Create a Book Blog Hop – Read Across America Day

Mentioned in the Nov. 1st, 2011 Cricut Chirp

My book, “Find It! :The Grocery Store edition”

To celebrate Read Across America Day today, I’ve made a book for my cutie pie nephew.  The theory behind this book is that he can take it to the grocery store and while his Mom is shopping he can point out things from his book that he sees in the store!  I’ve also put the names of the items he is searching for on each page.  Hopefully, he’ll learn to associate those words with the items and will learn to identify/read those words.  YAY!

I used my Sizzix Big Shot along with the Sizzix Bigz XL Heart Pop Up Die to cut hearts out of paper, very thick chip board and acrylic.  The coolest thing about this is that I made use of the heart part of this die that is on one end only.  YAY!  Remember to think about the various ways you can use your tools.

It’s true that you can cut chipboard using your Cricut, but typically that chipboard has to be relatively thin.  I’ve had best results using cereal boxes with the Cricut.  They cut out GREAT.

I used my Cricut Imagine and the Snapshot Everyday cartridge to create those pictures.  I cut them out in scalloped circle shapes with my Imagine because I was originally going to use them for something else.  I decided they’d be great in this book!  So, I cut them all down using the very same Sizzix die I talked about above.  Then I taped them to each piece of cardstock using a Xyron tape runner and my ATG (when I ran out of Xyron tape).

I used my Gypsy and the Sesame Street Font cartridge to create these words.  I cut them out in vinyl to save me time.  How does that save time?  Vinyl has an adhesive back, so all I had to do was peel it up using transfer tape (my preferred method) and stick it to the pages that I had already laminated.

Want to know all about using vinyl in your Cricut? Check out my Cricut Vinylology DVD!

I layered vinyl for the cover.  It’s easy!  That’s also something I cover in my Cricut Vinylology DVD. I really love that Sesame Street font.  It’s easy to identify each letter.  That’s so important for a young reader.  My little nephew is not quite four, so I have to keep these things in mind for him.

I used my YourStory to laminate all of the pages inside this book.  I buy the Universal Clear Laminating Pouches in a box of 100 for around $10 from Amazon.  They work GREAT in my Your Story!!  Plus, I have so many that I don’t mind making a mistake OR laminating everything I come in contact with, LOL!  For the book back and cover, I cut a clear acetate heart that I didn’t glue down.

Here’s a Bingo game I made with my Your Story.

Here’s a video about How to Laminate using the Your Story.

I used my Crop A Dile Big Bite to punch a hole through the acetate, thick chipboard and the laminated paper.  The Crop A Dile is sooo useful!  Last night when I was working on this book, DH came into the craft cave. (Super Joy’s Fortress of Solitude – I’m sure Superman doesn’t mind me stealing that name.) Anyway, DH needed me to bind a super thick geek report for him.  I was too busy to use my Cinch or Bind it All and he didn’t need that much binding anyway, so Crop A Dile Big Bite to the rescue!!  I LOVE that thing.

Here’s a video about how to use the Crop A Dile and the Crop A Dile Big Bite.

Mmmm…Cookies… Peanut Butter cookies are my favorite.

Ahhh…chocolate…  Shoot!  I forgot to take a photo of the flowers page.  Well, it was pretty. 😉

Alrighty!  That’s it!  I hope you enjoyed my book. 🙂

Let’s do a GIVE AWAY!!  Leave a comment and I will use Random.org to choose one winner on March 7, 2011 to win a $10 Amazon.comgift card. I chose that gift in honor of Read Across America Day, but you don’t have to buy a book.  You can buy just about anything at Amazon! 🙂

AND THE WINNER IS:

sewblue50 Says:
March 2nd, 2011 at 3:38 PM e

Hey Joy, what a great idea for your nephew to have in the grocery store. I know it was a lot of work. But the book is adorable!!  i love Amazon!

Time for you to get hoppin!  Go check out these wonderful crafters next!

Joy – https://joyslife.com
Tammy – http://tammyjennings.blogspot.com
Rosy – http://sweetdelightspapernmore.blogspot.com
Jin – http://www.underacherrytree.com
Melissa – http://melissa-moecreations.blogspot.com
Amanda – http://amandascraftsandmore.blogspot.com
Ruthie – http://www.septemberninth.blogspot.com
Martha – http://pattisscrapingtime.blogspot.com/
Scraps2Treasures – http://scraps2treasure.blogspot.com/
Suzanne – http://cricutcraftingrammy.blogspot.com/
Sandra – http://365daysofcricut.blogspot.com/
Becky – http://www.cricutinmyclassroom.blogspot.com/
Misty – http://www.abusyplace.blogspot.com/
Lisa – http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com/

Have a Hoppy Day!!  Hope to See you here tomorrow for Design Team Thursday!