This is what makes the craft world go round

Having crafty friends makes this hobby so enjoyable.

Die-cut card challenge

Over at Stampin Dymonz Scrap Shack I participated in a die-cut card challenge.  Using my Cricut and the cartridge, Love You a Latte, I created a card.  I used the Cricut Imagine also and the Imagine cartridge, Audrey.  You can head over to the Shack to see more card creations.

Gift Bag Mini

Yes, these are your regular, ordinary kraft giftbags.  But I used them to create a unique mini album.  I so enjoyed transforming these bags into a memorable keepsake.  Over on my YouTube Channel(FayRaiDesigns) I have a more detailed presentation but I'll show you little bits here on my blog.

Here is the front cover.  I used some black rosette trim and a black metal flower that I created from an energy drink can.  The papers I used through the mini are DCWV Lady Couture and Black Currant.

Here are some of the inside pages:

November Photo-a-day Challenge

So here's what the sneak peek is all about.  Over at Scraps of Color.ning, Classygirl did a photo a day challenge.  The prompts for each day where generated from this site:  FatMumslim.com. Each month the creator of this site has a challenge.  So the challenge that I participated in entailed taking or using a photo everyday based on the prompts.  I decided to create a journal showcasing all my prompts. Let me

share a few pages with you:

This is inside front cover.  The covers are chipboard and the base pages are made using kraft cardstock. The first page gives an overview of the challenge.

On Day 17, the prompt was "the last thing you bought" and Day 18 was "happened this weekend". So something that happened that weekend was that I completed a mini album.

For Day 13, the prompt was "where you slept". So I took a photo of my bed and journaled about how it wasn't made up and that over the years I have slacked in this area.  But I was raised to always make the bed when you rise in the morning.  Even so, I am grateful for these life lessons. Then on Day 14, the prompt was "man-made". I took a photo of my watch and told about how this man-made item makes it easier for all of us to be on time.

I really enjoyed participating in this challenge and putting together this journal.  I am definitely going to try this again.  You can check out my YouTube Channel(FayRaiDesigns)for more details.

SNEAK peek

Here is a sneak peek at an upcoming journal/mini project.  Stay-tuned

Cricut Mini Series - Cricut Mini Album

On my YouTube channel(FayRaiDesigns) I  do a Cricut mini album series. I take a Cricut cartridge and create a mini album.  This is a fun crafting project just seeing what I can create with Cricut cartridges. So here is the latest mini but if you want to see more, head on over to my YouTube channel and check it out.

October Tag Swap

Every so often Stephanie Miller (Steffogal1 - YT) does a tag swap.  It is an event that everyone wants to be a part of.  This has been going on for a while.  Well, I finally got in on one of her swaps.  I received 20 stamp tags and some goodies to boot.  So what did I do with my tags?  A mini of course.  Yes, I made a mini to showoff my tags.  I got the inspiration from Jane(velocityvette1 - YT).  She has a tutorial for creating a mini that I just had to try.  So here is a sneak peek.  If you want to see the mini in its entirety then check out my YouTube channel (FayRaiDesigns).

A mini STACKED or HIDDEN?

There is a lot of talk in the mini album making arena about the best way to attach the pages of a mini album. It started with Laura D. "stack the deck" method and Kathy O. "hidden hinge".  Then a YouTuber named Ozegran created the "stacked hinge".  This is the method that I tried in this mini.  I followed the instructions given in a tutorial by Sheryl (gemzisle on YouTube) and I love how this turned out.  It is in my plans to make many more of these.

Mini Books are my Passion

I created this mini after being inspired by a fellow YouTube crafter.  It is a chipboard album that has a wire binding.  The inside pages are made using one sheet of 12x12 craft cardstock.  Check out my YouTube channel(FayRaiDesigns) for more details.

Fall Memories

Who doesn't like a cool fall day?  The vibrant colors and crispness of the air sets my senses in motion.  I created this layout using The Paper Studio stack titled, Memories.  The word "Fall" is a Slihouette cut as well as the journaling envelope and photo corners.  Join me over at StampinDymonzScrapShack for some more layout fun.

FAMILY layout

That's what it is all about. Family isn't?  For this layout, I used some leftover diecut letters from the Tim Holtz Vintage Market alphabet strip as a border around the layout.  Nifty idea, eh?  The doilies are a Spellbinder's die set and the journaling definition cards are a freebie from Prima.  The "Family" cut is Silhouette as well as the flower on the left edge.

IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!

I cannot believe it got here so quickly.  It was a pleasant surprise waiting for me this morning when I went for a morning walk.  I cannot believe it sat on my front porch all night and I didn't even know it was there.  I am so happy!  So I finished my walk (I don't know how) and I took my Big Bug inside.  As I was looking over the packaging I noticed it was labeled "Expression2- AnniversaryEdition".  I took a step back and said, "I know this must be a mistake".  The Customer Rep. told me I probably would not get another Anniversary Edition.  So I ripped open the box and guess what?

