Independence Day

What ?!?!? Hope you weren't expecting to see Will Smith fighting the aliens here! We are actually featuring crafty creations showcasing "Independence Day" ... the holiday!

Not only are all of our creations going to be about Independence Day ... the holiday ... but they will also be using the Artiste and/or Art Philosophy Cricut cartridges available exclusively through a Close to My Heart consultant. If you don't already have a Consultant that you are currently working with, please contact one of the Consultants in our hop with any questions you have!

In this hop, you will see projects featuring this versatile cartridges from many talented crafty ladies! Enjoy our blog hop!

If you have just hopped onto my blog, please start at the beginning at Lucy's blog,  Love 2 Create. If you came from Jennifer of 4 Hearts Scrapbooking  then you are in the right place.

Using Artiste Cricut Collection exclusive to Close To My Heart, I decided to use 3D Objects to make party favors!!  I made an explosion box, hanging centerpiece and an open box to fill with firecrackers or those great light up worms!!

Supplies:  Artiste Cricut Collection, 5 sheets of Colonial White Cardstock, Home of the Brave ~ Military Support Stamp Set, Exclusive Inks in Outdoor Denim, Barn Red and Colonial White, Bonding Memories Glue, Water Brush (paintbrush) and Baker's Twin Harvest assortment.  You will need one bling or button embellishment, I used a Bling Gem (discontinued).

Here is how I made the hanging centerpiece:

On Artiste Booklet, you can find die-cut on Page 57 (letter J) <Shift+3D Object> and change hieght to 2.5", which you can fit 9 to one 12 x 12.  Then cut 20 circles, I always cut more in case some do not turn out after inking and stamping.  So I cut 3 sheets in Colonial White.  I first used Barn Red and the water brush to add "pin-stripe" look to circle, top 2 lines half circle and bottom 3 lines all across.  Then rinse out water brush and empty water and refill.  Using Outdoor Denim Ink Pad, paint in blue area in open area by 2 top red lines. You will need to do this on all 20 circles. Let them dry!!  Finally, grab the star stamp from Home of the Brave stamp set and using Colonial White Ink Pad, dab (don't press hard) ink onto stamp and lightly press on blue area on circle.  Allow time to dry, over night best results!!

To assemble, fold all 3 areas on circle to all 20.  Take two sets of 5 and glue them together, one will become the top and one will become the bottom.  Glue the next 5 on the top portion of the centerpiece and then the next 5, again on the top part of the centerpiece.  You will see 5 areas to glue the bottom 5 pieces against.  Before complete assembly, use Outdoor Denim and Barn Red Twine to run inside the centerpiece in order to hang.  For the bottom part of the centerpiece, I made a "pom-pom" from Twine and shaped it to resemble a tassle.

These projects are fun and easy to make with the Close To My Heart's exclusive Artiste Cartridge Collection.

Your next stop on our Independence Day hop is Penny of  It Makes Total Cents.

Here is the complete lineup in case you get lost along the way:

1. Lucy ~ Love 2 Create   

    2.  Theodora ~ Celebrate Crafts

    3.   Michelle ~ My Flights of Fancy

    4.   Jennifer ~ 4 Hearts Scrapbooking

    5.   Traci ~ Paper Crafting 101

    6.   Penny ~ It Makes Total Cents