One word

I have been sleeping like a baby.  Frequent wakings during the night – no tears though or dirty diapers, but yes, very unsettled with lots of tossing and turning. How about you? This pandemic has most of us on edge and out of sorts. Our routines are out of wack and there no set date for normalcy to return. The other night as I tossed and turned, I wrote some brilliant posts in my mind. But alas, with the rising sun most ideas fled from my brain.

A single thought stayed behind. One word. Just choose one word that means something important to you or is some goal you aspire to reach. The classroom teacher presented this to the kids and asked them to write about the word they selected, why it was significant and how to work towards it. I decided to join in and picked CREATE – it may seem easy but clearly I’ve struggled to keep up with this blog and I’ve spent less and less time crafting over the years.  I have my excuses, rationalizations and actual good reasons but my inability to get into my craft area and get going has had a negative effect on me.

It’s been harder to get motivated to create and the aim of my one word was to get my craft on again. The plan was simple – spend twenty minutes minimum each day in my craft area either scrapbooking, card making or tidying up my supplies so that I had the space to make something.  I’ve not been entirely successful but have days where I can spend an hour or so working my magic.

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Made this in 2008 and still love it

This weekend, I really rose to the challenge thanks to Creative Memories Virtual Crop on Facebook. The challenge was that every four hours, they would post a new scrap map for you to attempt. I didn’t think I would manage to get all twelve layouts done but I did – thirteen actually as I took a wee walk and coming back, forgot that I’d already finish a particular challenge! No photos are attached to the layouts but that’s okay, I know what ones I want to use. I just need to get them printed.  Last summer at the PNE I managed to take 175 pictures of the girls and myself during our day there and loved the colours we saw throughout the day.

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Such a fun day

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My ice cream wings

With layouts planned by someone else and knowing what event I would be scrapping, I dove in. The hours past very quickly and I had an amazingly good time.

Initially I thought I would make digital layouts but I decided to pull out the papers, ink and stamps. As one lady said, she prefers the hands on approach as it “is like having a book in your hands to read vs a book on a nook or kindle. Something about holding/hands on.” As a library technician I appreciate her comment – but I love both paper books and my Kobo just as I love paper and digital crafting. Each has a time and place. Now I will proudly show of my efforts.

 

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“Your humor is your compass and your shield. You can hone it into a weapon or you can pull its strands out to make your very own cotton-candy blanket. You can’t exist on a diet of humor alone, but you can’t exist on a diet without it, either.”

David Levithan

Raise a glass to Spring Break!

Living where I do, Spring Break is when the sun shines, the flowers start to bloom and the windows can be thrown wide open (for a very short time!). It’s also the time when I get to dig out some craft supplies from under the mound of debris that builds up in my craft area when school is in session.

As I mentioned last post, I indulged myself by purchasing the amazing Cricut Explore Air 2. This past week, once I finished load upon load of laundry,  I watched innumerable YouTube tutorials and decided to try my hand with the Cricut Holographic Sparkle vinyl in Fuchsia.  So pretty!!

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My new camping wine cup!

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Don’t you love how they look in different light?

My favourite thing about the wine cup is the lid. During one camping trip last year, I lost a glass of wine every single day due to my girls bumping into my side table — never again!!

But I went a little crazy last month when I discovered Facebook groups for those who adored their Cricut machines.  Looking at everyone’s posts inspired me to buy several of these stainless steel wine cups and several flasks in both white and pink! Now I just need to make them all extra beautiful. Thank goodness Spring Break lasts another week.

 

“Wine is the most healthful and most hygienic of beverages.”― Louis Pasteur

 

One Craft Addiction is Apparently Not Enough!

This summer I bought myself an amazing birthday present. Why? Because I’d been eyeing one for a few years and decided that I deserved to treat myself… a beautiful Cricut Explore Air 2.

Cricut

Isn’t she a beauty?

 

Anyhoo, I’ve been experimenting with paper cuts and vinyl too.  Loads of fun but it could easily become a serious and expensive addiction.

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H’s water bottle

H’s class all received identical water bottles and I’m completely grossed out by the thought of drinking from someone else’s glass or bottle and I DO NOT share cutlery – even with my kids.  So it’s a no-brainer that I’d have to clearly indicate which one is hers.  It was my first time doing a project with vinyl. Not too shabby!

 

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I also tried my hand at Christmas ornaments…who (pun intended) doesn’t love this face?

 

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Hmm, what’s missing?

We decorated our classroom doors for Christmas and well, I left my NEEDS at home!  Yup, I did fix it but it left folks confused for a day as the world really is not a stable influence.

