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Too Stinkin Cute with Xyron and Derwent Markers

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Clean and Simple Card made with Xyron and Derwent Markers.

You know that look on a kids face when he knows he being “super cute”.

This Super Hero picture of my son taken when he was 3 is one of my all time favorites.

He knew he was being “so stinkin cute”!

I always love getting new things to play with and try.

This month the Xyron Design Team was sent Derwent Markers and Paper to play with.

To Make my Card…

I used a small coloring sheet from a mini coloring book for adults as my card base.

I simply colored in the words with my Derwent Markers for a quick and easy layered card.

But… Because I’m a perfectionist and my coloring skills are adequate at best,

I embellished my card with a few small flowers, twine and enamel dots.

(No mistakes… just more opportunities for embellishments.)

Here’s what else I used to make my Clean and Simple Card:

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Xyron Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

*Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Personalizing My Ikea Finds for the Kitchen…

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Personalizing My IKEA finds for the kitchen…

When you live 3 hours in any direction from the nearest IKEA,  you make your husband

stop anytime you’re close.

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Since I didn’t have advance notice to prepare and my husband only has the patience to

go around once.  I just grabbed without real purpose.

I really wish I would have bought more, a return trip is needed.

Here are the plain Ikea finds before being personalized!

This summer, we’ve been working on updating our kitchen.

It’s been a slow process.

Recently we had a kitchen sink dilemma…which halted choosing a backsplash tile.

For a distraction…a couple cute little DIY projects were in order.

A “Rae Dunn” inspired planter.

I love working with vinyl.  For my “Rae Dunn” inspired planter,

I used a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*to create the words “be happy”

out of Matte Black Removable Adhesive Vinyl* from StyletechCraft.  (*affiliate links)

I simply applied the words onto my planter using Vinyl Transfer Tape*.

So easy to do.

Removable vinyl makes it easy to change out my words with the seasons.

Did you know that this vinyl will remove cleanly for up to two years?

This vinyl film is great for decorating a kid’s room, a classroom or just about

anywhere you just need a temporary graphic.

And, with 27 colors available, it’s not hard to find the perfect color

for whatever you can dream up!

I have dish soap issues.

I like to keep it handy, but, hate the way the regular sized

plastic bottle looks on the counter.

I usually buy the smaller bottles.  (just slightly better)

Solution… I picked up the cute soap dispenser during my last trip to IKEA

and also personalized it with the Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*.

This time I created a small label using Matte Black Removable Adhesive Vinyl*  

and words using Matte White Removable Adhesive Vinyl*.

It looks so much better than plastic soap bottles.

Fingers crossed, I’ll be sharing the kitchen project soon!

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Tape Technologies Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclosure:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Creating Word Art with Monograms

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Create Personalized Word Art for your home with framed Monograms.

A Quick and Easy DIY Home Décor project to make using Joy Embroidered Monogram letters.

Here’s what I used:

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

  • Cut the paper to fit inside frame.
  • Glue monogram letters to paper.
  • Insert into frame.
  • Glue flowers to outside of frame.

 

Try creating a custom wall display using the word “FAMILY”.

Additional sizes of embroidered monograms are available for endless word fun.

You can find Joy Iron-On letters at your favorite craft stores!

This project was sponsored by Joy SA.

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Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

Gnome Gardening with Boys

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Gnome Gardening with boys can be kind of tricky.

You need to be extremely prepared and very patient.

It’s messy and everything moves real quickly.

Earlier this summer the boys and I created Gnome Gardens.

It’s our annual tradition.  (Nicholas and I’ve been doing this for 5 years)

Thanks to some wonderful supplies donated by Leisure Arts, Inc.

and a few left over items from previous gardens we had a wonderful time and a lot of fun.

Leisure Arts Mini Garden Supplies…        (*affiliate link)

LeisureArts.com has a fun selection to choose from.

For our Gnome Gardens I like to use succulents, plants specific for mini gardens

and plants that won’t get too big.  And of course good potting soil!

Spray bottles are also a must.  (beware you might WILL get wet!)

Making the Gnome Gardens are a fun way to spend time with the boys.

The boys get to plant, water, watch the plants grow and play with the gnomes.

It’s very educational.

Nick’s Gnome Garden

For Nick’s Gnome Garden we used an old broken down wagon. 

