Kusudama Flowers

Materials: 3", 4", 5", and 6" square pieces of paper, thin flower wire, beads

Yesterday was crazy here!!  We woke up to no power, 18 inches of heavy wet snow and no sign of it stopping.  The power was off for about 14 hours and boy did our house get chilly.  My babies and I layered up and ran around the house playing to keep warm, we actually had A LOT of fun!

At nap time, I obviously couldn't play with my Gazelle or work on any projects that required her.  :o(  I wasn't so easily put off on crafting though.  I've been playing a little with origami and I've really enjoyed making kusudama flowers.  I LOVE the idea of them and the possibilities!!

Instead of sending purchased flowers, I can now make them and send send those.  The same philosophy I put into card making I can now put into sending flowers.  Adding my own personal touch and the person who receives them will know that I put my heart into something JUST for them!

I first saw these flowers when a friend I know made them as her bridal bouquet.  I'm still so very much impressed with what she did with it!  After talking to her, I did a little research and used this website to teach myself how to make them.

For future reference I made 4 different sizes (obviously using different size paper squares) and labelled them with the size square I used.  The other 2 were mainly for fun to see what using different paper looked like and adding a bead to the center.

My dearest sister-in-law has asked me to make her wedding invitations and flowers.  I of course suggested the kusudama flower bouquet and she seemed to really like the idea.  So, I am in the process of making a brides bouquet, 3 bridesmaids bouquets, and 3 flowergirl baskets.  With her permission ONLY, when all is done and her wedding has taken place, I will definitely be asking if I may post pictures here to show off my hard work.  :o)

NOW that we have power, I really MUST get back to working on those wedding invitations and Boss Kut Design Team projects!

Thanks for looking,
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Green Blend Award

Lori from REFLECTIONS from GRANNY honored me with this blog award on this post.

Please be sure to check out her blog and all the beautiful crafts she has created.  She has been such an inspiration and help in learning my Gazelle!!

Thank you so much for thinking of me Lori and ALL of your help!

Here are the terms under which this "Green Blend Award" are to be given.

1.)  This award is for any co-blogging friend who has helped your blog in any and all ways.

2.)  This award is for any co-blogging friend who has cheered you along in your blog building, craft advancing career.

3.)  This award is for any co-blogging friend who always stops by and is kind to you.  You can count on them to always be one of the great comments at the end of your posts.

4.)  This award is to be given to 3 to 5 Blends whom you feel meet the listed requirements.

5.) Create a post with the terms of use and publish your Blends of Choice.

6.)  Blend of choice may copy the award from your blog and proudly post it on theirs.

7.)  Blend of choice may continue the kindness by issuing this award to keep the circle forever growing.

I would LOVE to be able to pass this award on, but unfortunately due to the fact I don't have many followers or comments (I'll assume it's because my blog is a young blog and I'm refining my craft ;o)), I don't really have any one to pass it on to.  :o(

Many of the comments on my projects are from family and friends posted on Facebook when I share my projects there.  So a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all of you that have commented on and support me in that forum!

Much Love,

*´¨)

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Detroit Red Wings Cutting Board

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Detroit Red Wings
Materials: Oracal 651 vinyl (red, white, and black), Printable vinyl, Ink jet printable magnet sheets, Glass cutting board

Despite the Wings lost last night that ended their home winning streak, I felt the need to celebrate them!  I think that 23 home wins in a row is definitely worth celebrating!!

The idea to add vinyl to a glass cutting board was inspired through another member at the Boss Kut Gazelle owner's forum.

I took the Detroit Red Wing wheel and converted it to a cutable image.  I then mirrored the image because I placed the design on the back of the cutting board for obvious reason.  I cut the red vinyl first (and I've just noticed that I apparently missed a few pieces when I weeded the image. <sigh>  Well, it's mine but I would definitely fix that if I was making it for someone else.) and then applied it to the cutting board.  Then I cut the white vinyl and applied it.

Using the font Helvetica Medium available in the Funtime software, I cut out "Hockeytown North."  Again I mirrored the image and then applied it to the back of the cutting board.  ** For those who don't know, Traverse City is considered Hockeytown North because this is where the Wings have their spring training.**

Now my once boring glass cutting board doesn't have to hide.  I can proudly display it on the counter!!  :o)


Due to the fact that when I first went to cut the Detroit Red Wing wheel I didn't mirror the image, I was left with the wheel already cut out in red vinyl.  WELL, I can't waste it!!  ;o)  Knowing that I had a printable magnet sheet available I decided to make a refridgerator magnet.  I cut the shape of the wheel out from the magent and then applied the red vinyl to it.

