Thank you!

I really like the "Western Boots & Hats" stamp I've used twice now, both times borrowing it from a friend, I didn't know whose design it was or who the manufacturer was, so I put the question to the MB members at SplitCoastStampers and a nice lady named Roberta responded that she had the stamp and she sent the stamp to me. Thank you Roberta! You are so sweet to part with this stamp. (I've changed the recipes to add the name of the manufacturer - Ann-ticipations.)

Graduation Thank You Card

I'm finally done with graduation thank you cards! I made a total of 83, but I mess 3 up after a horrible thing happened! Well it was horrible to me.

My friend (the grad's mom) let me borrow this really great ink dauber, I don't have a clue who makes it or how old it was, but I know I spent 2 hours on the internet trying to replace it! Anyway, it accidentally got lost and ended up I think in a trash can in my craft room. So, when I had to tell my friend I lost it (she told me to guard it with my life, lol, since she can't replace it!), I made her stand across the room when I told her because I was afraid she'd throw something at me (just kidding, she's too gentle natured)!

She wasn't near as upset as I was and still am. I was stressing big time, I was upset for hours trying to figure out where it disappeared! So, I'm in search of something to replace it, maybe I'll try to make something.

So, anyway, I got halfway through these thank you cards and lost this ink dauber, so I had to try another technique, ended up sponging the fronts instead (not nearly as cool!), and messed up three cards trying to get it just right.

I still can't figure out how to make another dauber for my friend. It's not foam, it's this hard plastic web stuff with little points sticking out that grab barely any ink (not like the dauber CTMH sells in their tool set!).

This is NOT my idea, this card, my friend and I came up with it together, I just know her son, knew she had the stamp, his casual grad pics and some of his announcements were all about his horses, so, this is the card we decided for his thank you notes - simple and quick!

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Windows 7 & Cricut Design Studio

After seeing two different posts on the Cricut Message Boards that are of no help at all, I've decided to help those who are running Windows 7 and can't get their device drivers to install for their Cricut Expression. Here is what worked for me (Windows 7 & 4-month old Dell laptop) 1. Close Design Studio. 2. Make sure your Cricut Expression is hooked up by USB cable to your computer and that the Expression is turned on. 3. Click on your Start Menu and then click on "Devices and Printers." 4. You should see, at the bottom of the window, either your Cricut, or an unnamed or unidentified device. 5. RIGHT click on that device and then choose "troubleshoot." 6. Let your computer do its thing! (You may need to make sure your internet connection is active) 7. It will find the device drivers for your Cricut Expression and install them. Once finished, your Cricut Expression should run just fine with whatever version of Design Studio you have installed on your computer. You should not have to reinstall any device drivers on that computer even if you update your Design Studio software. (You may, however, need to update the firmware on your Cricut when Provo Craft tells us it is necessary.) Also, once your device drivers have been installed, you should be able to go back to that same menu (Devices and Printers) and see your Cricut instead of an unidentified or unnamed device. One other note: You WILL need to change your DPI setting from "medium [default]" to "small" every time you use the Design Studio Software (unless you choose the small DPI setting as your default). Try this to change your DPI setting: 1. Click on "start" menu 2. Click on "control panel" 3. Click on "display" 4. Click on "small" 5. Click "apply" You will be prompted to log off and log back on for the changes to work. You are now ready to try your DS software!

Lots of cards!

I've been busy making lots of cards, well, in such a short time, it was a lot of cards for me! I was without my computer for 8 days, so I fell behind posting pics of my latest cards. I've also been busy figuring out and thinking about which Christmas card to start making. So far, I've got 4 made and I'm not sure I like any of them! I always start my holiday cards now because come the holidays, I've got so many birthdays in October through December that if I don't make them now, they don't get made! I hope you enjoy my latest cards.

Circut Design Studio, Jukeboxes & Pooh Font!

The "To Our Dad" card below was my first attempt at welding and fitting a welded shadow with the Cricut Design Studio. It was much easier than I thought! (It's only taken me over a year to decide to actually purchase the full version of CDS!) I also invested in two Jukeboxes for my Cricut and that was an even better investment! I'm still trying to decide if I actually like storing the keypad overlays and handbooks in the bases of the Jukeboxes, but it's a lot easier than boxes. I purchased both the Jukeboxes, the CDS, & my new Pooh Font cartridge through Ebay and saved a ton of money! It goes without saying my adult ed paycheck is gone!

To Our "Dad"

Every year our four pets "make" a Father's Day card for their "dad." It's usually pretty simple and this card is from the two kitties and two dogs this year. Each animal on the front is cut in the colors similar to the actual pet (rust - Henry; Gray - Prince; Brown - Louie; and White - Abby). I know it's silly but Gary sure enjoys his "pet" cards! Everything on this card was cut on the Cricut.

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Blessings New Baby

Here's a baby card for our new grandson due in late June. I just got this Pooh Font Cartridge and was determine to use it for a baby card because of the sleeping Pooh bear! The little duck is on the inside of the card.

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Warm Wishes

It seemed like I just could not think of ideas for cards lately, and this is a pretty old retired stamp set from SU (Window on the World). I've always liked it but haven't used it very often!

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King of the Grill

Here's a simple card using SU's new set "King of the Grill."

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Young Lady Birthday Card

This card is very similar to page 6 of the current SU catalog. I didn't have the same color CS for the card itself, nor did I have the same stamp set, so I used Pale Plum CS and my Best Blossom stamp set (SU) . I don't have room for my sewing machine in my craft room, so I usually fall back on the Simple Stitches stamp set (CTMH) and used it on the Close to Cocoa strip on the left of the card.

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