Cricut, Cricut!!!

I didn't mean to keep you in suspense, but I want to have something to show when I talked about that box of rocks I got for Christmas! My husband bought me a Cricut (exactly as a bugged him to). And on his own, he also got me an extra cartridge, the spatula, extra mats, and extra blades. I was really impressed. He told me he watched the infomercial and liked it too.

ETA: My husband and oldest son added a few more gifts after that initial post. But we eventually moved the presents from under the tree to a closet. It was too much for my youngest son. His name was on one the packages and he kept getting it and shaking it and trying to figure it out.

They told me that the night he bought it and I was at work, the oldest boy (aka Basketball Jones) asked to wrap it. This same boy was given permission to use whatever he wanted in my Card Castle--after all it was for me... He used a really nice textured card stock with my Martha Stewart ribbon for the gift tag-- all purple!

Before I get into my first project, let me tell you about my initial struggle with this contraption. I couldn't find any instruction on how to put install the blade. I knew that I needed to install the blade, but not how. For everything else, there was help. I finally figured it out with the brilliant nine year old by my side. Who, I might add, had very wise words to say to me as I struggled with the first cut.

Gameboy: Mom, I don't understand why you wouldn't try to cut something simple to start?

Mom: Huh?

Gameboy: Why didn't you just try to cut a letter or something?

Mom: Huh?

Here is what I cut (smile).

and then I made this big mess.

I'm working on a card for my sister who had a birthday the other day. Remember one of my resolutions is to send cards on time to my family. At some point this year, I will accomplish that! I'll be back with that card later today.