New Spring Wreath

Welcome Spring!  We have some unseasonable warm weather this week.  I'm afraid our 80 degrees is going to go back to 50 or 60, but we are enjoying it while it is here.  This is a little project I have been working on.

A new spring wreath for my door.  I have seen a couple I like on pinterest and decided to mimic them.  Basically I took an old wreath that had the green flowers all over it, but was loosing the flowers and tore it apart.  It had a foam circle underneath.  I wrapped it in burlap that I had cut in strips and then bought some flowers to make it spring like.  Wa-la!  I love it.

Here is one I saw for Valentine's day, but if you changed the fabric holder it could be anytime of the year.  This one is made with packing twine rather then burlap.  I like the look too.  Here is the where I got the idea from Craftaholics Annonymous.

Craft group Cricut Tutorial Day

Today was our craft group all Cricut Tutorial Meeting.  We had a great time learning the basics of cutting with our Cricut Machine, mat care, favorite cartridges and how to use Cricut Craftroom.  I am going to consolidate our meeting and give you some basics that might help you if you were not able to come.  Meagan was a wonderful hostess and she let us make a really fun card that we used our Cricut machine to cut out the words.  Isn't this card so cute?  (Sorry it looks a little blurry - must be my wonderful photography skills.)

 cartridge used doodletype

Amy created a table of cutting helps that she collected from different sources off the Internet.  Of course you have to figure out what works best on your machine.  But here is a general guide for most things you might use.  It is extremely helpful if you use Cricut Craftroom since there is no guide to where to put your settings on.

Click HERE to download a word file or

HERE to download it in a PDF file

Amy and Meagan both have used the Cricut Craftroom and love it.  Amy doesn't even know how to use all the bells and whistles on her new Expressions 2 since she almost always uses the craftroom to make things.  Just as an example of things you can use the craftroom to make I am posting a couple of my latest projects using my Cricut and Craftroom.

For Valentine's Day

Edited to add: Here is a link to the inspiration - she also has a printable if you want. CLICK HERE.

 

For the 4th of July (on the back of the Valentine's on above ) 
Edited to add: Here is the link to my inspiration -- some of it is exactly as she did it but some is my own ideas.  CLICK HERE

And for my Daughter (and also for my son - not finished yet) a board to put in their rooms to remind them about who they are and how important they are.

And because my girls have hundreds of bows that needed a home - I created this cute one.  The ribbons will hold the many bows and ribbons that they have.  It needs a staple gun and you would think we have one - BUT no, not one that won't send the staples all the way through the wood board.  (I have to borrow one and then I can show you this on the wall in the Girl's room, with the bow extravaganza.)

Any way just a couple of notes from the class that I thought might be helpful. 
Meagan's Favorite cartridges -

• Joys of the Season
• Doodletype
• Plantin Schoolbook
• Everyday Paper dolls

Amy's Favorites-

• Lyrical Letters
• Doodlecharms
• George and Basic (for basic shapes)
• Storybook (for fun decorative designs)
• Once Upon a Princess (similar to paper dolls) - Really good for homes with girls.

Cricut Craftroom Helps

First go to Cricut Craftroom and download the appropriate version for your computer, you will also have to open an account.  Just remember what ever computer you are going to use with the Cricut is the one of the computers you want to download it to.  You will also need to update the Firmware on your cricut and that will require you to hook your computer to the Cricut machine.  (You will need a USB cord with an end that will fit into your Cricut - some come with them, others you might be able to buy a printer cable cord.  Check the back of your machine to see what slot it goes in. You might find more information on the website, it has been a couple months since I did this.)  They are really helpful if you need help, look on the website to find a phone number.

Meagan and I find that you need to have patience while you are trying to get all this done.  Although the Craftroom is really cool it is still a bit temperamental - so don't expect to do all of this quickly.  Especially if you are trying to get that project done before tomorrow.  Find a time when you can work with it and it will probably all go smoothly - despite what we say.

Second go to the Main Page - It is really helpful to go through each of the tutorials and figure out how to use craftroom.  It is really worth your time. 

Lastly - play around with it.  I go in there and design things like the 4th of July subway art I made, I just played with different fonts and different things to make it look how I did.  I guess what I am saying is play with it so you can feel comfortable with it and when you are in a crunch and trying to make that project for tomorrow - you will be able to do it without as many problems.

**I noticed today while researching the information that Cricut is now selling the cartridges in a digital form that loads right into your Craftroom account.  I think they are $39.99 each.   Much better then the original price of $90 that they retail for.  I guess that is better.  We will have to see if they come down in price.

Which reminds me that we talked about places to get cartridges from.

To Buy- check out Amazon, Custom crops, or Cricut Machine.com or Meagan suggested just putting in the name at google and finding what comes up.

For Vinyl - I like Expressions Vinyl or if you are in a pinch sometimes JoAnn's will let you use a 40% off coupon if they are not on sale.

