Friday, December 31, 2010

Frosted Designs Challenge ~ Quote

Here is my deisgn for Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Challenge today.  I had "crafter's block" trying to find a quote that would work with any of the pictures I had!  I kept thinking of "click it or ticket" and "there is no crying in baseball" but those would not work!  I even went online to look up quotes.  Finally, I looked at my entryway wall and saw this quote in vinyl and just knew it would work!

I used Paper Lace to make a background paper and the font.  On Layer 1 I put the heart mesh on the screen and sized it to 8.0w x 7.77h.

On Layer 2, I put the title.  The smaller words are 1 inch tall and the larger words are 1.31 inches tall.  I welded the smaller words together, and left the larger separate in all caps. 

On Layer 3, I put the shadow of the heart mesh.

Here is the heart mesh cut out.

I was not sure which color I wanted the background of the mesh, so I cut it out in black first.  This way, my words were positioned on my page right where I wanted them.  I decided against the black background and chose white instead.

I ran my letters and words through my Xyron.  I put my "negative" paper on my background paper and stuck the letters and words on.

This way my words are straight and centered.

I carefully pull up the "negative" paper.

Here are the words on the paper.

I did not have the right flowers, so I took these white paper flowers and inked them silver with Tim Holtz silver alcohol ink.  They turned out super shiny!
I added a scrap of black and white paper and some silver ribbon behind the mesh.  I added the silver flowers with red gems.  I filled in one of the hearts with black diamond stickles.  These family photos were taken last week when we were visiting friends.

This layout is a little bit busier than my typical style, but I like it!

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Speed Street

Here is my take on the Sketches In Thyme Challenge this week:

As you can see, I "boy-ed it down" quite a bit!  No pretty scallops or flowers over here!  I used some photos from the boys at an indoor race track in Arizona.  To make my tires and racing flags, I used the Cars cartridge.  In place of the pretty scallops, I ripped black card stock and used silver Tim Holtz alcohol ink to ink the edges.  I used Blackletter for the font.

It is hard to see in these pics, but I also used mycuttle bug with my tread embossing plate for my silver photo mats.

I saw the sketch challenge today and was instantly motivated to create this layout!!  Thanks Sketches in Thyme!!!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Thank You Cards

I do not make my own Christmas cards anymore, but I do make my own Thank You cards every year.  This year I was inspired by two different crafters.  First, Robyn from My Pink Stamper made a similar tag card last spring with a bird on it.

Here is my scrap-lifted card from Robyn.

My snowman inspiration came from my Secret Stocking Sister Michelle (aka greengirl).  She used Jolly Holidays for this adorable snowman card that she sent me.  I don't have that cart, so I made my own snowman.

First, I started out with Tags, Bags, Boxes and More and used the mirror feature for my card base.  My tag card is sized 5.89w x 4.53h.  This way I could fit four to a page.

Then I put the same tag on a new layer and made it just a bit smaller than the card base.  My tag is 2.73w x 4.06h.  I hid the ribbon slit on the tag with Hide Contour.  I welded the word "thanks" from Songbird.

I found the snowman from Jolly Holidays and put it in a new layer and sized it to fit my card 2.32w x 3.94h.

I opened a new layer and it is hard to see here, but the snowman is showing through.  I took two circles from George and sized them until they were the same size as the snowman and welded them together.

I cut out the tuxedo hat from Paper Doll Dress Up 1.38w x 2.25h.  I used my Peachy Keen Stamp for the snowman's face.  I jazzed him up with stickles and yarn and a little blue ink on the edges.

I love how each one is just a bit different!!!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Welcome Joey card.

One of my New Year's Resolutions is to make more cards.  I am more of a scrapbooker or gift-maker, but I never remember to make the cards!  Or, I make the cards so early that I forget where I put them and end up running out to buy a card at the last minute!  Soooo, this year I am organizing my supplies and pre-cutting out sentiments so I can have what I need at my fingertips.

To start of my new resolustion, I made a card for baby Joey.  My Sister-in-Law's sister had her beautiful baby boy today and I got to go up and see him this afternoon (he is adorable)!  I made this quick card to go with his little gift.

I used Opposites Attract for the words "Welcome Joey" and Bags, Tags, Boxes and More for the tag card.  I just glued the tag onto the bag.

And here he is!!  I really wanted to just take him home with me!!  His mommy is a scrapbooker and I look forward to scrapping with her!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Imagine ~ A Baby Book

I love making gifts for my friends for Christmas.  I made two of these books for two new baby boys in my life!!!  One is starting in my daycare next month with his older brother and sister.  The other is being born on Tuesday to my niece's "Aunty Dawn" (my SIL's sister).  So excited to have two new babies in my life!!!! 
I went to CKC Kansas City this October and picked up two of these chipboard books.  The blue pages are glittery.

I cut out some baby boy images from my Nursery Tails cartridge on my Imagine.  I added some stickles because even little boys need some fairy dust!!!

I added in some ribbon and buttons and Martha Stewart felt stickers.  I left some spots for photos so all mom has to due is glue them in the book!




Here is another glance at the completed book from the front.  I had so much fun making these albums!!!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!!!!

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Raffle Items for Bowling Tourney

Here are some of the items I donated to my son's bowling team to put in the raffle during our tournament last weekend.  I forgot to take a photo of two of the books I made :(.  Each set contained a note pad, a mini album and a framed layout.

Here is the inside cover of the note pads.

This is the word book I made last year.  I also made two books out of square chipboard.

This page would work in a scrapbook or on the wall.  It was placed in a frame.

This page here will hold a certificate perfectly.  Bowlers can earn certificates for High Score, High Series, All-Tournament Teams and lettering.

The bowlers want to win the bowling balls, but their moms want to win my stuff :o)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Home Made Ornaments


Every year I make home made ornaments.  Here are some ornaments that I made this year.  For instructions on how to make the Disney ornaments, click HERE.


I made these ornaments in 3D!  To see the instructions for these, click HERE.

I made these ornamentw with my daycare kids.  I used the clear plastic ornament balls from Michaels and glittered the insides.  Then I took a photo copy of a photo and mod podged it to the outside of the ornament.  I used stickles to outline the photo.


For this ornament, I painted the children's hands (minus the thumb) white and had them wrap their hand around the blue ornament.  The fingers are the snowmen!  I used stickles for the details.  We gave these to mom for Christmas this year.


My friend gave me a package of mini ice cream cones and I spray painted them gold and glued a mini ornament to the top.  I let the kids glue gems to the ball.

We make ornaments every year to decorate the daycare Christmas Tree!

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Santa's Woods Layout

Here is another laser cut-look layout.  This time, I did not use the photo cut outs, but instead used a title cut out.  To see a tutorial on how I make my laser cuts, just click HERE.

This is our 4th year going to Santa's Woods to cut down a tree for Christmas.  We usually go the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  First we ride a tractor out to where Santa is.  Then we ride a horse drawn carriage out into the forest.

I used the tree from Christmas and made it four different sizes.  I added green stickles to the edges of the trees.

The logo of Santa's Woods is a sleigh with Santa and a Christmas tree in it pulled by reindeer.  I took this Santa image from Christmas and welded a tree into the sleigh.

I gave Rudolph a red stickls nose.
I used Don Juan for the font.  I am trying to simplify my layouts and not use every photo just because I take them!  Seriously ~ I have about 15 other shots I could have used, but I think these 4 tell the story just fine!