Just Sew!

Give Them Something From the Heart This Valentine's Day - Buy a Cricut!

  
      Happy Valentines' Day and  welcome to another fun Theme Day@ My Cricut Craft Room! Today Erica asked us to use the theme "Just Do It" so I decided to showcase a craft I love and have the opportunity to pass on to my grand daughters: Sewing!!! For Christmas I bought my oldest 2 GD's their very own sewing machines so we spent some quality time learning how to use it. I decided to make a layout to capture this major milestone. (I think so anyways, lol).

Mia, Cecilia and Alexis

Just Do It!!!

     The above picture shows Mia with her machine and she was just too excited to learn. To make this lay out I started by making my own background paper by using the Imagine Cart Heirloom. This paper pattern can be found on page 10. I flood filled it but decided to trim all edges by 1/2" on all sides and adhered it to a solid background paper. What a fun paper to work with! Let me break down the elements I added.

     This frame is on the Imagine More cart on page 12. I print and cut @ 2.5" however I also separated the layers so I could use the spools of thread. The spools had to be resized to 3.5" since I wanted to use them separately and not just to layer on the frame.I also wrapped some thread around the spool to give it a realistic look. I also layered this on a chevron paper for the background. Just a word about the journaling, I always write it in pencil first and then go over with ink so I don't have to worry about making a mistake. After the ink is dry I just erase the pencil marks.

     These are the extra threads I added to fill some white space. The buttons are a Tim Holtz embellishment as well as the card with hooks.I love to add dimension to my projects so I added some satin braid and I-Rock studs to the corset.

     In order to balance out this page, I took some of the pics I had taken and used them as "buttons" to fill the top "white" space. I lovehow this looks and plan to use this on more future LO's. By the way, this is the sewing machine I bought my GD's. It's by Michey and is the perfect size and model for these girls. They are 6 and 8 years old and this is perfect for them!

      I thought this would be perfect for this page. The graphic is from Word Collage but I used the color palette from Heirloom so I knew it would match. The graphic was cut and printed @ 3".

     I never realized there were so many images to choose from on my Cricut carts, lol. This phrase is from Nursery Rhymes and I cut it @ 2.5" then added some Distress Inks. I also pulled out some of my button brads. How can you possibly sew without scissors?

     Oh look, there were some on Cricut Everyday cart!!! I cut all the layers with different colors and added a brad for the "screw" on the scissors. I think I cut these at 1.75".
    Well there you have it , I just immortalized my cuties with their first step into sewing!!! Cecilia is the youngest one but it looks like she was really taking it all in. What did they make you ask? Pants for their American Girl dolls of course and they did a fabulous job for the first time!
     That's all for my project for today. Be sure to hop back over to My Cricut Craft Room and see what other surprises we have for you. By the way: Happy Love Day!!!!!!
     You can see the machine they are using Michley LSS-505 Desktop Sewing Machine (Google Affiliate Ad)

    

Shrinky Dink Heart Checkers

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       Welcome all my new followers! For Imagination Monday the design team must use either an Imagine, CCR or the Expression 2. I love to use my Imagine to choose my background papers as well as the Imagine More cart. Last week I showed you how to make a card for a guy using the Vintage Papers cart and to make chess pieces. This week I went a step further and used the same cart but chose the checker board paper and shrinky dink material!

     First I started with a basic shape from Imagine More cart and then edited to add the checker board background cut @ 3.75". I also cut a solid piece of charcoal card stock @ 4". I inked all the edges with Black soot distress ink and adhered to a 4.25" base for my easel card.

     Now for the hearts. You can use any heart shape that you have on your carts. I measured the square to see what size I needed to end up with. When using shrinky Dink material you need to cut it 3x bigger than you need since it shrinks down 2/3 of what you need. I cut my hearts @ .75" so I ended up about .25". They fit perfect! This is the settings I used however depending on which machine you use, you may have to make some adjustments: Deep cut blade @ 6, speed 3, pressure 5 and multicut x 2. I did use my E2 and was very pleased with how smooth it cut.

