Does it change anything?

Oh, I think it does.

What in the world am I talking about? The Cricut Imagine of course. It changes EVERYTHING. I no longer have to search for the perfect embellishment, I just print and cut it. Need a particular color card stock? Yep, I just print it right out. With patterns and colors that coordinate completely, and the fact that I can add those colors and patterns to any one of the 1000's of images and fonts on other Cricut cartridges, the possibilities are nearly endless.

Will I scrap like this all the time? As much of a time saver it is, the answer would still be no. I still like the "hunt" for the perfect page finisher. I still LOVE to shop. There are still plenty of lines out there to love, and until I can download them to my Imagine, I will forever be buying.

(this layout was design from a sketch from pagemaps.com)

Both of the above layouts have great dimension to them, but achieved in different ways. One of the reasons I love the Imagine is the fact that the layers can be broken down and printed and cut seperately. In the first layout above I layered the individual pieces with pop dots for dimension. In the bottom layout I used items that already had dimension, such as the Thickers, Chipboard, and the felt border.

So yes, the Imagine does change everything. For me though, everything is never enough!

Happy Scrapping!

Imagine Attitude

My Imagine Attitude: I can't say enough about this machine. I absolutely love making layouts and cards. Having everything that coordinates right at your finger tips is a definite time saver and it all looks so well put together. I no longer have an excuse for scrappers block! I love it!



Last night I created this adorable layout of my kitties in under 30 minutes!

Everything on the layout except the background card stock was print and cut from the Imagine More cartridge and Plantin Schoolbook.

I love that I can use different layers from different images to create what I want. Only two pieces from the above layout are from the same image, the 'cat-ti-tude' title and the cats. The other back grounds and accents are from other layered images on the cartridge. I also use the Roly Poly font from Plantin Schoolbook and colored them with the Imagine for the 'm&m'

What's your Imagine Attitude?

Thanks for stopping by. Please take a look at my other Imagine creations in posts below!

Just Imagine...

Just Imagine a layout coming together in minutes instead of hours. Just Imagine having everything you need to complete a layout in one place. Just Imagine everything coordinating perfectly. If you can Imagine all that then you have used the Cricut Imagine!

I love this new machine. I attempted my first layout last night using ONLY the Cricut Imagine. It can be done, and with awesome results! I used the Nursery Tails cartridge to complete this layout:
I cut the scalloped background from one of the images that come with the machine, and filled it with a patter from Nursery Tails. Then I cut the scalloped mat and also filled it with a color from the machine. I cut the "Sweet Dreams" out in layers at 3 inches, and multiplied the sheep x5. Next I cut the tag at 2.5 inches. I popped out a few of the pieces for added dimension. A little ribbon and a couple buttons and I was done. Literally in under an hour!

Can't wait to play with this amazing machine some more!

Cropped til I dropped!

Yesterday, Saturday I went to a Close to my Heart party at a friend's house. Afterward we stayed and scrapped. Now usually when I attend this sort of thing I do more talking than scrapping. Don't we all?? But yesterday, I found a groove and just stayed there for 12 hours!!! I scrapped from 11am to 11pm! I managed to get 5 pages done, 3 single pages and a double!!! This brings my total for the year to 60 personal layouts completed for the year! Last year I only had 75 total so I am closing in fast!!!

So ya wanna see what I got done? Well I'll show ya anyway!! :)

Rock On!
Paper and Titile are My Mind's Eye, Abbey Road
Stamps are Close to my Heart
Magic Memories
Paper is Cordenations and Sandylion
Felt Boarder is Queen and Co.
Santa Monica
Papers are Close to my Heart and Cosmo Cricket
Bubble back ground was cut from Graphically Speaking
'santa monica' was cut from Life's a Beach
This is Life
Papers are Close to my Heart and We are Memory Keepers
Flowers Unknown
Button Basic Grey
'This is Life' was cut from the Graphically Speaking
Hope to have some new cut files for you all shortly....it's been busy around here lately!
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Sketch Mania @ UmWow Studios!

I have a new sketch site to share with you that just launched today. UmWow Studios presents: Sketch Mania!! The first sketch is awesome and has so many possibilities! I just had to get started as soon as I saw it. Inspiration just oozed from this sketch. I saw the circle and I immediately thought, Mickey's ears......Not sure why, but this is what I ended up with:

Thanks for stopping by.....stayed tuned for some more Design Studio freebies......
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Cricut Cartridge Storage Solution

Ok, I know there are a million ways that we love to store our Cricut Cartridges, Handbooks, and Overlays. Let me make it one million and one!

