Izbzee

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



 

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.  

 

2024 - 3 Fall Tags Challenge - #1

I've been looking forward to creating some tags again.  The example below was inspired by a Pinterest find -- 

what I used:
Kraft card stock (base and lace)
The tag shape was designed in SCAL 6
Lace is a design from Designs by Miss Mandee
pumpkin png is from Polkadoodles' Autumn Bundle
decorative paper is a buy from Etsy - HappyFoxSupply shop
fonts were from Creative Fabrica
Distress inks
emory board
twine
Nuvo Drops

While setting up this tag, I decided to use P2C on the tag instead of the foil quill and also printed the rectangle and pumpkin.  Make your print following the directions given in your software program.  Cut all shapes using the software directions for best results.  

I did cut two tag shapes, glued them back to back for more stability.  Humidity was up a bit and so I didn't get an absolutely clean cut -- however, adding some additional distress along the edges helped with that a bit on both the tag and lace.  Adding inking and swiping the mini pads across the face of both the tag and lace.

Ink the edge of the decorative paper rectangle.  Attach the lace to the bottom edge of the decorative paper piece.  Adhere to the tag.  Add some twine and pop up the pumpkin placing as desired on the tag. Add a twine hanger to finish.   

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)

  

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.  

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!  






 

ushering in the new year.....

Every month for the last year and a half, I've had the honor of making cards for a group of ladies in our church. Some of the names have changed over that period, but I really do enjoy creating the cards and mailing them out each month.  January's card is generally a print and go type of card -- not too fussy, but something that will go together quickly since there are quite a few that have to be put in the mail.  

To start off the year, I decided to do an elips card -- print, and cut and I think it turned out pretty good.  The digital stamp is from Polkadoodles (I'm a sucker for the Big Kahuna Bundles there) and I used the font, Impact - it's block font for the numbers, 2024.  And since 2024 is a leap year, the sentiment on the inside of the card (not shown) has to do with that.  I used a couple duo fonts from Creative Fabrica for that.  

Using SCAL 6 Pro makes the design setup so easy and the Skycut does a great job when it comes to spot on print 2 cut options within the SCAL program.  I was able to print and cut the elements for this card quickly.  Assembly was easy and I had my cards done within a couple of hours.