A Thank You Gift

Shirley an I wanted to say a big, HUGE, thank you to everyone who filled out our survey.  Your feedback is vital as we put the finishing touches on then new blog.

In 2015 we will have additional ways for you to share your input and participate in our new blog.  Until then, we have a small thank you gift.

Halloween Printer's Tray

Here it is....the finished Halloween printer's tray. :)

When I posted my 4 Product Challenge on Friday the tray was not yet complete.  I had plans to work on it over the weekend and I am excited to say I was able to finish the project.  That RARELY happens in my life.

You can see I made a few changes, mostly the center spot was just not working for me, so I moved it to a bottom spot.  My favorite are the flowers.  I will be using that technique again.  Check out Friday's post for even more ideas for using paint.

Happy Crafting,
Jeri'

Don't throw your dies away! Learn how to get a clean cut using intricate dies.

Spellbinders produces many stunning intricate dies that can be used to create beautifully layered cards.  They make my creative soul swoon.  And then my love turns to frustration as I struggle to get the die to cut and release properly.

Fear not my friends.....this crafty gal has a few solutions for you to try.

4 Product Challenge: Cricut - Projects

Hello again! Shirley Pando here. Did you join me this week in the 4-Product Challenge using your Cricut (or other die cut machine)? If you missed the challenge, check out my post from Monday, HERE.

Here is a list of the products I used:

1. Cricut "Lite Bloom" cartridge
2. Scrap papers in various pink colors
3. Vintage music papers
4. Trim

Mission: Organization!

Hello Wednesday, Shirley here! Today we talk about organization.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to organize those tags.

Some of you may want to keep them visible so you'll remember to use them. (Out of sight, out of mind, right?) Others, like me, have way too much stuff to have everything visible all the time. Maybe you store them in boxes, or pockets , or trays, or on a book ring.


Check out our Pinterest Organization Board. Below I share two organization photos from the board that are my favorite. 

This is such a cute tray storage idea, below. It makes me want to collect pretty tags like this! I like the cellophane wrappings, too!

This adorable dress form is from an ETSY seller, BlissfulElements. But of course it is sold already. I think I may "need" one of these!

************************************

My storage is no way as cute as the ones above, but I'll have to be grateful that I have stuff and a space to put it all, right? ;-)  I store my tags in a frosted clear lidded box that measures 10.5" x 9" x 8" deep on a shelf in my art studio. I feel more like an artist if I call it a studio! ;-)

Inside the big box are tags in bags and boxes and some loose tags. I will admit to reorganizing the box before taking photos! There are Avery brand manila tags I've purchased, cork tags, wood tags, die cut tags, tags I've distressed with tea and walnut ink and many more. I even have tags from clothing that were just too darn cool to throw away. I'll use them someday, I really will! :-)

Also in that box is another little box with little tags...round, oval, long and skinny ones, too. Again, I do admit to a little organizing before taking the photo!

How do you store your tags? Do you have a super cute way. Please let us know so we can be cute AND functional, too. :-)


Shirley

Online class giveaway!

Hi, I'm Shirley Pando, instructor at My Creative Classroom and part of the website support team. In fact, if you email the MCC help desk (support.mcc@gmail.com), I'm the person you'll hear back from. :-)

For each of the first four months of 2014 I'm introducing another brand new online Cricut class:

• January - "Cricut: Crafting with Stencils" - Register now for immediate access!
• February - "Cricut: Crafting with Coloring Tools" - Register now for immediate access!
• March - "Cricut: Crafting with Vinyl" - Class begins March 24th
• April - "Cricut: Crafting with Fabric" (opening for registrations soon!)

I call these mini classes, but if you  know me you know I don't do anything in a "mini" way. All my classes are packed to the gills, and these will be no different. A lesser price, sure, but no less info and projects. You just can't lose! :-)

****************

Our third class in the series, "Cricut: Crafting with Vinyl", begins on Monday March 24th. and I'd love for you to join me.

Cricut: Crafting with Vinyl

---

Course Description

There are loads of ways you can use your Cricut machine to create projects with vinyl and vinyl-like materials. Choose a self-adhesive product in just about any color or pattern. Put it on your walls, a glass votive, or an artist canvas. You can even cut an image with heat transfer vinyl in either a matte or fuzzy texture and iron it onto a fabric item like a T-shirt or tote bag. The possibilities are almost endless.

In this class, students will learn how to cut adhesive vinyl, contact paper, heat transfer vinyl, and flocked heat transfer vinyl and create a project with each of these materials. Students will receive downloadable Cricut Craft Room files for the various projects, but I'll also share tips on how I create my files. Lessons offer several project options!

Use any Cricut machine and any cartridge you own. Students must have basic knowledge of their Cricut machine and the Cricut Craft Room (CCR).

Lessons Include:

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Vinyl and Other Vinyl-Like Materials
• Lesson 2: Adhesive Vinyl/Cricut Vinyl/Oracal 631 - Project #1: Subway Art Canvas (several options)
• Lesson 3: Contact Paper - Project #2: Refrigerator Chalkboard/Menu Board
• Lesson 4: Heat Transfer Vinyl and Flocked Heat Transfer Vinyl - Project #3: Your choice T-shirt, tote, etc.

The course materials and projects in this class are totally new and different from "Crafting with the Cricut: Beyond Paper".

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS CLASS!

****************

GIVEAWAY!!
Enter for your chance to win a FREE seat to the brand new class, "Cricut: Crafting with Vinyl".  There are three ways to participate in the Giveaway. Do all three and increase your chance of winning!

1. Leave a comment on this post below and let me know what other type of materials you like to use with your Cricut...besides paper. Is there a super project you've made with fabric or chipboard? Let me know.
2. For another chance to win, head to MY BLOG and follow me. Just click the little blue "Join This Site" button on the left column. If I see you in my list of followers, your name goes into the hat another time.
3. Comment on ANY POST on my blog and get another chance...your name goes into the hat once again!

So what are you waiting for? It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! ;-)

This giveaway ends on Monday March 17th at midnight. I will post the winner on Tuesday March 18th...in plenty of time for class, March 24th! Already enrolled in class? No worries! If you are the lucky winner we'll refund your tuition.

Good Luck!

March 3rd Topic: Punches!

Happy Monday Morning!

We have a brand new topic.  This week we will be exploring paper punches.

If you have been paper crafting for long....then you know how popular punches were at one time.  This was before the advent of electronic die-cutting machines and other dies.  

I used to have a HUGE stash of punches, including letter punches.  Most of them are now gone.  I still have a collection of basic shapes, which I use all the time, and border/corner punches.

Do you love punches too?

Jeri'