My First Commission - Mini Word Book

I have been making mini books and giving them away for quite some time.  Whenever my employees were expecting, I would find out the sex of the baby and what theme they were planning.  I would then make them a mini.  Well, one of the recipients of two of my books has commissioned me to make a mini for a relative.  She told me the name was Kellen and the theme of the baby's room was sports using primary colors.  I went to Etsy to download the sports paper and couldn't find exactly what I was looking for.  So I decided I would use primary colors and decorate with sports cutouts using my Cricut. I changed my mind very quickly as I didn't like how it was coming together.  I searched Etsy again and found what I was looking for.  After printing the card stock to the desired sizes, the following mini is what came of them.  I hope you like it.


Each page is two pieces of chipboard cut using CCR and Mickey Font then glued together.  I covered the entire page with solid cardstock.  The letter is the Mickey Font cut out of chipboard, covered with card stock and glued onto the page.

I used some ribbon and some charms on the spine (We R Memory Keepers spiral binding).

On the back of the baseball (K) page, I used CCR and Baseball.  I glossy accented the "Rookie" and dry glittered it.

We live in Phoenix so I decided to use the Phoenix Suns colors.  I used CCR and Basketball.

The first (L) page was golf.  I used CCR and Everyday Paper Dolls to cut out the flag pole.  I cut it three times to get each layer (flag, pole, hole in the ground).  The flag is card stock, the pole is cherry veneer, and the hole is that paper that has fibers running through it (I can't remember the name of it).

The back of the golf page has golf balls from CCR and Everyday Paper Dolls.  

The second (L) page is soccer.  Using CCR and Soccer, I created the soccer ball card.  I then glued the cards together to create an accordion photo holder.

The back of the second L is a photo mat with some embellishments around it.

The (E) page is tennis.  I used a Tim Holtz die through my Cuttlebug and created a pocket.  I then covered three tags with the tennis card stock, tied some rat tail ribbon through the top, and edged them with ink.

The back of the E page is two photo mats with "game, set, match" cut out using CCR and I believe Cricut Fonts.

This is my favorite page.  I cut out my football player using CCR and Everyday Paper Dolls.  I used Arizona Cardinals colors and tried to give it depth using the directions from the message board.

"My Country 'tis of Thee" Album

I will be teaching this album at my LSS.  I fell in love with the Bo Bunny Anthem collection and this is what I came up with.  It features pockets, flaps, magnets, washi tape, stickles. gesso with gelatins, some smooch on the flowers, and some pocket minis.  Hope you like it.

New iPhone Case

Since I love, love, love Donald Duck, last year for Mother's Day, my daughter and her then fiancé gave me the Donald Duck iPhone case.  Well, in a years time, I have dropped my phone numerous times and the case cracked.  My DH tried to fix it but it just didn't work.  The case just seems to be getting worse so I decided I needed a new one.  I couldn't find another Donald Duck.  Then inspiration struck or better yet my ditzy brain decided I would make my own.  I found a soft/flexible case for my phone that was clear, hopefully it won't break as easy if at all, at Best Buy.  Using CCR, Mickey and Friends at 3.306 height, and Cricut vinyl, this is what I created.  I am very pleased with it.  However, I am not a vinyl expert and my fear is that he will start peeling.  Any suggestions?


                                                     This is the current case that is broken

                                                      Side/top view showing the damage

                                                                 New case!!!

Dr. Jen's Baby Book

Hello everyone!  I'm getting ready to leave again for Asia but I had this in my head and needed to get it started before I left.  My Chiropractor is having a little boy and I promised her a book.  Noble, their first son, has the room decorated in Owls and Monkeys.  So this is the beginning of the book and I covered chipboard cut at 10 1/2 X 8 1/2 with paper.  I decorated the front cover with a branch from Spring Seasonal, the Owl from Hoot 'N Holler, and the Monkey from Create A Critter 2.  Of course it was done in CCR.  I cut the branch out of veneer and edged in ink (Thanks Nadia), added leaves that I edged with ink to give them some depth, and then added the tiny flowers.  The owl and monkey were edged in watercolor and pop dotted for depth also.  I will continue to work on the book after I return and will add the pics when completed.  Thanks for looking.

Graduation Gift Card holder and Journal

The young lady traveling with us to Japan just graduated from Eller.  Eller is the Business Management department of the University of Arizona in Tucson.  I made this gift card holder for her using the Wildcats Mascot logo and UofA/Eller logo.  I cut the cap using CCR and Everyday Pop-Up Cards.  I purchased the tassel at Hobby Lobby and attached it to the cap.  The technique for the Wildcats logo was used by several ladies at Circle Mania, so I thought I would give it a try.  I also used the Perfect Layers Rulers for an exact cut around each layer.  I did not pop dot the layers because of the thickness of the card with the gift card included.  I printed the sayings on my home printer using my Mac for the fonts.  Thanks for looking.

I love to journal while traveling and wanted to give our traveling companion a journal of her own.  I made six signatures and bound them together.  I then covered chipboard for the front and back covers.  I used a piece of Basic Gray Konnichiwa paper for the spine.  I placed a piece of Washi tape on some pink card stock and then cut it to create the book band.  I used adhesive dots to close the band around the journal and pop dotted a fussy cut bird from the paper.

Photo Album for our Hosts in Japan

Thanks to SJOX44 on the Cricut message board for the inspiration.  My DH and I will be traveling to Japan in a few days.  Their custom is to present a gift to the host upon arrival.  Well I was at a loss as to what to give Mrs. Kitano because she speaks/understands absolutely no english.  Two years ago, I made cards and through the interpreter, Mrs. Kitano kept saying they were art to be hung on the wall.  I explained to the interpreter that they were cards for her to write in and mail.  I took it as a compliment but wasn't sure if she knew exactly what I had given her.  After our return home, I put together a scrapbook of all the wonderful things that Mr. Kitano had his office take us to visit (Pagoda's, Nishiki Market, shopping, whirlpools, etc.)  I included the photos that Mr. Kitano had given me of the class that my DH taught while there.  I mailed them the scrapbook.  That was over two years ago and they are still talking about the book.  Apparently, they keep it in the office and show everyone.  I definitely take that as a compliment.  This time I wanted to make an album that Mrs. Kitano could put photos in of her family/grandsons.  All the words are in Japanese.  This is my version of SJOX44's inspiration.  I hope you like it.


My DH built the base box out of plywood and I covered it with the Konnichiwa line from Basic Gray.  I added the handles and the writing says "Family".

I made the top out of chipboard.  I covered it with Bazzill card stock and Konnichiwa.  I edged/inked it all in Espresso.

This is the inside of the box without the book in it.

The photo album.  I used a sheet from the Graphic 45 Bird Song line and added diamond glaze to the Geisha and butterflies.

On the inside cover, I made three tag holders and tags.  The first page says "Kitano" at the top.  I embellished with Cherry blossoms.  It holds a 4 X 6 photo.

These two pages can hold 3 X 5 photos.

Another 4 X 6 photo page and Hexagons cut from a silhouette die.  I used my Cricut mini to cut out the grandsons names.  I embellished with a little bling.

I made a holder and covered it with lots of lanterns from Graphic 45 Bird Song.  I added different size dimensions so there is three layers.  I used CTMH Art Philosophy to cut the chipboard and card stock for the photo holders.  I added eyelets and tags.  The next page is a 4 X 6 photo holder embellished with rub-ons.

The left page has a belly band.  I took part of a sticker from the Konnichiwa line, placed it on colored card stock, and pop dotted it on the ends.  I cut two pieces of covered chipboard, one for a 4 X 6 photo and one for a 3 X 5 photo.  I cut two frames from CTMH Art Philosophy and glued them to the chipboard pieces to create tags.  The next page has a pinwheel from the Konnichiwa line and a 3 X 5 photo holder.

Last page is a mounted 4 X 6 photo holder with a sticker from the Konnichiwa line.  On the back cover I made another holder and cut three pieces of cardstock covered chipboard for 3 X 5 photos.  I then added some bling.

The three tags on the front cover.

Photo holders with eyelets and tags.

Photo holders with tabs.

Photo holders on back cover.

Scraplifted sympathy card

I fell in love with PeggyT's all white card on the Cricut Messageboard.  A friend of mine just lost her Grandfather today so I scrap lifted and this is my version.  I used some multi-media to add a little color (black).  I also added a little glitter for some shine.  Hope I did PeggyT's card justice.  This inside sentiment is, "We know that no words can help ease the pain and loss that you are feeling right now.  Your family is in our every prayer and thought."

I also found that CCR does not work with my Jukebox :(