Feeling Grattitude Wall Art

Hello, Crafty Friends!

I'm back with Team Xyron today and we have been partnering up with Waffleflower all week to bring amazing projects featuring awesome products from both companies.

Thanksgiving is just a few days away and I thought I'd make myself a little reminder... to always express my GRATITUDE. Not just on one day out of the year but every single day. So today I have this framed piece of wall art tutorial to share with you all.

Supplies Used

Feeling Gratitude Stamp Set (Waffleflower)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

1.5" Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Paper Crafting Medley- Iona (Little Birdie Crafts)

Patterned Paper (DCWV)

VersaFine Onyx Black Ink (Tsukineko/ Imagine Crafts)

White Cardstock

Mixed Media Glue

Frame

Jute

First, I gathered my materials. I dismantled my frame and removed the photo mat. I used the mat as a template and outlined it onto the back of my patterned paper with a pencil. Then, I cut out the traced shape using scissors.

I used a craft knife to cut out the inside window. Then cut a back piece from more patterned paper to layer the frame onto. I used my Xyron Mega Runner to layer and attach the two pieces together.

I used Waffleflower's amazing Feeling Gratitude Stamp Set to stamp in the window area of the frame. I used a stamp positioning tool just in case I need to restamp and want exact placement.

I stamped a second time onto plain white cardstock. The second impression didn't need to be perfect. I just stamped it to cut the two banner images.

I ran the two banner pieces through my Sticker Maker. Then applied them directly to the matching areas in the framed sentiment.

Next, I attached my chipboard flourishes onto the frame using mixed media glue. Then attached my burlap flowers and jute bow. Once the adhesive dried I inserted the mat back into the frame.

And here is my finished framed art...

Now, it's good to go!! This baby is ready to be hung on a wall or placed on a mantle or tabletop!

This is such a beautiful saying that holds very true. Feeling and being grateful is wonderful... but unless you express that gratitude no one will ever know it. 

I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial and that it inspires you to create and to share and express your gratitude with those around you!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

***Disclaimer***

This blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, I always give my honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products.

The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with each manufacturer, provider, or party in question.

True Friend Wall Art- Xyron + Waffle Flower Blog Hop

Hey there, Crafty Friends!! I am so excited to be participating in this week's 

Xyron + Waffle Flower Blog Hop!!

 We are continuing the week with amazing projects from both the Xyron and Waffle Flower Design Teams!

There is awesome Blog Candy to be won too!**

Both companies will be giving away FABULOUS PRIZES!! To enter the Xyron Giveaway all you have to do is head on over to the Xyron Facebook Page and "Like" and "comment" on any/ all of the Waffle Flower project posts.

And, Don't forget to head on over to Waffle Flower Blog to see even more awesome project from the Waffle Flower Team.

**Disclaimer: This giveaway is in no way sponsored, associated or indorsed by Facebook or it's subsidiaries. 

For my blog hop project I made wall decor for a really good friend of mine. She and her family have shown what true friendship really means. They have been there for me through storms (literally and metaphorically). 

This pass June has been one of trials and tribulations. My town was hit with flash floods and tornadoes, one which ripped through my backyard. My friend, Christina Rust, and her husband (James) came over on two separate occasions to help us clear a tree that was knocked down from the storm, it laid across our yard but was still attached to the trunk. James, with chainsaws in hand, removed that and other surrounding trees. Then the following weekend they hauled off all the debris.

Shortly after that storm, I received shocking news that my baby brother had suffered from a massive heart attack which ultimately took his life. And there was Christina. She gave me a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on, and endless hugs and reassurance that it was going to be ok. Her husband took care of the main food being served and their whole family manned the kitchen during my brother's funeral. They have done so much for me and my family and I am eternally grateful!

So, out of appreciation, I made her this shadowbox wall art for her home. 

I know this in no way will show her how much I truly appreciate her but I thought it was a great start. 

I knew I loved the quote and I felt it really encompassed our friendship. 

And the perfect companion to this quote and what really made this framed piece pop was this 3D Diamond Template Die from Waffle Flower.

 I wanted to stress that our friendship is a rarity, like a diamond. And I hold I cherish it dearly. And   

 I love the way that this die emphasizes the diamonds.

