Little Halloween Mummy Monster treat box

This was a quick little box that I made two of for my grandboys. I first saw this on Instagram. I thought it was darling. I tried to find out if there was a pattern, but I was on my phone (small screen) and had trouble finding any info on it. So, I looked at the photo and made it from scratch by myself.

However, after I was done with them I went onto my desktop computer and found that the designer was dianas.decorative.designs. And, she had an svg cut file on there for free! So, if you're interested you can check her out. If you're interested in making it, you can click here: dianas.decorative.designs

They are really cute. She makes hers as a banner with a couple of other monsters. I made a small rectangular box and glued the mummy on top. I also used a spider in my cutting machine software, and added some red glitter glue on the back so that it came out of the spider eyes.

Thank you, Diana, for sharing this darling project!

It's Haunting Time!

Filigree Pumpkin

 This filigree pumpkin from SVG Cuts is just beautiful. I especially love the pattern the light makes on the wall surrounding it.

I also love the texture of the pumpkin stem. I used an embossing folder for the texture, as well as a background stamp that gave it a even more textured look.

If you're interested in purchasing and making this pattern, you can find it here:
Fox Bend Farmstand SVG Kit. I believe you can also purchase individually (not in the bundle).

Happy Autumn!

A Camera for Sunny

This project is for my 4-year-old grandson. He gave me a list of what he wanted. This included:

1) A camera
2) With a knob to turn
3) To be able to put something in the box and have it come out of the lens.
4) It had to be "Bluey" themed.

So, here we are. I think I spent more time trying to figure out what and exactly how I'd go about this....like hours.... sleepless hours too. Most all of the pieces for this file had to be altered to make it all work. This is the SVG Cuts file for the basic camera that a friend and I made almost ten years ago.

You can find the pattern here: Instant Memories - SVG Cuts

Camera Lens:
The camera lens was made without the acetate, and was opened up where it attaches to the body. There is also a little insert (four layers of card stock) that goes into the top edge of the lens to close it off so "stuff" doesn't pour out. I added some lamination to a couple of the layers by the slit so that it would withstand the insert being removed constantly.

I had to make it fit the contour of the lower part of the lens.

Camera Body:
I had to modify the bottom quite a bit. Firstly, I needed to make a hole in the front center panel so that it would be open for marbles to fall through. I made a small box (about 2"x2.5") for the center bottom that aligned with the bottom of the opening of the lens. I used small scrap chipboard pieces for the sides and back  center edge of the inside so the new floor would have a place to rest to get the right angles.

I made a second camera bottom (two or three layers thick). This needed to be strong to hold lots of marbles. It also needed to be bent into a "V", and also be higher in the back. 

I also had to put a little channel from the front hole down through the lens, again so the marbles could easily slide through.

Camera Top:
This was the part that really messed with my brain cells.😂 I had seen a video done by Sandra Createinspain (click here for her YouTube), showing how to use LED lights with an off and on button. Hers was a bit different in concept, but I decided I needed to give it a try to work with my own. This took a couple of remakes before it finally worked.

If you're not familiar with them, the LED lights come in many different styles. But, they use the same principle. I used the Chanzon 3mm LED lights for this project. I've used the Chibitronics sticker LEDs for other projects. They both work great.

There's a negative and a positive that are attached to their side of the LED light, and then to their respective +- sides of the battery. I wanted to be able to turn it on and off. This required that I "break" the circuit on the positive side.

I cut some rectangles with two curved edges, and found the flattest (lowest profile) brad head I could. I glued the first four of these pieces (see photo below) for the switch in the order shown. I then inserted the brad. The three with the square cutout fit the brad nicely and it was flush to the other layers. Then I glued the fifth piece over that.

I added some copper tape on one of the curved edges (you could add to both curved edges if you wanted). I also cut three layers of the larger round cardstock circle for the top of the camera. 

This is where the led light ended up. There was a fold from the top to the side of the lid, but there were no problems getting the connection. You can see where I inserted the the LED light (into the hole on the lid edge). There was copper tape as shown in the map below, the tape ending up below and on top of the prongs of the LED light. Just a note: It's highly encouraged and effective to draw a circuit map. It will help to get exactly where you are placing things, and prevent having to re-do it a second time (like I did😕).

I inserted the braded piece up through the bottom of the lid and then through the larger circle, then fastened the brad as close and secure to the camera top as possible. I turned the top circle to make sure that the light turned on.

I made a knob out of two wooden rings, some foam spacers inside, and a little "flash" image with Glossy Accents. That was glued with strong glue to the large circles on top of the camera.