     The black hearts are cut from black material and the "white" were cut from cream color and then inked with Festive Berries distress ink. All I had left to do was add a sentiment with a Hero Arts stamp.

     I hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day. Now by sure to pop back over to Erica's @

http://mycricutcraftroom.blogspot.com/ to see what the rest of the team has to show you.

Your My Checkmate

       Today the Design Team were to make a Valentines' Day card or use Distress Inks on their card.
         I chose to make both a "Love" card and use distress inks for a truly masculine card. After you see the details, be sure to check back at My Cricut Craft Room and see what the other members have to show you.

     I started with an easel card out of card stock. Since the card is 4.25" I used my Imagine to choose a square from the Imagine More shapes @ 4" and cut my first mat from charcoal card stock. I cut my background paper @ 3.75". I used the Vintage Papers pattern cart to have the background paper of chess pieces. Next I used Tim Holtz' paper distresser to rough up the edges and then inked with Pumice Stone ink.
     Now the fun begins! Using recollections colored core paper pad I cut the horse head @ 1.5". This image can be found in the Ornamental Iron cart under Font 1, it's on page 66. I also used the shadow feature. I flipped the shadow cut since it was a double sided card stock and the colors matched perfectly.
     The pawn can be either the one on page 64 or 65. It is a finial! I then used a cuttlebug folder. You can use any one that will give you a pounded metal look. After dry embossing the pieces I sanded them lightly with a sanding block and then inked with Antique Linen for an antiqued look.

     You can see how the inks really give a distressed look especially if you do some embossing.

     The tag was also cut from the Imagine More and layered. I pulled out some Just Rite stamps and made my own sentiment "You are my checkmate". I also had some rub ons and added the sentiment from Elizabeth Barrett Browning. A few gems for the corners and I am done. This card is perfect for Valentines' Day, Anniversary, Birthday etc. I think this is a keeper. Do you give your special guy cards? I'd love to know!

Got Chocolate?

     Ericas Craft Room Challenges. I just had to enter this challenge when I saw the colors. Are you ready to have your mouth water?

     I don't know what I love more, using up some scraps or having the use of some amazing patterns in the Imagine cartridges, lol. For this wonderful chocolate image I used the Imagine Everyday cart. Doesn't it just make your mouth water?
     I used the Imagine More scalloped oval cut @ 3'' and chose the chocolates. I also cut out a solid brown piece of card stock cut @ 3.5". Both images were inked with walnut stain (think chocolate glaze, lol).
     The rest is fairly simple: a few scrap strips and some journaling. The background pink card stock is embossed with the hearts cuttlebug folder and I used some rain drops in the top corner.
     C'mon let's see what you can come up with. I'd love to see your creations!

Designers' Calendar

     Welcome to my very first Erica's Design Team project. I am delighted that you stopped by. Grab a cup of coffee and let's talk Cricut! On this day you could use the Imagine, Cricut mini or the Expression 2. I used both the Imagine and the E 2.
     You will need magnetic vinyl, printable vinyl and solid vinyl in various colors as well as Designers Calendar cart and a deep cut blade and housing.

       I have found it so much easier to apply the vinyl to the magnet vinyl before I cut out the shapes.This is especially helpful if you do a shadow layer for your project. I used the Cricut alphabet that came with the E2 to cut my numbers. They were all cut @.75 but I think if I did this again I would make them smaller.* Just be careful the font you choose. You want a fairly stable font. You could probably use Base Camp etc.
     The settings to cut this are: Speed 3, Pressure 5, Blade 6 and multiple cuts 4.
     You need to cut: 14-1's,13 2's, 5-3's,4-4's, 3 each of 5,6,7,8,9,0's. ( Don't you love it when someone else figures out the math, lol).

