Friday, October 19, 2012

Tutorial on Cricut Craft Room with Art Philosophy and Artiste Cartridges



If you love your Cricut® machine, then you are going to adore all of the fabulous things you can do with Close To My Heart Cricut®cartridges in the Cricut® Craft Room. Create layers, cut negative space in the shape of your choice, make borders, and link elements together for a connected look. It’s easy! We’ll show you how.
Here is how to get started with Cricut® Craft Room:
  1. Create a FREE account in a few easy steps.
  2. Download and run the application for PC or MAC, depending on the type of computer you use.
  3. Connect your Cricut® machine to your computer using a Type B USB cable. (Note: For more info on this type of cable, see your Cricut® user’s guide or your local electronics store.) Once you have connected your computer to your Cricut® machine, the “Load Mat” button is the only button you will ever need to push on your machine in the entire process. Cricut® Craft Room will do everything else for you.
  4. Once inside the application, choose the type of Cricut® machine you own.
  5. Insert your Close To My Heart Art Philosophy or Artiste cartridge into your Cricut® machine.
  6. In the lower left portion of the application there is a tab that is labeled “Images/Cartridges.” Select “All Cartridges” from the dropdown menu. (Note: You must choose a cartridge that you own. You can also purchase individual images from the Cricut®store.)
  7. Scroll to find the Close To My Heart Art Philosophy or Close To My Heart Artiste cartridges you own.
  8. The virtual mat in Cricut® Craft Room is just like the mat you’ll load into your machine. And, it is oriented the same way that you will load your mat into the machine, with the arrow at the top.
  9. To drag an image to the mat, simply click on the image in the image selection tool box and move it to the mat.
  10. Once the image is on the virtual mat, you can adjust the placement by clicking on the image and moving it to any location on the mat.
  11. Now that you know the basics, you can start creating and exploring the possibilities!

Follow these steps to create the negative space on a card base, like you see on this Cheer Up card, featuring images from the Art Philosophy cartridge:
  1. Select the “Card” tab in the Art Philosophy images. Find the card base you prefer and drag it onto the mat. (We used Square 1 for the Cheer Up card.) The image will be cut in the exact direction and location that you place it on the virtual mat. At the top of the screen, or at the left under the “Shape Properties” tab, you’ll see size boxes. Enter the width and height for your shape. This is the size it will be cut on the machine, regardless of what size your machine indicates on the flip screen.

  1. Choose an image to cut out of your card front. We have chosen a butterfly by going to the Basics tab, clicking the “Show Shift/Lock Images” at the bottom, and then selecting the butterfly. Drag the image to the right side of the card base, position it, and alter the size, as desired. Once the image is in place, you will see a cut-out image in its place. This Weld feature is automatically on unless you disable it, and allows you to see how the card base will look with your images cut out.

  1. Select another image, drag it to the card base, and position it how you’d like it. Continue adding images to the card base, if desired.

  1. To cut your finished artwork, load the mat into your Cricut®machine and insert the corresponding cartridge. Next, press the green Cut button at the top of the computer screen and follow the prompts. The machine will cut the shapes as you have prepared them in Craft Room. If more than one cartridge shape has been added to the project, the machine and screen will prompt you with instructions.

Here are so more artwork examples that have been made using Cricut® Craft Room software. Follow the instructions below to learn some more fun tricks we used in creating this artwork.

Birthday Greetings card


Here’s how to create the bracket frame as shown in this Birthday Greetings card:
  1. Drag a card base from Art Philosophy cartridge and size it to be 9" wide and 4½" high.
  2. Add a 1½" bracket frame (from the Basic tab) to the center of the right side of the card. So far, all of the shapes have been placed in Layer 1. You can add additional layers using the Layer feature located toward the top of the screen, directly above the mat. Each Layer will be cut from a separate sheet of paper and is indicated by a different color on the screen. Using the Layer feature allows you to fully design your Cricut® shapes before cutting any pieces.
  3. Add a second Layer by clicking the plus sign. Click and hold the Layer 2 tab and drag the tab to the left so it is first in the row. This allows you to see the second Layer on top of the first so you can visualize your finished project. Drag a 3" bracket frame to the card base and position it over the 1½" frame. Then, still using Layer 2, add a 1½" bracket frame in the center of the 3" frame.
  4. Maneuver the Layer 2 frames so that they perfectly line up with the Layer 1 frame. Use your keyboard arrows for exactness.
  5. Cut the pieces following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut® machine. Layer 2 will be cut first, so be sure to load that paper first. Then load a new sheet of paper for the Layer 1 pieces.
  6. Embellish the card as desired.

All Boy page


Want to create a border that spans the entire length of your 12" page? It’s easy!
  1. In Craft Room, change the mat size to 12" x 24" under Machine & Mat tab on the left of the screen.
  2. Drag your selected border to the mat and rotate it so it is vertical.
  3. Change the height of the border to 12". It will automatically change the width proportionally unless you click the aspect ratio button between the width and height measurements.
  4. Whether you have a 12" × 24" mat or a 12" × 12" mat, you can use this function with a 12" × 12" piece of paper. Simply place the border as close to the top of the Craft Room mat as possible, but not exactly flush with the top.

  1. Cut the piece following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut® machine.
To create the title with the letters joined together to form one piece instead of individually cut letters…
  1. Drag your letters to the mat
  2. Overlap portions of each letter to connect them
  3. Use the Weld feature to join the letters together seamlessly.
  4. Cut the piece following the prompts on the computer screen and Cricut® machine.
There are so many possibilities to explore in the Cricut® Craft Room using the versatile Art Philosophy and Artiste cartridges from Close To My Heart! If you have any questions about using Cricut® Craft Room, visit www.cricut.com where a Cricut® employee will be glad to help you. Be sure to get your Art Philosophy and Artiste Cricut®cartridges today in order to create with them in this new and exciting environment!

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

From Paris with Love card with CTMH Artiste and La Belle Vie

I like this card so much that after I'm done using it as a display item for the La Belle Vie paper pack, I think I'll frame it and use it as home decor.  I don't know if its the sparkly Eiffel Tower (isn't that Cricut Artiste cut awesome?) or the Designer Rhinestone Brad but this card is totally me.



Here is a close up of the embellishment cluster.  See that huge Designer Rhinestone brad?  You get 12 total - 6 big like this and 6 small - for $5.95.  They are one of my favorite accessories in our Idea Book because anything you put them on instantly looks fabulous dahling!


What's in this project?  Click the links below to check it out!






Hope you are having a good week!  I had my fair share of issues to deal with yesterday so I'm hoping for a smoother sailing day today.  We are doing a board breaking session in Tae-Kwon-Do today and I'm looking forward to getting some stress out!

Hugs,

Paige

Monday, October 15, 2012

Bonjour Bow Card with CTMH Artiste and La Bellle Vie

The 3-D bows on our new Artiste Cartridge inspired this shabby chic card.  I wanted to incorporate sparkles, bows and lots of distressing with our La Belle Vie paper pack - so much French flair you just have to go a bit over the top!

In this shot you can just see the tiny dots of Stardust Glitz I added to the background paper.  Oh-la-la!

Here's a shot of the lovely 3-dimensional quality to these bows.  Can you believe its just paper?!?

What went into this project:





Merci for stopping by today, Cheri!  Hope you have a grand week!

Paige

Friday, October 12, 2012

Skeleton and Coffin Party Favor with CTMH Cricut Artiste and Moonlight

Yesterday was a big day in the Dolecki household.  I turned 42 so its now official - I am the answer to life, the universe and everything.  If you've ever read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, you'll understand the Douglas B. Adams reference.  We are big Sci-Fi readers/movie people so I've been waiting to be able to use this one on my family and I get it for a WHOLE YEAR.  Now whenever my kids ask me a question I can just answer me and drive them nuts!  (Har-har-har!  Sarcasm and punning run deep and true in our family so I'm sure to get lots of eye rolls with this one!)

I had an absolutely lovely day filled with some fun shopping (mostly crafty things), lots of birthday wishes, dinner out at a nice restaurant and presents!  I have that wonderful glow of being loved and appreciated that makes birthday's so special.  Thanks to all my friends and my family who made the day wonderful for me!

Now on to some October artwork!

As soon as I saw the coffin cut on the new CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge I knew I was going to have to make some of these for my kids to give their friends.  How adorable are these things?  I love adding a bit of Stardust Glitz to the owl eyes on this paper - adds a dash of freaky for the spookish season!
Here is Mr. Skeleton again.  I need to cover him in candy and have some unsuspecting kid find him in the bottom of the box (MWAH-HA-HA-HA! evil laugh inserted here).

Here's to Friday!  My favorite day of the week because my kids are home early from school!  Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Paige

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Interactive Bat card with CTMH Artiste and Moonlight Paper

The bat card on our new Artiste Cricut cartridge is just so adorable!  Here I used him as an interactive element on the front of a 4.5" circle card.

Here he is all opened up just waiting to give you a Halloween Hug!


If you'd like to make this project, click on the links below to get these supplies:




Thanks for stopping by today!

Paige

Monday, October 8, 2012

Skeleton Card with CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge and Moonlight

Thanks to my local crafty girls for making Friday's Birthday Cards and More class SO MUCH FUN!  I love getting together with you all, chatting and enjoying the company all while sharing my favorite thing - paper crafting goodness!  The best part for me is knowing that the fun we share gets extended out when you give or mail those lovely cards and bring joy to someone else's day.

Now that the class is over I need to get caught up on some blog posting!  October is my favorite month of the year and not just because its my birthday month - I love crisp apples, rounds glossy pumpkins, hayrides, the smell of leaves in the air and decorating sweetly spooky for Halloween.  Our new Artiste Cricut Cartridge is definitely going to be playing a BIG part in my Halloween decorating this year as I purchased the new Spellbound Cricut party kit plus lots of Moonlight paper and accessories so I can play with the Halloween theme button on Artiste!

The skeleton on this card is from the Artiste Halloween theme button - so easy to cut out and I love that he comes in three sections so I don't have to piece together lots of little bones. 

 I cut one of the sweet owls from our Moonlight paper and gave his eyes a bit of Stardust Glitz.  The skeleton got a bit of Bronze Glitz in his eyes.  Some Sunset Baker's twine and a covered chipboard circle glazed with Liquid Glass and this Halloween cutie is finished off!
If you'd like to make this card, click on the links below to get these supplies:







Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope your week is off to a fabulous start!

Paige
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Copywrite - or sharing the love!

Thank you for visiting me here on my blog today! I hope you have been inspired by my postings to create something lovely for yourself! It does take me a whole lot of time to create the artwork, tutorials and posts for this blog so if you would like to borrow my wording or artwork then I respectfully ask that you e-mail me for permission, credit me and/or link back to my blog. Thanks for your understanding and respect!

Paige