Izbzee

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!

5 Tags of Spring -- shortened version for 2022

This week, the eCal/SCAL Facebook group celebrated the reveal of the annual 5 Tags of Spring Challenge and today is the last day of the reveal.  

Due to time constraints and ongoing projects, I've combined a week's worth of posts into one.  All tags were cut using the SkyCut C24 and SCAL 5 Pro.  

Day 1's reveal:  
Bunny Silhouette from a Creative Fabrica collection.  Tag shape and leaf cut are found in the SCAL library.  This is a large tag and will be used on a gift bag with an added silk ribbon hanger.  Distress Inks were used for color.  Misted with some water for some additional texture.  

Day 2 Reveal:  

This shape was created using a half circle with added circles distributed across the arch and unioned with a rounded rectangle.  The shape was stenciled using a script stencil from StencilGirls and pan pastels.  After the stencil was removed, the pastels were blended a bit.  Hoppy Easter - the bunny silhouette was unioned with the text.  Masked while the color was added and adhered to the tag.  A spray fixative was used to prevent further movement of the color.  

Day 3 Reveal:  

A fun shape created using basic shapes found in the library.  A little shading done with some chalk on the ears and cheeks.  Brads, twine and a jewel for facial details.  

 

Day 4 Reveal:  

No week would be complete without the addition of a shaker tag in my opinion.  Combined use of the skycut and a die (from Queen and Company - to cut the foam  which was too thick for the skycut) the piece covering the foam is also cut using the die.  The acetate circle was cut using the skycut. This tag will be a focal point on a gift bag.  It measures about 3 inches across.  Love all the sprinkles inside too!  

 

Day 5 Reveal:
My favorite for this week's tag reveal.  

Tag shape created in SCAL using a half circle and the rounded rectangle.  Score and swipe the color on the tag for a wood look .  The inset rounded rectangle tag is foiled using black foil and the foil quill. The use of the line fill command gives a distressed look to the foil.   A  Rabbit silhouette cropped to fit in the boot and small ovals were used for the carrot shapes.  Boots from the Spring folder in the shapes library were cut in blue and dots were added using the end of a paint brush and a small outline using a Micron marker.  Green raffia was hot glued to the back of each carrot for the green tops.  

if you have some time, stop by the page and check out all the fab tags created for this challenge in the Challenge Album.  Happy Crafting, All!  

Framed Spring Themed Trio

I loved how this trio of framed projects came together.  I used a couple of techniques from a previous project (Farm Fresh) to pull it all together.  

You'll find additional details for each framed project at The Artistry - it's posted here. 

 

  

Easter Egg Box with a Twist!

This project was so fun to make!  I wanted the box to have a little more interest both inside and out and I love how it looks!  

You'll need 3 cutting files from Simply Crafty SVGs and the foiled leaf pattern from FunLurn.com.  

Easter Egg Box
Bunny in a Basket Card (Bunny, grass, eggs)
Easter Chick Treat Box (chick)

Foil Leaf Pattern (FFF02 Foliage Pattern) found in the free library at FunLurn.com.  You will need to register on the site and verify your email address to have access to the files in the library.

Ready to get started?
You'll need cardstock  - 3 sheets for the egg box (I used the same color for the top, bottom and panels)
Scraps of assorted colored cardstock for the elements on the inserts
Electronic Cutting machine and software (Skycut C24 and SCAL5 Pro)
adhesive
Foil Quill and foil (standard [fine] point and adapter for your machine)
Foil (Spellbinders Glimmer System foil - brushed gold)
Ink ( assorted colors) 
cotton swab
embossing folders

Cut the egg top and bottom pieces.  (I resized and cut at 75% of the original size) You can assemble those while you let the machine do the foiling.  

To do the foiling, I used SCAL5 and placed a copy of the foiling pattern on the mat.  Change the foiling pattern from CUT to DRAW.  No need to resize the foiling pattern.  Import the panels to the mat. Resize to 75%.   Ungroup,  set the bottom pieces to the side for a few minutes.  Delete all but one of the top panels and place the remaining top panel on top of the foiling pattern.  Highlight the top panel and foiling pattern and Select PATH > INTERSECTION.  The panel color will go clear and you should be able to see the pattern inside the panel.  GROUP and then copy and past 5 additional panels on the mat.  Check preview to make sure that the pattern is set to draw and the outer edge of the panel is set to cut.  

Unhide the bottom panels and set them off to the side a bit, but on the mat so they will cut when your cut the top panels.  Get your mat ready by placing your paper and the foil in place while your foil quill is heating up (for best success, allow the quill to heat for about 15 minutes).  

When it's ready, let the foiling begin.  It shouldn't take too long - two sets of panels took about 15 minutes at the draw settings for my machine.  I was nearly able to put the box together by the time the machine had finished.  Remove the foil without removing the mat.  Replace the quill with the blade and cut the panels.  

I randomly added some flowers to each of the top panels, using two shades of ink using a cotton swab.  5 Petals and a center.  The colors are pretty subtle and are perfect for the effect I wanted to achieve.  

Adhere the panels to the top of the egg.  I chose to use a basket weave embossing folder for the bottom panels and swiped the ink pad across the embossed pieces.  Adhere to the bottom of the box.  

