Cricut Imagine- Love You Card

Wow...I can't say I'm going through scrapping withdrawals anymore...lol.

I made this card for a very close family member currently undergoing chemo for breast cancer...to let her know how much we love and admire her and she's always in our prayers.  I was also able to enter it in a few challenges:  Emma and Sarah Imagine Nation Monday (Polka Dot), My Pink Stamper (Think Pink Project) and Cricut Cardz (card for Breast Cancer Awareness).

Cartridges used:  Cricut Imagine Best Friends- pattern papers, Love You (popped up) and Nursery Tails- squirrel, butterfly and mushroom.  Cuttlebug for embossing- Seeing Spots Folder.  Stickles on the butterfly, drew drops and rhinestones for added embellishments.  Hope you like...would love your feedback!

Throwback Thursday Challenge with Emma- Sports Theme

It feels like forever since I've had time to just scrap...I think I was going through withdrawal...lol.

Since this challenge was a sports theme; I just had to do it.  Our nephew not only plays but is addicted to basketball.  He loves the Lakers especially Kobe hence the colors, so this gave me an excuse to make him another card.

Cartridges used:  Sports Mania- background with stars, All Star and Trophy (popped up).  Martha Stewart:  glitter-  trophy followed by Glossy accents and Screw Punch- hole punched All Star & background.  I went over the entire stars background with chalk ink.

I challenged myself to go outside of my norm for this card.  For example I don't think I've ever inked the whole background on a project.  The MS Screw Punch I thought it was something I would never use and even planned on returning...but found I really liked the look it gave my project and how easy and simple the tool was to use. 

So basically I've said all of that to say don't be afraid to try new things you might be pleasantly surprised what you end up with!  Hope you like...would love your feedback!

Check back soon for more Learn from Laverne.
PS...there's still time to enter to win the Cricut Imagine; Don't miss out click here!

Imagine Nation Monday with Sarah and Emma Challenge

Hello and welcome to my new followers.

This card was created for 2 purposes; 1st to congratulate my dad on his retirement and then for Sarah and Emma Imagine Nation Monday Challenge.  This is my first time entering one of their challenges and I'm looking forward to participating in more. I have to say I am having so much fun with my Imagine and this card did not take long to make.  I did keep it very simple since it was for a male.

Cartridge used:  Imagine More- scroll (popped up birds), sail boat (popped up), both scallop circles (filled in color) and pattern paper.  Embossing Cuttlebug- D'vine Swirl folder and stamped congratulations.

Hope you like....would love to hear your feedback! 

Cricut Imagine- Baby Boy Card

Wow...I can't believe it's been this long since my last post.  It's amazing how fast time flies!

This is my very first project with my Imagine.  It's a very simple card using one of  the test cuts from my previous post (waste not want not).

Cartridges used:  Wall Decor and More- sentiment & Imagine- Nursery Tails- front image.  Cuttlebug for embossing- swiss dotts folder, goggle eyes to enhance frog (front).  Martha Stewart Punch on corners, stamped baby rattles (inside).  Supper simple card...hope you like.  It was fun experimenting with the Imagine.  I have found a new best friend. 

Would love your feedback.

Cricut Imagine Print Mode Overview

Hello and welcome to my first post as a Scrap’n Tote guest blogger. I’m so excited!!!


It’s only fitting that my first post is about the Cricut Imagine….since Scrap’n Tote is giving away…yes you read correctly GIVING AWAY an Imagine. Be sure to register to win before it’s too late! Click here

I have to admit I heard a lot of stories both good and bad about the Imagine, but I have to say my experience has been nothing but wonderful! My Imagine arrived in good condition, calibrated with ease and the mats worked flawlessly. I had no problems getting right to business.

Here is a quick overview of the Imagine print modes:

The Imagine can print in two modes draft and best quality. I did a test using an image from the Nursery Tails Cartridge to compare the differences and see if it was feasible to use draft mode for my projects and save on ink.

Draft Mode



Best Quality


As you can see from the pictures draft mode is very faint and has draft lines running through the image. Not great for my projects but definitely saves on ink and very useful for a test print (to get an idea of size and color when needed). The image with best quality was very rich and vibrant; I was not disappointed. Best quality will definitely be the choice for my projects.


Check back soon to “Learn from Laverne”

Cricut Imagine Updates

Currently there are 2 updates available for the Cricut Imagine.  The first is on either the Nursery Tails or Imagine more cartridge (both contain the same update) and the second is located on Provo Craft's website; click here.  For the second update you have to connect your Imagine to a computer with the provide USB cable.

Provo Craft recommends keeping your Imagine up-to-date with the latest firmware/ updates for optimal performance.

Cricut Imagine Promotion- Free Ink Cartridges

This is a great offer...especially if you are planning on purchasing more cartridges!

Cricut Imagine cartridges must be purchased between 09/14/2010 and 11/15/2010. Redeemable only by mail. Must be postmarked by 12/15/2010.

To request Tri-Color Imagine Ink, send:

•Original store receipt

•Photocopy of the UPC from the two (2) qualifying Imagine Cartridges

•Completed Mail-in Form (all fields required)

•$5.95 Shipping and Handling (credit card is accepted payment method) to:

Provo Craft

Atten: Cricut Imagine Ink Cartridge Promotion

P.O. Box 535

Orem, UT 84059-0535

Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in the United States and Canada.

* Shipping and handling charges apply.

The Cricut Imagine Ink Cartridge Promotion is sponsored by Provo Craft & Novelty, Inc and is open to legal residents of the United States and Canada who are 18 years of age or older. Please allow 6 - 8 weeks for processing and delivery. Valid only during the term of the promotion. The promotion is void where prohibited by law. Other limitation, terms, and conditions apply. For full details visit www.cricutimagine.com/imagineink. Your participation in the promotion constitutes your acceptance of the Cricut Imagine Ink Cartridge Promotion terms and conditions. For questions or to inquire about your submission please call 888-392-0589 or contact us via email at imagineink@provocraft.com.

Cricut Imagine--Is Here

Yes, I was one of the many many people who bought the Imagine during the launch on HSN.  Honestly I didn't have any intentions of buying it but when my husband said "aren't you going to get it" I figured who am I to argue...lol. I have the BEST husband in the world!!!

Anyway I was pleasantly surprised on Tuesday when my Imagine arrived since I was told my expected delivery date was Friday.  The arrival was bitter sweet.  I didn't realize how big the Imagine actually was...so I had to rearrange my cutting/ printing table, which took some time.

I'm still excited...can't wait to play with it.

My unscheduled absence

I can’t believe it’s been over a week since my last project was posted. The whirl wind of life took over and it was a minute before I could regain control. So for that I apologize. I will be back next week with a few projects and a BIG surprise. The surprise will be more towards the end of the week. It would be cool to see if anyone can guess what the surprise is. Hint it has to do with crafting. Any way just wanted to check in and say “Hi”. Life should be back to normal next week. Can’t wait to finish my projects and show you guys.


Be back soon.

Crop Weekend

First, I have to say "HELLO & WELCOME" to my new followers.  I am honored to have you along for my journey....I promise it will be fun!

If you are in the Northern Virginia area and was wondering what to do this weekend; look no more. Check out CropOccasions Scrapbook Get-Away at the Marriott Springhill Suites in Dulles starting Saturday (9/18) at 8am until Sunday (9/19) at 4pm. Walk-ins are welcome. Click here for more info and to register.


Best part A Crafter’s Haven will be there as a vendor….save on shipping. If you attend please stop by and let us know you are our friends from The Hive…there might be a surprise waiting for you!

