A Layout TWO days in the making

I spent yesterday working on creating svgs and picking out papers for this layout of pictures of the grandkids dressed up for the vintage look photos. I had lots of thoughts in my head and I just couldn't decide what I wanted to do.

Probably the biggest challenge I faced was coming up with some type of decorative mat for the 5x7 photos. I ended up starting with an svg from svgcuts.com and modifying it to suit my needs. The svg is one of the 12x12 designs from the Mrs. Robinson collection but I modified it to remove the word Love, the flowers, the frames and then resized the remaining solid piece to fit the photos I had. I also removed the vertical bars since I had a vertical stripe pattern paper.

The hats, gloves, tie, suitcase, and vintage camera are my designs. Forgive the bad pic of the layout - lighting wasn't great but didn't feel like scanning and stitching all the sections tonight. I still have some work to do to get the files ready to upload but if you are interested in any of the items, check back tomorrow or Tuesday and I should have them up.

Halloween Costumes

I've been playing with fabric instead of paper for the past week - making the grandkids their Halloween costumes. Just finished Natalie's and have them boxed to ship - on my way to FEDEX but thought I'd take a minute to share a picture of the completed costumes first.

A few kitchen themed cut files

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

Finally getting to the bottom of my scrapbook desk and getting this room organized - in doing so, I found a few kitchen items that I had cut but haven't posted yet. These are part of my kitchen collection that I did over a year ago. I haven't cut all of the files yet - I will post more as I have a chance to test cut more of them.




No pictures of the cut files to share but I know they cut well because I have used them on a layout. (I can't share the layout as it contains pics of a nephew that I do not have permission to post).

I have a bunch of other items in this collection - if there is something in particular you are looking for, leave me a comment and if I have it, I'll try to get it cut and posted. In addition to cookware, utensils, etc., I also have quite a few food items that I created as well.

Hope someone can find a use for some of these!

Do I or Don't I?

I've been pondering this new Cricut Imagine machine - trying to decide if it is right for me. My Cricut Expression works just fine and cuts everything I ask of it so I don't NEED the Imagine. For the most part, I prefer multi-layer cuts so I design my own and cut using SCAL. I'm assuming I would not be able to use SCAL with the Imagine so I would have to keep both machines.

Anyone have the Imagine yet? Other than being able to basically make a colored die-cut image, what are the great things you've been able to do with it? Would love to see some examples if anyone has some - post a link below if you have Imagine projects to share!

It's almost the Weekend!

Have to work tonight - I close so won't get off until around 8:30. As soon as I get home, we are headed out to meet-up with Jenn, Tom and the kids for the weekend. We are meeting in Clarksville, IN so that tomorrow we can take the kids to the pumpkin patch. We lived at Fort Knox, KY for several years when the kids were younger and used to take our kids to the same farm - I even took my scout troops there. In addition to the pumpkin patch, they have a petting zoo, corn maze, pony rides, a big slide, a small "mining" operation, mini-tractors for the kids to ride, etc. They offer a traditional farm market selling seasonal fruits/veggies. They also have an on-site bakery, ice-cream shop, winery and deli. Saturday, they are even featuring live music on the patio. The farm we are visiting is Huber Orchard and Winery in Starlight, IN.

The weather is forecast for mid 70's and no rain so it should be a much more enjoyable visit than last time. 3 years ago the temps were pushing 90 - and we all got a bit of heat exhaustion from being out all day in the sun.

After dinner, we are planning to cross the bridge into Louisville in order to go to the Louisville Science Center - another place we used to take our kids when we lived in the area. It's a science museum that features a lot of interactive activities for kids - I know many cities offer something similar.

Taking my new camera and hopefully will get lots of great pics.

Have a great weekend!

Cricut Mats

I don't know about all of you, but I have been very disappointed in the stickiness of my Cricut Mats. Half the time they don't seem very sticky when I buy them and they surely don't stay sticky very long. I've tried the washing and letting it air dry trick - it cleans the fibers and stuff off the mat and helps for a while but really doesn't restore the sticky. Same with the baby wipe trick.

As for trying to apply new adhesive, I've tried the wide 2-way Zig adhesive but it was hard to get a nice even coat - seemed like I got too much on and ended up ruining a mat. Then, I tried taping off the edges and using a repositionable spray adhesive - this gave a pretty good result but was messy.

Last week one day, browsing various forums, I found another method and it has produced, BY FAR, the best result. It's economical - 4.99 for the glue, you mix 50/50 with water and since it is thin, you don't use much. You can paint it on with one of those cheap disposable foam brushes and it is easy to get just the right amount. I did one mat as a test on Saturday night. I cut all day Sunday on it, did the Nurses cuts this morning, and IT IS STILL STICKY! What is this miracle glue? Aleene's Tack-It Over and Over. Here's the video.

