Back to School Project.....

I can't believe my son is a SENIOR this year!!  My baby, a Senior! (where are my tissues)  I also can't believe that they have been in school almost a month already.  Some schools don't start until after Labor Day!  I'm all for that! 

I wish that I knew what I know about digital crafting and I had my FAVORITE tool, my Silhouette Cameo!  I would have been a major crafting momma. My kiddos would have been lacking nutrition and attention.  I can imagine how it might have been. 

Kids:  Mom, I'm hungry
Me:  Not now, I'm crafting
Kids: But Mom, you said that yesterday, I haven't eaten in two days.
Me:  I'm almost done, what's one more day gonna do?
Kids:  Can we got out to play
Me:  Sure!  Have fun!

No, not really!!!  I would have Never (wink wink) done that!  Actually when they were little almost every minute was devoted to them.  Not sure that was good or not, I stayed stressed most of the time.  I think EVERY mommy needs some "me" time!  Boy the things I would have done different!

Miss Mint at Peppermint Creative has been a very busy bee!  She is busting new kits out like crazy.  I was alittle worried I wouldn't be able to keep up because my computer crashed.  I don't know if you have experienced that, but it isn't fun at all!

 

 

When I saw this kit, Little Learner, I knew immediately what I was going to do!  I use to love playing Memory with my kids when they were younger.  So I thought I would make a game for a teacher friend of mine to give to her kiddos in her class.

 

 

For this project I used the new kit, Little Learner!  

 

 I used the Silhouette Studio Edition to design the cards and the cute box they go in.  For the fronts I used most the bolder elements and used the composition paper for the backs.  I also cut out a third layer from a cereal box.  It was perfect thickness and gave the pieces some sturdiness.  You can use chipboard if you would like, but it is more expensive. 

 

Here is the setting I used to cut out the cereal box.  My mat was almost new so it didn't require any extra taping down.  Speed - 1, Blade - 7, cutting mat checked and double cut checked.

 

 

For the box I modified a box file I got from The Cutting Cafe'.  I used paper from the same kit to make the top and bottom of the box.  The tag was also designed in Silhouette Studio Edition. 

 

 

 Here is a closer look at the elements used for the "memory" part of the game.

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Miss Mint at Peppermint Creative blog is going to give this away as a freebie cutting file.

The Cutting Cafe Blog Hop...Pumpkin Trio

This post is bitter sweet.  This will be my last post for The Cutting Cafe' for a while. (sniff sniff)  I have done two terms and it's my turn to sit out for a while.  I can't begin to tell you how much being a part of the design team and helped improved many aspects of my life.  Not to mention making new friends that will hopefully last a life time.

This is also my first BLOG HOP.  I hope that I'm doing it right!  After reading my post, hop on over to Melisa Waldorf's blog, Paperlicious Designs to see the next project.  Leave a comment here on my blog for a chance to win the set that I used.

For my last project (and Blog Hop), I used the Pumpkin Trio.  I love fall and I can't wait for it to get here.  I love the colors, the pumpkins, the smells and the cooler weather.  I decided to only use one of the pumpkins from the set. 

I love using craft cardstock.  The polka dots were designed in the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition.  I designed  it with two layers so that you can change the color polka dots if you want to.  You can get it here.

  Just click on each layer to change colors.  I haven't tested it, so I hope it works

You can see the layers here.  Regina already has made the file where you can print the

 extra layers.  She has made it so easy for us.  I love this lady.  I'm so going to miss being a part of the team.  Let me grab some tissues...(still sniffing!) 



Here is the sentiments that come with this set. 

This card was made by Regina Easter, owner of The Cutting Cafe'.  Isn't it waaaay cute?

Don't forget to leave a comment to win this set.  I will pull a name on Saturday and you will be contacted by Regina to get your free set.  Don't forget to leave your email address.

Now hop on over to the other blogs, Melissa's is next!

Regina Easter
Rose Miller

Sheryl Wilder
Jeri Thomas
Rhonda Zmikly
Tmika Miller

Flowerdisco Agnes

Barbara Burgess
Lisa Minkcler

Audrey Long

Leslie Foley
Mary Ann Guth
Tanya Alley (you are here)
Melisa Waldorf
Krista Norman

Thanks so much for stopping by my little creative space!!

A Girl Can't Have Enough Purses........

What girl doesn't love purses.  You can't ever have too many.  I am pretty good about getting a good one and using it until it falls apart.  One of my favorite brands is Fossil.  The one I have now, I've been using for two years and bought it on clearance.  This weeks project was really fun. 