I got another Anniversary Edition!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!! Provocraft.  My confidence in your standing behind your products is restored.  Did you happen to read my post?  No, I know you didn't.  But thank you again!  My new Expression2- Anniversary Edition is resting snugly in it's new place(right next to Gypsy Girl)

And here's the first cut:  It from the Artiste (Close to my Heart) cartridge

Packing up my Cricut E2

My Cricut Expression2 developed a problem recently and I am having to pack it up and send it packing.  I  had it a year and some and I loved creating with it.  However, the usb port broke not allowing me to connect it to my computer for updates or use it with my Gypsy.  So away I had to send it for a replacement.  What bothered me was that it is the Anniversary Edition with 4 cartridges preloaded onto it. But as the customer  service rep ( Tanja-she was awesome with helping me)  explained I still have those carts on my Gypsy and on my Cricut classroom account so that made me feel a little better.  But there was something about having those carts right on the E2 that just made me kinda sad.  I'll have a brand new E2 soon and I can pair my Gypsy again with it.  So as I await it's arrival I'll be cutting with my first Expression which is my go-to machine.  Bye, Bye E2 Anniversary Edition.

Too Cute Layout

It was time for me to update my blog so here is a layout I created using my Silhouette Cameo.  I love this machine.  It is rating up there right along with my Cricut(s) or has it outrated them? Hmmm. I love the ease at which The SC cuts out intricate designs and also the ease of purchasing only the designs you want.  Over the top of the pic, is a print and cut design and the SC does that using your own printer.  I love, love, love it.  So stay-tuned for some more projects using this awesome machine.

Fayrai

Summer is winding down

Yes, Summer is winding down and soon Fall with all it's vibrant yellows, orange and reds will be moving in to take its place.  Here is a layout I thought I would share.

I usually do layouts that have all the frills and stuff because my layouts almost exclusively are done of my granddaughter.  So I thought I would create a layout that was outside my usual creation. I used a sheet of the "All Chalked Up" by DCWV. The patterned paper is from the Grade School stack and the diecuts were cut from .studio files. The tiny bit of journaling was done with a white Signo gel pen. I drew around the edges of the pictures with a liquid chalk pen.

Amore

Here is a layout I did with my Cricut Circle cartridge, French Manor.  I'm loving this cartridge.  Using my reward points on Cricut.com, I was able to join the Circle and get this cart. All the images came from this cartridge. 

Renewed Passion

Lately, I've been in a renewed passion frenzy.  I dusted off my sewing and embroidery machines and started to use them again.  So this past week and just yesterday, I have embroidered a couple of projects.  I found my old list of sewing and embroidery sites and I have renewed this passion.  Two fav embroidery sites I found are:  Five Star Fonts and The Embroidery Garden.  I also started lurking at an old fav. sewing site:  SewForum. This site is what got my gears to moving again for sewing/embroidery.  So to cut to the chase, this is a mini composition cover that I made for my daughter.  The file also includes the monogram font.  I hope you like it.

A Negative can turn into a Postive

Have you seen the new patterned paper collection by Colorbok at your local Walmart?  It is TDF.  I created a layout using a piece of negative scrap from a diecut project and some of the paper that is called Wild Rose.  Check out the end of my latest YouTube video for some more details and a look at some of the papers in this stack.  Now back to the layout.

I fussy-cut some of the flowers from one of the papers and layered them around the layout.  I also die-cut the word "Cherish" on one of my electronic die-cut machines.  The gray background is actually a piece of negative scrap left over after I diecut some photocorners using the Picturesque Cricut cartridge.  So don't throw away all those discarded pieces of scrap. they can be reused to become a useful design element.  Happy Scrappin.

Creating a mini using the Cricut

Just recently I designed and crafted a mini album(I'm always in mini album mode- really- always)using my Gypsy and the Cricut.  The whole story is told and shown on my YouTube channel(FayraiDesigns). So go over there and see and leave me some YouTube love(subscribe that is) Here are some sneak peeps before you get there.

A bit of Scrapbooking Humor

I saw this little cartoon on Miss Misi's bloag and I thought it was too funny.

All Chalked Up

Recently I acquired some chalkboard cardstock (and at a reduced price that met my budget).  At first when this ingenious scrapbook item came out, I wasn't so impressed.  I mean how many projects would I use with it.  Well, I was willing to see since it was very affordable.  So here is one of my projects.  I took an unfinished picture frame and covered it with the chalkboard paper and then added some extras.  I think it turned out great. What do you think?

Things I love About You

What is a layout without the things you love to scrap with?  I love butterflies and flowers, so I used them in this layout.  This is my granddaughter who loves to be with me in my Craftroom.  The rolled flowers were cut on the Cricut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and the butterflies were created using the Martha Stewart punch.  I even used some metallic tape to punch some put.  The polaroid photo mats were also cut with the Cricut from a Gypsy file that another crafter so graciously shared.  The glittered paper is from my stash and the design is a negative cut image. I hope you like it.

Summer FUN

Glad I'm not in there!LOL

Using Up my Stash

Here's another mini!  I just love these little mini treasures.  While sitting and surfing the Tube(YouTube) I came up with this project that has as its base, envelopes.  I designed the envies on my Gypsy(Cricut design tool).  I used the Just Because Cricut cartridge and resized the envelopes so that they would serve as a good base for creating and adding pictures. I used so many tools from my stash in this mini. Check out my Youtube channel (FayraiDesigns) for a more detailed description.  I used the Black Currant paper stack by DCWV. Thanks for stopping by.