It’s fun to use unconventional items when Gnome Gardening.

Warren’s Gnome Garden

For Warren’s Gnome Garden we used a simple round planter bowl. 

I think it turned out real cute. 

I’m still on the look-out for something a little bit different for his garden next year.

All and all it’s fun, rewarding and hopefully something they’ll remember in the future.

Maybe, just maybe, I’m installing a love of gardening.

Emerson the Littlest Brother  (maybe next year)

Nick and Grandma’s very first mini garden (Read about it HERE!)

A Special Thanks to Leisure Arts for providing the Mini Garden Supplies. 

We think you’re awesome!

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*Disclosure:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

So many reasons to Laminate…

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Laminating with Xyron…

When Xyron sent me the Double Sided Lamination Refill Cartridge* to use in my

Xyron Creative Station* you might say I got a little carried away.

There are so many uses and things to laminate I couldn’t stop at just one project.

My favorite project and one of the easiest was using the laminating as an overlay…

I cranked the handle of my Xyron Creative Station* with the Laminate Cartridge* inserted

and actually laminated nothing.                              (*affiliate link)

I wanted a clear sheet of laminate to use as an overlay on my “all about ME” mini album*

I added glitter vinyl letters on top my laminated sheet before putting the album together.  

After creating the overlay, I inserted the Xyron Permanent Adhesive Refill Cartridge*

back into the Xyron Creative Station*  to add adhesive on the paper used to cover my album.

Complete coverage and no wrinkling!

I also wanted to make a bookmark using freshly pressed flowers.

I grabbed a few blooms from the garden and stuck them into a heavy book overnight.

Ideally, you’re supposed to leave them alone for 2-3 weeks.

Since I’m an impatient crafter,

I found online that you can speed up the process with a low temp iron.

I used craft glue to lightly and gently glue the flowers onto cream cardstock.

Insert the cardstock in the Creative Station with the Laminating Cartridge.

Laminate, trim, punch a small hole for twine and your ready to read.

Almost every one in the airport has a black suitcase.  (am I right?)

I’m getting ready for vacation in a few weeks and I want my bag to stand out for easy

recognition.   I created a small 3″ x 4″ decorated name tag and added my business card

to the back of the tag.  Then I laminated it.  (so easy)

Technically, this could almost be chalked up to a craft fail…

There’s always the question floating around my house, is the dishwasher clean or dirty?

To solve the problem, I decided to create laminated signs to put on the front of the dishwasher

and added magnets to the back.  Smart?  Right?

I forgot that magnets do not stick to stainless steel dishwashers.

My Mom worked at a middle school for several years before she retired.

One of her jobs, among many others, was laminating things for the teachers.

When we went through her things this summer, we found…

  • Laminated Brochures
  • Laminated Maps
  • Laminated Ticket Stubs
  • Laminated Cartoon Strips
  • Laminated Newspaper Clippings
  • Laminated Recipes

I guess Mom liked laminating too.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Xyron Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

*Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

“The Family Tree”

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The Family Tree…

In the backyard of my childhood home stands a ginormous Silver Maple tree.

That gigantic tree has been the backdrop for tons of family pictures during it’s 40 plus years.

I’d always thought of it as “my tree” because I was the one who drug it up from the woods

and had planted it.  Up until recently, possibly last year, I found out that it wasn’t my tree.

Dad told me that my tree didn’t make it and he had replaced it with this one.   (Sigh!)

One of my favorite pictures was this one taken on Thanksgiving Day 2006.

The guys were out in the yard playing catch with the football and I asked my sister-in-law

to snap a family picture.  The guys lifted my youngest up in the tree, football still in hand.

As we get my parents house ready to sell, it dawned on me that I need to get another

family picture by “my tree” while we still have the chance.

This past week-end, we had one last large family get-together at the home

and took one enormous family picture around that old tree.  (35 in all with only 3 missing.)

We also took this one of my family…Just as we were, sweaty and all.

It was a beautiful evening spent celebrating family.

It was also a little bittersweet as I know Mom and Dad would have loved it.

For my Xyron Design Team project this week, the team got the opportunity to pick any

collection we wanted from Photoplay Paper.

The moment I saw the Memory Lane Collection I knew it was perfect for my pictures.

