Enswirled in the pre-holiday hype!

Even though the temps are still in the 80’s I have allowed myself to start getting excited about Christmas. My favorite shopping day of the year is nearing {black Friday} and so I have started designing more holiday digi stamps and artwork. Let yourself get enswirled in the holiday spirit of gift and cardmaking with this newly released set of mine called...

Enswirled Christmas

It contains ready-to use clip art graphics that can dress up a hand made card, digital photo card, calendar, family newsletter or holiday gift. The graphics are provided in large 6" size for scaling smaller in eps, jpeg and png formats. The png files contain white details on the designs with transparent backgrounds. The eps files can be edited for changing color and used for scaling larger in size. Purchase this set at:

http://www.mygrafico.com/illustrations-cliparts/enswirled-christmas/prod_3852.html

A Reminder that No One is Perfect ;)

The other night I was working on a design team project that in my head I had thought out and planned so well, but in reality, I got so absorbed in the creative process and over looked one small detail...that when I took the glass and easel backing out of the frame, I never checked to see that rotating the frame to the left side would make the mounting upside down and the easel stand visible when placed back in...one small detail that I didn't find out until I was finished and ready to photograph my latest masterpiece. So, you know, it was one of those God moments reminding me that no one is perfect so don’t feel too overly proud of your creation. I learned to love and appreciate it, flaws and all and humbly share my mistake with you!

Family Thoughts Collage Photo Frame

This design team project was created using a frame made by Darice which is ready to decorate. 

My favorite feature of this project is the mini shadow box frame on the top right and the little message in the frame on the bottom that reads “you’re never more than a thought away”. I plan to put prints of our two daughters in the frame. I loved how the colors in this Crate Paper Restoration Collection go with our color scheme. And I love the shabby chic, vintage style too! And another new favorite purchase is the infinite loop trim punch from Martha Stewart. I will be creating lots with it for the holidays!!!

For more on this project, check out the post on Glue Arts blog for a supply list and instructions. It also includes the mini tutorial on how to create the mini shadow box frame. Here is a close up view of the shadow box frame and the flowers that I cut out of the slipcover cardstock, wet and manipulated to give them more dimension. I used Glue Arts’ extreme adhesives and U-cut it foam on this project.

My mantra for the day...learn to love your mistakes and embrace your human-ness!

Glue Arts: Collage Frame & Cards Galore

See my family frame project featured on Glue Arts blog today!

Glue Arts: Collage Frame & Cards Galore: "That's just what we have in store for you today!! Crate Paper is in the spotlight this week here on the Glue Arts blog. If you have never u..."

Fall Savings on my Digi Store at MyGrafico

Stock up on MyGrafico digital clip art, digi stamps, photoshop brushes, 

digi papers, scrapbooking collections and more...all 40% off!

The Celebrate Fall Sale is ONE DAY ONLY, Thursday, November 11 at

www.mygrafico.com 

Here are a couple of Fall Cards created with one of my new sets, Fall Splendor and a Fall paper collection called Feel of Fall, which features 12" x 12" textured papers.

No Sew Ribbon Apron - an excellent gift idea for the holidays

What could be better than combining two favorite things on a project? To create this no sew project, I paired up May Arts ribbons and Glue Arts adhesives. Imagine what you can create using ribbons and these adhesives. Check out the Glue Arts Blog for project instructions and supplies.

How to Create a Ribbon Loopy Bow with Extreme Adhesive Squares

This Sugar & Spice layout was created in hotel room with limited supplies and tools using scissors, paper trimmer, Bo Bunny Olivia Collection cardstock & embellishments and Glue Arts ribbon adhesive, extreme mini adhesive squares along with Glue Glider™ Pro and high tac adhesive.  This layout can be used as a sketch for creating simple layouts at crops or when you have limited supplies and tools at your disposal. The journaling area can be replaced with a title or a name.

Learn how to make a ribbon loopy bow following the photo tutorial below...

Unroll the liner of extreme mini adhesive squares and position end of ribbon on 

top of square. Press lightly with finger to transfer adhesive to back side 

of ribbon, then remove from liner.

Make loop by matching two end of ribbon and sealing together with the mini 

extreme adhesive square attached in step 1.

Place ribbon loop back onto Glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares 

liner to add another square of adhesive to ribbon

Make another ribbon loop and place one on top of the other, attaching 

with the adhesive square applied in the previous step.

Create a total of 8 ribbon loops, stacking and angling each symmetrically, 

and using glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares to layer.

Create a total of 8 ribbon loops, stacking and angling each symmetrically, 

and using glue Arts' extreme mini adhesive squares to layer.

Side view of finished loopy ribbon bow with embellishments layered on top. 

This bow was used as an accent on a scrapbook layout using double dot 

ribbon plus stickers & cardstock from the Olivia collection from Bo Bunny 

along with Glue Arts’ extreme mini adhesive squares, the Glue 

Glider™ Pro and high tac adhesive.

An alternate view of the loopy bow. This shows layering with embellishments, 

however, you can layer silk or paper die cut flowers or shorter ribbon 

strips on top to customize your own loopy ribbon bow simply by 

using your imagination and Glue Arts adhesives.

Turning Life's Tricks into Treats

Sometimes you have great plans and everything seems in order until life plays a little trick on you and you are left to scramble. This recently happened with our make-n-take project at a show I was at in Orlando.We had everything neatly prepared in kits, ready to assemble, but we discovered that the box was no where to be found shortly before the session was to begin. Richard ran on a mission to get replacement items nearby while Betty, Richard's lovely fiance, and I got to experience crafting on the fly. She is not a crafter and was a REAL trooper to step in and help out. Talk about designing under pressure. I just happened to have brought my Sizzix diecut machine with me and a fall leaf die. Hmmm, just gotta believe there was some intuition involved there!

