Cheryl's Cute Bugs Kit

Ok, I have a confession to make - I am obsessed with SVGs.  Every new set I just have to buy and this one is no exception - Cheryl's Cute Bugs kit!  Have you ever seen anything so cute in your life?!?  So please bare with me on some of these posts.  I just want to make sure everyone knows where to get the cutest and well put together SVGs for their paper crafting.  Please excuse the enabling,  I am just returning the favor to some of you.  You know who you are!

Week after week, Mary continues to outdo herself with each new set.  I also always enjoy the time and effort Leo and Mary put in their promo videos, tutorials and example projects.  Always very nicely done.



This SVG kit includes three butterflies, a ladybug, a bee, a snail, a worm, a caterpillar, a grasshopper, a mushroom, an ant, a sunflower, two leafy vines and a pretty scalloped square plus five cards with envelopes and an adorable doorhanger.

These cute bugs are perfect for summer cards and decorations. You'll also be all set for boys and girls' birthdays and kids' bedroom decor! Since your download includes all the card bases, you can use them for other creative paper projects too!  As always, the new set is free with purchase for the first week.  Here's how to get the free gift:

• Visit www.svg cuts.com and make a purchase of $9.98 or more between now and Tuesday, July 5th 2011.
• Add Cheryl’s Cute Bugs SVG Kit to your cart.
• During Step 2 of Checkout, type FREEGIFT into the Discount Coupon section. Doing so will subtract the value of the SVG Collection from your total. 
• All of your files, including the free gift, will be available for immediate download after you complete your purchase!

While you are there pick up the freebie Alice's Cuddly Friends Collection.  It features Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat.  Yep, you read that right, FREE!  Hope this helps and happy crafting!

Dynamite Savings at Lettering Delights

There has never been a better time to hit your wishlist at Lettering Delights and grab those sets you have put off buying.  Because once these sets are gone, they are gone forever.  Check out some of the links belong for even better savings on bundles from their popular artists.  And if that wasn't enough, they handed out a coupon code for even more fabulous savings!

Going out with a BANG!!!

It’s a parade of products you won’t want to miss during Lettering Delights Clearance Sale. During the month of July, they’re retiring hundreds of products at spectacular savings. Look for alphabets, fonts, graphics sets, paper packs and clipart, all just 50 cents each!

As part of the sale, they’ve bundled together six sets of their most star-studded offerings at ridiculously low prices. Each of these Super Bundles offers between 40 and 50 products priced at $10 - $20 each. You’re sure to find something that will ignite your creativity.

• Best of Lettering Delights Super Bundle, $10
• Jillions of Jill Super Bundle, $10
• Rani Day Super Bundle, $10
• Best of Cheryl Super Bundle, $10
• Ooh So Sweet Super Bundle, $10
• 50 Nifty US States Super Bundle, $20

And while you’re busy shopping, these bonus savings will blow you away—Take an additional $25 off a purchase of $60 or more.  At checkout enter coupon code: SparkleSavings. ($25 savings does not apply towards the Simple Shapes Super Bundle).

While the $25 savings does not apply towards the new Simple Shapes Super Bundle, don’t forget this fabulous bundle includes over 780 new single-layer images in formats for many popular cutting machines. Now available in .ai (V.8), .eps (V.8), .svg, .dxf and .pdf (v1.5) file formats.  You can grab the whole bundle for just $49 through Sunday, July 10.

Red, White and Blue Challenge

Once again, Jessica over at SVG Attic posted a new challenge and of course, I had to enter.   It was using her amazing files. I have told you I love her sets, right? ;)   So, the challenge was to use the colors red, white and blue with one of her files. It didn't have to be patriotic which is good because I don't have any file sets like that yet.

I had won second place with my Tiki Hut and one of my prizes was her Just Beachy SVGs.  I really enjoyed working with this set.  It is put together beautifully and I love all the elements she put in there. So I just had to use them with the next challenge.  I tried really hard to just use the challenge colors.  I think I did a pretty good job, the only other colors were the yellow sun and the sandy colored base.

After brainstorming ideas, I opened and designed my card in Make the Cut.  I put the two chairs and umbrella where I wanted them, make a shadow layer of all three.  I then added a square about the size of the card I wanted and welded the shadows with the square.   To get the whole card base, I copied the base I had just made, pasted and mirror imaged my copy.  Moved over to just touching the other base and weld again.  It's pretty simple to make shaped cards in MTC.  Hope I didn't just confuse you all.  Just so you know, the caption did not come with the set.  It was a prize given out at the last challenge to all the entrants.

