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)

Light Green Glaminator Metallic Transfer Foil (Xyron)

Creative Station (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

Eileen Hull Christmas Mash-up

Hey, Crafty Friends!! 

Can you believe it is December already? This holiday season is flying by so fast and Christmas will be here in just 3 weeks!! And it's time to kick the Christmas gift making into gear!! I'm here with Team Eileen Hull with a Holiday Mash-up of some of my favorite EH Christmas projects...

I made these four projects with several Classic Eileen Hull dies.

I've included the names of these Classics, along with links to their tutorials. Please note that these dies are retired and although they may be discontinued, you may still be able to find them online with certain retailers or selling sites. These are highly sought after and make an excellent addition to any die-cutting collection.

Christmas Cookie Canister

Eileen Hull Canister Die

Preppy Train Case

Eileen Hull Train Case

Candy Cane Caddy

Eileen Hull Caddy Die

Christmas Tea Cup

Eileen Hull Tea Cup Die

I hope these projects bring you tons of inspiration for your holiday gift-giving ideas! Be sure to check out each tutorial for detailed instructions, a full list of supplies used, and tons of additional pictures!

Thanks for stopping by 

AND 

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

DIY 3D Carrot Canvas

Hey, Crafty Friends! 

I may not be Peter Cottontail but spring has sprung and, hippity-hoppity, Easter is on its way! Before I start on making Easter baskets for all the little boys and girls (a.k.a. my children), I figured I'll set the mood by making a little Easter decor for my home first. So today I'll show you how I created this simple 3D Carrat Canvas.

Supplies Used

8"x 10" Stretched Canvas (Derwent)

Creative Station (Xyron)

Mega Runner (Xyron)

Fall Basics Stack (DCWV)

Natural Burlap Stack (DCWV)

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull's Flower Layers w/ Heart Petals Die (Sizzix)

David Tutera's Greenery & Flourish (Sizzix)

ColorBox Dyestress Inks- Tomato, Moss (Clearsnap)

ColorBox Art Daubers (Clearsnap)

Paper Blossoms Collection-Tool Kit (McGill) 

Jute Twine

Orange Button (Buttons Galore)

Guillotine Paper Trimmer (Swingline)

Farmhouse chic decor can get on the pricy side. Let me show you how you can recreate the look using scrapbooking supplies... Believe it or not, this carrot is made from FLOWERS & LEAVES!! And **Spoiler Alert** this used less than 2 whole sheet os scrapbook paper!!

First, I gathered my supplies. I knew I wanted to make a canvas. something I could hang on my wall or place on a shelf or mantle. And I knew it absolutely had to have burlap. Burlap screams farmhouse and shabby chic! Then I threw in my love for all thing paper-crafty... bring on the paper stacks!! 

I found this Fall Basics stack from DCWV (yeah, yeah- I know Fall has long since past) but bear with me... this stack had tons of greens, yellows, purples, and oranges... the same colors we also find in Easter!! Score! These are PERFECT! Check your stash, you may have paper stacks that you can use for more than one occasion!!

Once, I had everything in arm's reach I prepped my canvas. No priming here!! I did, however, cut a 7"x 9" piece of burlap and ran it through my Xyron Creative Station and applied it directly onto the center of my canvas!

 I love the different plaid papers that came in the Fall Basics stack. These 2 sheets were deep shades of orange and green that would be absolutely perfect against the burlap.

I used Big Shot and this long stemmed leaf die from David Tutera's Greenery & Flourish set from Sizzix and die-cut 6 stem from the green patterned paper.

For a more natural look and to add depth I shaded the stems and the inner parts of the leaves with ColorBox Dyestress ink in Moss using a sponge dauber. Then shaped the leaves using a ball stylus from the McGill Paper Blossoms Tool Kit.

I free-hand cut out a carrot shape from orange cardstock. Then ran it through my Xyron Creative Station. This will give me a general shape of where to place my flowers. I attached it to my canvas and made sure to leave some room at the top for the stems. Then attached all 6 stems to create the carrot top.

I used the medium sized flower on the Eileen Hull Flower Layers w/ Heart Petals die and cut out about 24 flowers from the orange plaid paper. Then shaded the edges using ColorBox Dyestress ink in Tomato and a sponge dauber.