To make the diamonds, Waffle Flower suggests using a cardstock with a weight of 65 lbs or less for easier folding, but I used this paper that looked like mercury glass and has a weight closer to 110 lbs... this is on the really thick side.

First, I cut out all the diamonds from my cardstock. 

Then, I folded along the crease lines. Because this was a very thick cardstock, and because I wanted the folds to we defined, I used a bone folder to make those crease lines crisp.

Then I used a bit of liquid glue to attach the flaps.

Just a heads up... the back flaps attach to the little triangular tabs around back, not the long flap that goes across the top.

For those of you who need visual assistance, Waffle Flower also has an instructional video on youtube to help you assemble this template. You can find it HERE.

For the quote, I opened my computer software and electronic cutting machine. I used fonts already on my computer and typed out the quote in a bold print font, Then cut it out on my machine using black cardstock.

I removed the inside die cute letter and  used the entire negative cut-out.

I matted this piece with more if the same mercury glass paper.

Then used a corner chomper and gave the corners a ticketed edge.

Next, I ran the black/quoted cardstock through my Xyron Creative Station with a 9" permanent adhesive cartridge.

With the protective plastic still attached, I traced around each letter.

Then peeled the protective film and adhered it to the mercury glass cardstock mat.

Then,once again, ran it through my Creative Station.

I had purchased a 11"x 14" shadow box frame. I took it apart and attached my quote directly onto the canvas insert that came with the frame. Once secured, I glued three 3D diamonds below my quote. I To help with alignment, I used a T-Square Ruler and lined up the top edges with the tops of each diamond and used liquid glue to secure in place.

Once the glue was dried, I inserted the mat into the shadowbox frame.

And here is my finished project. A very special gift for a very special friend!!

WHO'S A TRUE FRIEND & A REAL JEWEL!

Closer View

Close-up of 3D Diamonds 

Supplies Used

3D Diamond Template Die (Waffle Flower)

 Creative Station w/ 9" Permanent Adhesive Cartridge (Xyron)

Black Cardstock- Black, White, Cream Stack (DCWV)

Mercury Glass Stack (DCWV)

Personal Die-cut Machine

Electronic Die-cutting Machine and Software

11"x 14" Shadowbox Frame (Studio Decor)

Stylus 

T-Ruler

Bone Folder

Clear liquid adhesive

I hope you really enjoyed my project for today! 

 DON'T FORGET...

To enter GIVEAWAY on the Xyron page by COMMENTING on any/all the Waffle Flower project posts!!

AND...

To stop on by the Waffle Flower Blog for even more amazing projects.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

AND THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY!!

Oh gosh... Just a bit of an FYI (For anyone interested)... Xyron is also having a 25% OFF ALL PRODUCTS SALE. This is good till July 31, 2016 using
 COUPON CODE: SUMMER
at checkout.

Hope you all have a great SUMMER!! And Enjoy the rest of the BLOG HOP!!

~Mitsy

Nursery Rhyme Wall Art

Hello, Crafty Friends!!

Today marks midway through our week!

HAPPY HUMP DAY!!

I am so tickled to get to share with you today's project! Did you know that there's a National Library Week?? Yup, a whole week in observance to libraries!! It's always great to promote and show your support for your local library!  And today, I will help support my local library and repurpose old books.

 Limited space makes it hard for some libraries to accommodate their ever growing number of books. So, from time to time our local library (I'm sure others do this a s well), clear out and sell their old books. Most of which are tattered or outdated, to make room for new ones. Sales raised from these books go right back into the library system to fund new books or to help with other financial needs... internet may be free for the public to use,  but that doesn't mean that its free to the library. And certainly, any renovations made, also come along with a few dollar signs attached.

So whenever possible, my children and I go to our local library and check out the sales. I know what you're thinking craft with old books? Don't I love books? Why would I take apart and butcher books to craft with?? Simple... remember when I said most of these books are tattered and outdated?? Well, the books that are not sold get dumped into the recycle bins. Which is good that they are recycling, but the library doesn't receive any money for just tossing them... and I would be creating, crafting, and repurposing something  that already has been used and giving it new life as ART. Or in this case, WALL ART. 

These are super quick and easy to make too!!