For this week's project at The Cutting Cafe' we were able to choose from these two sets:
ASSORTED PURSE BOXES or the PURSE SHAPED CARD AND TREAT BOX

 

Here are some of the printable invites that come with the Purse Shaped Card and Treat Box

 

(disclaimer~lol~computer crashed, camera died and this is a horrible picture...I'm very sorry and will try to never let this happen again) 

 

Here is the inside of the purse invite (again, sorry for the picture)

 

I still wanted to share my project. 

I love this cute purse.  Regina at The Cutting Café has really come up with some really cute purse templates.  Go here and here to see some of her cute purse ideas.

 

Here is a sneak peek of one:  I couldn't help but to share.

Made by Regina - Owner of The Cutting Café

 

Don't forget to go by The Cutting Café blog to see the other design teams projects and to leave a comment for a chance to win free sets!!!

 

When Glass Doesn't Etch, What Do You Do? ......Put Vinyl On It!

A friend of my from work gave me this AWESOME jar.  How exciting, something else to etch!  Just in time for my August Silhouette Project (so I thought).  I prepared my jar, cut my stencil, applied the stencil, piled on the etching only to find it would not etch.  UGH!  I was disappointed and frustrated.  I couldn't figure out why it didn't work, after all, I did the same thing I did on the other glass projects.  So I tried it again, only to have the same results.  Come to find out there is something in some glass that doesn't allow it to etch.

Never fail, vinyl to the rescue!!   I just took the part of the stencil I was not using for the etched part and applied that to the jar!  It wasn't what I originally wanted to do on the jar, but it still turned out pretty good (so I thought)   My son's girlfriend thought it was pretty cute (he thought it was dumb ~ but what do guys know!)

 

She wouldn't tell me what was her favorite candy "stache", so I filled it with alittle of everything!

 

Just thought I share, hope ya like it!

 

Oh and here is a recent picture of them.....First day of his Senior Year and her Junior year! 

 

 

Aren't they cute!?! 

 

Thanks for stopping by my creative space!

It's Time to Try a New Craft Medium

August Silhouette Challenge ~ Etched Glass

 

 

For this month's challenge, I decided to try etching.  I have always liked the look, but too scared to try.  It did take a couple of tries to get it right, but I finally got it.  In the following tutorial I will share how I did it.

 

Supplies

Armour Etch - Hobby Lobby

Glass Candle Holder - Dollar Tree

Vinyl - Hobby Lobby

Transfer Tape - Silhouette Brand

Sponge brush - Wal-Mart

Latex gloves

First I did a google search for pumpkin clip art and found this cute pumpkin.

I then measured the candle holder to see what size I needed to size my pumpkin for my project.

      

Now you will open Silhouette Studio and do a copy and past.  Once the image in on your screen, you need to size it to the measurements you took earlier.   To outline the pumpkin so that it will have cutting lines around the pumpkin, you need to pick the select trace area.  Now un-check the High Pass filter and move the threshold over until the pumpkin is entirely highlighted.  Now you will pick the trace outer edge.

If you do not do the steps shown above when you choose the Cut Style Window it would show you a red square around the pumpkin.  This is because the trace option steps weren't done.  When you got ready to cut, it would just cut a square out.

After you select the trace outer edge, you can grab the colored pumpkin and pull them apart.  I did this just to show you the cut area.  You won't be needing to have color because you are going to cut it on vinyl. (there will be not printing for this project)  So either pumpkin with cut lines shown would work.

At this time I would check my cut lines and chose cut edge. 

Now it's time to cut.  Choose the cut settings by choosing the pencil at the top right of the page.  Pick the media that you are cutting, you will choose vinyl.  It will show you where you need to adjust your blade setting to.  Cut your vinyl to size and put it on your cutting mat, Load mat and hit cut.

1.  Weed out the inside of the pumpkin

2.  Take the transfer tape and add it to the top of the weeded pumpkin.  Make sure that it smoothed out well. 

3.  Now lift off the transfer tape with the weeded vinyl and lay it on your candle holder. 

This part you will want to make sure that you rub the image down VERY well.  Make sure that you get all bubbles out.  If you do NOT have it rubbed down well, the etching cream will leak through and ruin your project.  Trust me, it happened to me twice.  Third time was a charm.

4.  Remove the transfer tape and get ready for the next step.

  





 Be sure to read the instructions before getting started.  Also wear a pair of latex gloves to protect your hands from the chemicals in the etching cream.  After reading the instructions, with the sponge brush, apply a generous amount of etching cream.

Let the cream sit for 6 min.  Letting it stay on any longer doesn't help.  It stops the process at 6 min.  after that, you are just taking chances of the cream leaking through the vinyl.  Now just rinse it of in the sink.  At first it will look like nothing has happened.  Remove the vinyl and dry off, you will then see the etched image. 

Here is a sample of what happens when you do not make sure the vinyl is firmly pressed down.

Once it has leaks through, it's no good.  You will have to try again. 

Here is what the final one turned out like!  There is a piece of orange card stock to show you the details of the etching.

Much better!!

I do have the file if you would like to use it to create your own candle holder.  It's late and I can't figure out how to post it here.  I will have it posted tomorrow.  Sorry.

Here is another one that I designed.  Hope you like it.  It can be used for all seasons.  I'm going to put some coffee beans at the bottom and the candle at the top.  For Christmas, you can add glitter with snowflakes and a red candle.  I hope I can find the right size candles, I haven't been able to yet.

 

For the scroll part, I found it here.  I modified it a bit, but I got the original stencil from All Things Thrifty!  Thanks Brooke for the free pattern.

I did find out that not all glass will etch.  I had this tall cylinder bottle someone gave me and my plan was to put  "Schyler's  Stache (with the actual mustache cut out) on it.  It just would not etch.

I decided to put vinyl on it instead.  I'll post a picture of it tomorrow if you would like to see it.

One Last Picture

 

If you would like the free cutting files for this project you can get pumpkin here and Joy here!

ENJOY!

And if you'd like to check out some more Silhouette creations, here's a collection of projects by my Silhouette Challenge buddies....

Using Silhouette Studio as a Graphics Programme by Get Silvered

Hymn Art by Unoriginal Mom

D.I.Y. Wedding Invitations by Create & Babble

Pow! Superhero Party Decorations by Lil Mrs. Tori

Family Photo Tile & A Free Cut File by My Favorite Finds

They said yes! Bridesmaid Proposal Box by Everydaypaper

Home on the Range: An Accent Pillow by Suburble

"Keep Calm" Onesie by The Thinking Closet

August Silhouette Challenge Project by Give Me a Paintbrush

Fancy Powder Room Sign by Joy & Gladness of Heart

How to Organize Cards & Photos by Super Sweet Life

Milk Jug Crayon Bucket by It Happens in a Blink

The Gold and Beautiful by The House on Hillbrook

My First Silhouette Project: A Vinyl Chicken Decal by Life After Laundry

A Stache Bash Part 1 by Home at Eight

One Shoe Can Change Your Life by An Elegant Touch

Washi Tape Wall Art by Tried & True

Washi Tape & Vinyl Sign by Tossed Salad Life

  Interested in joining us for our group posting event next month?  We'd love to have you.  Simply contact Lauren from The Thinking Closet by email.

Check Out The New Boardwalk Kit , LIP Edition and Jazzers from Peppermint Creative

Check out this new kit at Peppermint Creative.  It's perfect for your summer pages or your hybrid projects  (invites, parties, etc.)   It has something for ice cream, swimming, going to the beach, and even your back yard.  Go here to check them all out.

 

 

Scroll down to see the hybrid card and the scrapbook page that I made using a combination of these kits.

This is a Sneak Peek of the LIP KITS

 

I love the Jazzers, you can you them in the regular kit or with the LIP and the Title and filler cards.

Here is a Birthday card invite that I made for my friend's sons birthday party.  He's having a pool party and turning 8.

 

 

I used my Silhouette Cameo and the Designer edition software to design this card.  I used the

 LIP KIT: Boardwalk Heat Edition 4x6" Journal & Filler Cards

I also cut chip board to layer the Pool Party square and the circle with the 8 in it.  I like to do this for dimension.

 

 

I also made this cute page using the Board walk kits and jazzers.  Since we didn't get to go on vacation this year, my friend, Diane graciously allowed me to use pictures of her vacation with her family.  The pictures are so sweet. 

 

 

It's been sooooo long since I've worn a dress.....

 

I can't remember the last time that I wore a dress.  Not that I don't like them,  I  just have to get up and down off of my chair and do a lot of bending at work.  So.....NO dresses for me!

For The Cutting Cafe's project this week, we had to use the All About Girls Set.  This set is so cute and so versatile.  Any thing you can image making for a little girl (or big girl), you can do with this set. 

This card could be an invite for your bridesmaids, a Sweet 16 card, a Thank You card to your bridesmaids, a Girls Night out card, etc.  I would so pick out a polka dot dress if I could, so of course, I used the polka dot paper from silhouette studio.   The other dress in the set would make and cute little invite to a baby shower, congrats card or a Thank You baby card.  Also, the onesie would make such a cute banner for a baby shower, along with the invites, thank you's, etc.  The possibilities are endless.

I added a few layers to get that "ruffle" feel. 

 

This ALL ABOUT GIRLS printable stamp set features 60 images.

You can purchase this set in black and white or in color.

You can also purchase both the black and white version and colored version at a discounted price.

This set comes in both PDF and JPEG format.

 

 

 

These are just some of the images and sayings out of this adorable and versital set.  Don't you just love them!?!

 

Don't forget to stop by The Cutting Café to check out the rest of the Design Team's projects and leave a comment to win free sets.