Monogrammed Mini Kraft Matchbooks

Mini Monogrammed Kraft Matchbooks

I know there will be audible gasps, but I actually made something without my Cricut! It doesn't happen often, but like Blue Moons and hunky men picking up my dinner tab it does happen (okay, maybe my hubbie is the only man who has ever picked up my dinner tab - but you get the idea).

These matchbooks are eensy weensy and so cute - about an 1 x 2 inches. I used an OLD (like back in the day when the red Sizzix was the thing) Large red Sizzix die for them. They have been distressed with my favorite ink - VersaMark, dry embossed and the inside pages are held in with stitches through the button on the cover. I had a set of Technique Tuesday stamps with lots of fun phrases on them and did a few with monograms and a few with stamps.

My daughter is begging to take a few to hand out to her friends so they can pass notes to each other (during recess, of course she swears). I haven't decided if I want to give her teacher that kind of headache or not. They would be fun to write a phone number or shopping list on and a super inexpensive gift.

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Thanks for Note-cing my posts,

CarrieAnne

Recipe:
Die: Sizzix
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots
Ink: VersaMark, Stampin' UP!
Paper: Couture Cardstock
Floss: DMC (Ecru)
Stamps: Technique Tuesday

Faux Hoop - Spider Web Decor

Halloween Faux Embroidery Hoop Tutorial

Altered embroidery hoops are EVERYWHERE these days, and though they only cost a few dollars to purchase from the local craft store I got the urge to make one at 3 am. Someday, when I'm rich I think I will build a crafstore which is only open when children are sleeping - that way all the night owl crafters like myself will have somewhere to shop and meet their late night craft urges.

So there I was, a girl wanting to alter an embroidery hoop with no hoop supplier in sight - what was I to do? Pull out some chipboard scraps of course and get to the making do we crafters are so good at.

Faux Embroidery Hoop Tutorial

1. Cut 4 strips of light weight chipboard and 4 strips of coordinating patterned paper with your paper cutter - dimensions 12 x 1 inches.

2. Using something uber strong and stickalicous ( I went with Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry) glue two of the strips together, overlapping 1/4 inch - repeat this step again to create an oval. For maximum cuteness be sure the overlapped ends are on the inside. Allow this hoop to completely dry - use binder clips if you need to maintain the oval shape and keep the ends together.

3. Adhere two of your patterned paper strips to the inside of your hoop with Zip Dry (Mod Podge would also work).

4. Using the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, cut the web from the "3DSpider" cut with the Layer 2 function selected at 8 inches from light weight white cardstock.

5. Glue the web strands to the outside of the inner hoop one at a time, going around the hoop in clockwise direction. Use a super strong adhesive again for this step.

6. Attach your remaining two chipboard strips together, but only on one end. Use Zip Dry to wrap and adhere this chipboard strip around the hoop with spider web.  The ends will once again overlap about 1/4 inch and this is okay.

7. Cover the exterior hoop with patterned paper and then cover the patterned paper with a pleated trim and lace edging. I used Zip Dry for all these layers.

8. Snip off any visible spider web edges that extend past the chipboard hoops.

9. Coat the entire front edges (the edge you see when looking at the hoop as it hangs on the wall) with black Pearl Pen. This really adds depth and dimension and gives the hoop its faux hoopiness.

10. Apply Ranger Stickles in Diamond to the inner and outer edges of the spiderweb.

11. Add your spider - mine is create from a fabric covered buttons, a sparkly button,  the ends of a black floral pick, and two regular buttons layered underneath to give it some height. A plastic spider would work equally well.

12. Add an organza black bow at the top and your wall is ready to be spookified!.

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Thanks for playing a little hoops with me,

CarrieAnne



Recipe:
Cricut Cartridge: Happy Hauntings
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Patterned Paper: Pink Paislee
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives: Zip Dry
Tools: Imaginisce: I-Top
Chipboard: Couture Cardstock
Pearl Pen: Viva Decor
Buttons, Floral Pick: Stash
Ribbon: Making Memories, May Arts

Cuts:
From the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, cut the web from the "3DSpider" cut with the Layer 2 function selected at 8 inches from light weight white cardstock.

