First Day Back to School Signs

August 4, 2019February 9, 2023Leave a comment

Watch out Kindergarten here I come!

The first day of school is a big deal. Especially when it’s your first day of Kindergarten.

My grandson is going into Kindergarten this year and will be riding the bus with his big brother.

It’s a really big deal.

So… I decided to make him something special.

Using my Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine* and a variety of fun colors of

adhesive gloss craft vinyl from StyleTechCraft…I made a cute two-sided sign for them

(or Mom) to use for those First Day of School pictures.

StyleTechCraft has a large selection of adhesive vinyl colors to choose from.

*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!

On the second side of the sign I made a few adjustments to my Silhouette Back to School

SVG cut file and added lines instead of dots. (too many dots for me)

Using a chalk marker or chalk you can reuse the sign for many years to come.

FYI…The base of the sign is a wood cut out from Adornit which I painted using DecoArt Chalkboard Paint*.

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

Too Stinkin Cute with Xyron and Derwent Markers

September 14, 2018September 17, 2018Leave a comment

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:

So Cute Mini Coloring Book* (*affiliate link)
Xyron Mega Runner* or Xyron Tape Runner*
Blue and White Twine*
Enamel Dots
Mini Flowers
Craft Glue

“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.

Coloring with Derwent and Xyron

March 28, 2018March 28, 20185 Comments

I recently received a special box of Derwent Procolour Colored Pencils* to try out along with

the Derwent Big Book*. As soon as I got them, I couldn’t wait to try them and scribble in my

new sketch book. I have used several different brands of colored pencils through the years and

I was impressed by the smooth clean lines and easy blending.

Happy with my scribbling…I decided to keep the page and add the words “Be Happy”.

I used my Electronic Die Cutting Machine*and cut files to create the words “Be happy”.
The Xyron Creative Station is great for adding adhesive to the back of intricate pieces.
I use the XYRON Adhesive Eraser* to remove any extra adhesive from the edges of my words. Remember to use a gentle touch.

This would be a great start to a scrapbook layout.

I also used my new Derwent Procolour Colored Pencils* to color in a page from a

Mini Coloring Book* for grown-ups. I adhered the coloring page to cardstock using my

Xyron Mega Runner* for a quick and easy 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 post 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!

DIY Bloom Floral Plaque

March 20, 2018February 9, 20232 Comments

Bloom into Spring with this DIY Bloom Floral Plaque.

I admit it…I’m an adhesive snob.

There’s nothing worse than spending hours on a project and then it comes undone

from using the wrong adhesives.

I tell people all the time “not all adhesives are created equal”.

That’s one reason why I was so excited to be on the Xyron 2018 Design Team.

Xyron has Good Adhesive!

The DIY Bloom Floral Plaque is the first of many projects to come using Xyron.

DIY Bloom Floral Plaque Products Used: (*Affiliate Links)

*Xyron Creative Station, 9″
Xyron Acid-Free Permanent Adhesive Refill Cartridge*
Xyron Sticker Maker 1.5 inch*
XYRON Adhesive Eraser*
Electronic Die Cutting Machine*
Scrapbook Paper and Cardstock
Paper Flowers* and Leaves*
8″ Wood Flower Shaped Plaque
Sanding Block*
Craft Knife* and Craft Cutting Mat*
Gold Paint Pen*

How to make a DIY Bloom Floral Plaque…

Lay a piece of a 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of decorative scrapbook paper (design side up) on the Xyron Creative Station, 9″* crank the handle to run the paper through the machine. As it moves through the Xyron Creative Station it adds adhesive to the back side of the paper.
Easy to use and it doesn’t need any electricity.

You get complete coverage, no gluing, no wrinkling, no bubbles!

Lay Wood Flower Shaped Plaque onto the adhesive side of the paper.
Carefully cut around the wood shape with a craft knife and craft cutting mat.

Gently sand away rough-cut edges on the paper using an extra fine sanding block.

I used my electronic die cutting machine and cut files to create pieces for my background. The Xyron Creative Station* is great for adding adhesive to the back of intricate pieces.

After the layers are adhered together, I use the XYRON Adhesive Eraser* to remove any extra adhesive from the edges of my pieces. Remember to use a gentle touch.

The XYRON Adhesive Eraser* is one of my favorites must have tools. I keep it on my desk at all times.

I think every paper crafter should carry one in their supply box.

For smaller pieces, like the word “bloom”, I used the Xyron Sticker Maker 1.5 inch*.
Easy to use and no waste. Just rub and peel.

For added detail…use a gold paint pen to edge around the outside of the Wood Flower Shaped Plaque and the decorative scrapbook paper oval.

