September Artiste Blog Hop

Welcome to our September ARTISTE Blog Hop!  Each month we are showcasing the amazing, exclusive ARTISTE Cricut cartridge which can be only purchased through a Close to My Heart Independent Consultant.

We don't want to scare you but Halloween is a little over a month away and we know you have to be thinking about what YOU are going to create for this spooky holiday! We decided to show you all the creative projects you can make using our exclusive Artiste Cricut cartridge. You will be hopping along our haunted trail of creativity - you never know what you will see next!

If you just happened to come to this blog, you should start at the beginning at Lucy's blog - http://www.love2createitall.com.

Also, to help you get ready to start making your own Halloween projects Lucy has some blog candy for you! She is giving away a Moonlight Complements Dimensional Elements pack!  That's two (2) sheets of Printed Dimensional Elements that you can use to create your own Halloween project! There is a picture of the blog candy on her blog. All you have to do to be eligible to win is to leave a comment on everyone's blog AND become a follower of Lucy's blog.  (If you are already a follower, just let her know in your comment.)

My project is ... SPOOKY WREATH

Although I used page 76 and 77 (otherwise known as the halloween pages) of the Artiste cartridge, I would like to think I used them in a unique way.  When looking through the book for the first time, I fell in love with the cupcake wrappers.  Problem is, I don't bake! :)

Check marks show the four items I used.

So I thought of how I could use them and came up with this.

I only used four items off the page but as you can see in the above Cricut Craft Room screen shot, I've used them uniquely.   Before I show you the final project let me share what I learned from this project.

1 - I have a love/hate relationship with Cricut Craft Room.  When doing an intricate design, the layers help to differentiate the cuts but it slows down considerable.  Also, as you can see, some of the colors are off and where there should be mat, it looks like material.

2 - I will not try to do this same wreath or any like it so small again.  It is intricate and looks great but (see number 3) with my current supplies, I used the "pick" way to much.  It was time consuming to get all the parts out of the web.

3 - A dull blade makes EVERYTHING more difficult.  I've only had my machine since the middle of August but because of all the vinyl I've cut and the card class cuts, I've gone through a blade and a mat.  I've ordered a replacement but a new blade would have made this MUCH easier! :)

And here is the final project with a few close ups.

The spiders are stamped with the chevron from the National Stamping Month
special stamp set (Available until Sept 30 - see link below).

The googly-eyes were an after thought but it made a big difference I think.  Thanks for stopping.
The next stop on the haunted trail is Ginger.

Here's the entire blog hop lineup in case you get spooked along the way:

1. Lucy - Love 2 Create 
2. Darla - Caution Crafting is Contagious
3. Diana - Dianas Free Moments 
4. Carolyn - Nuts 4 Scrappin'
5. Julia Hammond - You Can Create 
6. Wendy Kessler - My Scrapbooking Blog
7. Pam Stewart - I Candy Scraps
8. Carolyn Mendoza - Crafting With Carolyn 
9. Jennifer Kramer - 4 Hearts Scrapbooking 
10. Maria Woodworth - Maria's Paper Craft Place 
11. Kindred Hearts - It Makes TOTAL Cents
12. Ginger Morriello - Ginger's Creative Cottage

Thanks for stopping by for some Halloween fun -- hope we didn't scare the creativity out of you! Muah-ha-ha!

DON'T FORGET . . .Only 7 days left in September -

**7 DAYS left to enter my giveaway: https://www.facebook.com/itmakescents.ctmh?sk=app_228910107186452

**7 DAYS left for the National Stamping Month and "Fall Favorites" Stamp of the Month Promotions: http://itmakestotalcents.blogspot.com/p/specials-campaigns.html

**5 DAYS to reserve your Christmas Card supplies: http://itmakestotalcents.blogspot.com/2012/09/christmas-card-samples-available.html