July Projects with Art Philosophy!

I’ve been having quite the good time exploring Close To My Heart’s new Cricut Cartridge. It’s got a ton of useful shapes and banners, an appealing and useful font, cards, borders, 3D flowers, and quite a few boxes that aren’t available on other cartridges like the French fry box pictured below.  Plus it coordinates with stamp sets made by CTMH.  The cartridge even comes with three stamp sets and chipboard shapes that coordinate.  This partnership has got me thinking about using stamp sets I already own with my Cricut.  I've probably done this in the past but this has inspired me to try it some more, also some computer journaling with it as well.  Anytime I can use things I already own with my Cricut makes me a happy crafter! 

TIP:  When using stamps with Cricut shapes, I’ve found it easier to outline the shapes with my Cricut pens, run the cardstock back through the Cricut, cutting the shapes, and then while the shapes are still stuck on the mat, I stamp the appropriate images.  Also, the sizes are listed on the stamp sets, but I’ve found I like cutting the images 1/4-inch and even 1/2-inch larger so that I have a bit of a border around the shape.

a la carte just for you French fry box jessicasprague.com supplies

Gourmet Paper Pack and Gourmet Word Art and Labels Pack--COMING SOON; Meet and Greet Wordart Pack by In The Making Design

Other Supplies:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge and Large Scallop Punch, white eyelets, and jewels

Cosmo Cricket No-Sew Iron-On Patches (Tutorial Coming Soon to MPL) jessicasprague.com supplies

Social Club Elements, Cogsmo Elements, and Material Girl Elements by Cosmo Cricket.

Other Supplies:  Heat-n-Bond, Scissors, Felt, and PhotoFabric

Big Trees Hybrid Layout jessicasprague.com supplies

Its A Start Templates Set 5 and Retro Mango Paper Pack by In The Making Design.

Other Supplies:  Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge, string, Autumn Leaves stamps, and black ink.

Hybrid Embroidery Hoop Wall Art Tutorial

I’ve shared a tutorial at Mouse Paper Lovely showing you the process of making hybrid embroidery hoop wall art.  Click on the link above and go take a look-see!

Evidence of the Disney Magic

(jessicasprague.com supplies:  EZ-PZ Template 08 by liv.e designs)

We decided this year, instead of spending money on some elaborate birthday party for Gwen in our hometown, that we would put money toward a family Disneyland vacation on her birthday instead.  This was the best decision we’ve ever made for a birthday party.  The above picture was taken on Gwen’s 8th birthday at Ariel’s Grotto inside Disney California Adventure Park where Gwen had lunch with her favorite princess, Ariel.  We also got to meet and take pictures with all the other princesses as well.  Her birthday marked the opening day of the new Ariel Undersea Adventure Ride.  We didn’t plan that but what a nice surprise. She also received a complete Disney Diva makeover that morning at the Bippity Boppity Boutique in Fantasyland at Disneyland.  Towards the end of the night, we watched the new World of Color water attraction on the California side which was brilliant by the way and she got to pick out a new Ariel costume at the Disney store on our way back to our hotel.  It really was a magical birthday--one she will never forget and neither will our family.  The downside—well, what the heck are we going to do next year?

Check out the new family portrait with Mickey—this will probably only happen once in a lifetime—ALL of us looking at the camera and smiling—SO worth this trip!

(jessicasprague.com supplies:  EZ-PZ template 09 This Is Love by liv.e designs.)