Holiday Tags --easy peasy

Simple tags using the Christmas Cheer Cricut cartridge, cut at 3 3/4".
I made these tags to put on the plate of goodies that we'll be taking to neighbors to wish them a Merry Christmas.
My husband is the holiday goody maker, divinity, fudge, and grandma's sugar cookie recipe that we love to decorate. When my family decorates the cookies my husband always kills Rudolf every year by making a frosting arrow on the deer, don't take offense if we didn't have a reindeer he would kill a snowman... it's just a crazy tradition, and if he didn't do it the girls would miss yelling at him... "oh Dad just killed Rudolf.... DAD, oh not again DAD!!!!"
Do you have a silly holiday tradition? Please share.

On to the tag info...
I used the "tag" selection key to cut out the image on the tag, my pattern paper was not cardstock heavy so I cut using these dial sizes: Blade 4, Speed 3, Pressure 3. this is what worked for this paper.
I cut the backing for the tag from pg. 131 of Christmas Cheer.
I added some funky fibers which adds such a fun touch.
Have a wonderful creativity day!
Robin :)

Cleaning My Cutting Mat

Does your cutting mat look like this...... yuck.
A step by step of how I cleaned my cutting mat. None of these ideas are my own, I've combined several ideas I've learned in the Cricut Message board to show you how I got my mat clean and sticky again.I place my mat in warm soapy water
Then I used a scrapper to scape the mat (my scrapper is from Pampered Chef --this tool has multiple uses) I scrapped at all different angles and put this dirty yucky sticky stuff in the garbage. Then scraped some more.
Then rinsed my mat really well.
Pat dry and I let my mat sit for about 1/2 hour or hour, to let the air dry and little spaces. During that time I can fold load of laundry or clean my house, and you thought I created all day... silly.When my mat was good and dry I took a link roller and got some of the sticky little blobs that were left on the mat, I rubbed with my hand to feel for any sticky spots. I even rolled on the back side, sticky stiff was there too.Now the fun part, making my mat sticky again. I use Zig 2 way glue with the Jumbo Tip on every inch of the cutting area. I start on one side and glide about to the 6" mark and did this all the way down one side of the mat, flipped the mat around and did the other side. Then I set the mat aside and dry for a few hours before I use it... more laundry? or should I clean the house?
Wow... look at my new mat... maybe not new, just refurbished.Do you have other tip of ways you clean Cricut items? Please share.

Have a wonderfully creative day!
Robin :)

Little Cocoa Purse

I love the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More Cricut cartridge, don't you?

Boxes are so much fun to make. I made this adorable little cocoa purse to hold cocoa, and chocolates, also herbal tea packets would fit perfectly in this box.
Here is a mini tutorial of how I put together this box.

With Tags, Bags.... cartridge I used the pattern on pg. 118, I used the shift key to cut the circles for the handle. I Cut out two boxes at 7", one in a solid color heavy cardstock for the base of the box then the second using pattered paper.
I score all the markings on the solid color cardstock, and with the pattern paper I cut it apart where the marking are.
Then I cut about 1/8" off each side of the pieces shown below, I discard the pieces I don't need (I did cut decide to cut 1/8" off the scallop edge -not shown in photo below). Adhere trimmed pieces to my solid cardstock and glue the tea cup and steam (from Joys of the Season cartridge) on my box before putting the box together. For my ribbon I taped two different ribbons together, put it through the holes and tied a knot.
The tea cup is embossed using the Cuttlebug "Snow Dots" embossing folder, then I added brown ink around and on the tea cup, and using a white ink pad I rubbed over the snowflake then added stickles on the snowflake and the steam. I always let the stickles dry before putting the box together. A velcro dot was used for the closure of the purse.If you have any questions just ask in the comments section.

Have a wonderfully creative day!
Robin :)

Embossed Christmas Card

I created this quick Christmas card useing the Cuttlebug "Textile" embossing folder halfway on 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" gold cardstock.
I used my "Very Merry Tags" Cricut cartridge for the first time... waahoo! I cut the Joy tag out at 3 1/2" twice once on gold cardstock (used only the "joy" words) then again on using DCWV Holiday Collection Glitter Matstack (on sale from Joann's) Using the stencil of "Joy" not the letters. Place the gold "joy" into the red glitter "joy" stencil.
I also cut out the plain oval to back behind my tag. Added gold ribbon then backed the card with red cardstock.

Embossed Christmas Card

Have a wonderfully creative day!
Robin :)