Cooking with Cricut Challenge # 75: Carnival Birthday

Hello and welcome to another Cooking with Cricut challenge! This week our theme is Carnival Birthday. So many fun things you can do with this, and you should definitely check out what the rest of the design team came up with- some amazing creations to inspire you this week! I debating doing a birthday card, but ultimately decided to go with a layout (I know, BIG surprise! lol) ;) I just had an inspiration for how fun it would be to make a little boy's (in this case my nephew) birthday page with all the animals you would see at a carnival or circus. So I broke out my Create a Critter and put it to work!!

All the animals and accessories, including the tent are from Create a Critter.

I added some balloons and party hats to incorporate the 'birthday' theme

I used an American Crafts Galaxy marker in white to add the highlights to the balloons.

I used some 'thickers' for the first part of the title, and Simply Sweet for the second half. Usually I reserve that font for 'girlie' pages, but it works for a little boy page too!

This page was very time consuming, but so much fun. I can't wait to see what you all come up with for this fun and unique theme, please come join us!! On a related note, this is the last week for our current design team term, but we have a new batch of talented and creative ladies to inspire you starting next week. Make sure you stop by to meet all the new faces! :)

Supply list:
Cardstock: Colorbok, DCWV, Coredinations
Patterned Paper: Paper Fever, Reminisce
Cartridges: Create a Critter, Simply Sweet
Letter Stickers: Thickers by American Crafts
Marker: Galaxy Marker by American Crafts

2012 Scrapbook Trend #5: Chalkboard

Hi everybody! It's been a while since I posted one of my 2012 Scrapbook Trend projects. I kinda got stuck on this one, which is chalkboard. I was actually really excited to try it out, but then had a really hard time finding a way to fit it into a layout. I think this trend would be perfect for a back to school project, or labeling. Lots of fun uses for the new chalkboard paper. I wanted to show how it could be used in a layout, and that is where I got held up. Either way, I incorporated it into this layout of a photo taken at a surprise party we held for my mom's 60th birthday. She's a teacher, so the chalkboard did fit...kindof, lol! Here is the project:

I used this week's sketch over at SOUS for the layout design. The actual chalkboard paper is from DCWV- they actually have a whole line of chalkboard paper pads, so if you want to give it a shot I would recommend them. They have different size stacks, as well as different colors, and the paper was not too heavy- I easily cut out this blurb shape from Plantin Schoolbook with my Cricut. I tried writing on the chalkboard with an actual piece of chalk, and it worked fine, I just didn't like my handwriting with the chalk. So I rubbed the chalk dust onto the paper (so you could see it was a 'chalkboard') and then wrote the actual text with a white galaxy pen from American Crafts. It still looks like chalk, right?

I cut the rosettes from the Ribbons and Rosettes cartridge. I got this cart for Christmas, but have been sitting on it. I finally pulled it out a few projects ago and have used it 3 times since! I have been loving it! For the middles I cut balloons from Create a Critter. I used my Zig glue pen to adhere some trendy twine for the balloon string, and tied a bow.

I cut one more balloon to add next to the title. I wanted to make it clear that this was a birthday page, even though it might look like just a family photo :)

Make sure and stop by tomorrow for 2012 Scrapbook Trend #6- Doilies!

Supply List:
Cardstock: Colorbok
Patterned Paper: Pebbles
Chalkboard Paper: DCWV
Cartridges used: Simply Sweet (title) Ribbons and Rosettes (Rosettes) Create a Critter (Balloons) Plantin Schoolbook (blurb)
Bakers Twine: My Craft Spot
Brads: Basic Grey

Challenge Entered:
Stuck on you Sketches - Sketch