Red Lantern

I hope everyone had a fantastic Independence Day, we spent the day playing around the house and after a brief stint at work I made it home in time to watch fireworks with the guys. All around a good day while enjoying some of our freedoms. 

I then spent the rest of the weekend putting this fun red lantern together for the Paper Girls Challenge Blog's newest challenge - Red, White, and Blue. We want to see what you can do with that theme, while I used traditionally patriotic colors I spun off and made a little bit of home decor. 

Here's a few close-ups of this one: 

I used Graphic 45 Fashionista papers, a wooden dowel, some popsicle sticks, Christmas wired ribbon (wires removed), Viva Decor Inka Gold and glitter pens, E6000, hot glue, gel medium and washi. 

Do you like that I included washi in my list? It's been my go to for temporary placement while designing projects. I don't know what I'd do without the stuff. 

The lantern itself was a $5 buy at Tuesday Morning, the glass pieces were missing but I knew immediately the general direction this piece was going to take. 

I used my Cameo to cut out all those flowers and leaves and a petal curler to give them some shape. The brad centers were from my stash. 

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to link up your RW&B projects!

You Make Me Happy - MWM Rose 5

I was so excited when Melodee asked the ScrapbookSteals design team to use our Silhouette die cutters to create the layout inspiration for this week's Mid Week Mojo - Rose 5.

Here's the sketch that we all used:

And my layout:

I used the Silhouette stencil material to create a textured background for my page. Using embossing paste instead of modeling paste gave me a slightly translucent finish. After the paste was dry I spritzed and splattered two shades of Mister Huey's on the page. 

This was only my second time using the stencil material and I have to say it was pretty cool to make custom backgrounds - and using something that's reusable. I super love that since it has a sticky back that I got cleaner images than I often do.

While those layers were drying I worked on using the off cuts from the stencil to make this banner - I stuck the stencil material directly to some MME Chalk Studio paper and then cut a bunch of triangles. I then sewed all of the tiny triangles into one long strand. I also sewed some large triangles from one of the Chalk Studio embellishment packs into a second strand and then crisscrossed them across the page. 

I used more of the Chalk Studio embellishments to decorate the large cluster on the left side of the page. Mmmm, and shaped enamel dots are yummy.

I didn't like the way my journaling worked out visually so I did a bit of doodling around the edge and then added the banner for depth. Decorating it made all the difference!

Love them so Much

Today’s How To'sday project at ScrapbookSteals is probably one of my favorite ways to use those leftover sticker sheets hiding out in my stash. You know you have them too, the ones where you have used so many letters that you can’t spell much of anything. Anyway, it's a really good way to stretch my stash a little farther.

I start by picking a random scrap of paper and randomly place letters on it. Try to resist the urge to put all the letters within the edges of the scrap, let some of them hang off those edges. Apply some at odd angles. You really want them to be random. Once you’re satisfied, trim letters that are handing over the edge.

Paint over the letters and allow to dry. For this project I used Tim Holtz DistressPaint Daubers but virtually any thin coat of paint will do.

While the scrap was drying I painted the sticker sheet as well, keeping the color uneven and away from the very edges. You should probably let those dry also.

The next step will vary a bit, I used my Silhouette Cameo to die cut a couple of hearts. You could free hand a shape or use some other die cutting system. I cut my hearts in three sizes.

I just love the texture that the letters bring to this sort of die cutting. 

 And a few more close-ups for your viewing pleasure.

The layout itself was based on the Melodee's Iolite 3 sketch. 

Most of the products came from my scrap bin, but MME Kraft Funday is the majority of it. The letter sheet is from BasicGrey Origins. 

DIY Poppies/Wreath for Scrapbooksteals today

Ever have a tool that you use all.the.time for a few months and then it gets set aside? Right now I’m “on again” with my Silhouette Cameo so I thought I’d share a fun project that I made for today's "How To'sday" at Scrapbooksteals.com. You'll have to head over there for instructions to make the flowers, but I'll give you some close-ups to whet your appetite.

Here's my way cute wreath that I made with flowers I created for "How To'sday". That wreath had some hideous fall themed florals on it, but I just couldn't pass it up for the price.

Here's one of the poppies all but assembled. The brown ribbon is just wired ribbon that I picked up at Michael's, there's a basic metal brad in the center, and then the fab Prima Designs flower centers that have been hanging around my stash for way to long! (And I have a second similar pack, you better believe that I'll be trying this again.)

The welcome banner uses a Authentique Thankful 6x6 paper pad and some of their sticker sheet. You noticed that I'm using that line a lot?! Yep, it's my only "fall" line and I've been feeling lazy and keep going back to it. Given that the holiday is next week I may get another year out of it too! Anyway, then I just used some random ribbons to make the whole thing less circular. Not sure how I feel about that part. 

Silhouette gift making

Hello there, it's my turn to share on the Scrapbooksteals blog. This week has been "Gift Week" across the Steals sites so Melodee asked me to create some giftable things using my Silhouette Cameo. I couldn't stop with just one project so there's a few projects and a lot of photos and I hope you can hang with me and get inspired to make some of your own gifts this season!