We scrounged up some papers, cut up some ribbons as we waited for Richard's return. Then we would figure out the revised project idea. With some quick prep trimming and our Popsicle Stick Table Top Labels turned out to be a quick and easy to make hit! We joked afterwards how Betty officially crossed over to the crafting world and Richard may just come home one day to find her crafting away!

 I would say we made lemonade out of lemons, however I think it was more like pumpkin pie out of some smashed pumpkins!

The photos are a bit dark, but it gives you an idea of this easy and decorative fall project, which can be used for parties to label food at the table or used as party favors. I decorated the mini flower pots with trim and ribbon using Glue Arts ribbon adhesive and filled them with some M&Ms. Each of the popscicle stick labels turned out so cute and were made in minutes!

This was a Halloween themed version done with a Jolee's Pumpkin sticker. We used the extreme adhesive squares and extreme adhesive cartridge for the Glue Glider Pro to assemble. For the pots, it was the ribbon adhesive. The diecut labels were punched from kraft cards stock using a hand held punch from EK Success. This craft project is easy to duplicate for any holiday or them by switching out the colors and embellishments with the appropriate colors and themes for the season or occasion. 

Just had to get a picture of Richard and Betty with one of their make-n-take creations! The store owners loved the simplicity of the idea especially as a fun craft project to do with kids. Each person could add their own creativity in the assembly process to make it unique. You can wrap the sticks with ribbon using adhesive squares to fasten on each end, add buttons easily with the adhesive squares on back and make ribbon loops, too! Experiment to come up with some other fun uses for extreme adhesive squares.

Glue Arts: Gift Sets and Lovely Layouts

Glue Arts: Gift Sets and Lovely Layouts: Check out this design team gift set that I did for Glue Arts featuring stamp sets from the fabulous Hero Arts, gorgeous CS from the Girls Paperie and my favorite adhesives from Glue Arts. Perfect inspiration for the upcoming holiday seasons - simply change out the stamps and papers to suit the season.

A digi sale and some inspiration to fuel your DIGI CRAZE!

Digi designs are popping up in all sorts of creative uses...svg files are great to use to cut out shapes & designs for use on layouts, cards and all sorts of gifts. Pair them up with some vinyl like Glue Arts’ Car Accents™vinyl to create anything from Sports Posters to wall decor to decorating your car! These signs were featured on the Glue Arts Blog to inspire HallowTeen home crafting.

You can also print and hand cut digital designs to create paper piecings from patterned papers like the layout I posted by Susan last week. For project ideas think funky fall pumpkins and art deco skulls! My Hallowettes digi set is perfect for these types of Fall projects.

Or if you don’t have a die cutter and software to use digital designs in this way, you can create fun scrapbook layouts with one of my digital scrapbooking kits or themed digi clip art collections: Feel of Fall Paper, Love is Plentiful Kit, Antique Charm Kit, Ladybug Garden or  Peace Rocks. Patterned digital papers are great to pair up with svg shapes or digital brushes to create custom elements/designs for any crafting project.

If cardmaking and invitations are on your holiday project list, the verses and fames in these collections will help you with your designing. Use my Elegant Frames, Elegant Verses 1, Elegant Verses 2, Elegant Nameplates, Special Numbers, Hip and Happy Frames or Forever in Love Frames to create custom stationery, card sets, monogramed gifts or digitize the designs to make custom embroidered gifts.

Join the Digi Craze and save 40% today only (Oct. 21st) at www.mygrafico.com!

Live Life Creatively: What do you get when you combine Halloween & silhouette designs?

Live Life Creatively: What do you get when you combine Halloween & silhouette designs?

What do you get when you combine Halloween & silhouette designs?

Why it is my latest set of digital designs...Hallowettes!

The 7 designs come in these formats: 300 dpi eps, 300 dpi transparent PNG, abr brush and svg cutting files...all for only $5. Just think of the possibilities!!!

Use this set of Halloween silhouettes with distressed edges for your next crafting project. Have fun scaling, colorizing, hand coloring or using these b&w images for your projects. Also usable as b&w clip art. You can even digitize these bold art images for embroidery. 

Combine with patterned papers to create cool digital graphics and titles or use the svg files with a die cutting machine and software to cut out the shapes in assorted colors and patterns. Use the brushes to create Halloween overlays, patterned background paper and more!

Here is just one idea combining some of the graphics:

 Have fun crafting & creating!

Here's How to Do Digital Right!

I know the world of digital seems a bit scary for those who are used to traditional ways of scrapping and stamping, but there are so many fun ways to cross the bridge and try using digital on your projects. My fabulously talented friend, Susan Stringfellow, put my new Sodalicious set to use on this great layout of her son Chris eating an icecream sundae. Don't you just love how she printed the image onto the patterned papers and layered the sundae to make it oh so yummy! You can alos just hand color the graphics if you don't feel so skilled with using a knife to cut out the paper pieces.

She also made the title from the artwork in the set into a wonderful 3-D element using her cricket diecutter. To see more of her work, click the link under Other Creative Chicas on 

the right to visit her blog. She always amazes me with her fabulous 

handling of titles and the most creative use of embellishments.

Trust me you will be inspired!

Here is a close up shot of the sundae.

If you love her work as much as I do, nominate her on Cosmo Cricket's blog to 

be a guest designer and help her win their latest paper collection. 

Vote for her by simply leaving a comment on Cosmo’s blog raving about Susan Stringfellow.

To see the Sodalicious set, click here to view it in my shop at mygrafico.com