AN INSPIRING COLD

Remarkable ideas can pop up after a restless night of coughing, tossing, and turning--and a few of them aren't half bad.

If I had a nickel for every time I blew my nose in the past three weeks, I would have enough money to buy an entire craft store. I don't get sick all that often, but a late summer/early autumn cold has caught me by surprise. My face is red from frequent facial tissue usage!

While my brain was addled with cold medicine, the idea wormed its way into my head that I should document this annoying little episode in my life with a scrapbook page, get it out of my system...and then get back to scrapping better times.

This week, be sure to read Crafty Kimber's in depth cartridge exploration of the Toy Story cartridge. As always, I wish you well in your crafting adventures.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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FEATURED PROJECTS

SPECIAL GUEST EXPLORATION

Hi Everyone! This is Joy Tracey, also known as HappyHappyJoyJoy, from Everyday Cricut, Obsessed with Scrapbooking and the Cricut Message Boards. I am so thrilled to be featured in this week's Chirp--especially because I get to showcase the new Cricut Imagine Machine. This is quite an honor!

The Cricut Imagine machine combines the functionality of the Expression with a high quality printer from HP to color and cut shapes, images, full size sheets and word art using digital patterned papers and colors. How does it do this? By using the new Imagine cartridges and your existing Cricut cartridges! The possibilities are limitless!

Also, the Cricut Imagine machine comes pre-loaded with all our favorite basic shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, scalloped shapes, top note shapes, a tree, hearts, baby onesie, etc. for quick designing.

I created this "Best Friends" card by selecting an image from the new Imagine More Cartridge and printing and cutting it out in layers. You also have the ability to print and cut the image in one flattened piece. How cute is that word art! To give it some dimension, I cut the flowers twice, inked all edges and then pop dotted them on top of each other.

For the "Simply Adorable" layout, I first printed and cut a full size patterned paper from the Imagine More cartridge: the blue paper with banners flying in the background. I used the "fit to page" option to maximize it's size. I added another border of flying banners, as well as the kite. My frame was cut in a flattened image but embellished with the flower border, which I inked. The journaling tag was changed to have an orange background and printed and cut. I selected some alternate patterns for my large 2" border, inked it and ran it behind the frame as an anchor.

All these images and patterns are from the Imagine More cartridge, which is chock full of fun word art, designer patterns, colors, frames, borders, corners, journaling tags, shapes, as well as a card and envelope. So much to choose from! Remember that most images break into layers so you can still layer everything if you like.

The word art, "Simply Adorable" was cut using the 3 Birds on Parade cartridge and filled in with the patterns from the Imagine More cartridge. It took no time to do and I knew everything would match exactly! That's the beauty of using matching designer patterns! No more scrambling to find just the right paper--it's already there!

Thanks so much for letting me tell you about the new Cricut Imagine machine! I am loving it and I know you will also! It may just be my new "obsession"!

Have a wonderful day!
Joy

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Stop by Joy's blogs: Everyday Cricut and Obsessed with Scrapbooking! And be sure to check out the new Cricut Imagine!

MESSAGE BOARD HIGHLIGHTS

This week's highlighted threads are:

• Two More Minis
• Cheerleader Stars
• Seashore Layout
• ~~ SQUEAL ~~
• A CAC Card for my Daughter

CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT

Name: Sharon Marsh
About: I am a mum of five kiddies, and have been paper crafting for many years. I love anything and everything Cricut have introduced its helps lead so many paths to create many many projects!

Sharon's Project: Wedding Boxes

YOUR NOTABLE TIP

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

"I am so not an expert at tying bows, in fact far from it. So I decided to dedicate some serious time to learning how to tie a flat knot and bows for my cards. I watched every video and tutorial that I could find and thought I would share what I learned.

Hope you enjoy the video...I had fun making it!"

CARTRIDGE EXPLORATION

This week I was lucky enough to explore the new Disney/Pixar Toy Story cartridge. This is such an adorable cartridge--I only wish I had kids to scrapbook with it! Maybe I will use it to scrapbook dog pictures.... A lot of these images would look great in a little boy or girl's room cut from vinyl.

The creative features are: Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, Icon, Icon Layer, and Shadow. Some of the movie characters included on this cartridge are: Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Bullseye, Pete, Hamm, Rex, Bo Beep, Slinky, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head, the 3 aliens, army men, Lotso, and more. There are also 4 frames, 2 3-D cutouts (Woody & Buzz), and three 3-D glasses. The 3-D images are perfect for a birthday party or a sleep over. Want something for the kids to do after school? This cartridge is the answer. MelissaWendt1 from the messageboard used this cartridge to create a scrapbook layout (see pic or click here). I thought this was a wonderful idea to scrapbook the night you and the kids go see the movie together as a family!

The Icon feature provides you with some extra images. For example, one of the Buzz images also lets you cut a planet. Other examples of icons that you will received are: "Star Command", laser gun, cowboy boot, "Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl", saddle, "Hey Howdy Hey", "Giddy Up", "Bullseye the Horse", horseshoe, a sheep, "Hard Over the Toys", alien ship, "Let's Move" (with three army men), and "There's a Snake in My Boot". The Icon Layer feature lets you layer your icon image or phrase. This way you can add some dimension to your phrases or images. HappyHappyJoyJoy from the message board created this adorable card using this cartridge (see pic or click here).

That wraps up this week's exploration. Don't forget to upload photos of your projects to the message board. I love to see what all of my Cricut friends are creating! Happy Crafting!

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:


Q. I'm curious about the new Cricut Imagine. Where can I get more information?

A. Click here to find out more about the new Cricut Imagine Machine.

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Q. My post was deleted from the message board. Why?

A. Any mention of third party software programs will result in the deletion of a message board post. As per Provo Craft, you will recieve the following PM:

"Your post(s) regarding third-party software that allows you to make cuts with the CRICUT? machine has been removed. The third-party software you reference has not be tested nor approved for use with the CRICUT machine and therefore is not endorsed nor supported by Provo Craft and thus, should not be discussed in the CRICUT community. As a reminder, use of any hardware or software that has not been tested and approved by Provo Craft may void any warranty offered by the company."

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For the Circle: the October 9th Swarm is up for Purchase!

1. Visit www.cricut.com.
2. Login to the Cricut Circle.
3. On the Cricut Circle webpage, scroll down past the Hello Thursday banner until you see the events scrolling on the left side. When you see the Cricut with the ATG gun, click on MORE below the text.
4. The description of the Cricut Circle Swarm will show up, click on BUY NOW.

We are so excited to meet everyone!

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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

"I always have trouble remembering three things: faces, names, and--I can't remember what the third thing is."
~ Fred Allen