Monday, January 31, 2011
Fairy Cut Winner Announced!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Getting ready for some football!

I've been spending time learning the new Fairy Cut software and also working on a special post for next weekend's "Feel The Love" Blog Hop hosted by Jaime at Glitter Stamps and Paper Oh My! My project's a surprise, wait 'til you see ... check back next weekend!
In the meantime, I want you to see what I made yesterday using Fairy Cut software, easy-peasy, in preparation for next weekend's Super Bowl.
I Google-searched the team logos for the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, and saved the .jpg files I found. Next,using Fairy Cut, I created a new file for each of the team's logos and then in minutes, separated the colors/items, rasterized and cut the elements. I ran each element through my Kyron sticker maker for quick/easy adhesion. In very little time, I had six each of the logos you see here -- each is about 4" wide.
I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with these yet. I may laminate them to use as coasters during the game; I may enclose them in a party invitation; or, I may make a banner or some sort of table decoration with them.
What are your ideas? Have you any craft cut for the Super Bowl?
Don't forget: 1. Enter your comment to the NEXT post, introducing Fairy Cut, for a chance to win a free Fairy Cut license, a $99 value.
2. Next Friday (2/4/11) starts CardMonkey's Fairy Cut Fridays. On these days, I'll show projects cut using Fairy Cut. Comments made on Fairy Cut Fridays will be tabulated and every month (until further notice), I'll be giving away another Fairy Cut license to a loyal follower, chosen randomly for the prize. Each month, you can earn up to four chances to win this prize by leaving one comment on every Fairy Cut Friday post.
3. I'm a Blog Stop for the "Feel the Love" Blog Hop 2/5 and 2/6/2011. I'm working on quite a post/project for this event. Look for it, coming soon!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Fantastic Fairy Cut: Expand Your Design and Cutting Capabilities Easily! AND Here is A Chance to WIN the program!



By using some of the available software products with your Cricut, you are no longer limited to the images only available on cartridges. You won't have to buy any cartridges other than the first one that came with your machine. And once you learn the software, and link your computer by cable to your Cricut instead of (or in addition to) your printer, your scrapbooking cuts are limited only by your imagination and your time.
For about a year or so now, I have been using, first, Sure Cuts A Lot ... and then Make The Cut. Both were relatively simple to use and have pros and cons. NOW I've discovered "Fairy Cut" software designed with Cricut users in mind. I first saw it mentioned on a European scrapbooking website; intrigued, I sent an e-mail to Fairy Cut offering to use it and review it here for you. My e-mail was promptly answered ... wow! ...
I downloaded Fairy Cut, and within 5 minutes I was cutting my first card, and posted it to my Valentine's Day Cards Blog Hop! The cards I am showing here are the cards I made one morning, from scratch to finish -- including learning the software -- in less than 4 hours.



My honest opinion is that FAIRY CUT is the easiest-to-use, intuitive programs of all the Cricut cutting software available on the market today. I've used them all and prefer Fairy Cut.
Fairy Cut is compatible with the Cricut Personal, Cricut Create, and Cricut Expression; it is not yet compatible with Cricut Imagine but (and here's a BIG plus for me), Fairy Cut has incorporated a Print and Cut feature, with and without crop marks, so you can easily use your regular printer and Cricut cutter without having to invest in a Cricut Imagine or its expensive cartridges!
Fairy Cut's program is built on same "platform" as the software used with professional graphic programs like those that run Pazzles Inspiration and Bosscut Studio. It imports .wpc and .pdf images alike. And it has a "freehand" design feature, correction tools, and a library of images that make creating unique images EASILY a snap. REALLY!!
Here's another plus: Fairy Cut's tutorial videos are some of the best out there. You can access them via http://www.fairycut.com/, or through YouTube (Search: Fairy Cut Software).
On my blog here, I've posted on a separate page my favorite Fairy Cut video; you can find it by going to the top right corner of my blog where it says "Requested Tutorials". The second one down is the YouTube link to the video that shows how to make a card with lattice patterns. Truly very easy to follow.
Another Fantabulous Asset: My NEXT favorite thing that Fairy Cut has done is provided a full PDF version of its training manual. You can download the manual by clicking the Fairy Cut logo at the top of this blogpost. It's 70 pages ... very detailed with lots of illustrations that are very easy to follow. It's a terrific reference tool to this VERY powerful program that allows the inner creative Goddess (or Fairy!) come out in each of us.
And LASTLY ... I always save the best for last! ... Fairy Cut has given me one free software license (a $99 value) to give away to one of my loyal followers!
TO WIN this great blog candy:
1. Submit a comment to this post, answering this question: What image would you most like to cut that you haven't found on a Cricut cartridge?
...and...
2. Be or become a follower to this CardMonkey blogsite. I plan on making my FairyCut cards a regular feature on Fridays -- "Fairy Cut Fridays" ... and I hope it will be interesting and intriguing to you. Come along with me while I uncover all of the possibilities in this great new software.
One follower will be chosen at random by Fairy Cut, using Random.org, on Monday, January 31, so please leave your comment not later than Sunday 1/30 at midnight Eastern Standard Time. Winner will be announced here and contacted via e-mail to access your License Number and Access Code at Fairy Cut.
THANK YOU to William Rodier at Fairy Cut for making this gift available to one of my followers, and for providing me my copy of the program so I could use and review it for you. Guillaume, j'adore ce logiciel!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Blog Candy Winners Announced!

First, thank you to all who participated in the Valentine's Day Cards Blog Hop. It was the first hop I hosted, and it was such great fun, I'm sure it won't be my last. (If you'd like to be in my next hop in February, please leave a comment here, or e-mail me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.)
Now, first I'll let you know the results of the poll to determine which of my 16 cards respondents liked the best:
1. Love Tree ... run away winner. And (gasp!) it was the easiest one to make. To make it, I used the "Fairy Cut" Cricut-cutting software that was recently introduced. I will be writing up a review of the software next week and posting to this blog; a commenter to that post will WIN a free copy of the Fairy Cut software license (a $99 value) that was given to me by the manufacturer to award to one of my loyal followers. So stay tuned, you'll not want to miss this one!
Next, allow me to divulge the BIGGEST WINNER here, and that's ME! I earned 34 new followers as a result of this blog, and I've gone to each of those follower's blogs and am now following them as a result, too. Through YOU, I gain so much information and inspiration. THANK YOU for this wonderful community.
NOW for my Blog Candy Winners:
I have a Valentine's Day basket for each of three winners. Each basket contains a new-in-box Cricut cartridge, a DCWV Calendar kit, a package of three large bottles of Stickles, a package of Valentine's-ready glitter paper, and an extra little treat from my stash. What a goodie basket!
The winners, chosen at random, are:

Angela R - scraptillyadrop.blogspot.com
Anna - mamawann.blogspot.com
I will send each of you lucky winners an e-mail. You have a week to reply by e-mail to me (click the e-mail heart next to your name, above or write to cardmonkey@comcast.net) to send me your USPS address and I'll get your gift pack out promptly. Thank you for playing along!
One more winner: I gave those bloggers who served as Hop Stops an extra opportunity to win a special prize: one of CardMonkey's custom-made Cricut Cozy Covers. By random pick, the winner is Shawn Mosch of http://www.craftychicsblog.blogspot.com/, and her site http://www.cricutsearch.com/. Congrats, Shawn! Please send me your USPS address ASAP, and let me know what text you'd like embroidered on your cover.
Again, I sincerely appreciate your participation in the blog hop, either as a "stop" or a hopper. Your comments on my creative work here inspire me to do better things ... your company keeps me warm in the winter chill. Being linked to your blog stimulates new ideas. :-)
....Til next time, stay calm and carry on!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
It's time for a little ♥

If you'd like to revisit any of the hop stops, I will leave up the addresses of our Hop Stops for a little while longer:
1. Ellen (Me!)
http://www.cardmonkey-business.blogspot.com/
2. Shawn (CricutSearch!) http://www.craftychicsblog.blogspot.com/
3. Elaine http://www.expressionsbyelaine.blogspot.com/
4. Angie http://www.atuttletime.blogspot.com/
5. Darlene http://www.talesoftayandbay.blogspot.com/
6. Taylor http://www.southernscrapper2010.blogspot.com/
7. Shawnee http://www.quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
8. Nikki http://www.theglamoroussideofscrapping.blogspot.com/
9. Sarah http://www.simplyshaddock.blogspot.com/
10. Jaime http://www.glitterstampsandpaperohmy.com/
11. Sarah http://www.sarahvaitstamps.blogspot.com/
12. Liz http://www.skittles-and-scrapbooks.blogspot.com/
13. Selina http://www.mudpiereality.blogspot.com/
14. Angie http://www.luvs2scrapbook75.blogspot.com/
I hope you ♥'d the journey.
Friday, January 21, 2011
UPDATE: Just my 16 ♥ Cards ...


Cricut "Love Struck" Cartridge




Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sweet eats

If you are not a follower, you MUST join up. Can you believe how luscious these cookies are -- and Diane writes that she made them using a Cricut cartridge?! I am clueless as to which one, so I'll be watching for her answer!
In the meantime, let these cookies remind you that this weekend will be our Valentine's Day Cards Blog Hop. Scroll down to older posts for more info, or click on the cute cupid picture in the top right of this blog. Looking forward to seeing you back then, starting on Saturday at 7 a.m.!
And when you're not blog hopping, MAKE COOKIES!!!!
Monday, January 3, 2011
WINNERS, WINNERS!!

Sunday, January 2, 2011
The LAST card of this post...

CardMonkey's New Year's THANK YOU CARDS Blog Stop Summary ... so far!
You've been very patient with me -- indulgent, even! -- while I unload the many ideas I have for Thank You Cards. So far, I've posted six this weekend, and have offered BLOG CANDY for each of them. In case you haven't been following along, allow me to update. Later today, I may be posting additional cards and candy -- I am having WAY too much fun on this hop! THANK YOU (!!!) for participating!
To see any of these cards better, click it to enlarge the picture.






To win any of the Blog Candy shown here:
1. Post a comment to any of CardMonkey's postings for the New Year's THANK YOU CARDS Blog Hop (this is the fourth, so scroll down if you're looking for instructions on making the cards shown above.) Please indicate which card you're commenting on, and which (if any) blog candy you'd like.
2. Yes, you can post more than one comment. Right now, you can get up to six entries ... and you can be in the drawing for each of the Blog Candies. Please note: To be fair and fun, you can win only one of the blog candies. If you're posting for more than one flavor of candy, you might want to indicate your first preference of candy in case your name is picked more than once. Luck happens, you know!
3. If you've posted comment(s) before, yes, you're already in the drawings. Don't worry, I'm keeping track of all the comments and participants on a spreadsheet. Drawings will be random. All of your comments are sincerely appreciated!! YOU inspire ME!
4. You'll get one extra entry if you either become or if you already are a CardMonkey follower. Please indicate such in your comment. You do not need to be a follower to win ... I only want you if you want me, LOL! ... but it does improve your chances of winning.
5. For each comment you post, you'll have one entry into the Grand Poohbah Blog Candy -- a CardMonkey custom-made Cricut Cozy Cover like the one shown in my original Blog Posting. You pick the colors and words you'd like embroidered; design is mine. A winner of blog candy may also win the Cozy Cover, no fears!
6. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you! I'll do my best to hunt you down, and I will post the winners on Tuesday (drawing is Monday 1/3/11). If I don't catch up with you within 10 days, I'll have to draw another winner.
Continue on with the Hop: Your next stop is to the amazing blog of Miss Adri, at Ma Cherie Creations. There are more than 30 stops along the way (I think I'm the craziest stop along the way, thankfully!!), so if you get lost, please go to the start of the Hop at Jennifer's Crafty Card Gallery. And thank you (!!!) Jennifer for arranging this weekend's fun hop!!
AND FINALLY ... I am arranging an "I ♥ YOU Valentine's Day Blog Hop" for the weekend of January 22-23. If you would like to participate as a Blog Stop -- even if you've never done it before! -- please send me an e-mail at cardmonkey@comcast.net. I will be sending out all the particulars as we get closer to the weekend.
Fondly,
Ellen (aka The CardMonkey)
Updated - Now it's DAY 3 on the New Year's THANK YOU CARD Blog Hop!

Card 2: Sweet and Simple; Blog Candy: An embellishment grab-bag
Card 3: With Gratitude Floral; Blog Candy: A dozen handmade flowers
Card 4: Masculine thanks; Blog Candy: Cricut ZOOBALLOO cartridge

Saturday, January 1, 2011
New Year's THANK YOU CARDS Blog Hop - Day 2:New Year's Day!


Card 1: You Made My Day; Blog Candy - A dozen handmade brads
Card 2: Sweet and Simple; Blog Candy - An embellishment grab-bag
Card 3: With Gratitude Floral; Blog Candy - A dozen or so handmade flowers
And now....

