Silhouette Cameo on Scrapbook Steals

I'm so excited that two of my scrapbook layouts are featured over at the Scrapbook Steals blog today!  As always, thanks to Kristy Lee and the Steal Network for letting me share my work!

So the Scrapbook Steal today (only until 9 pm CMT) is...wait for it...seriously awesome...the Silhouette Cameo!!!  This is my die cutting machine and, gasp, it is the most amazing thing EVER!

As an owner of the "other" die-cutting machine (::cough::Cricut::cough::) I never thought I needed to buy the Silhouette SD.  My main reason was that the SD could only cut 8.5 x 11 and as a scrapbooker, I wanted something that could cut at least 12 x 12.  However, I was never truly satisfied with my "other" machine because I could never get super clean intricate cuts.  The cartridge system was also something that seemed overly expensive and cumbersome. 

Enter the Silhouette Cameo.  Wow...seriously, this is the most amazing and beautiful machine ever.  I actually shed tears when I used it for the first time.  It is THAT good.  Not only do you get the precision and clean cuts that make the Silhouette so spectacular, but you can now actually cut on such a larger format. 

For my "Happily Ever After" layout, I used the Cameo to cut out a silhouette of a married couple in the center of a 12 x 12 sheet of patterned paper.  I then used that negative image to make a confetti pocket that served as the focal point of my layout.  You can read more about how I made the confetti pocket and see more pictures here.  

For my "February Take 12" layout, I used the Silhouette Software to create and the Silhouette Cameo to cut out a large format map of Newport, Rhode Island.  I wanted to have the map to be the main vehicle for telling the story of how I spent the day.  For more details and photos of this layout, visit my blog post here. 
 
I definitely could not have made these layouts with either my other die cutting machine or the smaller Silhouette SD.  So if you've been on the fence about the Cameo, make the jump and buy it over at Scrapbook Steals.  I PROMISE you won't regret it.  As for me, I'm gonna be loading up on some of the accessories (can someone say rhinestones and fabric paint?!?!).  :)

Tutorial - DIY Love Message Board (Silhouette Cameo and Adhesive Vinyl)

I originally posted a photo of this love message board on the Valentine's Day blog post.  

The idea originally grew from this project I saw on pinterest which simply has a printed sentiment on patterned paper (you can totally do that without a fancy die cutting machine)!  But for mine, I went a tad bit fancier by cutting some adhesive vinyl with my Silhouette Cameo.  Here's how I did it.

1.  Buy a Frame.  I got this one with a weathered wood look from TJ Maxx for $8.  If we weren't living in such temporary accommodations, I'd probably swipe the frame my mother has with my hideous second grade photo.  

2.  Cut Patterned Paper to Fit Inside the Frame.  I used this adorable heart argyle paper from We R Memory Keepers.  While this paper is relatively busy, I would steer clear of anything too busy or dark.

3.  Cut a Sentiment out of Adhesive Vinyl.  I used a sentiment from Kerri Bradford's "All About You" digital shape set.  I simply opened the image in my Silhouette Studio software, loaded up my Cricut adhesive vinyl and cut away.  I personally found that setting the blade to a setting of "2" (versus the "1" that the software suggests) gave me a much cleaner cut.

4.  Adhere Transfer Tape onto the Cut Image.  Cut down your transfer tape to fit your cut image.  Peel the backing off and place the sticky side down onto the vinyl image.  (Remember to not throw away the backing though - I use my transfer tape about 3-4 times before I throw it out.)  Using transfer tape ensures that your image doesn't get all warped while "transferring" it from the vinyl backing to whatever surface you are adhering it to.  I would also use a popsicle stick or credit card to burnish that tape well onto the image just to make sure it's completely on.

5.  Peel Off the Adhesive Vinyl Backing.  The stick side of the vinyl should now be facing up.  

6.  Transfer the Vinyl Image onto the Glass.  I first place the image down where I want it then burnish it to make sure that the vinyl is actually sticking to the glass where you want it.

Once you're sure that the image is adhered to the glass, slowly peel back the transfer tape.

Then... viola!!!  A beautiful vinyl image right on your frame!

To make "love" stand out a bit more, I cut out just that work in a coordinating colored paper and then taped it right on the vinyl.  

Seriously easy and this idea/ technique can be applied for so many different projects.  Think menu boards, decorated photo frames...possibilities are endless.  So stay calm and craft on.

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Crafting with my November Counterfeit Kit (Part III)

I know that it's officially December.  And there are lots of holiday (and birthday) things to plan this month.  But I wanted to share the last of my projects using my November Counterfeit Kit.

1.  Happy Thanksgiving {a scrapbook layout}

I actually made a coloring page/ placemat for Charlotte using my Cricut, svg cuts from Lettering Delights and the Cricut sketch pens.  I think they turned out wonderfully and was the perfect distraction for Charlotte during dinner.  Since I wanted to somehow preserve the coloring page,  I used it as my background paper for this Thanksgiving layout.  I also loosely based this layout on the Opal #8 sketch by Kristy Lee over at Scrapbook Steals.

Here are some closeups.

2.  You Are My Hero {a card}

And here is a quick card I made using some Studio Calico paper scraps, American Crafts mix tape, Pebbles candy dots, and some Amuse stamps.  It's actually for a family member that was recently honored as a "hometown hero" which is why I used the non-traditional colors.  

Anyways, HAPPY DECEMBER to everyone!!!!!  And as always, thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Crafting

Before Thanksgiving sneaks up on me, I wanted to share some holiday craft projects.  

1.  Happy Thanksgiving Banner.

I made this beast using my trusty Cricut.  I cut the leaves from the "Feels Like Autumn" set at Lettering Delights.   The turkey is from the Create A Critter Cricut Cartridge.  To tie the banner together, I used some pretty bakers twine.  Here are some close-up photos.

The banner is hanging up in the living room.  Every time Charlotte sees it, she says "happy" and giggles at the turkey.  That alone makes this project worth it.

2.  Paper Pumpkin

I made this paper pumpkin just a few minutes ago using the "Threaded Pumpkin" file from Lettering Delights.  I didn't have the energy to scrapbook a layout but wanted to do some crafting before.  I'm sure Charlotte will tear it apart as soon as she sees it in the morning.  But I think it's pretty cute.

3.  Muffin Tin Advent Calendar

I've been wanting to make a muffin tin advent calendar since last year and I was shocked at how quick and easy it was to make.  First, cut out 24 squares in a solid colored cardstock that are 2.25 inches square.  Second, cut out 24 squares in a patterned paper that are 2 inches square.  

Paste the patterned paper onto the solid cardstock.  Embellish as you please.  Since I used papers and embellishments from the Imaginisce Little Helper collection, putting everything together was so simple. 

Finally, add adhesive magnetic strips (you can get them from Walmart or Michaels) and voila, a super cute and easy advent calendar! 

I'm planning to write out a Christmas/ Holiday activities for our family to do each day.  Hopefully this becomes a time honored family tradition.

4.  Snowflake Birthday Banner

And finally, here is a birthday banner I made for a friend.  Her daughter is turning one in early December and the party theme is snowflakes!

Hope everyone is doing well and getting ready for Thanksgiving!!  We're heading down to New Haven tomorrow for the Yale-Harvard game.  Not sure if we'll actually watch the football game but I'm sure we'll stumble onto a tailgate or two!

Boola Boola!

Crafting with my November Counterfeit Kit

Can I just tell you how much I'm loving my November Counterfeit Kit.  Before, when I would start a scrapbook page, I would spend a long time (sometimes hours) just thinking about what papers worked together, playing with color combinations, and rummaging through my boxes for the perfect embellishments.  (Yes, sadly, I have THAT much stuff.)  But now, with the Counterfeit Kit, I already have papers and embellishments preselected from my stash and can get scrapping almost immediately.  Just yesterday, I *nearly* finished an entire layout during Charlotte's nap time (which, for me, is unheard of).  So, with that, I wanted to share with you some layouts and a card I made with my counterfeit kit.

1.  January 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.  

I used this fantastic sketch  by Kristy Lee over at Scrapbook Steals (Opal #2) as my starting point.

Inspired by the shape and movement of the photo placement, I fussy cut some Studio Calico paper to create a frame around some photos.  

I then made my journaling spot by cutting out a circle, stamping it with a Hero Arts ledger stamp and stitching around it with some embroidery floss. 

2.  February 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.

 

This was another layout using a Kristy Lee sketch from Scrapbook Steals (Opal #3).

I'm in love with the Sassafras various blooms and in stitch blossoms.  They are super cute and make embellishing so quick and easy! 

To frame my photo collage, I cute apart a die cut sheet from Studio Calico.  I also cut out some banner pieces from Studio Calico Fabrips to embellish the top corner of my photo collage.