My Pink Stamper Products

My Pink Stamper Stamps & DVDs are available for pre-order at A Crafter's Haven at a GREAT price.  The more you buy the more you SAVE. If you own a Cricut you don’t want to be without these stamps. They were created to go perfectly with numerous Cricut Cartridges. Even if you don’t own a Cricut, these stamps are universal and can still be used on crafty projects including and not limited to cards & scrapbooking pages. Don’t wait these great prices won’t be around for long. Click here

Holiday Stocking Card

This card was created for 2 challenges:

• Mojo Monday 154: To play along, just make a project using the provided sketch and upload it to your blog or online gallery
• Made by Momo: This week’s theme is to use Black and White, and then you can pick 1 other color of your choice.

So disappointed...I was having trouble getting my picture to load and the linky closed for the Mojo challenge...what a bummer. I'm going to leave a comment and hopefully they'll still take it.

On to the fun stuff! I figured since the Holiday Season is right around the corner why not get a jump start on my holiday cards. That’s how I ended up with red for my color choice and Xmas for the theme. Unfortunately the picture doesn't do the card justice; it's one of those you have to see in person. Hope you like…would love your feedback.

Cartridges used: Accent Essentials- squares & scallop circle, Christmas Cheer- Xmas Stocking & present and Joys of the Season- Ornament & candy. Martha Stewart glitter- Xmas Stocking, Stickles on the ornament and Cuttlebug for embossing- Swiss Dotts folder.

Holiday Stocking

This card will be in 2 challenges:  Mojo Monday & Made by Momo's Tuesday challenge.  My picture isn't showing don't know why...more to follow.

Polar Bear Holiday Card

This card was created for a Tuesday challenge by Liebs Landing.  This week's color combo challenge is Turquoise and White. (or blue and white, your choice) Upload your photos for your chance to win our goodies!


Cartridge used:  Joys of the Season- Polar Bear.  Cuttlebug for embossing- snowflakes folder, Martha Stewart glitter crystal- polar bear and glitter glue- scarf.  Greeting was stamped and heat embossed with white detail embossing powder.  This card was fun to make and I was very happy with the end result.  The glitter really made it pop.  Colors used:  white, navy, turquoise.  Hope you like...would love your feedback

A must read for all online shoppers!

Just in time for your holiday shopping!


Thought I would share and tell you about Ebates, a shopping site that gives you up to 26% Cash Back every time you shop online (rebate varies by store). Rebates are paid out quarterly. There are over 1000 stores and constantly growing. The BEST part is there are lots of craft stores. It only takes 15 seconds to enroll, no commitment and you pay nothing. Start earning your Ebate now. Don’t take my word for it Click here …to check it out.

Stores include eBay, JCPenney, Macy's, Nordstrom, Overstock.com, HSN, Wal-Mart, Kohl's and Home Depot. Plus you get additional savings with exclusive coupons, free shipping offers, and limited-time sales!

Sign up with Ebates today and we'll each get a $5 bonus when you make your first purchase! Isn’t that awesome!



Happy shopping!

Important News For Every Cricut Owner

Scrap'n Tote

If you are one of the few that haven’t heard Scrap'n Tote is a high quality binder that has it all. Holding 36 cartridges, books and overlays in easy view vinyl sheets, 12"x12" Cricut cutting mats, 12"x12" Scrapbook Paper, and scrapping supplies.

If you missed out on the launch price at Cricut Cartridge Storage, have no fear A Crafter's Haven have the Scrap’n Tote at a great price. The news gets better! Scrap’n Tote now comes in PINK and we have a special pre-order price. Don’t wait to take advantage of the savings…they are flying off the shelves. You definitely want to get in on the first round of orders to receive your FREE Gift, have it in time for Christmas and not end up on the waiting list. Click here to order.

Feel free to check out the Gallery Page at A Crafter’s Haven for more information on this awesome product.

Testimony:

I am a proud owner of the Scrap’n Tote and honestly don’t know what I did before this product came along. Even though we have a store that sells this product but I am a crafter first and would never endorse or promote any product that I don’t use or simply LOVE. It’s one of those products that you won’t really understand the quality and functionality until you have it!

Disclaimer: A Crafter's Haven/Scrap'n Tote/ContainYa Crafts are not associated with or endorsed by Cricut or Provo Craft.