First up, is a Christmas present that I made for my hubby's graduate studies advisor. She is a huge Harry Potter fan so I bought some of the files and used the Cameo to cut vinyl stencils for etching glassware. I was pretty excited to get started because even though I've owned Silhouette machines for years I've always wanted to etch glass and never buckled down and did it.

I etched the Harry Potter logo on one side of each glass. On the opposite point on the circle I etched some of the more iconic images that were available as cut only files - snitch, quidditch player, the house creatures.

I made eight "finished" glasses, and these sets of four will give you a good idea of the end result. 

I confess, I made a little gifty for myself too because I was dying to use the Hazel & Ruby Chalk It Up that I snagged while at the Scrapbooksteals Retreat. 

The frame/tray was something I picked up at the thrift store and have been wanting to find reason to alter it. I used a couple of different files from the Silhouette store for this one - the key and both kinds of banners. 

Each layer is inked and adhered with Mod Podge, then since it will live in my kitchen/dining room area I used a water proof sealer to preserve it just a little longer. With two under 5 in the house you just can't be to careful!

Next up, I made cookie boxes for my neighbors last year and loved doing it so much that I decided to get a head start on the process by making them now! Sweet. I used a Lori Whitlock cookie box file from the Silhouette Studio store. 

I hadn't used this file before so I decided I needed to put some samples in one for the photo, I was pleased to find that it holds a dozen bakery cookies. My kids quickly raided those and trashed the box. Guess I'll have to whip up one more!

I used Authentique Wonder papers I'd gotten in a Christmas kit on Steals last year, paired with some new American Crafts ribbons. 

The plastic opening was made by adhering the thin plastic packaging from paper kits to the frame. I did a quick wipe down with some antibacterial wipes before putting the cookies into the box.

My boys like to sit and help me craft, and they kept stashing my extra Christmas ribbons into boxes that hadn't been tied with ribbons. It did look really cute, and I might just have to cut some more boxes to hold some of their stocking presents. Or maybe use them as organizers.

This may be the last one I'm showing you, but it's the first I've given away - a little hostess gift for dinner with friends a couple of nights ago. The wine box is another fun file from the Silhouette Store. The file's designer, Jamie, has a tutorial on her blog.

Check out that label, three layers of yummy cardstock! And then a big fall leaf from the floral department and an old metal tag.

I was a little disappointed that the file didn't have a closure of any kind, the box itself seemed unstable once I put a bottle in it so I pulled out some twine to wrap around the entire box. Isn't is awesome how it dressed up the box? I think it really says fall now and it didn't feel like it would fall apart when I moved it around the house. 

The ruffle along the edge of the box top was made by folding My Mind's Eye Indie Chic washi along the edge. 

The lid simply hinges back and there's a couple of tabs to hold the bottle of wine, or sparkly juice, in place.

And here's one of the inside of the box. Surprise! Bunnies! You don't say?! I wish I'd considered their orientation when setting up my mat, but I just loved the leathery kraft color that this Authentique Hope paper had and had to use it for the box regardless of the print. 

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Thanks for stopping by, I hope that I've inspired you to get started on some fun gift giving this year!

Taking flight

Words cannot express how much Vance wanted to dress up at Dusty from the movie Planes. Once we got the costume home he was disappointed that there weren't wings with it. Crafty mommy to the rescue!

I just cut a piece of used foam board and then painted the base white again and the orange lines. He helped duplicate the racing number and dutifully watched as the Cameo cut them out. A couple of layers of mod podge and the kid was ready for Halloween.

I'm linking this to Scrapbooksteals MCM: kids . The challenge was to make something for and or with kids. 

Practical Scrappers: Fall Home Decor

I'm up today with my first individual feature post at Practical Scrappers, here's just a little sneaky peak at what I'm sharing today. Head on over to see the entire project.

Products used:

Tim Holtz Coordinations Crackled Cardstock - black and brown

Platter

Amy Tangerine corrugated cardstock

Paper Studios chipboard letters

Brown Ink

Floral dept. leaves

Floral wire

Hot Glue Gun

Twine, natural (from the hardware store)

Family Game Night Mini Album

Hey there, I have another design team post for Soul Sentiments using Carta Bella's Well Played. Tuesday I really wanted to emphasize the fun aspects of this line while downplaying it's game theme, but today I'm reveling in it with a family game night mini album.

The mini album shape and the box are a set of files in the Silhouette Studio store. (file 1, file 2)

I just love that I'll be able to tuck the album away for safe keeping, I always get so worried about the decorative stuff falling off of my covers. I was also impressed at the amount of dimension I was still able to include, the box seemed slim so I played it safe, thinking at first that the pages were going to have to be f.l.a.t. flat.

I tried to make my dimensions logical, like having lots of room for photos. 

And pockets with more photos or journaling. 

I must have been getting tired, because this one is pretty basic again.

The last page has a little flap for a second small picture.

And the back cover.

Thanks for sticking through to the end, now I just need to keep kiddo two fully clothed so I can actually take some family game night photos. He makes life complicated sometimes. *shakes head*