Awhile back I was at the Dollar Tree and purchased an over-the-door shoe organizer. I had every intention of using this for my punches. But since my punch collection only sits at 2 right now, and my cartridge collection stands at 12 I decided to try it for them instead.I can easily fit one or two cartridges and their handbooks and overlays into each pocket. Then I labeled the pockets with the correct cartridge name. This has been so convenient. I love not having to dig for the book in a file or tote.

And another layout I got done yesterday:Thanks for stopping by!

Half Way

Last night I scrapped my 50th layout of the year. I am now half way to my goal of 100 layouts for the year. This is only personal layouts. I have completed more in client albums as well, but for my own albums this is great. Last year I completed 75 for the year, and I am hoping that with my vacation layouts that I will hit that within the next couple months. It has been a hard and stressful 6 months for me, and I have found it hard to get motivated to scrap.

I am having a great time reliving my vacation through scrapping the photos. Here are few from the past week:
Thanks for stopping by!

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DeLovely. Dad, and Disneyland

I should have posted about this earlier this weekend, but over at the awesome SRM Stickers Blog, they were having a great blog hop in honor of Cosmo Cricket's new line DeLovely. I was able to get in on the hop and be inspired, but unfortunately did not have much time for anything else this weekend. So here I am posting now. If you have not seen SRM Stickers, then head on over and take a peek.
They also posted a card sketch challenge,
and here is my take, for my dad:
I have officially started my Disneyland Album! I am so excited. This is going to be a great book to complete. I have so many great pictures to choose from, I am not sure if I will ever get them all scrapped. Here are the two layouts that I completed over the weekend!

Minnie Mouse was cut from the Mickey Mouse Font cartridge, and the vase from the Potpourri Basket Cartridge
Thanks for looking! Until next time, Happy Scrapping!
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No Excuses......make me accountable! (There could be some BLOG CANDY for you!!)

Hey there my wonderful 32 followers! Once again I have been caught missing in action. I have no excuse. I am just slipping into another of my famous funks. I need your help to get me out of it! I changed the look of this place once again.....now I just have to start posting once again.

My vacation was wonderful, but exhausting at the same time. I am excited to start scrapping all those Disney pics, and just received my 150 prints to get started. I also purchased the Mickey Mouse font cartridge for my Cricut.....so exciting!

I have been working on some other craft projects, jewelry making and beading. Fun, but killer on my my poor arthritic hands, so I won't be doing much of it. I think I will stick to working with paper....now if I could just make a little more money doing it.

So what I need you to do is spread the word of my blog....

1.become a follower then leave a comment about what you like most about my blog

Is it the free cut files, the sketches, or just some inspiration?

2.post about my RAK on your blog or Facebook page for a second entry.

On June 27th, I will put all the names into a drawing for a nice prize from my stash.

Surf's Up

Mickey Head/Flower Border was design on Cricut DS using the George Cartridge. If you would like the cut file, leave a comment below with a contact email.

Simple Math

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I've been a busy bee, but I didn't forget the freebie!

I have been working on a project for all my little bowlers. Today was the last day of the season and I wanted to do something special for the kids and the parents. I found the instructions to make word books using my Cricut Machine and Design Studio at Invincible Summer. This site has a very detailed tutorial for making your own word books. Here is a pic of the ones that I made.....I made seven of these in 3 days......A LOT OF WORK!So, I did find some time today to work on a design for a freebie. It is simple but I think you will find that it is beautiful and easy to use to border a page. You can download it here.

Cartridge used: Graphically Speaking, 6x12 mat

I also managed to get a couple layouts done today as well. Awhile back I volunteered to become a Chocolatier over at http://www.cropchocolate.com/ . As a chocolatier, the website would send me some product and I would create a layout(s) or other project displaying the products they are going to sell. Here is what I came up with:The Products that I used from http://www.cropchocolate.com/ are:

Basic Grey Chipboard Sticker (Flourish)

MM Paper - {noteworthy} Ava Loopy Stripe

Basic Grey Buttons

MM Whimsy Alpha Stickers

Ribbon

Other:

Citrus Teal Card Stock from ANW Crestwood

KI Memories Daffodil 2 transparency

Studio G glitter glue

Last but not least a fun birthday layout. I had so much fun creating this. The papers are from Crate Paper and part of a kit from Heartstring Designs. This is an awesome club if you don't want a 'contract.' They offer great scrapbooking kits and card kits. If you don't like the preview for the next month, you DON'T have to purchase. You are not deferring, you are simply opting out. It is a lifetime membership and you only order the kits YOU WANT! They also include in every kit these awesome mat board cut outs. See the candle and flame on my layout.

Thanks for stopping by, become a follower today and get new freebies every week!

