FANTABULOUS CRICUT Challenge #11: Flowers For May...

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut is "Flowers For May": use at least three flowers on a project.  I made this birthday cake box and added three dimensional flower accents!

For this project, I used the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge to cut the box and the small tag.  I used Accent Essentials to cut the scallop edge border and the flowers.

Each flower has 5 layers, cut at 2" (2), 1 1/2" (2) and 1" (1).  I embellished each flower by adding a rhinestone center and rolling the petals over my stylus to curve them.  I used a standard size hole punch to punch through the center of the pink flower, and just slid it down over the candle and glued in place.

To finish, I stamped "Happy Birthday" (CTMH), attached the tag with some narrow ribbon and adhered "snowball" pearls to the scallop edge.

Be sure to head over to FCCB for some fabulous Design Team projects and inspiration!

Have a creative day!!!  :)

Teapot Tea Gift Box

I saw a gift box made from a chipboard apple by Amy Scheffer at Pickled Paper Designs and thought, wouldn't it be cute to do a teapot and put some tea bags in it for a friend???  :)  I, too, got my chipboard shape (teapot) out of the Dollar Spot at Michael's.  It's a five-page chipboard album but I just took two pages off and used those.

I covered both the back and the front of each piece by tracing the teapot onto the cardstock and cutting it out.  I also inked ech piece.

For the box (between the two teapot pieces) I followed Amy's tutorial, modifying the size a bit...mine is 5 1/4 x 7 and is scored at 2" on each side.  This size fits better between the teapots and is a better size for holding tea bags.

The 3D flowers were cut with George at 1 1/2".  I used three blooms for each flower (nine total).  I cut two petals off of one flower and overlapped two petals to make the inner part of the flower.  Then I cut one petal off of another flower and layered two petals over each other to make the middle layer of the flower.  I snipped the point of each of these pieces and then layered them with a whole flower.  Each flower was inked and then all three pieces were put together with a brad.  To finish, I curled the edges of the petals with my fingers.  I added some leafy ribbon to the top of the teapot and attached the flowers.

The tag was cut with Tags Bags Boxes and More at 1 1/2".  I stamped the sentiment (CTMH) and attached with a foam dot.

Thanks for looking and have a creative day!  :)

Faux Leather Purse

This faux leather purse was cut at 7" with the Cricut using the Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge ("purse2") and a sheet of dark brown cardstock. I scored the fold lines before doing the faux leather technique b/c it would have been difficult to see the guides once the embossing was done.

After scoring, I rubbed a VersaMark ink pad over the surface of the purse to completely cover the cardstock. Then I sprinkled clear embossing powder over the cardstock, tapping it to removed the excess powder.

Next, I used the edge of my Cricut spatula tool to make wavy, uneven lines both horizontally and vertically through the embossing powder. You could also use a ruler, bone folder, etc. I shook off the excess powder that was lifted when making the lines. Then I used my heat gun to heat emboss the powder until set. Once the faux leather techniqe was complete, I constructed the purse, added adhesive Velcro for the closure, a large silver brad and some leopard ribbon for the handle.

The result is this shiny, leather-looking brown purse! How fun would this be for a gift to hold candy, trinkets, jewelry or even a gift card???

Thanks for looking!  :)

Toilet Paper Roll Mini Album (CTMH Caboodle Collection)

This is another mini album made out of toilet paper rolls.  I just love these!  When people ask me what I do to save the environment, I say I recycle and make toilet paper roll albums.  HAHAHAHA!

This one is made with the new CTMH Caboodle collection which is super-fun and "Spring-y".  I'll be teaching a class on this one later this month.

I used my Cricut to cut the tags (inserted inside the flattened rolls) from TBBM which allows for extra photos/journaling/storage.  I also used WIMG to cut the flowers.

I stamped two journaling blocks (CTMH My Acrylix "Frame Of Mind"), matted them with coordinating cardstock and cut them out, then punched holes in them and added them between the pages of the album.

Thanks for looking!  :)

Altered Paper Mache Gifts

I found these neat unfinished paper mache gifts with silver "bows" already attached at Hobby Lobby and they happened to be on sale at the time.  I inked and then covered them with this cute Christmas paper from Cloud 9 Design and then embossed some green cardstock strips for the "ribbon".  I Modge Podged everything for durability.

To complete the gifts, I cut two tags from TBBM and added a flourish and sentiment from Home Accents and Home Decor (Cricut).  I attached the tags to the gifts and put them on my coffee table as a centerpiece.

Thanks for looking!  :)

Directions for TP Roll Mini Album

I've received requests on how to made these Toilet Paper Roll Mini Albums...so here are the directions!

1.  Flatten five TP roll tubes (you can crease with a bone folder, lay heavy books on them, clip them with binder clips, etc.).
2.  Once flat, cut paper to fit each side of flattened roll (just measure the dimensions of the flattened tube and cut accordingly).  You can also wrap a piece of paper completely around the flattened tube, but I like to have a different pattern on each side.
3.  Ink the edges to disguise the cardboard edges.
4.  Using a Crop-A-Dile, punch two holes on one end of each tube.  Use O-rings to bind the tubes through the holes. 
5.  Tie rings with coordinating ribbon.  Use stickers, die-cuts, pieces of inked paper, etc. to embellish each page/tube.
6.  For the tags, I used the scallop tag on TBBM (Cricut) and cut them at 4 1/2".  I added ribbon though the holes, stamped and embellished each tag, then inserted them into the flattened tubes.

That's it!  A great, inexpensive gift!!!  Thanks for looking!  :)

P.S. This is also an entry for the Just Buggin Challenge (#7) this week...

Toilet Paper Roll Mini Album

I'm done rolling in the mud and oinking...the flu has all but passed.  FINALLY.  I can honestly say that this is the first time in thirty-something years that I have ever had the flu and it sucks!  :)

Anyway, this is my first project since getting sick and it was soooooo fun.  I'd seen these "Toilet Paper Roll Mini Albums" before but hadn't tried one...until today!  LOVE IT!  I think the best thing about it is the cost...almost nothing! 

I was assigned with coming up with a craft project for my mother's group at church and I think these will be a big hit and very cost-friendly.  So, the theme of this TP book is "Pray".  We are going to use it to keep our weekly scripture cards all in one place.  I'm calling it my "Toilet Paper Scripture Card Album"....  :)

I used some paper I've had forever by Cosmo Cricket (I almost donated this paper a while back...glad I didn't!).  I flattened five TP tubes, adhered paper and inked the edges.  Then I added paper embellishments, also inked:  photo corners (punch), words, flowers (Cricut: Home Decor and George), "PRAY" (Cricut: Opposites Attract) and scallop borders on the tags (punch).  I also stamped two journaling blocks onto coordinating cardstock, inked the edges and adhered those inside two pages: 

I used the Cricut to cut scallop tags (Tags, Bags, Boxes & More) at 4 1/2 inches out of cardstock, which slide inside the flattened TP tubes.  I tied ribbons to the ends for easy handling. 

Lastly,  I finally got to use my new Bind It All by Zutter for the edge binding...sooooo easy and soooo fun!  I tied ribbons on the binding to finish it off.  That's it...thanks for looking!  :)