Unfortunately the size of the magnet sheet was a little too small for the wheel I cut out but not too bad.

Below is something I did awhile ago but thought that it definitely related to this post.  Using printable vinyl I printed the Detroit Lion mascot and the Detroit Red Wing wheel from the Funtime software.  Then using the print and cut feature, I cut out along the edges of each and then attached them to an extra magnet sheet I have for the time being.  It's nothing permanent and I could easily remove them to put them else where if I find a good place for them.

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Mom's Birthday Card

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Heart Doily Hugger Frame (purchased at Boss Kut)
Materials: White Recollections value pack of cards and envelopes, Card stock, Vinyl, 1/16" thick 3D dots, and fine Sharpie pens

Here's a simple card that I made for my Mom (obviously :o)). I used Funtime font Impress BT Regular for "Happy Birthday Mom" and 1/16" 3D dots to add dimension.  I layered red vinyl on top of light violet cardstock for the "Happy Birthday Mom."

For the Heart Doily Hugger Frame (purchased at Boss Kut) on the front, I layered red cardstock, with violet patterned paper, and then plain violet carstock.

Inside the card I used a fine Sharpie pen in the Funtime font Ballroom Tango Regular for the poem (found through a search online). The embellishment is also in Sharpie pen using Nymphette font that I downloaded from dafont.com

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Many Thanks

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Many Thanks
Materials: White Recollections value pack of cards and envelopes, Cardstock, Vinyl, fine Sharpie pen, 1/16" thick 3D dots

Using a fine Sharpie pen in my Gazelle, I used the calligraphic frames soft two font I downloaded from dafont.com, I "colored" the frame around the card.  Then I cut the bottom part of the card along the bottom border of the frame.  Then I attached a black piece of cardstock to the bottom of the card for some contrast.

The "Many Thanks" file was shared within the Gazelle Owner's forum by one of the very generous members.  I first cut black cardstock, then used white vinyl on the "Many" and then red vinyl on the "Thanks."  Then I put 1/16" thick 3D dots behind the "Many Thanks" to add some depth.

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Valentine's Day Gift Boxes

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle

Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III

Files Used: Pillowbox (available through Gazelle Owner's forum), tag (available in Funtime Blue Book), popkut love bug (available for purchase at Boss Kut Die Cuts)

Materials: Cardstock, pens, eyelets, ribbon

I made these for my baby girl, the lovely little ladies in her dance class, and her wonderful instructor.  With Funtime I opened up the pillow box file and using the text feature typed a girls name in Fiolex Girls font (which I had previously downloaded from dafont.com), then welded the letters together.  Then with my Gazelle I used a Sharpie pen in place of the blade holder and "cut" the names.  I replaced the blade holder and cut out the pillow box.

Once I removed each of the pillox boxes from the mat, I had to finish coloring in the letters with my pen.  The Gazelle is capable of filling in empty spots with the engraving feature but for me, it was just easier to do it on my own afterwards.

I then embellished the box with some ribbon and the adorable little love bug.

Again using the ability to use any pen, I choose a thinner pen to write the sentiment, "Happy Valentine's Day.  From, Mickaela" in the Funtime font Architec on a tag available in the Blue Book in Funtime.  I "cut" the sentiment out and then the tag around it.  Using the same paper as the wings on the love bug, I added a strip to the top of the tag and finished it off with some thin white ribbon.

I added an eyelet to the side flap of each of the pillow boxes and threaded the ribbon through it.  Now all we need to do is go get some goodies to fill each of the boxes!!

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Mickaela's Thank You Card

Machine Used: Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Materials: Cardstock, hand paint, contact paper

I first started with a pack of plain white cards and envelopes.  Then using my Funtime Scrapbooking III program, I cut out "THANK YOU" on top of a heart out of contact paper.  I had already measured my daughters hand so that I knew how small the heart needed to be.  I weeded the "THANK YOU" out of the heart making sure to leave the middle of the "A" and "O".  Using transfer paper, I moved the heart and the middle of the letters onto the plain white card.

Then using my daughters hand as a "stamp" we painted her hand purple (her choice) and put it over the white heart.  Once the paint dried I carefully removed the heart and the middle of the "A" and "O".

Getting back to my Funtime, I took 10 hearts and welded them together making a heart border.  To keep from taking attention from the hand stamp, I chose light pink paper to cut the borders.

Our "hand made" thank you's are ready to be mailed!
Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)