      I realized after cutting all these #'s that it would be a pain to move them all around every month (another one of those monthly curses!) so I decided to put them on a magnetic stamp shape. I used Elegant Edges @ 1.25" (its 2nd row down, 4th from the right and shift key. I cut these the same way as the #'s adhering the vinyl to the magnetic vinyl as before.
     I LOVE to try new products and, as luck would have it, I had just received my order for Glimmer Glaze by Tattered Angels in. This one is Fuzzy Coconut which is a copper color. So I decided I should try it out on this project. Ohh I like it.!!! To make sure the numbers stayed put I used some really small glue dots to the numbers. Those things aren't going anywhere! Are you ready to see the months?

 
     Before I cut these out I did some test cuts on paper because they weren't all proportional. Here is the list I came up with however you may want to tweak it to fit your needs: Jan.,Feb.,May,July, Aug., and Sept., were @1.5". April was cut @ 1.25" and June,Oct., Nov., Dec., @ 1.0".
     I used the printable vinyl in my Imagine and Snapshot Nature for Jan., March, May and September. The months of Feb and April I used Imagine More cart. You do have to print and cut the months separate from the magnet vinyl for this part. I also cut the other months from various solid vinyl before placing on the magnetic vinyl. I really like cutting it all at once on the magnetic vinyl because it is so much easier and you don't have to "play" getting it to line up right.

   Here you have the completed project. Now go grab another cup of  coffee and head over to My Cricut Craft Room and see what the other DT members have to show you.My Cricut Craft Room

Believe Tag With Tim Holtz

     I am so excited how this tag came out! This was tag #10 in Tim Holtz 12 Tags Of Christmas. The main technique for this one centered around making a transparency with packing tape! I'll explain more about this later. First I'll begin with the basics for this tag.
     I made my own tag using the  Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge.The tag was cut @ 6.25" but, where did that beautiful sheet music come from you ask. Well the Imagine More cart and my Imagine. I have big plans for this machine in the new year. There is a beautiful gold sheen on this tag which the picture does not do it justice. This is accomplished with a mist of Tattered Angels Heirloom Gold. The corners also have a heat embossed filigree design using distressed ink in peeled paint and a gold embossing powder. To complete the tag I used Tim's paper distresser and then inked the sides with Antique Linen distress ink by Ranger.
     I am fortunate enough to have the Expression 2 by Provo Craft but must admit with the holidays I haven't had much of a chance to use it, that is, until now. The machine comes preloaded with the Cricut Alphabet so I decided this font was perfect for the letters in "Believe". I used a scrap piece of paper from DCWV because the colors were just perfect. I ran the letters through my Xyron "X" which made it so easy to attach the letters.

     Here is the best part of this tag, the acrylic charms! I used the seasonal stack from Tim Holtz for the images. This is by far the easiest transfer I have ever made. First, you cut out the image you are going to use and then place a piece of clear packing tape over the image.Next place the image in a bowl of luke warm water for about 30 sec or until the paper begins to separate from the back.You want to gently rub the back to remove the paper leaving the image affixed to the tape. Once it is dry you want to lay it down on the sticky side of a piece of foil tape. Just a word about this.I used foil tape I had on hand from Home Depot. This is not a good choice. The reason is that by removing the paper from the image, it should allow the metal to show thru for a wonderful vintage look. Be sure you purchase one that when you  remove the paper on the foil   it has a metal colored backing. The foil tape I have was white on the back once the paper was removed. This still looks good but would have been great had I used the right foil. Since I made this tag I have noticed the type Tim used where the Tim Holtz line is located in my Michaels. I think it is by Essentials.
     To adhere the image to the front of the charm you will need to apply a small amount of glossy accents to the charm and then burnish the image to the charm. After this dries you just trim it with either scissors or an Exacto knife. I finished the edges off with a gold foil pen.

     As you can see I attached these to the tag with small brads and some twine. In order to complete the look I used some small gold bells that I attached with some raffia. However it some how did not look complete. I rummaged through my supplies and found this twig of red berries and they just seemed to go perfect. Guess I will be doing a lot more transparencies this year, lol. You should really give this a try.

