Father's Day Shaped Card

I'm a huge fan of shaped cards and with a little playing you can create a shaped card out of nearly any shape you want.  Today I am going to share a fun sunglasses shaped card that I shared over on the Core'dinations blog today too!

"My Dad Rocks" Sunglasses Card Supplies:

• Core Essentials: Neutrals
• Gemstones 6 X 6 Cardstock
• Tim Holtz Kraft-Core Metallic Collection
• White Pen
• Electronic Die Cutting Machine
• Star Metal Dies
• 5 X 7 Chevron Embossing Folder

Step 1: Use an electronic cutting machine to cut out a sunglasses card.  To make a shape into a card you should: Mirror the image above the original and then weld the top edges together.

Technique Tip: Core'dinations cardstock cuts beautifully on the Silhouette Cameo. If you notice in my picture below my edges are a little rough!  To avoid that make sure to do the following settings: Set your blade at 4 (I had it set at 2 here before I realized it was too late), your speed at 3, thickness at 33, and set it to Double-Cut.  This will give you a clean cut.  But if you goof up like me and forget to change your blade to the right setting, a little sanding with our Sand-it Gadget will take care of the rough edges!

Step 2: Use the lens space to trace and cut out some lenses on the Metallic Silver paper.  Cut them out and emboss them.

Step 3: Add the lenses to the card and attach a sentiment at the top.  I used this cut file for my sentiment.

Step 4:  Add some finishing touches, a couple of stars, some white outlining, and you are done!

It's all ready to add a fun message inside to Dad!

Published Layout from Create Magazine

This month Paper House Productions is the featured manufacturer in Create Magazine!  The design team all contributed a couple of projects and today I am going to share one with you!  I used the Noir ColorWays line for my projects.  First up is a 2 page layout based on a sketch from the magazine:

Metallic gold is used in the accents of this line so I stuck with that as my added color!  I used a little bit of gold foil cardstock from Core'dinations to create my "Fun" title.

The variety of embellishments available with this line is so fun!

You can see the die cut pieces from the Accent Pack here and also Puffy Stickers and Rub-ons!  Love all the texture that adds!

This page uses more of the same embellishments and a variety of patterned papers too!  I also added in some gold outlining in a few spots to help make the patterns pop a little more!

I love the brush style script that the puffy words come in for this - super trendy!  

I'll be back later in the week to share my other project but in the meantime - head over to the magazine and check it out!  It's free and full of inspiration!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Paper House Productions

Cardstock: Core'dinations

Stickers: Paper House Productions

Rub-Ons: Paper House Productions

Die Cuts: Paper House Productions

You Are My Sunshine Layout

Ever since I got my hands on the various pieces from the Party Mixers line from Core'dinations, there has been no turning back. Today I am going to showyou how I incorporated them into a layout!

Supplies Used:

• Core Essentials - Brights
• Party Mixers - Paper Pops Brights
• Party Mixers- Rosette Garland Scattered Straw
• Core Tags - Brights
• Darice Fabric Tape
• Core Essentials - Neutrals
• Orange & Yellow Embroidery Floss
• Enamel Dots in coordinating Colors
• Core Basics Patterns: Dark Pink Polka Dot
• Electronic Die Cut Machine

Step 1: Cut your title out using a cut file (You Are My Sunshine) and use the negative space of your white cardstock.  Back it with different cardstocks from the Brights paper pad.  Matte your picture and also add that to the base.

Technique Tip: Core'dinations cardstock cuts great on the Silhouette Cameo.  Set your blade at 4, speed at 3, thickness at 33, and set it to double cut.  That has worked every time for me - even with the textured cardstock!

Step 2: Start layering Paper Pops to create interest behind and around the picture.  Top with a Rosette that you will turn into a sunshine.  You can use foam adhesive behind some of them and outline the pops or  with black if you want to add some extra pop them!

Step 3: Do long stitches from the sun outward to look like sun rays.

Step 4: Add a tag under the picture, fabric tape to the top and bottom of the layout, and enamel dots throughout as your finishing touch.

Core'dinations Mother's Day Card

I am up on the Core'dinations blog today!  With Mother's Day fast approaching I am on the lookout for ways to make the day even more special.  A handmade touch is one sure way to make mom smile and today I am going to share with you a card that you can make for her using a few simple tools and cardstock!

Supplies Used:

• Core'dinations Essentials Cardstock - Neutrals
• Core'dinations Tim Holtz - Nostalgic- Kraft-Core 6 X 6 Pad
• Darice Quilt Embossing Folder
• Triangle Punch
• Leaf Metal Die Cut
• Button
• 1-2 inch circle from scrap paper
• Quick Drying Liquid Adhesive
• Sand-It Gadget and Dust Buddy
• Mom Electronic Cut File  

Step 1: Use the embossing folder to emboss the blue cardstock. Sand it to bring out the Kraft color and dust it off with your dust buddy.Cut it down to be a 4 X 4 inch square and attach it to a 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 card base.

Technique Tip: Embossing weakens cardstock so as you are sanding be gentle and try be deliberate in what direction you are going.  I like to sand all one direction and then turn the card and sand another direction until you have brought out as much of the core as you want to show.

Step 2: Punch out triangles and fold the short side of the triangles over like pictured.

Step 3: Fold the triangles in half so that they will have dimension.

Step 4: Using a strong adhesive like hot glue attach the "petals" to the circle (the circle won't show so any scrap paper is great - it just gives you a base to build before adhering it to your card).

Step 5: Once all the petals are glued down attach it to your card and add a button to the center.

Step 6: Add leaves underneath the flower petals and attach the Mom sentiment.  I cut my sentiment on my Silhouette Cameo but letter stickers would also work great!

DIY Pencil Flower Bouquet

Teacher Appreciation Day is coming up next week and now's the time to get creating if you want to make a special handmade gift!  Today I am going to share with you how to transform plain old pencils into a beautiful bouquet just like this! And although it looks like it would take a lot of time, Core'dinations new Party Mixers make this project quick and easy! I am kind of crazy for this new set of embellishments from Core'dinations - I expect you will be seeing a lot more of them in projects from me!

Pencil Flower Bouquet Supply List:

• Party Mixers Rosette Garland Kits: Broken China, Scattered Straw, Coral, and Purple Grandeur
• Party Mixers - Paper Pops Brights
• Darice Sparkle Tape - Gold
• Darice Sparkle Tape - Silver
• Glue Gun
• Liquid Adhesive
• Pencils
• May Arts Ribbon
• Terra Cota Pot
• Rice

Step 1: Wrap Glitter Tape around the pencils to pretty up the stems.  I left about 2 inches at the bottom of the pencil so that they could be sharpened and usable if she wanted them to be used.

Step 2: Add a dot of hot glue to the eraser tip and attach a rosette there.

Step 3:  Continue to add all the Rosettes to the pencils.  I did ten total and that filled out the pot nicely.

Technique Tip: Because of the canvas texture of the Core Cardstock and the thickness these will soak up the hot glue quickly and don't need much time at all to dry.  I spent less than five minutes doing the glue part!

Step 4: Add the Paper Pops to the center of the Rosettes using a quick drying liquid adhesive.

Technique Tip: As you go through your Paper Pops package make sure you look at both sides of the Pops!  At first I wasn't sure how to use them thinking I had a lot of letters and that wasn't going to work for my flowers.  But when I flipped them over I figured out they have a cute icon on the back of each one!  Perfect for this project and so versatile!

Step 5: Add some ribbon to your pot and fill it with rice (or beans or coffee beans or something that will help hold your pencils in place)

Party Mixers made this project so easy!  I love how versatile they are and that they can be used for all kinds of celebrations!  I don't know a teacher out there who wouldn't love to receive something like this!  I think I may make one for my homework area at home!

-Christine

Kiwi Lane Guest Designer: Happy Birthday Layout

I am popping back by the Kiwi Lane Designs today for a guest designing spot! 

 I got out the super fun Elements set to create a birthday layout.  One of my favorite things to use Kiwi Lane sets for is to create a different background than I could achieve with just plain patterned paper and today I will show you how I achieved that.

Using the arrow piece I cut out four arrows using Elements Piece 1 and lined the points of them up to create an interesting background on my layout.  I then cut out Elements Piece 4 and used that in the center of all the arrows.  That served as my subtitle area and I created a larger title underneath my focal picture.

I cut out Chevrons using Elements Piece in an opposing color and used those to highlight the arrows and one of the pictures.

Don't you just love the fun you can have with Kiwi Lane Templates!?!

Supplies Used:

Templates: Kiwi Lane Designs

Patterned Paper: Core'dinations

Stickers: Bella Blvd

Easter Layouts

Paper House Productions has the best products for creating holiday layouts!

For a base I used a patterned paper from the Nature Paper Pad.  I topped that with a ten inch white square matted with pink cardstock.  I then cut out a large yellow oval from patterned paper in the Garden Paper Pad.  Both of these paper pads are perfect for creating any kind of spring projects! I used a sheet of the Pink Floral Scrapbook Paper to matte my pictures across the center of the page and over the large yellow egg.

A large Happy Easter 3D Title Sticker was perfect for my title posed above my pictures.

Using the Easter Egg Hunt 3D Stickers and the Butterflies Cork’d Stickers I created a cluster above and below the photographs.

The Cork stickers and 3D Stickers go together really nicely and add great dimension and texture to the layout.  

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Paper House Productions

Cardstock: Core'dinations

Stickers: Paper House Productions

Twine: The Twinery

Tag: Core'dinations

DIY Easter Egg Stands

Are you looking to add something special to your Easter table this year?  Today I have a very simple project to share that will definitely up the special factor on your table!  These little egg stands are easy and quick to make and give you a way to display your Easter Eggs.

Paper Easter Egg Stands Supplies: 

• Core Essentials Cardstock Pastels
• Core Sand-It Set
• Darice Embossing Folder: Polka Dot
• Electronic Die Cutting Machine

Here's how to make these little stands:

Step 1: Use a cut file like this one to cut out the wrap shape.  These do not require a lot of cardstock!