Okay if you got this far down then you should win a prize.   I am going to order vinyl in the next couple of days and I will be giving a 12x24 piece of vinyl in either black or white away.  Just leave your name and a way to contact you - an email or if I know you from craftgroup then I probably have your email.  This is open to anyone.  Let me know if you want black or white.  This will close on Saturday February 18th.

Thanks,
Amy

A little vinyl, some paint and wood

I noticed I hadn't posted some things that were made a little while ago, but then I realized we hadn't had much sun lately and I hate taking pictures when I know they aren't getting natural light.  (I am not an expert photographer but I know some times I can make my pictures look better by using natural light.)

So I have been playing around with my vinyl and my new cricut machine.  Liberty and I got together a couple of weeks ago and made these cute signs.  There are reversible  - since that makes it easier for storage.  We made these two.

 And then these two:

( I love the flower and the bling on this spring one.)

Then after a sucessful craft group and making snowmen, I was left with a bunch of smaller sized blocks.  So I decided to use up some of my vinyl and the blocks and to make a couple of words to put up around the house.  I thought I would make it a family affair and the kids and I spent an afternoon making these.

Mine

Kirsten's

Peter's 

(I showed him conversation hearts online and this is what words he wanted.  I also let him decide what colors to make it.)

I think they turned out pretty cute.  Now I have a million ideas running through my head.  Hopefully I will be able to do a couple of them.  I have wood waiting in the garage that I need Dave to teach me how to use his table saw, so I can cut it and other things in the future.  I might even have him teach me how to use the router.  (I'm not afraid of power tools and I like to use them. Except the bandsaw - it isn't my favorite.)

Valentine's Day fun

Happy Valentine's day! I saw this idea on the Becky Higgins Blog awhile back and decided I wanted to do it.  Especially since I have a baby with cute feet.    I had to use my Picasa program to put it together instead of Photoshop since my computer is on the fritz.  The paper in the background is from Persnickity Prints called vintage love.  It turned out sooo cute.  Here is another way I put it together.

 Pretty fun to play with.  I like it.

Here are a couple of Valentine's ideas that I have wanted to do with Liberty, but between the two of us we have been sick for over a month (different things and times that overlap.)  So we  (my kids and I) worked on these today.  I think they turned out pretty cute.

This wood block idea was on Under my Umbrella, it was pretty easy and we wanted to try it out.  Easy and Fun.  Kirsten was pretty impressed.

This idea started with this post from Brown Paper Packages but I took it to a different level.  I really love conversation hearts.  And so this was the perfect blend of the project I saw and the idea in my head.  I wanted mine to look like true conversation hearts.  Now I wish I had made these earlier this month, but oh well.  Life is just like that some days.  I found the paper at JoAnn's it is a solid color with glitter on it.

Won't you be mine?

I know this post is late, but won't you be my Valentine?  It has been one of those weeks.  I'm happy to say that my computer is back and I feel like a new woman with the speed and the things it can do.  I was getting used to waiting for everything. I hate that it had to go in, but a new motherboard and off we go.

I'm so excited Liberty is finally on board.  She is so creative, you should really look at her blog.  We have so much fun finding things on the web and making them perfect for us.

Here is my latest project.  I have actually had it up for the last couple of days but with the computer change over and date night and a day of getting some of my endless list of sewing projects done, I haven't posted it.  I found the idea at the Polka Dot Chair and other places and just had to have one.  Of course as I look at it it I wonder what BEMINE means.  I guess I should have put a space or a heart in between the words.  Oh well there is always something.  I used my Cricut machine to make both the letters and the hearts.  It is the cartridge I gave myself for my birthday - Lyrical letters - with the option selected as connected.  I think it turned out pretty cute.

...another Valentines Project

....so when I posted my last Valentines wall hanging....my mom fell in LOVE with it and wanted to know if I would make one for her....uhm, sure.....oh and she doesn't need it for this year....but maybe if you have time. {mostly kidding} It was as much my fault as hers, I found some other fabric that I liked as well or maybe better.....so I was happy to sell mine to her and make me a new one. It's the same idea and was even faster this time {I've practiced once}. I LOVE how it turned out. It's not that I didn't like the first one....loved it to....but, I love this Heidi Grace fabric...and the hot pink and black.



I did a few things different, this time instead of making loops and then making bows to go on the loops, I just made long strips of fabric and tied them around the bar, like ribbon.



I also added batting behind my letters and just straight stitched them on, instead of trying to zig-zag over the top of them.....following inspiration found here.



Did the same with the hearts....all straight stitching...and added some around a few of the blocks.



you probably can't tell that the V is crooked, but I can and everytime I look at it, it bothers me. Oh well. I'm going to let it go. REALLY. I am NOT going to let it bother me. {my inner voice says...repeat until you believe it!}


and YES, I made new towels too...she needed the matching ones, right?

