Paper Cupcakes Blog Hop #4! Using the “8/*” key of the CTMH ARTISTE collection

Hello, welcome to the Paper Cupcakes Blog Hop #4!

If you came from Linda Taylor’s blog, you are in the right place. This month’s blog hop is focusing on the “8/*” key of the ARTISTE collection page 38 of the CTMH ARTISTE instruction book. Each blogger has used at least one image on that page and current CTMH product to design something special to share with you. This month we are thinking ahead to New Year’s, so I decided to make a homemade holiday cracker.

The clock is the image that I cut using the Cricut Artist cartridge. I wanted to use warmer colors than the traditional black and gold for New Year’s, so instead I opted for a feminine color scheme with the My Reflections La Belle Vie paper packet. I love this paper! If you like it as well you should order some now because it will not be carrying over in our new CTMH Spring/Summer Idea Book. You have until January 31st to place your order for some (or while supplies last). I love CTMH’s Glitz Glitter Gel. I used the Silver color to highlight the clock hands and body. To glue on the detail I used the CTMH glue pen.

For the items inside I used random ephemera such as a ticket, wooden 2013 numbers, buttons, charms, etc. CTMH has several embellishments that would add wimsey to your cracker such as the Number Plates, Mini-Medley Accents Collection, Timeless Charms, Brocade Assortment, and Memo Assortment. I used the first CTMH Cricut Cartridge “Art Philosophy” to cut the 2013 banner and our Baker’s Twine Harvest Assortment as the banner string.

I wanted this project to be easy so I could quickly and economically make one for everyone at my New Year’s Party. To make this cracker, I saved cardboard toilet paper rolls and then covered them with pink crepe paper length-wise. I wrapped each with a strip of La Bell Vie Black & Pink B&T (background and texture paper) and then cut the clock using the pink and black cardstock from the paper packet. To create the “happy 2013″ I used the versitile CTMH Cricut “Art Philosophy” cartridge and Cricut Craftroom and designed the image. You can download the image here. You will need the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge in order to have the file enabled to cut. If you would like to know more about how to make your own designs or use this file, contact me or sign up for one of our upcoming retreats! To finish off the text, I colored it in with the CTMH’s Glitz Glitter Gel. I raised the clock image off the cracker a bit by using some Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares. Lastly, I filled the tube up with trinkets and tied it up with our Black Waxy Flax.

Don’t forget to ask Santa for your favorite CTMH products or even a Scrapbook Retreat for the new year! I know an elf that would be happy to assist him to make your crafting dreams come true!

I believe you have reached the end of the blog hop…you can start over from the beginning by clicking over to Bren’s Blog for the full list of participants.