Off the Rails Challenge Blog

I have just joined a Design Team!!  I have known Amanda Sousa for several years.  She asked me to join her brand new Challenge Blog as a DT Member!  I am super excited!!!

You can see the blog Off the Rails HERE!

Our first challenge starts November 29th and it is Acetate!!  Acetate is fun and can be cut on a die cut machine or with a Sizzix.  You can use vinyl on it or adhere paper.  I can't wait to see what you make with it (I know what I am going to try)!!

At The Zoo (Let's Scrap)

If you are looking for my Baby Mini Album that is featured at The Buckle Boutique, please go HERE.

Today I am featured at Let's Scrap!  Let's Scrap is a ning site with tons of talented scrapbookers and cardmakers from all over the world!  We have weekly sketches and challenges - I have created so many layouts since I joined the Design Team in September!!!  You should stop by and check it out!!

This week, the sketch challenge is below:

I just received a new pack of paper from Frosted Designs - Thataway Collection from Studio Calico.  I really liked the patterns with my zoo theme!!

I used my Zink Happy printer to print photos from my cell phone - which worked out great as I forgot my "good" camera!!  I love the borders and ability to type words on the pictures!!  Note the 5x7 photo is a mosaic puzzle!!  This is the Zink BIG app!

I used some Studio Calico stickers and die cuts to embellish my layout and create my title.

 I used twine (with a couple of knots) across the border on the bottom of my page.

I am really outside of my box with this layout - no cameo or cricut at all!!!!

Baby Mini Album

I am so excited to be featured at The Buckle Boutique Blog today!!!

I made a baby mini album to give as a gift.  I cut 4 pieces of chipboard into 5x7 rectangles for my pages.  I covered each page with scrapbook paper and adhered them with ATG tape.

I used Rhinestone Adhesive Sticker Sheets from The Buckle Boutique for "baby" on the cover.  You can get more information (or purchase some) HERE.

These are awesome - you can cut them in your Cricut Machine, Pazzles, Big Shot, Cuttle Bug and more!  The crystals are gel so you can totally cut on a curve!!

I use my Cricut to cut my letters.  I used my Gypsy to reverse the letters (you want to cut the paper backing side not the gel crystal side) and used my Deep Cut blade set to 5.  I just popped them out of the cuts and peeled off the paper backing!

I used images from the Nursery Tail cartridge and my Cricut Imagine for the embellishments.

I cut my photo mats to either 4.25 x 4.25 or 4.25 x 6.25 to fit photos.  I pop dot the embellishments in the corners to mom can slide the corner of the photo under.

More from Nursery Tail.

These cuts came from the Online Silhouette Store.  I put a pocket in my mini albums so mom can journal and add extra photos inside.

I used my Bind-It-All to bind the album.

I just love the sparkly title of my album!!!

The Buckle Boutique's Link Listing

The Buckle Boutique's Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . clickHERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . clickHERE

Shadow Box Gift (Sewing)

Hello and Happy Veteran's Day!  I want to say thank you to the vets and their families who fight (and support those who fight) for the freedoms that we enjoy!!

This is Lori from Scrappin' My Stress Away and I am excited to be on The Bug Bytes blog today!!

I have been working on some Christmas gifts for family and friends.  I saw an idea on facebook that was perfect for my step-mom who loves to quilt.

I purchased this phrase from the Online Silhouette Store.  Using the vinyl settings, I cut it out in red vinyl.

I purchased an 8x10 shadow box at Michaels.  I transferred the vinyl to the glass of the shadow box.

I found this image online:

I printed it on a piece of Square 1 Masterpiece 8 1/2 x 11 printable adhesive back fabric.  I trimmed it to 8x10 and adhered it to the back of the shadow box.  Good thing it is repositionable since I put it on upside down (so the hooks on the back would not work if she wanted to hang it).  I was able to peel it off and put it on the right way!!

This product is a safe alternative to vinyl and easy to work with.  If you want more information on it or want to order some, just go HERE.

I used glue dots to adhere some spools of thread from my grandmother's sewing kit on the inside. 

I included a card of buttons and a green wrapper from a needle along with another spool.  Since this gift is staying in the family, I did not mind using my grandmother's pieces.  Similar items can be found at flea markets.

I was really happy with the way it turned out.  I like the red because it will match her sewing room.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope I have inspired you a little!

Baby Gift (Vinyl)

A friend of mine just had a baby girl.  She is one of my daycare moms and I am so excited to have a girl coming!!!  We are boy heavy over here!  I have been wanting to make one of these Baby Subway Art Frames for a while now.

