Let's Learn Cricut with Cara

May Let's Learn Cricut Project Club Whisper is here!

well according to the tracking numbers ...they are on their way!  Whispers will ship as soon as they are in the door!  Order your May Cricut Club Whisper

Wait...you are not expecting one?  There is still time.....You don't know what the Club Whisper is? Well let me fill you in.  Each month I choose a specific cartridge.  This month, Art Philosophy is our cartridgeg.  This one has soooo many options!  I know it is an expensive cartridge but it is jam packed!  The Whisper will take you through the features and options of the cartridge and gives you three projects using just this cartridge.  The monthly kit includes the Whisper and you supply the materials etc.  It is similar to my cartridge classes that I teach online in content.  This month's projects:

How to Save and Share a Gypsy file

I put together a short video to help  you share your Gypsy files (or MINE!) with each other!  I also have added a link to  download a Gypsy file that I wanted to share with you too...I know it is a Christmas project but it is never too early to start your holiday projects!  Let me know if there are any questions.  Hugs, Cara

 

Free Download

My National Scrapbook Day Celebration

I am so excited to share this with you ...I have been crossing my fingers and holding my breath because I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull this off LOL but I did it ...actually you all had a part in it too!  I hoped to have it ready by Saturday...and I did!  Phew!

A brand new Whisper based on YOUR comments.  Somethings I can't fix ...wish I had some input at Provo Craft but sadly ...they are doing things on their own without me!  But there are some of your pet peeves and Cricut crazies that I can help with.  So I have put together a brand new Whisper that features a problem and a solution on each page.  They are heading to the printers and will be ready to mail next week.

Oh but that is not all... I am going to host another Ustream event on Saturday evening showing off this brand new Whisper.  I will show you each of the pages and go through the problems you shared with me and how I answered them in the new Whisper.  

This Whisper is called 

Top Ten Reasons Our Cricuts Drive us Buggy:  The Bugtopia Whisper
If you have been around for a while you will remember BUGTOPIA... a place where Cricuts and owners are happily buzzing along together!  

Shhhh... Whisper Give Away in the Post a Cricut Peeve Contest

Yes, in honor of National Scrapbook Day I am having a Whisper Give Away!  Starting TODAY... I will be giving away Whisper Bundles.  How to enter?  

Tell me WHAT MAKES YOU CRAZY when YOU TRY TO USE YOUR CRICUT .... what are the things that you constantly struggle with when you sit down to use your Cricut or Gypsy.  I am working on a special new Whisper that covers common troubles and I want to be sure I cover ALL the things that make you want to throw your Cricut out the window.  I want you to love these lil bugs!  

So ... post your biggest Cricut pet peeve and there will be WINNERS!  The contest will run through Sunday May 6th at midnight eastern time.  Everytime you "post a peeve", your name will go into the drawing. I will be giving away 10 Whispers!  

Want more chances?  Share this contest on your blog, Facebook,Twitter or Pinterest and tell me about it and you will receive another entry.  

MAKE sure you include your email so I can reach you.  Everyone that enters ... YES EVERYONE ... will receive a free "How to cut CRICUT BORDERS" project download from me so make sure I have your email.    This is going to be fun!  

Oh...What is a Whisper?

 

Smash Books in Review

For those that missed our Smash Book chat last night, I messed up the recording option last night too! But I just did a quick review of what we covered ... do over! this morning. You can check it out. The link to my channel is : http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cara-miller See you soon! Hugs, Cara

 

Some of the places I talked about last night:

My blog (of course!) www.caramiller.com

The online classroom I teach in:  www.mycreativeclassroom.com

My upcoming Smash Book Class: http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com/course/info.php?id=499

My cruises:  www.cruiseandcrop.com

To find my favorite board books?  Of course in my store http://www.caramiller.com/cara/store.html  

I buy them in bulk and can get better shipping.  

Looking forward to my first Ustream chat tonight

I am excited to try out Ustream tonight..excited and nervous at the same time!  I am hoping all the technology part works but I also hope I don't look or sound silly!  I have all my Smash Book stuff piled up next to my computer in my studio and can't wait to chat with you all about these fun new books.  They are new products but not really a new idea.  

