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My Father in law has been asking to hear the songbirds.  Sadly, they're not making a regular appearance as the bird feeders and bird bath aren't set out yet. However, in the meantime, I created this fun piece to hopefully cheer his spirits a bit.  

The birdhouse and lattice SVG files are from Creative Fabrica.  This piece is being featured on their blog, The Artistry, here.  For additional details regarding cutting and assembly of the birdhouses and lattice, please visit the blog post there.  

The recordable EZSound Box is from InviteByVoice and was the perfect way to incorporate the songbirds' songs.  Take a listen:  

 

To record your audio, just follow the easy instructions included in the packaging or watch the video found here. 

Once the recording is done, insert the box into the box.  Attach the button to the back of the box with some adhesive.  NOTE:  We generally switch out the contents of the box every few months, so we don't attach anything permanently.  

On a side note, we're setting up the bird feeders and baths this next week -- they'll be just outside the window by his chair so he can watch them daily.  

 

Tropical colors Clock face

AC cardstock Tropical pack was the perfect collection of colors to create this interchangeable clock face for our Summer version.  

We used the same Layered Tree file. Added a slightly larger bottom layer to accommodate the longer clock hands we selected to use with this version.  The colors are vibrant and bright, though it's a bit hard to determine in this photo.  

All the details for creating this version of the Layered Tree clock face can be found here on The Artistry.  
The Winter and Spring Clock faces are also available on The Artistry, in this article.  

Have a wonderful creative weekend!  Enjoy!  

on the artistry....Dimensional Sunflower for our HOME Sign

Our HOME sign gained another interchangeable dimensional element.  We've now got elements to take us through the month of August.   Hand-painted using watercolor markers, inks and brushes.  Love how it turned out.  

This 5-inch +dimensional sunflower was a perfect choice to add to our elements that decorate our foyer HOME sign for August. It's made from sketchbook paper which cut beautifully on the Skycut!   It was also fun to add color to for a one of a kind look as well.  

You'll find all the details on The Artistry, here.  

All files for this project and previous elements are from CreativeFabrica.  

Snowflake, Heart, Celtic Knot,  April Showers/Boot, Strawberry Truck, Watermelon/Lemonade, Beach Scene - tutorials for these and other projects can be found here.  
Thanks for stopping by.  Have some creative fun today and every day.  

Light the candle - cupcake spinner card

I couldn't leave the spinner cards alone and decided to try another one - this one with a birthday theme. 

The Reindeer Spinner Card and the Cupcake Center Panel Card files are from Simply Crafty SVGs (links below).  The candle lights up too.. and if you pull the slider just enough to close the circuit, the candle light flicker!  

The Chibitronic blog has some great examples to look at and I snagged this idea from there.  To create the card, you will need to resize the cupcake (and decorative pieces) a bit.  I used vellum for the flame on the candle.  The vellum will allow the light to shine through.  

I cut all the pieces for this card from 110 lb cardstock.  Plan on a little bit of time to create the circuit if you've not created one before.  Follow Eiko's video (here) for step-by-step details on how to sew the conductive thread to the light and to the circuit.  It's a very important part of the process.  

The circuit:  

For this card, I did used another battery instead of the CR2016 recommended because I was out of that size.  Since making this card, I've been able to pick up a couple of extra batteries to have on hand as I have several other ideas for a few upcoming cards and batteries will be required!  

Once you've got things assembled, turn that cupcake around and get ready for some fun!  

The sentiment is a self-designed cut I created in SCAL 5 Pro and cut using the Skycut. 

You'll need: 
Chibitronic LED light (white was used in this project)
Copper tape with adhesive backing
conductive thread
foam tape
CR2016 battery
Heavy duty double sided tape
Bearly Art Glue
Decorative paper (1 8.5 x 11 inch sheet)
110 lb cardstock for card base and circuit layer and sentiment.  
scissors
paper piercer
electronic cutting machine 
Reindeer Spinner card (Simply Crafty SVGs)
Cupcake Center Panel Card (Simply Craft SVGs)
vellum (transparent)
yellow, orange and red alcohol markers

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you're enjoying some creative time this week as well.  

