Crafts With My Cricut Explore One and Other Crafty Things!

I got a Cricut Explore One for Christmas, I wish I could say I have used it a ton… I have not.  I have done a few things though!

Valentine’s Day shirts:

A birthday card for my brother serving a mission in Idaho

C made a cake for the Blue and Gold Banquet (though we weren’t able to attend b/c everyone was sick).  The theme was Robots and he made an R2D2 cake! (with help from my hubby)

I also made a St. Patrick’s Day Wreath for only $3 from Dollar Store Items!

Here are some other wreaths I’ve made on the cheap:

Wreaths on a Dime!
Quick and Easy Christmas Wreath for under $5!
Spring/Easter Wreath

Scrapbooking is something else I like to do!   I have two scrapbook retreats coming up this spring, and I just placed an order with Close To My Heart!  Here are some pages I completed last retreat!

I love scrapbooking and I wish I had more time to do it!

I run a hostess club with Close to My Heart, if you would be interested in participating, let me know.  It consists of 6 people, each purchase $25 a month for 6 months and ONE month you get to be hostess and get an additional $25 in product FREE (or more if you collect additional orders!).  It’s 100% online, so no need to live near me! 

Goes live on 3/4/16 at 9am EST

Wreaths on a Dime!

#1 – Top Left – Winter Wonderland -

Materials –

Tulle in Blue and Light Blue (or White), cut in strips b/w 9-12in (make all strips equal).  If you are lucky you can find some in a fabric remnant bin, or it’s not too pricey either.  You need about a yard of each. 

A Dollar Store Wreath Form

Snowflake ornament(s) (if you are a Frozen fan you could get some Frozen themed items!)

Glue Gun

Directions -

Tie each tulle strip around the form, double knot.  Hot glue the ornaments where you’d like them.  Ta-da!

#2 – Top Right – Fall Flowers

Materials -

Yarn in a neutral color

A Dollar Store Wreath Form

Felt in variety of colors (use different colors for different seasons, I intended this to be a fall wreath, but really it could be year round!)

Glue Gun

Directions -

Wrap the wreath form with the yarn

Cut out circles of various shapes from felt.  Spiral cut the felt (like you were making a paper snake)

Then starting at the inside of the spiral, wrap the felt to make a flower.

Hot glue the end and hot glue onto the wreath

#3 – Bottom Left – Gold Wreath

Materials -

Tinsel (check clearance rack or dollar stores!)

Dollar Store Wreath Form

Gold Ornament

Glue Gun or Tape

Directions -

Wrap the tinsel around the form and glue or tape the start and end.  Glue (or in this case it was a clip) the ornament to the tinsel.  Ta-da!  Easiest wreath ever! 

#4 – Bottom Right – Red and White Tulle

Materials -

Tulle in Red and White (about a yard each cut into 9-12in long strips)

Dollar Store Wreath Form

Ornament or Stuffed item that is seasonal

Glue Gun or Velcro

Directions -

Same as in #1

For this one I attached Santa with Velcro, I plan to swap  him out at Valentine’s Day and 4th of July with other themed TY to make wreaths for those holidays!

Quick and Easy Christmas Wreath for under $5!

 

What you need:

pool noodle

packing tape or duct tape. serrated knife to cut pool noodle

Christmas garland (I used one strand, but I think two would have been better..I bought it on after Christmas Clearance last year).

ribbon

Directions:

Cut your pool noodle and shape into a circle

Wrap with the Garland

TA-DA!  Super Easy!!

Here is a tutorial on making your noodle into a wreath to help you out!

I did not cut my ends diagonally…and it worked fine (at first)…but now it’s losing it’s round shape and has become sort of oval…lol.  I think I’m going to redo it like the video.

Spring/Easter Wreath

I found the cutest wreath over on pinterest, and decided to give it a try with a little of my own personal flare…
and here is my final result -

I used the foam circle that I had bought for our lighthouse unit, then covered it in some lime green feathered yarn (50yds found for $2.50 at Wal-Mart, but I didn’t use it all), the flowers were cut from a ream of ribbon that alternated pink and green flowers ($4.47for 4ft). Then I added the Easter eggs that I had on hand from egg hunts last year, and the ribbon to hang it came from my scrapbooking stash.  I am really happy with the results!

My Memories Scrapbooking Software Giveaway

Finally I took the time this past weekend to figure out how to use all the features on the My Memories ScrapbookingSoftware....It's been atleast 6mos since I reviewed the product and hosted a giveaway for it. Back then I just thought it was so-so, but I am finding out just how versatile it is, and I'm LOVING it! I did my first double page spread of my own creation, and really like it! I still have a lot to learn, but this really is a great software!

Here are the two pages I threw together, I got the ideas from the weekly speed scrap challenges post on the MyMemories facebook page each week.  They give you suggestions for how to set up your layouts, you pick the papers, designs, pictures, etc... it's a great way to get the creative juices flowing!

And you can do more than just scrapbook with it...I made a video montage for our Christmas ecard (that I posted here on the blog) and I have made a variety of homeschooling items too, like counters, math mats, etc..  There are always lots of great ideas at the MyMemories facebook page, someone just recently posted a shirt they made using the software, seriously, the possibilities are ENDLESS!

There is a bit of a learning curve, but once I sat down and watched a few tutorials and played around with it a bit, it was EASY to learn!

Now onto the BEST news, I'm giving away My Memories v3 to one lucky reader!  

Also, all of my readers are able to purchase v3 at a $10 discount, and receive an additional $10 towards My Memories store purchases!  Just visit www.mymemories.com and use the code STMMMS57311.  Then visit my blog each week to receive a FREE template to add to your My Memories digital library!  (See my right sidebar).

Now for the giveaway - 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Nativity Blocks Tutorial & Giveaway!

WINNERS are Comments #1, #2, #3 and #6!  (winners were picked using random.org)

CONGRATULATIONS!!

What you need:
One 2x4 board (*8ft is typically the standard, but you only need 1ft)
One 2x3 board (*8ft is typically the standard, but you only need 2.5ft)
*can have cut there or check scrap cut off pile
Nativity stickers or clipart  (I used Me and My Big Idea Nativity Stickers)
Saw
Sand Paper
Acrylic Paint (I used like an antique white)
Wood Stain (I used like a dark brown stain)
Finishing Spray (Glossy or Matte)
Mod Podge (if you use clip art)

How to:
(NOTE: These directions are for the stickers I used, if you use different stickers, or clipart you may need to cut your boards to different sizes, so please keep that in mind)

1.  From your 2x4 cut 3 pieces 4” long
2.  From your 2x3 cut 7 pieces 3” long, 3 pieces 2” long, 1 piece 1.5” long
3.  Lightly sand blocks
4.  Paint with acrylic paint
5.  Second coat, if needed
6.  Lightly sand to ‘age’ (after paint has dried)
7.  Coat with wood stain and wipe with cloth (this fills in the aging spots and gives it a more antiqued look, this step could be skipped, along with step #6 if you don’t want that look)
8.  Allow to dry then apply stickers (or clip art using mod podge) *I think I put my stickers on before the staining process, but I don’t remember; it’s been 5 years).  The littlest block is for Baby Jesus (if using the sticker set)
9.  Spray with finishing spray to seal the stickers to the blocks (so they do not peel off).

So now the bad news - - - - The sticker set I used is out of print.  BUT..I have some extra sets b/c I had stocked up on these when they were on clearance sale.  I’d love to share them with my readers.  So…I have 4 sets of stickers to giveaway.  Simple contest (I’m not even going to bother with rafflecopter for this one).  Leave a comment telling me you’d like the stickers!  One bonus entry if you share this contest on the web (please leave a link to your share).  I’ll use random.org to pick two winners!  Open to US Residents only, ages 18+. Prize is ONE sheet of Nativity Stickers, as used to make the blocks pictured.  There will be 4 winners.Giveaway ends 12:01am HST on 12/9, and will mail out NLT 12/10 as long as you get back to me within 24hrs!
Some other possibilities ---

Saturday Scrapping–Calendars

I’ve been working on some calendars.  Close to My Heart sells event calendars.  They are used yearly, and you just fill in the dates you want to remember each year…birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc…

Event Calendar

I haven’t gotten very far, but I have decorated 2 months, and wanted to share!  (Paper, stamps and ink are CTMH, embellishments are not).

Disclaimer:  I am a CTMH consultant, the link in this post goes to my personal sales page, orders placed from my site do result in a small commission.  I have used CTMH products for about 5yrs, and have only been a consultant for about 5months. I swear by their products, and only promote products I believe in!

Feel free to contact me with any scrapbooking/crafting questions you may have!

My baby turns 1

c (little c) had his first birthday on the 20th.  The most important part of a birthday for me is the cake, and I love to make them.  This is more of a recent thing for me, but a nicely decorated cake has always been a sort of tradition in my family.  My aunt decorated cakes for a living when we were growing up, so she always decorated our cakes, and she did my kids cakes too, until I was living in NZ for one of their birthdays.  So I had to try my hand at it, and it was fun.  Now we are living far away from her again, so I have taken to cake decorating once again.  Giraffes have been c’s theme since he was born, pretty much.  So of course I did a giraffe cake for him.  I found a cute picture on pinterest that I went off of…and then also made 2 smash cakes, one for his party and one for his first birthday pictures. 

I have never been a fan of fondant, but found this great marshmallow fondant recipe, and it is so tasty!  So much better than the store bought stuff, and once you get past the sticky, gooey stage, it’s really easy to work with as well.

I own a cricut cake mini machine, and used it to cut out the spots on the #1 giraffe and the giraffes on the smash cakes.

I can’t believe he’s ONE!  Had to hold back tears as we sang happy birthday.  Time goes by to fast, wish they could stay babies forever!

Saturday Scrapping! - My newest digital layouts with Studio J

Almost an entire baby book done in about 2hrs!!  No Joke! 
For more information on Studio J visit my website
www.ctmh.com/chestnutgrovescrappin