 

 

Still struggling a bit with this one as my FAITH won’t stick…yup, another funny! But seriously, I had to make a second vinyl Faith as the first one wouldn’t stay on the wood.

 

 

My current project. I just have to find the time to stick my words on and glue my pretty little flowers to the plaque.

 

“Creativity is Inventing, Growing, Taking Risks, Breaking Rules, Making Mistakes And Having Fun.”  – Mary Lou Cook

Mmm…pie!

Hey, here’s another freebie for paper crafting thanks to mymemories.com  but only until Jan 14th!  Although these say they are for pie, seriously, do you have anyone you love so little that you’d just give them one slice?  Once filled with cool things, they’d be great as a goodie bag for a girls’ party or a teacher gift.
Pie Box Tutorial
1. Print your file on cardstock. To create a pie box, you will need one base and one top. Gather necessary supplies. (Recommended supplies: ruler, scissors, glue, bone folder with pointed tip) Be sure to set your margins as close to zero as possible when printing.
pies printed
2. Using the bone folder score from the top tip down to each of the corners.  There should be 3 fold lines forming a triangle on each piece. Also,
score the small tabs on the box sides.
pies scored 2 pies scored
3. Cut out all of your box pieces.
pies scored

4. Fold on the fold lines. Folds should all be folded in towards the white side of the paper.

pie folded

pie cut

5. Place glue on all the small flaps.

pie edges

6. Bring base and flap up and glue in place. Repeat all sides.  Repeat Steps 5 and 6 for lid.

pie base

7. Enjoy your pie box.

pie finished

8. Multiple boxes can be made to look like a pie by placing the centers together.

pies together

Detailed instructions are thanks to mymemories.com

“Good apple pies are a considerable part of our domestic happiness.” Jane Austen

Get a tree yet?

Do you kill your own tree for Christmas or buy it at the hardware store? Put up a plastic one complete with frosting and pine scent? Or simply use the biggest branch the last windstorm dropped in your backyard?

Pretty in pink?

Pretty in pink?

tree kill

You know you want to!

Whose house? I know!

Whose house? I know!

But hey, no matter how you celebrate, everyone loves a freebie!  So here’s another time limited seasonal decor item thanks to mymemories.com.  Get it before Christmas Eve.

 http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1

Tree 1

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_2

Tree 2

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_3

Tree 3

And here’s what you do with them…

3D Tree Tutorial
1. Print your file on cardstock. To create a 3 layered tree, you will need one base, one middle piece, and one top. Gather necessary supplies. (Recommended supplies: ruler, scissors, glue, bone folder with pointed tip) Be sure to set your margins as close to 0 as possible.
2. Using the bone folder score from the top tip down to each of the 3 corners. There should be 3 fold lines from the tip on each piece. Also, score the bottom triangle of the base.
tree folds
3. Cut out all of your tree pieces.
tree bits
4. Fold on the fold lines. Folds should all be folded in towards the white side of the paper.
tree folded bits
5. For top and middle pieces, place glue on the flap and glue together to form a pyramid.
6. For the base piece, apply glue to both flaps.
7. Bring small triangle base up and glue in place.
tree pyramid
8. Attach the side tab to the inside flap to form a pyramid.
9. Stack tree pieces, as desired. These trees can be made using 1, 2, or 3 layers per tree.
I’d love to see what ones folks actually make as I personally don’t have the time this Christmas…maybe next year?
Gee, do they still make wooden Christmas trees?
-Linus

Last minute decor freebie!

Looking for a quick decoration for Christmas?  Here you go:

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1

Star 1

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_2

Star 2

 

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_3

Star 3

 

These are free downloads but the stars are only available ’til the 10th so get them NOW!  These 3D Stars are great to hang as decorations on stairs or shrink them down and use them to decorate your Christmas Tree.

The key to these stars is to make sure that you have a total of 10 cone shapes to put these together. You can mix and match the patterns, but you need 10 of the same size to get a finished 3D star.

 

“I love the stars.
Because they can’t say anything.
I love the stars.
Because they do not judge anyone.”
―    Natsuki Takaya

Cool cupcake wrappers

Here’s a great freebie for those of you who like to pretty up your summer treats.  If you have the right software, you can even make your own personal touches.  If you don’t have any software that will work for these, you can download them just as zip files.

If you are looking for a cheap ($39.97 US) but good scrapbooking, card-making software that you can use these with I can give you a code to get $1o off the software, My Memories.  If you use this code to purchase the software, you will also get a code worth $10 to spend at mymemories.com so you can get some cool digital downloads to work with. (You can find the code in the right hand column of my blog.)