Jitterbuggin Challenge Sketch- "Bee" Creative & Cricut Cardz Challenge #40

First and foremost I would like to say Hello and welcome to my new followers.  It's a pleasure to have you along my journey. 

Before I jump into the challenge info I have to say a special THANK YOU to Sarah of Sarah's Blog and Blinkie Designs who just designed my blog and  Blinkie...didn't she do an awesome job!

This card was created for the Jitterbuggin challenge- you had to make a card using a BEE or the letter "B"  following the provided sketch and use up some scraps.  Then I saw it qualified the Cricut Cardz Challenge so I entered...how cool is that.

Well I was hooked from the time I heard scraps...lol.  Especially since I never have a shortage of scraps...I need to learn how to throw away more...but it never fails as I throw it away up comes a project it could have been used on.  Honestly I had no idea what to do for this challenge.  Everyone was using Bee's which was the first thing that popped into my mind but I wanted this project to be different.  So since I haven't used my Hello Kitty cart in a while and Halloween is right around the corner, I figured  now would be the perfect time.  The card didn't take long to make and it was really fun.  The hardest part was figuring out which scraps to use (had to make sure there was enough...lol). 

The following cartridges were used:  Hello Kitty- Kitty, Accent Essentials- circles, Storybook- letters.  From Martha Stewart: punch- Double Loop for the 2 corners, glitter glue- lollipop and iridescent glitter- accent circle (ran it through the Xyron upside down, made it so easy to glitter).  The orange squares were embossed with the Cuttlebug- Spots and Dots folder. 

I didn't realize how many steps this card had until I was typing it out...it doesn't seem that way when I look at it.  Hope you like...would love to hear your feedback.

Wow wasn't that a mouth full....hope I didn't bore you.  I guess that's happens when you don't post in over a week...sorry.

Paper Playtime Challenge #12 & Jitterbuggin Challenge Sketch 14- Born to Be Wild

This week I am participating in 2 challenges with the same card.  It was a last minute decision to participate in Paper Playtime's challenge so it was a rush to the finish.  I am very happy with the way the card turned out.  The skunk is very pretty...you really can't see much of the glitter in the picture.  It's late...I'll be back tomorrow with the card details and more info on the project.

Update:  The card ended up being much bigger than I imagined; but it was fun to make.  The following cartridges were used:  Tie the Knot- vine, Give a Hoot- Fox, Animal Kingdom- Skunk and Sweethearts- Monkey.  I also used googlie eye, stickles- vine and Martha Stewart glitter- skunk & fox; background was embossed with the cuttlebug- folder birds and swirls.  I hope you like...love to hear your feedback.

Paper Playtime:  make a Card, Layout, 3-D Project or any other Paper Craft Project inspired by the theme Zoo.
Jitterbuggin:  make a card using the theme Born to Be Wild with the provided sketch and include stripe paper.

Made top 3 in Jitterbuggin Challenge- Sketch 13

I am thrilled and honored.......to be in the top 3 for this week’s Jitterbuggin Challenge. The challenges are so much fun and it's great to see all the wonderful ideas and inventions fellow crafters come up with. I have made it a goal to play along every week regardless of how personally challenging the sketch maybe for me...here we go. I will be back in a few days with my new project.

Jitterbuggin Challenge- Sketch 13 Planes, Trains and Automobiles

This card was created for the Jitterbuggin challenge- you had to make a card using a vehicle following the provided sketch and include a button.  For some reason I had a little trouble with this challenge and finally decided to do a Batman theme (not sure where the inspiration came from).  The car had a lot of little pieces and was time consuming.  The following cartridges were used: Batman: The Brave and the Bold- Batmobile & Bat signal and Plantin Schoolbook- skyline. Pop dots were added to the Batmobile & Bat Signal to add dimension.  Overall I liked the way the card turned out...hope you do to.  Would love to hear your feedback.

