Saturday, May 30, 2015

Father's Day Candy Bouquet

Hello Crafty Friends!! I am back with another handmade gift idea. As we know, Father's Day is just around the bend. I don't know about you but I am always plagued with the decision on what to get my my husband for Father's Day.

Getting him a tie would be pointless... his work attire is ultra casual and consists for the most part of polo shirts and jeans... yes, jeans... told you ultra casual! 
Then, there's cuff links... Shoot, the last time he wore a set we were getting married, and that was practically a decade ago.
T-shirts... nah!! He's got a closet full.
Cologne... uh-uh, I have a sensitive nose... poor thing wouldn't be able to wear it.

Ok, well if you're just like me and in a rut... there's always that age-old saying...
"The way to a man's heart is his stomach"!

And my hubby (aka... my babies' daddy) is no exception. That is fine by me because it always seems that I'm gifting someone FOOD and it "food gifting" has become of my specialties!

I decided I wanted to make him a candy bouquet but not just any candy bouquet a manly bouquet. Packed full of "GUY" treats like beef jerky, nuts, and ok, a little bit of chocolate... hahaha, who am I kidding... I'm stock piling it with behemoth sized servings of chocolate.. because that is just how I roll! LOL
 And then the icing on the cake... gift cards!! My children wanted to get involved and helped get daddy something special... so each of their cute little selves chipped in to buy their daddy some google play gift cards. How sweet are they?!!
My husband is a big computer geek so I know these are always a welcomed gift.


Here is what I used to make this Daddy Bouquet...

Tools and Supplies Used
Xyron Creative Station
Spellbinders Nestablities- Label Twenty-Five
Spellbinders Shapeablities - Damask Motifs
Cut'n'Boss Machine
Eclips Machine with ecal software
Craft Smith - Natural Luxury
Grafix Arts Metallic Silver Cardstock
Bazzill Basics Paper- Raven
Wooden Dowels
Transparent Tape
Green Styrofoam block
Ad-Tech Hi Temp Glue Gun and Glue Stick
True North Chocolate Nut Crunch
Reese's Big Cup Peanut Butter Cups
Jack Links Beef Steak Sticks
Polka Dot Tissue Paper
Powdered Drink Container



This project is another easy way to recycle all your old powdered drink mix containers, oatmeal canisters, or empty coffee cans. Just remove the paper label (if any) and clean out the inside and presto... instant base for your bouquet.

First thing I did was measure my container. There is a lip at both the top and the container... so make sure you measure from the inside of both lips. Mine measured 6.75" high  by 16" around. 

Then, I added at least two inches onto the circumference to allow my paper to overlap a bit when wrapping the can.

Since I don't have 18" paper I made 2- 6.75"x9" pieces instead.

I then ran both pieces through my Xyron Creative Station(with 9" permanent adhesive cartridge). And set aside.

I then used my Cut'n'Boss Machine to cut all my Spellbinders dies at once... Gotta love that extra large cutting platform!!


Cuts like butter every time!!


I ran all my die cut shapes through my Xyron Creative Station... this time using the 5" permanent refill cartridge. Love how this bad boy takes the place of 2 machines!


And the 5" cartridge still has plenty of space to run all my pieces at one time!! LOVE IT!


Next using my Sizzix Eclips and ecal I spelled out "DAD". 

 T

Since these are smaller I decided to use my smaller Xyron  2.5" Create-a-Sticker. My Xyron machines make creating a breeze. There's no drying time and virtually no clean up too!! Simplicity at it's best!


I used to hot glue my paper but ran into a couple of problems with the glue cooling too fast and leaving unsightly lumps under the paper or my paper. I like that I can just peel the backing and stick and that my surface looks and feels smooth!


I took all my small damask diecuts peeled and adhered them onto my label making one big sticker label.


Then placed it onto the front of my canister,


This the only place hot glue onto my project. I added a good amount of hot glue on the inside bottom of my container and added my styrofoam. If you can't fit your foam in try cutting down your edges before inserting.


Then I taped my dowels to all my treats, even the big bag if chocolate covered nuts. For the heavier items I made sure to give it a sufficient amount of tape to support all the weight. 


Then I inserted the dowels into the foam. I made sure to arrange the dowels so that they look like they are cascading or "tiered". You may have to cut some of you dowels down in order to achieve the stadium seating type arrangement. LOL


Lastly, I inserted tissue paper in between the dowels and down into the can ... covering the gaps and concealing all the dowels.


I hope you enjoyed this yummy gift idea.. my Father's Day "Man" Bouquet!!

See you all again next time!!

Happy Crafting!!

~Mitsy



Monday, May 25, 2015

Thankful Flower Card- Cut'n'Boss and Die-Namites

Hello Crafty Friends... I am really excited to get to start off Team Cut'n'Boss week with awesome dies from our May/ June sponsor... Die-Namites!! Their dies are just GORGEOUS and super detailed!! 

And, the WONDERFUL folks at Die-Namites will be doing an awesome GIVEAWAY for the first week of sponsorship!! How AWESOME is that?!! 

For today's project I made this simple yet beautiful thank you card... because we can be "thankful" all year long not just during the holiday season!


Tools and Supplies Used
Teresa collins Cut'n'boss (Craftwell)
Teresa Collins Diamond Motif Embossing Folder (Craftwell)
Teresa Collins Pocket Die- Thankful (Craftwell)
eBrush (Craftwell)
Spectrum Noir Markers ( CR1, CR5, CR6, CG4, BT6, TN4)
Cardstock (white, craft, coral, peach, green)
Glossy Accents (Ranger)
2-way Glue (EK Success)
Red & White Twine
Button




I first used my Cut'n'boss machine to cut both my Fluffy Branches and Thankful dies. I cut the Fluffy Branches out of coral cardstock and the Thankful out of a shimmery green cardstock. Both can be found in the open stock of your scrapbook/ craft store.

To cut my dies I used the following "sandwich" to cut my dies...

From Bottom to Top
D Plate
A Pate
Magnetic Plate
Metal Die
Paper
Metal Plate
A Plate

Since both dies are wafer thin dies and the Cut'n'boss machine has an extra large platform I can run both dies through at the same time! Awesome time saver!! Us moms are always grateful in saving time anywhere we can, right?!

Oh my gosh... cuts like BUTTER!!


Next I airbrushed my die cuts with my eBrush machine and Spectrum Noir Markers!!


First, I used Spectrum Noir in CR1 around the flower part of one of the fluffy Branches cut out.


Then, I layered CR5 and CR6 on the second Fluffy Branches cut out. I also ebrushed the top of the word Thankful with CR6.


Next, I layered on CG4 onto the leaves and stems of the branches. 
I also Layered CG4 and BT6 on the bottom half of Thankful.

Lastly, I ebrushed TN4 onto random areas and edges of my branches.


Once shaded I snipped one of my flower Die cuts in half and removed the leaf... the other I left alone. I set that aside for a quick second and embossed my card base.

Because , the thickness of wafer dies and embossing folders are totally different I needed a different sandwich combo...


To embossing with my Cut'n'boss I used the following sandwich combo...

From Bottom to Top
D Plate
A Pate
Embossing Folder with Paper 
A Plate

I  gave my pieces a quick run through my Xyron Creative Station... to ensure maximum hold. And pieced my card together. 

Before sticking my "thankful" die cut on I bent it in between each letter so that my word formed an arch. "Arching" my word adds a bit of whimsy to my project... don't ya think?! I then adhered it down with my glue pen. I then made a twine bow and topped it with a button and glued it down with some glossy accents.

And here is my finished card...


I only adhered the "cut" branches flat... 
If you notice, the flower branch on the top that is whole, I glued down the stems and laid them flat but curved the flowers and pulled them away from the card to add dimension.


This card was just so much fun! And the Die-Namites dies and Cut'n'boss dies and embossing folder go great together... Like peanut butter and jelly I'd say!!

Hope you enjoyed my project as much I enjoyed making it!! 



Friday, May 22, 2015

Life's a Breeze!

Hello crafty friends... I wanted to share with you a paper piecing a did a while ago but never got around to finishing up my project. have you ever got into a crafting funk... you visualize something in your head and it just doesn't come out the way you planned. Well, this is one of those times!!

And when you get in a funk sometimes the best thing to do is stop, step away, and come back later! Well my "later" got later and later... until a couple weeks later I finally remembered her... that's right, I plain, flat out forgot all about this little cutie!!



For this little lady I used the Sunshine Cuties set from KaDoodle Bug Designs. 


The eyes, nose and mouth are not included in this file. It is a personal file I hand drew and then turned into an svg file using the trace function in my ecal software. 


BTW... the sentiment in the above picture came from a stamp set called "Life's a breeze" from Pink and Main. And it is their free with purchase stamp set for the month of May. 


