Faux Hoop - Spider Web Decor

Halloween Faux Embroidery Hoop Tutorial

Altered embroidery hoops are EVERYWHERE these days, and though they only cost a few dollars to purchase from the local craft store I got the urge to make one at 3 am. Someday, when I'm rich I think I will build a crafstore which is only open when children are sleeping - that way all the night owl crafters like myself will have somewhere to shop and meet their late night craft urges.

So there I was, a girl wanting to alter an embroidery hoop with no hoop supplier in sight - what was I to do? Pull out some chipboard scraps of course and get to the making do we crafters are so good at.

Faux Embroidery Hoop Tutorial

1. Cut 4 strips of light weight chipboard and 4 strips of coordinating patterned paper with your paper cutter - dimensions 12 x 1 inches.

2. Using something uber strong and stickalicous ( I went with Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry) glue two of the strips together, overlapping 1/4 inch - repeat this step again to create an oval. For maximum cuteness be sure the overlapped ends are on the inside. Allow this hoop to completely dry - use binder clips if you need to maintain the oval shape and keep the ends together.

3. Adhere two of your patterned paper strips to the inside of your hoop with Zip Dry (Mod Podge would also work).

4. Using the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, cut the web from the "3DSpider" cut with the Layer 2 function selected at 8 inches from light weight white cardstock.

5. Glue the web strands to the outside of the inner hoop one at a time, going around the hoop in clockwise direction. Use a super strong adhesive again for this step.

6. Attach your remaining two chipboard strips together, but only on one end. Use Zip Dry to wrap and adhere this chipboard strip around the hoop with spider web.  The ends will once again overlap about 1/4 inch and this is okay.

7. Cover the exterior hoop with patterned paper and then cover the patterned paper with a pleated trim and lace edging. I used Zip Dry for all these layers.

8. Snip off any visible spider web edges that extend past the chipboard hoops.

9. Coat the entire front edges (the edge you see when looking at the hoop as it hangs on the wall) with black Pearl Pen. This really adds depth and dimension and gives the hoop its faux hoopiness.

10. Apply Ranger Stickles in Diamond to the inner and outer edges of the spiderweb.

11. Add your spider - mine is create from a fabric covered buttons, a sparkly button,  the ends of a black floral pick, and two regular buttons layered underneath to give it some height. A plastic spider would work equally well.

12. Add an organza black bow at the top and your wall is ready to be spookified!.

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Thanks for playing a little hoops with me,

CarrieAnne



Recipe:
Cricut Cartridge: Happy Hauntings
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives: Zip Dry
Tools: Imaginisce: I-Top
Chipboard: Couture Cardstock
Pearl Pen: Viva Decor
Buttons, Floral Pick: Stash
Ribbon: Making Memories, May Arts

Cuts:
From the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, cut the web from the "3DSpider" cut with the Layer 2 function selected at 8 inches from light weight white cardstock.

Learning to Bowl Mini Album

"Learning to Bowl" mini album made from Nifty Fifties Cartridge

I truly enjoy creating mini albums, and my Cricut Expression always me to make my albums in any shape or configuration I like. These pictures of taking my older two daughters bowling are several years old (we didn't even have the younger two yet!) It was their first time bowling and my husband was trying so hard to get them to use good fundamentals and all they wanted was to marvel over the "cool" two colored shoes they got to rent.

The idea of setting up this mini like a set of bowling pins has been kicking around in my mind for a while. When all the pages are closed the album looks like a fresh set of 10 pins just being set up. Some of the pages are on rings and some of them are on ribbon hinges so as you progress through the "steps" of bowling and more pins are "knocked" down you move through the album and see different pictures and journaling.

The entire album is based off a single bowling pin and ball cut from the nifty fifties cartridge. I cut the pin 10 times and removed the ball from each cut. I then set the pins up like a group of 10 and made a tracing of where each pin would go so that as I made moveable pages in groups of 3 or more pins they would all line up again at the end of the day. This pretty much ate up ALL my scrappy time this week, but I am happy with how it turned out so I included several pictures.

There are lots of Epiphany Crafts buttons, epoxys and findings on this and I love how I could use just a few papers and ribbons with Epiphany's tools to create a cohesive look.