My Xyron Creative Station* makes quick work of assembling all the pieces of my DIY Bloom Floral Plaque.
Finish embellishing the plaque with a few paper flowers glued into place with craft glue.

“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.”

March Calendar Girl Card

March 15, 2018February 9, 20233 Comments

The March Calendar Girl card was made by using one the pages from my

Calendar Girls Mini Coloring Book* by Adornit.

The card was water colored using dye ik pads and a Waterbrush*

I apply the ink directly onto a piece of acetate and pick up the ink with my water-brush.

MATERIAL LIST: (*affiliate links)

81032 Calendar Girls Mini Coloring Book (ADORNit)
22489 Green Chevron 12” x 12” Paper (ADORNit)
22737 Art Ply Paintables-Occasions (ADORNit) (inside of card)
Cardstock: Cream, Gold, Olive
Dye Inkpads
Waterbrush*
Acetate Sheet
Tombow Marker #851 Salmon
Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue*
Gold Gel Ink Pen*
Enamel Dots
Xyron Tape Runner*
5/8” Ivory Sheer Ribbon

March Calendar Card Directions:

Form a 5 x 6 ¾ inch card from cream cardstock.
Cut green chevron patterned paper to 4 ¼ x 6 inches. Adhere to gold cardstock and trim a small border. Adhere layers onto 4 ½ x 6 ¼ olive green layer and then onto the cream card base.
Cut Calendar Girl coloring page to 3 ¼ x 4 ¾ inches.
Apply light watercolor wash to coloring page using waterbrush and ink from light blue dye ink pad.
Color on acetate sheet with the salmon marker; pick up color with waterbrush and color girls face on coloring page.
Dab ink onto the acetate sheet with ink pads. Pick up color with waterbrush and paint the rest of the calendar image.
Add gold accents to the glasses, center of flower, skirt, socks and lettering using the gold gel pen.
Add diamond stickles to the girl’s hair and vest.
Adhere calendar girl to a thin gold cardstock border and onto the front of the card base.
Add green enamel dots to the bottom corner of the card.
Tie a sheer ivory ribbon to left side of card.

Finished card size: 5” x 6 ¾.”

March Calendar Girl was sponsored by ADORNit.

*Disclaimer: 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!

Merry Little Sticky Note Holder

December 12, 2017February 9, 2023Leave a comment

Need a inexpensive gift idea to give a teacher or co-worker?

The Merry Little Sticky Note Holder is a quick and easy project that you can make

in just minutes.

How to make a Merry Little Sticky Note Holder

Supplies Needed: (*affiliate link)

3″ x 5″ Sticky Notes*
Cardstock
Warm My Heart Sticker
Wood Christmas Sharpes
Bone Folder*
Scotch Restickable Tabs*
White Acrylic Paint
Red and White Baker’s Twine*
Pine Craft Stem

*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!

Directions:

Score a 5 ¼” x 9” piece of cardstock at the 2 ¼”, 2 ¾”, 6” and 6 ½” mark.
Fold along scored lines.
Make a ½” guide line on end of the scored cardstock for applying sticker border. Apply a small border on the guide line. Add a second border to the back of the first.
Paint “merry” and “small ornament” from wood cut outs with white acrylic paint.
Wrap red and white twine around top flap and tie ornament and greenery. Glue merry onto front flap.
Add restickable mini tab to the inside of the flap and add sticky notes.

You can purchase the Warm My Heart Sticker Sheet and Christmas Wood Shapes from Adornit.com.

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

DIY…Christmas Chalkboard

July 26, 2017February 9, 20232 Comments

DIY…Christmas Chalkboard

Christmas in July…

Last week it was so hot that when I went out at 9:00 in the evening to water my flowers it

was hard to breath. It was so hot that our unheated pool felt like bath water.

Summer’s in full swing and vacation (for me) is fast approaching.

And with all the things I could or should be doing, I felt like making a Christmas Chalkboard.

It’s not too early? Is it?

The Christmas Chalkboard is really easy to make…

and would be a wonderful gift for those of you thinking ahead.

And if you’d like…you could make it a two sided chalkboard and really get creative.

Here’s how I made the Christmas Chalkboard…

I used the larger wood shape from the Bracket Shaped Surface Set from Adornit and painted it with DecoArt Americana Black Chalkboard Paint* (*affiliate link)
I gave the wood shape two coats of Chalkboard paint and a light sanding before stenciling on the design using the Clear Scraps 12″ Word Christmas Tree Stencil*
Use a DecoColor Fine Point Paint Marker* to add small white dots around the edge of the chalkboard.
Another idea…. drill two small holes on the top of the sign to add twine for hanging.

Disclaimer: 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!