Advent Calendar

I bought a Classic Christmas Advent Calendar SVG Kit from svgcuts.com http://svgcuts.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=227

I started it at 7:30 last night and finished at 1:00 a.m.  Boy am I tired today.  For my first attempt, it is pretty good.  I want to make another and do a few things different.  First, I should have decorated the doors before putting the inside box pieces on .  I did figure out on the first box that it is easier to put the box part on if you open the door.  Lets you see to line it up better.

Cameo and Fondant

I cut fondant on my Silhouette Cameo to make the black silhouettes on my daughter's Paris themed sweet sixteen birthday cake.

I also used my Silhouette Cameo to make the 3d eiffel tower on top.

I really like how it turned out.  She was very happy with it and it didn't cost the $125.00 I was quoted by a cake maker!  I was shocked to say the least.

So, 4 cakes mixes ($1.80 each), black fondant ($3.50) patterned fondant ($3.50) tub of premixed icing ($12.00) one piece of black card stock (pennies), look of joy on my daughter's face....priceless!

clutter creeping out...finally

Well, I have moved my dresser behind me, sqeezed the sewing machine desk next to it and the bookshelf remains by the bed for a nightstand.

I have hung my ATG on the wall to my left in easy reach.  I have also put up a nail to hold my Sihouette mats (and Cricut mats I use with my Silhouette Cameo).  Nails to hold my T-square and moved my scrapamagig to my left for my drinks.

I have put my paper boxes on the dresser but not by the window.  I put the printer there and put the rest of the boxes of paper on my shelf above my workstation.

It is a start and I love how it is turning out.  Now I just have to find a place to put all the stuff I piled on the bed!  LOL  Booked now until Thursday night so I guess I will start again Thursday night.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Cluttered Desk = lost creativity

My work desk is piled with stuff.  Paper, glue, stickes, ribbon, paper, bling, etc.  So much so that I have no space to work!  My week has been busy so far and tonight is no exception.  Monday I had rehearsal for my first ever NE Arkansas Chorale.  It is a group of people from NE Arkansas that put on a Christmas concert with orchestra from the Williams Baptist College.  I have watched it many times but this is my first time to participate!

Anyway, I have a thing tonight but TOMORROW I am tackling the work space.  I have fought with how to arrange my space and I may have to rearrange again to make it functional but my goal is to get my workspace not only clean but functional so that I can get back to my technique draws and get some more pages done.  I may use my technique draw to do some cards as well.

I have a sewing machine and stuff on a tiny desk behind me and a dresser to my left that has a TON of stuff in the drawers and my paper boxes on top.  I want to put that behind me but then the paper will be in front of the window and I'm afraid of the sun fading the paper.  However, it takes away from my desk space to have it beside me.

I have a teeny tiny tv on my desk that I have on mostly for noise but also to watch my HGTV shows that I love.  I don't like it where it is and the way I have the room now there is no space on the wall to put it either.  That is another thing that will have to be corrected.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I can get it all done so that Friday I can get scrappin` and enjoy my space.

I am setting myself a deadline of the end of this month to have the room spotless.  That is a place for everything and everything in its place, used or purged.  I have a twin bed for company that is covered with stuff that needs to find a home.  Boxes of pictures, embelishments, paper, empty storage containers that I have emptied and found new homes for the contents, and bags and things for taking stuff to crops.  I also have several boxes of memorabilia that I want to organize and/or scrap.

This post is long but I guess it is more a guideline for me to keep me on track.  I will post my progress as I go.

Exhaustipated

Here is a new word to add to your vocabulary.  It will be expecially useful to us senior folks.

Exhaustipated:  Just too tired to give a crap!

First ATC

 

I've wanted to do an ATC ever since I found out about them.  This is my very first attempt.  Would love to hear your opinions.  I put three strips of puff paint on cardstock, heated it to puff it up, inked with denum ink, added a small strip of black & white ribbon, stamped som random pattern all over, added a cardstock arrow, micro beads, a star and the word "dream with my dymo label maker that I wrinkled up.  I personally love it and can't wait to use it on a layout.

Technique - Twine

This is my next technique draw. I decided to do the pictures from taking my daughter and her friends to the midnight release of the Hunger Games. I reached into my cup and pulled out twine. So, I incorporated the twine at the top of the layout.

For the layout, I printed the insignias for each district in Panem including the capitol. I lined them up along the top edge starting with the Capitol (which printed smaller) and going to 13. The twine was wrapped twice around the page just below the districts. I printed the map of Panem and the capitol. I used my Amy Chomas pen holder to hold a white gel pen and wrote "May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor". I cut a bow and some arrows from my Silhouette Cameo and created my own Mockingjay cut file. I did my journaling in my own handwriting in white gel pen.

Silhouette Dust cover

I got a pattern for making a dust cover for my Silhouette Cameo at http://kathleendriggers.com/2012/02/04/free-silhouette-cameo-dust-cover-pattern/  and made a cover for my Cameo.  I'm very happy with how it turned out since I am NOT a seamstress in any way shape or form.

Sanding - The next technique

This time I drew sanding.