Gate Fold Card

My Pink Stamper introduced her design team and invited everyone to join in the fun making a project using a Critter or animal theme.  I made this Gate Fold card which turned out to be a lot of fun.  Cartridges used:  Life's A Beach- Sun, Give A Hoot- Fawn with flower and Plantin Schoolbook- grass.  Other products used Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Edge Punch and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dotts folder to emboss the border.  Hope you enjoy...Love to hear your feedback.

Safari Father's Day Card

Wow I can't believe it's been a little over a week since my last post.  That definitely wasn't my intention.  This was made back in June for "My Pink Stampers Challenge" to make a father's day card (I think...it's been so long I can't quite remember...sorry).  Cartridges used:  Beyond Birthdays- Dad, Animal Kingdom- animals, Life's A Beach- adventure leaf, and Plantin Schoolbook- grass.  Cricut markers were used for the statement and outlining the animals.  I really enjoyed making this card...hope you like.  Please feel free to leave comments.  Love to hear your feedback.

Baby Pooh

inside

Here is another baby card I did for a friends baby shower back in May.  It seems as of lately I've been using the Disney Cartridges quite a bit.  I will be continuously adding previous projects.  Cartridges used:  Pooh Font Set- Pooh & honey pot, Sentimentals- words and Storybook- butterfly.  Cuttlebug- Tiny Mosaic folder was used to embossed the honey pot.  As always feel free to leave to comments.

Jitterbuggin Challenge- Sketch 12 Oh Baby!

First, I have to say "HELLO & WELCOME" to my new followers.  You have given me new inspiration to continue to enhance my blog...it will be a work in progress (but I'll get there). 

This card was created for the Jitterbuggin challenge-  you had to make a baby's card following the provided sketch and include ribbon.  I am really loving these challenges...just have to figure out how to add their button to my blog (lol).  The following cartridges were used:  Storybook- words, Accent Essentials- scallop squares, Plantin Schoolbook- letters on square and Pooh Font Set- baby piglet and teddy.  I also used the Cuttlebug- Swiss Dotts folder on one of the squares and Martha Stewart glitter on Piglet.  I really loved the finished card and had a lot of fun making it.  Hope you like it too....feel free to leave comments and or suggestions.  Thanks for looking

Jitterbuggin Challenge- Sketch 11 Happy Birthday to You!

For this challenge you had to make a child's birthday card following the provided sketch and ensure purple was incorporated.  I used the following cricut cartridges Mickey and Friends for Minnie and From My Kitchen for the slice of cake. Pop dots were used for Minnie and the cake.  Disney World is one of my favorite places and still makes me feel like a little kid.  I had fun making this card...hope you like please feel free to leave comments.

Cricut Cardz Challenge #34

This card was created for Cricut Cardz Challenge #34: make a card using a cake, cupcake, cookies or candy and any cartridges, colors or theme you'd like. I don't know why but as soon as I read the challenge Cookie Monster and his love for cookies came to mind (maybe because I just did an Elmo card with the same cartridge). Anyway hope you like what I came up with. Please feel free to leave comments. Please excuse my blog as it is a work in progress. For the card I used my Cricut Expression,Cartridges- Sesame Street Friends and Plantin Schoolbook, pop up dots (for Cookie Monster) and Martha Stewart glitter for the heart.

Click here to view the challenge website.

Paper Playtime Challenge #6 It's A Guy Thing

Hi, this is my first attempt of using my blog and second time entering a contest. I am new to the blog and contest world...just did this for fun. This card was made for my nephew's birthday the "next Lebron James" and he loves the Lakes especially Kobe hence the purple and yellow. I used the Cricut cartridges Sports Mania for the title, basketball border and the player on the inside. The background was embossed using the Cuttlebug swiss dotts folder.

PAPER PLAYTIME CHALLENGE #6-- Details
So glad you stopped by! For Challenge #6 make a Card, Layout, 3-D Project or any other Paper Craft Project inspired by this quote, "It's A Guy Thing." You may interpret this theme any way you like. Post your direct link with InLinkz below by midnight EST on Sunday, July 11th. Click here