Buzzing by to say.... card

this was so fun to make after seeing something similar on the Chibitronics blog a while back.  The lights under the wings of the bees is a perfect addition to the digital clip art from Creative Fabrica.  You'll find the details to create this card here.  

SCAL 5 Pro and the skycut were perfect partners for the print + cut print option in the software.  The machine once again performed perfects cuts.  

Since I couldn't find a stamp for the sentiment in my stash and I didn't want to do the foil quill or pen since the background was already cut, I used a Micron pen to write the sentiment.  It's not perfect, but it does add a personal touch for this card and I do like it.  

The circuit was a bit challenging -- but it's not the fault of the Chibi product, just my own inability to follow the plan!  I did get the + and - mixed up on the first go round and nixed the slider switch.  The second time around was a lot quicker and successful!  

I did end up using foam squares since my white mounting tape has done a disappearing act.   :(  Once all the foam was added, we did another test of the lights and they worked.

Building the front image was a breeze since placement was marked earlier in the process.  Bearly Art glue was used to adhere the flowers to the card front.  Foam pop ups were used to attach the bees to the cards.  

It's fun to share these makes with a friend and neighbor.  She's always a little amazed at the "fun!"  This card was no exception and I have a feeling there will be a time in the future to make a few with her for her to gift to family and close friends.  

Thanks for stopping by -- hope you'll look at trying to "light up" one of your cards or makes in the near future.  

Enjoy your time in your creative space!  

 

 

Spinner Card ala Gnome

Making this card was a challenge for me.  The circuit involved more than just copper tape, a battery and a light.  This also involved some conductive thread which I hadn't used previously.  

I did watch a few videos to make sure that I understood the way the circuit would work .... and it did!  I was ecstatic when the slide switch turned the light on!  Use this link  to view the video as YouTube isn't playing nice and letting me embed the short today. 

The Gnome All Occasion Treat Box is a new release from Simply Crafty SVGs ... and the bonus included with the basic gnome pattern comes are the 12 different elements for decorations!  Of course, if you have your own ideas, you can add those to personalize the gnome even more.  It was very easy to resize the gnome and have it become the focal piece for this project.  

I used the Reindeer Spinner Card from Simply Crafty SVGs as the base for the card.  Digital papers used on the card front and inside of the card are from NitWit Collections (Farmhouse Collection) and pulled a few pieces or cardstock, vellum and dotted paper from my stash.  

The circuit was created following details in Eiko's post for a spinner card I found on the Chibitronics blog.  Following the directions in the video, cut three pieces of the image you plan to use for the spinner.  Cut two panels for the card and the card base.  One of the card panels will become the card front.  The other will be used for the circuit.  The card base will be adhered to the back of the circuit panel.  (Click on the image below for a full size view)

I will have a  more detailed step by step assembly post added in a week or so.  So please stay tuned.  

 

Mix it Up Floral Wreath

 

This wreath was a little out of the box for me.  Who'd have thought the poinsettia file would work for this make?  I really like the outcome.  Three digital patterned papers are mixed up in each of the blooms. Details for making this are on The Artistry.  You'll find the post here.   Hope you'll hop on over there and take a peek.  

Floral files:  Poinsettia (leaves and ferns included) and Filler Flower are from Maison Gregoria.  Patterned papers from Creative Fabrica.  

Assembly of the flowers is very easy and quick.  Only three blooms were used for the wreath, but a total of 9 blooms were made using 3 12x12 sheets of photo paper.  And 2 sheets of green for the foilage.  The filler flowers were cut using one 8.5 x 11 sheet of white sketch paper.  

The wreath is currently hanging in our foyer...a matching wreath will be hanging on the door this weekend.  A great welcome to usher in the month of June!  

Thanks for stopping by.  Hoping you are enjoying a wonderful creative week.  Take care and keep on crafting!  

Graduation pop-up card

Hats off to all the graduates of 2022 and those who may finally be able to walk the line after the COVID closures.  Congratulations!  

This card using images from Creative Fabrica was fun to put together for a relatively quick print and cut card using SCAL 5 and the Skycut C24.  

Where's the pop-up? 

BONUS:  The slot is just the right size for a gift card!  

Details for making the card are on The Artistry.  Hope you'll enjoy the process and find a few more ideas to celebrate this milestone occasion for your graduate.  

 

Have a creative sort of day!  

Posy Pockets

These are so fun and easy to make....

I whipped a few out the last couple of days after designing the pocket in SCAL 5 Pro.  One piece for the main pocket and 2 bands to go around the top and the bottom of the pocket.  The skycut required about 1 1/2 minutes to do the cutting and scoring.  Once you have added the inking, texture and embellishment, assembly is accomplished with a seam in the back and gluing the bottom edge together.  Glue on the bands and add your hanger.

I used wire for the hanger, but ribbon, twine or other fibers would work well.  Fill the pocket with whatever your heart desires.  

Silk flowers were used in the 2 pockets above. 

For this pocket, we added Spanish Moss (green) and a paper air plant (file from Creative Fabrica).  The air plant was made using white sketch paper and colored using some spectrum noir markers and the Ebrush by CraftwellUSA.  

No watering needed.... EVER!  

Labels ( Label Creator Font found here) are printed with an inkjet printer on tissue paper.  Let dry for about 15 minutes before using Matte acrylic medium to apply to the pocket.  You can add some additional inking around the edges once the medium has dried to cover the edges of the label that was applied to the pocket.  

While some of the details can't be seen in the images, you can also use a scoreboard and score some lines from the back of the piece to make the pocket look like it has some ridges  like a can might have. Then use a ball stylus to emphasize the ridge a bit.   This is a great way to add some additional texture and interest to you piece.  You can also use an embossing folder to add interest. Lots of options to make each pocket unique and have your personal touch.  

Thanks for stopping by and hoping that you've set aside some creative time this week.  Enjoy it! 

* Affiliate links have been used.  

 

Father's Day

We got a bit of a headstart on some Father's day pieces for next month.  For this project we used files from SimplyCrafty SVGs and papers and embellishments from the Gentlemen Folk from NitWit Collections* .  We LOVE the plaids and stripes included in the collection and wanted to showcase them in all three of our pieces.  

We used the Tool Caddy, Dad Easel Card and the Tie Gift Box.  

The Tool Caddy - SCAL 5 and the pattern fill option allows you to just fill a shape with the image and print only the pieces you want.  It was fun to add the images, do the print and even print an embellishment or two from the collection.  We made a coupon book using the shirt images in the collection to join the candy in the tool caddy as part of the gift.  Print and cut is made super simple using SCAL and the Skycut.  All the cuts were spot on!  Assembly instructions are really easy to follow on Sandy's videos.  Be sure to watch them if you have any questions.    

The Dad Easel Card  - again we used pattern fill for several of the elements and cut an extra DAD to add a little more interest to the card using an off white as the "shadow" for the word DAD.  We used another wordstrip for the inside of the card.  Oh, and we did use brads -- but cut off the prongs and glued them in place with E6000 to ensure a good hold.  

The Tie Gift Box is probably the fastest piece of the three to complete.  The belly band is a 1 by 12 inch strip of the color of the base of the box.  The box top and panel are filled using the pattern fill option in SCAL.  Print and cut! 

Pop up the wordstrip from the digital collection and add a tie clip to the edge of the wordstrip to finish it off.  The tie clip is a piece I found in my Dad's box.  I'm sure that T will like it too.  

I'm happy to share that these are also showcased on the blog at SimplyCraftySVGs.com.  

*graphics by www.nitwitcollections.com under License #115854

FAMILY PHOTO:  SAM CRUMP PHOTOGRAPHY.