Resizing the elements for the inside of the egg was the most difficult part of this project.  I still wanted the detail, so resizing to 75% for most of the items was spot on.  A couple of others needed a little more nudging to make them the right size for the inside of the egg.  It really helped to measure the egg to determine the length of the strips that would support the elements.  The grass and egg piece are adhered together, using some foam tape and squares for some added dimension.  The chick is adhered to the front of the strip and the bunny to the back with the paws attached to the front.  

You can add some colored shreds to the bottom and back of the box.  Set a few jellybeans or chocolates and place the top on the egg.  You're Easter Egg Box is  now ready for gifting!  

If you decide to make one of these, or something similar,  please feel free to share your make with the Simply Crafty SVGs Creator's Group on Facebook or tag #simplycraftysvgs on your other social media accounts.  We'd love to see your work!  Happy Crafting!  

 

 

 

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.  

bunny pops & more

It's been fun to do a little designing again, now that COVID has left the house for the second time.  Having some fun in SCAL5 Pro.  These cute Bunny Pops were easy to create using some basic shapes, a few clicks of the mouse and a little bit of time gluing together.  

Mini brads for eyes, rhinestone for a nose and twine for the whiskers.  Add a little chalk for the pink in the ears and on the cheeks.  Add a skewer and a bow.  

The bunnies looked a little lonely, so I added a chick pop to the mix.  There will be more, but this is the only one that's finished as of right now.  ;)

This was also created in SCAL5 Pro using basic shapes and a few commands.  There are a few more ready to assemble, so looking forward to getting a basket filled for some Easter decor.

 

2021 Spring Tags Challenge - day 3

This week is sure going quickly.  The #eCalmakers are having lots of fun over on the FB page... have you stopped by yet?  If not, hope you'll find some time to join in.  

This tag uses papers from an old 6 x 6 pad I've had forever and an old tool in my stash, the Making Memories Tag maker. 

The rabbit is my own design and colored using some watercolor pencils and a waterbrush.   Set aside. 

A little bit of white acrylic paint dry-brushed over the top of the cut pieces that were added to the tag base softened the colors a bit.  Some Old Paper distress ink was also blended on the papers...  

Make the tag using a small rectangle from a tag maker kit.  If desired, fussy cut an image using the template provided with the tags for the tag maker.  I had planned on using the other side of the paper I originally cut, but after seeing the perfect placement of the image on the other side, mind changed!  Follow the manufacturer's directions for completing the tag.  Secure the metal tag to the paper tag using some E600 glue. 

Using some double stick tape, attach the bunny to the top of the tag.  Add fibers to hang the tag as desired.

Thanks again for stopping by.  Be sure to stop by the FB page to see more... there are some amazing creations.  

If you haven't calendared some creative time into your schedule yet, this week, hope you can!  

Tag 4 - Spring Tag Challenge 2020

 

Covid-19 is still disrupting lives across the world and now in our community.  I'm grateful for our online communities and the flexibility we have of working from home.  I'm still grateful for a crafting stash and no need to leave the house.  I'm pretty sure my hubby was wondering about the boxes that arrived earlier this year filled with glue, paper, and more.

This tag features another fun image from Buddly Crafts -- While this is printed on white stock, it would look wonderful on some antiqued paper for a more vintage look.  

Size, print and color the image as desired.  Using the print 2 cut feature in eCal, cut the tag.  Add a shadow layer or more as shown in the tag featured in yesterday's post.  

Embellish as desired for gifting.  Create multiples for a fun Spring banner.  

Be safe, stay well and craft on! 

Tag 2 - Spring Tag Challenge

 

Tag 2 -- A bit oversized, however, this shaker tag will make a nice statement on a gift basket.  

Isolation/social distancing isn't too bad when you have a stash of craft supplies and who knew that they would come in handy this spring when our local craft stores are closed or doing limited business - order online and they'll deliver curbside... great for some things, but if you're a shopper who likes to see and touch things to make sure these embellishments are the right size -- well... I'm sure you get the drift.  

The Mandala egg SVG was from Creative Fabrica.  You'll find it here. I used front minus back to incorporate the egg into the tag shape.  There will be a few detail pieces you will want to glue to the front of the transparency - so don't scrape all those bits and pieces off the mat just yet.

Using some scor-tape, adhere the transparency to the back of the tag front.  Add those detail pieces from the cut to the front of the transparency with a dab of glue.  Let dry.  Add foam tape to form a box on the back of the tag front to keep the sequin mix in place once the tag back is added.  I love the window effect in this piece.

The white paper was a bit too stark and needed a little something.  So I drew some swirls using a Versa-mark pen.  It was perfect!  Very subtle but when the light hits things just right you can see those swirls.  Next time, maybe stamp a doily or mandala using versa-mark.  Let dry a bit to avoid smearing.  You can heat set if desired.  

 

Add a bit of ribbon and fiber to the tag and you're set to add to that gift bag or basket for a special delivery.  
Hoping you are able to find some creative time  -- keep nurturing your soul.  Stay safe and be well.  

It's been a fun week!

Thanks for stopping by this week during the #eclipsecalmaker Bunny Hop for 2019!  Hoping you spent a little bit of time in your craft room too! 

Here's a quick recap if you're wanting to review the week. 

 

Links to the posts below.
Tag #1

Tag #2

Tag #3

Tag #4

Tag#5

 

Again, thanks for joining us!  Be a maker in your own creative way!  Ready, set, PLAY!