I love to collect and play with paper, especially making 3D items. I also love to collect fabric! I think I have a problem!!!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

MR. PENGUIN & HIS CHRISTMAS TREE

 
MR PENGUIN IN HIS NIGHTCAP & HIS
CHRISTMAS TREE FULL OF SNOWFLAKES
Mr. Penguin was fast asleep when a whistling wind rattled the windows.
A sleepy Mr. Penguin stumbled outside and to his surprise, he found his Christmas
tree covered with beautiful snowflakes, his most favorite thing in the world!
 
Mary's svg files can be used in so many ways! Her wonderful
talent lets people like you and I have fun to just craft and play!
Thanks, Mary, for all your hard work and making it so easy for us!

I used the snowman box from CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE KIT imported
as is.  Make the box 6 panels black, and 2 panels white (this is the front). 
   Put the box together as Mary suggests, except when you get to the upper panels,
do not put on 2 of the black panels, one on each side of the whites.  Do not put on
the bottom, yet.  From CHRISTMAS CUDDLY FRIENDS, use the black.svg
in the penguin folder.  In the appearance box of your program,
(I use Ecal), I changed the svg to a  shadow at 2.0, made it thicker. 
You can judge what you would like.  Enlarge the piece to W 4.045 x H 4.746
(It looks large, but it will fit, trust me!!!) 
I clipped the wings at the top 1/4 inch in from the outside into the point, (the
point is what you see at the neck, like a heart shape stops there).
Fold the two bottom pieces at the points (of the heart shaped top) and place into the
neck of the penguin.  (Mine were placed about 1/2 inch in from the black edge and glued
onto the upper white panels and part of the black panels.)  Put glue on the fold and up about
1/4 inch just  above the piece to hold in place on each side.  After it dries, and you need
to let it dry to do this next step, gently flip the upper piece towards you so you can get to the
inside edge to put glue all around, just gluing the edge.  Let this dry before you go
to the next step.  You won't think the piece is going to lay down, but it will, next take
a pair of sharp tipped scissors and clip the upper outer edge sides.  I clipped every
1/8 inch or so and not quite a 1/4 inch in. I tried to eye it and stay within the black
area where I knew the piece would be glued to. This will get covered with the two 
panels you have left over.  Just snip the sides up till you can start pressing down and
feel it start to lay down flat.  Make sure you don't snip too far up the top.  Start at the
neck and glue the snips down.  Use a toothpick to help put the glue underneath if your
bottle is too big.  Work up, do the other side and it should lay flat for you.  The snips
will lay on each other, sort of like gathered lace!  Now you can place the black panels
in place to cover up the snips.   Leave the top unglued and let it just lay naturally.  It
will bulge out forming his forehead and you will be covering the very top with a hat
of some sort anyway.  Glue down the bottom two sides, I only put glue along
the front edge, it doesn't lay completely flat.  I gently bent the penguin's wing from
where I clipped it down to the point, as you see in the picture.  Then I clipped up
along the fold about an inch.  You can now put on the bottom piece.   I used the
feet and beak sized as the file is in the folder.  I layered 4 pieces to give it some
strength for each foot.  The beak is 4 pieces layered on the bottom and 2 on the
top, flip one the other direction to make his beak.  The eyes are just layers of circles.  
You can decorate the top of his head any way you like. 
As you see, it's still the top of the box.  I left it like that because I knew
my sock cap was going to cover it just fine.  My cap is a long sock!  So cute!
You can use anything stretchy and shaped like a tube to make your own cap!
 
 
The tree is a free PARTY HAT from SVGCuts and you can get it here:
And while you're there, check out all the other wonderful free designs, I think, if I
remember, there is around 250!  That's a lot of great files, FOR FREE!  How
generous is that!  Okay, anyhoo, I kept the tree simple because I love the color
green and I wanted the green paper in the background to show through.  The five
snowflakes are about an inch, yes I said an inch only!  Aren't they marvelous!
They are the SNOWFLAKES COLLECTION.   The ferns are from the #1.svg
in the "Extras" folder of 3D WINTERGREENS sized at W-10.700 x H-1.181 
I just started not quite 3/4" from the bottom and started gluing all the pieces.
I placed a mark every 3"  along my line to help guide me.  After gluing the first
round of green, I marked from that edge and did the same thing again, and again.
As you can see, it overlaps a little.  You can overlap it as much as you want.
I did curl my ends before gluing on.  I also used a hot glue gun, just because
it would have taken forever for me to glue all these waiting for them to dry
in between each gluing time.  But, I sure did have tons of spider webs!!!
Just use your hair dryer or embossing gun to blow them away!  You will have
to piece the green pieces together the first few rows. 
Okay, that's it!  Just decorate however you like, top it off and
Merry Christmas
from my little craft world to yours!!!
Lots of hugs to my Facebook family!
Hugs to all, Debra
 

Friday, November 23, 2012

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS KIT

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas
tree: the presence of a happy family all
wrapped up in each other."~Burton Hillis
 
This kit is so wonderful!  The card on the right is just beautiful
and can be adapted to many occasions.  The luminary bag on the
right is fast and easy to make, and looks so pretty when put together.
The vase/pitcher holding the amaryllis is amazing.  Mary has created
the flowers to look so real, just gorgeous!  And last, the family tree
shadowbox, how pretty is this!  The whole kit is just a must have!
Look at all the beautiful gifts you can create for your family and friends!
 
