Blog Makeover for Christmas

Hey everyone! You might have noticed a few changes around the place. I spiffied up for Christmas. I just love this time of year - and I hate it too! I always over-commit myself, take on huge projects and drive myself batty trying to get it all done. I need a wife!

Anyways, tell me what you think of the new look. I used templates from 2 different sites and I like they way it all came together. Talk to you soon!

Smooches,

Robin

Thanksgiving Journal 2010

Hi everyone! I sincerely hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, food and fun.

I saw a post on the Cricut MB of a journal that for Thanksgiving. In the journal, all of your family and guests would write what they are thankful for. I thought this was a great idea and that I would make one for us. Here is what I came up with.

This was my first time making a complete mini album - cover and all. I am so pleased with how this came out.
Here are the details!

Carts

• Thanksgiving - cover and pages, title, some of the leaves, hat and turkey
• George - holes in the cover and pages
• Gypsy Wanderings - leaves
• Create a Critter - leaf
• B is for Boy - leaves

I used my G to layout all the cuts I wanted to make. I searched for "leaf" and found several cuts that would work for my design. I layed them out on my G and made the cuts.

I used the card on the Thanksgiving cart for my cover and pages. Once I realized that I could use the same layout for the cover and pages, I was off and running. I put small circles on the card for the holes and removed the score marks. I cut the cover out of chipboard (an old ceral box) and cut the pages out of 12x12 cardstock.

Once all the pieces were cut out, I wanted to give the leaves more texture. So I ran some of them through my crimper and others through my wood grain embossing folder from Tim Holtz (I really love that one!). I glued the title on the cover, knowing that I would need room for the jute and leaves. I took some jute that I had gotten in the jewelry department and cut 6 lengths. I tied them around the top cover and tied a knot. I put the leaves from the Thanksgiving cart that were connected in the middle and tied the knot again. I then hot glued the leaves to the end of the jute and kinda let them float free.

I took the other cuts from the Thanksgiving cart and glued them randomly on the pages inside the book. These are the pages that I asked everyone to write on.

The other pages that are empty will be the pages that I put pictures from the day on. I will bring this out next year to show everyone and have a new one for everone to write in. I think I just started a new tradition for us! Thanks for looking!

Holiday Countdown Ornament - CC Magazine Challenge Entry

Hi everybody. Here is my entry for the Cricut Circle Magazine Ornament Challenge. I absolutely love the way it all came together!

When I saw this challenge, I knew two things: I wanted to use the colors we all see on the Children's Christmas trees and I wanted to challenge myself to use the cuts in a different way then what the booklet shows. I think I accomplished both points.

I am going to give this ornament to my God children (who are 4 and 2) so it is was extra important to me to make it a nice ornament.

Here are the details

Carts

• Christmas Cheer - trees, sleigh, gift, circle
• Printing Press - words and numbers
• Sentimental - pocket, scalloped circle
  

First, I cut the 2 circles and 2 scalloped circles from coordinating bright colors. I made the scalloped circle largerthatn the regular circle so I could layer them.

I glued the circles to each other and sewed around the edge for a little more detail.

This is a picture of all the embossing folders I used on this project. As you can see, some of them are Cuttlebug and some are from Sizzix.

Here is the front of the ornament with all the cuts in place. I cut each item twice and layered it. I cut the base of the sleigh out of metallic silver so the rails would be true. I cut the body of the sleigh in red. I embossed all the top layers with different designs.

I made a pocket to put on the back of the ornament. This is where all the days will go once they have been pulled off. I decided to emboss the front with one folder and the back with another (see picture below). Remember to turn your pocket over so when you fold it and put it together, your embossing will be facing out.

I had to think of a way to hang the days on the ornament. I decided to use a metal cup hook. In the picture below, you can see that I had to cut off the screw part so that it wouldn't stick through the back of the ornament.

To support both the hook and the ornament itself, I decided to sandwich a thin wooden disk between the layers. I'll be honest. My first attempt at securing the hook to the disk was unsuccessful. I used E6000 glue to put it on the disk but I didn't have a hole in it (that's why you see glue on the disk already). I removed the hook and the glue, punched a hole in the disk with my Anywhere Hole Punch, put the hook in the hole with some glue and tried again. This time it worked!

I put one of the presents on the top of the ornament to guage where I wanted the hook and used my Anywhere Hole Punch to punch a hole. I then put Terrificly Tacky Tape on both sides of the ornament and the wooden disk. This sucker is coming apart!

After letting everything sit a while, I peeled the backing of the TTT and put everything together. I put some ribbons on the top for the hanger and another on the bottom for a jingle bell. I am so proud of this ornament! Even my husband was gushing with pride! Here's a close up of some of the details.

Another closeup.

Here's a side view and a view of the back. I plan to put Merry Christmas on the pocket so when the countdown is over on Christmas day, you can turn the ornament over and leave that side showing until you take your tree down.

Thanks for looking and I hope you enjoy my creation!

Smooches,

Robin

Holiday Planner Altered Composition Book

Hey guys! Here is another post from me this week (that's 3 this week!). This time it is an altered composition book that I made into a Holiday Planner. I have one of these that I have used for serveral years now but I was asked to teach a class on how to make one so This is what I came up with.

Here are the details:

Carts

• Christmas Cheer - ornaments

I used some Bazzill cardstock to cover the front and back of the book. I created the title and tabs on my computer (contact me if you want the file). I inked the edges of the title for more definition. I also added a few pieces of bling above the H (you can never have enough bling!)

To cover up the seam where the cardstock came together, I added some crepe paper that I gathered together. I did mine on my Janome Sew Mini ahead of time but you can gather it as you glue it to save time. I then covered up my glue line with red ball fringe.

I went under the crepe paper and fringe and glued down ribbons to "hang" my ornaments. Tip: You might want to do this before you glue your fringe down. I had cut out several ornaments wtih my Cricut and placed them down to see which ones worked. Once I found the ones I wanted, I started to decorate them. I used MS microfine glitters, glue pens and Stickles. I really love the affect of using the different sized glue pens to get the different sized lines. It was so easy!

On this one, I used the chisel tip glue pen for the wide red stripe of glitter. Then I edged it with Stickles.

On this one, I used the wide tip glue pen and ran it sideways.

I love to cook, shop, etc. And I always have list, clippings and other things I am keeping up with. So each section of the planner has a pocket. The pocket is made from the leftovers from cutting the cover. No waste!

You can have as many sections/tabs as you want. Mine will have 5 when it is finished. This thing is a life saver and helps me keep some sort of sanity through the holidays. I hope you make one so you can keep all your stuff in one place too!

Smooches,

Robin

Deb 2010 Altered Notebook

I'm back! I'm back! I have been crafting a lot but just haven't had the time to get the pictures on my blog. But here is the first of a couple of posts this week

As most of you know, I am a member of Delta Sigma Theta, an sorority that is almost 100 years old. My chapter has a Debutant Cotillion every year where we prepare and present young ladies to society. I made these journals for the Sleepover, which is the first event the girls have as a bonding time. It's made from a 3x5 little mini-notebook that you can get from any office supply store. The journal was meant for the young ladies to have to write down their feelings and thoughts about the night and to get the other girls information.

My original design had 2 layered butterfiles with crystals on the body and the wings of the 2nd butterfly raised up for demension. It was beautiful - when you only had to make one! When I started making the 25 I had to make for the girls, I quickly revamped the project to what you see.

Carts

• Words - Rock Princess
• Crown - Sentimentals
• Butterfly - MS Elegant Cake Art

I embossed the black background with the Swiss Dots folder. I also added the piece of ribbon to the edge to cover the different colors of the cover base (they were red, yellow, blue, green and black).

Hope you love them. If so, let me know!

Smooches,