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_1  Click here to get the July 4th topper.

http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_2   look like these:

The last one is quite elegant.

This can be found at: http://www.mymemories.com/store/share_the_memories_kit_3

Using MyMemories Software to Customize your Cupcake Liners

  1. Download template file and install it into your software
  2. Using MyMemories Suite, choose Create Album From Designer Template and find your project
  3. Now you can print and enjoy the provided template, or customize it with your own papers and embellishments.

TIP: You can right-click on the white guide and lock it in place to keep it from moving while you are working. Make sure this is the top layer of your project before printing. Instead of adding the paper as a background paper, you can add it as an embellishment so that you can move the paper around.  This is especially useful when using papers with stripes or circles, so you can decide which part of the paper you want to use. Once it is added as an embellishment, you can now select the paper and move it into the position you want it.  Just SAVE and PRINT on cardstock!

Cupcake Liner Tutorial

1.  Purchase or bake and cool cupcakes.  If cupcakes are frosted, place in refrigerator and chill cupcakes before putting liners on.  It is easier to put liners on if the frosting is cold. 2.  Print your cupcake liner templates on cardstock and gather supplies.  Each printed page will have enough supplies for 2 cupcakes. (Recommended supplies: small craft scissors, tape, foam squares, 1.25″ circle punch, toothpicks and ribbon)
3.  Using the scissors cut along outside line. TIP: Use a 1.25″ circle punch to cut out the toppers.  If printed at full size, the circles should be exactly the same size.

Cut out Pieces

4.  Wrap liner around cupcake and tape at seam. TIP: If using a smaller cupcake, just wrap around at the desired height. You can place a smaller cupcake at the bottom of the liner or make it tighter and wrap it around at the top.

Wrap liner around cupcake
5.  Using foam squares or tape, attach the front and back circles together to form the topper. Insert toothpick between the circles.

Topper instructions

Cupcake topper
6. Add ribbon onto the toothpick or at the bottom of the front circle, if desired.

Add Ribbon

7.  Insert toothpick into cupcake.  Enjoy the finished cupcakes and share.  Don’t forget to use your imagination.

Finished cupcakes

If you do decide to purchase the software, the code to use is: STMMMS89083

“When you look at a cupcake, you’ve got to smile.”

~ Anne Byrn

Get some balls this Christmas!

Got your attention didn’t I?

Anywho, I’m posting after a huge break from writing to help promote something near and dear to my heart.  My eldest sister and her husband make gorgeous blown glass Christmas ornaments.  They sell for $20 each and ALL proceeds go to support The Ride to Conquer Cancer.

 

Like my mom, my sister is a cancer survivor and her husband did the ride in her honour for the past two years.  Even better, she rode it last year.  When she received the word that she was cancer free, she signed up.  The training was brutal for someone fresh out of chemo but she endured.  We are all so proud of her effort and thrilled that she made it across the finishing line under her own steam!  And speaking of steam, here’s a look at what her hot air (and a lot of other heat) can produce!

 

I’m posting this on my blog as it also links into Facebook.  For friends and co-workers, I have a supply of these at my desk that I can carefully wrap in tissue paper, put into a hand stamped (by my big sis) box and drop off or send out to you.  They are truly great gifts and each one is unique.

 

Here’s a look at the artists as they work.

 

Cancer is a word, not a sentence.

– John Diamond

Thank you gifts

The school year ended a couple of weeks ago and I did get my butt in gear and make cards and gifts for the classroom teachers and learning assistants who help my kids out.  Everyone got a variation of the teabag holder that I showed in an earlier post, Tea Time.   The cards were inspired by something I saw in the Sale-A-Bration brochure in the spring but I mucked about and made them all my own.

More another time – the kids need milk!  Like what you see?  Let me know!

The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book.

~Author Unknown

C the card?

With three kids in school there at a lot of invites to birthday parties.  I love to send the girls to parties with a nice card to give the birthday person.  When I was little I loved  birthday parties and now I want to help make the big day a bit more special for the little monkeys.  Each card, if I have enough prep time, tends to have a personal touch to it.  Usually it is as simple as the addition of the kid’s initial but I have made ones before with the child’s picture.

This one is another variation of the card I saw in the Sale-A-Bration catalogue and CASEd in my last post.  But this time the birthday party was for a boy, so I changed it up a bit.

That’s it for now but I’ll soon get to a digital page!

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun.
Enjoy the trip.

~Author Unknown