This time around I thought I would also try something different with the pictures.  I really hate my homemade photo box.  It makes the pictures come out too cold.  We have a beautiful back deck with lots and lots of foliage (that's my new word for weeds) and a Koi pond.  Why not make it look rather beachy and sunny?!?  We get a lot of evening sun in back so it worked perfect for these pictures.  Hopefully, I can keep up the ideas now with the backdrops for my project photos too.  Who knew having a blog was so much trouble. ^__^

If you are so inclined, please join the challenge.  You might win some of Jessica's awesome creations and even if you don't there is still a free gift to all who participate.  It's a win-win!  Head over to the new forum and check out what has already be entered.  Have a blessed day and happy crafting!

Paper Dolls Challenge Week 5 - Stamps!

Yep, it is that time again for the Paper Dolls weekly challenge. This week you would think would be pretty easy. Well, not for me. I don't really have any stamps except what I made with my Teresa Collins Stampmaker. Those are mostly sentiment stamps anyway. I just can't see paying for cute animal stamps or the like when I can use a pen in my Gazelle, Silhouette or print out a digistamp. So, this was one incredibly hard challenge for me.

When I saw this stamp a few months ago at Michaels, I thought it was really cute but again I don't really use stamps.  Especially large ones like this but I thought to myself, "it's only a dollar, you might use it someday."  Well, I guess today is the day!

 

Speaking of things you buy and don't use, I found this mini stack from DCWV, Mango Frost in the clearance rack that I used.  Been looking for the perfect project to bring it out. I love the colors with just a hint of glitter.  The base is WorldWin's Doublemates in Peaches n' Cream.  I never knew I was partial to orange till my husband painted his mancave that color.  Trust me, if you knew my husband, orange would be the last color you would think he would paint something.  Most would guess University of Kentucky blue and white. ^__^  

The sun comes to us from the wonderful Jessica over at SVG Attic.  It is her Just Beachy set.  Can you tell how much I love her files?  I am in the process of a project for the monthly challenge over at her forum.  If you would like to enter or see the entries, go here.  Hope you all can be a part of it.  Thanks for looking and happy crafting!

My First Step Card

Darling Alyssa over at My Thoughts Exactly was having a little giveaway recently. The prize was a gift card to Lettering Delights for the best step card. You see, Ol' Alyssa-girl has been making these cards like crazy and what a fab job she is doing too.  So I thought I would try my hand at one.  I have always wanted to try and what better motivation than a gift card to one of my favorite places.

Head over to her blog, she gives simple instructions on how to create such a unique card.  It looks difficult but it really is simple and the end result is awesome.

I decided to use my K & Company Best of paper that looked like waves and some solid colors by Recollections.  I really liked Thienly's beach scene step card and heard Alyssa say she was going to use the Lettering Delights Something Fishy set so I went with another water theme, Seven Seas.  It is such a cute little set, I love the whale and submarine.  FYI, both of these Lettering Delights SVG sets are half off.   If you were thinking about picking them up, do so before this Thursday.

The actually color of the card is more mellow in person. I don't know what my camera did to the yellow but it's not really that bright or greeny.  I also forgot to get a shot of the banner attached to the sub, it says LOVE, in case you wanted to know.  ^__^  Thanks for looking and have a great day! 

Sunday, my day of rest

First and foremost, I wanted to say thank you to all the new followers here and on Facebook. You have no idea how much it means to me that you guys care enough to actually follow me anywhere!  I mean, I don't sell anything and my crafting ability is pretty mediocre.  But, here you all are reading and commenting on what is really my just thinking out loud.

My Great Dane Hilde wishing you a Merry Christmas!

I also wanted to let you know that Sunday is my day of rest and I probably won't, if ever, be posting that day.  I am writing this Saturday night to be scheduled tomorrow.  I thought about doing that with projects or other happenings but I would rather not worry about it.  You all can wait till Monday.  I mean I really don't have that much to say anyway.  ^__^

Hilde as a beautiful flower.  Yes, we really do torture our dogs.