3.  March 2011 {a scrapbook layout}.   

If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to get caught up on our 2011 family album and these month pages with the photo collages make it a lot easier.  :)  I'm also trying to catch up with all the Opal sketch challenges at Scrapbook Steals.  So, as expected, my starting point was another Kristy Lee sketch (Opal #6).

My newest obsession has been these candy dots by Pebbles (which are just adhesive little button dots).  So cute!  I'm also trying to incorporate more washi tape into my layouts.

In trying to add some pops of color to the layout, I did some random blue stitching around the flower cutout.

And I am kindove in love with these Jenni Bowlin Studio stick pins (which are just decorated needles/ pushpins).  Sadly, I just don't know how to use them.  So I just stuck it with the flowers here.

4.  Wedding Wishes {a card}.

For my final November Counterfeit Kit creation (well, for purposes of this post at least...), here is a wedding card I made.  

I cut out the circle card and scallop shape using my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot software.  The sentiment and banner stamps are from Lawn Fawn.  And aside from that, I used American Craft Thickers to spell out the names and added faux stitching with a black Sharpie around the circle.

Whew, that was a lot!  :)  

As always, thanks for stopping by!!!

One. Year. Old.

Charlotte is one.  1.  Wow.  I don't know how it all happened so fast.  One minute she's learning how to suck, swallow and breath.  The next minute she's climbing off the coach and pulling down the dvd player.  Oh, how quickly she's growing up...

Family photo on Charlotte's first birthday.

We had two birthday celebrations for Charlotte.  The day after Christmas, we had a family brunch at our house.  The Christmas tree was still up but I insisted that her presents were not covered with Santas or snowmen.  I made a mini monkey cake and topped it with a little pink candle.

Here she is with her monkey cake, candle and all!

nom nom nom

Toys!  She has since destroyed some of these stacking blocks.  :)

Then almost a month later (I needed that long to recover from the holidays), we had another mini celebration for the neighborhood kids and friends.  Most of the families that came are part of my "Real Housewives of CV" group.  We're a group of working moms that meet every week for Sangria and reality TV.  They're my life line.  They keep me sane (and sometimes tipsy).  And they have the most lovely families.  More on them later, I'm sure.

Okay, Princess Party.  For Charlotte.  Mommy went only a little overboard.

I read a LOT of party/ event planning/ pretty things blogs (mainly, www.hostesswiththemostess.com) and they are always feature some kind of pretty dessert table.  So I felt slightly obligated to also feature a dessert table at the party.  I made red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, yellow cupcakes with vanilla frosting, white chocolate princess lollipops (which was SO FUN), and I even made Charlotte's cake!

Here's a side view of the dessert table.  Notice the super cute Cricut banner I made using the Birthday Bash and Once Upon a Princess cartridges.

Here's a shot of the polyhedron that I made (tutorial can be found here) to decorate the door way.  There were two of these giant pink ones hanging from the ceiling.

Here is the birthday cake, complete with castle candle.  This is the very first layer cake I've ever made and decorated.  A little rough but I don't think Charlotte noticed.

And here is the tower of cupcakes.  These are all yellow cupcakes with pink frosting (middle tier) and cream cheese frosting with pink sprinkles (bottom tier). 

We set up the front courtyard for the festivities.  I made goody bags filled with crowns, inflatable swords, blinking wands, and princess themed rubber duckies (all from www.orientaltradingcompany.com) for the kids to play with during the party.  I decorated the boy bags with a frog prince and the girl bags with a little princess (made with the Cricut of course).  We also placed a cardboard castle in the courtyard for all the little kids to color and play in during the party.

Waiting for the party to start.

Frog seeking princess for kiss...

Princess here.  But no kisses.  Not for a long time.  VERY long time...

Welcome to the Party!  The top part of the sign was made using the Cricut.  The bottom part is just a sticker page that each child also got in her goody bag.

And of course, there was lots of cake and play involved.  

Charlotte wearing her fairy wings and crawling in and out and around the castle.  The castle is now sitting in our dining room.

She got cake all over her face - but not nearly as bad as I was expecting.  I think she was too tired to get too out of control.

yeah cake!

Cousins in the castle!

Peek-a-boo!

Yeah B family!  So adorable!

Mother and daughters!

Sleeping baby...shhh....

Overall, I think the party was a success.  I know that Charlotte won't have any memory of the day.  But there will be photos and it's a good trial run for when she really does remember.  :)