To add dimension to the flowers, I first folded the flower in half, and then half again. Then in each quartered section, I folded it into thirds. So when opened there's a crease line in between each little scalloped edge.

I used my Mega Runner and applied adhesive to half of each flower, partially folded the flower and attached the flowers into my carrot cut-out. I continued to fill the carrot with flowers but left a small section open at top to attach a bow I made with jute twine and a button.

And here is my finished 3D Carrot Canvas...

I love how darling it turned out...

And the dimension of those flowers really pops off the canvas! Picture does not do it justice!

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and it inspires you to create Easter canvas art of your own!

Thanks for stopping by!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

~Mitsyana

DIY Paper Floral Wreath

Hey there, Crafty Friends!! I  know Spring has been done and gone for a while now but flowers never really go out of style With all this summer heat, pretty much all the flowers have disappeared where I am. Sadly, real blooms don't last very long. Once fully bloomed most flowers go to seed then wither up and die.  

I figured, why not make my own??!! So, I made this Floral Wreath. It's made with all paper flowers and leaves and is sure to last the test of time.

Clearsnap Supplies:

ColorBox Premium Dye Ink- Rose, Coral, Dandelion, Olive, Leather

ColorBox Stylus Handle

ColorBox Stylus Tips

ColorBox Art Daubers

Other Supplies:

Big Shot (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Designs Stitchy Flowers & Leaf Dies (Sizzix)

Eileen Hull Designs Spring Leaves Die (Sizzix)

Home and World Die Set (Diamond Press)

Grapevine Wreath

Brown Double Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Kraft Paper

White Cardstock

1.5” Sticker Maker (Xyron)

Hot Glue Gun

Hot Glue Sticks

Glitter Gem Stickers (Michael’s)

First, I gathered my materials. I found this awesome grapevine wreath at the dollar store. It's not a huge wreath... I wanted to be able to send it in the mail and those huge wreaths make it almost impossible to find a box to send it in. This was was perfect, it's about 8". Perfect size for gift giving or for indoor use... And for $1, you can't go wrong.

Next, I die cut flowers and stamens from kraft cardstock using Eileen Hull's Stitchy Flowers & Leaf dies by Sizzix. Using my Sizzix Big Shot I was able to cut a couple layers at a time. I also die cut leaves from more kraft cardstock using Eileen's Spring Leaves steel rule die. The heavy duty blades allowed me to cut twice as many layers as the thin metal dies. I was able to cut 4 layers at a time with this die.

I inked the edges of all my flowers petals with Rose Premium Dye ink and a Colorbox Stylus & Tip.

Then, inked on Dandelion Dy Ink into the centers of the stamens. 

I used an Art Dauber to ink on Coral Dye Ink to all the stamen tips.

Then, used Olive Dye Ink to shade all my leaves and stems.

To make my flowers, I made a snip about 1/4" long in between every two hills to make separate petals. I took a ball stylus a rolled it in the center to form a curved pit. I flipped over the flower and used the smaller ball to create veins and creases in each petal.

I also used the stylus to curve the stamens.

Then, layered 2 or 3 large flowers with 3stamens to create 1 large flower. I used a hot glue gun to attach all the layers together. Then added a jewel to the center (not shown).

For the smaller rose-like blooms, I again used my ball stylus to curve and shape the smaller flower petals. I rolled the smallest one till they almost looked like tiny bowls. I curved the tiny petals together from 2 flowers to form one bud and hot glued in place. 

I glued the bud into 2 more bowled flowers of the same size. Then glue those flowers onto 4 open slightly larger flowers. 

For the larger leaves, I creased and folded them to create veins. And for the stems, I rolled a ball stylus over the back to curve the leaves. 

With all of my flowers and leaves done, I moved on to creating a greeting to place on my wreath. I die cut the word "welcome" from thick (110 lb) white cardstock. I die cut the word 3 times, ran them through my Xyron Sticker Maker, then adhered them to each other creating a thick chipboard-like piece. 

I hot glue the word onto double-stitched grosgrain ribbon to lay across my wreath like a banner.

Then hot glued all my leaves and flowers to the grapevine wreath.

Then draped my banner across the wrath and glued in place.