This turns and moves the inside piece (which has copper tape on one side) to complete the circuit and turn the light on or off.  

On the opposite side of the lid is a hole. I reinforced this with "rings" on a number of layers. This is where you drop the marbles, then travel down and out through the lens, when opened.

When completed, there was a piece of cardstock that covered the entire inside top and electronics, including an extra tab to cover the LED chip on the top front edge. 

Here's a little video of how the marbles travel:

As a side note. All of the graphics were made by me. The Bluey images were purchased on Etsy. I designed the digi paper from the images, lens circles, the marble drop ring, the lens insert, etc., and added print-2-cut images.

I'm sure there are more details, but I've probably bored any viewers well beyond what they could stand at this point.

Little grandboy loved it. He spent the night tonight and played with it the entire time. Marbles were going everywhere! He kept saying, "I love my camera!" Sweetest boy ever!

Smile! You're on Sunny's Camera!

HP Sorting Hats - Hogsmeade Houses

 I'm not quite sure what to call this project. I've never seen anything like it. My 8-year-old grandson is reading the 4th Harry Potter book. He saw a photo of someone that made sorting hats as cookies, with a little indentation on the inside. A small house charm was made, decorated and inserted before the front of the cookie was attached. Then, when you'd break the cookie you'd get to eat both  house charm and the cookie.

What does this have to do with me and paper crafting? I received a message with a photo of the cookies which said that my grandboy wanted me to make this cookie project in paper. Being a sucker for my grandboys, I ask questions. My older grandboy and I discussed what he wanted. Burlap on the back. Little house charms that would go into the hat. Four, one for each house, so someone could choose a hat and check to see what house they are sorted into.

Here's what we came up with.

We chose an image. I cut four of them. I also cut solid cardstock shapes of the hat, one extra for the top and two for the bottom. I needed to make some sort of well of area where the charm would set inside. I ended up using some thick twine around the sides of the hat. Also, at this point I needed to figure out how to close the hat. I used some 1/4" round magnets, 1/32" thick. They have adhesive on one side.

I made an insert to cover the magnet that fit between the twine. Like I said before, there are two layers of the brown cardstock here. Doesn't show up in the photo, but Wink of Stella was added to the stars.

Next I made the house charms. Four thicknesses of cardstock. Backed and edged with gold metallic paint. Stickles over each of the house mascots to give them some dimension.

Then the front/top. There's the photo layer and a solid layer glued to the back. I scored just above the brim of the hat and glued it to the bottom edge/brim. I attached the negative of the magnet to the positive already attached to the back. Then shut the front so the magnet would stick to the top in the correct position. I then got another small brown piece of cardstock to cover the magnet just at the tip.

The twine gave it the perfect amount of space to fully close the top.

And, that's about it. I can't wait to give it to him. I'm pleased how it turned out...whatever it is. Still not sure what to call it. I'll let grandboy name it. Update: Grandboy calls them just Sorting Hats. 

I made a quick bag in which he could carry and store the hats. He just loves the hats.

Can't wait to find out what house we all get sorted into.

"Hmm, difficult. VERY difficult.

Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind, either."

5 Tags of Summer Challenge

This was a short 5-day tag challenge with a summer theme for the Ecal, SCAL and Create Users Facebook page. Fun and easy. I made mine somewhat simple, with images mostly from Creative Fabrica and using cut-2-print.

The background on Tag #1 was an actual beach photo that I altered to be more diffuse, and then added a colorful wave. The tag, arrow and chair/umbrella were cut-2-print.

Tag #2 was a strawberry pot that I mostly picked to see if my Starcraft Solo cutting machine could cut really fine lines. It could! Love this cutting machine.

Tag #3 was designed in Infinity Photo, with typing on curves. The suitcase image is from Creative Fabrica, and the background image on the larger circle from Carta Bella's Let's Travel PP1 (digital paper).

Tag #4 is the beach/surfing/sun theme. The actual graphic showed green water, blue sky and orange/yellow sun burst. Once I finished the tag it had turned to blue water, pink sun. Don't know what happened, but it is what it is. Maybe it was the ink in my printer that caused this. I did have to refill some ink at some point. But, I still like it.

Lastly, Tag #5, is the fast food tag. Fun one to make. Ironic, since I don't eat this type of food anymore. But the Creative Fabrica images were fun to play with. So,

have some junk food (just don't overdo it)! 

Anyone feeling hungry? 😉

Come & Get It!

Father's Day Card, 2023

Here's the Father's Day card I made two of, one for my husband and one for my son-in-law. The pattern is from Dreaming Tree, Hippie  Bus Greeting Card. 

