Upcycled Lantern with a Snowman Twist

November 4, 2025November 3, 2025Leave a comment

Merry & Bright: Upcycled Lantern with a Snowman Twist

This season, I set out to add a little extra sparkle to my holiday decor

by transforming a simple thrifted lantern into a merry winter wonderland.

While treasure hunting at Goodwill, this simple lantern caught my eye.

Its $2.99 price tag was too good to pass up, and ideas started swirling

in my mind the moment I picked it up.

To create the Upcycled Lantern with a Snowman Twist:

I used Silver Transparent Glitter Vinyl from StyleTechCraft to create a scene on the outside of the lantern.
I used a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die-Cutting Machine* and the “Let it Snow Quote” SVG file from The Silhouette Store to cut the design.
I was able to remove the piece of glass from the lantern, which made it easy to apply the vinyl.
Clean the glass with rubbing alcohol to remove fingerprints.

Once the design has been cut, you’ll need to remove the excess vinyl in and around the design using a vinyl weeding tool* or craft pick*.
Lay StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape* over the design and gently rub over the letters with a vinyl scraper tool.

*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!

Lift the design from the white protective liner and place it onto the glass.
Rub over the vinyl design with the scraper tool and remove the transfer tape.

The silver glitter vinyl creates a frosted effect, creating the appearance

of etched glass without the mess or commitment.

I had so much fun arranging a simple snowy scene inside the lantern,

complete with a cute little snowman and sparkling faux snow.

Here’s what I used inside the Lantern: (*affiliate links)

Directions:

Make a simple snowman using air-dry clay*.
Use the tips of painted bamboo skewers* for the arms of the snowman.
Once the air-dry clay has dried, draw on the face using fine-tip paint markers*.
Tie a thin ribbon around the neck of the snowman for the scarf.
I added a Small Wood Slice* to the bottom of the lantern to elevate the snowman.
If the lantern if going to be handled by children or curious adults, glue the snowman and Mini Bottle Brush Trees* to the Wood Slice*.
Finish off the look with a 1 1/2″ natural cotton red striped ribbon*.
Optional: Add Fairy Lights* to the inside of the lantern.

Thanks for following along with my latest holiday DIY.

Let your creativity shine, and don’t forget—the best decorations

are the ones that make you smile every time you see them.

“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.

“Craft My Stash” 2026 Flip Calendar Mini Class

October 22, 2025October 16, 2025Leave a comment

CRAFT MY STASH! 2026 Flip Calendar Mini Class

I am teaching a one-hour Mini Class on December 12th at Tremont Gallery/Pearl Street Stamping using the mini calendars from Taylored Expressions. Bring your own paper scraps or use my paper, stickers and embellishments to create a one-of-a-kind Mini Flip Calendar for 2026. After the year is over, you can use the calendar pages to make a Mini Flip Album. Every Album will be unique!

Contact Tremont Gallery/Pearl Street Stamping at 309-925-4438 to sign up for this class.

December 12th

10:00-11:00 a.m.
Noon-1:00 p.m.

Cost: $10.00

Please Bring:

tape runner
scissors
paper trimmer

Make a Gratitude Tag/Bookmark

October 20, 2025October 16, 2025Leave a comment

Start Each Day with a Grateful Heart…

As the warm summer days quickly turn into Autumn,

I am enjoying having the windows open again, feeling the cool breeze,

and enjoying the fall colors.

After years of trying, we have finally grown our own pumpkin.

It’s not that big, but it’s perfectly round and perfect for the front porch.

To Celebrate Fall…

I decided to make a tag/bookmark with the bright and beautiful colors of fall.

I used a couple of Eileen Hull’s New Sizzix Dies and the New Lacy Leaves Embossing Folder to make the tag.

I decided to get “inky” with this tag using Tim Holtz Distress Inks*.

For the base of the tag, I used heavyweight cream cardstock*.
I used a golden yellow ink pad along with Spiced Marigold Distress Ink and lightly applied the inks onto the cardstock using an ink applicator.
Next, I rubbed Vintage Photo Ink onto one side of the embossing folder. Place the inked cardstock onto the inked side of the embossing folder. Place the embossing folder into a Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine* and run the embossing folder through the machine.
Cut a tag with the embossed cardstock using the largest of the Tunnel Arch Dies*.

For the flowers and leaves, I also used cream cardstock and inked them with the inks.
I accented the vase using a Deco Color gold paint marker*.
I raised both the vase and flowers using thin foam mounting squares*.

Want a tip for adhering small pieces? (for example: flowers and leaves) I use the Xyron Disposable Sticker Maker*. I put my cardstock through the Sticker Maker* first, then I die-cut the small pieces. It makes gluing them in place so much easier.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team, I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. The view and opinions are my own.

Creating Vintage-Inspired Shower Dispenser Labels

October 4, 2025Leave a comment

Adding Personality to Create Vintage-Inspired Shower Dispensers.

Last Spring, we started a complete remodel of our upstairs bathroom.

What was supposed to be a 6-week project ended up taking 14 weeks.

Life happens, and I’m generally a patient person.

(But, not necessarily that patient.)

Anyway, I’ve been working on the finishing touches to the bathroom,

and these Vintage-Inspired Shower Dispensers* are the look that I needed.

(FYI…Finished bathroom before and after video coming soon!)

For the shower niche, I found a set of 3 black plastic refillable shower bottles

on Amazon with gold stainless steel pumps.

They fit my style and matched the gold handles on my vanity faucets perfectly.

(This is the link to the exact dispensers I purchased*.)

Adding the Personality…

I decided to make gold labels using StyleTechCraft adhesive vinyl

instead of the white labels that came with the dispensers.

Did you know that StyleTechCraft makes several colors of gold vinyl?

The gold craft vinyl ended up being the closest match.

Directions:

I designed the label using a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die-Cutting Machine*.
Once the label has been cut, you’ll need to remove the excess vinyl in and around the letters and frame. (Use a vinyl weeding tool* or craft pick*.)
To help the vinyl stick securely to the bottle…Wipe the surface of the bottle with rubbing alcohol* to remove any oils or fingerprints.
Lay StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape* over the label and gently rub over the letters with a vinyl scraper tool*.

Remove the StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape* and design from the white protective backing and place it onto the bottle.

Rub over the transfer tape* with the scraper tool to ensure the vinyl has transferred.
Remove the transfer paper.

These bottles elevate the Shower Niche with a Classic Vintage-Style.

They look a whole lot better than the bottles that they came in.

“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.

Halloween Ghost with Glow in the Dark Eyes

September 5, 2025Leave a comment

How to make a Halloween Ghost with Glow-in-the-Dark Eyes.

I picked up this cute wooden ghost cutout at my local Dollar Tree.

I knew it would make a fun Halloween Decoration when added

with StyleTechCraft Glow in the Dark Vinyl.

Materials Used: (*affiliate links)

Wood Ghost Cut Out from Dollar Tree*
White Acrylic Paint*
StyleTechCraft Glow in the Dark Vinyl
StyleTechCraft Medium Gray Glossy Craft Vinyl
StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape*
StyleTechCraft Scraper Tool and Weeding Pen
Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die-Cutting Machine*
“If You Got It Haunt It” SVG Cut File from The Silhouette Store

Paint the Wood Ghost Cut-out* with White Acrylic Paint*.
I like to sand over the painted wood with an extra-fine grit sanding block* to smooth the grain.

My wood ghost was from Dollar Tree.

I cut a piece of StyleTechCraft Glow in the Dark Vinyl and taped it onto the back of the ghost with packing tape. (covering the holes)
I added small ovals in the eyes.

Here’s where things got a little tricky.

I planned to use black vinyl with an orange vinyl to offset the words.

Once I put the black vinyl letters onto the orange vinyl, I quickly realized that I didn’t like the way it looked on the white ghost. It actually stood out too much.
I recut the words “If you got it Haunt it” using dark gray vinyl instead and ditched the idea of the orange offset. (much better)

The fun little ghost would look cute in the middle of a wreath hanging from a door.

StyleTechCraft’s Glow in the Dark Vinyl, once it’s charged,

has an awesome green glow that lasts for about 6 hours.

“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.

Personalized Travel Activity Kit for Kids

August 7, 2025August 7, 2025Leave a comment

Personalized Travel Activity Kit for Kids

A lot of parents nowadays are looking for alternatives to screen time

to keep little ones happy and busy on trips or when eating out.

When my kids were young, we didn’t have phones or tablets

to keep them occupied while sitting in church or restaurants.

When we would go on a long road trip, I’d make each kid a new

“Busy Box” and bring a few extra items to add along the way.

I can’t tell you it’s fail-proof, but it did work most of the time.

Back to School is a great time to look for items to put in your box.

Materials Used: (*affiliate links)

pencil box (at Walmart for 50¢.)
StyleTechCraft Ultra Metallic Vinyl
StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape*
StyleTechCraft Scraper Tool and Weeding Pen
Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die-Cutting Machine*
Optional Flower Dies

Since I’m making a girl box for my granddaughter…

I chose a box that had glitter on it.

I also used StyleTechCraft Ultra Metallic Glitter Vinyl for my designs.

Directions:

I used a Silhouette to cut out flowers and letters to decorate the box using StyleTechCraft Ultra Metallic Vinyl. I also cut a 3 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ piece of silver vinyl to put on the lid.
If you don’t have an electronic die-cutting machine, you can also use thin metal dies to cut the vinyl.
Place transfer paper over the cut vinyl. Gently rub over the vinyl with the scraper tool.
Remove the transfer paper from the white protective backing and place it onto the box.
Rub the transfer paper with the scraper tool to ensure the vinyl has transferred. Remove the transfer paper.

I picked up a few items for my box at Dollar Tree.

Don’t forget to also pick up an age-appropriate snack.

Shop Dollar Tree for Back to School and Crafting Supplies!

To go with the theme, I decorated a plain notebook to match the box.

Somewhere, I have a picture of my daughter covered in foil stars on one long road trip.

Oh, and on a side note…make sure you don’t leave crayons in a hot car.

“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.

DIY Black & Gold Embossed Photo Mat

August 2, 2025August 7, 2025Leave a comment

How to make a Black and Gold Vintage-Inspired Embossed Photo Mat.

Elevate a special family photo with a Black and Gold, Vintage-Inspired,

Floral Embossed Photo Mat.

To make the Black and Gold Embossed Photo Mat:

Start with a 5″ x 7″ black photo mat* made from mat board.
If you don’t have a black photo mat, you can create one by painting a plain one with black acrylic paint*.

I used the Sizzix Floral Damask Embossing Folder by Eileen Hull*
Use a gold pigment inkpad* and rub the ink directly onto the raised side of the embossing folder.

Place the painted matboard into the embossing plate over the gold ink and close the embossing folder.

Place the embossing folder and matboard in the Sizzix Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine*. (I only used one of the clear embossing plates with the folder since it was so thick.)
Crank the handle to run the folder through.

Did you know that you could emboss thick material like mat board?

The gold embossing on the black mat makes the boring photo mat look expensive.

The photo inside the frame is a picture of my mom and dad,

taken in 1990 for their 35th Anniversary. (young and beautiful)

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team, I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. The view and opinions are my own.

Flower Power Shaker Card

July 7, 2025Leave a comment

How to make a Flower Power Shaker Card.

One of my favorite cards to make is a shaker card.

I love using dimension and movement.

Did you know that vinyl is perfect for cardmaking?

For my card, I used StyleTechCraft Green Opal Adhesive Craft Vinyl*.

The Opal Vinyl is a color-shifting vinyl that takes on a different look

depending on how you hold it.

Materials Used to make the Flower Power Shaker Card: (*affiliate link)

StyleTechCraft Opal Adhesive Craft Vinyl*
StyleTechCraft Transfer Tape*
StyleTechCraft Scraper Tool* and Weeding Pen*
Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die-Cutting Machine*
“Daisy Background” SVG Cut File from the Silhouette Store
Clear Acetate Sheet*
Scor-tape*
Double Sided Foam Strips*
Shaker Sprinkles*
Cardstock

StyletechCraft products brought to you by ATSM Craft*

Directions:

Cut the “Daisy Background” using Opal Vinyl and the Silhouette Die Cutting Machine. (I sized the image to a 3 ¼” x 3 ¼” design.)
Remove the excess vinyl around the design using a Vinyl Weeding Pen*.
Cut a piece of transfer tape and place it over the vinyl design.
Gently rub over the design with the Scraper Tool*.

I cut a simple cardstock frame using my Silhouette Die-Cutting Machine. My frame measures 4 ½” x 4 ½”. The inside cutout measures 3 ½” x 3 ½”, which leaves a ½” border around the frame.
Cut a 4 ¼” x 4 ¼” piece of clear acetate. (My acetate has a blue protective coating on both sides.) Place Scor-tape* around the border of the frame.
Remove the protective coating from both sides of the acetate. (If yours has them.)
Place acetate over the sticky Scor-tape*.

Remove the design from the vinyl backing sheet using the transfer paper.
Place the design onto the acetate on the front of the frame.

Cut a piece of cardstock 4 ¼” x 4 ¼”.
Cut thin strips from the adhesive foam sheet.
Adhere the strips to the back of the frame.
Add iridescent shaker sprinkles inside the frame. (Do not overfill with shaker sprinkles.)
Adhere the 4 ¼” piece of cardstock to the back of the frame to create your shaker element.

Adhere the shaker to a 5″ x 5″ card.

Stamp a small greeting onto cardstock. Notch one end to create a banner.
Adhere the greeting to the front of the card.

I hope you enjoyed the Iridescent Opal Shaker card.

It’s a nod to those vintage Flower Power Shirts of the 70s.

“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.

Hello Summer Days Mini Album

June 25, 2025June 25, 2025Leave a comment

Hello Summer Days

I wanted to share a fun little album that I put together using

the New Sizzix Hardbound Journal by Eileen Hull* and the

“My Favorite Summer” Scrapbook Collection* by Echo Park.

It’s a simple little album that went together quickly.

Materials Used: (affiliate links)

I used the Xyron Creative Station* to add adhesive to the back of my scrapbook paper before adhering it to both sides of the Matboard*.
I die-cut the pieces of the album using the Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die – Hardbound Journal by Eileen Hull* and the Sizzix Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine*.
I used Scor-tape* to adhere the sides to the spine.

I used twine and looped it through the top and bottom holes.

I made three little “signature books” to add to the inside of the album.
The book measured 4 1/4″ x 5″.
I decorated the books with the Echo Park “My Favorite Summer” Scrapbook Collection*.

Slide the little books onto the twine.

This was one of the quickest albums I’ve made in a long time.

It’s a great little album for adding Summer memories.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Eileen Hull Inspiration Team, I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas. The view and opinions are my own.

Patriotic Star Shirt for Mae

June 4, 2025June 3, 2025Leave a comment

My granddaughter Mae was here visiting over the weekend,

and I decided to make her a shirt for the 4th of July.

My original plan was to make it a Stars and Stripes Forever

shirt, but my daughter suggested something simpler.

Something she can wear for a little longer than a day.

Mae’s Star Shirt for the 4th of July…

I purchased a plain white shirt from Walmart for under $4.
I measured the area of the shirt that I wanted the design.
I used StyleTechCraft’s Heat Transfer Vinyl*, it is really easy to weed and use.
I cut the vinyl stars using a Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*, but you could also use metal dies to cut the vinyl.
Place the cut vinyl onto the shirt shiny side up.
Position the design on your shirt. Cover the shirt with a pressing cloth before pressing.
Use an iron or a heat press* to apply heat and pressure to the design, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
Peel off the clear transfer tape.
Turn the shirt inside out and iron the inside of the shirt.

StyletechCraft products brought to you by ATSM Craft*

I was happy with how the shirt turned out, and so was Mae.

She decided she didn’t want to take it off.

(FYI…Plaid Sunglasses and Pinwheels from Target.)

“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.