Wednesday, February 26, 2020

St Patrick's Day Foiled Wooden Sign with the Xyron Glaminator

Hey, Crafty Friends!
I'm back again with Team Xyron today!
St. Patrick's Day is approaching and I have an easy home decor for you that will also make a great gift. 

In many ways, friends make our world a better place. And when you find a good or even great friend, you are very blessed beyond measure. Here's a simple gift idea to show them how much you appreciate them.


Supplies Used
Glaminator (Xyron)
Honey Dear Stack (DCWV)
Mix the Media  8x10 Wood Panel (Jillibean Soup)

Other Supplies Needed
St. Patrick Dingbats Font- Digital File (Lori Whitlock)
Ecal Software(Craft Edge)
PC or Laptop
Laser Printer




Before I could put my sign together I had to print out what I wanted to be foiled. I found a Lori Whitlock FONT FILE called St. Patrick Dingbats Font that contained dingbats in the form of adorable little images and word art that you can use instead of letters that I wanted to use. The problem is I don't have Microsoft Word downloaded onto my computer. But what a lot of people don't know is that, if you have a digital cutting software, you can use it to open those special characters.

Here is how I used my ECal software to do that...

Open the ECal software. Click on the LIBRARY button on the upper screen toolbar shaped like a STAR.


The library window will pop open. Click on the FONT tab. Scroll till you get to your desired font, in this case, LW StPatrickDingbats.

For this particular WordArt that says " A good friend is like a four leaf clover... ", I clicked on the very first option box. It will insert it onto your virtual mat.



I resized it by clicking on the 4-headed arrow in the right-hand toolbar section, pulling up the POSITION & SIZE window. Then adjusted the sized to 5.25" wide and made sure the KEEP PROPORTIONS box is checked.

After I sized it as desired, I clicked on FILE then EXPORT and saved it as a PNG.


Now you can INSERT your word art as an image into a blank document file without losing any resolution or distorting it.


Once you sized it appropriately, click PRINT. Make sure your the SAVER TONER checkbox or option on your LASER PRINTER is set to OFF. You need the toner to activate in the Glaminator to activate and grab the foil.


I used the crosshatch patterned paper from DCWV's Honey Dear Stack, it reminded me of burlap, and laser printed my design onto it.

I inserted the paper, pattern side up, into a Glaminator carrier sheet (included with the machine and works like a folder) and covered the entire word art design with Light Green foil (pretty/ shiny side up). 


Then, turn the Glaminator switch on, pushing the lever all the way to the STAR, and wait for the indicator light to turn green.

The green light lets you know that the machine is at the proper temperature for FOILING.

Insert your you carrier sheet loaded with your materials. Once you feel the folder start to pull, let go and let the Glaminator do the rest.

Once your material is cooled, remove it from the carrier sheet and run the materials through the Xyron Creative Station.

Attach foiled sheet onto the wooden sign and trim off any excess overhang. 


At this point, you can also take a nail buffing block or fine-grit sandpaper to the edges and smooth down and distress the edges. This part is totally optional and isn't necessary.

I added a big striped bow to the corner of my sign to give it a bit of farmhouse appeal.

And here is my finished sign...


Look how amazing that shine is!! It is even more vibrant in person!

Your friend will absolutely love this gift! Or... you might love it so much you might make another for yourself!

Hope you all enjoyed today's DIY project!

Thanks so much for stopping in!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!
~Mitsyana


Saturday, February 15, 2020

February IAR Challenge - Trust Your Heart Card

Hey, Crafty Friends!! I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's day and was showered with love. Though I firmly believe love should be shown and expressed every day and not just one day a year, which is why I created this gorgeous card for this month's  I Am Roses Challenge!


Are you new to the I Am Roses Challenges? Head on over to their blog (HERE) for more details on how to enter, amazing prizes you could win, and lots of inspiration from the IAR design team and previous winners!

Now, for my card, I used the following...