Well, I have to go, need sleep to get up early for church tomorrow.  My husband is filling in and teaching the teen class (our sons are just ecstatic about that, not).  My boys teacher/Associate Pastor and his wife just had their baby today!  We are so happy about that, it is their first.  They brought into the world a beautiful baby girl at 7 lbs, 9 oz.  I can't wait to go see them tomorrow and hold her!  Pray for them as they start one of the most wonderful and fulfilling roles of their life - being a parent.

So again, thank you for coming on this journey (or should I say rabbit hole) with me.  As always, I welcome all comments and suggestions and even a little love.  Have a blessed day!

Paper Dolls Challenge Week 4 - Wearin' my flippy - floppy's!

Well folks, it's that time again. The weekly challenge over at the Paper Dolls. OK, maybe not "that time again" as it is over tomorrow and a new one starts Monday.  Well, What can I tell you, I'm a slacker!

 This week we were asked to decorate a flip-flop.  The file we are using was generously donated by Eleanor of SVG Shop fame!  This has to be one of the cutest files I have ever seen.  I think I am going to have a Luau themed party and make a bunch of these for take-home gifts.  Sometimes though, I just wish God had given me a girl. *sigh*  She would have the most tricked out room on the planet.  I have three nieces but they don't live close enough for me to spoil them with my paper goodies. *sigh again*

It's kind of funny that I made a flip-flop, I loathe the things.  I have to be the only person in the world who doesn't wear them.  I have tried for years to get into the whole cute little flippy thing.  Maybe it was my grandmother who ruined me for them.  She used to work in a shoe store during WWII and had kind of a shoe fetish.  I was made to wear shoes that always had some kind of a heel. So, I cannot stand to feel like I am barefoot or have that crazy thong between my toes.  Yuck!

I have to admit though, when I go to the store, I get weak when all I find are the cutest little flip-flops.  I love the way they look, they just hurt.  What does all this have to do with my entry for the challenge?  Absolutely nothing!  Haha!  Well, if I found a pair like the ones that were already submitted to this challenge, I would try my darnest to wear them.  Maybe that is where I was going with that.  Sheesh, me and my rabbit holes.

Onto the flippy!  Along with Eleanor's file and Make the Cut, I used DCWV's Lemon Flower stack, Lettering Delights Cloud Nine for the Felicity tag and the free Pinwheel file from SVG Cuts.  I resized the Pinwheel to 3" wide and didn't put it together per the instructions.  I kind of fudged on that because it didn't have to function for my needs, just needed to an embellishment.  Having two-sided paper would have been nice but I wanted to use the same stack.

I used the Bezier warp function in Make the Cut for the Felicity tag instead of cutting out the cloud and name separately.  Then I just placed a piece of black card stock behind to make the name stand out.  I wanted to make it look like a designer shoe with the tag.  I guess my new "brand" is Felicity.  Which, by the way, means bliss, happiness. See the connection?  I just might have to use that as a shortcut name.  Do you know what a pain it is to type "happy card encouragement factory" everywhere?  I told Nathan maybe I should have sat on his name a while. o_O  Oops, rabbit hole....watch out...OK, back now, phew.

While trying to fix the seams I had messed up, I thought a little bead of Viva Decor Paper Pen in Opal would hide it.  As always when I try to "fix" something, I make it worse. I dotted it around to look like a string of pearls.  Looks a little better but next time I won't fiddle with it.

All in all, I think it came out very nice, loving the Lemon Flower stack.  Great colors!  Don't forget to get over to Paper Dolls and grab your freebie flip-flop file. So, what do you think of my flippy, the file, the colors, my shortcut name, anything?  Hit me up in the comments, I would love to hear what you think or have to say!

Lettering Delight Mega Bundle!

Here is the info on this mega bundle straight from the designer's mouth:

Our brand new Cut Its are finally done! What is a Cut It, you ask??? Cut It's are files designed and intended for use with software for personal die-cut machines. And they great thing about them is that they come 6 different formats: .AI (v.8), .DXF, .EPS (v.8), .GSD, .PDF (v.1.5), .SVG. Right now you can get our brand new Cut Its Simple Shapes super bundle for just $49! With 50 groups with each set including at least 15 images, that is over 780 images. So for 6 cents and image, this is a price that can't be beat! Since we've been working hard to bring these new files to you, we're having a party... a pizza party and you're invited! And although we'd love for you to enjoy this mouth watering pizza we're having in the office, we know that its a bit impossible, so we got you the next best thing... 

