August Mystery Box in Cricut is Here!

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 


Hello crafters! Cricut August Mystery Box is finally here and this is a great way to create plenty of paper craft projects ahead of time. There are plenty of projects to do especially that the cooler months are few weeks shy from arriving.  Projects for the fall and winter seasons abound! It's time to catch up on your Cricut supplies and also avail of the great stuff in August Mystery boxes.

So, what's in the August Mystery box?

You'll get 4 premium cartridges and other mysterious things any crafter will enjoy for only $39.99 (valued at $136.94)! The contents in the box may be a mystery, but the savings sure aren't! Don’t wait, supplies are limited, so buy now at Cricut.com! 

Plus, you'll get free shipping when you use code AUGSHIP between 7/29 - 8/19.

Here's a sample of set of images you can find in Cricut.

Meet The Cricut Machine

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 


If you’re reading this post, chances are, you’re a creative type and you love to arts and craft. Like me, I love to make handmade cards and my very own embellishments and part of being crafty is having the right cutting tools just like Cricut. So, it’s for people like you that Cricut created their line of personal electronic cutting machines. 

A little known fact about Cricut is that they’ve actually been in business for over 50 years, and their primary purpose has been to develop tools that inspire creativity in people. Many crafters all over the world enjoy this machine because of the many creative ways you can make a project.

So, what is Cricut? Cricut is actually a family of electronic cutting machines that make it possible for you to easily create amazing do-it-yourself (DIY) projects. Well, not totally DIY because Cricut’s incredible machine’s do a LOT of the heavy lifting. 

The two machines that Cricut offers are:

• the Cricut Explore One™ - allows you to cut
• the Cricut Explore Air™ - allows you to cut and write wirelessly

To give you loads of creative freedom and versatility, Cricut developed the Cricut Design Space™, a cloud-based software that works seamlessly with the Cricut Explore® family of machines. 

Design Space gives you access to all of your images and projects from any compatible computer or iPad, so you can design just about anything, anytime, and anywhere. 

Once you’ve uploaded your design (or pre-designed image) to your Cricut Explore cutting machine, you can sit back and watch it magically bring your design to life. 

There are so many interesting things you can make and do with Cricut – which we’ll be sure to cover in a future post. But before we get too ahead of ourselves, it’s best to go over each of Cricut’s machines, what they do, and how they are different. And since I’ve given you quite a bit of info already, we’ll pick up on there in next week’s post!

Until then … happy crafting! 

New From Cricut - Meet Cricut Explore One

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 




Here's another fantastic offer from Cricut! Don't miss out on this one and explore the many creative possibilities with Cricut cutting machine.

If you're new to the wonderful world of crafting -- or even if you consider yourself to be more of a "basic" crafter -- then Cricut's brand new machine is just for you! This nifty new machine is called the Cricut Explore One™ and it's perfect for crafing beginners and basic crafters because it offers a simplified design-and-cut system that is incredibly user-friendly. The Explore One™ actually offers most of the same features as Cricut's other Explore machines, it's just priced lower!

In addition to its affordable price, here are a few other things about the Cricut Explore One™ that you're sure to love:

• It can cut over 60 different materials, from the most delicate materials like vellum to thicker things like leather. It can also cut cardstock, vinyl, fabric, balsa wood, leather, and more…without complicated settings.
• You'll have free access to Cricut's Design Space™ online software and iPad® app so you'll able to design on your computer or your Pad®. You'll also be able to use a Bluetooth® adapter for wireless cutting.
• The Explore One allows you to cut a wide range of shapes and sizes with exceptional precision, from ¼" tall up to 11½" wide x 23½" tall. You just select the material that you're using on the Smart Set® dial. From there, the machine's Cut Smart® technology will deliver a clean, professional cut.
• You can upload your own images and use your own fonts -- for free!
• Each machine comes with over 25 free 1-click projects and 50+ free images to get them started right away.
• If you want to use the machine to write or score, you can easily swap out the cutting cartridge with the Cricut Explore One™ Accessory Adapter and Pen.

The Cricut Explore One™ makes it easy, fast, and affordable for you to explore your creativity and delight your loved ones with personal handmade projects and gifts! And if you purchase your very own Cricut Explore One™ before the end of May - you'll get free shipping when you use code MAYSHIP!

A Comeback to Making Handmade Cards

My creative tank went dry for more than a year. The last project I did was a special gift to a friend who turned 50 last year. I made her a scrapbook page and placed it in a nice frame. After that, I noticed I couldn't think of anything creative to do for my cards and scrapbook projects. So I gave myself a break from making cards. Months followed and there is still not a drop of creative juice flowing in my brain.

I did everything I could to crank the think-tank only to end up cutting papers but never piecing them together. So I stared a a blank canvas for so long that I almost gave up.

Recently, I made a card for my god daughter for her Confirmation. I was struggling so hard to come up with a decent design. I even sketched my layout and had to practice on news papers just to save my patterned papers. And alas! I finally made one and I am really happy that even if I took a while to complete the card (1 week because I was pausing a lot when nothing was coming out of my creative brain).

Then weeks passed again. I didn't attempt to make any cards anyway until today. I was browsing through beautiful photos of vintage-inspired and shabby-chic styled handmade cards and told myself that I could make one too. Perhaps not as pretty as the ones I have seen but presentable enough to get me started. So, I gathered some pieces of left over materials to put together and I did it in half an hour's time only.

I think my creative juice is trickling back. I hope it continues as I just recently purchased a Silhouette Cameo and I am so excited about it. I haven't received the package yet and when I do. I am sure that it will become an integral part of my way back to creating handmade cards with LOVE.

MyMemories Suite Project - Fairy Dress Boxes

Here's another super fantastic paper project brought to you by MyMemories Suite! I like this project a lot because it it cute and great to use as giveaway boxes on little girls' celebrations or themed parties for princess or fairies or even teenagers with a fashion fix. You can download the free template from this blog, just proceed at the right side of the bar with Freebies. Please do not re-sell the templates and save them for your personal use only. The templates will be available until Feb. 11, 2013 only. So grab them now.

This project can be done using MyMemories Suite Digital Software. If you don't have the software yet, you can get the it from http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software and use my 10% discount code for your purchase: STMMMS30652

All photos are courtesy of MyMemories.com.

Have fun everyone!

MyMemories Suite Paper Project - Take Out Box

New free template and project from the makers of MyMemorySuite Digital Software! The templates will be available only until 19 November. You can get the template from the Freebies of my side bar. You can get the software from http://www.mymemories.com/digital_scrapbooking_software and use my 10% discount code for your purchase: STMMMS30652

And here's the Take-Out box project!

 

 

These boxes are super cute when they are done! Check out the tutorial found online at www.mymemories.com/craftables/takeout

MyMemories Paper Project - Coffin Box Tutorial for Halloween

Boo!!! Make some fun coffin box for Halloween! You can use this to put some nice trinkets to give out to the young ones when they trick or treat or put soe candies and other sweets as well. All those will look good in these spookily cute boxes.

MyMemories.com is sharing these free template (look at the right side of my blog) for you to download to create endless fun paper projects to make. If you don't have MyMemories Suite Digital scrapbook software then head on to MyMemories.com to purchase the software at a special discounted rate using my 10% discount code:  

STMMMS30652

Coffin Box tutorial

1. Print your Coffin Box templates on cardstock and gather supplies.
Be sure to set your margins as close to 0 as possible.
(Recommended supplies: small craft scissors, bone folder, glue runner, ruler)

2. Using the scissors cut along outside edges.

3. Using a bone folder and a ruler, score from each corner to corner, including all inside and outside corners.
There should be a total of 13 score lines.
TIP: Use the tip of a bone folder and trace along the edge of a ruler to create score lines on your project.
 

4. For this tutorial, the score lines have been outlines in orange to make them easier to see.

5. Use the bone bolder and fold all score lines toward the white side of the paper.

6. Apply glue to all triangular shaped tabs.
There should be a total of 6 tabs.

7. Bring the sides up and apply the tab to the back of the side piece next to it.

8. If using glue and not a glue runner, you can use paper clips to hold the tabs in place while your glue sets and dries.
 

9. Enjoy your Coffin Box.
TIP: These boxes can be filled with candy, brownies, or any other treat. Also work great as centerpieces or treat boxes.
 

Free templates are located on the side of my blog on the right side. Feel free to download them courtesy of MyMemories.com.