Cricut Mini Review

Lets take a look at the Cricut Mini

For those taking the next step into a cutting machine that cuts shapes and alphabets, apertures and 3d projects, this mini machine packs a big punch.

It’s smart looking so no worries about having it on show, it also sits neatly under my computer desk. the easy step by step wallet that comes with it guides you all of the way through the set up process and even guides you through your first cut on the machine.

Open view, this has a physical cartridge loaded into the machine, You can however buy the download versions to use with the software for the cutter (Cricut Craft Room) and they even include patterns in your purchase.

Before you know it you can be a wiz kid on the Cricut, designing layouts and cards.

This was my first try at it myself, I made a lattice cut out to overlay a card.

It was so easy to design too, I just loaded the Cricut Craft Room used a shape that I got free with the machine did some copy and pasting and there you have it.

Simple even for a beginner. It even allows you to save your layout for to use at a later time.

All in all I have to say this is an impressive piece of machinery, it cuts quickly and also cleanly and the icing on the cake is that it is relatively quiet.

If I could make a change to it the only change that I would want is to be able to import my own cutting project into it but I believe that they may have this in the pipeline for future updates.

Flowers by Post

It’s always a joy to receive flowers, even more so when you are least expecting them.

I received from Interflora today and they really are beautiful, I even got Chocolates with them.

I took a close up picture of the velvety deep red roses which make the most Lovely Gifts

I know you are all itching to know who sent them to me but I’m keeping schtum.

Maybe it’s my secret admirer (wink)

How I Roll–Colouring

It’s been a funny old day (Sunday) and I’ve been playing with some colouring techniques, I started my day at 05:45 feeling quite groggy and a little under the weather, so many germs going freely at the moment to anyone who will have them, it started with a headache on Saturday that just wouldn’t go, by Saturday evening I was taking pain killers and taking myself off to bed.

So at early o’clock I started colouring with my FlexMarkers by Letraset, I’m loving the new colours in these, I also love the brush tip that allows the ink to stay wetter longer allowing better blending, I also love that the colours are true and not wishy washy.

So this is what I was colouring. A selection from Mo’s Digital Pencil 

Now as I was a little unwell I ended up back in bed and staying there until around 13:30. I have a wonderful man who made dinner and the went shopping for the weekly groceries while i took more medication and just played with images.

I decided to use Pastel Pencils on top of the FlexMarkers colouring I‘d done, I love that you can do this, I often do it with prisma pencils but I decided to invest in some Faber Castell Pastel Pencils and I love them. I use them with paper blending stumps by Derwent and I’ll thing you’ll agree that they work well.

This is the Tin of pencils that I invested in.

Feeling a little better now but not managed to make a card I thought you would like to see what I’d been up to.

What to Draw

There’s nothing better that sitting with a big sheet of blank paper and a pen or pencil, especially if you are young and care free, the imagination just takes over and before you know it you are in your own action packed day dream.

What to Draw from Mo’s Digital Pencil 

I coloured the image with FlexMarkers by Letraset using some of the newly released colours, the Sunset red is a must have, it really makes other reds pop.

You can see the concentration in his little face can’t you?

Snow Stops Progress

I’m blogging today rather than getting off my butt and pedalling on my bike.

The snow has stopped me for the time being, although very pretty in parts it is not exactly what you would call ideal cycling material.

Last week I did very well, I track my progress on an app called Endomondo, it is great having it all logged because it pushes you to go a little further on your next journey.

Saturday was a stickler however because I took my bike to be set up correctly for me so we were late getting out and because the roads were busy we decided to go off road. I guess you can say too much too soon, the road was too bumpy, I wasn’t sure when I got back if I felt sick because of the pain in my back or sick because I am so unfit and totally out of breath. Too much up bank for a novice like me. I’ve added screen prints from my tracker you can click on them for a bigger picture.

Saturday 12 January

So Sunday was different, we managed to get out a little earlier and decided to go the coastal route. I knew I had to pop to my mams after the bike ride and half way along the coast road Chris suggested we could cycle there. I manage to cycle most of the route but had to get off for a short while to catch my breath off the incline and to pass through the railway crossings, I did however get back on and pedal the rest of the way to my Mams where I got to rest and have a glass of water.

Sunday 13th January first part.

So the reason I went to my Mams was I had been having problems with ear ache after I’d been out cycling, I get it when out for a walk or out shopping so I needed something to protect my ears but something that would still allow me to hear.

I put out a please help on Facebook with a knitting pattern to which a couple of nice people are coming to my rescue, mean while my Mam sat up all night making me this. you can see my Mam peeping in the background.

Now although this did the trick, I truly wanted Grey are Black so that is would look like part of the helmet, but at least for now I have a solution.

The knitting pattern came from here

So back to my cycle ride home from Mams.

So all in all I clocked up over 4 miles on the Sunday.

Now come on weather, sort yourself out, I need to keep this up.