Enjoy crafting as you listen to Christmas music!  Could it get any better!!
By for now!  Merry Christmas!

MY LITTLE SNOWMAN

SNOWMEN MELT MY HEART
 
And this little guy is the one I "shiver" for! hehe!!!
Isn't he adorable!  From the CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE KIT,
Mary designed this adorable snowman box!  His hat comes off
and you can place candy or a special gift inside!
 
 
The scarf and hat ribbon is burlap!  Isn't that burlap just wonderful!
I found this and a green one several years ago and bought 3 yards of each.
I have never used it till now, mainly because I never wanted to cut it!
I love burlap and just want to keep it and look at it!
Gosh, I'm such a hoarder!!!
The bow on the hat is made from the burlap string I unraveled from
the burlap to give the scarf it's stringy edges.  Then I added a gorgeous
Flair Button made by Tamara at http://paperplaystudio.bigcartel.com/ 
The rosette on the scarf I crocheted, also using burlap string.
A little craft wire twisted together for the arms and that's it!
Oh, I can't forget the beautiful paper I used from
Echo Park This & That Christmas Paper Pack #1 by Lori Whitlock--
a digital scrapbook paper download I bought from http://www.jessicasprague.com/
But beware!!!  Once you start, you just can't buy one!!!
 
Well, thanks for dropping by!  And food for thought, (lol)--
A chubby little snowman
had a carrot nose.
Along came a bunny,
and what do you suppose?

That hungry little bunny,
looking for some lunch,
Grabbed that snowman's nose,
Nibble, nibble, crunch!
 


Thursday, November 15, 2012

OH, KITCHEN CHRISTMAS TREE!

Christmas Tree for my Kitchen!
 
Using a file from the CHRISTMAS COOKIE PARTY COLLECTION,
I turned it into a 3D tree!  
The tree is planted in a mixing bowl made from the 3D acorn
from the ACORN AUTUMN KIT.
Sugar cookies, kitchen utensils, and gingerbread men adorn this
Christmas tree that will sit on my kitchen counter!
All files, as always, are from http://svgcuts.com/
 
The file I used is tree_bottom.svg. 
 I cut 6 of these in white resized at W 8.26 x H 11.056
I cut 6 in green resized at W 8.415 x H 11.228
(the green pieces I just changed the style to Shadow [rounded] 1.50)
Start gluing the pieces together branches to branches, forming a circle. 
Only glue the branches.  Let completely dry before you continue on, or you
will mess up the next step.  Once  they are all dry and glued in a circle, you
have a tree!!!  To support the tree, I took an 8 x 11 piece of paper, rolled it
into a tight tube and placed into the center of my tree.  Once released, it springs
open and your tree will become very strong.  That is why you have to let
the branches dry before doing this step.  Now just play and decorate. 
I left the piece expand on top.  And curled my pieces, as you see on the top. 
You can put a shorter tube inside if you don't want it to show.
You do what you like.  This is just what I did.  Place the tree in your
bowl and secure however you like, I used aquarium rocks in a plastic
bag dumped around my tree, then placed in the bowl and glued down.
It weighs it down really well.  Place poly stuffing on top for snow, and that's it!
You can gently offset the center branches from the top and bottom branches
by bending.
  
The mixing bowl is acutally the 3D acorn from the
ACORN AUTUMN KIT.  I just added 2 extra panels to make it rounder. 
I resized one of the pieces you would use to make the bottom
part of the acorn at W 1.734 x H 3.733.  You glue together just as
you would the acorn, but do not worry about gluing the tip.  Once the
whole piece is glued together, the tips just lay there on each other
and you will cut a circle to fit the open on the bottom.  Then cut a length
of paper to go around the top for the lip of the bowl.  Glue 3 pieces together
for depth.  Bend these as you glue so they start holding a circular shape. 
I wrapped mine around a jar to dry.  If I have confused any newbies
 about this, watch Mary's video for the HIPPITY HOPPITY KIT here:
http://tinyurl.com/brqloxx    at svgcuts.com
When she is making the basket handle, she explains how to bend while gluing
several pieces together. My bowl was made with a heavy craft cardstock, then 
I inked the whole think with Tim Holtz Brick Red Ink. You can make it and use
 the extra panels to cover it,just like in the acorn, and give it some crazy designs,
but you will have to resize your own panels!
 
