February 22, 2010

Spring into Easter!

Hi! I'm Cheryl, aka CherB on the Cricut MB. I am so excited and honored to be the guest designer this week at Tuesday Treats. First I want to thank Pam and Mya for starting the Tuesday Treats blog, and for their help and all the other wonderfully helpful people over at the Cricut Gypsy Messageboard. I don't get to participate and post there a whole lot, but when I do have a question, I can always get an answer there and if I need some Cricut Inspiration, I can find it there for any project.  Oh, and Cindy, with your help, I learned how to make a watermark for my photos and then forgot to add it to these.  :-(  Maybe I can edit later, but I wanted to get them posted.  

I also wanted to thank my family for being so supportive of my crafty obsession, most especially my dear daughter.  She cooked a few extra dinners and helped extra around the house to give me time to learn how to create and edit video.  Keep her in your thoughts today; she is having her wisdom teeth out this morning, so I'll be able to now spend some time and help take care of her for the next few days.

My Tuesday Treats assignment was to create a bag using the little bag on page 115 of Tags, Bags, Boxes, and More (TBBM) and my Gypsy (named Essy).

When I saw this bag and realized my date would be after Valentine's Day, I thought "What a great time to design an Easter Bag!" What I envisioned was a clear Easter Bag with grass around the bottom and little designs on the front and back - filled with Easter Treats. To create a clear bag, I wanted to use something that #1) I had on hand, and #2) something everyone could easily obtain. I decided to use overhead transparency. This did limit my creation to be able to fit inside an 8.5 x 11 rectangle.
It also took a lot of experimenting with designs and adhesives to work with something clear. I'll tell you now that you need to practice first and your adhesive needs to dry quick enough that you are not stuck in a Yoga position for long trying to hold the edges while it dries, and yet slow enough that you can align your edges before it starts drying and creates a mess. The best glue I found for this is Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive. The next one in line was Beacon's 3-in-1. I'll admit now that none COMPLETELY disappeared, but I'm happy with the final product. I made one with patterned paper also, so don't feel like you are limited. And you can also add or subtract any designs and change it to be as big as you want.
I did include images from Easter 2010 and Plantin Schoolbook for my final design.

There are a total of 5 videos. I tried really hard to edit and make them shorter, but one problem is that YouTube limits you to 10 minutes. Don't worry, not all of my segments are 10 minutes, but I had to find good transition points to edit the videos. The other problem is that I struggled with giving everyone enough information and direction that even those of you that just received your Gypsy yesterday could follow along and hopefully learn something. But, I also hope even those who are Gypsy wizards can find a little something - at least some inspiration or ideas. So, go pop some popcorn, grab a drink, and join me as I show you how I created my version of this bag.


Click HERE to watch on YouTube


Click HERE to watch on YouTube


Click HERE to watch on YouTube


Click HERE to watch on YouTube


Click HERE to watch on YouTube

Here a few more pics of the assembly process.

Here is the page I created for the embellishments.


Here is an example of taking advantage of laying out your paper for your cut.  I find that with heavy patterned paper and general cardstock, with my blade at 6, pressure at 3 and multicut at X2, I'll get a clean cut.  However, with glitter paper or bling carstock, set mutlicut X3.  Speed with my Gypsy is always set to lowest speed.   I do believe that each machine may be calibrated just a little different, so you need to find what works best for you. 



I cut the transparency with a deep cut blade set at 6, pressure at 3 and multiple cut x3. This seemed to give me the smoothest cut. My speed is now ALWAYS set at the lowest speed possible. Because this bag had images welded to the edge, my score marks were not cut - which worked out just fine for me since I was working with a clear bag. The best way I found to score for me, was to use my Scor-Pal and a rotary scorer to get down into the grooves. I lined up the score places in a groove and then made sure the edges were parallel to one of the other grooves. This made sure my scores were straight.
Again, practice first with gluing a bag. I found it easier to use a block form inside the bag to hold it firm while gluing the edge. A little goes a long way and will squeeze out if used in excess.
I used a bone folder to burnish the bottom after I glued them together before it could dry.
Score and assemble all other pieces.





(yes, don't pay attention, but I put the grass on first and had to do it again.  If you want the scalloped corners behind the grass, adhere those first. 


 Adhere extra pieces to your bag and embellish as desired.

And more pictures of the final projects.






So, there you go! My Easter Bag. Please click on any of the pictures above for a closer look and PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me any questions. If you would like to download my Gypsy cut file, please click HERE. And I would really appreciate a comment on my blog if you download this file and let me know if you have any trouble with the file.


Thanks so much for joining me today and spending so much time with me.
Cher~
http://www.cherylswindow.blogspot.com/

31 comments:

  1. =D> Wow! What a brilliant creation. Wonderful. Simply wonderful. Will watch the videos tomorrow morning but couldn't sleep without seeing so was awake till 12:00 in hopes you would post. Thanks dear and now I can peacefully sleep and dream of bunnies

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  2. These bags are gorgeous! Your video is wonderful, very easy to follow and yes I did learn so much! I haven't really figured my Gypsy out yet but you helped so much! I stand in awe of your creativity! These are just the cutest things, I am going to try to make one. Don't be surprised if I start yelling help! Just kidding as your video is so good I will just re-watch if need be. Thank you so much and I just love Tuesday Treats! It now my favorite day of the week! I can't wait to get over here and see what is new for the week. Cher~you are fantastic!
    Hugs,
    Lisa

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  3. Sheila aka SassyLadyFeb 23, 2010, 6:30:00 AM

    Look at you go girl!!!! WOWSERS this is a great project and I love the trasparency bags... what a clever idea and choice for material to work on! This is wonderful and you did a video.... I will look at after my hubby wakes.... he had a rough night and I don't want to wake him... my computer is too close... so I'll be back when he wakes to watch the video! They are soooo adorable. Thanks for sharing your talent and teaching us something new! Now I have to make these too!

