"bAprons" for Everyone!

Hi Crafters,

I've been SUPER busy preparing for the Christmas season. One of my big projects for the year was sewing aprons (or "baprons" as my niece used to call them). I used this great tutorial from 7 Layers Studio.  All the fabric is from Joann's. I had to size down the one for my niece, I mostly took the measurements and divided in half but I had to tinker with a few of them. I had a dress that I used to help me get the proportions correct. The sash didn't quite make it all the way around to keep a front tie but that's ok.

 I couldn't leave out the nephew, I didn't think he would appreciate wearing an apron. I whipped up this cute appliquéd onesie using some leftover fabric from the aprons.

Muffin tin {Advent Calendar}

Hi Crafters,

This is a super fun challenge over at Cut it Up! Make a count down or advent calendar using a die cut. I had seen the mini muffin advent calendars the past few years. I tucked the idea away and thought this was the perfect time to try it out.

I started out by cutting out scalloped and regular circles that were sized to fit over the holes of the tin. I then used ALL sorts of fonts to cut out the numbers. I cut out scalloped squares and regular squares to layer over the base. I used a printed stack from DCWV called Crafted Christmas for the patterned paper. I accented these with buttons and some Pez-a-Bling.

I got some magnet material with adhesive on the back to attach everything to the cookie sheet (and this makes it reusable). I cut this slightly smaller than the original circles so the magnet would not show.

I finished it off with some smaller circles to fit inside the cups. I didn't want to glue those in so I put a small magnet on the back of those as well. I put a die cut on top so it would still look pretty as I counted down to Christmas. These little images came from Christmas, Christmas Cheer, Designer Calendar, and Gypsy Wanderings.

This was a fun project! It has over 100 cricut cuts. It is for sure the most cricut intense project I've created so far.

As usual we have some great prizes to give away...

$25.00 gift certificate from Pez-a-Doodle

and 

a $10.00 gift certificate to Kaboodle Bug Designs

Be sure to stop by Cut it Up! to link up your count-down project for a chance to win!

Happy Christmas Crafting,

{They're Engaged} SQUEEEE!

Hi crafters,

I'm officially back at school today! I've had a wonderful summer. I'm looking forward to NEW school year!

I'm also looking forward to seeing my co-workers.  I'm blessed to have such great people in my school. One of my co-workers got engaged a few weeks ago. I put together a tote bag with a few of my favorite bridal items: a Martha Stewart bridal magazine, ring cleaner, and an engagement ornament.

The tote bag is done with freezer paper, it's a mixture of the Gypsy font and Opposite's Attract.  The flourish is from Teresa Collin's Sophisticated cartridge.

The ornament is Martha Stewart's Elegant Cake cartridge (for the first letter of the names and the "We're Engaged" sentiment) The lower case letters are from Opposite's Attract.

The silhouette on the card is from Sweethearts. The background is embossed with the cuttlebug.

Thanks for stopping by,

Spreading Christmas Cheer at Cut it Up!

Hi Crafters,

The challenge for this session at Cut it Up! is Christmas in July! Wedding season is also in full swing! One of my favorite add on gifts to give at showers or weddings is a personalized ornament for the couple.

Everyday Cricut has a great tutorial on how to make these ornaments with pledge floor wax and ultra fine glitter. I prefer the squished round ornaments, it makes it easier to apply the vinyl. The script letter is from Martha Stewart Elegant Cakes cartridge, the rings are from Sweethearts, and the black font is from Opposites Attract. 

I added some tulle, ribbon, bakers twine, and raffia to finish off the tops.  

Be sure to link up your project to Cut it Up for a chance to win a great prize!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Sparkly {Pregnancy} :Gift: Ornaments

Hi Crafters,

I am surrounded by lovely glowing pregnant women this Christmas season.

I've seen many "baby's first Christmas" ornaments but I haven't seen many to commemorate the pregnancy itself.  I know these ladies are so excited to welcome these sweet babies (so far all boys, the yellow ornament finds out right after Christmas what their sweet pea will be).  I topped these guys off with a bit of raffia and bakers twine.  I hope the ornaments bring them happy memories for years to come.  The glitter is adhered to the inside using pledge floorwax.

The pregnant lady came from New Arrival.  The text 2012 is from Lyrical Letters.

Happy Crafting,

Ornament exchange

Hi crafters,
I was lucky to participate in an ornament exchange with a group if talented crafters. My elf made me an adorable snow man and heart ornament. They look great on my tree.

I made a crayon melt ornament and a glitter ornament both adorned with vinyl for my elf.

It's so much fun to create and send mail .
Looking forward to seeing the rest of the group's creations.
Happy crafting

Fall {wedding} love card

Hi Crafters,

The leaves were at their peak this weekend here in the mountains. It's a beautiful day for a vineyard wedding.

