My Latest Obsession - Christmas Ornaments

On a whim, I recently purchased a box clear glass Christmas ornaments.  I've always seen these but never made the time to try my hand at decorating them.  On a Saturday afternoon, while waiting out a summer thunderstorm, I saw a display of them and decided to purchase a box and give them a try.

I viewed several You Tube videos on where to start and after gathering my needed supplies, I found I was hooked!  I LOVED making these!

I started using the glitter method.  I read of a few different types of medium to put inside the ornament like floor wax or even Min wax, but I chose liquid hair spray.  You know, the type that comes in pump spray bottles, not aerosol cans.  I swished the hair spray inside the glass ornament, poured out the excess.  I let it set upside down for a minute or so, then I placed a funnel in the opening and poured in fine white glitter.  I shook it around and it covered the inside.  It gave a thin layer, but I liked the way it looked.  I then cut out images using my Cricut Explore and Oracal vinyl.  These are the first few I did and I am very pleased with the results.  I've made several more, but will show them in future posts.

The ornaments shown I put an image on both sides of the ornament.

This gold ornament I used gold glitter, using white Elmer's glue, slightly diluted but I didn't care for the results as much.  But the gold glitter really looks pretty.

These ornaments are 4" in diameter and are not completely round.  They have a flatter surface on front and back and that makes it much easier to place vinyl images on it, without puckering of the vinyl.

Hope you liked my ornaments so far.  I have many more to show, but will save them for future posts.  If you have any questions regarding these, please contact me, I'd be happy to answer them.  I will be listing these in my Etsy shop also.

Enjoy the warm weather, the cold isn't too far behind!

Koala-t hugs,

Cathy

Starting to Think About Christmas

I know Christmas is more than 4 months away, but later in the year, I am busy with sewing costumes.  I wanted to make a few Christmas items before I am knee deep in fabrics and thread.

I am absolutely hooked on making box cards.  I like them because not only are they a unique way to send greetings for any reason, but they can be a little decoration for the receiver.

I created this box card all Cricut images.  The box itself I cut by hand.  Its got a lower and wider base to it and is perfect to add little scenes.

The plan is to make a few more and post on Etsy.  Wish me luck!

Have a great day!

Cathy

Dimensions for Larger Pop up Box Card

I have had several requests for the dimensions of the pop box card base that I've been using.  I've never done a video, but here is a quick tutorial for making this size box.

When folded flat, the box measures 6 1/2" wide, and 4 3/4" high.  The box is cut in two parts.  I created a file in Design Space for the Explore for the basic shapes (You can also cut them by hand)

Top shape is 9 1/2" wide and 3" tall.  The two shapes on the left are the inserts for inside the box to hold all the elements.  They are 5 1/2" x 1 1/2".

 After they are cut, I score the two strips at 1/2" in on each side, so at the 1/2" mark and the 5" mark.  The second piece is scored vertically at 1/2", 2 1/2", 7" and 9" Turn the piece lengthwise, and score at the 1 1/4" line all the way down.   The back panel has no score lines.

 On the bottom piece in the above photo, I cut the fold line to the middle score line, and then on an angle towards the main piece.  Did this on both sides of the piece.  The part that is left is for attaching to the back of the box.  I also snipped the vertical fold lines at the top, these are the box parts that fold out.

 Fold on score lines, and this is what it will look like.

 Add score tape (or your adhesive of choice.  Score tape is very strong...you don't want the box to fall apart.  Attach to back panel.

Here is your assembled box.  Add your decorative paper and box is done.  Add elements and that's it!  I've made other boxes that measure 5" high by 6" wide when folded flat.  I make these in 2 pieces, both measuring 5 x 6 1/2. The 1/2 " is the flap, when trimmed as above, attaches to form the box.

Hope this is information is clear and helpful.  If you have any questions, just post in comments and I will try to answer.

Have a great day!

Cathy

Halloween Is not that Far Away!

Since finding the pop up box card, I am in LOVE!  They are a unique way to send greetings to friends and family for birthday, get well, or any holiday!  I want to sell my creations so I've been busy creating different types of box cards to post on Etsy.

My first holiday themed box cards are for Halloween.  I love Halloween, probably because its also my birthday!  Great reason to have a party!  Here are three Halloween box cards I've made so far.

All three were made with Cricut Images from various cartridges all cut using the Explore. The box measures 5 x 6 when folded flat.  I will do a tutorial for the box size in the near future, as I've had several requests for the measurements.

Halloween is only 3 months away, so I hope to be making more of these fun cards in the near future!

Have a great day!

Cathy

Cricut Explore

I received my new Cricut Explore at the end of February and I have been loving this new cutter!  I've always been a fan of the Cricut, and have tried other cutters, but the Explore is far and away the best cutter I've worked with.  I have cut images large and small and all cuts are clean and crisp.  I love how quiet it is (I'm a night owl and tend to worry about excess noise late at night from my cutter).  I have been cutting Cricut images and SVGs.  Basically, the sky is the limit as to what I can create with the Explore.

Its been a long time since I've posted, so I thought I'd start up my blog again and share some of the projects I've made using the Cricut Explore.

I've created many projects since getting my Explore, but I have to say my favorite so far has been the pop up box cards.  I have made quite a few of these so far and they have been well received.  

My daughter asked to make cards for my granddaughter's dance teachers.  She gave me some information about the teachters and these are the cards I created.

This teacher enjoys all things 60's, and Cricut has many fun shapes.  I used the Groovy Times cartridge and the girl was from Teen Scene cartridge.

This one was made for the Jazz teacher.

This cards was made for the tap teacher.  

We also included a drink cup with their names in vinyl on them.

For one of the students that was graduating,  I made a vinyl shape of Mary Poppins, who she played in one of the dances.  I used Cricut Iron on Glitter and found an image of Mary Poppins and made an svg.

I made a  pop up box card for her too.

That's all for now.  On to making more projects to share!

Cathy

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