  I believe, the patterned cardstock with the clouds came from DCWV's "The Great Vacation" stack.
The rest of the papers were actually scraps I pulled from my stash. Eveb that rolling hill was even cut from a scrap piece I had saved from a project done back around Easter!! I love to save my scraps... waste not, want not...I always say!! Ok, who am I kidding?! Waste not, but still will want a whole lot... but will "need" a little less! Ok, that sounds more accurate.  


Of course I had to eBrush my little cutie...

I used Spectrum Noir FS4 for the skin. GB3 and GB4 for the yellows of her dress and apron. PP5 for her pink balloon, bow, shoes, and lips. TN7 on her hair.

Isn't she just so sweet?! I love how she came out!!


Additional Supplies Used
Glossy accents (Ranger)
2-way glue (EK Success)
Chalklets (EK Success)
XS PITT Artist Pen (Faber-Castell)
3D Dots (EK Success)
Xyron 5" Sticker Maker
Snow White Opaque Marker (Recollections)

Come back soon fot more paper piecing inspiration!!



Thursday, May 21, 2015

paper piecing with glossy cardstock and my eBrush

Hello crafty friends... 
For today's project I have ebrushed paper pieces. Usually when I ebrush my paper pieces I almost always start off with colored cardstock.  Today I tried something  different from my norm... not just because I'm using all white cardstock but because I using white GLOSSY cardstock!!


Tools & Supplies Used
eBbrush (with SN adapter)
Graduation Owl (KaDoodle Bug Designs)
Glossy Cardstock
Spectrum Noir Markers (EB3, TN3,OR1, IB4, TRUE BLACK, CG4)
Alpha Embossing Folder - Teresa Collins' Girls Best Friend Collection (Craftwell)
Xyron 5" Create-a-sticker
Stitched Pennant Stamp- Stitched Greetings (Pink and Main)
Smarty Pants Stamp (Pink and Main)
DCWV- The Countdown Stack
Lime Green Cardstock
3D Lacquer
XS PITT Artist Pen (Faber-Castell)
EK Success 2-way Glue Pen
VersaFine Onyx Black Ink Pad (Tsukeniko/ Imagine Crafts)
Sizzix Zigzag Frame Die (retired)

 Now, why glossy, you ask?? Well, here's  reasons I used glossy as opposed to regular matte cardstock...
1. Glossy cardstock is... well, GLOSSY!
It gives your work a very pretty shine and gives your projects, overall, a very "professional" look.
and...
2. When you color glossy cardstock it makes your colors more crisp and vibrant...At least that's my opinion, anyway. 

Here is what the process of ebrushing my paper pieces looks like...


1. I start by using my electric die cutting machine to cut all  my pieces from my glossy cardstock.
2. I used Spectrum Noir EB3 to color the head, body, and wings. Staying toward the outside of the pieces so my ebrushing gives the appearance of highlights.
3. With Spectrum Noir TN5 to color the mask area of the eyes. Again working around the edges of the piece. ebrushing a few layers over the ends to deepen the color. 
4. I used Spectrum Noir IB3 for the irises of the eyes. This time shading the whole piece.
5. Back to the same color for the mask of the eyes but only working around the edges.They look like two different colors completely just by differing the amount of layers.
6. I used Spectrum Noir OR1 to color the feet toes and beak. putting an extra couple layers on the beak... again making it appear like a different color.
7. I ebrushed the graduation cap and the centers of the eye in Spectrum Noir True Black. Working around the edges of just the cap because I want it highlighted in the center. 
8. Lastly, I used Spectrum Noir CG4 for the tassel and bow.


I used my glue pen to adhere all my pieces together...
And, as a final touch I hand drew eyelashes and put a few coats of 3D Lacquer over the centers of the eyes.
This was going on a card front and wanted it secure enough to hold all the weight of all my pieces. So I quickly ran it through my Xyron Create-a-Sticker. Making it nice and secure.

Added all my element to the front of my card and with stitched ribbon tied a bow!

And here is my finished card!!


 Closer view


Another Close-up

Hope you enjoyed my run down on how I make my paper piecings!!

~Mitsy


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Crafty Announcement time!

Hello Again, My Crafty Friends!!!

I'm stopping in again today with some super fabulous news!! I have been picked up by yet another design team!! EEEKK!!

Yup I'm certified CRAZY!! I was asked to be a part of the very first Brutus Monroe Design Team!! And this morning it was official... because I received this in my messages...

Yup!! I don't think it gets more official than that!! LOL

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Brutus Monroe Stamps you can get a little back story here...

Brutus Monroe is owned and run by Christopher Alan.

If you watch youtube and own a cricut explore you've probably seen his videos... you can view more of Christopher's videos here on his youtube channel!
 He has lots of cool tips and tricks not just for the cricut but  for other crafty goodies as well!!

I am so looking forward to being part of the Brutus Monroe Family!!

Wish me luck all!!



Bugs N Kisses

Happy Taco Tuesday!! Sorry, I've been watching the "Lego Movie" one too many times! Beside we're not having tacos today anyway!! LOL

Well, anywho... I've got an adorable cutie patootie card today... made with the uber cute "Bug N Kisses" set by Pink and Main!!

Love these little cuties dressed up like bugs! They are so sweet wearing their little socks and mary-janes! They always remind me of my little girls or even further back when my mom used to dress me up in mary-janes!! Too sweet!

The paper I used is from Craft Smith. The great thing about this company is that not only do all the papers in this stack match each other but other collection easily coordinate with it too! I have mixed this collection with their Tea Party and Natural Luxury Collections as well... and always ended with GORGEOUS results!! 
  
The die I used for the ornate square is manufactured by Darice. I was really pleasantly surprised at the quality of their dies. I had purchased this die set online and before then had no idea Darice made dies. The were extremely inexpensive. A set of 6 nested dies cost under $9. How awesome is that?!!


Of course I had to put a little bling on my card somewhere... so I scattered a few pink sequins here and there... these are just your everyday sequins I picked up in my bead/ jewelry making isle at the crafts store not the scrapbook section (if you label something "scrapbook supplies" companies tend to jack the prices up for some reason). There are lots of varieties, different sizes and colors... don't be afraid to venture out of the scrapbooking isles... you'll never know what kind of treasures you'll find!!

And for my super loopy bow... I tied 2- multi looped bows and tied together to make it seem huger than it really is!! 

Overall, I loved how this card turned out and all the yellows and oranges make me "HAPPY"! Have you ever noticed how bright citrus-y colors tend to do that! I have!!

Well Hope you enjoyed my card for today!!
Hope you have a HAPPY, CRAFTY sort of day!!

~ Mitsy

Supplies Used
Bug N Kisses Stamp Set (Pink and Main)
Nesting Square Die (Darice)
Embossing Folder (We R Memory Keepers)
Patterned paper ( Crafts Smith- Sweet Soiree)
Lt Yellow Polka-dot Paper (Play Shop Hawaii)
Momento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (Imagine Crafts/ Tsukineko)
Spectrum Noir Markers (GB4,GB5, OR1, CR3, CR5, FS4, FS5, FS6, FS8, TN4, & TN5)
Glossy Accents (Ranger)
Corner Punch (EK Success)
 XS PITT Artist Pen ( Faber-Castell)
Snow White Opaque Marker (Recollections)
Pink Sequins
Orange/ White Twine
Lt Yellow Embroidery Floss


Friday, May 15, 2015

Sweets For My Sweetie


Hello my crafty friends!! Today's tutorial is my first "Official" post for the Xyron Design Team!! Woohoo!! And as a special treat for myself I get to play with Xyron's brand spanking new Creative Station to make my Dear Ol' Hubby this canister of yummy goodness... Mmmmm...CHOCOLATE!!

I mean...Do you need a reason to randomly give a yummy gift to your significant other? I say “Nay”! Sometimes, just thinking about them is reason enough to do something special for them.

But for myself, I can’t just hand over a bag a chocolate and call it good. The packaging ends up being trashed without a second thought. But, before that even happens you’ll witness a partially eaten bag travel around the house... and if you have a house full of children, like I do, it gets crinkled and mangled in the process. So why not gift it in a storage solution that double as gift wrapping and candy container that is practical and appealing to the eye! And even better yet, using a recycled and upcycled plastic drink container!!

Tools and Supplies Used
Xyron Creative Station
Cut'n'Boss Die-cut Machine
DCWV Printed Cork Stack
Craft Smith Natural Luxury Paper Pad
Graffix Metallic Silver Cardstock
Cuttlebug Anna Griffin Flower Layer Cut & Emboss Die
Recollections Coordinates Black/White Twine
Martha Stewart Guillotine Trimmer
Cutter Bee Scissors by EK Success
Empty and Cleaned Plastic Orange Juice Container 
Chocolate Covered Almonds (Daily Chef)


I started by measuring the circumference of my bottle. The bottle I'm using measures about 14" around. I have to keep this in mind when cutting out all my material.

