Aging like a 27 year old fine wine

BEHOLD

The birthday gift of all birthday gifts.
The most incredible thing a crafter could ever ask for:

Cricut Explore Air
...of course I had to have the gold one

I wish I could put into words how excited I am to be the proud, new owner of this machine, but there just aren't any that could do my feelings justice. This just made my design possibilities essentially limitless. The Air was a no brainer - HELLO, built in bluetooth.

Goodbye to my Cricut Expression 2. I bid you farewell, old friend.

I actually might keep it; I'm undecided.

I also decided to go ahead and invest in the 12x24 cutting mat, as it was on sale at JoAnn for 40% off! Let me tell you, I don't know why I've never owned one before. Do yourself a favor and pick one of these up ASAP.

I haven't started dabbling in the markers that work in the Cricut Explore yet, but I have watched a few YouTube videos on markers that are compatible, so I have an idea of what to buy. I think I'm leaning towards the Recollection markers but if you have a better suggestion feel free to chime in!

For my first project, I made a simple monogram for my laptop case using vinyl.

I must say, the versatility of Design Space is really impressive. I do however, wish it was an App for my MacBook instead of having to use the website. Guess I'll have to get an iPad Pro so I can use the app on the larger screen instead of just using my iPhone 6 Plus *wink wink*.

I also got to make a couple of crafts for one of my mom's coworkers 40th birthday. Using a birthday gift to make birthday gifts, oh the irony.

This is just a simple Dollar Tree poster board with "forty & fabulous" cut out using the Always in my Heart font, from dafont.com, on ombre (the hairstylist in me wasn't to use this word, but I'm pretty sure it's not right when referring to paper - oh well) card stock. I wanted to do more with it but time wasn't my friend.

NOTE: Did I mention how obsessed I now am with dafont.com?! You can find almost any font you want on there. Even fonts you didn't know you wanted. You can thank me later for that one :)

"Your work desk is so beautiful and organized" .. said no one that has ever visited my office.

Okay, this one is just to brag a little. Nothing was made on the Cricut, but it's still adorable. The tin bucket base and gourmet lollipops both came from the Dollar Tree - you can't beat that. I got the styrofoam cake pop ball to stick the lollipops in from JoAnn (with a 40% off coupon, of course). The "40 sucks" is my handwriting on some card stock I already had.

This is another Dollar Tree poster board craft. I've seen these made with chalkboards all over the internet but I thought this way would be a little easier. I wasn't that happy with the way this one came out. All because I picked the marker that shits out during the first line of writing.. right smack in the MIDDLE of the board. Other than that, it's acceptable.

A little cubical decorations and the surprise was all set. She LOVED it, but who wouldn't.
Happy 40th Birthday Audrey.

... Until the next time I'm dabblin' DIY.