Getting Into the Holiday Mood

Hi All!

Well, the craft fair is over and it went well. Saturday brought many holiday shoppers and it was nice to see the people crowding the aisles, searching for hand made gifts and decorations. Sunday was not quite as busy, but still a good crowd. It was nice to have my cases lighter in weight when I returned home. Katie and I spent the two days talking about our plan for 2011 and which shows we would like to do.

Now that the craft fair is history, I am in the Holiday spirt and even completed some gift shopping. I am shifting gears and for the next couple of weeks, I'll be sewing princess dresses for my 2 granddaughters. I will take breaks for papercrafting and posting here, but most of my time will be spent sewing.

So, before I move on to the sewing, I'd like to show some of the wall decor I created for the craft fair. The ones I made for Halloween and Thanksgiving went well, so I created more for the Christmas season.

This was the first one I created. I was inspired by the project in the Joy of the Season cartridge. I did mine a bit differently and used the two different versions of the wreath. Printed holiday paper is from Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby's brand) I used chipboard in the two layers of the background...plain circle and scalloped circle. Glitter paper is Core'dinations and JOY was cut using Opposites Attract Cricut cartridge. Ribbon was attached between the layers

I used Celebrate with Flourish Lite Cricut Cartridge for the wreath and the scalloped circle in the background with the eyelet border was cut from Lacy Labels, another Cricut Lite (I used this cartridge quite often with the background shapes for these wall decorations. Background paper is from 2009 DCWV Christmas stack, glitter paper is Core'dinations, greeting is from Winter Frolic and I used Stickles to outline the bow.

This is one of my favorites. I cut the shapes and the snowflake border on the top layer from Lacy Labels. When I saw this snowflake shape, I wanted to use it and I was thrilled to find a use for it finally! The church was cut using the Christmas Solutions Cricut cartridge. Blue paper with snowflakes is from Bazzill's glazed paper holiday like. Bottom layer (Gold with dots) is from DCWV Christmas stack. I used gold cord for the hangar.

Another wall decor using Lacy Labels for the two background layers and for the Santa and his sleigh against the moon was cut using Cricut Solutions cartridge. Glitter Paper from Core'dinations (this stuff is great! Glitter stays on the paper instead of getting everywhere when cut) Background paper is from K & Co 2009 Christmas stack. Greeting was cut using Winter Frolic.

For this one, I cut a basic oval using George Basic Shapes, used Gypsy Wanderings for the scalloped oval. For the animals, star and Baby Jesus, I used Winter Frolic. Background paper is DCWV Christmas stack (I believe it was from a few years ago!) Animals Baby and manger were cut from white paper and colored in with Copic Markers. Greeting cut also using Winter Frolic.

A similar one, but on a square shape background, with Baby and star only. Square shapes cut using Lacy Labels.

Another wreath wall decor. Used Joys of the Season for the wreaths, background shape from Lacy Labels, printed paper from Paper Studio Holiday stack and Joy cut using Opposites Attract.

A few years ago, I saw a rubber stamp that had the word JOY spelled out with shapes and that inspired me to create this panel. Stocking and candy canes from Christmas Cheer, wreath from Joys of the Season, background shapes from Lacy Labels. Shapes were cut using the Imagine, enhanced with Stickles. Background paper from Paper Studio Christmas Stack.

I think this was my favorite of all of them! The Window shape and tree were cut using Christmas Solutions cartridge, fire place cut using Christmas Cheer and piano was from A Child's Year cartridge. Background shapes cut from Lacy Labels.

This last one was created using Christmas Cheer for the Gingerbread house, the Gingerbread man was cut from My Community. Paper is from Bazzill (darker blue with glazed snowflakes) Light blue with snowflakes is from DCWV Holiday Stack. I used Stickles for some of the candies at the front of the house and a little bling for the "wind" swirls. Greeting cut using Winter Frolic.

Hope you enjoyed today's features! I enjoyed creating these panels and they were a big hit at the craft fair.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Koala- t hugs,

Cathy

Projects Created with my Imagine

Hi All!

Wow, two posts from me in one day!

I was so excited that I created these using my Imagine. I had hit a few snags when using the freezer paper method (see previous post), the paper didn't stick down in places and the paint seeped through. Fortunately I was able to fix the boo boos. I decided to try something else and was thrilled with the results.

I purchased a package of the Avery Ink Jet Iron On transfer paper. This was for white or light colored fabrics. With this version, I had to reverse my image before printing. I used the blue print from the Imagine cartridge Yummy. The words "Tiny Dancer" are from the Cricut Cartridge Once Upon a Princess. The dancer girl is from Shall We Dance , but still had to use the freezer paper method (the Mac version of the Cricut Sync software is not available yet, so I was not able to use Shall We Dance in my Imagine yet....fingers crossed it will be out next week!).

This next bag was made using two different types of the iron on transfer paper. For the first layer which is the crown and word "princess" shape from the Once Upon a Princess cartridge. I used the Avery ink jet iron on transfer paper. I had to reverse the image with this also. I ironed it and it transferred well. For the second color for the crown, I used a transfer paper that is for dark fabrics. This was made by Wilton (yep, the Cake decorating folks!) and I LOVE this stuff! I didn't have to reverse the image, printed and cut it in the imagine and all I had to do was peel off the paper backing and place it on the fabric and iron on! I had to line it up so it covered the purple of the first layer, but if you look carefully, it does have a nice purple outline around the pink crown. I was very happy with the way this turned out! This is one of the bags I sewed myself.

These next two bags I used the Imagine and the Wilton transfer paper for dark fabrics. Made it SOOO EASY! I sewed these bags too.

These words were cut using the Hanna Montana cartridge. The print used on the word ROCK is from the Yummy Imagine cartridge.

The corners from this were cut using the Yummy Imagine cartridge and the word Imagine is from Home Accents and color print is from Yummy Imagine Cartridge. For some reason, it photographed more yellow, but it has more green and pink and some blue in the print too.

Thanks for stopping by! Wish me luck for the craft fair....AND that I survive the weekend (its a lot of work sitting around waiting for sales!)

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Latest Projects

Katie and I have our 2 day craft fair coming up and I've been busy! Here's a quick post to show the totes I've made for the craft fair.

These were made using the freezer paper method and craft paint. The white and pink bag I purchased from Hobby Lobby, but the blue denim ones I actually made myself. I knew there was a reason I kept that denim in my ever dwindling stash of fabric! I used my Cricut Expression and the cartridge Wall Decor and More for the dancers on the first bag and the single dancer on the last one is also from Wall Decor and More cartridge.

For the second and third bags, I used Shall we Dance cartridge. I just received this cartridge about a week ago. This is a Cricut Circle exclusive cartridge and ever since seeing the graphics, I knew I wanted to make something using the ballet shoes and dancers on this cartridge.

I have a few more bags to show, but will create another post as I used another method to create the graphics!

Thanks for stopping by. I'm looking forward to getting this show over with. Once it is done, I will be able to post all the other projects I've created!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Latest Circle Cartridge - Shall We Dance

Hi all! Its been so hectic lately, I have sorely neglected my blog! Halloween costumes to sew, birthday celebrations and preparing for the upcoming craft fair has all kept me very busy.

I thought I'd do a quick post today, showing a new project made with the latest Circle Exclusive cartridge - Shall We Dance. With 2 granddaughters in dance, this cartridge will be used quite often!

I had this idea before ever receiving the cartridge and hope to make a few of them for the upcoming craft fair (Harper College - November 13 and 14 for anyone in the Chicago area)

I used the freezer paper method to create templates to paint the ballet shoes on this tote bag. It was a bit tricky because I used 2 colors, but it turned out pretty well.

I cut the base image at 9" and also cut out the layer to paint the dark pink. Great for that little girl starting out in Dance.

Well, its back to work! Have a great day everyone. It always seems to amaze me how quickly the year passes, especially this time of year. Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is 3 weeks away!

Have a great day everyone! Thanks for stopping by!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy