I got a Cricut Expression! Squeal!!!! (+Round Skyline Purse Box)

Edited to add: The sky line is from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge (same one that I used to make the bag.) It makes a city/rural houses/trees/grass/mountains & flowers.) The directions for the are on the video that comes with the Expression, but if anyone needs to know how: it is the set on Tall Ball. I used 'fit to page' on a 12x12 piece of watercolour paper.

Sorry no post yesterday. I needed a sick day to sleep a LOT.

today the ol' blog should be called: I'm not Worthy!!! ;o)

I made this with my new Cricut Expression (!!!!!), but this post also has a couple of links to a substitute template, for those of you who don't have one (and hopefully some Cuttlebug and-or embellishment ideas you might make use of too.) :O)

1. Squished Cuttlebug embossing (to de-emphasize the embossing some)
2. Making a round purse bag (Cricut or no Cricut)
3. No sew embroidery details on a 3D project
4. Adding feet to 3D projects



I got a Cricut Expression for my birthday! I have wanted one of these bad boys for a long time & I got the spoiling of a lifetime for my birthday. It still makes me all teary eyed how lucky I am. (I'm more than lucky in so many non-materialistic ways everyday, of course. This just ROCKs to the "me-likey...me-wanta...me-needa" side of me.) ;O) I'm just starting to figure the mechanics of it out, but it is such a thrill!

;o)

I hope to make a lot of projects with the Expression in future. They should be easy to duplicate if you have one, since I won't be buying a lot of cartridges (maybe One eventually: the Storybook one that Cynde mentioned...thanks Cynde!) Mostly, I plan on learning to make .cut files to share with you.

Don't plan on getting an Expression? No worries, I'll make the templates for regular cutting & for machine cutting. For now, since i don't have a clue how to use the software...(but just hafta play with the thinger)... I'll try to post links to alternative templates so that you can make similar projects without a Cricut, if you like. :O)

-1-

...make squished Cuttlebug embossing...

The black buildings have squished embossing. Seems weird hey? We're always trying to get deeper embossing, right? But a couple of times lately I've found that I wanted a design to include less prominent embossing, so I thought I'd share the really really easy way to get that:



Cuttlebug & Cuttlebug embossing folders
Paper (a die cut, a mat, or any ol' shape)

This uses this sandwich (after regular embossing):

--A plate
--B plate
--embossed paper piece
--Cuttlebug folder (on top of paper)
--B plate



A) Cut any shape & emboss it as you normally would



Flatten it:

B) Place your embossed paper piece on top of the A pad & a B plate



C) Place the Cuttlebug folder on top of your embossed paper piece (so the flat side is against it) & add the second B plate over that and then...Roll through...

One thing to note: any cut marks in your B plates will show on your embossing.

-2-

...make a round purse bag...

Whether you use a Cricut or no Cricut, this is one funky kind of shape, no?

Cardstock: Watercolour paper & Black
Patterned papers: (Basic Grey-Lily Kate Wisteria) Retired SU Christmas paper.
Schtuff: Black seed beads, green embroidery thread, clear rectangular beads (feet.)
Tools: making memories Paper piercer, needle, Cricut Expression, Cuttlebug & embossing folder (Perfectly Paisley)
Adhesive: Tombow Monomulti

Purse Box Cutting:
If you have an Expression & want to make the bag... it uses the Plantan School cartridge & the instructions for cutting it are on the DVD that comes with it.

No Expression? Please see the section below. :O)



Step 1) Build the round purse box using template or Cricut (I sewed a beaded circle on the front before assembing it.)



Step 2) Add a piece of beaded Scor-Pal grid (tutorial for the beading HERE)



Step 3) Dry fit city skyline to box & trim to fit



Step 4) Make the moon: Cut circle for moon and emboss it. Pierce it if you'd like to add stitching.



Step 5) Sew the moon :O)



Step 6) Stick it together...Adhere city skyline to the moon & stick the whole thing to the box



Step 7) Adhere a second layer of skyline with dimensional tape. (You can use black foam tape. Or you can use a Copic marker to colour it to camouflage it with any colour.)



(watercolour paper)

This bag was cut from watercolour paper (Farbiano, 90lb) from a local art store. Watercolour paper comes in large sizes & in sturdy enough heft for 3D projects. It's great for any project in my book. It may be an especially nifty option for you Cricut enthusiasts who want to take advantage of the 24 inch high cutting abilities.





Don't have an Expression, but you'd like to make a version of this purse? Try attaching circles & handles to an octagon-shaped box...



Octagon-shaped box: Here are two templates that look fantastic (a bottom with a lid): Octagon Box 1 & Octagon Box 2 from TrimCraft<--(see the example there for Sue Burrows tutotial) (Sorry TrimCraft, I tried to direct link to your site, but it wouldn't work.)

I'd try it this way:

1. Build the box & measure for circles
2. Use a circle cutter (or bowl/plate...) to Cut two circles (these circles are 5 2/8 inches in diameter)
3. Dry fit them to the box
4. Trim the bottom off of them, so they'll sit flat
5. Cut & Attach a handle to the back of each circle
6. Adhere the circle to the rectangular box

However, you may want to tweak all that; I've not tried that template out... Looks great though.

-3-

...add a no-sew embroidery

embelishment to 3D projects...

I can't stop winding emroidery floss around stuff. LOL. Adds some softness to 3D projects with neither the tempermentality of ribbon nor the bulk. ;o) Here's how the bottoms of those black handles were done...

Embroidery thread
Adhesives: Tombow Monomulti & Oh So sticky tape

Step 1) Colour the handle with a marker if you like it to be a different colour (Copic markers won't bleed) :O)



Step 2) Add adhesive to handle where you want your thread embellishment (nice & sticky is important.) I like Oh So sticky tape



Step 3) Wind embroidery thread around.

I did just the base of the handle, but if you've the patience of a Saint you could wind the whole thing. ;O) It might be much easier if you are trying it on a template where the handle is not attached yet...)



Step 4) Trim the thread & adhere the end.

-4-

...add feet to 3D projects

This couldn't be an easier way to add cool factor to a 3D project: beads for feet. :O) I added clear rectangular beads (I like round ones too though.) Three work nicely & are sturdy like a little tripod...or four or more...




Any kind of beads (feet)
Tombow Monomulti (adhesive)



Glue feet on. :O)

A little trick that might help if you decide to add feet to an irregular shaped project like this (as an afterthought): put the project over something upside down so gravity will hold your feet on (i used a bottle since this has a small opening.)

and that's that...

(Tombow Monomulti)

--I'm always on about Tombow Monomulti. I like to use it for fiddly bits like the end of all those embroidery threads. Never tried it? It goes on like white glue (but with a fine applicator tip & it dries way quicker with more hold.) It is made of latex, so anyone with latex allergies shouldn't use it on your fingers, but it has no fumes and it is super handy.
--Tombow has a lot of holding power, even on glass. I used it to adhere those bead feet on here, and have in the past on other things & they never budge!

Hope your crafting is superkalifantastalistic,

P.S. Does the new formatting work for you?
Any changes you'd like to see?