I will be sharing my thoughts on them and how I am planning to use my Smash Books.  I will be previewing my upcoming Smash Book class that will open on My Creative Classroom in May.  

I have a few new Cricut classes coming  up too and will talk about those.  If you are not able to join us LIVE, no worries (well I hope no worries!  I plan to record tonight's chat and will post the link here later tonight.  Yes we will have prizes tonight and I will be sure to save a few for those of you that can't make it but want to check us out later.  See you soon!  Hugs, Cara

HERE IS MY CHANNEL:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cara-miller  

U Stream here I come!

Yikes!  This is a new one for me....I am hosting a UStream event this weekend!  I have attended many but never hosted.  I tested the software and the web/cam etc yesterday with the Shih Tzus...they were impressed!  Marley actually fell asleep but Gertie seemed to like it.  I on the other hand, I want to know why I look older and heavier on my screen?!  I think I need a new web camera...right?  (wink wink) Nope... I certainly feel fabulous and that is really all that matters.  Any whooooo I decided that I really wanted to chat with all of you about projects and upcoming classes and Ustream seemed like a perfect opportunity.  I loved my time on True Scrap last weekend and that has pushed me to try something new.  I have an event planned for this weekend...Saturday night at 7 eastern time.  It may not work for some of you but you can come back and watch it later (so they tell me!) I have been working on the samples for my Smash Book class and thought I would share those.  They are not completed beautiful works of art ...they are what Smash Books are "works in progress"  and they may never be DONE but I am really enjoying the process.  If any of you have taken classes with me before you know that my classes are never about THE PROJECT but they are about learning the process.  I want you to be able to take what I share with you and go off on your own creating YOUR project now that you have all the dirty details down and won't be frustrated by the mechanics of the project.  Things like how do I get my Cricut to cut things that will fit in MY book?  How to hinge my pages?  What do I need to get started?  Do I need to buy special supplies?  blah blah blah...I bet you have tons of questions and would love to chat about this stuff with someone who thinks it is exciting too.  Seriously, Marley is really not interested in Smash Books and could care less what theme I choose!  (you know Marley is one of my three Shih Tzus right?) 

I am excited about this and can't wait to chat with all of you.  I might even have some Whispers to give away too!  

Here is my Ustream Channell (I feel a bit like Oprah!!!) http://www.ustream.tv/channel/cara-miller  and I hope some of you can stop by ...just to say HI!  See you soon.  Hugs, Cara

Any Project Life-ers here?

Have you heard about Project Life?  I have been following Becky Higgins for years.  We met years ago when I was teaching at Creating Keepsakes events.  Although I remembered her, I am sure she does not really remember me!  I am not the scrapbook superstar she is! But I loved her style then and I am intriqued by her new venture...Project Life.  This past weekend, I was teaching at True Scrap and there was a terrific interview with Becky sharing her Project Life with us.  

You know I am in love with Cricut so of course I had to see how Project Life and the Cricut could go together.  Project Life starts with a binder, a "core kit" and a big pack of Page protectors.  The basic idea is that you have smaller pockets in the page protectors and pop a photo, a journaling card etc into the pockets.  Simple yet beautiful and can be as detailed and intricate as you wish.  So of course I decided that creating detailed and layered Cricut embellishments could certainly add to the Project life experience.  I wondered if anyone else has tried the Project Life method and how you are finding it works for you.  Love to hear your experiences.  Hugs, Cara

A bit about ... Smash Books

When I first heard about Smash Books from K and Company ... I thought I NEED these!
 Finally a product that helps preserve my memories the way I think!  I have been creating scrapbooks for years, long before they looked like the gorgeous scrapbooks you think of today.  Back in the day my scrapbooks were a spot to collect memories, not just photos.  I hate to admit it but digital photography did not exist "back then" and you had film with 12 or maybe 24 photos per roll.  Ok admit it, you remember that too!  So I had lots of stuff to add to my scrapbooks...sadly I  used tape to hold these "memories" so as I look at them now many pages look empty as the lumpy stuff has fallen off my black paged books.  Photos had those triangle photo corners.  Ahhh the memories.  

