A Little Christmas Cheer in July!

Hi Everyone!
If your like me your thinking about Christmas and cooler weather! Seems like this country has been hot this summer! So I have been thinking about Christmas and how I want to decorate my house. I don't have a set theme yet just making some awesome stuff that Mary came up with last year and I didn't have time to make because I was making presents and other things. Isn't that always the way. So here are a few of the things I have been making. I used kits from SVG cuts and oh my, do I love their stuff! I only use American Craft solid card stock for cutting as I have an insect machine and it cuts well on it. I am hoping again this year for a new machine. The other paper I use a lot of is Echo Park! I love their papers and Lori Whitlock seems to design papers I really like. I like vintage also but I don't get to see a lot of vintage looking papers around here. Anyhoo when I find a paper I just love I buy a lot of it. Lori designs a lot I like  and always go back to it. Also two of the papers I used were from a K& Company Pack called Glad Tidings. so here we are I didn't do anything fancy with Mary's cuts just embellished them which you can do too.
The lantern is from Camp Smore, The drum and the sleigh are from Santa's Visit and I will be adding to this collection as I go. So the 3d holly, pine cone and pine branch are from 3d winter greens. The holly isn't in this photo yet it is still in the works. Stay tuned as they say. All of these can be made by you as well just click on this link and Happy Shopping. http://www.svgcuts.com/affiliates/jrox.php?id=3561_1
Thank you for stopping by and having a little Christmas in July! Hope this makes you a little cooler.  P.S. If you want to get started on those Christmas cards for special people Mary made just the kit last week it is called Christmas Cheer.. too cute! Go have a look! Thanks again!

Firefly Delight

Hi all,
I was born in Georgia but left two weeks after my birth. My dad was in the air force and was getting out so he  and my mom and my Big Brother, came back to California where he was raised. Consequently I have never seen some of the jewels that you all have seen that live that side of the country. So I have never actually seen for myself a firefly. But my son had the pleasure last year and the picture my daughter in law snapped of the pure delight and wonderment has stayed with me and probably will all the days of my life. I do not feel sad I have not seen one myself because I have lived it through my son and his delight.

I was showering and thinking about that photo and Mary's free firefly when the idea came into my head to make this lantern. I hope you like it and it makes you think of all the great things you can make just on this idea alone.. Halloween eyes would be spooky, or snowflakes shining through. As I said let your imagination take you and help you create. Here are the instructions everyone enjoy!
On SVG cuts blog are the freebees we are blessed to get them every week so grab the firefly Mary made.
If you don't already have the Stars and Stripes SVG go ahead and get it too. That is in there store under patriotic,
Cut the lantern as the pattern is. but use the insert size for your "windows"  to add your fireflies. I added just the wings and the butt to cut out of my insert. Then I cut the outside frame for the top and I did cut the whole solid cut out of the firefly but then decided to just use the head I cut that in a v shape into the body and glued that down first on the outside. then the wings on top. Turn your inserts over and I used the cut out of the butt and the wings to cut vellum which I colored with pigment ink on my cardstock vellum from Stampin up.
 outline cut out of the wings is W 1.507 H0.966
Body Solid peice is W1.564 H1.304
Butt for Yellow Vellum is W 0.420  H 0.418
I went ahead and cut the frames for the windows and then inked them with Brilliance Copper ink. the whole  thing is inked in the same. Then added them to the outside "windows"
I Cut the accents out of colored cardstock Vellum and applied that to the back so it would "glow" more. then made a firefly for the top ( actually he was the practice one shhh) I as others had done made a small holder for the inside and inked it as well to hold my battery operated candle.
The wire was from the jewelry section at walmart and I wound it around a glue stick to get the coiled affect add some ribbon and some light green bling and your good to go. That was pretty much it. Nothing fancy to be sure but I like how it turned out and yep I don't think I will part with this one just yet I need to look at it for a while. The kit can be had at the link below. Be sure a have a look around you surely will be amazed! Happy Crafting everyone, be sure and leave me some love.. Hugs to all of you! http://www.svgcuts.com/affiliates/jrox.php?id=3561_1

Happy Birthday America!!!

Hi Everyone!

July is always a busy month for me. My Mother in Law's b day is on the 4th and I am usually trying to get things made for her birthday. She is celebrating # 92! I did make a few things but wanted to tell you all about the new contest at SVG Cuts Facebook page. There have been some really inspiring entries and some of us myself included have been a bit intimated by some of these creations. Really they are amazing! Covered wagons, AT AT's from star wars to name a few. Anyway in an effort to make things more fair for the people who are not paper carpenters they have changed the rules and taken the eclipse off the list of prizes. There are set rules to follow and only one entry is allowed. I am sure this makes it much easier to look at and to judge the entries as well as making us less gifted paper carpenters breath a little easier. So this time until July 15th you can enter a summer card you must use a summer related file either free or bought. I entered a card I made using the much pleaded for Mason Jar I wanted so  bad. Honestly I think dear Mary made it to shut me up, Bless her! so here is my entry and I hope you like it. I was very happy with it and it doubled for my Mother in Law's Birthday card. I will post more in a few days of all the things I have made for her so far. If you get a chance check out the amazing Ferris Wheel in the new kit called Summer Carnival Kit, It is so fun looking! I am almost done with the balloons for VBS so I went ahead and got them all ready to cut and hope to start cutting them tomorrow. My hubby is off to see the doc tomorrow so I may not get to it. He has had some major swelling in his knee and hopefully we will have more of an answer as to why. thanks so much for stopping by and visiting. As Always Happy Crafting everyone. If I inspire you GREAT!!! Share your creations with us on the svg cuts Facebook page we are there to encourage and lift up each other! Till next time Blessings everyone!

A Little Dad Time

Good morning everyone!

I spent a little time this morning making a father's day card for my dad. Guy cards stump a lot of us and sometimes you just don't know what to do or what they would like. I always think about the person and what I think they would like, what are their likes and dislikes what colors do the usually pick in clothing and of course if it is for someone you know in particular like your dad what are the things you have seen that they are  interested in. If you just don't know the recipient that well try to pick neutral colors and no flowers unless you know they like that. I scale way down on the glitter too. Most men like it but not a lot at all. So here is the card I made my dad. I used the 120lb white card stock from Simon Says Stamp and the paper I used were from a couple of 6x6 pads from Stampin up. I have others but I liked the colors and patterns in these for my dad. I used my Circut to cut a star out of the end of the paper and then stamped a dad stamp on using a marker. I still need to get around to ordering some more hero arts ink in red. I say that every time I want that color. LOL anyway then drew stitch lines on the inside of the star and used my postage stamp edger by Fiskars to make a small border at the bottom. I made some stars using my Epiphany star tool to match the card. I have to say I love them I would like to have all of them. I also got the 1/2 button and the 3/4 in heart button. Many of you know I had won a 50 dollar gift card from Kristina Werner's blog to Simon Says Stamp so that is where I got them. I do find the buttons harder to do but that just might be my hands but I would like all of them! sooo Fun! I used Maraschino colored Twine from The Twinery to tie around the card and tied loose knots just because I liked the look. I have taken a few of Kristina's and Jennifer McGuire's online card classes and I have to say I have learned a lot. They are fun and full of chances to win and more important you get to see other peoples ideas and that inspires you to try something new. Another way to make the star cut out would be to use a big shot and or another machine that does the same and use the thin dies from Simon says Stamp. There are all kinds and I really could go broke buying all the stuff I see there. Lots of great ideas.Visit the blog too.  I will see if I can find the picture of the card I did for my son or I will make another so you can see it.. sort of the same Idea but I used a circle and some card stock vellum. Have a great day and thank you so much for reading my blog. Happy crafting to all of you today!

Thank you cards

Hi everyone,
Thanks for visiting my blog. I have two cards I made Saturday night as thank you cards for my friends. They gave me an early b day present and boy was I surprised. I wasn't expecting anything but to get such an awesome present really blew me away. The two had gone in together and bought me a stampin up  paper trimmer. The guillotine kind that I had wanted to 1. Stop buying blades!!! grrrr and 2. to make much thinner cuts. I have watched Kristina Werner since I started making cards about two years ago and had taken a few of her classes so I asked her advice on a paper trimmer and that is what she suggested. Actually she said Stampin up carried the same kind but she uses a name brand one. Anywho I came right home and had to play with it. Also I was raised where you do write a thank you note when someone does something so sweet for you. So here are the cards I am sorry it isn't such a great photo as I said I made them that night to give to them the next day at church. Both cards were made as portrait cards and the first I used Neenah Desert Storm Kraft color card stock from Simon Says Stamp  and  half of a Pretty dollie from the June card kit also from Simon Says Stamp. The paper is Pink Paislee London Market Collection from the June kit. I stamped the heart from a retired set from stampin up and used the heart laced edger also from Stampin Up. to finish it off I added a clear Hero arts adhesive jewel and uniball white gel pen. The other card is Bazzill colored cardstock and also the paper from that collection. I used another half of a dollie from the kit and cut off the brad ends from that kit also to add to the front of the card the aqua paper has loved and friend versa marked on it in a zig zag shape. I am sorry the picture isn't so great I usually take my time so you can get a good look but I was in a hurry that morning to get them to the people that needed them. I have said before but I highly recommened the card Kits from Simon Says Stamp. This time it was loaded with goodies! well I feel that way every time but Oh so much fun and exciting to get it and to see what is coming next. They also include a little sucker which I love sucking on while I make my cards. Just a special touch that I think is just so great! Tomorrow I will post another card for you a guys card this time as I made one for my son's 29th birthday on the 27th and didn't take a picture and oh you should have seen his face that shy little smile and I like that mom. Made this ol' mom's heart sing! well till tomorrow happy crafting everyone and thank you so much for stopping by!

