Cute Tags from the Preserves Cartridge

 The Preserves cartridge may end up becoming another one of my "go to" cartridges - just like Graphically Speaking and Storybook.  As I mentioned yesterday, there is much more than just fruit on this cartridge.

Here are just a few of the "generic" tags with layers that you can find on the tag special feature key.

This screenshot shows the locations of the three tags I cut.  There are quite a few more that are multi-purpose, particularly on the bottom row of the keypad.

I cut these tags at 5 inches and embossed them with hearts using the Cuttlebug "Love Language" Combo set.  The folder from this set embosses tiny hearts in a pattern that looks a lot like "Swiss Dots."

I cut the top layer from the 8 x 8 Nana's Nursery - Baby Boy DCWV cardstock.  This sheet has cute baby phrases in green and purple.

When you emboss the tags, take care to center the images so that the layers will fit neatly.  Little details like this make a real difference in your finished projects.

These extra cuts from the layers will be useful for another card or tag.

Different types of ribbon finish off the tags.  The style and color you choose can make the tags fancy or informal.

Tags can be used for so many things - as journaling boxes on a scrapbook page, slipped inside pockets to hold photos or journaling in a mini album, as correspondence cards or simply to label a gift package.

Many of the more generic tags will also be perfect for card toppers with stamped images or other embellishments.

If you are a Facebook user, be sure to check out the new Facebook page for Capadia Designs.  I have some events planned that I think you might enjoy.  Here is a LINK if you'd like to join us there.

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Baby Blessings Card

I just received the "Preserves" Cricut Cartridge in the mail.  It was a prize for being "Spotlighted" in the Cricut "Chirp" newsletter.  If you have never tried submitting something for the newsletter, I encourage you to try.  The form to submit a project can be found at this LINK.  If you are chosen, you can select a free cartridge (excluding exclusive cartridges or cartridges bundled with certain machines).

On first hearing about this cartridge I thought "who needs a cartridge full of fruit?" but then I started looking at the images on Design Studio and I realized that there were all sorts of interesting tags and labels on this cartridge.  I'll do an actual review of the cartridge soon but for today I just tried out one of the shapes for a card that has nothing to do with fruit!

This is the shape that caught my eye.  It has a reverse scallop on the top and bottom.  When layered with another color it gives the effect of a scallop cut from the lower layer.

I chose this element and adjusted the size in Design Studio to fit an A2 card by entering the height and width in the Shape Properties box.

I made a second layer an inch shorter than the first layer.  To preview possible color combinations, you need to set up separate mats for each layer since all items on the same mat will preview in the same color.  The preview reads from the first layer down so you need to place the elements on the mats in the correct order.

The "baby blessings" sentiment is from the Wild Card cartridge.  The sentiments on Wild Card are sized to fit particular cards so it can be confusing to set the size.  You can check the "Real Size" box and guess at the size you need but I usually just use the "handles" to adjust the shape to suit my project.

The actual pieces that need to be cut for the card are on a page labeled "CUT" so when I go back to the file at a later date I don't have to rethink the process.  Since I wanted the sentiment to be in the same color as the first layer, I cut it from the center which will be covered by the second layer.

Here are all of the pieces for my card.  The base is white cardstock cut at A2 size (half of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of cardstock cut in half on the 11 inch side and folded).  The green layer is cut at exactly 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches to cover the entire card top.

The dotted green layer is from the DCWV "Nana's Nursery-Baby Girl" mat stack.  Mat stacks are sized at 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches (to mat a 4 x 6 inch photo perfectly) so when I trimmed it for the front of the card there was a 1/4 inch remnant strip.  I decided to add it to the inside of the card for a nice surprise.  I adhered it to the card and them trimmed it even with the edge.

I realized that an accent on the inside strip would be nice so I used a Martha Stewart monarch butterfly double punch to punch a butterfly from the area of the lower mat that would be hidden by the top layer.

