Izbzee

Playing with AI images

I've always wanted to create my own background papers, but found it quite frustrating when trying to create seamless backgrounds.  Creative Fabrica has a set of AI tools on their site that you can access with a subscription.  Thanks to Creative Fabrica's generous gift of 1 month's access, I was able to create a collection of images to use in a playful Pinterest inspired Paper Quilt.  

While I didn't use all the images I created, it was fun to see what the tools would come up with using prompts and then tweaking the prompts for other images that could be used.  Some editing was done in Photoshop Elements and Affinity Designer.  I'm still a dabbler with Affinity, but I did learn quite a bit through this experience as well.  

One of the images I created but didn't use in the project is this one.

It only had one line of flowers at the bottom of the image and I wanted flowers throughout on the stripes.  So I downloaded and saved the file to my computer and put it in a folder shared with my iPad.  Opened Affinity and played, creating a new image and incorporating the stripes and flowers into one new image.  

It was a fun experiment -- I'm not sure I would use the tools often enough with my current library of digital prints to warrant the extra subscription, but in a crunch if I needed something I didn't have, I might use the tools again.    

Here's a link to the completed PAPER QUILT project I completed using the SPARK tools on The Artistry.  I used SCAL 6 Pro and the Skycut to make all the shapes and to save on ink -- you can use the pattern fill command and only fill the shapes with the desired digital patterns you create in SPARK.  

If you give SPARK a whirl, I'd love to hear about it!  Leave a comment!  

Carve out some creative time over the weekend if you can.  Enjoy your play!  

 

 

 

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!  

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!  

2025 5 Spring Tags Reveal - Tag 5

It's time to share the last tag for this year's reveal.  It's been so fun to see what the rest of the group has come up with, though I wish we could get a few more people to participate from the overall group.  

Tag #5 has some dimension and movement.  The tag shape is combined shapes from the library.  The panel is a print 2 cut using a paper from a Polkadoodles Spring collection.  The flower is an adapted shape, using a couple of layers of vellum which has been colored with some ink refills.  The ladybug button is from my stash and is adhered to a mini-vibrating button motor.  The circuit is  attached to another tag shape below the top layer.  Hello is vinyl and burnished to the front panel.  


The tag I chose not to use:  
This is a fun tri-fold card downsized to a tag.  The original inspiration is from Pinterest.  The digitals are from Polkadoodles.  the pop up is a simple box mechanism with the digital attached to the pop-up.  Once folded, I added a button magnet to keep things closed.  

 

1 month down...

I've spent a good part of the month organizing my "new to me space" again.  It took a while to get the paper moved from the downstairs studio upstairs and find space for it all.  Let's just say that when that mission was accomplished, it felt pretty good.  I knew there was a lot of paper --- but it was hard to fathom that there was "that much!"  Now that paper organization is out of the way for a "little while," it's definitely time for a little bit of creativity.

This is a combination of a couple of files from Simply Crafty SVGs.  I changed the Bunny Crate box into a box card by removing the bottom from the file.  I used the bunny butt from the Bunny Butt Treat box and the carrots are from the Easter Truck box card.  


I wanted to do another Layered Shadow Box project and found this one.  I used the same color scheme as the sample -- it was fun and easy to create!  This file is from DrizyStudio.com  


And one more that I can share at this point in time.... The Egg box file is from Simply Crafty SVGs.  I've used this file before and it's super easy to assemble and accessorize.  Some dry embossing, inking, sanding finish off the egg.  The added "floral corsage" with some ribbon ends, adds the finishing touch.  Daisy from Simply Crafty, filler flowers and ferns from Maison Gregoria.  


Ministering cards for the month of February are done and should be arriving at their respective new homes today.  I was inspired by a watercolor drawing I found on Instagram.  I used Procreate to "draw" a faux watercolor image to use as a focal image on the fun fold card.  



That's about it for this month.  I've still got a few pics to take of some other projects... we'll have to see how things move forward next month.  

Hope you get some creative time over the next few weeks.  Enjoy the time nurturing your soul.   

 

Tag 9

Just a few more tags to go for this year's reveal.  Today's snowman tag uses scrap vinyl, layers, a colored digital image (my design), a little ribbon.

The base tag shape is a rounded rectangle. Both the shadow and basic layer are covered with vinyl scraps.  The Satin ribbon is stapled to the base layers.  The upper lower layer is also covered in vinyl, the snowman was colored in Procreate, imported into SCAL and cut using the print 2 cut option in the software. A few issues with the glossy accents --

Tag 8

2/3 of the way through this year's tag reveal.  My  mojo hasn't been top notch for this year's group.  Today's tag, is a little mixed media offering.  I love mixing things up a bit and adding some different patterned papers and layering for the tree, dimension with the paper crimper for the main portion of the tag, torn paper, inking, half-dome gems and some modeling paste "snow."    

Tag 6

Print and cut elements for this easy to make tag.  The tag is a personal design created in SCAL 6 using shapes and the union command.  I like the lacy look for this one.  

