My 2012 Craft Diary

Hi there!  I'm back again with another project which I'm linking to the CC Weekly Blog Challenge (Creative Resolutions) and the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog (Warming Up with Hot Cocoa).  For this project I altered a notebook I  purchased last month from the Target dollar bins.  I'm happy to report that I used my stash to complete this project.  I had wanted to make the resolution to keep all my crafty notes in one place instead of in little bits of pieces of post-it notes which drive my DH bananas when he sees them scattered all over the computer desk we share - you're welcome, honey ;)

This is how it looked like before the transformation:

For this project I again used both my Cricut E2 and my Silhouette Cameo.  I started by  cutting down two pieces of glittered cardstock to size, to cover the front and the back of the cover.  Then I cut enough strand of ribbon to go around the notebook and some, to make a bow later to close the notebook.  I adhered the ribbon to the notebook first, then the glittered cardstock.

I used the print and cut feature on my Cameo to print and cut the title of my notebook!  This was the first time I've tried this and it is so cool!  I see myself saving a lot of mula on not having to buy sentiment stamps anymore!  Below are screen shots of the Silhouette Studio.  I again used the Quiggley Wiggly font.  Notice the registration marks for the Cameo to pick up on before it can cut.  I wanted the title to print inside an oval to match the scalloped oval it's going on top of later.

After the title printed in my printer, I went back to the Studio screen and deleted the title because I didn't want the individual letters cut out, just the oval around it.  Then I was ready to put the paper on the mat before I hit cut.

(I added little holes on the top and bottom of the oval because I had planned on threading twine,

but later decided against it so I just stuck two half pearls in the final project)

(The oval shape does not show here because it's a cut line, but it will cut around the title. 

Notice the registration marks)

After the title was cut, I proceeded to cut the matching scalloped oval from the Silhouette Studio in pink swirly glittered cardstock.  

Then it was time for me to cut my Cricut images on the E2.  I used the following Cricut images:  (1) butterfly [Cake Basics], (2) quill [Sentimentals], (3) ink bottle [Sentimentals], and (4) cup [Wall Decor and More].  Below are the cuts (Cameo and Cricut) before assembly.

And here are closeups of the final project.  I added blings, inked a few edges, and used foam mounts for depth.  I also added a couple of strips of solid cardstocks embossed with D'vine Swirls CB folder and then sewed around it for added texture. 

Here's a peek of the inside of the notebook.  I'm going to keep a tally of crafty things I've made this year, which may or may not all be on this blog (sometimes I'm just too lazy to post). 

I hope this notebook will keep me organized this year.  I may have to make another one in a few months if and when I run out of room - ohhhh wouldn't that be fun to make another one?!  For now, thanks for stopping by!  

Simple Giftcard Tag Holder

Hello again!  I'm back to share a giftcard tag holder I created.  I don't know about you guys but the older I get the less tolerant I am of big shopping crowds - hence I didn't even try going out to the stores on Black Friday.  Maybe I may go Christmas shopping next week but for now I've decided I am handing out more giftcards this year.  I think my teenage niece and nephews appreciate it more anyway as they can pick out whatever they want. 

The base of the GC holder is from the CM Art Philosophy Cart.  I think it was meant to be a card tag but since I wanted to use it to hold a GC I had to weld two rectangles from the George and Basic Shapes cart to serve as flaps to make the pocket to hold a GC.  I used my Gypsy to accomplish this task.

Below is a pic of the cut out base with the flaps scored and folded in.

Before I glued the flaps to form the pocket, I attached a printed cardstock cut from George and Basic Shapes cart to the front.  Then I stitched the edges of the cardstock using my new toy, the Janome Sew Mini sewing machine I mentioned yesterday.  I'm still getting used to this machine especially the corners, but I'm happy to report that I'm loving it!

After I glued the flaps I then added a doily from the CM Art Philosophy cart, cut in gold shimmery cardstock and embossed with the Textile CB folder.  The tag is from the Cake Basics cart, stamped in white with sentiment and snowman from Studio G.  I added a homemade stick pin to one side of the tag.  I also used homemade crinkle ribbon, twine from The Twinery and a gold mini bell.

Here's another pic of the GC tag holder with a Coldstone GC to give you an idea how big this GC holder is.

Thanks for looking - I appreciate you stopping by.



CC Blogiversary Challenge #5 - Cutie Frame

Today's project is my entry for the CC Blogiversary Challenge #5 - "Recipe" Challenge.  Our mission for this challenge was to follow a "recipe" as stated below:

Use your Cricut machines to create a project using the following “recipe.” It must contain 1) A Title; 2) Atleast 2 Cricut Cuts, and 3) At least 3 buttons.

Here is a side view of the frame:

For this challenge I've created a frame for my 6 year old DD's fall class picture.  The frame and its layers came from the Fancy Frames cart.  (I had to cut the bottom layer in purple cardstock  2x and the "stand" 2x to make a sturdy frame.  I tried cutting chipboard with my E and my E2 but they were both screaming bloody murder even with the deep blade, the highest blade setting and several multicuts - someday I will be successful at cutting chipboard but for now cutting multiple layers of the same cut to make them sturdy works for me.)   The butterfly and its layer was cut using the Cake Basics cart.  I embossed the top layer with the D'vine Swirls CB folder and attached the two layers to each other only in the middle with foam mounts.  Then I glued 3 small pink buttons.

The green banner was cut using the CMTH Art Philosophy cart.  The title "Cutie" and its shadow layer was cut using the Hello Kitty Font - the layers were attached together using foam mounts and the the top layer was embossed with the Plum Blossoms CB folder.  I also added  3 green irock gems in each letter.  The flowers were from the Flower Shoppe cart, 2 different flower images cut in varying sizes, then embellished with 2 buttons with jute twine.  The leaves were from the Heritage cart, the top layers embossed with the Script CB folder. 

I finished off the frame with 3 pink half pearls in the top right side of the frame to somehow balance the look. 

I used only what is in my stash for this project, so this makes project #9 for my Using my Stash pledge at the CC MB. 

Thanks for looking - have a pleasant Monday!