Izbzee

Fall is in the air.... again!

The weather has been rather fickle of late.  We've been blessed with some lingering summer weather, but we are also welcoming some much cooler weather - not quite the norms for this time of the year, but I'm so grateful to live in a place where we are blessed with all four seasons. 


The garden is done and we're beginning to see the leaves change color and fall from the trees to be blown about in amazing dances in the wind.  That being said, the Creative Cutting Challenge theme for the week is FALL!  And it's the perfect moment to begin adding some Fall decor to the house and front porch.

This project begins with a background piece of my own design, created from basic shapes in eCal.  I've used some Kraft colored stock for the back and some Echo Park paper from an old paper pack.  The canvas heart is from Canvas Corp.

The leaves are from the Fall Leaves SVG file by Creative Pointe and the sunflowers are from a  3D Mums and Fall Flower collection by SVGCuts.  The branch is a free file also from SvgCuts. 

The leaves and flowers all started out on white vellum and white cardstock.  I was able to control the colors, mix and blend using the eBrush and some Spectrum Noir markers.  I cut two sets of leaves.  One grouped for the top layer  (cut in cardstock) and the other was just the base layer (cut in vellum). After "painting" the desired colors let the leaves dry thoroughly before adhering the layers together.  Run the top layer through the Xyron X for a quick and easy way of getting all of your leaves ready for adhering to the branch.  Color the pieces for each flower as desired.  You could use mums or any of the other flower files you see that are dimensional.

 

Using the Union feature in ecal, join two branches together to form a solid branch that spanned nearly the whole 11.5 inches of the plaque.  I cut it three times.  I used the ebrush to color them on both sides (you could use brown paper) then glued two branches together leaving the twigs unglued.  I used the Woodgrain Cottage TC embossing folder on the remaining branch.  It's perfect since the folder is 8.5 x 11 inches!  Using the eBrush, I colored it on both sides and glue it to the other two branches, leaving the "twigs" and ends free.  You can fold and carefully manipulate the smaller branches. 

I used a liquid glue to add the leaves randomly on the branch.  Added the sunflowers and the plaque is ready to add a hanger.  One of the options I've used in the past is to hot glue a pull tab from a soda pop can for your hanger.  

You'll need papers of your choice
SVG Files:  Fall Leaves, 3D Mums andFall Flowers, Cherry Blossom (free)
Plaque or shadow box
Canvas Heart
Electronic die cutting machine
Machine software
Glue
Hot Glue gun
Xyron X - permanent adhesive

 

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Happy Birthday America!

# 401

Tag-along

 

We used this die a couple of years ago and made a whole stack of cards for the holidays with it.  I decided to try using it a different way after seeing something very similar on Pinterest. 

The gingerman bigz die is fun to use  and is a breeze to cut using the Big Shot Pro And if you have several dies you want to use and cut several at a time, the Big Shot Pro is your answer.  I wanted some additional texture to this tag -- but no embossing or stenciling this time around.  So, I went looking thru my stash of felt... only to discover there wasn't any BROWN!  What?  But there was some yellow that hmmmm.... yep, pulled out the ebrush and colored away after cutting a couple of the gingers.  I used Spectrum Noir markers again.  Gotta love the full and rich colors they have on almost any surface! 

I used a tag from basic shapes in eCal and cut the tag out  on my eclips 2 using some off white vellum cardstock.  It was perfect as the background for the warm brown color of the ginger.  I added a shadow to the tag using Object > appearance > add shadow> set it at 3.00.  It's just enough to add about 1/16 of an inch around the tag. 

I stamped my sentiment from a Christmas set (retired) created by Mary Rudakas (SVGCuts.com).  You can see some of her other holiday stamps here.

I trimmed the gingers after deciding placement on the tag and sprayed with adhesive on the back of the ginger and placed on the tag front.  I used some black mini brads for the eyes (you could use some seed beads if you like) and used a dark red ultra fine marker to line the mouth.  I cut some hearts from red paper  using the ginger die and added some dimension by adding some pop dots to adhere them in place. I didn't want glitter on this set, but I did want something "more."  So I used some Crystal Effects on each of the hearts.   Once the hearts have completely dried, add some ribbon and you're ready to tie your tag to a bag of freshly baked holiday goodies.  I can almost smell those soft ginger crackles now.   

Happy creating!   I'm thinking that using some browns and golds, these would also make some fun tags for some early November gift giving. 

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It's Launch Day!

It's Launch Day!

Welcome to a brand new season of creating and fun!  I'm so excited to be a part of the Creative Cutting Challenge Design Team!  The theme for this week's challenge is Anything Goes...

Let's get right to it.  I used the Travel Set from Cindy's files available at CreativePointe!  It's a fun and adapatable file -- I've decided to share three different cards with you today.  The first one, uses just the cityscape portion of the file.  I cut the file on my electronic die cutting machine -- using white cardstock.  After all the pieces were cut two times, I "painted" each piece with the eBrush and Spectrum Noir markers. 