I found this float frame at Michaels on sale.  I removed the pictures and used goo gone to get rid of the sticky residue from the tape that held the pictures on the glass as well as the price tag.  I never understood why they put sticky labels on glass!!!

The dimension of this frame is 6" x 12", but the inner glass measures 5.5" x 11.5".

I put a rectangle on my mat sized to 5.5" x 11.5".

I opened a new Layer (while leaving the rectangle visible) and started putting some words and numbers on my mat.  I typically try out a couple of different fonts before I find what I want.

I ended up using Nursery Rhyme for: Mackenzie, Marie, and It's a Girl.

I used Plantin' Schoolbook for:  7pounds 9 oz and 21.5 inches.

I used Martha Stewart Elegant Cake Art for:  October 9, 2013.

I used the settings 3-3-3 for a kiss cut for my vinyl (Speed 3, Pressure 3 and Blade Depth 3).

Here are my tips for creating you own Subway Art:

Play with several types and sizes of fonts

Look at Pinterest for different ideas

If you need a comma or period, sometimes you need to use the semi colan and hide the piece you don't need

If you don't have a float frame, hot glue the glass to the back of the frame

Cut with paper first - especially if you only have one piece of vinyl to work with!

I used Cricut Transfer Tape to transfer the vinyl onto the glass then assembled the frame.

I sometimes use clear contact paper from the dollar store instead of transfer tape as it is not as sticky as the regular contact paper.  If I used regular contact paper, I "dirty" it up first by sticking it on my jeans so it is not super sticky.

Jingle Bell Tag

Well, it's that time of the year for gift gifting... and for many families that begins with the Thanksgiving holiday if you're trying to fit in all the families on both sides and extended ones.. so we've put together a great hop today with plenty of ideas to make those gift cards look like a million bucks! I personally love gift cards... no hassle in returns, wrong sizes, etc. and with the ability to buy cards for even Visa and/or MasterCard, how could your gift even be considered to be re-gifted!

They will surely find something they want or need.

For hopping today, we have a gift for some lucky person. 

A 17.95 value Close To My Heart Merry and Bright Holiday Stamp set. You'll have a great little set to make your Holiday cards, gift tags, or other décor. A winner will be chosen by Nov. 6th so I can get this in the mail and off to the winner in plenty of time!.

How to win? Comment on each blog and show our creative team some love please! If you're not a follower, you might want to be... this group does a hop every first Sunday so you won't want to miss what's in store! Be sure to leave a way to contact you as well!

Now let's get hopping! If you havent already, starting at Janet's Creative World is where it all begins and those awesome stamps are up for grabs!

For my project today, I used a file from the Silhouette Online Store - with a twist!

Here is my finished gift card holder.  I substituted a jingle bell for the Christmas tree.

Here are the pieces in my cut file.  The jingle bell also came from the Silhouette Online store.

Here is the card holder opened up.

I cut two bows, one I adhered to the card front under the bell, and the other I pop-dotted above the bell.  I tied some music note ribbon to the top and DONE!!

I love the card base and plan on using this file again and again!!!

Thanks for stopping over ~ now you're off to: Create A Latte!

I've posted the line-up in case you get lost... Happy Holidays!

Janet's Creative World

Loving Lifes Little Blessings

Scrapping My Stress Away

Create A Latte

Scapple Tree

Precious Pages by Paula

So Many Crafts. so Little time

Card Monkeys Paper Jungle

Nana's Scrap Spot 

Thanks for hopping with us today!

True {Pooh} Love

Happy November!!!  I hope you are not too full of candy from Halloween!!!!

Today at Let's Scrap, our challenge is to create a layout with:

Stamping

Misting

Embossing

Texture Paste

Brown and cream colors plus one additional color

To say this was challenging is an understatement!!!  I don't stamp much and have never used texture paste.  I have to say this was fun, even though it took me five times longer to create than my typical layout!!

I followed this sketch and adapted the card sketch into a one page layout.

I used a metalic Modeling Cream that I found at Hobby Lobby with a small brass stencil.

After the Modeling Cream dried, I use my Dylusions Cherry Pie to spritz some color on my paper.

For my embossing piece, I used this Sizzix chevron folder that I purchased from Stampin' Up.  The strip of paper was too long for the embossing folder.  It was going behind my photo, so I cut it in half and embossed the two halves.  I taped the strip back together and adhered it to my page.

I added some flowers and washi tape.

My title was cut from my Cameo.  I cut it out in brown vinyl and transferred it next to my photo.  Pooh has always been my very favorite Disney character!  We went to Walt Disney World last month!

I stamped some faux stitching on my layout at the top and bottom.

I love trying new things and since joining Let's Scrap, I have created several layouts and tried a few new techniques!!  I hope you come check it out!