I received the collection which included 12 sheets of beautiful double-sided paper and a full

sheet of beautiful cardstock stickers and a package of the ephemera cardstock die cuts.

Everything went together smoothly with the help of my trusty Xyron Mega Runner*.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Xyron Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

*Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

BTS Vinyl Pouch

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BTS Pouch made with StyleTech Vinyl…

A little BTS project to make with the bigger kids.

I wanted my project to be bright, fun and colorful so I used

Styletech Fluorescent Craft Vinyl from Tape Technologies.

How to make the BTS Vinyl Pouch…                                                           (*affiliate link)

  • Cut two pieces of self adhesive vinyl 4 1/2″ x 8″.
  • Cut a piece of cardstock the same size.
  • Using Vinyl Transfer Tape*, apply vinyl onto cardstock.  Turn cardstock over and add second piece of vinyl onto the back of the cardstock.
  • Smooth out any air bubbles with Bone Folder*.
  • Trim vinyl and cardstock piece to 4″ x 7 1/2″.
  • Score vinyl using a Scoring Board* 2 3/4″ and 5 1/2″.  Fold pouch on creases.
  • Cut 1″ strips of vinyl.
  • Cut vinyl to size and score 1/2″ down the strip.  Use strips to cover sides of pouch.
  • Cut additional strips to decorate pouch.
  • Cut small flowers using Sizzix Triplits Dies ~ Flower 2* to embellish.
  • Add Doodlebug Adhesive Enamel Sprinkles* in center of flower.

  • Punch small hole in top corner and add book ring.
  • On the inside add a piece of hook and loop tape.
  • Use a corner round punch to round the corners of the flap.

For more fun, try making a larger pencil pouch.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Tape Technologies Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclosure:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

How to Create a Beaded Bridal Pouch

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A Gift for that special Bride…

Create a special pouch for the Bride-to-be to keep her wedding day jewelry safe while in

transport.  Personalize it with Joy Iron On Embroidered letters.

To make the Bridal Pouch here’s what you’ll need:

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Directions:
  1. Fold over one end of the felt approx. 4″.
  2. Sew along the edge of each side to create the pouch.
  3. Iron the beaded trim onto the opposite end of the felt by laying a fine cloth over the trim and ironing over it for 25 sec.
  4. Cut excess felt around the top of the beaded trim to create a scalloped edge.
  5. Position the letters spelling “Bride” onto the front of the pouch with the shiny side down.
  6. Cover letters with a fine cloth.
  7. With firm pressure iron cloth over the letters for 25 seconds.
  8. Turn flap of the pouch over and iron the back for an additional 25 seconds.
  9. Add Velcro to the flap to keep the pouch closed.

You can also use the beaded-iron on trim to make into a bracelet, belt or headband.

For the beaded bracelet…

  • Measure the size of your wrist.
  • Cut a piece of  felt approx. 3/4″ longer than your trim.
  • Arrange trim onto felt so that only one end has the extra felt.
  • Lay a clean soft cloth over trim and iron onto the felt.
  • Cut excess felt around the beaded trim to create a scalloped edge.
  • Add hook and loop tabs* to the end of the felt.

This project was sponsored by Joy SA.

Shop Handmade – The Wedding Store

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Celebrate with Matte Removable Vinyl

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Create Festive Door Decals for the 4th of July!

I was decorating and getting the house ready for our 4th of July Pool Party…

when I got the idea to use my new Matte Removable Vinyl to create 4th of July door decals.

They were super simple to make and they add a fun festive touch.

To make my 4th of July Door Decals…

  • I cut the vinyl letters and number using my Silhouette Cameo 3*.
  • I cut additional small white stars to stick onto the blue number.
  • I easily transferred everything onto my door using the Vinyl Transfer Tape*.

I put one onto the backdoor heading into the pool area and the other onto the door leading

into the house from the garage.

Because family don’t use the front door!

I also used the vinyl to jazz up the plain metal tin to hold cutlery.

Did you know that this vinyl will remove cleanly for up to two years?

This vinyl  film is great for decorating a kid’s room, a classroom or just about anywhere

you just  need a temporary graphic.

And, with 27 colors available, it’s not hard to find the perfect color for whatever you can

dream up!

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the Tape Technologies Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclosure:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!