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Cuttlebug Challenges-Be Inspired #71

I was hopping around blogs tonight and came upon the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog. Loved the theme of this challenge, STITCHING. Do I do a lot of stitching? Me, no way..uh-uh, not a chance! Have you seen my work? Almost every other LO has some sort of stitching! This was definitely a challenge right up my alley. And I also incorporated the Cuttlebug into it.....

I adore how this came out!

Love how the Cuttlebug embossing works with the Coredenations Card Stock. Added a little Stickles, some stitching and pearls for a border, and voila....done!
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Sketchy Thursdays --- A new-to-me Sketch Challenge Blog

So today, I log on to Facebook, and I have an invite to join a group. Most of these I just delete as they are pointless, like, "I hate tomatoes, but love ketchup." IGNORE, IGNORE, IGNORE!!! But this one was from a fellow scrapper, blogger and friend, Jenny. You can visit her blog here. The site that she introduced me to is called Sketchy Thursdays. You guessed it every Thursday there is a new challenge sketch. I immediately fell in love with this weeks, and got right to work.

My take on the sketch:
The layout is done on a transparent overlay from KI Memories. The black background is just there for photographing purposes. I used Basic Grey "Lemonade" papers, Prima flowers. and the journaling block is a transparency from Hambly.

This has been a very productive week for me. But I should mention that I have so many new goodies to play with that this has been a very easy week to be creative. CKC Portland was last week, and I got some great deals on paper and embellishments, not to mention THICKERS! I love them! The day before I found out that Tuesday Morning sells scrapbook stuff, and bought a TON there. Then to top my week off, our Tax Return came yesterday, and my hubby treated me to the Cricut Expression for Valentine's Day. Love you sweetie!

So you want to see what else I have been up too? Here ya go!
Happy Valentine's Day!
Go Junior, Have a great day at Daytona!!! #88
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Scrap Therapy, and an Online Crop!

Hey there, just wanted to share my latest layout, Scrap Therapy and give a heads up for a weekend online crop over at Have Your Way With Paper. Come join us over there for a weekend of Love, Football, and Scrapping.....guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing!! Plenty of challenges and prizes for all!

What better therapy is there than scrapping? Remembering the great times of your life, those you love, and those who are part of life. Scrapping is a definite healing power in my life. It is a refuge from a bad day. It always makes me smile. I can take a bad moment in my life, like my toddler giving me grief, and come to my scrap table and create a layout from a great time with my sweet boy. All is right in the world again......give it a try. I guarantee that you feel better when you are done.


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I Wanna Talk About Me!

Love that Toby Keith song.....I wanna talk about me, me, me, me.

But seriously, who am I? My name is Kathleen Marie, but I go by Katt. People in the scrap world, if they know me, know me by scrapnkitty. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a wife, a mother, a friend. I am a scrapbooker. DUH, why else would you be here.

I was born and raised on the South side of Chicago, IL. I went to Catholic school for 12 years. I am the middle child of three girls. My best friend is my little sister. I am still friends with my bff from grade school, though we live 2000 miles away from each other.

I am a loner. I am a night owl. I do not choose to be either, that's just how it is. I do not make friends easily. I am not a morning person. I suffer from depression and use my hobby/passion as therapy. My mood often comes through on my layouts.

I live to create, I create to live. I have a family that loves me for who I am. And I love them with my entire being. They are the reason I scrap. I want to cherish every waking moment of our lives, because life is just too short not to. Every page may not be perfect in the visual aspect, but every page is perfect in the sense that I told the story an will continue to carry the memory.

I am selfish. I admit it. I live for the praise from others. I need to feel loved. Doesn't everybody? Sure I scrap for me and my family, but I scrap for you too. Don't get me wrong, I am very giving as well. I love admiring the hard work and creativity of others as well. I have more friends online than I do in real life......that's just sad.

Wow pity party or what? Sorry I am completely rambling.

Here are two layouts that I have completed that are about me. Yes just me. I want to be remembered too.

I guess I should get out in the real world and make some friends.......
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Let's start over!

Yep, that's my motto for 2010! Let's Start Over. I am starting a lot of things over. First I am healthier in 2010. I quit smoking!! Yay me!!! I am working out. I finally kicked depression's ass, and found meds that really work. I have never been happier! I have started scrapping for others, and actually making money at it!

I am actually scrapping again. In the first 21 days of the new year, I have completed 11 layouts for me, 3 for a client, and one card. It feels AWESOME! I am learning some new techniques. I am using a lot of sketches. I am participating in challenges. I almost feel like the old me.

I am still unemployed, but not beating myself over it....I kinda like it. And it gives me more time with my favorite little person, CJ.

So, you want to see what I have accomplished in the last 3 weeks? Here ya go!

Layouts:

Card:
Thanks for stopping by!

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