Kusudama Flower Bouquet Assembly

Materials:  4.6 squares of scrapbooking paper, buttons, 20 gauge white cloth stem wire

I've been VERY busy assembling Kusudama flowers for my sister's wedding.  My best guesstimate (that IS a technical term by the way! ) is that I'm going to need about 200 flowers for 1 bridal bouquet, 3 bridesmaids bouquets, and 3 flower girl baskets.  With 5 pedals per flower (which have to be folded separately) that's about 1,000 individual pedals.  So, back to the first sentence . . . I've been VERY busy assembling Kusudama flowers for my sister's wedding.

For practice, I've decided to make some bouquets for my dinner table for Easter.

Here are the flowers that I've already assembled for this project.  I don't feel that the pictures do them any justice.  I am so happy with how they've turned out!!  The scrapbooking paper I used had beautiful designs all over it and I love the way that it showed up in the flowers.

Using these 2 websites I've easily learned how to fold and assemble the actual flowers:
Origami Kusudama Flowers
Kusudama Tutorial

After I have the flowers made, I get the 20 gauge white cloth stem wire and wrap the end around a pair of needle nose pliers.  This made it easier for me to wrap the wire around the button.

I thread the 20 gauge flower wire through the shank style button.

(NOTE: I chose the shank attachment style that way I could easily hide the flower wire)  Then I wrap the wire around itself so that it would be easier to tuck into the top of the flower.

Using a low heat hot glue gun, I first put some glue on the wire below the button and slid the wire down so that the button was resting on top where I wanted it. Then I added another small amount of glue to the bottom of the flower against the wire. I have seen a tutorial where she just applied glue to the bottom of the flower but I wanted to make sure that the button would stay where I wanted it.

Here's a single flower finished.

On a personal note: I decided to try buttons in place of beads (something that I've seen A LOT of other crafters use), for several reasons.  One was I wanted to be able to hide the stem wire, another was the options!!!  There are so many adorable buttons and I feel this allowed me another option to further customize a flower.  In the pictures below, if you look closely, you'll see that I used 2 different type of buttons.  One was the white pearl rabbit and the other are flowers.

Although all I've done here is assembled the flowers in a "vase" (hey, it was all I had that the opening was small enough to give me the look I wanted  :o)), for my sister's bridal flowers I will be making actual hand held bouquets.  I will also be making the bouquet tighter and adding some tulle as filler.  After the wedding in June, I will be sure to post pictures and directions on how I assembled them.

Check out this link (Very Basic Kusudama Bouquet) to see how I wrapped the stems for a hand held bouquet.

Follow this link here to see the Completed Kusudama Bridal Bouquets from my sister's wedding.

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

Mother's Day Card and Purses

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Tri Framette 0384, Pop Kut Lattice Butterfly BKD010,
Materials: Cardstock, Ribbon, 1/8" 3D dots, self-adhesive rhinestones

Confession time!  After TONS of research, I finally made my purchase of the Bosskut Gazelle in December 2011.  When it arrived I was ecstatic and intimidated.  INTMIDATED?!?  Unfortunately, that's true.  After registering my Gazelle and joining the wonderful support on the Gazelle Owner's Forum, I jumped right in.  Having never worked with any kind of software with a die cutter before I wasn't sure where to start.  Keeping it simple, I started with the beautiful die cuts that came with my initial purchase and the ones available through Bosskut Designs.  The Gazelle and the Funtime software make it so easy for a beginner!

The possibilities of this machine and it's software amaze me each day.  As I learn the software, I find the possibilities become more than I knew!  While I LOVE the designs available through Bosskut, I can now design and create my own cut projects and use their designs to embellish them.  There are so many tutorials online for making bags, boxes, or pop up cards and the Funtime Scrapbooking III software makes it easy to create your own cut templates.  With the option to view the grid line at any value, it makes it easy to be precise with the placement of the cut and score lines.

That story leads me to this Mother's Day project!  I found a tutorial available online for an explosion purse and immediately thought, "HEY, I can do that!!"  Following the tutorial, I made the score lines and cut lines in the appropriate places and VOILA a designer purse for my Momma.  OK, so maybe a designer purse in my eyes but I'm pretty sure that she'll think so too!

The Purse
After cutting out the base of the purse, I used the Tri Framette 0384 as the top and latch of the purse.  I started out by creating a mat of the whole frame.  Then in the Funtime software I placed a score line about half way through the outline and added 2 holes for the ribbon to go through.  For a little more pop, I also created an outlined of the buds.
With the option to use ANY pen in the Gazelle, I put a standard purple ballpoint pen in the blade holder.  I then "cut" the sentiment "Happy Mother's Day" in the true type font BlackJack.  Using the scissor tool, I cut the scallop around the oval.  I replaced the blade with the pen and then cut the scalloped oval around the sentiment and adhered the oval to the mat with 1/8" 3D dots.

Finishing it up, I attached a piece of ribbon handle and glued the mat to the purse.  I used velcro to close the purse shut.

NOTE:  You can add any one of the beautiful Bosskut Design frames to the top of these purses to make it your own!

The Card
I started with cutting out a standard 5x6.5 inch card.  I added the Pop Kut Lattice Butterfly BKD010 and some self-adhesive rhinestones.  A simple card that will speak volumes with a personal message added inside to Mom!

Now, with a little added gourmet chocolate, I'm sure to be her favorite this year!!

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)
Bosskut Design Team Member

Wedding Invites and RSVP's

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Materials: Cardstock, Black Organza Ribbon, Silver Brads

I started with a 5x7 rectangle and in the Funtime software I rounded the corners giving the invites a "softer feel."  I then cut that out in the black cardstock.

Then I made a 4.5x6.5 rectangle and again rounded the corners.  Using a flower available in Funtime, I placed it in the lower right hand corner of the invite and then cut it out in the pink cardstock.

With the fonts Lucida Calligraphy and Easy Street EPS I typed up the invite and printed it out directly on the pink cardstock.

I cut the black organza ribbon at about 24 inches and secured it to the back of the pink cardstock.  Then I glued the pink cardstock to the black cardstock.  Once those were set, I tied the bow.

I then punched a hole through the middle of the flower and attached the silver brad.

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

Easter Eggs and Wrappers

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Little Bird with Flourishes 0396, Bunny Egg Wrapper by Judy Stark BKD006, Scalloped Egg Wrapper BKD009
Materials: Eggs, Egg Dye, Vinyl, Cardstock

It's just about that time to get out the dye and get to coloring those eggs!!  I'm always looking for new ideas and wanted to see how I could apply the beautiful diecuts and text to my eggs.
Using a vinyl blade, the force set at 1, and the speed set at the lowest setting I cut out very intricate pieces with ease!  I also used the option of "weeding" in the cut screen of my Funtime software to make getting my pieces out easy.  I choose to use scraps of indoor vinyl that I had left over from previous projects.  You can purchase vinyl from Boss Kut here.

In addition to using some of the fabulous Bosskut Die Cuts, I added text to some of my eggs.  While my 20 month old son could care less if his name is on an egg or not, my daughter thought it was "awesome!!"  I absolutely LOVE my daughters' enthusiasm to my crafting projects!

While I have a very critical eye when it comes to my crafting projects, I did learn something about applying vinyl to eggs.  Make sure your egg is at room temperature and you take your time applying the vinyl to the egg.  It takes a finesse and patience that maybe I still need to practice on.  :o)  Also, the smaller the design the better it'll stick to the egg.  The Gazelle will have NO problems cutting the design you choose.  The die cuts and text that I used only measure an inch and a half!!  The one other thing that I think I would try differently is using an outdoor vinyl versus the indoor vinyl.  My thought is that it would adhere better to the egg.

Be sure to check out these adorable egg wrappers as well!!  They look adorable sitting at the table.

There truly are SO many possibilities with Bosskut's beautiful die cuts.  What would you do with them?!

Thanks for looking!!

*´¨)

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)
Bosskut Design Team Member

Easter Baskets

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Bunny Peeker by Lisa Schmidt 0302, Chick Peeker by Lisa Schmidt 0303, Bunny Egg by Judy Stark BKD 094, Egg Blank 0642
Materials: Cardstock, Blue Brads, Silver Brads

I started out making origami baskets in various sizes; 6x6, 8x8, and 10x10.  A tutorial for these origami baskets can be found at this website.  I just omitted making the handle of paper and choose to use ribbon or a Boss Kut diecut in place of their suggested handle.

For the 6x6 baskets I used the Bunny Peeker by Lisa Schmidt 0302 and Chick Peeker by Lisa Schmidt 0303.  I also cut a 6 inch piece of ribbon and secured it to the basket with a brad.  These peekers are absolutely adorable!!  More of them can be found at the Boss Kut Designs website here.  They piece together beautifully and the possibilites with them are endless!

On the 8x8 basket, I used the Egg Blank 0642 and created a name ornament using the tutorial located at the Boss Kut Training website here.  An easy and creative way to personalize the Easter basket!!  Again, I simply used a piece of ribbon and secured it to the basket with a brad.

I LOVE the training website and the additional support available at the Gazelle Owner's Forum!  Everyone is always very helpful and friendly!

With the 10x10 basket, I used the Bunny Egg by Judy Stark BKD 094 as the handle and secured it to the basket using brads.  Using Funtime Scrapbooking III, I took the background of the Bunny Egg and duplicated it.  Then with one of the backgrounds I rotated it so that it was upside down and welded it to the other background.  This is what I used for the handle of the basket.  The detail in this die cut is beautiful and I chose to use a vinyl blade giving me a nice clean and precise cut!

Now, I just need to decide what ones I'm going to make for my daughter's dance class . . . decisions, decisions, decisions!!!  :o)

Make sure to take some time to check out the other GREAT projects created by the Bosskut Design Team at the Bosskut Blog.

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

Easter Utensil Holder

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle

Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III

Files Used:  Pop Kut Grass Border by Judy Stark BKD096, Bunny Silhouette by Karen Taglia 0341, Egg Blank 0642 (all available at Boss Kut Die Cuts)

Materials: Coffee container, Cardstock, Pearl self adhesives

This project was inspired by a cute way to create carrots from utensils and napkins by Family Fun.  I thought that the idea was extremely cute but was missing that something.  So, using my Gazelle and the beautiful cuts they have available at Boss Kut Die Cuts I got to work on a holder for them!!

I started with one of my old coffee containers (cleaned of course), cut off a portion of the top, and applied light blue vinyl to cover up the label.  Then I layered a lighter green pattern of the Pop Kut Grass Border by Judy Stark BKD096 over a darker green.

I added 2 of the Bunny Silhouette's by Karen Taglia 0341 with pearl self adhesive's for eyes.

Found hidden in the grass surrounding the adorable bunnies you'll find many of the Blank Eggs 0642 cut out in different cardstock.  I honestly had the most fun hiding all these cute little eggs in the pop kut grass.  If there was a blade sticking up, I wanted to add an egg!!

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

From Our Pad to Yours

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used:  Pop-Kut Frog BKD098 (available at Boss Kut)
Materials: Cardstock, green fine Sharpie pen, 1/16" thick 3D dots

LOVE, LOVE this frog!!  Absolutely adorable and great for making some boys birthday cards!

I created the cut files for the cattails and lily pad using the Funtime Scrapbooking III software.  It's amazing how easy this software is to learn and the help from the great tutorials available at the Bosskut Training website make it possible to create your own cut files.

Then with the option to use ANY pen in the Gazelle, I used a green sharpie pen to "cut" out the inscription "From our pad to yours" using the font, Complex. (1 stroke engraving) available in Funtime and then cut the shape of a lily pad around it.

I then added a tongue, and google eyes to the Pop-Kut Frog BKD098.  When putting the google eyes on, I made sure to stick them to the pop-kut eyes and kept them from sticking to the rest of the frog so that they could pop out.  I put 1/16" thick 3D dots behind the frog for a little more added dimension.

So much fun and so cute!

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