Using Pattern Fill apply the background fill in the tag shape.  Add a small rectangle filled with a similar color, a bit of lace and a circle with sentiment and a star cut out.  A half dome gem was added to the star cutout.  

Tag 5

Today's tag is a little different.  It could also be used to hold a small gift or gift card.  This box is from SVGCuts.com and was a free file.  You can find it here.  I sized it down a bit and used a wood grain image and pattern fill for print and cut.  The lettering was also set to print.  A designer print filled the flap panel and some silver organza ribbon was used.  

A Polkadoodle Halloween

I had a little fun making these Halloween cards the other day. 

Lots of Print and cut here.  I created the background using a chunky font, filling with a digital paper from 2 of the Halloween collections I've purchased from Polkadoodles.co.uk.  AND.....these are fun and quick to make - even quicker using the pre-colored images and setting up for print and cut.

Everything was done in SCAL 6 Pro, but the same could be accomplished in the regular version of SCAL.  I really like using SCAL much more than a word processing program or Photoshop as I feel I have a little more control over things generally. 

I didn't have a lot of crafting time available that day, so I resorted to using the pre-colored character images found in the collections, and if you know me, I hate to leave things unfinished and having to pick up another day.  :)  

For the card base, choose your words and create using a chunky font (Avenir Black), center on a 3.75 x 5.0 panel in the software.  Group the words together once you have them arranged on the panel.  Make sure just the group of words is highlighted at this point.  In the Fill and Stroke Panel (color palette icon), choose Pattern in the Fill box drop down.  Load image and choose from one of the many digital patterns available to you in the collection(s) you're using.  You can adjust the size of the pattern fill  - I chose to use a 6 x 6 fill, click on Preview and make any adjustments, then click on Okay.  The digital paper pattern will fill the letters.  You can then choose the color of the stroke on the letters - or choose none.  Be sure to set the words to print only in the Style Panel (the wrench icon).  Set the panel stroke to none.  

For the focal image, choose your desired Polkadoodle collection and the pre-colored images folder.  I picked images and papers from these 2 collections:  Halloween Gnome Big Kahuna Collection and Boo Halloween Big Kahuna Bundle  

Be sure the png images are set to print.  Using the Effects tab in SCAL, choose Shadow Layer (Contour Cut) and make the shadow just a little smaller .025 and change the shadow color to white.  Select okay or hit the return key to close that pop up window.  Select the shadow and the image layers and group them together.  Repeat as needed for each of the cards you wish to make.  

Print the panels and the focal images.  Cut using your electronic cutting machine following the step by step instructions in SCAL.  I'm using a Skycut model machine and I love the spot on print to cuts I get.  Mount the printed card panel on a 4.25 x 5.5 solid color background (black was chosen for this group of cards) add to your card base.  

Here are the individual cards:

These cards are perfect for framing for some fun Halloween decor -- and if you don't want to add a card base, you could simply add a panel on the back with your sentiment and signature  

Have a happy Halloween and hoping your crafting time is nurturing for your soul.  

I'm entering the following challenge Polkadoodles Week 41 - Anything Goes



 

Stack em up!

Once again, I found a fun idea on Pinterest and thought I might be able to translate the idea into an all paper project with a few adaptations. 

Of course, it's not perfect, but I do like the results...

I used files from Simply Crafty SVGs to create my stack.... Let's start at the top and work our way down.

The Witch's Cauldron is at the top. I used just the cauldron and not the base.  I added a string of fairy lights and some tulle for a little more interest.  The panels on the cauldron are embossed with an old embossing folder from Provo Craft and "wiped" with some gold ink.  The base is about 4.t inches in diameter.  





The middle layer is the Birthday Cake file -- I altered the lid and added inked strips of paper to "mummify" the box.  You can't open the box -- A couple of buttons from the button jar  to finish it off.  This box is about 5.5 inches in diameter.  

I used the same file for the Frankie box.  No altering other than adding the eyes, bolts and drawing the mouth on.  The files are resized so the base is nearly 5.8" in diameter.  

The Display Stand SVG file has been resized and is larger than the original file.  It is 6" in diameter.  I cut a couple of extra layers for added strength.  I altered the side panel using a half circle.  You do need to alter the side tab as it will show if you don't.  
This piece is inked with white and would look cool with some purple mica or pearl ex rubbed on it.  

The legs are from the Elf Pants Box that was released a couple of months ago.  I didn't alter them.  However, for a future iteration of this project, I would use foam core for added strength on the inside of the legs and lengthen them about 1.5 inches. And add a box that would hold the legs to the underside of the display layer for added stability.  




The shoes are fun... I used the 3D Witch Bot Lantern SVG file -  they are sized down a bit and the front panel is doubled and inked heavily along the cut line (the designer paper is my own design).  Add additional embellishments as desired.  For best results, weight the shoes using some floral gems or rocks.  Add a piece of floral foam that fits snugly into the shoe.  Create a depression and glue the legs into the shoes let that glue dry.  Make sure that both legs are at the same height.  Glue the legs to the bottom of the display table.  Once things have dried, you can stack the boxes and cauldron and enjoy your project.