This gift card holder is magnifico and its yours FREE!  

So hop on over there to get the freebies first, checkout, wait for the receipt in your email, grab your 25% off coupon and go back to pick up the bundle! 

New 3D Letters SVG Kit from SVG Cuts!

Has anyone else seen the adorable new set from Mary over at SVG Cuts? It's brilliant! 3D letters! There are soooo many uses for a set like this.  I have tons swimming in my head right now!  

Let's let Mary tell you a little about this new awesomeness:

Now you can use your cutting machine to create custom word art for your home!  Create baby names and kids’ names for childrens’ rooms or create your last name for your family room.  Spell out any word to go with any theme in your kitchen or TV room.  Create “JOY” for Christmas or “BOO” for Halloween.

Spell out a team name for your favorite sports fan or create just one embellished letter representing your last name for your living room.  Spell out “HOP” for Easter and “LOVE” for Valentine’s.  They also make fabulous gifts!  What word will you make first?

If that doesn't get your creative juices flowing to buy the set, here's a teaser video from the great team of Leo and Mary.

You have till June 28th at midnight to get this free with any purchase of $9.98 and above.  Which is a great deal considering this set is a little more expensive at $8.99.  So if you like it, get it while it's free.  A much better deal.

ModPodge Coasters

I love making home decor items.  I think more than cards sometimes. I know this is The Happy Card Encouragement Factory and I love to give people cards to be an encouragement.  But sometimes I think a cute little gift they can display in their home that is also useful is very encouraging too!  I had seen on ModPodge Rocks some time ago a lady who made some coasters using ModPodge.  I filed it away for a rainy day when I wanted to start the project.  I went and looked at the page I saved and come to find out that she was also behind the wonderful dollhouse template for the Paper Dolls' first challenge.  It was Patricia from A Little Hut!  Go check her out, she is a wonderful designer!

I thought I would add a few more pictures this time.  Sort of a step by step.  OK, I just wanted to show my beautiful "little brother" Silhouette SD in action, still action, but action none the less.  This is a nice little machine!  Cuts like butter, as you can see from the pictures.



I used a file called Artistic Box Ornate from the Silhouette Studio store.  If you have a Silhouette and haven't checked out the designer's files on there you are missing out.  They have the cutest designs, I just can't pick a few.  Silhouette America ran a Facebook special a few weeks ago for the store.  If you started a subscription it was 20% off the regular price.  The subscription is a really good deal, they put a lot of time and thought into making the store a great place with really nice designs.  I have a Boss Kut Gazelle too and the designs available from their store are no where near as nice as the ones at Silhouette America.

You Silhouette owners might want to keep an eye out on their Facebook page for deals and offers.  There is always something going on over there.  If you would like more information regarding Silhouette subscriptions, it can be found here. 


I bought my tiles from Home Depot for .16 a piece and were approximately 4.25 inch square in just plain white.  Opening the file in Silhouette Studio to the right size, I then placed my paper on the mat and started cutting.  I cut out only two at a time due to their size.  The first thing you want to do after taking the design off the mat is put a thin coat of ModPodge on just the cut out.  This helps to stop the bleeding of the paper that occurs onto the tile.

Then just place a thin layer on the tile itself, place and center your image and then another thin layer of ModPodge.  I think it works better with three thin layers as opposed to one or two thick coats.  Also doesn't take as long to dry.


After everything was coated a few times and let to dry overnight, I sprayed a clear acrylic sealer in gloss on them.  I would have prefered the sealer in matte but I had the gloss on hand.  If you choose not to seal, the ModPodge when wet will cloud up and get a little soppy.  They will dry out again and go clear but I wouldn't want to take the chance and ruin them with repeated use.


Here they are all finished and looking good all tied up with twine from the Twinery.  I can see many birthday gifts in my future.  My mother-in-law loves this kind of stuff and doesn't care what the pattern or colors are.  She just likes.

I had some after thoughts on this project - what about using green tile with the blue paper or vice-versa.  Maybe even black tile with white paper.  Maybe even a Print n Cut.  The possibilities are endless with this project.  Have any other ideas or comments?  You know where to put them.  I would like to hear what you guys or gals would do with this.  Thanks for looking!

Win a copy of Make the Cut!

Yes, you read that right. A free copy! My friend over at the Make the Forum, Deb, was so impressed with all the improvements Andy, the creator of Make the Cut, is making to the next update, she is giving away a copy.  How fantastic is she?!?!?  Go visit her blog at Krap I Kreate (I know, best name evar!!) for the details.