Then I cut down my Graffix Metallic Silver Cardstock sheet down to a standard sized 8.5"x 11" sheet... small enough to fit through my cut'n'boss machine with ease... and with my Anna Griffin Flower Layer die and my cut'n'boss I cut out 3 panels of metallic flower panels or medallions (as I like to call them because that's what they look like to me).


Then I ran ALL three sets of flowers or "medallion" cut-outs through my Xyron Creative Station (with 9" permanent refill loaded) through my machine. That's one of the many reasons I LOVE this machine! I can get MORE done FASTER!


I want to make sure I get good coverage and minimal excess, usually a quick firm rub down with your finger tips would do, but because this is such a detailed die cut I am using my stylus into get into all the small crevices. Set aside for later.


Next, I used a chevron sheet from my DCWV Printed Cork Stack into one 4"x12" and one 4"x3.75" pieces using my Martha Stewart guillotine cutter. 


I love these cork sheets from DCWV! They come in great patterns and have a nice earthy texture that flat cardstock doesn't have! Which works great for "guy" gifts as opposed to bling and glitter and all that extra fluff I usually create with for my girlfriends.

Before I run these strip into my Xyron Creative Station I switched out my cartridges...  

The GREAT thing about the new and improved Creative Station is that it uses both the 9" and 5" refill cartridges!! This eliminates and replaces the use of 2 machines! WOOHOO!! Awesomesauce!!What a great space saver!!

Where was I?? Oh yeah... switching cartridges...

I don't want to waste any adhesive and my 12" strip was way too wide to go in sideways and turning it the other way would waste most of that foot of adhesive since my cork is only 4 inches wide. And switching out this machine is as easy as 1..2..3!

1. Lift out your 9" cartridge. Using indented handle and pull straight up.
2. Position green adapter flap... make sure it's standing up and makes a "divider" type wall in the middle of your machine.
3. Insert your 5" cartridge... glide cartridge between the tracks for proper alignment.

Don't forget to make sure your plastic sheeting runs between the black rollers!!
And that is it!! Close that bad boy up and you're ready to go!


My cork goes through like butter... and that's because the Creative Station can take material up to 1/8" thick! Wood veneers, felt, fabric... no problem! As long as it's 1/8"(or less) it'll fit right in!


For the next step you'll need your cleaned (washed and dried) recycled juice container. I got my container from my local grocery store that bottles it's own freshly squeezed orange juice.... The juice was awesome by the way (just in case you were curious)!!
Used a bit of Goo-gone to remove the attached sticker label and washed in hot soapy water. Dried it up. And now it's ready to decorate and fill!


I took my longest strip of cork and wrapped it around the center of my container. As you can see, the strip is a few inches short of completely wrapping my bottle. That is where the extra 3.75"x 4" strip goes.  Adhere that piece over the open space of the bottle to cover the gap. Make sure you match up the 4" sides of the cork to the ones already laid down. The 3.75" side of your cork piece should lay horizontally , laying across the gap.

At this point, I chose to fill my container. But if you wanted to you could fill it after you were done decorating it. 


Next I took my "medallions" I had cut earlier and cut them down into 4 "medallion" squares. 
I adhered one set of "squares" to 3 of the sides. 


For the last side, I made a label from a sentiment that was on a sheet in my Craft Smith "Natural Luxury" stack. I cut the "label" from my sheet and I matted it with leftover metallic cardstock I had used to make my medallions. This stuff is AMAZING!! The high mirror finish of the paper instantly dresses up any project!!

*

SEE!!

The neck of my bottle seemed a little "naked" though... so I dressed it up  by winding  my twine around the neck about 4 or 5 times around the indent of the neck.  AND... from the same sheet I cut my sentiment "label" from I was able to cut out a tag too. 

A super cool feature about purchasing paper stacks is not only do the papers coordinate perfectly with each other but every now and then paper companies through in goodies like this (whole sheets you can cut up and use for embellishments) into the mix!

And here is my finished project!



Now isn't this waaaaay better than looking at a crumpled up bag sitting on your kitchen counter?!

It's AMAZING how my Xyron Creative Station made quick and easy gift giving from a recycled and upcycled orange juice container!!

Hope you enjoyed today's project check back soon for more crafty ideas!!

{{HUGS}}
~Mitsy~