Category: Techniques

The Bow Maker Die for Paper Crafters

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I recently got a chance to play with the Bow Maker Die from The Maker’s Movement.

While I will admit that I was confused for a brief moment on how it worked.

Once I figured out how easy it was to use, I wanted to share this simple project

and tutorial with you.

The Bow Maker is a four-piece die set that is deep etched, which makes it so easy to cut through cardstock, thick paper, and even fabric. They are great for greeting cards, birthday cards, scrapbooking, gift tags, and much more fun projects.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post  for the Maker’s Movement.  I have been provided product
and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The view and opinions are my own.

I decorated a little jar I found at  Dollar Tree and topped it off with a cute little paper bow.

*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!

It makes a quick, simple, and inexpensive gift.

Materials Used:     (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. Die-cut decorative scrapbook paper using the Bow Maker Die.  The dies cut four pieces, two bow loops, a center, and a bow base.
  2. Gently curl the paper on the two bow loops using your fingers or a small round marker to make the paper pliable for bending.
  3. Bend the ends over and glue to the underneath side of the paper using a quick setting glue like Rapid Fuse*.  (you could also use a small glue dot)
  4. Stack and glue the bow loops onto the bow base.
  5. Glue the center around the middle of the bow.

A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

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A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

A perfect little album for adding small Holiday photos and writing special memories on the

pages.  The set would make a nice little gift or to use as an ornament to hang from your tree.

a-merry-little-christmas-tiny-book-sues-creative-workshop-www.sueeldred.com-7904

Materials Used to make the Merry Little Tiny Book and Book Case:    (*affiliate links)

*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!

A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

Directions:

  • Place a piece of white mat board over the Tiny Book Die and place between the two cutting plates on the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine*.  Crank the handle to run the die through the rollers of the machine to cut out the tiny book.
  • With the book base flat, adhere the scrapbook layers onto the front and back of the book.
  • Cut the words “merry” and “Christmas time” out of gold adhesive craft vinyl and the Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*.  You could also use small Christmas Word Stickers.
  • Cut a Small Scallop Square out of white cardstock and the Nested Scalloped Frame Die.
  •  Apply the vinyl word “merry” using a small piece of transfer paper onto the top left corner of the scallop frame.
  • Apply the words “Christmas time” on the spine of the tiny book.
  • Adhere adhesive craft foam under the small scalloped square.  This creates a small shadow box frame for the front of the tiny book.
  • Cut a small 1 1/4″ piece of coordinating scrapbook paper and place under the craft foam on the small frame and adhere to the front of the tiny book.
  • Glue the holly embellishment inside the frame.
  • Gently fold book along score lines.
  • Wrap twine several times around the front cover.
  • Cut two pieces of cardstock 2 3/4″ x 11″.  Score both pieces of cardstock every 2 1/8″ to create a long accordion piece.  You will end up with a small tab at the end of both strips.  Use the first tab to connect the strips.  Cut the second tab off.  Refold to make a long accordion strip.
  • Adhere both ends of the cardstock into the front and back cover.

A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

Tiny Book Case Directions:

  • Cut two pieces of coordinating scrapbook paper 6″ x 8 1/2″.
  • Place the scrapbook paper design side up through the Xyron Creative Station*.  Crank the handle to run the paper through the machine.  The machine adds a complete layer of adhesive onto the entire piece of scrapbook paper.  Repeat with the second piece of scrapbook paper.

  • Cut a piece of mat board 6″ x 8 1/2″.  Adhere a piece of the scrapbook paper onto both sides of the matboard.
  • Place the covered mat board, outside pattern down, onto the Tiny Book Case Die sandwiched between two cutting plates onto the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine*.  Crank the handle to run the die through the machine.
  • Gently fold the Tiny Book Case along score lines.  Glue both sides of the bottom section of the case closed using Rapid Fuse Glue*.
  • Paint the Miniature Drawer Handle* with white acrylic paint, after the paint has dried, glue it onto the top of the book case.
  • Die-cut a small white handle (from the book case die).
  • Wrap elastic around the slots of the handle and glue onto the underneath side of the elastic.
  • Glue the wood snowflake embellishment onto the front of the handle and add an adhesive pearl to the center.

A Merry Little Christmas Tiny Book and Book Case

The Merry Little Christmas Time Book and Book case is one of the projects made in

Sue’s 2020 Virtual Holiday Workshop.  (There are still a few kits available.)

The cost of the kits are $25 plus shipping.  For more information or to order a kit click here.

Amazon FreeTime Unlimited Free Trial 

Easy Photo Transfer Ornament

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How to make a Photo Transfer Ornament for your Christmas Tree.

Our sweet little guy, Dexter, is turning one year old tomorrow.

And of course, this will be his very first Christmas.

I thought he needed his very own ornament on the tree.  He is family.

Materials Used:             (*affiliate links)

*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!

Directions:

  • Very Important… You must use a photocopy made from a dry toner type copier.  (Do not use the actual photograph, trust me, it will not work.)  Try your local office supply store that makes copies.
  • Lay the wood slice over the photocopy and trace around the wood slice.  Cut around the traced lines.

  • Carefully lift the image, making contact only slightly with the image edge. Flip the coated image over and position it over the wood slice.   Lightly press from the center out to release any air bubbles.   Wipe away any excess medium that may have been squeezed out.
  • Allow drying overnight.

  • Wet a sponge with water, squeeze excess water from the sponge then dampen the exposed backside of the image transfer. Immediately as the paper is wet, an image will appear. Allow the wet image to rest a couple of moments to soften the paper.
  •  Using your damp sponge or a fingertip, begin to lightly rub over the damp paper to peel away layers. Be careful not to be rough with the wet paper as it may be fragile. After removing several layers of paper, stop and allow the transferred image to dry. Once dry, white areas will appear where paper remains. Repeat steps to moisten and lightly rub the surface to remove the remaining paper layers. Allow to dry.

A little about Dexter…

We added Dexter to our family on Feb. 12th of this year.  (A slightly impulsive move.)

Dexter is a Shichon Teddy Bear Pup, which is a Bichon Frise, and a Shih Tzu mix.

He is the sweetest, softest, friendliest little dog I’ve ever known.

While Dexter isn’t technically a quarantine puppy, he sure has been a great distraction.

Because of him, I’ve been on more walks (at least once a day), met more neighbors,

and go outside more than ever before.  (He’s been good for us.)

I think more people in the neighborhood knows his name more than mine.

He’s been a great addition to our Family!

Amazon FreeTime Unlimited Free Trial 

Be Merry Poinsettia Card

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How to Create a Beautiful Poinsettia Christmas Card using Distress Ink.

I like making clean and simple cards.

But everyone once in a while, a card just calls out to be inked.

This card was one of those projects.   (It’s still kind of clean and simple.)

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post  for the Maker’s Movement.  I have been provided product
and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The view and opinions are my own.

Materials Used:        (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  • Run several strips of 3″ cream cardstock through the Xyron Sticker Maker*. The sticker maker adds an even layer of adhesive to the back of the cardstock. Do this before die-cutting to make each small piece a sticker. (it makes assembly so much easier)
  • Using the Winter Foliage Die Set and the Crossover II Die-Cut Machine*, die-cut the pieces out of cream cardstock. You will need 8-smooth leaves for the flower, 4-pointed leaves for the foliage, 4-pine branches, and 2-small leaf die-cuts.

  • Ink the edges of the leaves using an Ink Blending Tool* and the Distress Inks.
  • For the base of the card, cut 4 3/4″ x 6 3/4″ piece of woodgrain scrapbook paper. Adhere the woodgrain paper onto a 5″ x 7″ gold cardstock layer. Adhere both layers onto a 5 1/4″ x 7 1/4″ cream card base.
  • Start with 4 of the smooth leaves inked with the Barn Door Red Ink and place onto the front of the top of the card. Place them so that they line up opposite of each other.
  • Place and stager the four additional red leaves on top of the first layer of leaves.
  • Adhere the leaves, foliage and, pine stem under the poinsettia flower.

  • Die-cut three small circles (from the Winter Foliage Die Set) out of gold cardstock and adhere to the center of the flower.
  • Die-cut the words “Be Merry” out of cream cardstock ran through the Xyron Sticker Maker* and place the stickered “Be Merry” onto the front of the card.

*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!

Holiday Joy Christmas Card

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A little Holiday Joy Christmas Card to brighten up your day.

If you like making your own Christmas cards and have a lot to make,

this quick and easy card might be a great choice.

I’m thinking, this simple little card is the one I’ll send this year.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post  for the Maker’s Movement.  I have been provided product
and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The view and opinions are my own.

Supplies Used:             (*affiliate links)

*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!

Card Details….

  • To make my snowflake stand out more. I took a small piece of white ultra metallic glitter vinyl and adhered it to a piece of cream cardstock before die-cutting the snowflake. You can’t tell by the picture, but the snowflake has a glittery shimmer.
  • I like to use the Xyron Create-A-Sticker*to add adhesive on the back of the gold cardstock before die-cutting the letters.  It makes assembling the card a breeze.
  • The finished card size is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″.

Red Posies Felt Christmas Ornaments

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Fairfield World’s 80th Birthday Celebration

If you are a crafter, chances are you’ve used Poly-fil a time or two. (or much, much more)

Would you believe they’ve been around for 80 years?

My grandma used poly-fil for years, and so have I.

So when given the opportunity, I  jumped at the chance to help them celebrate.

And talk about celebrating, they even sent us a box of goodies to inspire us.

How cool is that? (my favorite was the cheese popcorn)

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

With Christmas coming soon, I decided to make a couple of Red Posies Felt Ornaments.

I enjoy stitching from time to time, but because I’m not an expert by any means,

I’m going to call them “Simple Homespun Charm”.

Materials Used:              (*affiliate links)

*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!

Directions:

  • Die-cut the flowers, leaves, and circles out of felt.
  • Arrange the die-cut pieces on the felt.

  • Add a small dab of fabri-tac adhesive* under the top felt piece to hold it in place while you do your stitching.
  • I like to start with the top layer first and work my way down so that I’m not going through as many layers of felt at one time.

  • Hand sew simple stitches in white and red thread around the pieces.

  • Use small, close stitches to close the ornament 3/4 of the way closed.
  • Add a small amount of poly-fil into the center of the ornament and finish sewing it closed.

  • Use a large hole needle to add twine to the top of the ornament for hanging.
  • Adhere a small bow onto the top of the ornament with fabri-tac adhesive*.
  • To add a small word, like the word joy, iron the letters onto the felt circle before stitching.

For more 80th Birthday Celebration check out Fairfield World on Instagram.

Hey, it’s a Pumpkin Pie Card

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I’ll take a slice of pumpkin, please. 

My favorite Fall Pie hands down is a good slice of Pumpkin Pie with lots of whipped cream.

My grandma used to make the Pumpkin pies every year for Thanksgiving.

And because my husband would carry on about how it was the very best pumpkin pie,

she would bake an extra pie for him and drop it off at his work.

It was our little secret because she never wanted to be accused of having any favorites.

My pumpkin pie card was made with the “Hey, Pumpkin” stamp and die set from The Maker’s Movement.

Supplies Used:         (*affiliate link)

*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!

Directions:

  • Cut out the “our fall favorites” journal card from the scrapbook paper sheet.
  • Use mini maker die cut machine and the scalloped heart-shaped die to cut out the pieces for the pie out of cream and burnt orange cardstock.
  • Cut a white swirl using the small swirl die and the white cardstock.

Tip…I like to run the small pieces of cardstock through the Xyron Create-A-Sticker* before I die cut them.  It makes it so much easier to adhere the small pieces onto the card.

  • Put the finished pie pieces together, and using the small “v ” shaped die, cut a small pie-shaped piece out of the pie.

  • Adhere the pie pieces onto the “our fall favorites” journaling card.  I added a small thin foam mounting square to add the whipped cream onto the pie.
  • Stamp the words “Hey, Pumpkin” onto the bottom of the card.
  • Layer the card onto a piece of gold textured card.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post for Maker’s Movement.  I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The view and opinions are my own.

DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkins

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DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkin

A Quick and Easy way to turn a Dollar Store wood cut out into a Plaid Pumpkin.

I found this cute inexpensive wood pumpkin* at Dollar Tree* and thought it would

make a cute little plaid pumpkin to add to my Fall decorations. 

It was super simple to make.

Materials Used:            (*affiliate links)

Shop Tombow

*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!

DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkin

Directions:

DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkin

  • Insert the paper design side up into the Xyron Creative Station*.   Crank the handle to run the paper through the machine.  The Xyron Creative Station* adds complete adhesive covering to the back of the paper.  (You could also use a glue stick or liquid glue adhesive.)  

xyron logo 2

Everything you need to bring out creativity. Shop Xyron products!  (free shipping, no minimums)

DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkin

  • Adhere the black and orange buffalo plaid paper* onto the front of the pumpkin.
  • Cut the excess paper from the inside and outside of the pumpkin using a craft knife and cutting mat.
  • Use a sanding block or extra-fine sandpaper to smooth the edges of the cut paper.
  • Use a black or dark gray marker to add color to the edges of the paper to cover the white core. 

DIY Dollar Store Plaid Pumpkin

Add to your Seasonal Décor and Enjoy!

Dollar Tree Tip…I have come to the conclusion when it comes to “Dollar Tree Holiday Product” that you need to buy them as soon as you see them.  (you never know if it’ll be there the next time)  

A “Pear-fectly” Good Day.

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The old pear tree in the side yard has always given us a lot of fruit.

This year it seemed abundantly overloaded.

We usually don’t do anything with the pears.

The kids, on occasion, have used them for batting practice.

Feeling inspired this year, I decided to make pear sauce and pear butter.

So, on a beautifully warm end of Summer day, I enlisted the help of my three grandsons

to pick pears. The boys enthusiastically agreed.  (can you find the third boy?)

It didn’t take long for them to fill three large buckets full of pears.

It takes approximately 30 pears for one batch.

After making one batch of pear sauce and two batches of pear butter, I remembered why

I don’t make it every year. Peeling pears is a lot of work.

After all the work that goes into canning the fruit, I needed pretty labels to put on the jars.

(I will be giving some away.)

Here’s what I used: (*affiliate link)

StyleTechCraft™ products brought to you by ATSM Craft 

*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!

Directions:

  • Measure and size the SVG label file so that the labels fit the side of the jar.
  • Cut the labels and the words using the Silhouette Cameo.
  • Use the vinyl pick tool to remove the excess vinyl inside and around the words.
  • Use the transfer tape to layer the words and the labels.
  • Apply the finished label onto the jar.

I used the Uchida Clever Lever Mega Circle Craft Punch* to punch a perfectly sized circle to fit under the canning ring.

Because little details make a difference…

I wrapped gold and white twine around the neck of the jar and attached a small tag.

“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.

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Spooky Scary Halloween Card

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Open if You Dare!

Here’s a spooky card for all you Halloween Lovers.

If you love a card with dimension, this card has a lot of spooky goodness.

The Spooky Scary Halloween Card was made using the “Spooky Scary” stamp and die set* from

The Maker’s Movement.

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.  I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The view and opinions are my own.

Materials Used:            (*affiliate link)

*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!

My process for making cards sometimes changes as I sit down to create.  I was getting into this

one and decided to forgo all the step-by-step pictures.  Instead, I will give you lots of details.

Here’s one tip I highly suggest.  (Especially with the skeleton die.)

Run the white cardstock through the Xyron Create-A-Sticker Machine* before cutting out the

skeleton die.  The Xyron Create-A-Sticker Machine* puts adhesive on the back of the

cardstock, making the skeleton pieces stickers.  By making stickers, adhering the skeleton

to the coffin was so much easier than using liquid glue.

  • I cut a piece of double-sided adhesive foam large enough to cut the casket shape.  I adhered a piece of gray cardstock to one side of the foam before die-cutting.
  • To cut the casket shape.  Place the casket die on the foam and run it through the Crossover II Die-Cutting Machine.  Because the foam is so thick, you may want to run it back and forth a couple of times to make sure the die cuts entirely through the foam.
  • Another good tip…Use a black chisel tip paint marker* to color the sides of the craft foam.

  • The lid of the casket was made by sticking two pieces of black patterned scrapbook paper together and die-cutting the scrapbook paper with the casket die. (I used the Xyron Sticker Maker)
  • Adhere a piece of scrapbook paper onto a piece of adhesive foam.
  • Using the casket outline die, cut a casket outline from the foam. Stick the casket outline on the inside of the lid.
  • Fold two small pieces of paper to use as the hinges. Glue only the top and bottom of the hinges. Not on the side of the casket.

  • Before sticking the casket onto the layered card base, attach a thin black string onto the back of the casket.
  • If you don’t have black string, put a little black paint between your thumb and index finger and run the string through the paint.  Voila, black string.
  • Tie string around the casket to keep the lid closed.

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