Sunday, January 01, 2012

2012 Weekly Cricut Cartridge Challenge - Week 1

Hi all,


OK, to start off I think I will need to find a snazzier title for my weekly challenge!


Oh, yes --- and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.


The idea for this challenge began when I mentioned to Mandy that I have an excessive number of cartridges and that I really need to use them all to justify the expense to myself. I own about 130 carts (including imagine ones). I thought I'd use three carts a week but Mandy encouraged me to challenge others as well and use the entire cart list.


The challenge is going to go like this:
Over the course of 2012 Mandy will randomly select five cartridges each week from the 268 cricut cartridges available right now (excluding the imagine carts). From that list of five you use the ones you own (or can borrow) in a project. Challenge starts on Sundays, and concludes on Saturdays.


If you would like to join please link your project to mandy's blog or facebook page. Details will be refined as we go along.


The week 1 cartridges are:

  1. New Arrival
  2. Songbird
  3. Jasmine
  4. Sweet Treats
  5. Sweet Shop (lite)

My project for week 1 .....
I only own two of the five carts for this week. New Arrival and Jasmine. It actually helped me as I had less images to ponder/fuss/faff over and it made for quite a quick decision.
I cut out the words "many thanks", the card shape and two layers of oval surround from the Jasmine cartridge. Clouds, plane and sign are from New Arrival. I went to town on the 3D foam/dimensionals and there are a number of levels. 
I used Stampin' Up! cardstock - basic black, real red and pacific blue, and SU! Celebrations designer series paper. The silver paper is from my stash.
The card is 7" long even without the plane sticking out, so I will have to hand-make an envelope when I end up giving this to someone.

Then ... as I had a whole bunch of cut outs left over I thought I'd make another card while I was at it.
More SU! paper, same designer series paper, and a Happy Birthday stamp (from the Happiest Birthday Wishes Hostess stamp set). Glitter paper from my stash.... and more, more, more dimensionals!
I also inked the edges of the paper on both cards and inked the edges of the 3D foam on the first card, just so it would blend in. I am learning that all these little fiddly extras you can do really make the cards work so much better.
So, now I challenge you. Get those cartridges out and dust them off. Let's use all of them this year!
Both cards together ... yay, I have completed the first challenge!
Have fun,


Lisa