Vinyl Pumpkin

Want an easy way to decorate your pumpkin this year, or a way to achieve a different look?  Try this simple one!

No need to spend the extra cash to buy one of those more expensive white pumpkins.  Instead, just

Halloween Photo Props

So recently my sister was in charge of a Fall Festival activity in her neighborhood. This activity is apparently a big deal, with pony rides, pumpkin carvings, and of course: candy.    This year they decided to tap into the Photo Booth craze that has been hitting the wedding scene, where guests are provided props to use as they get their picture(s) taken. They are then given a copy of the photo(s) to take home with them, while the host is also usually printed a copy for their memories.  It's great fun. And in this case, a terrrrifyingly fitting and good idea. ;)

Friday, Quote Day: Charged with opportunity

So very true, though often can be so very hard to see.

This message/quote would be great to send to a friend or co-worker, to put on a card to a recent grad at a new job, etc.

Just Because

Sometimes, friends just need roses.  Other times,...well roses are just always nice, aren't they?  That's what I thought.

I love flowers.

So, I saw some flowers at the grocery store one day and thought, "why not?"  I bought them and thought I'd pass them on to a few friends to brighten their day, "just because." :)

I found a few simple labels/tags that I had in my Silhouette Library and added in a few very small circles as "hole punches"

Quote Friday: Today is a great day for laughing

Guess I just put the whole quote in the title of this post, huh?  :)  Well, easier for you to find, my friends.

Here it is, one more time, just because:

"Today is a great day for laughing."

This is a great quote to have up somewhere in your house as a reminder to enjoy life and to laugh at the small things--to keep a smile on your face!  

(For instance, when my sisters and I were taking the above picture and I was somehow the only one who missed the fact that something funny had happened.  When we saw the picture later, we were all laughing.)

Pizza Peel/Paddle Recipe or Memo Board

So, my sister is getting married. There's no other way to say it. :)  Congrats!  A few weeks ago we had her bridal shower, and I decided to make her a gift.  Because it was simple and a nice gift to give at just such an occasion, I thought I'd share. So here is how to make this personalized Pizza Peel (I had no idea that's what it was called) Memo/Recipe Board.  Perfect to hang in the kitchen, or to set up on the counter with a photo easel.  

Quote Friday

Being in the scrapbooking, card-making, and crafting business, I am often looking for the perfect quote or tag line to add to my page, card, sign, etc.  I think we can all relate in some degree. Sometimes, a simple word or phrase will do to capture the sentiment I want to get across,

or to tag the feeling or event.

Other times, I want a fun phrase to serve as label or decoration,

or a quote that fits perfectly to a room or friend. 

Often, this entails a lot of searching for inspiration, for that thing that fits "just right" with what I'm feeling for that craft.  For instance, when I was making a Father's Day card for my Dad this year, I wanted something a little silly but that also expressed gratitude.  I came across a card that read: "Well done, Dad!  I'm awesome."  I went with that :) (and then went on to tell him all the ways his example had helped shape me into being so, of course).  

In the spirit of that search, we thought we'd start sharing some sort of quotation/phrase with you each week.  I'm doing a similar thing on my personal blog as a means of just keepin' up that inspiration, or that smile.  These will be great things to pin to pinterest for that time when you just may need them. So, here's hopin' they inspire you and your crafting, or help you with that perfect tag-line for a card or scrapbook page.  They'll be quick, but we hope you like them and keep checking back each week.  Have a favorite of your own that you've seen or used?  Please share it with our readers as a comment on this post!  We all thank you now. :)

So, to get us going with an auspicious start, I stopped by a local diner today and saw this saying on the wall:  

Love supporting small businesses, and the fact that they usually have such personality. Thanks for the quote idea, HoneyDip Donuts & Diner! Crafters--have fun with that one. Now go each a donut cheeseburger. (Actually on the menu there.)

*Note:  If you are interested, each of the images above, minus the last sign, are from previous posts we've shared on this blog, which give descriptions of how-to's and font styles. 

How To: Personalized Silhouette Chipboard Puzzle

Well, I guess my last post sort of left you with a slightly unfinished product. :)  The idea was to have that post be for sharing some basic steps of how to use chipboard with your Silhouette, for those who might feel uncomfortable testing out a new product.  Also, it was easier to only do one video per post. :)  But as you can now see, chipboard is easy enough to use.  So, to follow up and finish off the project, watch the video above for the rest of the tutorial on how to make your own personalized puzzle! However, for those of you who know how to use chipboard and who say "Who needs a tutorial?!  Let me get my hands on that stuff!"--to you, I say "have at it!"  :)  I can't wait to see what you make.  Also, we've obviously got some chipboard on our website for a good price.  Have at that, too. ;)

But, if you are looking to polish off your idea, here's mine:

I took a photo of my nieces from when we got free 7Eleven slurpees on one of my visits, and added on the "Families are cool" (get it?) tagline. Yeah, I'm a little cheesy (or cool), but that's alright by me.  Then I gave them the puzzle as a gift.  Family momento and a puzzle, in one?!  Can things get any better than that?  Maybe. :)  But I still like things that preserve family memories, share family love,...and I also really like puzzles. So have at it.  Make a family puzzle.  Take a photo of your kid's favorite toys having a tea party and then turn it into a puzzle.  Scan a photo of a picture they drew and use that.  There are so many fun possibilities. I think I am going to try one more next week.  

Also, I got the free puzzle file from www.birdscards.com.  Thanks, Bird's Cards!  They have a few different options that you can check out here.

And that's all, folks!

Key Reminder:  Be sure to print your photo with the registration marks clicked on to "show."  This is needed so that your Silhouette machine will then know where to cut out your image, and will match it up with your printed image.   Yeah.  That's important stuff. :)  (The registration marks are those two corner markers, and the black square in the top right-hand corner. 

Puzzled at all?  Just watch the video above.  And have fun!

How to use Sihouette Chipboard

Wondering how to use Silhouette Chipboard?  This tutorial gives easy to follow, step-by-step instructions with a few tips/hints...aaaand...it is the beginning to a great little gift: a personalized puzzle using your very own photo.  Follow up with the next post where I can attach the second video on how to do so, and where I'll also have some photos of the finished product.  Yay.