I created a loop from more grosgrain ribbon and attached it to the back of the wreath as a hanger.

And here is my finished wreath...

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and are inspired to create your own floral wreath too!!

Until next time...

HAPPY CRAFTING EVERYONE!!

~Mitsyana

Disclaimers

**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.

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Quick & Easy Mermaid Decor

Hi, Crafty Peeps!!
And HELLLLLO, SUMMER!!

Yup, the summer heat is here and it's time to hit the water! You could say I take to it like a fish in water... but I'd say, you're WRONG!! I'm not a fish in water... I'm a MERMAID!

And if you're a mermaid or LOVE everything mermaid, you'll love this quick and easy "Mer"-decor! Yes, Mer-decor is a thing!! Which is why it's a good thing that I am here today with Team Xyron and this week's amazing partner, my good friends from DCWV!! Because I'll be playing with their new Ocean Wonder Stack and it's gonna help take my home decor from awesome to "MERMAZING"!!



Supplies Used
Ocean Wonder (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Glitzy (DCWV/ American Crafts)
Stacked Love with Mermaid SVG File (Kolette Hall Studio)
Creative Station w/ 9" Permanent Cartridge (Xyron)
White Cardstock
Craft Foam
Picture Frame

When I saw this paper I immediately thought of Mermaids! And I found the super cool SVG file by Kolette Hall that was absolutely perfect!



I downloaded it onto my computer and loaded it into my ecal software.

When loaded into my software, the default size was too big for what I had in mind. So I resized it.

I simply adjust the sizing in the panel to the right of the screen. I used the drop-down arrow in the width section (which is simply labeled with a "w") and clicked it from it's 8.563" default sizing till it got to, what I thought was just right, at 7.060".

These pieces are also attached together (by default) and I want to cut multiples to stack them for a thicker three-dimensional look so I right-clicked, then clicked on "Ungroup" to separate them.

I knew I was going to be working with lots of colors and patterns and didn't want them to get lost or distracting. So, I broke it up by adding a .015" border around my "LOVE" word.

Simply, right click on the word, go to "Appearance", then "Add Shadow Layer...".

Then, set the sizing box to 0.15".

You can set what color you want your border to be, and in this case, I wanted it white. But that color blends into my virtual cutting mat. So I simply adjusted the outline to black. Go to the paint palette icon on the right of the screen, Go to "Stroke" box, then click in the color box and choose black.

Now, I can see that awesome border around my words!

I did those same steps to fill in color to my shapes too. but in those cases, I entered my selections in the "fill" box.

Both of these steps are optional, they just help me see what I'm doing better and help me get a better visual of what I am creating.

I separated my shadow onto another cutting mat. Remember, I wanted to create a stacked/ thick chipboard type of look. I only need to stack the shadow to achieve that look. So I duplicated 3 more and spread them over an entire mat.

Cutting multiple images is easier when you group like colors together and cut them all at once.

For the shadow, I cut in plain white cardstock. But for the main LOVE stacked word, I used this AMAZING or should I say MERMAZING fish scaled paper with a beautiful gradient and gold foil outlines and for my mermaid silhouette, I used this gorgeous pink glitter paper (also from DCWV).

I ran all my die cut pieces through the Xyron Creative Station, then layered all the LOVE stacks together.

I wanted the mermaid to have dimension but it seemed pointless to cover a bunch of glitter paper. So instead, I ran a piece of craft foam through the creative station and made my own foam adhesive to prop up my mermaid.

I attached the foam to the back of her head and torso only since her fins will be attached to the LOVE stack.

For my background, I used this deep purple paper with dotted waves. I think it looks a lot like deep sea currents. But it could just be me... HA!

I cut it down to fit inside my 7"x 10" frame... I know... what an awkward size! But use whatever size frame you can find and adjust accordingly.

 I took my stacked LOVE... look how nice and thick this piece is... and attached it to the center of my background paper, then inserted it into my frame and closed it up.

And there ya have it, EASY-PEASY!!



These papers are absolutely GORGEOUS and when the light hits it... Oh my gosh... STUNNING!!

This is clean and simple!

Aaaaaand...

 makes for perfect decor or gift for all those mermaid lovers out there!

Hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by!!

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.