Love that MOUSE!

Its been a busy summer and I can hardly believe that its September.  The plan is to post projects that I've created over the summer.

The first in this series is a tote bag.  Well, it was several tote bags.  I got the idea when I was trying to figure out what to give my daughter for her birthday in June.  I knew that she and her family were traveling to Disneyworld in October and I had seen a version of this tote on my favorite Embroidery design site (Embroiderylibrary.com).  I decided to make a few different versions of the tote and have Katie choose the one she liked the most.

The first one I made was made with two different colors.  Now, I am the first to admit that I am NOT a quilter, and the style of this tote has some quilting type of assembly.  I embroidered the classic characters from Disney and for one of the squares, I used a verse  for a different look.

The other side of the bag features more classic Disney characters (all of these characters, except for Pinoccio are built into my embroidery machine.  Inside the bag I put a zippered pocket, two slide in pockets and a small change purse attached with a cord.

 The second one I made, I used more images from my sewing machine. One one side I used some of the older versions of Mickey and Minnie, plus two designs that could be used for quilting.  This bag was made with blue denim fabric.

On the opposite side, I used the more modern versions of Mickey and Minnie.

Another version of this bag, I stitched a grouping of Disney characters.

And on the opposite side, I stitched individual characters.  I made this bag from denim also.  Can you tell I really like denim?  Its a very sturdy fabric and holds up well with embroidery.

I made one more bag, and changed it up a bit.  I made it with a brown twill and used all Winnie the Pooh characters.

WHen Katie's birthday arrived, I showed her the first two and she liked the blue and black one.  Then, my mom saw it and said she would like one, so she got the second one.  The Winnie the Pooh one I am sending as a baby gift and I still have one left.  I'm thinking I should keep it for myself!

I enjoy embroidery and its fun to make these items using the embroidery designs that came with the machine.  My dream is to one day own one of the big, 10 needle embroidery machines.  That would be awesome!

Have a great day!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Dance Mini Album

Hi Folks!  Hope you are having an enjoyable weekend.  I finally got some pics of my latest creation and wanted to share.

I've had this book in various stages on my desk for possibly 3 months.  I was either interrupted with sewing projects or I just didn't know how to finish it.  But I made the decision it had to be completed and here is the finished product.

I cut the pages using my Cricut and Gypsy.  I created the scalloped page (approximately 8 x 11 in size) using a scalloped edge and rectangle welded together.  Then I used cardstock and DCWV adhesive backed fabric paper for the pages.  Now, I thought the fabric paper would be easy to use.  Not so much.  In the future when I use this paper, I will use even edges so I can wrap the fabric/paper around the edges so I don't have to worry about little fuzzy edges.  I had to trim little threads around the edges of these pages to make them look clean.

 For the cover, I used the Twinkle Toes Cartridge for the stage setting.   I"m not completely pleased with the cover design.  It needs something.  I plan to make another, using a flocked paper for the drapes.   The dancers were cut in silhouette using Shall We Dance cartridge.  If you see a slight glare on the first photo, its not your eyes. I used a sheet of clear acrylic to cover the cuts on the front of this book.  This way it will protect the images and shapes after continued handling of the book.

I used the spotlight and phrase also from the Twinkle Toes cartridge.  Paper by Bazzill Bling and Coordinations.

I like to add lots of space for the owner of the book to add lots of photos.  This one, the pocket can hold a 5 x 7 and the tags inside each old a 4 x 6 and 3 wallet sized photos.

I like adding photo corners and ribbons to the photo mats.  That way, the person that gets the book can pop in photos right away.  The corners are from Paper Trimming cartirdge

This scroll border punch is latest favorite tool!  Its by EK Success and very difficult to find!

Used Martha Stewart border punch for this page.  

This will also be going into my Etsy Shop - Cat n Kat Kreations. My granddaughters like the book so much I will be making one for each of them.  WIth all the dances they performed this past season, the photos will certainly fill up a book this size!

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and see you soon!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Fun With Chalk

Hi all!  When I first found the Chalkboard paper from DCWV at Michaels, I was intrigued.  I was always interested in markers and inks that show up on dark paper. I bought the DCWV chalkboard cardstock but once I had it, I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to use it.  I had come across various forms of "chalk" and I started to research them.  I purchased regular chalkboard chalk, Chalkmarkers and even a package of Crayola's Dry eraseboard crayons for dark surfaces.

I let my granddaughters try the regular chalk, but that proved to wipe off almost immediately.  Kayla made a birthday card for my son and worried the images would be gone before she got the chance to give it to him.  I didn't have any fixative sprays (my Mom, the artist, uses this often on her art work), so I sprayed it with hair spray.  That seemed to keep the artwork on the chalk board paper without smearing.  I knew that I did not want to do this every time I wanted to use chalks, I had to spray it with hairspray!