My ornaments are from
CHRISTMAS COOKIE PARTY COLLECTION and
AN AFTERNOON AT AUNTIE ELAINE'S
I just love the string of gingerbread men, the rolling pin,
and the wooden mixing spoon!  And the knife, fork, and
spoon are so detailed and so tiny, but cut out just perfect
on the Eclips!  And the sugar cookies are just too cute!
There are many others, you just don't see them!!!!
And my favorite of all, the cardinal bird chef!
Isn't he just adorable!!!! 
 The christmas topper is the snowflaker from
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS KIT.
Thanks for dropping by!  Hope you enjoyed my project!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!
 
MORE MEASUREMENTS!!!
The tree, itself is 11 inches tall.  In the bowl surrounded by whatever you weigh it down with, it raised mine up to 12.5 inches tall without the topper.
Wooden spoon               W 2.000 x H 0.439
Spoon, fork, & knife      W 2.409 x H 1.24
Rolling pin                      W 2.500 x H 0.341
Gingerbread  garland is  W 7.250 x H 1.352 
All the other ornaments are on the average between 1.0 & 1.5 inches.  Just size down to your liking! 
I cut 2 pieces of white, just the base for layering in the middle then 2 sets of the colored pieces, one for each side, so they look the same no matter where you look at the tree.  
I hope these help.  If I missed anything, just let me know!!  Hugs to all, Debra


Friday, November 9, 2012

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra - Marshmallow World

Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra preforming
Marshmallow World.
 

 
I love the way television variety shows back when could be so free
and just enjoy what they do.  Where else can two men enjoy singing
together without feeling like they were being watched and critiqued.
These guys were so fun to watch years ago!  How I miss this type
of entertainment!!!!

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE KIT

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
Ahh, how wonderful is this kit!!!!
The cute little snowman has a removable hat to reveal a container for Christmas treats or gifts!
Share your special recipes in this new recipe box which you handmade!
One of the most popular gifts people give is cookies in a jar!  Dress the jar with a homemade
label and recipe tag.  So cute!  The box in the middle is great for treats or a gift and also comes
with an optional window for the lid!  And finally, look at Santa, patiently waiting for his
introduction, in the background.  Mary did a beautiful job on this vintage-inspired Santa!
Stop by Svgcuts and check out this latest kit:

These recipe boxes are so fun to make and quick! 
I made one for me and the penguin box is for my daughter, Meggie!
Think of all the other possibilities you can use this file for! 
 
 A great writer, Donald E. Westlake, once quoted--"As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December's bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same."
 
So please be kind and treat others the way you want to be treated while out shopping this year!  Don't let the anger of the crowds take away your Christmas spirit!  And on that note, remember,
IT'S A MARSHMALLOW WORLD OUT THERE, if you make it one! 
 

 
 
 
 
 


Sunday, November 4, 2012

THANKFUL CUTIES

THANKFUL CUTES
Aren't they adorable!
28 characters plus a barn!
Use to decorate any fall or Thanksgiving project.
 
 
 
Here's a project I did using the cute little turkey!
A wall or door hanging to use for Thanksgiving!
 
 
Looks like little Miss Turkey has gotten tangled up in a sign
and I don't think she likes it!!!!
 
 
I used my sewing machine and sewed around the edge of the red
paper and the green strips are sewn down the middle.
I kept the whole project simple, since the cuties are just that,
so darn cute!!!  I didn't want to over embellish!
 
Thanks for dropping by!!
GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!
 
 

Friday, November 2, 2012

My NUTCRACKERS!


MERRY CHRISTMAS!
LOVE THE NEW KIT FROM SVGCUTS,
CLARA'S CHRISTMAS EVE!
HERE'S MY NUTCRACKERS!
I made the traditional one like Mary's for me!
The girl is for my daughter!

I kept the male basically the same because I love Mary's nutcracker so much!
The girl, I added gathered ribbon with tulle underneath instead of the belt. I
used tulle to cover her body and made rosettes which I placed on her chest
and a large one on her back. Gathered tulle for ruffles on her shoulders.
Used the snowflake rosette svg from the icy snowflake ornament in the
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS KIT to put on her hat! Thought it looked
like a crown. Used more lace trim around the top of her boots. I like the
white trim on the white boots!
The eyes in the kit are on the man. The eyes I used on the girl are from Brigit
She took this tutorial if you want to learn how to make your own:
Thanks for looking, and to all on the east coast,
God bless you and keep you safe and out of Sandy's way.
My prayers are with you.