THE PERFECT ROAMING CHRISTMAS GIFT

Working a full time job and being involved in two different musical venues has not left me with much time for crafting. These are times when my Gypsy really comes in handy. Instead of twiddling my thumbs while waiting for my scenes, I can design four to five layouts without missing a beat...or an entrance. When the evening is over, I return home and connect the Gypsy to my Cricut machine, load up a mat, and press cut! Multi-tasking has never been so fun.

Speaking of Gypsy, did you know that until December 31, 2010, you can purchase and register a new Gypsy and receive five free cartridges through a digital download available exclusively to participants of this offer? Now that's a great deal! Here is a list of the Cricut cartridges you will receive with the purchase and registration of your Gypsy today.

• Tags, Bags, Boxes and More
• Printing Press
• Indie Art
• Blackletter
• Christmas

**Header project made by Joy Madison using the Walk in My Garden cartridge.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

FEATURED PROJECTS

SPECIAL GUEST EXPLORATION

My name is Maggie Lamarre, AKA Mlamarredesigns on http://CuttlebugChallenge.blogspot, where we feature not just the Cuttlebug and Cricut, but other Provo Craft products such as Knifty Knitter, Cricut Cake, Gypsy. You can also find me at http://www.maggielamarre.com/ or teaching Provo Craft products at events http://Avenueswithoutlimits.com

I am a Computer Programmer/ Graphic Designer by day, an avid Crafter by night! I am excited to be with you showcasing a few projects using the Cuttlebug and Cricut to make your Thanksgiving unique.

I've always been interested in pottery but it can be quite expensive. Using my Cricut and Gypsy makes it very easy to create a unique look for my table in just a few easy steps.

Dishware
My theme this Thanksgiving is nature. I've designed a set of dishware using Straight from the Nest cartridge maple leaf. Cut the leaf out of Vinyl, then adhere to clean porcelain, or bone china. Use porcelain paint to decorate the inside negative of the leaf. Follow mfg directions to cure the plate for use.

Recycled Burlap Placemat
I took rice bags and frayed the edges. I used the negative cut out of the maple leaf from the Straight from the Nest cartridge as a stencil for fabric paint.

Topiary
I recycled vegetable cans, and painted them brown with glossy spray paint. I decorated the can with strips of cardstock embossed with the Victoria Cuttlebug folder. Cut 15 maple leaves from Straight from the Nest Cartridge, emboss with Victoria folder, ink the edges, add buttons for decorations.

Coffee Table Tray
Turn any large picture frame into a coffee table tray, with a few cuts from Martha Stewart Crafts^TM Elegant Cake Art cartridge, burlap, and kitchen cabinet handles. You can change the look to suit any season!

Celebrate Layout
Get ready for those fantastic pictures of family gatherings by creating a layout beforehand. Cut the hearts from the Sweethearts cartridge, and "Celebration" and banner from Martha Stewart Crafts Elegant Cake Art cartridge, and embellishments from the Storybook cartridge.


Grateful Banner with Cereal Boxes
Creating a fun banner for any occasion is just a few cuts away, using the Country Life cartridge and the Gypsy. Save up cereal boxes for this type of project to use as chipboard. Cut the letter from cereal boxes, using Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and the Multi-Cut feature.



Home Décor-Lampshade
I needed a new lamp in my studio and this décor fits perfectly. Spray paint the base of a brass lamp with glossy, made-for-metal paint. Cut several flowers from the Accent Essentials cartridge. Cut two swirls using Home Accents. Cut flourish from French Manor. Adhere these to the lampshade and spray mist the for added dimension. I used the Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder on the flowers for texture, then added buttons and rhinestone. In less than 30 minutes I had a new lamp!

Thanks for letting me share my projects with you. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Maggie

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Be sure to stop by Maggie's blogs: Cuttlebug Challenge and Cutting Above!

MESSAGE BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

This week's highlighted threads are:

• Thanksgiving Invitations
• Sewing Little Things
• One-Sheet Mini-Book for Thanksgiving
• Jitterbuggin' Wise Guy X-mas Owl
• Peace
• My First Cricut Christmas Card
• Smiley Cards Meets PDDU Christmas Card

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Betty Nelson
About: I live in Wyoming and have lived here since 1976. I have grown to love it here except there is not much for shopping. I have been a crafter since I was 12 when my Mom taught me to crochet. I found the Cricut in 2007 and I just love it and all I can do with it. I am a grandmother, a wife, and a mother to four grown children. I have six grandchildren. I am so blessed to have a wonderful family!

