Izbzee

a first for me...

in a very long time.... A little paper house.  

I used the Bird House file and the stand from Smiling Jack O' Lantern file from Simply Crafty SVGs with an added beveled box I created using Blender and Pepakura. This was lots of fun!

The panels on the outside of the house are embossed with a rock embossing folder and the inside walls of the house are also paneled for a little more sturdiness to compensate for the added weight of the moss on the roof and to cover the prongs used in the hinges.    

.... after opening the bird house file in SCAL, I made a few changes to the door and added a few additional details. 

The door is comprised of 4 layers of cardstock.  The top layer is embossed and inked and was washed with a bit of water.  the window element was created in SCAL combining some basic shapes.  The door is set off center on the front of the house.  A half arch was added to one side (not shown above) and is also made of 4 layers, embossed and inked.  

The door knocker is made with some jewelry findings (a bead and jump ring) glued to a metallic (aluminum can) heart die cut. In the final design, they are colored with a black sharpie.   The hinges were a find on Amazon.  I used some small brads to secure the hinges to the door and house frame.  The door knob (not shown) is a brad minus the prongs.  E6000 glue was used to secure the metallic pieces to the door.  Let dry overnight for best results!

Assemble the house following the basic assembly instructions provided at Simply Crafty SVGs.  The video instruction does not include the door used for this project.  

A sheet of hobby craft moss was cut to size to use on the roof.  I used some heavy duty double stick tape to secure it on the roof pieces.  

I really like the stand from the Smiling Jack O'Lantern file.  I've used it for several other projects and it's a favorite and so easy to assemble.  No need to alter the size or design. An additional beveled box was added to the stand to add more width and stability at the top to accommodate the house.   

 

Is it perfect?  NO, not at all!  But I've learned a lot in this construction, and hope to add a few additional houses in the months to come implementing some additional ideas.  Overall, it was an enjoyable project and got me out of my comfort zone in several areas and using materials I don't often use or combine with paper.

Supplies:
Paper:  American Cardstock (AC) and Bazill  80lb (textured)
Adhesives:  Bearly Art Glue, e6000, red line tape (heavy duty)
Software used:  SCAL 5, Blender, Pepakura
Skycut C24
embossing folders, small heart die
Big Shot
Findings:  small bead, jump ring, aluminum can, hinges, brads
Jewelry round nose pliers, wire cutters
Water brush
Distress Inks
Ink blending tool

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you've carved out some creative time this week.  I have and I'm looking forward to some fun time crafting and creating.  If you choose to make this or something similar... please be sure to let me know and tag #simplycraftysvgs too!  Sandy would love to see your make as well!  

2022 Holiday Tags - #10

Have you ever looked at the fabulous iced cookies that are being created out there?  They are amazing.  I wish I could hold an icing bag again to do some of them - but arthritis makes it a little more difficult.    Using a cutting machine and paper makes it possible to create this small paperquilt/paper-pieced tag.  

This star "cookie" was a fun one and adding some details using embossing folder added a little more texture for the finished tag.  It was fun to dig through my tub of embossing folders and choose what to use for this tag.  Both folders were from Sizzix.  Basic shapes for the five-sided star, circle for the nose and an oval for the face.  The raindrops in the Spring folder for the general make-up of this tag.  I used a couple of horizontal lines found in the Basic Shapes folder -- and used the wave effect to create a slight curve in both lines. This tag is also a great way to use up some of your scraps.  Nothing over 4 x 4!  Bearly Art glue was used.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Join us over on the Facebook page to check out the rest of the makes!  

2022 Holiday Tags - #9

I decided to create another tag using foiling.  The tree file were a purchased file from So Fontsy.  There are quite a few tree designs in the file.. I enjoyed picking the 9 used on this tag.  

The trim on the bottom was a print 2 cut using a simple rectangle filled with a pattern from the Nordic Christmas Collection I found on Creative Fabrica.  The foil quill came through again~ just make sure that it is thoroughly heated up before using.  One of the benefits of using the Skycut is that there is a USB port and you can heat up the foil quill using that port -- no extra battery pack or dragging another charger and plugging it in to use the foil quill.  

Thanks for stopping by -- hoping you're enjoying the reveal!  Our Facebook page offers the whole gamut of contributors this year... so stop by there too  

2022 Holiday Tags - #8

What can you do with a simple square?  Create a snowman, of course!  This tag is a perfect way to use up a few scraps in black, red and green or just a scrap of white and coloring with some alcohol markers.  Inspired by an iced cookie found on Pinterest, it was easy to translate into a paper cookie!  

Bazzil's medium kraft paper was perfect to use as a base.  AC cardstock for other pieces.  Playing with a some nodes, a couple of rectangles you can make the components for the hat easily.  A little gel pen, a micron marker, and some shimmer were added to finish off this tag.  

You're invited to drop by the Facebook page here to see all the other beauties being posted daily!  Thanks for stopping by again.  

2022 Holiday Tags - #7

Gingerbread!  I love how it smells and remember lots of baking days making gingerbread men and even a gingerbread house or two!  Lots of great memories.  The tag for today is a remake of something we made about 10 years or more ago.  A simple shaped cut with a couple of hearts popped up on foam dots.

Icing details added using a gel pen.  A small dauber with a bit of ink used for the cheeks on this cut.   This would be a perfect tag for a jar of gingerbread cookie mix -- and a day of baking with the grands.  

Again, if you haven't been checking the daily contributions to the Reveal on our Facebook group, here's the link again.  Feel free to stop by, our makers have been working hard to create their tags too.  Thanks for stopping by!  

2022 Holiday Tags - #6

Halfway home... This tag will be used on a jar of cookie mix.  All original shapes were found in the SCAL library.

When the kids were home, it wasn't uncommon to find nearly every surface in the kitchen and dining room filled with holiday baking... cookies, breads, sweet rolls, etc.  The house smelled so good!  I miss that at times -- however, the memories are really nice too.  

This "sugar" cookie has been iced with some white paper frosting and some holly and berry accents.  The cookie has a collage pauge (Aleene's) coat to seal it.  

A circle from the library was used the cookie base.  The icing started as a circle and using the nodes tool, some nodes were moved a bit to create the irregular edges.  It can be fun to play with the nodes in most shapes.  Have some fun!  

Be sure to stop by the Facebook page for a look at some of the other creative makes!  You won't be disappointed!  

Stack of cards

The number of this November/Thanksgiving stack of cards continues to grow as T has decided he wants to share a few as well.  Do I mind?  Of course not! 

Pinterest inspired, but with a slightly different take, this card is cut on the Skycut using SCAL 5 Pro and shapes from the Library and a few different techniques I thought I'd like to try.  Lots of enjoyable "play" time.  

I used the back minus front command in SCAL to create the leaf cuts  (I now have nearly a hundred white leaves ready to color to use in a future large shaker project).   I used two separate sentiments created using fonts and the p2c option offered in SCAL.  (Both fonts are from Creative Fabrica) for this stack of cards.

It was fun adding the score lines for the leaf cuts using a shadow cut as a panel behind the card front face.  

The panel was colored using distress inks.  Once the panel was adhered to the back of the card face, I flecked some gold shimmer on the card face and the shadow layer.   Once dry, the card face and panel were adhered to the larger panel and then to the card base.  

These are pretty quick to assemble once the stock was printed, cut and pieces colored.  This month's stack jumped from 12 to 20.  I've already figured in that we'll be adding this number to the our Christmas card list as I begin that process next month. 

Hoping you will be enjoying some creative time in the next few days if not sooner.  Enjoy and thanks again for dropping by.   

2022 Three Tags of Fall - Tag 3

It's the last day of the reveal.  There are times I wish we could have done additional tags, but I'm grateful to have had the time to get these three done.  

Today's tag reminds me of the crisp Fall air -- and apples from the tree.  There's nothing better than picking a ripe apple from the tree... 

 

Just a few notes for this one. I was able to create the design for the paper doll using shapes from the SCAL library.  The design is loosely based on the images created by Christiana Bellini.  The skirt of the patterned paper dress is "pleated."  Just glue the top pleated edge to the doll body.  Add the additional elements for the dress.  Add the hair which consists of an oval and a half oval with a line of  stitching.  Ink the edges if desired.  Glue the large oval to the back of the head.  Glue the half oval to the front, covering the top of the head.  You could add a bow made of paper or ribbon if wanted.  

The tree is from the Valentine Gnome file from Simply Crafty SVGs.  The top of the tree was cut 3 times and resized.  All of the papers were inked to add a little more interest. The top 2 pieces were popped up using foam dots.  

The tag was colored using distress inks to create a background.  Be sure to stop by the Facebook page to see all the rest of the images posted for this Reveal.  

The lettering on the apple basket was hand lettered using a .01 Micron pen.  The basket edges were inked with a dark brown ink pad.  

The apples are from the SCAL library.  You can ink the edges.  Apply a light coat of Mod Podge Hi Lustre glaze with a paint brush to make them shiny if you'd like.  Let dry and stack the apples in the basket.  Add a couple of foam tape squares to the back to adhere to the tag.  

I think tag is my favorite of the three this year.  

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hoping you've carved out some creative time this coming week.  I have and I'm looking forward to sharing a couple of new projects that I'm working on.  

 

shrunken heads candlesticks

These candlesticks were fun to make using files from Simply Crafty SVGs.  

Combining the following files: 

Smiling Jack-o-Lantern (using the stand and panels only)

Skull Head Candle Holder (just the skull and panels)

Round Candy Box (use the base only - and alter the depth of the side)

Using your cutting machine and software, cut the stand and panels at 100%.  Emboss, foil and ink as desired.  Assemble according to the video found at the link above for the Smiling Jack-o-lantern.  Set aside.

Cut the skull head and panels at 50%.  Emboss and ink the panels as desired.  Assemble the skull.  If desired, add a piece of vellum behind the open areas of the face and side piece 3.  We chose to add the vellum to the back of the panel pieces.  Assemble according to the video that accompanies the Skull Head Candle Holder page.  Glue the skull to the top of the stand.  The tabs at the top of the skull will be adhered to the base of the round candy box.

Cut the round candy box at 75%.  Cut one extra bottom circle for a little more stability if you wish to fill the base and add your battery operated light in the base.  The side of the base should be 7/8" in height.  Cut another piece that is the same height and long enough to go around the base.  If desired, cut a 1/4-inch strip as a decorative piece.  Once you've assembled the base according to the assembly instructions, add the last circle to the inside of the base.  Adhere this piece to the top of the skull, centering it.  

If desired, add a 4-inch diameter circle to the top of the candy box base.  for a little more stability, we created a "box"  and glued it to the base.  There was enough surface to adhere the circle to the top and provide the platform for the shreds and battery operated candle we added as our finishing touch.  

I'm looking forward to getting the rest of our Halloween decor out in the next couple of days and adding these candlesticks to the mix.  Hope you'll be able to carve out some creative time in the next few days and nurture your spirit!  Have fun and thanks for stopping by.  

Halloween with Simply Crafty SVGs

It has been a joy creating this fun piece that will be displayed in our front hall next month. Three files from the many Halloween files available at Simply Crafty SVGs.  I took a little liberty with the boot and the cat -- and I'll share a little more about that in a bit.  

I started with the Hovering Witch Hat.  Resized to 50% of the original file and assembled according to the video Sandy created.  Sandy suggested the use of tweezers on the upper pieces of the hat.  They were an essential tool -- as the space was too small for my fingers to fit to hold while the glue set.  

Ink all the edges of the flower pieces.  Sandy's idea shown in her video are perfect.  I added a small glittery sequin for the center of the flower on the hat and used an old technique for the creating some suede like paper for the leaves and the fern.  

Resize all pieces to 50%.  I altered the Witch Boot Lantern file slightly by cutting the large panels for the top of the boot in half, punching small holes to thread the ribbon through. Before threading the ribbon in the holes, ink all the edges of the panels. Once you've completed the threading, the panels are then adhered to the boot using your favorite method.  Tie a bow in the ribbon.  

 

The cat is made of fabric and the face is from the Black Cat Treat box.  I layered the facial features together and grouped them.  Then resized to about 2 x 2.1 inches.  Using the IkonArt Stencil kit, a stencil was created and then stenciled using some acrylic heavy duty paint on some black fabric.  Heat set the image.  The fabric was stitched around the outside of the image with a small body added and then lightly stuffed.  The stuffed image is tea stained to add a little distressed look.  

The fact that this piece is stitched and has raw edges, it is meant to fray.  If you choose to try this, you'll want to choose a tightly woven fabric.  

Fill the boot with some sphagnum moss (brown/gray) Set the cat in the boot.  You can use a bamboo skewer glued to the inside of the heel of the boot to make sure the cat stays in place if you're worried about shifting.   Place the hat on the cat and tip as desired.  

 

Additional supplies: 
SCAL 5 Pro and Skycut C24 were used to cut all paper pieces.  
Liquitex Heavy Body White Acrylic Paint
Foam brush
AC cardstock (white, black)
Bazzil cardstock (purples)
embossing folder (optional)
Digital paper (Halloween Gnome Paper Packs from PolkaDoodle)
IkonArt Stencil Kit.  
Printer
Distress inks
White pigment ink
Black Fabric
Sewing machine
Polyester stuffing
Grunge mix for tea stain
Ribbon (1/8")
1/8" round paper punch
Sphagnum moss
glittered sequin (Hocus Pocus mix from Kat Scrappiness)
Bearly Art Precision Glue
ScorTape (1/8", 1/4")

Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you have some creative time carved out this weekend.  Enjoy.