This is a darling vintage card that was so fun to make. And, my husband use to drive a VW van back in the day, so it was meaningful in this way as well. I designed the pattern on the surfboard, as well as altering the name tag to say  Hippie Father's Day.

I also designed the layout of the inside of the card. My husband really loved this card.

The pattern comes with numerous alternate wording for the front, such as Peace & Love, Hippie Birthday, Groovy Greetings, etc.

The pattern for the card also comes with a peace envelope, which is so cool!

Hippie Day, Friends!

Graduation Card - 2023

 I made a graduation card for my great niece from revised cut files from Dreaming Tree. The base of the card was a Father's Day card, but I designed the rest as I saw fit.

I used a glitter brush on black cardstock. I also placed the negative paper where the words were cut out as a stencil to place the letters and numbers onto the card.

This is called a twist & turn card (it probably has other names as well). The four panels fold into the card flat, and spring up upon opening. I made a gift card envelope for the bottom, and a sentiment card attached above the panels.

Happy Graduation!

Patriotic 3D Heart-Shaped Box

 The most recent make for the eCal SCAL and Create FB page. I used the heart box from Simply Crafty SVGs, and digital paper and elements from Bo Bunny. I added on the standing stars on the top, as well as the 4th of July banner.

The three graduated-sizes round elements on the front were also from Bo Bunny, and were covered with Glossy Accents. The star element on the front tab were made into three layers and lifted with foam tape.

Happy 4th to you!

April 2023 Challenge - Travel Theme - Chibitronics

In this challenge (eCal, SCAL & Create FB page) we were asked to make something (anything) with a travel theme. We were to mat it in our eCal, SCAL or Create software (I use Create). We were to select an appropriate font, have a shaped mat or base and have an interactive component. I designed this camera card, the base of such being from Love SVG. I used a Fiskar's texture plate to make the snake texture of the black on the front.

I added a shutter that contained a photo of my travel mates and a distant cousin in Brescia, Italy. We are at the San Martino Tower in Brescia. The shutter element is a freebie from SVG Nation (look for the step-by-step tutorial on her site).

The very back of the card was designed with the outline die cut top of some of the landmarks all in black. I then did another layer print-2-cut of the image. Most of the print design is done in Affinity Photo, saved as a png file, then traced in Create. Here's the front with just the basic elements, less the shutter portion. I decided where I wanted the light (flash), and punched a small hole.

I then took the second copy of that front, placed them together and put a pencil mark in the hole to mark the place where the chibi light will be.

I next took just the back piece of the camera, the copper foil tape, the disc battery and the chibi chip.

I used the chibi site to get ideas for how to "make it go." I first applied the copper foil, the positive side on the right and the negative on the left. I left around an 8th of an inch away. The place in between the tape is where the pencil mark I made where the light will be. The chibi chip is placed there, the pointed end on top of the negative copper foil and the wider positive side touching the right copper foil.

It's time to decide where the battery will be. I placed mine so that I would be able to make a button on the front to push to make the light go on. The negative side of the battery goes down, over the end of the left copper foil. I left the right copper foil loose until I get the foam tape applied.

The foam tape is necessary to give space for the copper tape and battery. I added a second layer of foam tape around the battery, as I didn't want the foil tape to contact the positive foil.

Next I took a small square of acrylic, and adhered it to the foam tape around the battery (on three sides). Before adhering to the top edge, I adhere the tape over the top of the acrylic, then wrapped it around the bottom so that it could make direct contact from the battery. But, with the acrylic well above the battery, it won't turn the light on until I push the acrylic down onto it. If you look closely you can see the acrylic resting on my finger.

Here's the inside completed.

Please note that there are many ways to use the chibi chips. You can go to chibitronics.com and find lots of ways to map it out. Also, you can use multiple chibi lights in a given project.  Again, check out the chibi site or you tube for more ideas.

Time to take off all of the foam tape and place the 1/8" spine piece to the back of the front camera piece. This will wrap around to the front of the back piece. Then, very carefully place the front camera piece over the foam tape.

One you have it all together, you can feel where the battery well is, and this is where you'll put your circle "button," so that when pushed the light will go on.

Here's a photo of the spine edge so you can get an idea of the 1/8" spine.

Once this was done, I was able to add the inside panels, which covered the flap on the inside back of the card. The inside artwork panels were designed in Affinity Photo. The background digi paper is Carta Bella's Let's Travel. Then I added photos, ticket stubs and labels from our 1972 trip. Talk about nostalgia!

And, here's the final photo showing me pushing down the Chibi button and "flash" coming on. Very satisfying project!

Travel the World and Document It!