DIY Summer Reading Calendars

I must confess, I have been a naughty mom and haven't been having my children read every day this summer.  :0. To help get us back on track, I created reading calendars for them to reinforce daily activity.  

Cricut Explore File: https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/41970692

The calendars were created using Cricut cartridge Designer's Calendar.  I cut the base out of various cardstock.

I added the days to the calendar using the print and cut feature on sticker paper using my Cricut Explore.  You can have your little ones help with this portion of the project.  It's fun for them to place the stickers on in addition to reinforcing counting.

I flattened a book image and print and cut them on sticker paper as well.

  My children will place a sticker on each day that they complete their reading activity.

Ready.  Set.  Read!

Paper Succulent Terrarium and Cards

I recently redecorated my main living spaces and purchased a beautiful succulent centerpiece.  I love it so much that it inspired me to create a paper version and coordinating cards.

Materials Used:

• Cricut Cartridges Botanical Prints, Flower Shoppe, Bridal Shower
• Paper Doilies
• Vellum
• Cuttlebug embossing folder Wood Grain
• Donna Salazar Butcher Block & Blossoms cardstock
• Recollections Kraft cardstock paper
• Stampin' Up! Notebook punch
• My Pink Stamper stamps and Texas Chocolate Ink
• Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Crushed Olive and Worn lipstick
• Tattered Angels Viva Pink glimmer mist
• Stampin' Up! Whisper White craft ink
• Stampin' Up! Linen thread

All images were cut using my Cricut Explore and images from the Cricut Library.  The terrarium was created from a diamond box from the cartridge Bridal Shower.  I simply spliced in some triangles for the terrarium windows.  The real photo images of the various succulents are from the digital cartridge Botanical Prints.  My succulents were pieced together from flowers and petals from the cartridge Flower Shoppe. 

Mini Wooden Pallet Coasters

I wanted to make something creative that I though my hubby would actually use for Father's Day.   I came across this project on a blog and knew I had to make my version. =)

Each pallet has the D.O.B. of each of our children.

I used my Cricut Explore to make the pallet "markings".  The Cricut Explore can cut vinyl super tiny.  The marking are only .5" high!

I used Tim Holtz distress inks in several colors to add an aged/weathered look.   I also added mini nails for a more authentic look.  To seal the wood, I used a thin layer of Mod Podge so the distress ink colors wouldn't run once the glasses sweat.  You could also use real stain.  I chose the inks because I could create a variety of patterns/colors.

MATERIALS:

1.  Two (2) 1/2″ x 1/2″ x 36″ square dowels.
2.  Three (3) 1/2″ x 1/4″ x 36″ rectangular dowels.
3.  Adhesive of choice.  I used E600.  Other options would be wood glue or hot glue.
4.  Mini nails to embellish with.
5.   A type of saw.  If you the balsam dowels from Michael's, you can also cut it with an exacto knife.
6. Inks or stain of your choice.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo, Iced Spruce, Forest Moss & Antique Linen.
7. To personalize, you will also need black vinyl and a cutting machine.  You could also stamp your markings.
8. Mod Podge (light single layer) to prevent ink colors from running once the drink sweats.

The wood used was a light balsam (purchased from Michael's).  The cost of the wood was about $12.  I already had everything else.  You can also use popsicle sticks with the rounded edges cut off.  The project is super easy and super cute.  Making the coasters takes about an hour.  Add one more hour if you want to weather and embellish.  I hope you give it a try! =)

Valentine's Day Monogram Plaque

Good morning.  Today I have a plaque to share with you created using a ceramic heart as the base to the project.

Directions:

1.  I first sized a heart from Cricut Design Space's included shapes.  Once I was satisfied that the heart matched closely, I selected the subway Valentine's Day art from Cricut cartridge Word Collage.  I spliced the heart into the subway art and cut the negative piece from vinyl.  

2.  I placed the vinyl on the ceramic heart to create my stencil.  I used a DecoColor paint marker in liquid gold to color in the spaces (words) and removed the vinyl (no drying time needed).

3.  Next, I cut my and my husband's initials out of black vinyl and a "&" sign and heart in red and placed them on the ceramic heart. 

4.  My last step was to add the hanger using red twine and a bead spacer to hold the knot in place.  I embellished the hanger with red, gold and pink ribbon and my ceramic heart was ready to go.

Halloween Shoe and Hair Clips

Making more goodies to hand out. Today, I worked on shoe and hair clips.  The shoe clips were a make it now project from Cricut Design Space and I added my choice for a hair clip.  I also added coordinating tags to clip them to for "treating".

For the base material, I used chalkboard fabric.  It cut perfectly and easily using the deep cut blade and custom setting for faux leather.  The pom poms for the bats were 1 1/2" and for the spider I used 1".  Once cut, I painted each with black glitter glue.  I used 1" small oval alligator clips to attach the bats and spiders to using hot glue.  

Last, I cut and edged my tags and added the clips for gift giving.  

