Cricut Chore Chart as Kid's Daily Schedule

Well, I did it. I finished it and here it is.

Yes, I know. These aren't so much chores as things they are expected to do. Maybe I am the one who thinks of these as chores! The boys certainly like it and can understand it after talking them through it only once. Besides, they are not ready for the chores around the house - least I don't want them doing them when mommy and daddy can do it better and with more efficiency!

The overall measurements are around 22 x 11.5. It's backed by black foamcore board for durability and to carry it from one location to another (they are very, very forgetful). I used Design Studio to map out the cutting arrangements. One thing I like to do for each layer or even each section is to write in the color on the mat via a font cartridge. Just before I cut I delete the defining text since I don't need the word "blue" for the project.

I used my Gypsy to design/browse initially, but executed in DS. I take the G to bed with me and use it 'til I can't see the screen anymore (yes, it's a small screen, but there's nothing like the G on the market, right?). There are a few things designed on it that are ready to go when the mood strikes.

Cricut Chore Chart Cartridge

Fancy Cat

Here's what the print and cut cat looks like after a meeting with glitter and pens:

Black threaded buttons make the eyes and the die cut is popped up with foam tape.

I found this video to be straightforward about the print and cut method with the Cricut:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8OM9_ArI-M

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Printing and Cutting Die Cuts

Provo Craft's new Cricut product, the Imagine, is out and it's a veritable circus in the attention it is receiving.
Joyslife.com posted an interesting idea. She shows us how to make your own print and cut like the Imagine machine. It's a healthy project in the amount of work that one must go through to produce a single die cut. Whew! But I knew that I could do it. Here's my try at it:

Joy used repositionable adhesive, obviously I did not because I don't have such a thing in my arsenal. What do I think? Well, it's a different way of crafting for sure. It could eat into the sweet little embellishments like Jolie's or, perhaps more accurately, SB paper companies. Maybe. There are so many factors to weigh in on such a purchase.

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  How much do you buy embellies like Jolie's or My Mind's Eye or Creative Imaginations? What's the likelyhood that you'd spend $400 on such goodies over the course of a few years?
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  What is the learning curve on the Imagine versus learning about layers and doing it on your current machine with a printer? What are you willing to spend on that learning curve?
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  What will ink, paper and other consumables cost you in the long run? Is it worth the money to avoid shopping around for the perfect embellishment?
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  Then the obvious: how often would you use it anyway? More than your current machine?

It was a task to create the image above. And then I'd still have to trim around the edges. However, I am excited to start adding my own touch to it with pens or stickles. Maybe, if the need arises, I'll do it again. But first I'll have to get over my feelings that weak tape is lame and seek out repositionable adhesive!

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