Best Hand Made Soap Ever!

  Since the weather here has been so cold and dreary lately and since I have several gift occasions coming up (thank you's, house warmings, and just thinking of you gifts) I decided to make some home made gifts. OMG! My cyber friend Audrey had this recipe for home made soap so I thought I'd give it a try. This is so wonderful and easy to make. You can find the recipe here: http://cuteandsome.blogspot.com/2011/04/its-earth-day-gabys-happy-birthday-blog.html.
     Not only was it fun to make, it made the house smell wonderful! I decided to package up the first bottle as a Thank you for a friend of my daughters. I watch 3 of my grand children 2 days a week. The oldest one is in school so I have to drop him off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon. The morning isn't bad because it's a drive through however, in the p.m. you have to go into the school to retrieve him. It's not bad but in the beginning of the year the baby was still in an infant carrier so it just killed my back. This kind lady offered to get Mattie so I wouldn't have to take the other 2 inside. I jumped at the chance since this winter was so brutal it certainly made my life easier. Anyway I wanted to give her a small token of my appreciation so, what better way than a nice personal gift.

     Audrey's recipe gives you the option of adding fragrant or not (it really doesn't need it) but I had some soap fragrances so I did add some. This particular one has an almond fragrance but some have a Lily of the Valley essence. I also added a silk flower stem to the bottle while filling it. After i hand wrote this tag I found a stash of Wilton tags that you can print on the computer so the others have a printed tag. I added a nice sheer fabric to the bottle top and decorated with silk flower.
     Now that I have my Imagine back, I made a Thank You card using Lori's Garden. The background paper is also done on the Imagine using Imagine More cart. ( Hint, I used this pattern on the wedding invitations I am dying to show you, lol).

     Finally I put it all together in a cute little gift bag. (or so I thought!). I had picked up a package of 12 bags for $1 @ the dollar store. They are so flimsy. I make much better ones using my cricut and my own card stock. Somethings you just shouldn't skimp on, lol.
     As a side note: I had a little soap left over but not enough to fill a bottle so I put some in a heart dish near my sink. When my grandson saw it he asked to try some. He must have washed his hands ten times just so he could use the soap. His verdict: "wow Mema this soap makes your hands so soft and it smells so good !". He actually asked to take a bottle home. Looks like I'll be making more soap in the future. Gotta love those 7 year olds!!!
  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

     We had our St. Patrick's Day meal a day early since I have to work tomorrow. The menu was: corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, a new Irish bread recipe ( it was so good, thanks Trish!) and lime jello for dessert. I love the red brisket rather than the gray. I realized years ago that if you add 5 peppercorns and 2 garlic cloves to the water you never have a salty corned beef and it just pulls apart. Yummm!

     The challenge at Just Us Girls this week was to try a new technique: acrylic smash! There is a great tutorial at Splitcoaststampers.com. I also combined this with a challenge on the circut circle blog where you had to show your green.
     I chose to cut the acrylic piece using my Imagine and the image is one preloaded on the machine. The white card stock is cut with the same 3" image. For my "smash" part I used an adirondack gold dabber and the stamp is from studio G stamped in forest green StazOn ink.
     The plaid background paper is from DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy. I wanted a soft green so the image of the shamrocks would stand out. The gold shamrocks are cut using the Celebrate With A Flourish cartridge @ 1.5".  I love this shiny gold it's a scrap I had left over (I think from a Christmas project).
     The sentiment is also from the studio G stamp set that I backed with green card stock cut using a spellbinders die. Of course I had to use some ribbon and the beautiful gradient jewels from Creative Charms.

     The inside says "Everyone is Irish for a day". Originally I was going to use these shamrocks on the front but I decided to go with the gold instead so I thought, what the heck, I'll put these on the inside, lol. Hope you all enjoy being Irish for the day. Top 'O the Day to ya!!!

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