose to start with how my own challenge inspired me.  That, & what's a challenge without an example?

Here is the challenge:  

1.     Cut a “Gang Symbol” for the circle, or any club you belong to but have been meaning to show pride in membership.  It can temporary or permanent. It can be made from vinyl, a sticker, iron on fabric, a mask to spray-paint, fabric paint & freezer paper…

2.    You must go graffiti it proudly onto something you display & use regularly.  Some suggestions: cell phone, day planner, tablet, laptop, car, t-shirt, jacket, hoodie… 

3.    Have fun Circle member rebels & non-rebels!

For both projects I used Cricut brand pink vinyl, "kiss cut" blade pressure 3, pressure 3 on the Expression machine.  My gypsy made quick & easy work of sizing the images from the "cricut everyday" cartridge.  I didn't even bother using transfer tape since these cuts weren't very big.  I understand this vinyl to be quite durable, yet entirely removeable when required.  Before applying, I wiped both surfaces with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue oils & grime.

Sized 4.5cm on the gypsy (45mm).  Much nicer than the "Hello Kitty" bandaid that was getting pretty tattered looking.

Sized 10cm on the Gypsy (100mm).  See it there on the drivers side hatchback glass?  I didn't want it too big to invite a lot of attention since the Circle is quite an obscure membership here.  That & the more recognizeable a vehicle, the more you risk being "targeted" it seems, sad but true.

Second Canadian Online Circle Swarm

We did it again!  We've shied away from calling this an "annual" swarm because there's no way of knowing if Provocraft, parent company of Cricut products, will be keeping "the Circle" membership annual after the major changes done to it this year.  This is a longer post, sorry, no pictures today.

I will post the challenges today, & then post which challenges I completed in later posts.  I have learned so much from these online swarms, both participating & helping organize them.  I am thankful for the comraderie & friendship of online women (predominantly) who share their time & talents to help make these things fun and possible.

Welcome to the SECOND Canadian online Circle Swarm, Sept 2012 

Sept 6, 7, 8, 9, 2012.  Deadline for entering challenges Oct 8, 2012.

This is Canadian because it is being hosted in the "Canadian Chat" section of the Cricut Circle message board. 7 Prizes were generously donated by circle members.  Each prize donator was able to issue a fun challenge. Each challenge completed = an entry into the prizes draw, lottery style. Deadline to enter: Oct 8, 2012.   

Here are the Challenges: 

Sept 6, 2012 First challenge by SherriHend180  

Create a Halloween Decor Item. It can be a sign, banner, luminary, treat bag, etc. The sky is the limit.

Your project must include the following:
1) At least one Cricut Cut
2) The colour purple

Your project must include one of the following:
1) Glitter
2) Ribbon
3) Use of a cuttlebug folder.

Sept 7, 2012 Second challenge by: missmel9

Requirements:
•A card with a black cat
•Use 2 Cricut cuts
•Use the colors black, white and purple
•There must be stitching on the project (machine, hand or faux)

Sept 7, 2012 Third challenge by: JenniferHawkins2

Make a birthday card using the following sketch:  (aggghhh, won't copy & paste right now, I will have to try again later).

 Of course, be sure to use a Cricut cut on your project and a Cuttlebug embossing folder if you have one!

Sept 8, 2012 Fourth challenge from BoomerKnows for DugsPookie 

Create a layout of a real life event, not the usual celebrations of birthday parties, graduations, anniversaries...  It can be 12x12, 8.5x11, single page or 2 pages.  A "real life" event could be: a flubbed day on holidays, something every-day normal that is memorable to you. 

Also try to incorporate a “new-to-you” technique or product that you've always wanted to try.  IE: sprays & masks, embellished cricut cuts, rosettes, pop-dots, glitter, page maps, sewing...  Whatever you like but tell us about it & what you enjoyed/hated about trying it.

Sept 8, 2012 Fifth challenge by BoomerKnows

1.  Cut a “Gang Symbol” for the circle, or any club you belong to but have been meaning to show pride in membership.  It can temporary or permanent. It can be made from vinyl, a sticker, iron on fabric, a mask to spray-paint, fabric paint & freezer paper…

2.  You must go graffiti it proudly onto something you display & use regularly.  Some suggestions: cell phone, day planner, tablet, laptop, car, t-shirt, jacket, hoodie… 

3.  Have fun Circle member rebels & non-rebels!

Sept 9, 2012 Sixth challenge by SaraAndrews1  

Make any type of project and use Something Old and Something New!!    Easy Peasy!  Your project needs to have One Cricut Cut.

Sept 9, 2012 Seventh Challenge by Lilygirl: 
1. Steal an object from a family member, friend or neighbour ( for the faint of heart an object found in a thrift store will do in a pinch)
2. Alter object using at least 2 Cricut cuts.
3. Quietly and unnoticed return altered object to original owner/spot (if this is a thrift store find, gift it unnoticed to someone ie. hang on neighbours fence porch, door etc..)

Be aware, (beware?) A surprise bonus challenge could (did) crop up!!! 

Bonus Challenge for fun, Sept 10, 2012:  Scrapbook your flubbed project, using all 3 criteria.  What’s a “flub” you ask?  Oh, y’know: the cake that turned out like a brick; the sewing project that’s not-quite-right (wonky even); the painting that annoys the cr*p out of you but no-one can really see why but you.  You get the idea.  It can even be a successful flub, one that you salvaged at the last minute! 

1.    Use at least one paper you don’t entirely prefer

2.    Minimum one cricut cut

3.    Create only from your stash.  (exception would be glue or  something you ran out of essential to completing the challenge). 

The criteria to participate in this swarm are NOT strict, just guidelines to challenge everyone to have some fun. This is a Cricut Circle membership swarm, just something we drummed up to have some fun with our membership.  To enter, members create their entries, take a picture and post what was made along with a few details of interest. As bonus incentive these projects can contribute to existing challenges:  “use-what-you-have” challenge, a “spending ban” challenge, a new project for your blog, or “try a new technique” challenges floating around.

We also had a modest participation in a "Treat bag Swap."  Each participant will mail ONE bag of scrapbooking treats & loot, with some Halloween theme treasures & some candy to make it more festive with Halloween right around the corner.  Of course, autumn theme products and any other pretty treasures to round it out are welcome too!  The bags should be about $25 value.  The “bag” can be decorated as simply or festively as desired.

This swap is “Round Robin style.”  From the list of participants each person will PM the person below them on the list for their mailing address & mail them a treat bag.  The person at the bottom of the list will mail a treat bag to the person at the top of the list.  In this way each person will score a fun treat bag delivered by (happy) mail!  

These are questions another circle member utilized for a different swap but they really help personalize the swap.

1. Are you a huge Halloween fan or do you just prefer fall in general over Halloween specifically?
2. Favourite candy or treat (& any dietary restrictions or allergies)?
3. What are your favourite crafting companies (besides PC)?
4. Name 3 items on your crafting wish list.
5. Favourite colour.
6. Share little about yourself and/or your crafting.

I choose to blog this swarm as a way for non-members to copy outright or just borrow inspiration from.  We all learn from each other & these challenges are really nice fun examples of messing around with our hobbies. Sometimes we just have to make our own fun, but its nice to have friends join together to show what they're creating too.