Step 2: Put the wrap through your embossing machine using the polka dot embossing folder.

Step 3: Remove the wrap and sand it down to bring out the core color

Technique Tip: Because this is a smaller piece of paper you will want to be gentle with your sand-it gadget or you can easily tear your cardstock.  I worked with a gentle touch and went both directions to ensure I sanded enough to bring out the core.

Step 4: Use the built in slit to connect the ends of your wrap.

Technique Tip:  Because Core cardstock is so thick it is easy to shape these into a rounded wrap without creating creases.  

Step 6:  Add your eggs to them and enjoy the way an egg has become egg-stra special :)

Scrapping My Story - March Layout

In January I set out to create a layout about myself each month. So this month was tougher - it is really hard for me to put down stuff about myself!  Not sure why I feel that way but I pushed thru it anyhow!  If you want to check out the past two months, you can find February here and January here.  This month I did another - 10 Things I love right now.  Or as my silly title says "I Kinda Love" :)

So what's on the list right now -

1) My Young Living oil diffuser - seriously, that thing is amazing!

2) My curling wand - I just got this and Lucy and I have been having fun playing with it!

3) New tv shows - there's a bunch of them and I have been trying some out to see what I like.  I'm pretty picky about violence, sexual content, etc - so we'll see if these last but I am enjoying American Crime and Secrets & Lies so far...

4) Sweet Cream Creamer for my coffee - I have tried a lot of different things but it always comes back to that one.

5) Key Lime Pie - having recently "celebrated" Pi day - this was fresh on my mind

6) Lent Hymns - I love the pensive hymns of this season of the church year.  My favorite is probably "Glory Be to Jesus."

7) Chex Mix - Cookies n Cream Muddy Buddies variety

8) Playing Mancala - I taught my older kids this game a couple weeks ago and we've been playing it a lot.  It's nice because it's short - quality time without the commitment of monopoly :)

9) White Angelica - this is one of my favorite oil blends from Young Living and it just smells like spring.  I like to diffuse this one because it lifts my spirits and just smells heavenly.

10) Sleeping in - this isn't anything new.  I pretty much hate mornings.

My layout this month again uses the Through the Year collection from Echo Park.  I added some sticker stitches in from SRM stickers to do some embellishing!

Supplies Used:

Patterned Paper: Echo Park, My Mind's Eye, Paper House Productions

Stickers: Echo Park, Bella Blvd, SRM Stickers

Enamel: Pebbles Inc

Tags: Core'dinations

DIY Home Decor Cross

I guess it's a Christian home decor week for me!  Spring always gets me in the mood to make some new home decor.  Today I have a cross to share with you that I made using Core'dinations supplies and is a perfect piece to put up for Easter (or year-round!).

Easter Cross Supplies:

• Silver Glitter Adhesive Cardstock
• Vellum
• Party Mixers Silver Pearl Rosettes
• Party Mixers Purple Grandeur Rosettes
• Hot Glue Gun
• Chipboard Cross
• Metal Leaf Die Cut
• Purple Petaloo Flowers
• Pen
• Scissors

Step 1: Trace cross onto the back of the adhesive cardstock.

Technique Tip: Using some kind of liquid adhesive to attach cardstock to chipboard can be a nightmare!  The glitter adhesive cardstock is perfect for not messing with that.  It attaches quickly and smoothly and needs no time to dry! That's a win in my book!

Step 2: Cut out your glitter adhesive cardstock and peel it back at the top.

Step 3: Attach the glitter adhesive cardstock to your chipboard cross.

Technique Tip: Start at the top of the cross and slowly work your way down attaching it to the cross.  If you don't get a great position at first pull it back up before you get too far.  This cardstock peels up pretty easy initially - just be sure to push it down hard once you are happy with the position.

Step 4: Use a hot glue gun to attach the Party Mixer Rosettes. The rosettes are so sturdy and already assembled so they make this step really fast! No long hard struggles with assembling the rosettes.

Step 5: Die cut some vellum leaves.

Technique Tip: Core'dinations vellum cuts great in both a manual die cut machine and electronic die cutting machine.  Just make sure that if you are using electronic you set the speed and depth to an appropriate setting for vellum

Step 6: Slide the leaves underneath the rosettes to hide the adhesive and attach them.  Add small flowers as a final touch.

With all the colors available in glitter adhesive cardstock and rosettes you have a lot of options to make a beautiful piece of home decor that matches your own house perfectly!

50th Birthday Card

One of my favorite people turned 50 last month.  Her and I have a long standing joke about stars so I thought it would be appropriate to create a card with 50 stars on it!  Little did I realize it would take me a month to blog it :)

I started off with the glittered blue cardstock from Core'dinations and used my die cut machine to cut that shape out.  I loved it because it already had lots of stars done for me and it had the perfect spot to slide in a sentiment!  Using a couple different sized punches I used more Core'dinations cardstock to add more stars.  I finalized the count with some wood veneer stars that added just the right amount of dimension.  Using an SRM Sticker as the sentiment was the perfect final touch!  Isn't it fun!?! And she didn't realize I put 50 stars on there until I told her :)