Here is my Design Space file to recreate:



https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/32667602

Bath & Body Works Halloween Candle Makeover

I don't know about you, but I have an obsession with candles.  Particularly, Bath & Body Works candles.  They are all so yummy smelling!  One thing I love about BBW candles, is the quality glassware they use to house their candles.  The labels can easily be removed to repurpose the jars and make something new.  For this makeover, I simply removed the labels and added some Cricut artwork to make them into Halloween decor.

The 3-wick candle already looked like candy corn.  I simply added a coordinating image.  Isn't she cute?  For the mini-candle, I turned it into a pumpkin and added a battery operated tealight (I had already used up the candle).  Both images are from the Cricut cartridge Mini Monsters and I used vinyl for the artwork.

Mannequin Makeover - Ribbon Organizer

Here she is...all filled with ribbon!  See previous post for details on how you can make one too.

The mannequin is 4 1/2 feet tall.

Anna Griffin Mannequin Makeover

I have been searching and searching for a way to organize and store my ribbon and I think I finally found it!

I found an old wire mannequin at a local furniture resale store just waiting to be loved.

Eventually, I am going to "Annatize" my entire craftroom, but thought this would make a perfect addition.  I first spray painted the mannequin with Krylon Off White in a matte finish.  It dried fairly quickly, in less then an hour.

I then accented the base with a gold paint pen.

I broke into my Anna Griffin Minc machine and minc'd several butterflies that came with the machine.  I used toner sheets (included in the HSN package) to cut every butterfly available from Anna's Cricut cartridges and minc'd those in gold as well.  I also used Anna's butterfly cut and emboss die to add some butterflies with depth.  I paired the butterflies with some of Anna's gold scrolls and applied them to the mannequin using glue dots.

I added a gold vinyl border (Cricut ~ gold) to the waistline using Anna's Lattice Border Punches (cool set...comes with 3 interchangeable punches).  To complete the look, I added one of Anna's large gold ribbons from her ribbon set.  Now, I just need to add my open stock ribbon.  I will add a pic once I complete my organization. ;)

Just Add Bacon - Foam Coin Purse

I recently bought some foam to cut in my Cricut Explore.  I have all sort of ideas on how I can use foam to craft and play with if I can nail down the process.  I first cut foam with the Explore for the Fourth of July.  I made a Statue of Liberty hat for my daughter.  The process was pretty easy, so I decided to try a more detailed project.  Cricut has released a new cartridge called Intricate Cut Quotes that has all sorts of possibilities.  I decided to try my hand at making a coin purse.



The first time I cut foam using my Cricut Explore, I cut it a few times because it didn't look like it cut all the way through.  I also tried using a deep cut housing and blade because I thought the blade housing was dragging.  From my experience, using the standard foam 1.9mm setting, it doesn't cut all the way through to pull off the mat like cardstock does.  You simply pull the cut foam shape and it will weed with a clean line.

I used a standard mat and a regular housing blade to cut my foam using the suggestions listed in the Custom Material Setting for my Cricut Explore.

I used sticky Velcro to create the coin purse opening/closure.

I sewed the edges using the cuts created from the image as by guide. 

I also embossed the foam to give it a faux leather texture.

I hot glued the edges about two inches at a time so that the glue remained hot and would adhere completely.

Close view of the opening/closure.

I wasn't the neatest with my hot glue.  I either need to not glue so close the edge or I need one of the hot glue guns with the intricate opening (What??? An excuse to buy another crafting tool??? ;)  )

All ready to fill.

I didn't want to leave out the card makers out there.  Here is the card I created using the same cut:

And the Design Space file to recreate:  https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/30466061







Peony Nightlight ~ Cricut Giant Flowers

When my daughter said she loved peonies...I replied "No problem."  I knew there just HAD to be a 3-D peony in at least one of the Cricut cartridges.  Cricut did not disappoint me.  There are two options for a 3-D peony flower.  I selected the Giant Flowers version since it looked like I could close the buds a little more.  My daughter likes when they are just budding and look closer to a ball.  The suggested size was 10.3". I selected 8" figuring it would come out more like a life size peony.  Uhhhh...WRONG!  These flowers are HUGE!  It assembled fairly quickly and easily and looked like we wanted it to, just GIANT.  Then we had a light bulb moment, literally.  The middle of the flower creates the perfect home for a mini battery operated tea light.  Voila, the perfect pretty night light to add to a table top.

Inspiration photo:

My example was the prototype.  I can't wait to make another one in a soft pink color or with Anna Griffin cardstock.

Jane Austen Nesting Paper Mache Books

I decided to pair up some of my favorite things, Jane Austen novels and paper crafting:

I started off with paper mache book boxes purchased from Hobby Lobby.  I then covered each book with coordinating designer paper and embellishments.  All the graphics were cut from various Cricut cartridges and then I modge podged the outside for durability.  I then added the misc. embellishments  and nested the books within each other.  For my final step, I wrapped the books in an antique ribbon with baubles.

#imadeit #cricut