11/17 Challenge: Cut and Emboss

During the month of November we have focused on embossing.  Week one we used embossing folders, week two was embossing powders.  This week we will explore cut and emboss dies.

Cricut: Crafting with Fabric starts today!

Have you been secretly longing to use your Cricut machine to cut fabric but are afraid to try? Maybe you've tried, but gave up in frustration. There are some limitations, but with just a little know-how, you, too, can successfully cut fabric with your Cricut. Create fun little shapes for cards, T-shirts, pillows, tote bags, aprons, quilts, and more! Take your crafting to a whole new level!

January 27th Blog Topic: Sizzix

Good Morning!

Let's do a quick recap.  If I have a love/hate relationship with the Cricut and an all out love affair with Spellbinders.  Where does that leave Sizzix?

I have a long term relationship with Sizzix.  I started collecting them the moment they came out.  I don't a lot of Sizzix dies....mostly I have the steel-rule dies and I would never give them up.  I love that they can cut so many different materials.  I still have some of the very 1st dies they came out with.

As many of you know, I often purge my stash and I can be very brutal about it.  I try to only keep what I truly love.  Over the years there are very few things that I have donated that I wish I had kept.  The exception is the original Sizzix fonts.  There were 3 different alphabets and they were all steel-rule dies.  I miss those.  Again, because they cut there so many materials so easily.

I am super excited about my projects this week.  Why?  Because I pulled out several dies that I have NEVER used before.  And that always makes me happy.

So what are you working on this week?  Have you ever 'donated' something you wished you had kept?

Thanks for stopping by,
Jeri'

Online Cricut Workshop Series + 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. :-)

Do you own a Cricut machine? Maybe you are looking for more to do with it...or maybe it's gathering dust...gasp! Well, no more, I say. Come join me on a journey to discover what your Cricut machine can do for you. It's more than just little die cuts. :-)

For each of the next four months I will introduce another brand new online Cricut class.:

• January - "Cricut: Crafting with Stencils" - Class begins Jan 27th
• February - "Cricut: Crafting with Coloring Tools" - Class begins Feb 24th
• March - "Cricut: Crafting with Vinyl" (opening for registrations soon!)
• 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! :-)

The first class, "Cricut: Crafting with Stencils" begins January 27th. So how about a giveaway??!!

Cricut: Crafting with Stencils

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Course Description

I love to create art with stencils, especially ones I can make myself using my Cricut machine! Come join me for this 5-lesson class to learn how to design Cricut Craft Room files and cut stencils using Cricut Cuttables Stencil Material, cardstock, and freezer paper. Students will create astenciled artist canvas, stenciled card backgrounds, and a stenciled fabric item of their choice. Take your crafting to a whole new level!

Students will learn about other stencil materials you can use with your Cricut and will will receive nine CCR files to download and use in class projects. 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 and Inspiration
Lesson 2: Designing Cricut Craft Room Files
Lesson 3: Stenciled Artist Canvas using Cricut Cuttables Stencil Material
Lesson 4: Stenciled Master Board for Cards using Cardstock
Lesson 5: Fabric Item Stenciled with Freezer Paper

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

Class begins: Monday January 27, 2014

Price: $15 for 5 Lessons
 

Click here for Supply List and to register for "Cricut: Crafting with Stencils"

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GIVEAWAY!!
Enter for your chance to win a FREE seat to "Cricut: Crafting with Stencils". 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 and let me know, honestly, how often you use your Cricut. Time to confess!! :-)
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 January 20th at midnight. I will post the winner on Tuesday Jan 21st. Already enrolled in class? No worries! If you are the lucky winner we'll refund your tuition.

Good Luck!

Our 1st topic is.....electronic die-cutting machines!

Happy Monday Crafters!

It has finally arrived....our 1st challenge topic.  This week we will focus on electronic die-cutting machines.  I will be specifically focusing on the Cricut.  But maybe you have the Silhouette or Eclips or The Slice.

If you are like me, you may have a love hate relationship with your die-cut machine.  I fall in and out of love with my Cricut so fast it is almost like a soap opera.  I purchased it the very 1st week it was available, even though I said I wouldn't.  Which is kind of a theme for me and die-cut machines.  After several moves and starting a company it sat collecting dust.  I then upgraded to the Expression and purchased the Gypsy and a lot of carts.  The Gypsy helped a lot and I started using the Cricut again.  Maybe there is hope for this relationship after all.

But then I went through 2 more moves and again it started to gather dust.  It just felt too time consuming.  Then last year I started scrapbooking again and I remembered why I purchased the Cricut in the 1st place.  I have since learned how to use Cricut Craft Room and that has made it much easier.  Unfortunately, my Gypsy died when I tried to sync it to CCR.  UGGGG!  I have to get that fixed so I can link all of my carts.  So the relationship continues.  Stay tuned to find out if we can make it work this time or if we finally head towards a divorce. :)

This week I will be focusing on scrapbooking and a ATC card for my inspiration board.

See you in the classroom,
Jeri