Advent Calendar and First Video

Hi all I hope you have had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  I having been having alot of fun with my family, with way more fun to be had next week.  So I have something exciting today.  I made my very first video!!!  Please no over the top laughter as it is my first video.
Anyhow I am going to share with you the Advent calendar that I made.  I really love how it turned out and plan to use if for years to come.  I got the idea here and made some simple changes that I think made it a little special.  I have been using all of the inspiration floating around the blog-o-shpere and am really thankful for all the ideas.
So here is the calendar and video of how to make the pockets.  The original author used library pockets but since I didn't have any of those lying around my video shows how I made them and then embellished them.

Recipe:

• For the pocket cut down a manilla file folder to 8" x 4" and score at 3.75".  See the video for more instructions
• The base layer ornament is 2.77" x 3.75" from Simply Charmed
• Top layer ornament is 2.36" x 3.2" from Simply Charmed
• Numbers at 1.25" from Plantin Schoolbook
• Insert card base is 3.5" x 3" from Once Upon a Princess
• Insert card top layer is 3.10" x 2.30" from Once Upon a Princess

I hope you enjoy and have given you more ideas for a DIY Advent calendar.

Thanksgiving Card

Hi all

I hope you are having a great week and not too stressed out about the upcoming holidays.  We are getting ready here.  So today I have a card that I did for my brother.  He is in Afghanistan and I wanted to send him something to remind him how much we love him and miss him during this holiday.  I made him cookies and a cute card.

I made this card using my Imagine and the Cricut Craft Room.  This is the first time that I have used my new Imagine to make an entire project, well except the ribbon.  I only used white paper as the Imagine allows you to put color to any image, even the standard cartridge images.  It was really fun.  I did have a little fuss with the Craft Room, but I am working through those issues.  I am sure that they are my issues!!!  Anyhow I hope you enjoy and have a fantastic Thanksgiving.


Card Recipe:

• Card base is 5" by 6" and used a paper patter from the Imagine More Cartridge
• Turkey cut at 4" from the Create a Critter cartridge
• Sentiment cut at 1.5" from Simply Charmed
• Golden Rod Stickles (After the fact I also added stickles to the top hat but never got a picture of it!!)

I have also entered this card over at the Fantabulous Cricut blog for their Challenge Me Monday Harvest Blessings.  

Cricut Craft Room Works!!!!

Hi all
So I have had access to the new Cricut Craft Room for a couple months now, but have never been able to cut with it.  I work with a Mac and that has primarily been the issue as the update process would continually get stuck.  After scouring the Cricut message boards to no avail I gave up on cutting with the Craft Room.  I would use the online version to design and then export the files to my Gypsy for cutting.  Well I think that yesterday they finally announced the Craft Room was open for everybody to use and I decided to go ahead and give it another try.  To my surprise there was an update available for the Mac and when I did this and began updating my Expression it actually worked!!!  I just made my first cut after being able to design on my computer. 

I also used the free Craft Room Essentials images that are available for everyone to use.  So just wanted to share because I have been excited about this for a while and am really stoked it actually worked.