Izbzee

shelf sitter?

I've been looking for some new ideas for my tiered tray.  I haven't updated things for a while and and thought I'd try my hand at designing a 3d idea.  It's not perfect and the design (or my fingers and glue) need a little help.  




For this version I used some kraft (AC cardstock- smooth texture) stock for the all of the cut pieces.  The shape is a combination of two circles.  I made some tabbed pieces to connect the front and back pieces to create a 3d piece.  Once the basic shape was assembled, I cut to additional pieces and using some ink, added additional shading for the face and the red/purple colors for the back.  Some 3/8 inch circles make the dots for the back.  

The wire is added before the back of the shelf piece is added.  Poke 2 holes in the head, insert the wire and form the curls as desired.  Hot glue them into place - make sure the glue it completely set before adding the back piece.  

Add eyes and smile with a marker, highlight if desired with some white ink or paint.  Add a ribbon bow or other embellishment if desired to finish off.  




Hoping you have some creative time carved out in the days ahead.  Nurtured your spirit and enjoy the time as it is well spent!  

a few more...

Let's get right to it, shall we - even though it's a little shorter than the last couple of posts.  
Father's day.  It's always a hard day for me.  This year a little more than last.  One blessing we do have is our 5 boys and 1 son in law and where they are in their lives now.   This year's card was quick to make.  The tie cut out is from Creative Fabrica.  The font used is also from Creative Fabrica.  Sheets printed and cut using SCAL and the Skycut C24 and my new Brother printer.  All papers from my stash... and some of that stash is pretty old!  ;)  For the boys without children, I did make a slightly different card.



We still have several birthdays this month and not all of those cards are finished yet.  I did finish one of them late last week.  The digi stamp is from Vera Lane Studios.  Papers from an old stack.  Super simple card and I used colored pencils to color the stamped and cut image.  


Thanks again for stopping by.  Have an amazing week ahead with some creative time built into your schedule!  

more catching up to do...

Like I shared in my last post, May and June haven't been craft free.  I've spent quite a few hours in my space and love it!

Let's get started with June's ministering card.  Super simple -- I used a stamp from Fun Stampers Journey (retired), filled a page and die cut them out.  I pulled a stencil from my stash and used some paint and created the border.  For a little more texture, I used a strip of cheesecloth and wrapped it around to the back and secured it.  The flowers are "messy" colored with markers.  This stack was 20 cards.   


Birthday's started early in June and just like last month, close together!  This card has a pattern fill for the word CAKE and the fill is made using the gradient component in SCAL 6 Pro and adding additional segments to the color.  I think that the next time I use this file, I'll change the font.  


This tag holder is based on a find at Pinterest.  It doesn't involve dies and was simply made with a piece of paper and a few folds.  I was able to recreate it using SCAL and letting the machine do most of the work.  It was fun!  The digital stamp is from Polkadoodles and the tags are made from a subway art file I've had in my stash for several years.  I'm not sure if it's available any longer, but I'll post a link if I find it again.  I added a second smaller tag and added some stickers and washi tape I've had around for a few years.... Great way to use a bit of stash too!  I used this project as a challenge piece.  


And the last project for today's post.  Though it's a two-fer.  I recently took a class from Abby Kirsten - creating your own SVGs.  She uses Inkscape in the course, but I thought I would try doing it in SCAL 6 Pro, which if the software I use most often and I like to think I'm pretty familiar with what it can and can't do.  ;)  I created the rainbow using rectangles and playing with nodes.  I think it turned out pretty good for a first try!  I've used the file in a couple of ways:  as a print 2 cut and as a cuttable SVG with print 2 cut parts.  It's worked very well.  I've also changed it from a Thank You to a Happy Birthday -- just to see how adaptable it is especially if needing to make a bunch which we did of the "Thank You" version for T's staff after we got the news that the DOL/DOGE was cutting funding and closing 99 Job Corps campuses around the country by the end of the month.  (Update:  hearing slated for the 17th of June - to see if a permanent injunction is ordered against the closing)  


If you've stuck through his post, I sincerely thank you.  Crafting is my stress reliever and I find great comfort in playing with paper, glue and more!  I hope you do the same with whatever you use as a stress reliever.  Enjoy the weekend!  

It's almost the middle of June...

Summer heat arrived a little earlier than the norm this year.  The garden is thriving and we're really looking forward to some fresh produce from the garden in a few weeks.  T is taking care of the outside stuff for the most part, and I'm enjoying spending a few more hours in the craftroom this month.  It's been interesting in a few ways, but we'll skip most of that... and get down to sharing a few things that have left the room:  

We did do a Teacher Appreciation card for T's academic staff.  I used a template from a previous ministering card -- switched out the sentiment on the front and inside and added a few other details.  He got several emails of appreciation and handshakes as he traveled throughout the campus to deliver them.  

I created this "paper quilt" using scraps from my scrap stash -- it's pretty big and I often forget to use them.  It was fun and I had an 8x8 frame I could use to finish it.  

I don't really like making condolence cards, but I do like how this one turned out.  Pinterest inspiration.  Some stamping, heat embossing and a faux watercolor background.  I found a rectangle file with torn edges (I can't think of the other word I would like to use) and created the frame.  Dandelion Stamp from PaperTreyInk (retired) and the sentiment is from Gina K Designs (retired)



More to come, but in the meantime, I hope you've carved out some creative self-care time!  Enjoy the moments.  

July 4th decor - 2025

Getting a start on things to replace a few of my older holiday projects.  These firecrackers were fun to make and are so easy to put together once all the pieces are cut!  They're the perfect size to use in my tiered tray.

The original file (Square Birthday Candle Box) is from Simply Crafty SVGs.  What drew me to this file is that it's basically a one piece box with panels for decor.  The file includes two versions of plain panels. Those plain panels are blank canvases that you can use to create your own panels for any celebration.  I've got a few more ideas other than these!  

The 3rd box is an adaptation of the box.  I cut it horizontally using the knife in SCAL 6 Pro.   Make sure that the score lines are included and are only the ones in that section.  You may have to use Ungroup or Break apart.  Chose one section and use the Close path command. 

Finishing the bottom section is a little different.  Close path first.  Use symmetrical mirror (be aware that the score lines will duplicate), bottom to top to add the tabs to the top portion of this section.  

Once these sections are complete, you can fill each section with a different digital patterned paper.  I used Echo Park's Let Freedom Ring Digital version.  You could use any paper you choose.  The fun is in the choosing of your papers!  Cut and assemble in less than 5 minutes!