Here  you can see a peek inside the card.  The pink layer and words are cut from Core'dinations gemstone cardstock which adds a nice subtle sheen to the card.

The top scalloped layered with cute little baby clothes is from the Nana's Nursery - Baby Girl 8 x 8 stack so the scale is slightly larger.  The card just didn't look complete without a finishing touch...

...so I added this cute pink gingham bow.

I have been working on my bow tying - it can be tricky to get just the right degree of perkiness!

This card is very simple and I think you could duplicate it from my description but if you'd like to see how I set up my file you can download it from the link below.  Of course, you can change the papers and sentiment to make a similar card for any occasion.

Baby Blessings Scalloped Front Card

Hello Thursday News - Design Studio Update

Today was "Hello Thursday" and four new Cricut cartridges were announced.  They are all full cartridges.  Three will be available in mid-March  - Give a Hoot, "Just Because" Cards and Preserves.  The fourth cartridge, Straight from the Nest, will be available exclusively from the Home Shopping Network (HSN), also in mid-March.

Here are the cartridge samples from the Cricut.com site:

This is Give a Hoot.  You can see more info on the Circut site at this LINK and download the full cartridge handbook HERE.

 

This is "  Just Because"   Cards.  You can see more information on the Cricut site at this LINK and download the full cartridge handbook HERE.

This is Preserves.  You can see more information on the Cricut site at this LINK and download the full cartridge handbook HERE.

 

This is Straight from the Nest.  You can see more information on the Cricut site at this LINK and download the full cartridge handbook HERE.

It was also announced that Serenade, the cartridge that was bundled with the Wal-Mart Black Friday solid-colored Expressions will be available in mid-April.  This is great news for many people who wanted this cartridge but didn't need a new machine.

Finally, there are four cartridges that will be "retiring" - this is the first time any of the cartridges have been retired.  They are all Solutions cartridges - Blackletter, Christmas, Sans Serif and Street Sign.  

I have Blackletter and Christmas and I like them both a lot.  The Christmas Solutions cartridge has wonderful images, including the swirly tree, intricate ornaments and angels, wintry houses and church and door,window and sign images.  I am surprised to hear that this cartridge would be retired .  If you don't have it, take a good look at the images and, if you like them as much as I do, try to get this cartridge before they are gone.

The Blackletter font is great for Halloween and there are some interesting emblems and shapes that I have used in some designs I have shared.  

 

Here is a LINK to the posts where I used Blackletter for projects.  Two of them are pictured above and below.

I am very happy to see that Provo Craft has been coordinating the announcement of new cartridges and adding all of the information  about the cartridges to website, including the full handbooks, right away.  It used to be so frustrating to try to find all of the images available on the various creative features keys.

The most exciting thing for me is that the updates for Design Studio and the Gypsy are ready simultaneously with the announcement so, even though the cartridges won't be available for about a month, we can start experimenting with the images, making designs and deciding which cartridges we want to add to our Cricut libraries.

To update your Design Studio program to include these cartridges, go to this LINK (you will need to be signed in to the Cricut.com site) and download the Font Pack.  Be sure to SAVE the download and then run it to install the new cartridges.  Your Design Studio software should be closed when you do this.  When you open the program, the new cartridges will be included in the "All by Category" list.

Your Gypsy will update with the new cartridges when you run the Sync program.

Some bloggers were given the cartridges to preview - you can see their projects on these blogs:

Joy Obsessed with Scrapbooking

Melanie  Courtney Lane Designs 

Tammy Creative Critters Cricut Club

Robyn My Pink Stamper

There may be others - these are the ones I know of so far...

I haven't had a chance to really explore these cartridges yet but I do have them in my Design Studio to play with!  Our older son and his girlfriend arrived from California tonight and we are so happy to have them here for a quick visit before they head to Washington D.C. Our snow is already melting and my cold is improving - things are looking up!