Nurses Call the Shots

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I am posting a file this morning as the result of a request on the Craft Edge Forum. I made this last year as a special request. I took the time this morning to cut this before posting it so I am sharing a pic of the cut file below. Pardon the roughness of some of the cuts - I need to get some new blades for my Cricut. I cut a lot of glitter cardstock this weekend and it sure seems to kill the blades quickly.

Need to get some pics of my SIL in her nurse garb so I can use this!

Pics of previously shared files

I finally got some of my desk cleared off and found a couple of the layouts I promised to share - not the greatest pics but you can get the idea of how they look in use. The links will take you to the original post that includes the link to download.

Here is the Under Construction layout:


And, this is the We've Got Spirit layout:

Teapot Card

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

My grand daughter loves tea parties so I thought this card might be the perfect choice for her next birthday party invite. (Don't mind the mess - going to get it cleaned eventually!)

Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Snap Lock Beads

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I made these by hand for a layout before I got my Cricut - these are sure much neater and more uniform than the ones that I hand cut. There are 4 different bead shapes in this download.

Doesn't every child play with these at some point?

Cheer Uniform

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

Just a basic uniform - the letters are the ones I used for my daughter's school but you can easily change them to suit whatever school you need.

School Spirit

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

This file was created for some of my daughter's HS pics - I kept this file very generic so that anyone could use it simply by changing paper colors when you cut.

This is another file that I have actually used - just need to find the layout and take a pic of it. Maybe tonight. There is also a cheer leader uniform that would be a perfect compliment to this set. I'll try to find that one and post as well - since it is FOOTBALL season!

(edited to add picture 10/10/10)

Anyone a Vera Bradley fan?

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

My daughter lives in Fort Wayne, IN - the home of Vera Bradley. She attends the annual outlet sale and last year her sister and I went up to go as well. Had to make a file to commemorate that trip. I've cut this but haven't used it yet. As I'm cleaning up in the scrapbook room, I will find and share the cut image - or maybe I'll make a quick layout!

Under Construction

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I made this file in honor of my Uncle Lew when he passed away. He was a self-employed contractor for most of his life. I have a layout completed using this file and will try to find it and take a picture to share.

On my layout, I did not use the individual letters for the title - I opted instead to use the reverse, stencil portion from the cut. It worked better for my layout (and I didn't have to deal with all the little pieces!) My layout includes pictures of our house as it was when I looked at it and made the decision to purchase it - very much "Under Construction."

(edited to add picture 10/10/10)

My one and only adventure in Vinyl

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I saw this quote and just had to make my own version of it!

Rubber Duckie

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I think these elements and the resulting layout are some of my all time favorites.

Fall Leaves & Acorn Border

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I used this file on the layout below - I just cut it apart and positioned it as I needed it.

Cricut Machine

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I was so pleased with how this turned out - hope someone can find a use for it!

Rainbow Bridge

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I have this cut and will be using it on a memorial page for our beloved Maggie.

Cowboy Up

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I've not used this set but I did cut each element as shown in the photo below.

A few last words for the evening

It's quite obvious that I did not get the Cricut hooked up in order to cut the new file tonight. After painting on the shed, I was just too tired to rearrange stuff and connect the cords. However, I did upload a few of my tested files tonight and have a few more ready to go.

If you stop by and are looking for anything in particular that you may have seen from me before, leave me a comment and I'll try to get the image test cut and posted.

Thanks again for stopping in!

Color Wonder Paint (where was this stuff when my kids were little?)

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads.  

Natalie (and mom Jennifer) love Crayola Color Wonder Paints. To complete this layout, I created an svg file of the paint set that she had and used the paper pad area for my journaling.

Floral Edge Mat (with Ribbon slots)

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads.  

A very simple file created to help showcase a single photo on this layout. I cut it out in white and then cut the blackout shadow in a cardstock to coordinate with my patterned paper.

A Perfect Pout

NOTICE: Please go to the SVG tab at the top of my blog for important information regarding SVG downloads. 

I am going to be working on adding some of my previously created files - ones that I have test cut and/or used on layouts. I will try to give as much information as I can regarding the creation of each. The link below the file image will take you to my 4shared account to download a .zip file.

Up first is a file I call "Pout." I am including a layout I did with the girls image. I did not use the word pout but instead converted a portion of a wordart downloaded from Studio Bethany. Because the Perfect Pout words are not my design, I am not sharing those here. Because I needed the image to be quite small, I opted to hand draw the eyes and pout.