Kickin' Off Christmas Blog Hop plus BLOG CANDY!

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This giveaway is now closed and entries are no longer accepted.
The winner will be announced on Nov 29, 2010.

Thanks for playing!

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Welcome to the Kickin' off Christmas Blog Hop, everyone! If you are here from Linda's then you are on the right track. If not, you might want to start from the hop's starting point, by popping by Amy Chomas' blog and hop from there.

The following is the list of participating blogs. Check out the wonderful projects that these talented ladies have in store for you and don't forget to put your name down for some blog candy too!

Amy Chomas:  http://amychomas.blogspot.com/
Amber Holden: http://stayingcrafty.blogspot.com/
Donna Mundinger:  http://donnamundinger-popsicletoes.blogspot.com/
iCopic:  http://blog.icopic.com/
Maria McGuire: http://www.believedreamcreatewithmaria.com/
Stephanie:  http://seastephscreations.blogspot.com/
Penny Duncan:  http://pennyduncancreations.blogspot.com/
Susan Edwards:  http://spartansusscraper.blogspot.com/
Linda:  http://cardsbylinda.blogspot.com/
YOU ARE HERE -->Jin Yong: http://underacherrytree.blogspot.com/  <--
Calypso:  http://calypsocandycraft.blogspot.com/
Dana Ansell:  http://www.svgmtcfiles.blogspot.com/
Lori:  http://inkinglyyours.blogspot.com/
Samantha :  http://thescrapmaster.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I use my Cricut machine and Make-the-Cut software to cut out images from Lettering Delights. This post will tell you more about the philosophy behind this blog. I welcome you to take a look at this blog for card ideas and tutorials.

(Note: Provo Craft/Cricut does not endorse the use of any 3rd party software. Cutting or communicating to any Cricut machine with any 3rd party or non-Cricut endorsed software or device will void the warranty of the Cricut cutting machine. As such, it might be prudent to wait until the warranty expires on your Cricut machine before attempting any  3rd party products).

Today I will be showing you how I made this card with Amy Chomas' Gel Pen and Gel Pen Holder. I used images from Lettering Delights' Trim The Tree graphic set with Make-the-Cut (v.3.0.0 beta).

Using the Pixel Trace tool in MTC, I traced and imported the ornaments images. This is how the layers look like:

 

The pictures above show the completed layered ornament (far left) and the layers that it is made up of. Notice that I saved each colored ornament in it's own page. I have also replaced the chain of the red ornament with a copy from the blue. Since the step for cutting each ornament is the same, I will illustrate with just the green ornament.

The concept is really simple.

Step 1: Replace the cricut blade with the gel pen and holder. 

 

Step 2: Close the eye (Toggle Off) on all the layers except the one that you want to draw. Click on the scissors button to draw.

 

Step 3: Without removing the mat, remove the gel pen and holder and place the blade back into the Cricut machine.

 

Step 4: Open the eye (Toggle On) on the layer that you want to cut and Close the eye on the layer already drawn.

 Step 5: Click on the "Cut" button to cut the layer out.

Continue cutting the other layers out the usual way and then adhere them to a card front.

I embossed the card front with a Cuttlebug ornaments embossing folder and printed the sentiment using MS Word and the LD Cursive font.

I hope that you've enjoyed my little tutorial on how to use Amy's gel pen and holder to draw and cut out. And now, let's go on to.....

Blog Candy!

I had so much fun giving away the i-rock rhinestone setter by Imaginisce that I am offering it here again as blog candy. 

How to Win

You do not have to be a follower to enter in the drawing.

Leave ONE comment on this post to be counted as ONE entry.

If you are a follower of this blog, you may leave a second comment for a total of 2 entries. Just mention some where in the comment that it is your 2nd entry.

Make sure that you leave your email address or any other form of contact so that I may inform you should you win.

Entries to the giveaway will be accepted from now until Sunday, Nov 28, 11:59pm PST. The winner will be chosen by RANDOM.ORG and announced on Monday, Nov 29.

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Thanks again for stopping by my blog. Your next stop on the hop is Calypso's blog. Don't forget to hop all the way to the end at Samantha's blog. A little birdie told me that she has a great blog candy for you. ;-)

Enjoy your blog hopping!