 
Recipe

 Cricut Cartridge: Nifty Fifties
Patterned Paper: Glitz Designs, Pink Paislee
Tools: Epiphany Crafts (Shape Studio Tool Heart 14, Shape Studio Tool Round 14, Button Studio Tool Round 14, Shape Studio Accessories Bubble Caps Heart 14, Button Studio Tool Round20)
Epoxys: Epiphany Crafts (Shape Studio Round 14 Bubble Caps, Shape Studio Heart 14 Bubble Caps)
Buttons: Epiphany Crafts (Button Studio Round 14, Button Studio Buttons Round 20)
Settings: Epiphany Crafts (Vintage Settings - Club House)
Pearls: Want 2 Scrap
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesive (ZipDry), Stampin' UP! (Dimensionals, Glue Dots)
Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts (Black Canvas Thickers) Glitz Designs (Tiny Alpha - Burnt Orange)
Twine: The Twinery (Black and White)
Ribbon: May Arts (Red Pleated)
Pen: Copic (Mulitliner .01 Black)
Embellishments: Lil Davis (Bottle Cap), American Crafts (Chipboard Arrows, Heart), Die Cuts (Basic Grey)
Paint: Apple Barrel
Misc: Chipboard (Cereal Boxes), Jump Rings

Cuts
"Bowling" (with ball removed) on page 33 from the Nifty Fifties  cartridge cut at 6.5 inches.

Cricut Bird Banner Anniversary Card



"Give a Hoot" Anniversary Card

Today is my 11th Anniversary! It is hard to believe so much time has just flown by.  I made this card using the Cricut "Give a Hoot" cartridge for my hubby and then realized when I was done that it is just a bit too pink and girly. So I'll have to use it for a Valentine's Day card or some other occasion. This means I do have to get crackin' on a new card though and at least try to get it done before he gets home from work.

Recipe:
Cartridge: Cricut: Give a Hoot
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Textile Textures
Dies: Spellbinder; Nestabilities
Patterned Paper: Echo Park
Cardstock: Echo Park
Pearls: Recollections
Trim/Ribbon: May Arts
Dimensional Adhesive: Stampin' UP!
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesive ZipDry
Punch: Marvy Uchida
Rubon's: 7Gypsies

Cuts:
"Bird Banner" on page 43 of the "Give A Hoot Cartridge"
1. Cut at 1.5 inches from black damask patterned paper using "BrdBnner" cut.
2. Cut at 1.5 inches from black damask patterned paper using "BdBnnr-s" cut.
3. Cut at 1.5 inches from hot pink cardstock using "BrdBnner" cut.

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Chicago CHA Update #5 - May Arts and Ribbon Ring

Ribbon and lace can add the perfect feminine touch to a layout or fantastic texture to a card. Here are my photos of the May Arts booth and a great source for organizing your ribbon, Ribbon Ring.

May Arts 

According to their website, May Arts offers an exceptional selection of ribbons, including sheer, satin, grosgrain, silk and a variety of patterns and prints.  As one of the country’s leading wholesalers of decorative ribbons, May Arts has been providing superior products and the highest level of customer service for over 25 years. 

I have been a May Arts customer for many years and took a few photos of some of my favorite product I saw in their booth.

May Arts Crochet lace with velvet center

May Arts Woven Rosettes

Lots of May Arts sheer crumple ribbon - wired and unwired.

Check out this May Arts Sheer/Pull ribbon - you just pull the ends and tie them off and instant flower cuteness!!

To see May Arts entire product offering visit their website here: http://www.mayarts.com/                               

To check out daily inspiration with ribbon visit their blog here: http://www.mayarts.com/blog/


Ribbon Ring
Once you have indulged yourself and purchased tons of ribbonny loveliness, how do you keep it neat and organized? With a ribbon ring of course. I wrote an article on them many years ago when they were new to the field and have used their product frequently. I like to hang my ribbon on their organizers on a dowel in my craft closet by color.
Their booth was absolutely phenomenal! All of these bakers delights are made out of ribbon!

Visit their website here: http://ribbonring.com/

Learn where you can get  Melissa's book showing you had to make all these wonderful ribbon confections here: http://www.ribbonring.com/catalog/cupcakes.html

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne