Sunday, December 18, 2016

Close to My Heart Winter Shadow Box

This week Close to my Heart shared this video on the Flower Market Collection and they key found on page 49.  They labeled it as a Christmas Shadow Box, but I don't see Christmas in it.  I see Winter!




Unfortunately they don't give the sizes of the cuts.  I would say the picture is 8" x 8".  Enjoy!

The background paper is from the Rustic Home Fundamentals - I'm in love with that paper!

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Thoughtful Thursday December 15, 2016


I thought this was a great thought for today.  : )



I didn't write this, but it is oh so true for me and imagine it is for many of my friends who are mothers! Enjoy!
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My children each year ask me the same question. After thinking about it, I decided I'd give them my real answer:

What do I want for Christmas? I want you. I want you to keep coming around, I want you to bring your kids around,(when you have some! lol) I want you to ask me questions, ask my advice, tell me your problems, ask for my opinion, ask for my help. I want you to come over and rant about your problems, rant about life, whatever.
Tell me about your job, your worries, your spouses,( or girlfriends lol) your kids, your fur babies. I want you to continue sharing your life with me. Come over and laugh with me, or laugh at me, I don't care. Hearing you laugh is music to me.
I spent the better part of my life raising you the best way I knew how, and I'm not bragging, but i did a pretty darn good job. Now, give me time to sit back and admire my work, I'm pretty proud of it.
Raid my refrigerator, help yourself, I really don't mind. In fact, I wouldn't want it any other way.
I want you to spend your money making a better life for you and your family, I have the things I need. I want to see you happy and healthy. When you ask me what I want for Christmas, I say "nothing" because you've already been giving me my gift all year. I want you.
Love, Mom

Monday, December 12, 2016

Flower Market 3D Poinsettia Wreath

Flower Market Cricut Collection (Z3285) also has the 3D poinsettia.  The 2D wreath I made was similar to the Artiste wreath from 2015.  Now it was time to go for gold with the 3D poinsettia.

Again on Design Space, I pulled in the poinsettia.  When it comes in, each layer is separate but GROUPed.  I, again, tried making this the same size as the 2D wreath and thought a total width of 5.41" would be the correct size for the bottom leafed layer (I would be mistaken.  This turned out much bigger - the circle it's mounted on is 5" -  than the other one - no worries though!).

The other "improvement" I wanted to make was to have a saying going across the opening of the wreath.  That eventually led me to make a ring without a backing.  It took 9 flowers to complete this wreath.





Because I put a bow on top of the wreath, I didn't want to add a loop like I did with the previous wreaths.  You might be wondering how I will hang this up without a loop.  To achieve it, I cut a piece of extra thick twine and adhered it to the back of the ring with Liquid Glass (Z679) (I love that stuff!).

Because I turned the leaves downwards, I mounted each flower with 3D foam (Z1151).

Colors I used were New England Ivy (1282) for the leaves, Ruby (X5927) for the back layer, two layers of Cranberry (1272), Poppy (X5779) for just behind the yellow centers, Lemon (X5785) for the larger yellow center, and Canary (X5772) for the smallest center.  The Canary helped "calm" down the Lemon.  Once I glued the flowers together, I took my Quilling Tool (Z1795) and turned the ends of each petal up (as I mentioned earlier, the leaves I turned down).

"Noel" is cut from our White Glitter Paper (Z3237) using the Flower Market cartridge.   I adhered "Noel" with Liquid Glass.   Finally, the bow is cut from Pomegranate cardstock (X5780), again from the Flower Market cartridge.  The edges of the bow were sponged with Pomegranate ink ((Z2854), glued together, and then got a coating of Clear Shimmer Brush (Z3293).  Once that dried, the bowed was adhered to the wreath with, none other, Liquid Glass!

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Large Paper Flower Tutorial

Close to my Heart posted this video on how the large paper flowers - found on page 14 of the 2016 Holiday Expressions and pictured after the video - are easily made.



As Gina explained, the petal is found on the Artistry cartridge and on page 27 of the booklet.  You'll need 6 petals at the following sizes: 3", 4", 5", and 6".




Changing the paper changes the look.  The picture to the right was made from Swan Lake papers.

Why not make some for a birthday party, bridal shower, baby shower, or just because?!