I Am Roses Supplies Used
Other Supplies Used
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Double Stitched Heart Dies (Pink and Main)
Coral Couture Stack (DCWV)
Double-sided Colored Cardstock (DCWV)
110 lb Cardstock- White, Kraft (Recollections)
Natural Hemp Twine
Self Adhesive Flower Jewels
Liquid Glue

I started with a 5"x7" card base made from 110 lb white cardstock, a 5"x7" piece of bright orangey-red cardstock, and a 4 3/4"x 6 3/4" Piece of teal patterned paper from the Coral Couture Stack. Then layered and attached them together using my Xyron Mega Runner.

 
Then I used my Sizzix Big Shot and Pink and Main'sDouble Stitched Heart Dies to cut a heart from Coral Red polka-dot paper from the Coral Couture Stack.

And then I die cut kraft cardstock using a leaf die from Diamond Press' Foliage Stamp & Die Kit.

I then attached the heart onto the card front using my Xyron Mega Runner. And used liquid glue to attach my leaves in a curve around the heart.


Here's where it really starts to come to life...

Next, I added I Am Roses Small Green Leaves and followed the same curve as the kraft leaves.

Then, I added all the smaller flowers.  First, the Mini Peach Round Roses...
then, the Small White Lillies & White Achillea Cottage Flowers.

Then added a single Medium White Lilly before filling up the gaps with three Medium Salmon Red May Roses.


I curled discarded stems for swirly vines and a randomly tucked them throughout my floral swag.
Then, I  made a multi-loop bow from hemp twine and tucked it neatly under a couple of leaves.

I added the TRUST YOUR HEART sentiment from Tim Holtz Quote Chips and surrounded the heart with self-adhesive flower jewels which I also sprinkled throughout.


And here is my finished card...



I hope you enjoyed my card for this month's IAR Challenge and it inspires you to join in on the fun!!
You could win some amazing prizes!


Thanks for stopping by!!
~Mitsyana


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Floral Desk Calendar

Hey, Crafty Friends!!
Last month at Creativation, Eileen Hull debuted a few of her new die Designs. And being a part of her Inspiration team, we were tasked to bring her new designs to life and make samples ahead of time so she can show them off for the show.

One of her designs was her new Display Stand for which I used to create this beautiful mini Floral Desk Calendar...


With winter on the outs, what better way to ring in the coming of Spring than with a project that is beautiful and functional?!!

And Eileen's Display Stand comes together in a snap!! Let me show you how...


Supplies Used
Big Shot (Sizzix)
Mat Board (Sizzix)
Minty Lace Stack (DCWV)
Small Green Leaves (I Am Roses)
Pink Peony (I Am Roses)
Pink Cherry Blossoms (I Am Roses)
Mini White Roses (I Am Roses)
Teal Hibiscus (I Am Roses)
Small Teal Roses Roses(I Am Roses)
Pink Achillea Cottage Flowers (I Am Roses)
Liquid Glue
Mini Calendar


I started by cutting my 12"x12" piece of patterned paper in half to get 2- 6"x12" pieces. 

Then I ran each piece into my Xyron Creative Station and attached both sheets to a single sheet of Mat Board (one on the front and one on the back).

The placed the covered mat board onto my Eileen Hull Designs Display Stand Die and die cut it using my Sizzix Big Shot.


Assembly was insanely easy! One die cut is all I need to create a stand. So I'm practically halfway done already!!

Next, I'll show you the fastest and easiest way I found to fold the stand...

1. Fold both sides in towards the center on the crease lines.

2. Open up your two-fold and push out or back the die-cut center exposing "feet" and a notched tab.

3. One end panel will have a tiny tab. Fold that end towards the center, tucking the tiny tab into the notch in the center.

4. Fold the other end back towards the center till it pops or tucks in place creating the display stand.


It disassembles and lays flat easily for decorating and for mailing. which is what I did here...

Just laid it down flat, added my mini calendar, and cascaded beautiful flowers throughout.


And here is my finished Floral Desk Calendar on full display...


These make cute gifts for your friends in the office or for teachers!! A little something to brighten their day while they sit at their desk!

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and it inspires you to create something beautiful too!

Until next time...
 HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana