Izbzee

Take the Bunny Trail

It's been a fun couple of weeks of paper play.  I'm really excited about how this  project turned out.

Print to cut signs (from files found at Creative Fabrica) and bunnies (free downloadable file) on a stick were fun makes.  You can find detailed instructions for making these on The Artistry.  

Twine, brads, chalk and a jewel decorate the bunny faces.  They're easy to make -- and just add a skewer to stick them into the arrangement.  And the file has a free download with this project - link is here on The Artistry.

I've been playing a bit with designing some 3D pieces.  The signs were one of my successful attempts.  Love how the signs turned out.  I'm sure there will be more projects in the future that contain this shape and others.  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll be crafting and creating in your space again soon.  

3 Tags of Fall - Tag 3

It's the last day of the 3 Tags of Fall reveal on our FB page.  It's been a fun couple of days to see what the other makers have created and while our numbers are few, we know that there are others creating, but not posting.  

For my last tag, I created this Pinterest inspired BOO tag using SCAL 6 and cut with the Skycut.  I filled the letters with some paper from Lori Whitlock's digital  I Love Halloween collection from Echo Park.  


The tag base was created in SCAL 6.  It has been inked and the sentiment (Avenir and Ballegand fonts) is foiled with black foil.  Using the Magic Moon Font, I've used the Pattern option to fill each of the letters.  Follow the print 2 cut directions for your software and machine.  I've added foam behind the printed letters which have been lightly inked with Black Soot (distress ink) and there are two shadow layers beneath the top layer.  The bottom is a blackout shadow cut in black paper.  The middle layer is a burnt orange color and is glued directly to the bottom blackout layer.  I've added a small wiggle eye as the period of the exclamation mark for a little more dimension and interest.  



Materials:
AC Cardstock
Printer
Distress Ink, blending tool
Foil Quill (standard nib)
Black Foil (Spellbinders)
Bearly Art Glue
Black foam tape
Wiggle Eye

3 Tags of Fall - Tag 2

Fall mean harvest time around here.... and we've been canning, dehydrating and freezing everything from our garden.  We didn't get enough apples to do much with, but this shaker will be the perfect addition to a gift of apple bars.  

I've  had this file in my stash for quite a while.  I can't find the original information, but it is similar to this one,

I started with white paper and added color as needed.  Leaves are colored using the ink refills (dragging the paper through drops of ink. The bow was done the same way.  Once dry, the pieces were "painted" with a light coat of collage pauge for added sheen.  The leaves are from the SCAL library and the bow is from a file another file.  I used a silver marker -- and added a little sheen with the collage pauge after gluing it to the top of the shaker once it was assembled.  

I had a couple of packages of polymer clay apple slices in red and green I could use in the shaker.  

You'll find a few more tags being shared on our FB page:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/eclipsecal

MATERIALS:
AC cardstock (smooth white)
Watercolor Brush Ink Refills (Poetique)
Shaker Sprinkles (Etsy)
Zig 0.08 black pane
Bearly Art Glue
Glossy Collage Pauge by Aleene's
Small flat brush for acrylics
Transparency Acetate
SCAL 6 Pro
Skycut C24

Halloween... 2023

We've gotten a little early start as you can tell... having made this typewriter previously, it wasn't difficult to give it a different feel.  

One of our daughters is in her final semester of her undergraduate studies.  Since she's majoring in Creative Writing, she asked for a Halloween themed typewriter similar to one she saw online.  The Typewriter SVG file is from SVGCuts and is a box.  The skeleton hands are from Creative Fabrica and the vintage collage is also from a collection found on Creative Fabrica. 

I was originally worried about the colors, but after grunging things up a bit, it actually reminded her of an old typewriter we had a number of years ago... an old Royal manual that you had to push the keys so hard, to get the ribbon to print the image on the paper.  

Now to finish the rest of the display.  Hoping to have it cut, assembled and on display with the typewriter very soon.  

Make it now not later challenge

This was a fun Halloween decor piece to create.  I'm using two files from Simply Crafty SVGs (listed below) and a few other things to embellish.  

Oh, my!  I got to HL too early to find one of the items I needed and wanted to use for the tail in the Christmas section (now about 1/2 of the store!)  LOL... however, after a quick trip to Joann's I found a  pick with feathers for a fluffy cat tail that I think will work.  The giant curly chenille stems weren't at the store either in the color I wanted... so the pick will have to work.  

For the base:

I used the Halloween Witchy Luminary found here.  I created the base using the solid pieces (just copy and paste to get eight of them)  I reduced these pieces 25% so the finished size was 75% of the original design.  Repeat the process for the panels.  You need eight solid panels, also reduced.  The luminary base will be flipped and used for the topper.  I cut a circle for the bottom of the luminary closing off the bottom of the box.  

The cat is cut at 125% and is from the Vintage Halloween Bags.  The Orange piece is a solid background shadow of the gray piece of the stacked images.  Cut two of each shape.  I also created a folded tab to help the piece stand in the base.  Cut a slit about 1 inch wide in the bottom of the base (which will become the top)  Once you've completed assembly of the cat with the folded tabs glued between the two orange pieces, slide the edge in the slit and glue them to the underside of the base.  The cat should stand up without any additional supports. The head will be heavy and I did need to add an additional support.  I used a large paper clip and secured it in place.  

Make a rosette to go around the cat's neck and cover the shape on the base.  4 patterned paper strips were cut at 1 3/8" x 6".  Scored every 1/4" along the long edge.  Fold each strip accordian style.  I glued the four strips together to form a rosette.  Use a glue gun to secure the rosette (the hole is large enough to slip over the head of the cat... you then adjust the fan folds around the head as evenly as possible

Add any other embellishments desired.  Glue on the tail using hot glue to secure in place, under a panel in the back. 

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you have some creative time on your calendar this week, if it's not inked in yet, I hope you'll make some time to nurture your creative spirit very soon. 

 

some fun cards

Summer is just around the corner.... but the weather has been warm enough to flip the switch and turn on the AC for a few hours every afternoon.  

Sandy at Simply Crafty SVGs has put out a new batch of cards in the last week --  fun box cards.  

I've made a couple of these cards from the new files.  Love them!

I added a shaker element in the pitcher and literally filled it with polymer clay sliced lemons I found on Etsy a couple of years ago.  So fun!  
Used some collage podge on the pitcher and the lemon slices.  The digital paper is from Creative Fabrica.  It was perfect and grounded the card.  The basic box elements for the card can be cut from a single 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper!  Lots of inking and a little watercolor painting.  I love the design of the glass in this file.  It looks dimensional.  

And then there was this one... who doesn't like donuts?  

I used several mediums on this one.  Inking, Dimensional Glaze, nail art bits and pieces and Pearl Luster Lumiere.  It was fun - but was hard to wait for everything to dry!  The original file does not have the transparent window.  I created on for a little more fun and will likely add a sentiment to the window to personalize it when it is gifted.  

Both cards were cut on the Skycut using SCAL6 Pro software to set up the SVG files for cutting.  Paper from AC Cardstock.  Bearly Art Glue and Scor-Tape  were the adhesives used.  

Both cards will fold flat and fit into a standard invitation envelope.  If you choose to add a shaker component, there is a little bulk, so extra postage may be needed if you add any dimension like I have done.  

An early start to Christmas makes

I saw a sample of something similar to this explosion box project, but the boxes used on the inside walls of the explosion box were too shallow for what I wanted to accomplish.  So I tried my hand at creating my own version with a little help from a friend.  Finished size is 4.25 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches.  

All patterned paper is digital and I was able to isolate one of the reindeer from the larger paper image and create a "sticker" with it.  There's a reindeer on each side of the box.  SCAL 6 makes it very easy to fill each shape with the paper and size as desired.  All of the images used were backgrounds that were scalable and seamless.  

When you open the box, you'll find 6 mini- cubes on each side panel.  Each cube is numbered.  

Each cube holds a  small single bit candy bar or a couple of hershey kisses.  They will also hold a small charm.  It's makes a perfect Advent calendar for the holidays or could be adapted to celebrate a birthday month or upcoming anniversary.  

I used print 2 cut to create all the panels using a digital paper package call Happy Holidays I picked up from Creative Fabrica a while back.  It's a fun set of backgrounds.  I added a little bling to the red-nosed reindeer in the panels using some flat sequins.  

I think it turned about pretty good!  Day 25 will be an envelope holding a gift certificate or voucher for a family to use during or after the holidays.  

Looking forward to starting another Advent box very soon... we need several more for this coming holiday season!  

May - went fast!

I spent a majority of the month playing with some new ideas -- and grateful to have finished most of them.  

Most of the finished designs are based on finds at Pinterest.  

Late in the month finish... a cute little flip top box with a mini-album insert.  Scraps used for all.  The paper is from Echo Park's Let Freedom Ring collection.  I did create the star cut border using SCAL.  There's some foiling and stamping in this album as well.  

Mo's Digital Pencil is the creator of the above image.  It's so cute and can be adaptable to most anyone's birthday celebration!  

Another image from Mo's Digital Pencil.  It was the perfect image for an upcoming birthday!  

With Father's Day just around the corner, this fun print and cut and digital colored image from Polkadoodles helped create this fun card for the guys in the family!  I hope they like them.  

Two of the boys have birthdays near the first of the month.  This quick make was perfect for them and includes use of scraps, print and cut and cut using the Skycut and SCAL 5 Pro.  I'm really happy this came together quickly and I'm looking forward to using this file again soon with a different color scheme.  

I made a stack of 18 of these to send out in June.  The digital image was from Polkdoodles (Spring bundle).  I used some old spellbinder border dies and created the ENJOY using a font and a few small rectangles to connect "the dots" if you will.  The word is cut on the skycut and the sentiment on the inside was a print using SCAL as well.  

May was busy -- and June is already filling up with plans for creating.  I'm definitely looking forward to more creative time this coming month.  How about you?

 

 

the lull

It's been a while.... but I do have a few things to share.  I loved this image of a tulip as soon as I found it at Creative Fabrica.  I used it for two projects and I love the way it radiates light even on matte cardstock.  

One of the three cards shared in the article -- a fun fold stand up card.  This version is the portrait version.  The card folds flat for mailing.  You'll find all the details at:  https://www.creativefabrica.com/the-artistry/card-making/mothers-day-themed-fun-fold-stand-up-card/

 

As many of you may be aware, I send out a stack of cards every month to a group of women from my church.  It's always fun to create these cards and I hope they enjoy them.  I used the same tulip image, added a dark frame and a gold foiled sentiment.  I love how these turned out.  

 

Here's the results of a cute new file from Simply Crafty SVGs... 

I used a few pop up dots for added dimension on this fun box card and it still folds flat for mailing!  

The Magical Things bundle also from Simply Crafty SVGs will be the perfect centerpiece for our May family dinner.  I was thrilled with how it turned out  

I finished this fun box card using another Simply Crafty SVG file, Cruise Ship Box card.  I added a mini album on the back of the card for the recipient to add a line or two about their trip.  We'll add a travel journal as a gift for them to add photos and more details about the trip too.  

Our oldest grandson has a birthday later this week.  This was a fun card to share with him.  The Smart Phone file is from Dreaming Tree.    

While perusing Pinterest, I came across a fun card, but couldn't find a cut file for the life of me.  Everything was hand cut.  Eventually, I decided to try my hand at creating a cutting file.  It worked!  And here are my results. 

 

That's it for today!    Hoping you've built in some creative time over the course of the next few days!  If not, try to squeeze some in!

Layers

I loved the images I found in this grouping of cute fairy houses at Creative Fabrica and wanted to do something fun with one of them and use it in a fun frame.  This is the result for this project now being shared on The Artistry at Creative Fabrica.  

Lots of fussy cutting on the focal image - and some added layering for more dimension.  The hexagon frame was easy to assemble, and would be perfect for a series of images on a wall.  The Skycut and SCAL 6 were my go to's for this project.  The SCAL software makes it very easy to do the print then cut and resizing of the frame was also an important process.  Scaling the background image to fit in the frame was a breeze to accomplish as well.  

Again, the step-by-step process for printing, cutting and assembling this project can be found here.  

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you've got some creative time carved out this week and through the month of March!  Hoping that there's a real change in the season soon and we'll be seeing things green up and blooming as we enter Spring here in the Northern Hemisphere!  We've had quite a winter!  Another fresh 5+ inches of white stuff on the ground this morning!    

3d Heart Treasure Box

When I first got a sneak peek at this box, I was so excited!  I had a couple of thoughts on how to make it. Below is my final version.

I love that the front and back walls of this piece are reinforced, making the box very sturdy and the box top is hinged in the back, keeping the top and bottom together. The box is made from a rusty colored cardstock that complimented the colors in the panel pieces and reminded me of the colors in the sand in the area where the image was originally taken.  

The front flap doesn't require a closure, but you could certainly add one if desired.   This file from Simply Crafty SVGs will be a go to in the future for several projects through the year.    

Using SCAL 6 Pro, I used the clip path command to place the image in the panel shapes.  This made it pretty easy for the print to cut process for the Skycut as well.  The slot canyon image was printed on glossy photo stock and the colors from the printer were incredibly vibrant!  

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Each visit is appreciated.  Hoping you have some creative time marked out this week - if not, find some time.  Your heart and spirit will benefit (among other things).