Thursday, June 22, 2017

Planner Stickers DIY

Create your own stickers for planners with the "Peel and place" clear stamps from SRM by Susan McShirley. The new line of Planner Stamps is clear photopolymer clear stamps made in the USA. Susan 's line includes stickers, stamps, rub-on, and more for many occasions.  Decorate your planner, make cards, and other paper crafts with these fun stamps.

Check out all the projects the Designers from The Designer Crafts Connection have made here.


I was given "Baby Plans" 77057 to try out, and I decided to make a baby shower gift to include with a card for a mom to be.  I am a mom myself, and a planner, but personally do not intend on having any babies of my own now. Therefore, a gift it is!


By using some store bought label stickers, and some colorful ink pads I transformed the plain white rectangles into beautiful pastel planner decorations.  With the lovely "Baby Plans" stamps I stamped some images and sayings that a new mom could use in her own planner.


To begin, I wiped the colored ink pads vertically down each sticker label sheet.


After the inks had been dry, I stamped over with some black ink and the SRM stamps.


To decorate the Planner Sticker Holder (i.e.,. envelope) I repeated the process.
View the complete SRM product line here: http://www.srmstore.com/

Thank you for stopping by. I hope that you are inspired to make your own stickers and planner accessories.

View my Designer friends projects here: http://designercraftsconnection.blogspot.ca/2017/06/planners-and-bible-journaling-with-srm.html





Thursday, June 15, 2017

Sew a Kaleidoscope Dresden with Nancy's Notions

Sewing is one of my crafty loves, and quilting is my nemesis!  There has always been something too mathematical with quilting for me, and so I have always felt challenged when attempting this type of project.  I have taken classes and learned to get over my apprehension.  However, when it comes to making the Dresden deign in quilt making, I have not been very successful,  until now!


New and on sale for a limited, time is the Kaleidoscope Dresden Template and Pattern available from Nancy's Notions $9.99 instead of $17.99usd. Which I highly recommend!  This tool and the instructions have turned me into a master quilter.  Ok, that's an exaggeration...however I am confident that I can now make those once dreaded Dresden.

The Dimensional Kaleidoscope Dresden Template book, along with the clear acrylic template changes everything.  Make perfect pieces with this tool.  I can hardly believe how comfortable I find making these now.  I look forward to making all 15 variations!


The instructions are easy-to-follow in the 20-page booklet, with its many clear images and pictures.
Making each of the Dresden, or the Dimensional Kaleidoscope Dresden requires minimal fabric.  I was able to make mine with some scraps of fabrics, from pieces I got at Nancy's Notions.


 To begin all I needed to do was to make sure the fabrics I chose were ironed and squared.  I then lay the template over the fabric and cut the pieces with a rotary cutter and self-healing mat.  For my first project, I concentrated on cutting and assembling the pieces together accurately. The template and my tools made that part so easy.



Next time I will add the dimension by cutting another set of wedges, and all I have to do is fold the extra wedges, fold them and sew them between each wedge.  Easy peasy!
I chose to make pointed the ends of each wedge.  The cardboard template (included in the book) makes achieving the perfect score a piece of cake!


  I liked the idea of using fusible interfacing to attach the center to conceal the hole in the middle.   It is straightforward and quick.         


To make my circles for the center as well as the yo-yo, I traced around my homemade circle templates.  You can see one in the photo above.


Once I ironed the solid colored circle to cover the hole, I sewed a yo-yo according to the instructions in the book.  To complete the look I chose to sew on this button I had been saving for just the right project. 
With the extra smaller scraps I had left over I had just enough to make two smaller Dresden.  The template allows you to make wedges as small as one inch, and as big as 10 inches long.


To accompany the table centerpiece, I made two smaller versions that to be used as coasters.

I hope that you enjoyed reading this post and that you too will try to Dimensional Kaleidoscope Dresden to use in your home decor or quilts.  Thank you so much for stopping by.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Create with Cricut: Bathroom Vanity Mirror Tray

Decorate your bathroom with sparkle and shine with the help of Cricut and Adhesive Foil.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

As a Blogger/Brand Ambassador for Cricut, I am pleased to present my post this month where I show how I take an old small framed gaudy looking mirror and alter it into a cute piece of home decor for our newly renovated bathroom.

Having invested a lot of money into the renovation project, I wanted to find low-cost ways to add unique touches to our master bath.  I had this old discolored and scratched up metal framed mirror just wasting shelf space in our garage.  Instead of tossing it I decided to try and give it a second chance.




Step one:  Find a framed mirror,  mine happens to be an old cosmetic holder.


Step Two:  Clean the grime off.  Make any repairs needed.

Step Three:  Prepare the frame for its transformation.  In my case, I took the frame and mirror apart.


Step Four:  Spray Paint the frame with a metallic spray paint from Rust-Oleum Testors. Let Dry.


Step Five:  With the Cricut Explore Air 2  make some foil decals to alter and update the look of the mirror. Use the Purple mat, and Cricut Foil.  Follow instructions in the Cricut Design Space. I used a "Vine" image available as a Free copy in the library.  In the Design Space, I duplicated the vine and chose to make a Mirror image of the second vine.



Step Six:  Remove Foil Decals from Purple mat with Transfer film.  Apply stickers to clean mirror. Re-assemble mirror and frame.



If you are asking: "How easy will it be for "ME" to use the Cricut software?" I am here to let you know that it is so easy!  All you need to have is internet access, a smartphone, tablet, or computer! Oh, of course, a Cricut!  Any model that has blue tooth or the internet access.  I use the Cricut Explore Air 2, and The Cricut Design Space.

Cricut Design Space works with the Explore line of machines.  There are over 60 000 fonts, images, and more.  Available by purchasing individually, through a subscription, and even many are free.
Cricut Design Space has clear and easy to understand video tutorials for you to learn, at your own pace, how to work with all the possibilities the software has to offer.

"Cricut Design Space makes it easy to go from inspiration to creation."

Don't have an Explore?  No, problem.  Connect with the Cricut Craft Room.  "The Design Tool with image library."  Also, has easy to follow video tutorials.  Provides access to your own saved images from cartridges and other sources, free available images and fonts, and pay as you go too!
Free download of Cricut Craft Room available here: https://home.cricut.com/cricut-craft-room for non-Explore Cricut.





This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cricut. The opinions and text are all mine.

READER COMMENT DISCLAIMER 

Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.


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