Cricut Essentials

The Cricut Design Studio is the number one must-have of all Cricut essentials. Here’s why:

The Design Studio is a software program brought to you by Provocraft, the guys behind the Cricut machine. After installing the software, all you have to do is connect your machine to the computer and start designing at a whole new level!

It really takes a lot of frustrations away and lets you focus on just crafting. You can weld or connect letters together for a single cutting. I think this is a big issue. It saves you a lot of time, headache and wasted effort and paper.

You can also manipulate letters and shape within the software program. And I don’t mean just the size. You can literally go in and change all shape properties.

You can stretch, slant and flip each shape as you need it to fit into your overall design. It really is one of my favorite Cricut essentials.

If you’re a power user, check this out:

Instead of working with just one cartridge at a time, the software allows you to incorporate images from various cartridges into one single cutting.

However you look at it, the Cricut Design Studio is a necessity for every Cricut owner. As with every tool, there is a learning curve to it. But if you really love what you do, you’ll pick up on it pretty darn quickly.

If you want to learn the ins and outs of the Cricut Design Studio, click here to check out the “Missing Manual”. The videos and tutorials will cut your learning curve in half!

Here’s the link: http://www.cricutessentials.com/learning-cricut-studio

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If you’re like me, you are constantly looking for new ideas for your crafts hobby. Admit it – getting inspired and coming up with a new project, cute ideas, imagining the smiles of the people as you give them their gift … that’s half the fun. And really motivating, too!

One of my favorite crafts project is greeting cards!

You can make a card for every occasion. Not just the same old, same old. Every time one of your friends or family members had a minor or major success – or is going through a difficult time – that’s an opportunity for you to make a personalized card they will never forget!

Here’s a list of Cricut idea books that I think are a great:

	Card Making with Cricut Demonstrating the endless assortment of shapes and styles that can be made using the Cricut from Provo Craft, this guide helps crafters create unique and sensational greeting cards with ease. With simple instructions, imaginative sample projects for occasions such as baby showers and birthdays, and unlimited design options, this helpful reference explains how to impress friends, coworkers, and family with personalized homemade cards.
	The Cardmaker’s Workbook: The Complete Guide to Design, Color, and Construction Techniques for Beautiful Cards The Cardmaker’s Workbook is the only book on cardmaking that a crafter will ever need, and is formatted in a sturdy volume that can kept on the desk and referred to again and again. The book is divided into chapters focusing on composition, color, theme, construction and inspiration. Instructions are clear but concise, making room for large pictures and multiple variations. It has the look of a designer’s notebook with sketches and templates that show different card formats. Unlike other cardmaking books available that are occasion driven or aren’t stylized, The Cardmaker’s Workbook provides an inspiring and hands-on tool for paper addicts to use to expand their skills and stretch their imagination. The designs cover many different styles, from detailed multi-layered beauties to simple cards that can be quickly made and given as a set of stationery.
	Fabulous Folds for Card Making Adding dimension and movement in your card designs is a great way to improve the overall look of your handmade cards. Although some folding techniques can appear difficult and quite intimidating, with clear close-up project photos, detailed folding diagrams and a few basic tools you can learn to make these folds with ease. Soon you’ll be wowing your friends and family with stunning cards just like these.

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Making greeting cards with the Cricut is fun! The machine is perfectly suited for this and with a little creativity and practice, the cards will look a hundred times more lovely than the rehashed same old same old junk you can buy at stores. Plus, you can personalize the card for the person it’s intended for!

Cricut Cards Ideas for Easter

You can make fabulous Easter Greeting cards if you have any of the following cartridges: Doodlecharms, Wild Card, Stretch Your Imagination.

Here’s a list of cute ideas for Easter cards:

· Colorful card with an Easter Bunny sitting on the left or the right side.

· A Basked filled with Easter Eggs.

· A Bunny in a basket.

· Filigree Easter egg card.

· Colorful card with daffodil, hyacinth and tulips (if you don’t want to do a bunny/egg card… )

For the last idea you need the Walk In My Garden cartridge!

Cricut Ideas for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is the perfect occasion for Cricut cards! Nothing says “I love you, mom!” like a handmade gift. It might seem cheap to some people but I think when it comes to gifts, expensive doesn’t count. Instead, look at it from this point of view:

Only someone who truly loves you would go through all the effort to make you a card (instead of semi-randomly picking whatever some store has to offer).

Here are some lovely ideas:

· A simple flower with a hand-written poem on it.

· Add words like “For the best Mommy in the world!”

· Think about your Mom’s hobbies, or inside jokes between the two of you… and turn them into card ideas!

I have a lot more ideas but this is enough for one blog post… many more to come!

Bonus tip:

Here’s how to never run out of ideas: Everything I like or that sparks my interest, I put into a personal folder. Magazine ads, cards, pictures… Whenever I’m looking for inspiration, I flick through all that stuff until something sparks up.

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