Supplies Needed

Old Books (Hardback or paperback)

Xyron Creative Station w/ Permanent Adhesive Refill Cartridge

Xyron Mega Runner

1- 12"x12" sheet of Black Cardstock (DCWV- Double Sided Cardstock Stack)

4 - 5"x7" Shadowbox Frames

Cricut Explore Air

Cricut Nursery Rhymes Cartridge

Craft knife (Fiskars)

Scissors (EK Success- CutterBee)

These books don't appear to be in bad shape but were really really outdate... put it this way one of these books was called the "No Cooking Cookbook"... it has a copyright date of 1962. That was several years before the first reasonably priced and sized microwave became available (1967). Yeah, I think it's safe to say, no one will miss that one! LOL

And, I got these from my local dollar store! Yuppers, $1!! Who knew they carried shadowbox picture frames (with mats included too)??!! SCORE!!

Ok, now this was probably the hardest part of the whole project... which really wasn't very hard at all.

Removing the pages from the cover. Seriously it took two slices. One in the front of the book and one in the back, running down the first page to the spine... and then again along the back of the book.

 I will be saving this hard cover to make another project with later.

 I used the chipboard insert as a template for my book pages, added adhesive to them with my Xyron Mega Runner, and adhered my pages directly onto them. Then trimmed off the excess with a scissors.

So super easy, right? Wow... 1, 2, 3, and 4 done in less than 2 minutes!!

Then I used my Cricut Explore Air and Cricut's Nursery Rhyme Cartridge to cut out silhouettes of some of my favorite childhood nursery rhymes... " Hey Diddle Diddle", " Little Jack Horner", "Little Boy Blue",  and "Mary Had a Little Lamb". 

I cut them all from one 12"x12" sheet of black cardstock. Sizing each image to fit into the 5"7" mat/ frame.

Since these will be hanging on the wall, I wanted them to stay put. So, I ran them all through my Xyron Creative Station using the 9" permanent adhesive refill cartridge. And placed them all back into their frames.

And, here are my finished pieces.

I love how these came out. The layout is simple but the old book print makes them distinctive and unique!! This was a great start to  many more "print" crafts! 

I hope you enjoyed this project!

And don't forget to go support your local public library!!

HOPE YOU HAVE A VERY HAPPY LIBRARY WEEK!!

Father's Day Wall Decor

Hello Crafty Friends... here's another late post. Sorry bout that.

I have a tendency of doing a lot of things last minute. I'm a busy mommy of 4 and always on the go. After repeated and failed attempts at asking my dear 'ol dad in law what he would like to for Father's Day I was left with scouring the internet for last minute gifts. 

Thank God for the Pinterest!! I saw this sentiment and totally loved it. So I put my own spin on it and made it into wall art. I personalized it especially for my father-in-law who served in the U.S. Air Force for 27 years. I added an Air Force emblem and cut it using my Sizzix eclips. I tried to make it as true to the era as possible... thank you Google and ecal for making my research and designing such a breeze breeze! Using the shapes window and manipulating basic shapes I was able to make the Air Force insignia pretty spot on.

Of course I gotta use DC9's cutting files...

I used the Flying High July set for the plane and the Artisan Labels set for the background shape.

Love how simple stars in deep blue & red makes it look so patriotic.

Fonts I used for the sentiment were Arial Rounded MT Bold and Bevan. The Arial font family usually comes pre-installed in most PCs but if your computer didn't come with it you can download it from Fonts Geek here.

Do you like bold, and more importantly, free fonts?? Then Bevan is the font for you. You can download this great everyday font here.

I also added photo corners in two sizes and stacked them on each other to dress up the empty corners.

After I was done I set this page in a 12x12 shadow box so it can be hung & displayed on the wall. It really dressed it up. Unfortunately the glare off the glass made it difficult for me to take a good picture. So

I opted to take a pic without the frame.

I hope you forgive me not showing the finished project framed. And, I hope you enjoyed it anyway.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting Friends!!

All digital files and svgs are cut using my Sizzix eclips machine & ecal software.

John Deere Inspired Picture Frame

Here's another project I made. A personalized picture frame for a sweet little boy who had a John Deere themed birthday party. 

Killed two birds with one stone with this one... because I also submitted it into Little Scraps of Heaven's weekly challenge today!! 

I purchased a Hallmark shadowbox picture frame and personalized it with the birthday boy's theme and colors.The tractor, trailer, & hay bales were from LSHD's "Hayride Fun" pattern set. The clouds and sun were pattern I had drawn by hand and hand cut.