3d numbers!!!

Good morning everyone!
Well I did it I got the 2 made for my grandson yesterday and it wasn't so hard. Yes I did have a part that didn't quite match up but after watching Mary on the tutorial video she always does for us I didn't feel so bad or frustrated that it wasn't perfect. I just took the scissors and trimmed that piece right off. Any imperfections that bugged me you know me I hid it with something. Usually a butterfly. LOL So here it is.

I imported it at the size it imports and cut the 2 using lemon yellow cardstock from American Crafts. Love that paper it really does cut like butter compared to others. I had gotten some really pretty Echo Park Summer Days Paper from Scrapbooksteals.com so I used that for the face of the two. Then I couldn't help but think of the talking numbers on Sesame Street so I had to add the eyes, yes eyes it has one on the other side with the ice cream cones on that side also. This 3d numbers kit comes with so many other 3d elements and this adorable party had that requires no glue is included. I shrunk that way down. Sorry I didn't write down the size. then I put twine through the holes and added some fish brads I have had forever. I tied it around the top like you would on a child and added the dump truck with Wyatt's name on it. I added some buttons and a key one(kitty) just because he loves them. A smile was required as I didn't want him to be afraid when he sees it. The butterfly's were an after thought as I needed to hide a glop of hot glue I spotted. Yeah still learning with the hot glue gun, and there you have it a 3d 2. I have put together a 3 for a certain Hawaiian little grandson who will be her in a few weeks. His Birthday isn't until July but He will be here and I am sure will like it. I haven't decorated it yet but will try to get it posted tomorrow. Much more challenging with the two bumps and no this one wasn't so perfect but that is OK. If I get my nerve up I will try a 9 as the other grandson who will be visiting at the same time will be 9 in July also the day after mine. I will be 52 those numbers might not be so hard and If I can figure out what I would do with them afterward I might make some for myself.  Today is the last day to get this kit free with a $9.98 purchase. Very worth it in my opinion you save 6.99 that way. So here is the link check them out. If you have any questions just ask I will answer. http://www.svgcuts.com/affiliates/jrox.php?id=3561_1  
Have an amazing day everyone, thanks so much for stopping by. Sharalyn

Hello!!!!

Wow it has been a month since I posted anything.. so sorry I need to get on the stick here as my mom would say. So I saw a ad for big lots and It was an Americana thing and I loved it, but it seemed silly to go spend money when I really needed to watch it so I made this instead. It was very much like it but much better in my opinion. which only counts for me anyhoo LOl. So here it is and I hope you like it. Today I am disciplining myself to work on the new kit which is 3d numbers! whoo hoo! I need to make a 2 for my youngest grandson for his b day and to try again at this 3d number and letter thing.

I used the Carmel apple pie kit to make this crate. I cut it as it imports only using red, white and blue for the pieces. Then I added a heart from the shapes menu of Sure Cuts a Lot. I cut two hearts one blue and one red and then used some scrap strips of white and had and glued then one at a time cutting off at the bottom, straightening my ends and starting again. I wanted to make paper flowers for this but really just didn't have time. It would have been pretty and Mary has several sets that this would work with. Check out svgcuts.com page for the flowers they are awesome. I also used the Made in the USA kit to make the embellishments for the ends. I added the ribbon before hand just looping them and hot gluing as I went. I am getting better at the hot gluing but surely have a long way to go on that. Hero Arts makes these wonderful metallic self-adhesive embellishments that you can find in with the jewels I love them and they add just the right touch to projects like this. I used a brown ink pad on the edges of the crate and the heart also.So that is how I did it and as I always say please out do me and I look forward to seeing your projects on the svg cuts Facebook page. Below will be a link for you to click on and it will take you right to the Carmel Apple Pie Kit. Take a look around while your there there are amazing things to make. You will find the Made in the U.S.A kit also there. Happy Crafting everyone and wish me luck on the 3d number sometimes it is just hard to make my hands do what I want. so here is the link, thanks for visiting :) http://www.svgcuts.com/affiliates/jrox.php?id=3561_1

Recently I was very blessed to win a 50 dollar gift card to SimonSaysStamp from Kristina Werner so I bought two new epiphany tools which haven't come yet but I will let you know how I like them. Thank you Kristina! Happy crafting everyone!