Betty's Project: Winter Village

YOUR NOTABLE TIP

This weeks tip comes to you from message board member lylacfey!

Q. "I recently got the Cricut, which I love. My spatula is getting really icky. What is the best way to clean it?"

A. "This is my recipe for cleaning my spatula: I wipe it down with a baby wipe, then clean it with rubbing alcohol. Everyone thinks my spatula is brand new."

CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION

This week has slowed down a little in my craft world. I was able to spend more time with my Cricut Imagine and continue exploring the cartridges that are out for this machine. In today exploration I will write about Lori's Garden, Elise, Audrey, and Yummy.

Lori's Garden is a beautiful cartridge that is full of birdhouses, birds, branches with blossoms, bugs, butterflies, mushrooms, flowers. With each of the images, you can trade out for any of the different patterns that come with the cartridge. There are 50 images that you can print and cut, either as layers or flattened. You receive 20 different patterns: from zig zags, to stripes, to flower prints, to checkers--and you even have a pattern that is words (I think this image is vastly becoming one of my favorites). Don't forget that you also get 20 solid colors that fit the spring feel to this cartridge. The bonus content is three 3-D birds that include stands, and a cupcake holder. Check out my cute card that I made with this cartridge (see pic).

Want to add some variety to your patterns cartridges? Then you will want to pick up Audrey. This cartridge is part of the Colors and Patterns collection. I should probably point out that when you plug this type of a cartridge into your Cricut Imagine machine, you won't see anything on the screen till you add an image from one of the original cartridges to flood with a pattern, or you can use one of the standard shapes that are provided with the machine. Once you have selected the image you want, go to the edit area and you will see all the patterns and solid colors for you to pick and choose from. This cartridge comes with 20 pattern pages and 14 solid colors. A few examples of the pattern pages are: a red and orange checker, there is red, yellow, and black brocade patterns, and a blue circle pattern. This cartridge is a must for any Cricut collector.

Elise is another cartridge that is part of the Colors and Patterns collection. This cartridge also comes with 20 patterns and 14 solid colors. The colors in this cartridge fit more into the fall color pallet; they are oranges, browns, tans, blues, pale greens, and a soft rose. The patterns are kind of soft and feminine. There is a butterfly pattern, diamonds, strips, swirls, flowers, leaves, checker, and branch with flowers.

The last Imagine cartridge that I explored this week was Yummy. If you like to cook or love sweets, then this cartridge is for you. The artwork is a sort of vintage style, and the 50 images that come with this cartridge are great. A few examples of the images that are on this cartridge include: cupcake, cake, slice of cake, cup of coffee, banana split with ice cream, ice cream cone, popsicles, lolly pop, candy, party hats, and presents. The bonus projects that come with this cartridge are two easy fold cards, one easy assembly box, and a scrapbook page of a house. The 20 patterns that come with this cartridge are all designed around food and parties, with an ice cream pattern, a birthday cake design, a cupcake pattern, presents, balloons, and even one that has "Happy Birthday" all over the page. The colors are pinks, greens, creams, oranges, browns, blues, and yellows. Most of the patterns have a softer touch or painter touch to each of the patterns. This cartridge also comes with 10 solid colors that fit the color pallet for this cartridge. Mo from the message board created some adorable cards using the Yummy Imagine Cartridge (see pic and click here).

Well, I hope you have enjoyed this week's exploration. As always, I love exploring each and every cartridge that is a part of the Cricut family. Good luck on all of the crafty projects that you're trying to get finished for the holiday season. Happy crafting!

Crafty Kimber

WEEKLY SURVEY

Don't forget to take this week's survey!

Click here.

HELP FROM THE EXPERTS

Q. I am interested in a cartridge, but it's marked as exclusive. Will it ever be available?

A. Many exclusive cartridges do become available eventually. Be sure to let us know if there is a cartridge you want that is currently exclusive. Customer Support keeps a tally of all the requests, by phone and by email, asking about exclusive cartridges, and we pass those numbers along.

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On using the Cuttlebug with other dies:

This sandwich stack will help you with your Cuttlebug when using dies from other companies.

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Need some help? Provo Craft Customer Support is here for you! Never hesitate to call in (1-888-922-4725 or 1-888-92ccircle for Circle questions); we have people ready to help you! We are currently open Monday through Friday 7am to 6pm Mountain Time. If these hours do not work with your schedule, please send an email to support@provocraft.com.


Have a great week!

From your Customer Support Sweeps:
Mark, Colby, Brittany, and Becky, "The Floor Sweeps"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Gratitude is the least of the virtues, but ingratitude is the worst of vices."

~ Thomas Fuller