END OF SOCCER SEASON

I had the pleasure of attending a few soccer games this summer. Many of the little people in my family played for the AYSO soccer league this year. They had a great time chasing and kicking the ball all around the field and working up a healthy appetite for orange slices and sports drinks during "half-time". A favorite part of attending the games were watching those adorable little kids run up and down the field like a gaggle of geese chasing a ball. Highly entertaining and picture worthy! It's a good thing they wear shin guards too! Each member of the gaggle has two feet kicking wildly in every direction until one of those feet makes contact with the ball and--zoooom!--the gaggle heads off in the direction of the loose ball. Of course, their skills improved as the season progressed, but those little athletes remain cute as can be.

As entertaining as the game was, there was a side show going on during the game as well. Occasionally, I would be the adult assigned to watch the little siblings of teammates as they played on the playground next to the soccer field. Toddlers + playground equipment + sand = many picture perfect moments.

Soccer season ended last week and soccer cleats have been replaced with new school shoes and backpacks. My sister the soccer mom will be a little less busy running kids to an from their soccer games until next season. This will leave her and her Cricut with a little more time to put together scrapbook pages of her wonderful kids and their adventures in soccer.

This week, be sure to read Crafty Kimber's cartridge exploration of the 3 Birds on Parade and Simply Charmed. As always, I wish you well in your crafting adventures.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

For a limited time, get a great deal on a Cricut Expression machine and assorted cartridge bundles at Costco^TM! Click here to locate a store near you!

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Cricut machines are now in Best Buy^TM!

SWARM WINNER

I am so excited for our group of ladies to win! Our swarm ladies change from month to month according to everyone's schedules, but we have the best group of ladies ever. The talent is just amazing! We have ladies that come down to our swarm in Beavercreek, Ohio from Cleveland, Ashland, Tipp City, Troy, and all the way up here from Cincinnati. Come and join us anytime and you will always be amazed at the warmth and friendships forged in this room. (Oh and we have awesome food, too!)

FEATURED PROJECTS

MESSAGE BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

This week's highlighted threads are:

• To Our Sweet Girl Birthday Card
• 8 Year Old Birthday Cake Card
• Picturesque Birthday Card
• All Grown up B-day Card!

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Lisa McIntyre
About: I'm married with two kids. I have many hobbies, but my true passion is paper crafting. I think it's the challenge I love: to have an idea, get it to paper, and bring it to life. It's addicting! Of course, true to my message board user name, I am a true bug junkie as I could not imagine trying to create without my Cricut. The explosion box is not my idea, but I couldn't help adding my own twist to it and making it a shaped explosion box. There are lots of possibilities for this: a haunted house, gingerbread house, Santa's workshop, etc.

Lisa's Project: Farm Explosion Box

YOUR NOTABLE TIP

Today's tip comes from message board member KiwiKel. Thanks for your awesome tip!

Q. "I am trying to do a border of rubber ducks from the Doodlecharms cartridge. I want this border to go all the way across my 12 x 12 layout. I tried cutting the border and it only cuts 3 ducks, and is only about 3 inches long. How do you make a border to go all the way across 12x12 paper? Is there a feature key that lets me do this? I have the Cricut Expression."

A. "Borders are easy to create if you have the Cricut DesignStudio or Gypsy; just select the shape, copy, and weld until the length of border is created.

If you do not have these software options, though, you're going to be limited to what you can create border-wise. This is because the machine will allow you to either set the height a shape is cut (using the SIZE DIAL) or the length the shape will cut (using FIT TO LENGTH mode) but not both. As all the images on a cartridge are pre-programmed to change in proportion to the size or length set.

There is a trial version of the Cricut DesignStudio software on the Cricut website. Download this, give it a go, and you'll soon be creating borders at the height and length that you want!"

CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION

This past weekend we had the craziest rain and thunder storm. The thunder scared my dogs--my youngest shakes when it thunders! Still, the rain brings a fresh and clean scent, and there are no excuses required to play with my Cricut. This week I am exploring 3 Birds on Parade and Simply Charmed.

3 Birds on Parade is all about birds! Each of these birds are doing different, fun activities, for example: holding Christmas lights, cheerleading, graduating, holding flowers, cooking, playing baseball, playing football, roasting mashmallows, going to school, playing in fall leaves, singing, delivering mail, and dressing up as a cowboy, chief, witch, wizard, or a king. The creative features of this cartridge are: Layer 1, Layer 2, Phrase, Font, Font Shadow, and Shadow. Yes, this cartridge comes with a font. It has a blocky look to it with a bird talon print. You also get phrases: "You Take the Cake", "Dreamer", "'Smore Great Moments", "All-American", "Way to Go", "Happy Holidays", "Deck the Halls", and "Postmark with Love". mrsmimip from the Cricut message board used this cartridge and created an adorable chef's card (see pic or click here).

Simply Charmed has tons of different images! For example: trees, school supplies (glue, pencil, crayons, etc.), sand, sun, baby carriage, ice cream, popsicles, shirt and tie, bird, mushroom, chick, rabbit, hearts, leprechaun, pumpkins, bats, turkey, clouds with rain, winter hat and gloves, Santa in a chimney, champagne, wedding cake, and birthday cake. All these images mean that you will have cuts for every holiday and occassion. The creative features are: Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, Layer 4, Shadow, and Word. This cartridge also comes with phrases: "Happy Baby", "Sunny", "Life's a Beach", "Back to School", "Happy Holidays", "Peppermints", "Chill Out", "Presents!", "Rainy Day", "Cut the Cake" and many more that complement each of the images. On a side note, you can also cut out a bride and groom paper doll for any of those wedding scrapbook layouts or cards--or possibly even a cake topper. greenbean from the message board took a bottle of hand sanitizer and added some Simply Charmed images to make an adorable and spooky gift (see pic or click here).

Well, this wraps up this week's Cricut cartridge exploration. I wish all of you Cricut fans tons of creativity as you use your Cricut and wonderful cartridges in your crafts and projects. See you next week!

Crafty Kimber

WEEKLY SURVEY

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

Click here.

HELP FROM THE EXPERTS

Here are the hot topics in Customer Support this week:


Some great tips from BugGuide GirlFromOz:

"I just finished writing a tutorial on how to make this board move faster by using the 'Today's Posts' option."

Check out her tutorial here. Thanks Narelle for sharing this!

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The cartridge exploration forum listing is all up to date on the message boards. They are now listed in alphabetical order! Retired cartridges are listed here. We hope this helps you find what you are looking for more easily.

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Need some help? Provo Craft Customer Support is here for you! Never hesitate to call in; 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

"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work."
~ Aristotle