Izbzee

April Teacher Appreciation

Sticky note holder for the gift this month.  Super quick to make and it was fun to find notepads in colors that nearly matched the colors used in the rainbow.  I found the notepads on Amazon - they're vintage colors and blend well with the Boho Rainbow with Positive Quotes from Creative Fabrica.  

I did remove the sentiment in the original png image and added something that we thought would work well for this month.  The font is also from Creative Fabrica which can be printed without the stroke added for an almost single line font look when done in SCAL6.  

I had purchased some mystery boxes filled with Bazzil cardstock a couple of years ago and wasn't quite sure what to do with several of the packs, however, this color works well with the image and has enough weight and strength to hold the sticky note pad.  

A little spring.... maybe?

Spring was here for a week or so, but winter came roaring back yesterday with a bit of snow and some pretty cold air blew in with it as well.  Grateful we aren't having the blizzard like weather or getting dumped on either that many others to the east are having to deal with.  

I've been able to spend a little time with my software and cutting machine again -- having some and trying some new to me stuff.  We made some Spring/Easter cards for the family.  They turned out really nice.  I learned some new stuff that my cutting software (SCAL 6 Pro) can do and used that to create this card. The pre-colored digital images are from Polkadoodles.  

My big project for March was to convert a house file into a doll house.  To be honest, I nearly gave up as I had to change a few things to make it work.  I used the Halfling Hideaway House from Simply Crafty SVGs for this one. 





The doorway is changed and the alternative roof pieces were resized and used as the walls and ceiling for the interior of the house.  I added an extra layer for the flooring which is "brick" and inked some strips for the wood trim for the interior.  I think it turned out pretty good.  The house isn't a true 1:12, but is more closely a 1:24.  It will make creating the furniture a little more interesting since things will be much smaller.  I did get a table and benches made (file from Thicketworks), it still needs some detailing -- 

I've talked to one of my daughters and we're going thrift shopping for an old dollhouse to see if we could use it in there once we get the outside of the house spruced up.  I do like working with miniatures a bit and it would be fun to do something a little bigger and maybe even make a replica of the 150 year old family cradle that all my my children were rocked in as babies as well as me and my siblings, my mother and her father and several of his siblings and include that in the dollhouse.  I think it would be cool. 

Hope you have some creative time built into your schedule this coming week.  Nurture your heart and have a wonderful week! 

RESOURCES USED:
AC Cardstock
Bearly Art Glue
SCAL 6 Pro
Skycut C24
Digital paper (rocks and bricks from stash)
Halfling Hideaway House
Polkadoodle Digital Stamps:  Spring into Easter (Big Kahuna Collection)
Photoshop Elements
mini hinge and mini brads (stash)
Moss (hobby Lobby)

  

teacher appreciation gift for March

We started doing Teacher Appreciation "thank you's" last August.  It's been fun to add this to our monthly creative calendar.  This month we opted for a less traditional St Patrick's day color scheme -- and made some sour cream sugar cookies for the treat.  

The digital paper was from Creative Fabrica and the cut file is from Lori Whitlock's shop.  I ordered the food safe cookie bags from Amazon.  I'd originally planned on using some Baker's Twine to tie everything together, but I didn't like the look and instead went with the gold twist ties included with the cookie bags.  We added a small print and cut tag to the front and a larger label to the back. 

Hubby said they were a "hit" and the sweet was a perfect ending to the day for his staff.  

 

AC Cardstock (White, smooth 12 x 12)  4 wraps to a sheet
24 small tags to one 12x12 sheet
8 larger scalloped tags to one 12x12 sheet
scor tape
Skycut C24
SCAL6 Pro

Tag 4 - CAS

Clean and simple and all white.  This tag has a few things that set it apart from other tags.  It lights up!

I used the score board to score the background circles for this tag.  They are taped securely to the back of the front tag.  A simple circuit was created for the light using a chibi white light - 

Two layers of foam tape was sufficient for the depth of the battery (CR2016) used in the circuit.  Once the circuit was complete and working with slight pressure, secure the top tag to the base.  Details on creating a circuit and finding materials used, can be found at chibitronics.com

The flower file was in my stash (designer unknown) and it cut nearly perfectly after being resized down a little more than 75%.  

A pop of color on the flower finishes the card.  

EDITED:  
I decided to switch out the flower head and used a pressed paper flower and sequin to finish off the tag - I do like it much better this way.  




Thanks again for stopping by.  You've made my day!  Hoping you have an awesome day too.  

Tag 3

We're now in the middle of the week and it's day three of the reveal.  It's going quickly!  This tag was inspired by one seen on Pinterest.

I thought that creating the dotted layer would be more difficult than it was -- overthinking again.  LOL  However, that's not the case.  I think the results were just as I anticipated.  The tag is my design made using shapes from the library.  Digital paper fills the shapes and was from the FQB Hey Cupcake NitWit Collection. The flower shapes were from the SCAL Library.  The banners were created using basic shapes and the sentiment uses Arkina Sans from Creative Fabrica and was set to print 2 print only and filled with a color very similar to the Kraft color used for the back tag.  The back tag is loose so it can be personalized if desired.  White embroidery thread was used for the hanger.  

Thanks again for dropping by on day 3 of the reveal.  Enjoy the shares on our Facebook page -- you'll find it here.  Keep on creating!  

Tag 2 of 2024 Spring Tag Reveal

Yesterday, I shared the chick tag with you.  Today, I have two smaller tags that are print 2 cut and could be personalized for any occasion, season or theme.  

Both tags use the same base and inset shadow.  I created the shape using some basic shapes from the library in SCAL.  I really like how they turned out.  The digital paper is from Polkadoodles Spring into Easter paper bundles.  SCAL makes it so easy to add patterned paper to a shape, set it to print only.  I didn't add the inset shadow as an extra cut - however, you certainly could.  I did add a shadow to that inset shape using a fine tipped marker after printing.  The sentiment uses the Arkina and Arkina Sans font duo from Creative Fabrica and are also set to print to cut.    The "shadow tag" is cut separately and could be personalized for the recipient.  The Skycut is spot on when it comes to print 2 cut images.  I never have to worry about a miscut.  To finish the tag, I added an eyelet to the front tag only - If desired ink the outside edges in a coordinating color with your digital paper OR the color you used for the shadow.  No glue needed for these tags either!  

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope you're creating this week.  Enjoy every moment!  Be sure to drop by the Facebook page to see what the rest of the group is sharing.  

Is it Spring yet?

Mother Nature isn't quite willing to let Spring show her grandeur.  But I'm hoping we'll see more signs very soon!

Maybe one way we can make that happen is to share a few Spring Tags this week.  It's our Spring Tag Reveal week over on Facebook...  I'll post the link to the page at the bottom of this post.  

I decided to start off the week with this simple tag.  It's a shaped tag and slightly oversized.  

The chick is from the Library in SCAL, and I added a rounded triangle using the Union command for the tail.  The base is cut from a grey colored cardstock and is crimped and painted for a weathered look.  The body is also crimped but with the lines running horizontally.  I added some dimensional glaze to the eye.  The flower is from the Library in SCAL as well.  It is drybrushed with some white paint.  A glittered brad holds the layers together.  I used some baker's twine around the neck and for the hanger.  Sweet and simply!  

Hope you'll stop by and see all the other tags that have been made for this year's reveal.  You'll find them here.  Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek today.  Hope you have some creative time built into your week to nurture your creative soul.  

whether or weather

The weather has been kind of yucky the last few days.  Lots of dreary days and sometimes it makes it harder to get the supplies out and play.  However, there have been a few days that playing has been accomplished and successful.  

This month's stack was made using another pre-colored digi stamp from Polkadoodles.  It's a simple and clean to complete card.  The SCAL 6 software makes it easy to set up the card front for printing and cutting and then using the  skycut, I get a perfect cut every time. I don't have to recalibrate the camera/laser after a software update either.  Spot on!   

We have a few birthdays in February as well.  So I chose to dig through some stamps and dies and use those for this fun square card.  The bear is from Eileen Hutson, the flowers in a vase stamp is retired (Stampin' Up!) and the Happy Birthday is from Stamper's Anonymous.  The square die is an oldie from Spellbinders.  The background paper is from a very old stack and I colored the images using colored pencils on watercolor paper for a little more texture.  

If you've been following me for a while, I'm sure you know that I love to add lights, sound and movement to some of my cards.  I thought this one would be a fun one.
The penguins "shake" when you shake the card.  They're on a string and hang on the card between two small holes.  It's fun and is a case from a card I saw on Instagram.  I'm pretty sure there will be a few more along this same idea in the future.  Digi paper and penguins for easy print 2 cut and assembly!

The next card is for one of our granddaughters.  Her b-day is coming up shortly and I designed this box card in SCAL 6 and cut most everything with the skycut.  I did use a couple of punches and a die for the smaller embellishments.  The digi stamp is a fun one and it's from Whimsy Stamps.  I used pencils to color this one in too.  this image doesn't have the sentiment on the front yet.  I love how it folds flat and fits into an A2 envelope!  


Yesterday, I decided to play with some circuits again.  It's getting pretty easy to get the LED light ones to work on the first try now.... I used the robot die set from Tim Holtz and distress inks to color the pieces that started out as white paper.  I love playing with color....  This was a case from a card I saw on Pinterest.  The left eye does light up.  


Well, that's it for now.  I have another project to share in a day or so... but typepad isn't cooperating with letting me upload the image at the moment.  LOL  

Hope you've got some creative time built into your week.  Take care and nurture your creative soul as often as you can.  

 

cards, cards, cards

January has been a busy month to get a start on making cards -- my regular stack of cards using a pre-colored digital stamp from Polkadoodles.  Thankfully, they allowed me to make a few extras beyond the Angel Policy for this one. 


I really like how this one turned out.  

Birthdays - there aren't too many, but there are a few.  I used a stamp from MFT for this one and the design was cased from one I found on Pinterest.  I really like how it turned out.  I blended some distress ink on the lettering, added a little sparkle with some Wink of Stella.  The scarf and skates are colored and blended with colored pencil.  I find I still have too heavy a hand with markers.... but I'm working on it!  AND...My hard to please brother liked his!  He lives in Sunny AZ during the winter months and I love to tease him about the weather!  Especially after our 15 inches of snow this month!  I did use scan to cut on the bear.  I love how my Skycut can make the perfect cut time and time again!  



I did get another card designed after seeing something similar on Pinterest... It was fun to create and was the perfect "no sugar" gift for a friend battling cancer.  She would love to have some sweets, but these worked just fine.  

I used basic shapes to create the baking pan and cookies.  I found the spatula online as a free download.  It was perfect.  The paper is a gray from Bazill.  The card front is mounted on an A2 card base in white.  The recipient caught me on Sunday and said that she has been sharing the cards with her friends and family when they visit.  All of the cards I've been sending are now hanging on her fridge and are quite the conversation piece at the moment. a little bit of glossy accents and some fine glitter assed the final touch to the cookies.  

This project was for a challenge - It had to have a "heart shape" in it.  I was excited to have it turn out the way it did and even better, 3 of these will fit on a 12x12 sheet of paper.  Easy to assembly and fun to fill!  Paper is from a old, a really old paper stack from Stampin' Up!  

Next month may be a little lean on finished projects, but I have gotten a head start on a few things... February's stack of cards are completed and I'll post them in a couple of days.  Two of the grands have b-days and their cards are nearly finished.  I have a couple of other projects I'm hoping to finish up in the next few days -- another eye surgery is on the calendar for next month and while the recuperation time is relatively short, it would be nice to be all caught up for the month if possible.  

Hoping you have some creative time carved out this week and over the course of the next month.... Enjoy the time and nurture your heart and soul!  






 

it's not been too quiet....

craft wise.  I'd say a little busy for the first week of January.  

This guy was finished up just before the first wave of snow started last evening (the 6th).  His first iteration began earlier in the week -- some tweaking and I kind of like the finished look.  


I combined 3 files from Simply Crafty SVGs to make him.  
Smiling Snowman (one of my favorite files -- especially for the hat shape)  I added panels to the hat to get the checkerboard effect I was looking for.  The hat band has some holographic embossed snowflakes -- they didn't quite turn out the way I'd hoped, but there is some sparkle up there.  The panels on the head are embossed with the swiss dots folder from Provo Craft.  I didn't ink these.  The scarf has an extra tail -- and the paper pattern is from Creative Fabrica.  

I used the 3D Round Ornament Gift Box for the body.  The head is glued to the top of the box for easy access to the large area where you could put a scarf, mitten/gloves or some candy.  The bottom of the ornament is flat -- so you could finish there, however, I opted to add a base using the Dog Dish file.  I think next time I make this, I'll add some panels to the inside of the larger piece and again to the outside for a bit more strength since I didn't add the band at the bottom of the outside part of the dish.  The base of the ornament is glued to the dog dish for more stability.  

I created the arms and mittens and hand cut those.  Panels for the body and the arms and mittens are done using the Swiss dots folder.  I used a small button for the chest, two small beads for the eyes and a glittered brad for the nose (after cutting off the prongs).  Hot glue keeps those in place  

Hope you'll find some creative time soon if you don't already have some inked in this coming week.  Enjoy the time and nurture your heart along the way.  

Thanks again, for dropping by!