Happy Halloween

Hi everyone!  Just a quick pop in to say Happy Halloween and share with you a card I made using a file from Cricut and my new Explore.

Core'dinations and Turkeys?

Hi everyone!  Today I am up over on the Coredinations blog with a cute project for your littles (I had my niece and one of her friends for a playdate one afternoon) this fall.  Hop on over and check it out....

I will be back later with the tutorial for the "girl" hat.

Hugs.

Vintage Kitchen - Eileen Hull Event

Hi everyone!  Sorry I am a bit late today, but things have been quite busy.  Brighton came home for the weekend, and to be honest, although I was working hard at getting assignments done, I just felt it more important to spend time with him than blog.  oppsies.  hee hee

A few weeks ago I shared with you that I went to an event at Cathe Holden's Inspired Barn to see Eileen Hull and create a few projects with her dies.  We were able to play with her new Vintage Collection, which hasn't been released yet!  How fun is that?

First I created these little boxes.  I loved the fun shapes and I planned on using them to hold all the little bits and pieces on my desk when I am done creating.  I didn't venture far from their intended use, but the little cookie box (the round one) it has a hinged top and I have lots of fun ideas in mind for it.

This little cream and sugar set was so sweet.  Everyone in the class created the same project, doodling the design and then coloring it with Eileen's inks from Clearsnap.  It was really fun and would make a super cute gift filled with tea bags, a gift card, whatever.  

Finally there was this little oven.  The front of the oven is a drawer, how cute is that...with the little clear window?  sigh.  Thinking of putting a little something in their as a gift....a bun in the oven?  hee hee

These new Vintage Kitchen dies are so fun, I really can't wait to add them to my collection.

Thanks for stopping by.

Trick or Treat

Hi everyone!  Today I want to share with you a bit of Halloween Decor, but don't worry if you don't have the supplies, this technique will work for any occasion.  I already have plans to make more of these.

 I love the look of chalkboard art.  But some of the tutorials seem so difficult, and my handwriting skills are often somewhat lacking.  So I came up with this super simple way to get the look without all the fuss.  All you need is one with a one of Clear Scraps Clear Craft Sheets, these sheets can be easily cut to size and shape, a white paint marker, and a printed graphic.  I chose to frame mine....

Step 1:  Print the desired graphic onto paper.  

Step 2:  Place Clear Craft Sheet over image and trace with your paint pen.  Clear Scraps sheets are crystal clear so you can easily trace your design.  So easy, right?   

All that is left is creating our background.

Step 3:  Chalk black cardstock.  I dropped an eraser onto my cardstock a number of times and then rubbed it in.

I wouldn't draw with the chalk directly onto the cardstock as that might be harder to smooth out to give you the 'chalkboard" finish.   What if you don't have an eraser full of chalkdust?  You can make chalkdust by scraping the chalk onto your cardstock with a plastic knife.

That's it.  Place your acrylic sheet into a frame, place the "chalkboard" behind it and you are done!  

Just think of all the fun "chalkboards" you can make.

Hugs

Layout a Week

Good Morning everyone!  Just a quick post to let you know I have a layout up over on A Layout a Week today.  Stop by and take a look.

Hugs.

Circles of Fun

Hey everyone!  Just a quick post to let you know I had a project go up on the Core'dinations blog over the weekend.  We always have so much fun with photo booths around here, I couldn't resist making a cute background.  So easy to recreate, you should definitely check it out.

Embellished Notebook - Dena Designs

Happy Friday everyone!  Hope your day is off to a great start and that you have fun plans for the weekend.  Me?  The usual, lots of time with family and friends.

Today I want to share with you a project I made a bit ago for Darice and Dena Designs.  I really had a great time playing with the Dena Designs papers, and couldn't resist creating this fun little notebook and pencil set for my teens, so way better than the $5 sets they sell at Justice.  hee hee  Here is the complete post from Darice.

EMBELLISHED DIY NOTEBOOK SUPPLIES:

• Embellish by Dena Haute Girls Paper Pack
• Darice 3 Row Silver Bling on a Roll 
• EK Tools Dotted Scallp Edger Punch
• Mod Podge
• Neon Washi Tape Value Pack – Neon
• Composition Book
• Pencil

Begin by choosing your papers.  For this DIY notebook I chose Peace, Sunshine Circles, Fuschia and the Black Emboss from the Haute Girls Pack by Dena.  But feel free to mix and match to create your favorite combinations.  I cut each of the papers to size and then used Mod Podge to adhere them to the composition book.

Here are the sizes I used:

• Peace – 6.5 x 4″
• Sunsine Circles 6.5 x 6″
• Fuscia 1 x 9 5/8″
• Black Emboss 6.5 x 1″
• Bling on a Roll – 5.5″

I chose Mod Podge to adhere the paper as not only would it hold my paper firmly, but would add an extra layer of protection to your DIY notebook. With Mod Podge, it is best to use thin layers and let it dry thoroughly before adding more.  Doing so will help keep your papers from bubbling.

When the first layer was dry, I punched the Black Scallop paper with the border punch and adhered it over the seam.