I made this card for them using the sketch from the previous post for inspiration.  I also sliced up their wedding invitation and made it into a Christmas ornament for their tree.  I hope you are enjoying your week!

I had the best weekend up in the craft loft with my friends and niece.  We enjoyed being able to spread out (and make a mess)!

Lots of autumn love and blessings,

Merry Christmas!

Hi Crafters,

It's Christmas Eve!  I'm looking forward to a few days filled with our families!  Here are a few projects I've been working on.

We had our annual gingerbread house making party this week.  I got to use my cake machine and used fondant on the roof.  I should have cut things in advance but oh well live and learn!  It was just nice to use it and it did really well!

Here are a few Christmas cards I made.  The snowflake is from Cake Basics, the stamp is a studio G stamp, and I embossed it with Martha Stewart glitter embossing powder.  The background is white and embossed with the snowflake cuttlebug folder.

I have a few projects that I've been working on for Christmas gifts as well, but those will have to wait!

Merry Christmas Crafters!  

Brown Paper Packages Tied up with String...

Hi Crafters,

Happy Advent Season!  I just love Christmas!  We got our tree up last weekend and I was able to wrap some gifts so it looked a bit more festive!  I know kraft paper has been very popular this year so I grabbed a roll at the local office supply store.

I used the Cake cartridge that came with my mini for the cutouts.  I then used a few sets of Martha Stewart's alphabets to monogram the package instead of doing gift tags.  I used gold ink and it blends in a little too well so I will probably use something a bit darker for the next batch. I used tulle, raffia, and ribbon to tie the packages off. I really like how simple the packages look but yet have a bit of elegance as well.

Happy Crafting,

Engagement Glitter Ornaments with Vinyl

Hi Crafters,

It's Monday morning! Students start school on Wednesday this week.  I am not feeling ready quite yet but ready or not here they come!  I will miss my leisurely mornings!

Here's a quick project I made for my friends who are getting married next year.

I used the Martha Stewart glitter and floor wax method to make the glitter stick to the inside.  I then used white vinyl to decorate the outside.  The ring is from Martha Stewart Elegant cakes.  The font for Jessica and Martin is Opposites Attract.  The font for Lisa and Matthew is Lyrical Letters.  The back has their engagement dates.

Have a great day and Happy Crafting,

Merry Christmas

Hi Crafters,

We have been blessed with a few extra days of Christmas break due to snow! I have to admit I only did a bit of crafting with my extra time.  I am at the stage where I have a few on-going projects and not much else going on.

I was able to get out the rest of my Christmas cards today.  I was pleased with the way they turned out.  I was browsing through Joann's mess of a clearance section over the summer and found 10 packs of red cards with matching envelopes for .35 over the summer.  I snatched them up and started turning the gears of Christmas cards!

I used a small Die Cuts with a View Christmas pack so the backgrounds varied throughout the cards. This adorable reindeer is from Christmas Cheer.  I outlined him with a brown cricut marker for a bit of definition and pop dotted him off the cream paper. I then used a corner rounder on the cream paper and layered it on patterned paper.  I rolled the red card through the cuttlebug with a folder I got in a value pack from www.ohmycrafts.com this past fall.  I thought this embossing folder looked like a candy cane stripe.

I cut a scalloped oval from Gypsy Wonderings.  I then used a Studio G stamp and spring green ink pad with clear embossing powder for the sentiment.

Merry Christmas...may your stocking be filled with crafting goodies and your Christmas Season filled with the spirit, blessings, family, and love.

Glitter Ornaments

Hi Crafters,

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We are about to put up the tree and I am in complete denial about returning to school tomorrow!

Here is one of the few projects I worked on with my time off!  I had seen a lot of tutorials on the Pledge floor wax glitter ornaments and really wanted to try it (http://www.cricutholiday.com/2010/09/christmas-cricut-crafty-gift-tuesday.html ).  I did it the first time with my Youth Group on their retreat a last weekend (we had glitter EVERYWHERE)!  The middle schoolers and high schoolers both enjoyed this fast and easy craft.

We used heart shaped ornaments to fit our theme (Crazy Love).  We had several colors for them to choose from.  Most of them mixed several colors together.

 This cricut green one is for one of my dear crafting friends.  We get together often to craft. I appreciate her so much!

 My sister is graduating this school year.  I have to admit I'm not sure I love the 1/2 and 1/2 but it was appropriate for the theme.

 This one I made for my mom. She loves red!  I saw this glitter color and knew it had her name all over it! The other side has the last name on it.

You didn't think I'd leave out my niece did you?!  I'm also sure you are shocked at the purple selection for her anti-pink mom!

I got a glitter pack from Michael's that had 12 different colors of glitter in small viles. I would say you could get at least 3-4 ornaments from each vile.  I have 4 more glass balls that are itching for some glitter!

My Christmas greetings are almost finished being assembled.  I'll post updates with those soon!

Happy Crafting,