So now you understand why I was excited when I first saw Smash Books.  I bought one of course and I have been "saving it" for just the right event.  You do that too...you collect products and hold on to them waiting for the perfect time to use them.  

The stash continues!

So...yes I love the Smash Book concept but I am not always thrilled with the look of the K and Company style and I have so many beautiful papers and ribbons and embellishments and oh ya CRICUT CARTRIDGES! I decided I could "do it myself" and use my love of mini books and smash books to create a bunch of blank books ready to add my memories.

Of course I took this idea to the next level and have created a class for My Creative Classroom: Let's Make Our Own Smash Books that starts on May 7th

I used Smash Books in the title of the class so that you would know what I was talking about but I really think of these books as SQUOOSH Books cuz I am trying to squoosh as much into them as possible!  I will be posting some sneak peek mini projects this week to highlight my fun Squoosh (or Smash) Books.  

I had such a good time teaching at  True Scrap  this weekend and I loved chatting with all of you.  I have always been afraid of doing a Live Chat but I am hooked!  I am planning a Squoosh Book event to kick off this new class.  It is really different from other Cricut classes I ahve taught in the past.  I am excited and can't wait to chat with you about it.  Stay tuned for details but I will be coming to Squoosh Book and chat with you soon...and we can wear the comfy clothes !  

My time at True Scrap

I just finished my class at True Scrap and I have to say it was so much fun!!! I loved chatting with all of you this afternoon.  I had so much fun sharing my Cricut Love.  Hugs, Cara

We talked about a couple of things I wanted to share with you here:  

My Classes to Go and MY WHISPERS  http://www.caramiller.com/cara/store.html

A link to see the handbooks on your screen

http://www.cricut.com/information/cartridge_library.aspx

My favorite spot to find a specific image.  Where can I find a violin?  

http://www.mycutsearch.com/

Where I teach online classes:

http://www.mycreativeclassroom.com

and I am sorry but my chipboard source has disappeared?!  I will post a new source here as soon as find them.  I am so sorry.  I have purchased from them for years! :( 

 

A bit about me...time for sharing

This has been a time of changes for me and a time of great blessings.  Many of my posts here are about my career and my Cricuts and every now and then Ithrow in a little bit about me.  This is one of those times. There have been huge changes in my life that at first glance may have appeared to be bad...but in reality have been so wonderful I pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  This post is really not about Cricuts at all so if that is why you are here, just delete this one and come on back tomorrow.  I don't share this much about me all the time...promise!  

I have always wanted to be a kindegarten teacher...went to college in order to make that possible many years ago.  But life had other plans.  I raised 5 wonderful children, teaching in my own personal classroom, as a stay at home mom.  I was fortunate to be able to spend their early years at home.  When it was time to go to work, I choose a job that worked best for my family.  I stayed at that job for 20 years. I never realized that I was not happy or that there were any other options.  When that job was no longer available last fall, it was time for dramatic change.  With the support of my amazing family, change has certainly happened and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for their support and assistance. I never could have done any of this with out them.  

As you know, we are settled in to our amazing new home in our much simpler life.  And... the best part?  I wake up every morning to do what I love...teach.  I did not realize how unhappy I was until I was free to follow my passion.  Sometimes we are so wrapped up in the daily details that we don't take time to breathe and see the big picture.  But "everything happens for a reason" and the Lord had better plans for me.  I just had to listen...and I am now.

So as I settle in to my new "work day" and have time to think and plan, I find I have so many classes I want to offer and so many Whispers to create.  The note card method has always been so helpful to me.  I have always used them to help me remember the important details of things I want to learn.  

Some of my plans include:

I have always wanted to offer a month long adventure with daily projects.  I am planning to run this here this summer!  

New Whispers: Copic Whisper, Cameo Whisper, and many Cricut Cartridge Whispers!  Such as ....Life is a Beach, all about Disney, Paper Dolls, Graphically Speaking, Designer Calendar ...oh there are so many!

I am taking time to plant my garden,enjoy my family,  sit with my husband in our rocking chairs, and yup...just take time to breath.  

I feel like all of you are friends and I wish we sitting together but I wanted to share a bit about me with all of you.  Life is a blessing and I am so grateful for all that I have been given.  Hugs to you all!  Cara