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  4. Cher those are wonderful bags and embellishments. Thanks for sharing such beautiful creations.

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  5. Thank you for sharing your talents on these adorable Easter bags! I just love them. I've not done a transparency project yet. Now, I'm willing to give it a try.
    Suzanne

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  6. I'm at work and can't watch the videos yet, but I just HAD to peak this morning and WOW! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the little clear purse! How genius of you to embellish the edges to cover the seams! This is a perfect example of what we were talking about on the MB last night...I never would have thought of that, and I'm SO glad you shared it with us!

    I have a whole box of those transparencies...I think 100! I'm going to be making TONS of these little beauties! Now if I could just get off work early..hmmmm....I feel a sore throat coming on....LOL!

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  7. These are so cute :) Cheryl rocks the Gypsy again! Great job on the videos :)

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  8. Very cute bags. Love that you did them clear.

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  9. Wow!! I just finished watching the videos.....awesome! Love the clear choice in bags. All are super.....love how you created the scalloped bag. Ya see....we all need each other to learn from.....now it gives me inspiration to be creative....thanks Cher.

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  10. Wow - you may have just made my Easter baskets for me! I always give to my neices and nephews and this would be perfect! I haven't watched the videos yet but am definitely inspired by the photos and writing. THANK YOU and NICE WORK!!!!

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  11. Adorable Adorable bags. Making a clear one was a stroke of genius!

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  12. WOW! You did a great job! How clever and unique! I really loved the clear bags. How wonderful to have such a supportive family! Thanks for the inspiration today!

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  13. Awesome bags you did a great job!!!

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  14. I love these bags, Cher, what kind of paper did you use on the last bag. I love them.

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  15. WOW! These are awesome....I love love love your creativity!

    Hugs!

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  16. You are all so very kind. You don't know how much it means to me to read your kind words.

    For the bags, the patterned paper from the pink one was from DCWV Nana's Kitchen Stack, the paper I used in the pictures above to embellish the bunny bag was from My Minds Eye Ooh LaLa and Home collections.

    If spraying Glimmer Mist on your transparency, if you spray on the inside before assembling, you will still have a shiny bag outside. If you spray the outsides of the bag, you will be more of a matte vellum look. It did take a few layers of glimmer mist for the look I wanted to achieve.

    If you make any of these, please share them with me on my blog as I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see what you do with it.

    Thanks again!

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  17. OMG! The ladies here at Tuesdaytreats never disappoint! The transparent bag is hands down my favorite! Very clever! Hope I can be half as good someday - TFS, Cher!

    Hugs, MelodyR aka Ry&MysMom on Cricut MB

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  18. Oh, Cheryl - how cute are those baskets. I love the way you covered the edges. Can't wait to try it. Umm, I also noticed the Longaberger basket in the picture - funny, they were my passion until I discovered the Cricut and all the fun that goes with it:) Thanks for taking the leap and sharing your talent with us.
    Hugs,

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  19. Cheryl, your Easter bags are wonderful!! Thanks for videoing each step and explaining. I'm new to the Gypsy and I was able to follow your instructions without any problems. I was glad to see that your G can by "wonky" too. LOL. I didn't know you could add the "square box" to the grass border and weld it. That was like a WOW moment. Also, how you made the corners with the tiny rectangle so they would fold better...I never would have thought to do that. I love how you took us through the designing phase. I've never used glimmer mist, so I enjoyed your comments on that, too. You did a fantastic job all around!
    Kathryn aka KTbirdiegirl

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  20. fantastic! I never thought overheads could be so CUTE! thank you for all your work and Good Luck to DD with her extractions!

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  21. Love, love, love your videos. So good at explaining every step ...I always learn more watching your videos! BUT...could you turn up your volume...I can barely hear you and my computer/speakers can't go any higher :)

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  22. The pictures look beautiful. I am looking forward to watching the videos when i have a little more time.

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  23. Thanks for sharing in such detail. I learned so much watching all the way through. Love the bags!

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  24. Absolutely beautiful!! What a great idea! I'm going to try this with a transparency! Love, love, love how it turned out!!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

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  25. These bags are so adorable. I just ordered my gypsy now I really can't wait to get it!! Gotta have Tags, Bags, Boxes and More now. Maybe Mother's Day ( I'll have to start hinting now!!!)

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  26. Cher, you're a natural teacher and I could listen to you all day! GREAT job and oh, so cute!

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  27. Soooooo cute!!!!!!!! What a a wonderful project, thanks for sharing it and the files.

    Debby

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  28. I love that scallop border you put at the top edge of your bag, great job!

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  29. Hi Cheryl,
    I love your Easter Bag...and the videos are great!! I'm having trouble viewing video IV...I can see all the rest of them just fine, but not this one. I even tried to view it using YouTube but still no go. I keep getting the message "an error has occurred please try again later". Do you have any suggestions.
    Thanks,
    CindyB.

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  30. You do very beauitful work I just love them.

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