I'm back . . . well sorta . . . but here is a LOVEly wall hanging

I love the color pink and this wall hanging I made just hits the spot. I have been afraid to decorate with pink because it is very gender specific, but for Valentines day . . . I'M THERE with the pink. I found this amazing quilt pattern at Moda Bake shop and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it . . . and so my creation began. I shrunk it down so it could be a wall hanging. I think it measures about 27 x 30. I used 12 inch x 6 inch rectangles ( I just cut the strips to 12 inches rather then 16 inches.) I found that way cute pink print at my JoAnn's store and gathered up matching pieces to make it in to this amazing quilt. I only used the LOVE part because . . .well you can figure it out . . .it wasn't big enough to put the hugs and kisses part that Natalia at Piece N Quilt in her quilt BUT it still turned out so cute. Here is a before shot so you can get the idea of how the quilt is put together. . .

About the "sorta" in my title. My computer is still in the shop and so I am working with my laptop and don't have "all" of my pics and stuff available. I feel kind of like I have a broken arm in the sense that I can't do the things I want to do right now. But I want to get back in to the swing of things and hopefully by mid week I will be able to post a couple of other projects that I have completed and get back into life. Although they say my computer won't be back until around the 18th . . grrrrrrrh!!! Oh well, C'est la vie as my mother would say . . . "such is life" (translation) . . . every time I say that my husband says " la v" cute I guess if you are being silly . . . I guess he hears it as "Say La V"

Well off to real life - you know dishes, laundry and vacuuming. . . Sometimes I wish I had a maid. . . . .

I just found out I was featured on Sew Mama Sew check it out - it's both my love blocks and my wreath. COOL.

my LOVEly wall hanging....

I've been trying to come up with something to fill this wall ever since I took down my Christmas stuff....I finally found some inspiration on Moda Bake Shop...and this is what I came up with. I decided to just use squares because I want all of my wall hangings to have a similar feel to them.



LOVE how it turned out.




oh and with the left over scraps, I made these cute towels.....but now I can't use them, they are too cute. {such a dilemma to have}

Valentine Door Wreath

Today I went upstairs to "clean" my craft room.  And then I saw my sad cork board and thought - "I want to put fabric on this and paint it up.  So I began scavenging through my fabric tote.  Next thing I know I am on the floor trying to figure out how to make a wreath I saw on Girl Creative.  It was so cute, but I wanted mine to be more full.  So I fiddled around with the hanger and some fabric.  I thought maybe extra fabric on the hanger before I started might make it fuller but then the fabric wouldn't slide.  Eventually I figured out that if I used a little wider fabric (then the ribbon she used) that it would make it fuller.  So then away I went.  {On the floor - because why would I clear off the table to do it.}

I cut my fabric strips about 1 to 1 1/2 inch by 6-8 inches long.  I used tulle and used about a 3 inch by 6 inch piece. 

Pink and white scraps of fabric

brown scraps of fabric

Basically once again all from scraps in my stash and a ribbon from a present from my daughter's birthday last week.

Here is an inbetween stage.  All you do is tie a single knot on to the wire hanger.  I turned my hanger around so the hook was in the top of the wreath.  I did have to do some twisting of the wire once I cut the hook off.

Then later that night I showed my friend Liberty and ta-da.  She made one too.

I think I like it better on a brown door. . . mmm should I paint my door to match. . . HEE!HEE!

I took probably less then an hour to make and it brightens up my door and Liberty's doors.  About the only time of year I can decorate with pink and not get weird looks from my hubby.  I'm liken' this Valentines decorating.  {Hopefully my house will get clean if I stay out of my craft room, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that one. hee,hee.}

A Mini Tutorial about LOVE

Sounds intriguing doesn't it.  I think it won't be as exciting as all that.  Today I opted to make this cute block L*O*V*E for my home instead of cleaning.  Liberty and I have been talking about making one and since I have almost NO Valentine decorations I thought it would be fun to make.  I have a husband who is a woodworker and has lots of scraps of wood and so while I was watching the kids out in the snow playing , I tinkered around in the "shop" and cut some wood.  I'm pretty proud of myself for figuring it all out.  {Dave has shown me a couple of times how to work the machine I used today.}  But I digress.  Here is a mini tutorial.  I am sure I have seen this done elsewhere on the internet but since I didn't see this specifically I made up a tutorial.

Materials:

• 4 blocks of wood of various sizes
• Acrylic Paint
• Mod Podge
• Sandpaper
• Scrapbooking paper (small pieces are fine)
• Embelishments {I used some silver tulle and my bling dots}
• Vinyl letters (or you could maybe even use paper)

 Sand or prep your blocks before you paint.  Then paint them.  You don't have to paint the entire front.

 Next cut your papers to fit the blocks.  You may also want to cut out what else you may want on the front.

Next Mod Podge the papers on and then sand the edges.  Add what other fabric or ribbon that you may want in the background.

Add your Vinyl letters and any embellishments you may want. You may need glue or you can use the Mod Podge to keep things on.  Or glue dots or what ever suits your fancy.   I found these cute hearts and the bling in my stash.  Actually the whole thing was out of stuff I had.  It cost me nothing to make.  I love using what I have and making something waaaaay cute.

Hope that all makes sense.  I guess now I better get back to the house work - no playing tomorrow.  We have a big party on Saturday and the house has seen better days.  Have a nice day!!