Izbzee

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.  

 

2025 5 Spring Tag Reveal - Tag 4

It's about time to round up this year's reveal..  only one more day left after today's share.  My last two tags for this challenge were fun to make and involve that "little extra."  Today's involves a sound module from Invite By Voice (you can purchase them through Amazon for quicker delivery).  I found this fun sun in a file from Etsy... I colored the watercolor background panel using distress ink from Ranger and added a foil quilled sentiment to that panel before attaching the sun using foam dots. I love using the sound cards because you can literally put anything on them that you wish.  Record your favorite song, or combined recordings up to 120 seconds (that's 2 minutes) and have some fun.  

The tag that I'm not sharing in the challenge today is: 

I enjoyed doing a little stitching on the burlap ribbon.  The flowers are sequins and attached using Nuvo drops.  I added a little twine to the left side and slid a glass bead from my stash.  The panel is popped up on foam dots.  The ribbon was wired, but I took out the wire so it was much easier.  

2025 Spring Tag Reveal - Tag 3

One thing I really like about the tag challenges is that you can use scraps and I do have lots of those!  Most papercrafters do!

The chick in the tag below is made using a scrap of yellow AC cardstock, a 3 x 2 inch scrap of black vinyl (and the same for a piece of black cardstock.  A tiny triangle of orange, and an embossing folder. Add a little more interest using a feather, and pan pastels.  I wanted a little gloss for the glasses -- so I applied the black vinyl to the scrap of black paper.  That particular cardstock requires multiple passes, I just added another pass to get a good clean cut.  I think this version has a little more masculine look.  







I almost used the tag shown below -- but decided not to since I used a die set for the carrots and a tag base already cut from previous project. The grass is from an Easter SVG collection.  I used a brick embossing folder and added some gray ink to the raised parts, wiping a good portion of the ink away.  The peeker rabbit is also from the Bine Brandle collection.  I resized and cut it using the print 2 cut feature in SCAL.  It's attached to the tag using some foam tape for added interest and dimension.  I like how it turned out.  It is fun to use different mediums and tools to create.  OH, and the carrots are from a scrappin diva die set.

These tags are cut using SCAL 6 Pro and a Skycut C24.  I've used scraps or stuff in my leftover bags for both of these tags.  

Hoping you've got some creative time carved out and are enjoying some awesome spring weather!  

2025 Spring Tags Reveal - Tag 2

As I reflect on this year's tags, most of them have an Easter theme...  I guess I'm really looking forward to the holiday this year.  While a couple of the upcoming shares aren't specific to Easter, I love how they turned out as well.  

Tag 2 (above) uses another rabbit image from the Bine Brandle collection.  They are super cute and quite a few to choose from!  
Again, this is a simple tag - I used another shape from the library (I created a blackout shadow of the egg found in the Spring folder).  The rabbit and egg are colored using pencils and the tag base is light inked along the left edge for a little more contrast.  The egg the rabbit is holding is popped up using a foam dot.  The sentiment stamp is from a retired Stampin' Up! set.  

The base for this tag is a leftover from a previous project.  I stamped the back side of the photo paper printed tag with a black staz-on ink pad as the back of the glossy paper was still a little "slick."  I did add some pastel color using some other ink pads and blended them.  Once the ink was set, I used another print 2 cut digital image from the same collection used above and popped it up on the tag.  

AC cardstock 80 lb, Neenah 110 lb, and glossy photo paper were used for these tags.  Print 2 cut images were cut using SCAL 6 and the Skycut.  

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.   

 

January 2025

I'm  not sure where this year or this month is going to take me - but I do hope it will be a good year.  

I've been making cards -- and yes, the stack of January cards were delivered on the 31st of December with the exception of 4 which will be hand delivered today.  I used my postage mat and a couple of images from Creative Fabrica for this card.  I love the fact that I can use clip path and have the background image look like it was hand painted or stenciled in place. 





I found this idea on Instagram and was able to get a free copy of the file.  I really like it and it's quick to put together once you decided on your papers and embellishments.  I'm definitely going to have to invest in some more ribbon this year.  My stash is getting pretty lean!  The digital papers and ephemra are from Hello Valentine by Echo Park.  No glue needed for the basic pieces though I did use some double sided tape to hold the transparent wrap in place.  

I've decided to revive the monthly decorated tree again.  I've got a space to put it in and most of the "ornaments" are already made - though I do have plans to incorporate a few new ones as the months unfold if I can keep the momentum going. 

I made a couple of items for the tiered tray this year -- These are pretty simple... one with Jenga blocks and the other is just a simple narrow box.  I think they both turned out nicely.  Inspired by finds on Pinterest.  Fonts from Creative Fabrica





We also celebrate our anniversary this month.  Amazingly, we've made it to 31 years and we still like each other a lot!  LOL  I found this file through an ad on FB (Crazy Cat Svg).  While I do like the finished piece, I'm not very happy with the way the file comes bundled.  I realize the stacking is necessary, but the layers are not clearly labeled and you have to go through each to find the one you want, make any changes needed, save the changes and then hide everything but what you plan on cutting.  I did find that one of the layers was off about 1/8 of an inch -- enough to make a difference in the look... I was able to fix it without having to recut the layer on the machine.  Getting T to sit long enough for a pic proved to be a bit of a challenge.. but we got it done  


It's only the 5th and there's more on my craft table for the month.  Can't wait to fire up the machine again in the coming week.  Have a great month and enjoy your creative time!  

Tag 12

De-embossing and holographic paper adds a different take on the use of these crafting items.  




The holographic vinyl was applied to the white AC textured cardstock, cut using the skycut and then is de-embossed using a paper studio snowflake folder -- the tag is placed face down in the folder and the impression will be the opposite of what you would normally get.  

Shadow cuts of the "H" are also covered with the holographic vinyl and cut.  The upper versions of the H have cut designs of stars, circles and narrow rectangles decorating them.  The "O's" have been manipulated slightly, though that doesn't show much after adding the print 2 cut image.  

Font used is Iowan Old Style. A rounded shadow was added for a little more bulk on the letter.  Then the cuts were added.  A contour cut/shadow layer was created and is the exact size of the letter.  

The digital images are sized to fit into the "o" and are print and cut using the Print 2 Cut  directions in the SCAL software.  

Tag 11

This tag was inspired by a tag seen on Pinterest.  The tag layers and elements started as white textured AC cardstock.  The stitching lines are foiled using the Foil Quill as is the sentiment.  The trees are colored using Distress inks and oversprayed with gold. 




The tag layers, star, starburst and sentiment strip are inked using distress ink.  Foam strips pop up the star, the center tree and the sentiment strip.  

The assembled tag is attached to the backing forming a pocket for an extra special something to be added.