Pretty Scary Mummy Card - Evidence that good taste can be Fickle

Mini Monsters Mummy Card

Today's  Halloween card is evidence that my judgment and "taste level" (to plagiarize Project Runway) is not always on its A Game. I used Provo Craft's Mini Monsters cartridge and from the very beginning I was plagued with problems. My daughters wanted me to make a "girly" card with a Halloween theme. Instead of going for the easy "A" and choosing a witch or other typically female typecast gory girl I choose to add a second "X" chromosome to a mummy card.

My girls absolutely love every detail from the handmade flower to the bakers twine shoe bows, but I think its a bit ugly - without being sure it is in the "pretty ugly" category. Maybe its the mismatched eyeballs or the idea that mummy wrappings would ever come in 80's pink and lime green, whatever is up with this card it has left me a bit unsettled and wondering who I could give it to. Perhaps a frienemy?

I thought I would share the card anyway since its done and my eldest says I should embrace my off days too (which is proof positive of her affinity for fortune cookies).


Mortified after muffing up a mummy,

CarrieAnne

Recipe:
Cricut Cartridge: Mini Monsters
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Bling: Recollections
Twine: The Twinery
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry, Stampin' UP!

Ink: VersaMark

Cuts:
"Mummy" from the Mini Monsters cartridge cut at 5.5 inches with the Card function selected.

"Mummy" cut at 5.5 inches with the Layer 1 function selected.

"TrkRTrt2" cut at 1.75 inches with the Phrase function selected.

"TrkRTrt2" cut at 1.75 inches with the Phrase function and shift key selected.

We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Review

Sew Easy Stitched cards with Sentimentals Cartridge

 If you follow my blog, you know I have a pathological fear of sewing machines. They make me nervous - most likely because they outsmart me at every turn. The only tension I associate with them has nothing to do with a bobbin and everything to do with a furrowed brow and me stressing out. With this is in mind, you can understand why I was excited to try out the We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy product line. I have a few of the different design heads, the mat and the handle. I thought I would give you a quick review and my first two projects with the tools.

We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool System

 The Price Point: 
Sew Easy Stitch Piercer Tool: $9.99
Heads: 3.99
Piercing Mat: 7.99


The Concept:
The idea behind the product is pretty simple. Using the handle and the interchangeable heads, roll the tool across cardstock and pierce designs into your paper. Then use regular floss or string to stitch in your designs with the provided needle.



The Reality:
I had a difficult time getting the tool to actually pierce through the paper. I would classify this more as an embosser and even with that I would always pull the tool towards you when working. When I pushed away from myself the results were dreadful. I used the recommended mat and applied a great deal of pressure. The supplied needle was rather dull so I used the tool and then went back with my paper piercer to pierce the holes. Given that paper piercing templates are dreadfully expensive and I LOVE to make holes in stuff, I am still going to be using these tools, but I won't be buying additional heads. I will view these as embossers or pattern creators.

Grade Based on Advertised Function: B-

Card featuring Sew Easy "Banners" Design

Pros:
1. Lots of different designs to choose from

2. Love the compartment in the handle to hold the needle - no more finding it with your feet in the carpet.

3. Because this is a free hand system you can make your stitches curved, straight or use them to outline and accent something.

4. Keep your packaging because each card comes with suggestions for doing several different stitches with the same head.

5. The mat is quite large and allows you to stitch on a layouts and cards without having to readjust your paper.

Cons:
1. Needle is WAY to big which causes you to waste thread when you want to secure your ends or try to squeeze in that last stitch.

Card featuring Sew Easy "Love" Design

2. This tool is more of an embosser than a piercer as on each of the heads I tried the majority of the dots did not pierce through the paper.

3. On several of the heads key pierce points are missing on the design and don't emboss at all, because they are not even there. This was especially true for the "love" head as I kept having to look at the packaging to fill in the blanks myself.

4. I would love for the head to have a marker on it so I could know when the design begins to repeat. This would be especially nice for designs with wording. Who wants "ove" instead of "love" on their Valentine's Day card?


Please note this is an independent review, and I am in no way affiliated with We R Memory Keepers.

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne


Recipe:
Cricut Cartridge: Sentimentals
Tools: We R Memory Keepers Sew Easy Product Line
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots
Patterned Paper: We R Memory Keepers
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Bakers Twine: The Twinery
Floss: DMC
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesives Zip Dry

Cuts:
White Scallop Card
"Label1" cut at 4 inches from white cardstock with the "card" function selected.

Altered Mini Trash Can

Give A Hoot Cartridge Altered Mini Trashcan

I came across this trash can a few weeks ago on a Target clearance end cap. My husband is something of a hamster when it comes to paper bits. He has a hard time parting with them so they make piles around his home computer. I thought I would alter the can and put it next to his monitor so he would be prompted to throw out his used post its and what not right away. The original can had a bizarre color combination and dot pattern so I covered it with Sassafrass Lass Paper and die cut stickers.

To make the cute little balls of wadded up paper I used white cardstock and Stampin' UP!'s three flower punch. Spritzed them with water, scrunched and piled them on the trash can die cut.

Recipe:
Cricut Cartridges: Give A Hoot
Patterned Paper: Sassafrass Lass
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Pearls: Recollections
Epoxy: Epiphany Crafts
Punch: Stampin' Up!
Die Cut Stickers: Sassafrass Lass
Ink: VersaMark
Mini Trash Can: Target
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesive Zip Dry, Stampin' Up! (Glue Dots)

Cuts:
"Don't Be Trashy" sentiment from the Give A Hoot Cartridge: "TrshBr-S" cut at 2 inches in orange and at 1.75 inches in red.

Trash Can from the Give A Hoot Cartridge:
"TrshBear" cut with the "Layer" function selected from gray cardstock at 2.25 inches and the "TrshBr-S" cut from gray cardstock at 2.25 inches.

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne

Cricut Imagine Birthday Gift Card Holder

Cricut Imagine Birthday Gift Card Holder

  I know I've been AWOL, but I had an unexpected opportunity to take my two youngest to Disney last week and who wouldn't take advantage of that!  As you can see by this post's title, I am now the proud owner of a Cricut Imagine!! This is the first project I made with it right out of the box.

As I can't bear to throw any kind of reusable packaging away, I have quite a few of those plastic pillow boxes - the ones flowers or embossing folders come in, and I thought it would be fun to re-purpose one as a gift card holder. Because electronics and I mix like oil and water, I wanted to try something simple for my first Imagine print and cut job.

The doll die cut is from the Christmas Noel cartridge and the print of the doll's dress is from the Imagine Country Carnival cartridge.

One thing I REALLY like about my Imagine so far is the ability it gives you to create custom colors. This means you can fiddle with your pallette until it is perfect. I was delighted with the skin tone I was able to create for the doll as most cardstock is too pink or too white.
 
I provided pictures of the back of the container as well so you could see how it was assembled. The white cardtsock inside was simply traced and run through the Tim Holtz notebook embossing folder. I have always thought this folder liked like the slats of house siding and was glad to give it a try in creating this effect.

I cut the dress of the doll out twice and layered tulle into between the dresses to give the impression of the petticoat. I also added an Epiphany Crafts Round 14 button to the doll's bow.

This is going in my box of gifts that are ready to be given, now one of my girl's just needs to get invited to a Birthday Party!

Recipe

Cricut Cartridges: Christmas Noel
Imagine Cartridges: Country Carnival
Embossing Folder: Tim Holtz: Notebook
Tools: Epiphany Crafts: Button Studio Tool Round 14
Button: Epiphany Crafts: Button Studio Accessories Buttons Round 14
Stamp: Stamping Bella
Punches: Stampin' UP!, Marvy Uchida
Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages
Cardstock: Couture Cardstock
Flowers: Prima, Webster's Pages
Ink: Stampin' UP!, Tsukineko
Baker's Twine: The Twinery
Adhesive: Beacon Adhesive: Zip Dry
Misc.: Beads, Clothespin, Lace, Tulle

Cuts
"Doll" from the Christmas Noel Cartidge cut at 5.5" inches from Patterned Paper

"Doll" from the Christmas Noel Cartidge cut at 5.5" inches with the shift function selected from flesh tone, brown, turquoise, and patterned paper.

Patterns/Colors
Country Carnival: Green Floral
Country Carnival: Custom Flesh Tone

Thanks for stopping by,

CarrieAnne