I can't wait till Andy releases his new update.  I watched the webinar last night, the new tracing options are to die for!  He said it will be a few days, maybe a week before he will even be releasing the beta of the update.  The man has been kind of busy.  Putting in 16 hour days, his wife is due in five weeks and they have a toddler running around.  So, we have to be patient and wait. 

Now, remember, Make the Cut no longer works with the Cricut.  It does have plug-ins for most all of the popular cutters - Silhouette SD, Gazelle, KNK, Black Cat series cutters and Pazzles.   If I forgot any, I apologize.  My mind is not what it used to be.

Ready to take the plunge? Click above!

If you want to play around with the software in the meantime, click here to get the free trial.  It works almost like the full version but when you go to cut there will be a slash through your design.  I just used scrap paper so I could get an idea of how the program worked, inside and out.

So anyway, don't delay, hustle on over to Deb's blog for a chance to win this awesome program that will take your crafting to new heights!  (OK, I know that was cheesy but this program is awesome!)

Bottle Cap Magnets

Friends, what I have up next for your viewing pleasure are a little craft the boys asked me to make. Well, it is not exactly what they wanted me to make. They asked for some bottle caps that resembled the ones that are featured in Fallout 3 that are used as currency in the game.  So I purchased some caps that I found at Michaels along with the glaze that you fill in the caps with.  These can be found near the jewelery section. 

While scrounging around in the dollar bin at JoAnn Fabric last Friday,  I found some really nice 1" round stickers by K and Company. They had several different patterns and colors.  I wasn't too sure if they were going to fit so I just bought a pack of these summery looking ones to try out.  I really enjoyed making these as this project was quick and easy because I didn't have to seal the stickers first.  I also probably could have skipped the step of filling them with the glaze as they were puffy and had a epoxy covering.  They looked OK without it but I really wanted to add more depth.

After I added the sticker I then filled with the glaze.  The caps have holes in them at the top and bottom to be made into a necklace so when filling you have to be careful not to fill them too full. I did with my first one and glaze started oozing out.  Oops :)  Mistake learned.  It takes about 3 to 4 hours to dry completely.  I have seen them made into necklaces and pins but I am going to put a magnet on the back and give them away. 

I think they came out pretty cute.  I really like the design of the stickers.  I will have to go get more caps and stickers.  I even think little puffy stickers and trinkets maybe.  Just remember if you print something out with your printer or use scrapbook paper, seal with ModPodge or other waterproof sealant before you apply the glaze.  

All is not lost for my boys, I did manage to save them two caps.  One for each boy and I will make them their own video game cap pin.  I just have to find the right graphics from the game. So, what do you all think?  Do you like them?  What other ideas do you have to stuff and glaze the cap or how else would you use them?  Let me know in the comments.  All are most appreciated!

Quick and Easy Party Idea

While cruising around the 'net today looking for ideas to help my friend out with her son's first birthday party. I happened upon the most adorable idea: Mini Pinatas!

Are these not the cutest?!?  OK, I know I ask that with everything but I don't know how else to describe cuteness other that with cuteness.  I found this idea over at One Charming Party.  These mini Pinatas whip up in minutes with no Paper-Mache needed!  Use them as Pinatas or in my case where the kids are probably too young, as party favors filled to the brim with age appropriate candy. For the full instructions, just click the link above.

Does anyone else see the adorable mustache in there?  Now I definitely have to make these! Technically, they were an idea for Cinco de Mayo but I think with us crafters, we could adapt it to any holiday or party.  My friend wants animals, so just change to the party colors and add a animal instead of the flower.  What do you guys think?  Any other ideas on these for a birthday party?  Let me know in the comments!

Manic Monday - Affair to Remember Collection

Lettering Delights Manic Monday set this week is the An Affair to Remember Collection.

For one day only get this entire 6 product collection of 4 graphic sets, 1 alphabet and 1 paper pack for just $5, and their matching doodlebats for just .75 cents! It doesn't get lower than this! Use this beautiful collection to scrapbook those precious memories, make invitations, tags and many more.  I actually used my Teresa Collins Stampmaker to create a few stamps from DB Love Affair that I use for my anniversary and wedding cards.  But you better hurry, offer ends tomorrow at midnight!