Add the Fuschia paper and bling on a roll rhinestones next.  This layer of Fuschia paper will help cover any imperfections in your cuts.

Finally, I cut a few of the card pieces to add to the top of my DIY notebook, something to make it a little more special.

And to make the DIY notebook even more special, why not take a few minutes to make a coordinating pencil with washi tape?  The neon color washi tape is so fun with the Haute Girls papers and right on trend for the back to school season.

To begin, make sure your washi tape has a straight edge and line that edge up with the metal part of the eraser.

Tear washi tape to match the edge of the painted part of the pencil.  It takes two strips of washi tape to cover the pencil.  To sharpen the pencil, simple peel back the washi tape a bit.

Une Promenade - Clear Scraps

Hi everyone!  Today I wanted to share with you a scrapbook layout I made using a Clear Craft Sheet and the Small Oval Fancy Frame along with the 12"Quarterfoil and 6"Shattered Glass Mascils all from Clear Scraps.

I really love the depth that the acrylic gives my layout without adding any bulk to my page.  And, with the use of some Imagine Crafts IrResistable spray I was able to add quite a bit of texture as well.  Remember when working with acrylic, less is definitely more...use a light hand.  lol  

I found these papers from Prima in my stash...oh how I love me some Prima.  lol  A mix of a few different lines, some Romance Novel, a bit of Cartographer, and even a little Engraver.  

Thanks for stopping by.

Nancy

This is the Life- Fancy Pants

Hello everyone!   Woo, another weekend behind us...how time seems to be flying by.  Happy Columbus Day?  Well, anyway, today I am at a Prima Retailer event and can't wait to share what I learn, but in the interim, I thought I would share with you another layout using some older papers and supplies from my stash.  This time, Fancy Pants.

This was the Daily Grind collection.  Love the transparency.  Why did I not use all the transparencies back in the day.  They really add so much depth to your project.  hmmmmmm

Hugs.

Home Sweet Home Mixable Fancy

Hi everyone!  Hope your day is off to a great start.  Today I wanted to share with you a Mixable Fancy mini album from Clear Scraps featuring the lovely Now and Then collection from My Minds Eye.  I was lucky to receive a number of goodies and couldn't wait to create.

 Of course I had to add a few flowers from my stash on the cover.

But, as with most My Minds Eye collection there is a fabulous collection of coordinating embellishments available.

 Lots of foam dots were also used to add extra dimension and interest to the pages.

 And I love the clear bits peaking out from behind the papers.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Hugs.

Imagination

Hi everyone!  Hope your day is off to a great start.  Me, the usual.....  Today I want to share with you a scrapbook page I made using some older goodies from my stash.  I really have been enjoying finding all these treasurers that I forgot about.

This paper is so old....Little Yellow Bicycle, Zach's Life...what a great boys line that was.  I coupled it with some old Bo Bunny rubons and a bit of stamping.  So much fun.

Thanks for stopping by.

Hugs.

Trailer Box

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend.  Mine was fabulous!  I got to jump on the Paper Trail with Eileen Hull and take a few of her classes.  I wish I could share with you all the beautiful items we made, but that will have to wait.  Instead, I will share with you a project I made for her.

I recently broke down and upgraded my Cricut Expression to the Cricut Explore.  And now I can easily cut my favorite .svg files....and I loved this file from SVGcuts.  I have really been enjoying my new Cricut.  It is so much quieter, and I love the ease of the new design space.  I know that it isn't the fastest machine to use, but the interface is simple and I love it...plus I can still use all my old cartridges...and with the new Print and Cut feature I am really looking forward to playing more.

It took a while...don't get me wrong, but how stinkin' cute....and the little box....filled with homemade fudge.  Hope she liked it.

Hugs.

Blooming Through the Season Apron

Hi everyone!  Happy Friday!!!!  Hope you have fun things planned for the weekend.  We of course have a swim meet...but I am sure I will sneak in some playtime.

Speaking of playtime, with October upon us, I finally finished my September Blooming Through the Seasons project.  You know me, I can't follow instructions, nor do I have any patience, but I love this project all the same.

Of course she was supposed to go into an art journal...but mine isn't big enough, and I just happened to have this plain, white apron lying around so..... 

All the instructions for using the beautiful stencil that Jamie Dougherty created for Prima are in the class instructions....but I need to learn patience (so my mediums don't run everywhere) and to follow instructions...nah, I like her with a bit more color....and texture.  You know me...not much for white space.  hee hee

The next round of Blooming Through the Seasons is starting.  You should totally come play.  So much fun!  And grab some of those fabulous stencils!  Who knows what you will create.

Hugs.

Cupcakes and Friends

Good morning everyone! Today I want to share with you a sweet little Cupcake Keychain album from Clear Scraps that I made for my niece, Lili. She and a friend of mines daughter came over for a playdate a few weeks ago, and I couldn't resist making this cute little mini album to document the afternoon.

 

I kept the album simple using just a bit of stickles and a few buttons and flowers.  And, by placing the photos in between the acrylic pages and the paper, I was able to ensure that the photos would go untouched and last just a bit longer than might otherwise happen with one so young.   

What can you seal behind the acrylic page?

Hugs.