The label and banner were made using basic shapes in my machine software.  Stamp from Stampin' Up! (retired)

The inside sentiment on the card was done using the pen tool for my machine and an ultra-fine tipped marker.  I split a circle and created the slots for a gift card insert. 

This second card is a happy "Hello" to friends.  Again, using the cityscape and adding the Liberty Statue from the same collection to complete the card.  All coloring done with markers and the eBrush.

All the elements for this card front can be cut with a single sheet of 8.5 x 11 sheet of cardstock if you choose to color your own elements.  Create a 5.50 x 4.25 front and add your lettering and center on the rectangle.  Size and adjust placement of the cityscape.  I ungrouped and cut the cityscape two times for this card.  I also cut "Liberty" two times as well for a little more dimension.  
"wish you were here" was written with the pen tool.  I also used some pop-up dots for additional dimension between the back layers and the card front.

My final sample using the Travel Set -- again using the same premise as the card above, but done as a postcard or detail to add to a scrapbook layout.  All coloring done with markers and the eBrush. 

Create a rectangle in your diecutting software  at 4.250 x 5.500.  Choose your font (no color fill) and in all caps, type in the word you want.  Center and size in the rectangle. Group.  Size and flip the cityscape  (horizontally) file.  Place any other elements you desire and then prepare to cut. 
Stamp from a set purchased at Oriental Trading several years ago.  Ink, Stampin' Up!  Crystal Effects were used to bring a little more shine to the tower.

Feel free to join in the challenge too!  You can check out the rules here.  AND Don't forget to check out what the rest of the team has created!  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Cindy - Design Team Leader

Marina

Valou

Vicki

Carolyn

Tina

Heather

Victoria

 

IN the box at the moment....

Aren't these fun for fall decor? 

Using the Tall Box file from SVGCuts' Gift Box collection.  Tall box is is 6.5 inches tall finished (does not include stem); the middle box is 5.125 inches tall finished (does not include stem); the small box is about 3.875 inches all (not including stem). 

I used stencils - the lines are 1/2 inch wide.  The "dots" are about 1in in diameter.  The chevron is a free pattern from Bird's Cards and can be found here.  All three stencils were cut on the Sizzix eclips.  It sure makes slick work for cutting the stencils on transparency of heavy cardstock.  I prefer the transparency to ensure lining up the across the cut cardstock.

I used all white cardstock to begin with for the box bottoms and the lids.  For best results, color before assembling the boxes. 

The Craftwell ebrush was used to color these and I used a fine tipped orange sharpie marker (we picked ours up at a local Walmart) for the main design and I used a very light brown (Spectrum Noir) for the crackled effect around the boxes.  Simple, but fun.  Change up the patterns and colors for even more fun!  Don't have an eBrush yet, use a blender tool and some ink... that works too. 

Once all the "painting" is done, assemble the boxes.  These are pretty straight forward using just the box pattern and lid pattern.  The lids are all one piece and the box is the 2 side pieces and a bottom. 

The stems and leaf  from the Pick A Pumpkin kit is cut at the original size for the tall box.  Adjust as needed for the medium and small box. 

 

You'll need:

White cardstock
brown kraft cardstock (medium weight)
leafy green cardstock
electronic die cutting machine
software for machine
Patterns
stencils (assorted styles and sources)
ebrush
markers (Sharpies, Spectrum Noir)
adhesive (LineCo Neutral pH Adhesive and Scor-Tape)
hot glue gun and glue
other embellishments as desired

Feel free to experiment with size.  This was a fun and quick project overall.  And I'm ready to do a few more.  Enjoy your crafting time...and thanks for stopping by! 

 

 

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test, test, 1, 2, 3

It's OFFICIAL!  I stepped outside my comfort zone again, and it's finally been announced that I made the Design Team at CreativeCuttingChallenge!  I'm so excited for this. 

More to come soon!  I've been busy crafting and doing some creating.  Here's a sneak peek at a little bit of what's to come on Monday! 

And there's a surprise inside on this one!  So much fun!  I cut all the scenic pieces using a cutting file called Travel Set designed by Creative Pointe. 

All cutting with the exception of the sentiment label was done on my Sizzix eClips using eCal software. 

The cityscape began as all white paper -- and yes, I used the eBrush to get the desired colors and efftects using Spectrum Noir markers!  The paetterned paper is from an old stack by Me and My Big Ideas.  The stamp is from a retired SU set.  I did use a bit of chocolate chip ink  (SU) to distress the edges of the kraft colored card base. 

I'll have much more to share with you next Monday, using this same file.. so in the meantime, enjoy a fabulous Labor Day and hope you'll get some crafing and creative time squeezed into your day! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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