Happy Birthday 12x12 Layout -- Elmo's Party

I was super excited to find a brand new challenge site this week...  I discovered it while I was 'visiting' a new blogger-buddy of mine (Gloria from Girlia's Cards)...  The new challenge site, Celebrate The Occasion, invites participants to create projects that celebrate special occasions throughout the year!!  I hope you'll stop over to see the amazing Design Team and participants creations!!  Here's my entry for CTO's Challenge #1 (create a project with the theme "Kid's Birthday")...

I created this colorful 2-page 12x12 layout using the Elmo's Party Cricut Cartridge...  I've had this cartridge for almost a year and I've never cut one thing with it until today!!  Since my goal is to use each and every cartridge I own this year :) I thought this was a great way to start!

My background paper is from the Creative Memories Cheerful Power Palette collection...  If you are interested in seeing more from this line, please click HERE...  If you do not have a Creative Memories consultant and would like to order any of the CM products I've used, you can have them direct shipped by clicking and shopping HERE...

I did use my Gypsy for this layout...  Elmo is cut at 6" -- I did cut all the layers, including the shadow since I wanted it to stand out from the pattern of the page.  The birthday cake was cut at 4"; however, I did not cut the layer to add the face.  I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder and Perfect Paisley folder to add some texture to the cake layers.  I also used my Sizzix Strips folder on the candles -- Since I cut the candles in white, I added some color with my Creative Memories markers.

My "Happy Birthday" banner was created by welding only the shadow...  After cutting the main letter (did I mention that this font is 'hidden' in the Elmo's Party cartridge???  How cool that EVERYTHING you need to create a whole project can be found in this ONE cartridge?!) in red, apple green, and royal blue, I used my Sizzix Polka Dots folder for texture (I also used this folder for my photo mats -- It's sized a little larger than most folders, so it's perfect for this!).  The banner itself is a little tricky...  Creative Memories used to have this fabulous decorative trimmer that I still love -- And this banner is cut by using the 'swell' edge of the trimmer on 2 strips of 3.5"x12" white cardstock and 2 strips of 4"x12" black cardstock.  After layering the white and black together, I folded one edge of each end to resemble the banner and finished it off by hand cutting the triangles from the edges...

The final touch was adding the circles all over -- They kind of remind me of the ball pit at Chuck E. Cheese's...  If you've ever had the pleasure of attending a birthday party there, then you know that the balls tend to fly everywhere!!  So Elmo is really enjoying all those colorful orbs bouncing around :)  My ball pit balls were created with my Creative Memories circle punches (both the small and large).

If you have any questions about this layout, please feel free to leave a comment or email me...  And if you have this cartridge and haven't used it in a while or at all -- Take a moment to pull it out and check out all the really cool party items you can make with this secret gem of a cartridge!!  I can't wait to cut more!!

 I would love to read your comments on my layout, so please be sure to let me know you were here. :)  If you live or visit the Western Pennsylvania area, I'd love to have you join us at one of our Scrapbooking Retreat Weekends!!  We have one coming up in just under two weeks with only a few spots still available...  You can read all about it HERE!!  To see all of my current creations, please CLICK HERE! Thanks for stopping by -- Hope to see you here again soon!!