I had picked out some pictures from our last trip to Wisconsin last year. We had gone to Summerfest and Bob Marley's son, Stephen Marley was playing. I used papers from the My Mind's Eye Lost & Found paper pack. To use sanding, I rand a piece of white core black cardstock through my DYMO label maker and spelled out Stephen Marley and then sanded the top of the letters to make them pop. I also crumpled and distressed the brown striped paper and sanded it. I used my Silhouette Cameo to print & cut the title and used a photo mat with guitars on it and the file folder (that hides my journaling) from a swap on the Scrapaholics Anonymous Yahoo group since I am also trying to incorporate swap items into my layouts.

Random techniques

I am starting something new. I put a bunch of techniques, supplies and tools on strips of paper and put them in a cup. After I decide on pictures, embellishments, etc., I draw out a slip of paper and use whatever it is on that layout. The reason for this is I have supplies, embellishments, etc. piled everywhere and generally stick to the same old stuff and never use the stuff I have.

So, I have things on my list like:

Stickles
Dry embossing
Heat embossing
Ink
Ribbon
Etc.

I was going to do videos but I never talk loud enough on videos. I will work on that for a future series.

The first paper I drew was ribbon so here is the layout I used ribbon on.  I also used the title, journal block and altered CD from a swap on scrapaholics annonymous yahoo group.

Grandparents layout

My daughter asked me to take her picture with her grandparents,  She is so grateful to have such wonderful grandparents.  Sometimes I worry she missed out on having my parents when they were younger like my older daughters did but then she shows me she wouldn't change a thing.  She loves them very much.  I am so very proud of the young woman she is becoming.

Video on how I made the layout is on Youtube at http://youtu.be/3jETQyt9wyA

Country turkey

Free country turkey Silhouette Studio file.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ru80or50d22qvgx

Smashbook page

My first smash book page.  It was a challenge about a favorite celebrity.  My daughter and I think Ellen is amazing and her biggest dream is to go to an Ellen show on her 18th birthday and dance with Ellen.

Mojo Monday sketch

Mojomonday.blogspot.com sketch challenge.  They do cards on their blog but I saw the sketch and immediately thought of my daughter's wedding.  I hope they accept my entry into the challenge.

12x12 layouts Dance Class and Water slide

A couple of layouts I did for sketch challenges on Yahoo Groups Scrap-a-holics Anonymous.  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Scrap-a-holics_Anonymous/

I just love doing sketches because it helps keep my mojo going and keeps me from staying in my same old same old rut.

Oh, yes I realize that I misspelled Beyonce. Oh well, I'll fix it someday. :)

Lisa G

Double Slider card

I found a great tutorial on a double slider card at http://hungryheffycrafts.com/2010/04/double-slider-card-tutorial/

I decided to make a Silhouette Studio cut file to make the card. Here is the link for the file. http://www.4shared.com/file/TqzCT023/Double_Slider_Card.html

Download the file, cut out the pieces and then watch the video on how to put it together. I love that this card opens like a regular card but has the additional double slider. That way you can stamp/decorate the sliders and still have tons of room on the inside of the card to write a message.

Hope you enjoy and thanks to Lesley Oman of Hungry Heffy Crafts for the tutorial and inspiration.

Lisa G

Texas Hold'em layout

I took this picture almost three years ago and finally got around to putting it on a layout. I used my Silhouette SD to to a print & cut of the playing cards and then did an offest in black to outline them. I cut a strip of cardstock 2" x 12" and added spades, clubs, hearts, and diamonds for a border. I did a print & cut on the journaling block to be a club shape and cut the title with my Silhouette. I needed poker chips but the Silhouette store didn't have any so I created my own. I have provided the file for you if anyone needs poker chips for anything. http://www.4shared.com/file/8odvkHTa/poker_chips.html

Happy Scrappin`

File Folder mini album

This is a mini album made out of four legal sized file folders. My inspiration came from Scrap Diva Forever. You can see hers here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7kmPR49ZOo&feature=related.
Mine is no where near as beautiful as hers but my next one will be great. I was just so excited by this I rushed to get it done and didnt get it done as nicely as I would have liked.

Altered File Folder mini album. I got the inspiratoin from scrap diva forever on her video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7kmPR49ZOo&feature=relatedI couldn't wait to try it when I saw hers. Mine is not finished but I love how it is turning out and had to share.

#10 Card

This is a card I made to fit into a standard sized #10 envelope (the size your bills come in). I like the idea of that size card because even if I run out of envelopes and don't want to make one, I always have #10 envelopes around.

The baloons, bow, flags and sentiment are all print & cut with the Silhouette. The strings were drawn with a sharpie. I am going to do another (to keep on hand for those oops moments when you realize it is someone's birthday at the office). The next one I am going to cut and ink the baloons, bow, flags & sentiment and I will use my Sew Easy to do the strings (or just use the sewing machine).

Swap

Swap stuff I made. I love doing swaps but I think I need to take a break and use some of the swap stuff I have gotten and organize my craft room before I sign up for any more swaps.

Thanksgiving cards

These are cards I made for Card swaps. I don't think I like doing card swaps because I don't want to send a card that someone else made. Feels like cheating.