My next experiment was using the dry erase crayons from Crayola.  I liked these immediately, as the colors were bright and strong.  They went on smoothly onto the paper.  I am not much of a free hand artist, so I found a design in my Cricut handbooks (Storybook) and cut it at the largest size that would fit a 12 x 12 sheet.  I set the blade at 3, so that it would only score the top of the paper, not cutting all the way through.  More like etching the paper.  Its pretty cool because this paper does have a white core.   Then I took the crayons and drew along the etched lines.    Now, these crayons do rub off, not as easily as the regular chalk, but will come off with more vigorous rubbing.  After outlining the cut lines, I took a soft cloth and used it as a blender, softening the color and rubbing it into the paper.    Once blended into the paper, it didn't seem like it would rub off.  This has been in a bin for awhile with other papers and it did not rub off onto the other papers.  I was very happy with the results.

Here is another example of using the Crayons on the chalkboard paper. This was a more floral design I cut with the Cricut.   I didn't color the center of the design, as I will most likely cover it with photos.

This next one, I etched another design onto the brighter colored chalk board paper.  I did use a little white chalk, just to rub into the etching so the design stands out more.  The first photo is a close up, and the second one is of the full sheet.  Nice for a subtle design in the background.

This is a layout I did with the Chalkboard paper.  I did a design in the corners of the paper.  I used a silver gel pen.  It looks great on the black chalkboard paper.

This last one I cut out a design using the Cricut, and used the silver pen to draw a line following the shape of the design (its not an outline, so would it be called an "inline"???)

I really like this paper and hope to use more of it in cards and layouts.

Thanks for stopping by!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Dance Themed Mini Book

Two of my granddaughters are very active in dance.  Both started before age 3 so I've already accumulated quite a few photos.  I've been working on books different style books that I display their photos.  I like the colors in this one (a bit busy, but colorful).  I told the girls they can choose the style they want and we can work on the books together.  

This one is in my Etsy shop (CatnKatKreations)

I used my Cricut Expression to cut chipboard, using Elegant Edges and the Book Special feature to cut the pages.  The paper is from the Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby's own line) stack called  So So Sweet.

I used Xyron 900 to adhere the cardstock to the chipboard.  Many of the shapes I used are from the Shall We Dance cartridge.

I used the Bind It All to bind the book and added lots of bling.

The book holds 12 - 4 x 6 photos, 2 wallet size and 2 5 x 7 photos.

I like to add pockets with tags to add more photos

Folders are another way to add more space for photos.  

Thanks for stopping by....have a great weekend.

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Wizard of Oz Mini Book

Happy Monday everyone!  Hoping you are enjoying the cooler temperatures!  I was nearly in shock when I opened my window Saturday afternoon to find the temperature had finally dropped.  It was actually cooler outside than it was in my apartment!!  Today is a bit warmer, but  enjoyable.

Today's feature is a mini book with Wizard of Oz themed paper by Graphic 45.  It was really a kit my daughter purchased from Archivers.

My granddaughters are very involved with dance.  One of the big production numbers this year was Wizard of Oz.  Both the girls were in this production.  Kerri played a scarecrow and Kerri (the 4 yr old) played Toto.  Both were adorable, but Kerri was a star as she stole the show with her cartwheel entrance and shaking her little Toto tail.

My daughter saw the kit and thought it would be a great gift for the girls' dance teacher.  Since Katie is quite busy with the girls, dance lessons, summer school, etc, I offered to make the book and all she had to do is add the photos!

Here are the pages of the book.  It measures 6 x 6 and has lots of fold out pages and pockets.

I really enjoyed making this book.  The paper is GORGEOUS!!!  I purchased the stack of the paper and hope to make one or two more....possibly one for my granddaughters with photos from their dance.

Oh, and I hope you don't mind, here's a photo of the Stars!....Kayla and Kerri!

Enjoy your Monday!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Celebrating the Twins' 2nd Birthday

In January 2011, when my son and his family moved to Japan, I never in my wildest dreams, think we would be celebrating the twins' second birthday here in the US! They arrived February 15 and their birthday is February 18. We actually had 2 celebrations for them! The first celebration was with my son and his family and my daughter and her family. The second celebration was with the rest of the family!

It was fun to make a scrapbook of the two celebrations.

I made the book 8 x 8 in size - easy for the little ones to handle if they want to look at the photos.

The paper is a stack by Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby's brand) called Birthday Extravaganza. I liked it because its colors are neither boy or girl specific.

I used my Cricut to cut titles and embellishments and tags. Phrases is a great cartridge for titles!

Juli seemed to enjoy the cake, if the frosting on her face is any indication!

Party #2. I made a couple pages with pockets and tags in them. Since the twins will be bilingual, I told my son that he and his wife could write messages to the twins on the tags - in English and in Japanese for them to read when they are older.
The happy family....so glad they are back!!!




It seems like forever that I was not making scrapbooks, and this year, I've done quite a bit and I can't wait to share my creations with you! Hope you enjoyed today's feature and you stop by again soon!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy