Frames and Flowers with Cricut

Last week I used the Flower Shoppe Cricut cartridge to make a photo altered canvas. This week I combined the Flower Shoppe and Fancy Frames Cricut cartridges. Here again, I used a 12" x 12" canvas and I designed one flower and two leaves. I ripped the edges of a sheet of 12" x 12" printed cardstock and cut Frame 1 at 7". I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink to age each of my design elements. Each were adhered to my canvas using Beacon 3 in 1 glue.

A photo can be centered in the middle of the frame.

By the way at first I was going to pass on these 2 Cricut cartridges! Wow, I would have been missing some pretty neat designing tools!


  I linked up to: "My entry to Simple Home Life's  Simply Creation's Friday sponsored by Appliances Online and their Fridge Freezers”.

Photo Display Altered Canvas

Having a dancing granddaughter is really inspirational. Her photographs are beautiful pieces of art, belonging on the wall not just in scrapbooks. I've spent some time recently creating altered canvases to display these wonderful photos.

I used Tim Holtz distress ink pads to age the edges of a 12"x12" canvas. I ripped the edges of a decorative scrapbook page and ink those edges too. Using Beacon 3 in 1 glue I adhered the page to the canvas and trimmed the edge with lace.

I cut the parts to make 2 flowers from my latest Cricut Cartridge Flower Shoppe. The parts to the first flower are as follows: Basic 4 cut 3 times in sizes 3.75", 3.25" and 3.0" and Basic 1 cut at 3.25" and 2.75".

The parts to the second flower were cut as follows: Fun 4 cut 2 times at 4" and 3.5" and Exotic 4 cut 3" and finally Fun 1 cut at 3.75".

I cut the leaves using Ruffle 5 at 2 1/2".

I used Beacon 3 in 1 to glue the parts of the flowers together and then I used ink to shade and distress the flowers and used a bone folder to shape them.

I used a large glue dot in the center at the back of the flower to adhere them to the canvas and then I used a hot glue gun to adhere some of the flower petals to the canvas.

I added glitz and a butterfly for trim and my granddaughter's picture looking mighty fine!

 

This canvas was entered in a challenge at:

http://www.hidinginmycraftroom.com/2012/04/himcr-43-april-showers-bring.html

Mother's Day Treasure Box

I am always on the look out for cigar boxes and each different kind bring a new challenge which I love! I got two raw wood cigar boxes, bringing me back full circle to the original fancy lacy wood cigar box, I had designed months ago.

On these I used the 3 step painted crackle medium, only one took the crackle better than the other. I used white paint as the base and orchid as a top coat. I went back in with white paint on the smaller box, which didn't take the crackle very well and it looks just fine!

 I ran a running stitch across flat cream lace and gathered it around each box using a glue gun to adhere the lace to the boxes. Then I adhered ruffled cream lace over the flat gathered lace.

Using music printed paper and purple cardstock, I die cut label shapes, putting them through the Cuttlebug with Spellbinders. Then I glued one music label on top of each purple label, for stability and distressed them with purple ink.

 Next I made a purple rose with deep green leaves using the Flower Shoppe cartridge on my Cricut. The Cricut was set at fit to page and Fun1 flower part and for the 2 green leaves I cut at 2 1/2" at Fun 5. Next I wound the coil flower around itself, adding quick drying glue as I went helping it to stay in place and glued the ends at the bottom of each. I pulled the petals down and shaped the flower. I gave each flower more definition with ink on the petal edges and I glued the leaves to the flowers.

I placed 2 shapes on pop dots on each box and glued a flower to the top o each. A hole was drilled and ribbon tied through it. Tim Holtz feet were added at each corner. Beads and other embellishments were added.

I'm sure any mom would enjoy having this box to put treasures in! I'm going to give one of these boxes to a very special treasured friend!

Monogramed Decorative Coasters

So sorry I been busy all week taking care of the grandchildren and trying to kick a recurring sinus infection.

I am still designing decorative tile coasters and thought a monogram would be nice. I used the same supplies:
Ceramic tile, printed and solid scrapbook paper, Mod Podge and Krylon Clear Finish.

Apply Mod Podge to both the tile and the back of a 3 3/4 printed paper.
Place the paper on the tile and smooth it out to avoid bubbles.
Apply Mod Podge on the back of a 2 1/2" solid color letter (I used Cricut Classic Font) and place it on the printed paper. 

Apply Mod Podge to all about 4 times, letting it dry between applications. 

Spray the clear finish over the tile again about 4 times letting it dry between sprays.

When the tiles are completely dry, place felt adhesive pads on all 4 corners on the back of the decorative coaster.

These make great open house gifts and well as small wedding presents! Such fun to work on too!

DIY Decorative Coasters

I'd like to thank the various blogs that have inspired me to try my hand at designing coasters from tiles, including www.madebyjacqueline.blogspot.com and
http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/6125-curbly-video-using-paper-napkins-to-make-decorative-tile-coasters

So far I have used printed paper for one technique and paper napkins for another. Each is made using a 4"x4" ceramic tile. For the first set, I cut a 3 3/4" square using my Cricut. I used the Cricut Classic Font set on the Italic square on page 72 of the manual. The clock paper is from 7 Gypsies, the Paddington collection.

Step 1: Paint mod podge across the tile and across the back of the printed paper.

Step 2: Place paper on the title.

Step 3: Paint at least 3 or 4 layers of  mod podge across the tile, letting each layer dry at a time.

Step 4: Spray acrylic clear finish over the top of the coaster at least 3 times, letting it dry between spays.

Step 5: Place felt adhesive pads on all 4 corners on the back of the decorative coaster.

Since there is a wonderful video and tutorial using paper napkins on ceramic tile, there is no need to repeat it here, go to:
http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/6125-curbly-video-using-paper-napkins-to-make-decorative-tile-coasters

The Circus Pop-Ups with Graphic 45 and Cricut

Well it's no secret Graphic 45 is my favorite paper company and I doubt that you didn't know that cigar boxes and pop-up cards are running in second place, as far as favs go! In these projects I get to use all three plus my wonderful Cricut Expression!

The Graphic 45 Le Cirque paper spoke to me and said circus cigar boxes. So after a lovely black cigar box was finished, I noticed I had 2 more boxes that were narrow and wouldn't it be so neat to open a box and see a circus act inside? Well of course it would and I figured I was up to the challenge.

First using Beacon 3 in 1 glue I papered strategic areas of the boxes with those wonderful illustration and patterns. I used Tim Holtz feet on one box and I used his curio knob on another. Next I looked through my Cricut cartridges and decided on the images. The first with clowns and a tent are from Paper Doll Dress Up page 58 and the second pop-up is from Everyday Pop-Up cards pages 24 and 66. No, I didn't use the cartridge pop-up cuts. The op ups were done with the same cube technique, I had used in the past. It was a bit tricky, taking time to make them work and fit in to the box, but when they worked it was fun to see the surprise on peoples faces!

I entered this post into several linkys this week!
My entry into A Crafty Soiree sponsored by Appliances Online and the Bosch Washing Machines.

More Altered Cigar Boxes

Congratulations to the 30 artists who made the cut into the second round of the Graphic 45 design team call. Graphic 45 paper is just so inspirational, just check out my latest boxes! These two boxes were created and inspired by the "Steampunk Debutante Collection."

Beacon 3-in-1 craft glue was used to adhere paper and embellishments to each box. I used Tim Holtz feet on both, his sprocket gears on one and a curio knob of his on one also. The amber knob was in a bin at Michaels and my husband cut the shank to fit the box. The clock 3D sticker is from Jolee's boutique.

I sure hope you come back to see what I'm working on now...inspired by another Graphic 45 paper collection.