Truck Birthday Card and Making Your Own Metal Foil Paper

Our friend's second oldest son turns four today!  They had a small family only party on Sunday since the dad had the day off and all of the kids were sick.  We were invited to celebrate with them.  I started this card last month, but finished it just before the party.

To make this card I used:

Lite Cricut Cartridge B is for Boy
Cricut Expression
Cuttlebug Machine
Diamond Emboss folder
Aluminum foil
Card stock
Xyron Adhesive Machine

To make the card I first ran my card stock through the Xyron machine that basically turned my card stock into a sticker, about a 4 1/2" X 5 1/2" piece.  The machines come in many sizes and having the different sizes allows a person to not waist adhesive, say if you just needed a little piece, but all you had was the largest Xyron, a lot would go to waste.  Then I adhered my card stock to a piece of foil slightly bigger than the card stock.  I trimmed the extra away.  I inserted the foil covered card stock into the embossing folder and then ran that through the cuttlebug.  I glued the now embossed foil onto a card base.  I also found some foil tape at Home Depot and ran that through the Cuttlebug also and then stuck it over the fold of the card having covered both sides of the card with the embossed foil.  It did not look that great, but I just left it be, perfection is not everything!  The reason for adhering the foil to card stock before running it through the embosser is so that it will hold it's shape.  Otherwise the foil will just flatten upon use and lose it's embossed design.  You can also buy foil paper or metal sheets, (that may or may not need to be reinforced to retain there shape), but living where we do with limited access to craft supplies we make do with what we can get our hands on.  I then cut out the truck on the Cricut Expression using the Lite B is for Boy cartridge at about 3 1/2".  At first I cut it out at 4", but that size would only fit on the card long-ways so I cut it smaller to fit as I wanted it too.  I used some removable glue dots to adhere the extra truck inside of the card so my friend can scrap book with it if she so chooses.

Sorry for such poor pics, I forgot where I put my camera so I used my iPod.  It's since been found, but at the time my mind was blank.

Here it is:

Card Table Play Houses

Tammy at she wears flowers is giving away a $200 Felt Playhouse that you put onto a card table.  The attention to details are soo awesome and they all are so cute.  Go check out her blog for a chance to win.  If I was 4 again I'd love one of these.  Who am I kidding?  I'd play in one now if I could get away with it!  :)  http://www.she-wears-flowers.com/2011/04/mazing-giveaway.html

and here is her Etsy page: http://www.etsy.com/shop/missprettypretty

My favorite is the Cupcakery for girls.  My choice for boys is the construction one.  Very fitting for this area. 

Enjoy!!!

Tips & Techniques: iPod Touch

I just found a great use for my iPod Touch that my husband got me for Christmas.  The iPod came with an alarm app already loaded onto it.  I sometimes use it as a gentler way of waking myself up. With a husband who is a shift worker (who alternates between days and nights) I often wake up after he is asleep.

But here is the new way of using the alarms!  I set the alarms to go off when it is time to take medications!!!

I went to the doctor yesterday for a sinus infection and he prescribed me two different medications.  One is to be taken 3 times a day and the other is to be taken twice a day, (or every 12 hours).  I also take a thyroid med every day, and sometimes another one my GYN doc has prescribed, so taking all of those can get confusing and some should not be taken together and some should be taken with food while others need to be taken without food.  So, I started to set timers for my meds and now I'm taking them consistently and I don't have to worry about forgetting to take them.  I can even label the alarms to say just what they are for.  Boy I'll be glad when I'm better and don't have to take all of these meds!!!

Another fun use of the iPod Touch are the game Apps.  ANGRY BIRDS is my favorite  game and is soooo addicting!!!  But it's fun to play and great for long car trips, using in the waiting room at the doctors, etc... I currently own seven, yes, 7 versions of Angry Birds, four of which are free.  A few other favorites are:  Cut the Rope,  Moron Test, (use it on your friends and watch them get frustrated, Hilarious!), Cat Physics-very challenging,  Pac-Man, and a new won I found,  Family Feud.  Plus a few others.  (Many game apps are free or .99 cents.

 -I can also download and watch Movies
-Watch T.V. shows on HULU plus
-Watch You Tube videos
-Download and play other games and brain teasers
-Check out Facebook 
-Check the Weather
-Use it as a flashlight
-Use it as a calculator
-Search the internet-(must be within range of WIFI for this and many of these applications)

-Use it as a baby toy, (the Baby Piano Lite is a great app and free!),  and Yes, I have let my friend's baby use it a few times now, but I refuse to let her older two boys, (4 and 5 yrs.), play with it as they might be more aggressive and there are the two of them and only one iPod.  (If you have kids and let them use your iPod or work construction or similiar type jobs,  I highly suggest purchasing an Otter protective case for it.  I found one for my husband at Radio Shack. A bit spendy at $40.00, but you want to protect your investment!!!)

-I can even download the Cricut Cartridge Handbooks with the iBooks app, and take it with me shopping so I know all that a cartridge will do, (cause the back pics on the packages don't do them justice!)

-Use it as an Address Book
-GPS, (sort of), as long as I download the map and directions from a WIFI location

-I've also got a few different versions of the Bible downloaded on it with the Olive Tree Book Reader app, (this is a great app, especially if I need  different versions of the Bible without actually owning them-most of these are FREE!
-Voice memos
- Write myself notes and memos 
-Take and view Videos and Photos, (although not as good as my digital camera, but it's so less conspicuous and I can take pics of ideas I see at Hobby Lobby and the like
- Calendar and reminders,
 and many more!!!  Again many of these apps are free!

Oh yeah, and I can Listen to Music!!! 

The more I use it, the more uses I find for it.  It basically is like a small portable computer and very worth the investment especially if you are on the go alot.  I started walking with a couple friends this year, but if I go by myself, it is so nice to have the music to listen to, so that I can enjoy the walk and not get so bored.

So if you've been wanting one,  I hope I've given you,  justification to buy one,  new insight into some of the many good uses for one.  So save up and get one.  Or better yet,  ask for one for Christmas, or at least money to go towards the purchase.  I'm sure it will be even better and much improved by then, as technology changes faster than one can even grasp.

Enjoy!

I'm Guilty!!!

Guilty of using my blog mostly to keep up with all of the other blogs out there!!!  I really do have some great ideas I want to share, but so often I'm caught up in reading other blogs that mine gets neglected.   I want to finish my blog about the flowers.  My Cuttlebug was returned about two weeks after Valentines day so that kinda blew the wind out of my sails on that one, but I'm hoping to make bouquets for our Ladies Tea at church this spring.  I also dyed some reusable shopping bags that I also want to share.  I have not done a lot with Close To My Heart yet, but hope to soon, plus I'm working on another big project here in my town, so please forgive me, but I do want to share, I'm just a bit busy and I get sidetracked often.  On another note, I have what I believe to be a really bad sinus infection!  I see the doctor tomorrow, so we'll see what he says, but at least he'll be able to help me.  I have pressure in my ears that make them hurt at times too, so if I don't go now, it'll only get worse.  So thanks for letting me have a moment of your time, and check out my favorite blogs to see what they are doing.  I need to add more to my favorite list-for more blogs check out my profile page!

Also I recently learned about One Word.  Instead of making a New Year's resolution, just pick one word to be your focus for the year.  Find out more about it here: HERE .  An addition to this idea is to take a frame, any size, some pretty paper, and then either write out your one word, or if you have a cricut, cut it out and glue it to the paper and hang it on a wall or place it on a shelf somewhere you can see it everyday so you remember to do it everyday.

Here are some creative ways to create your one word reminder: Word Art .

And a few more.  Just google word art for  lots of inspiration.

   

 

Tissue Paper Flowers

A friend called me up recently to ask to borrow my scallop circle punch.  She was surprised to find out that I only own one scallop circle punch.  I do have lots of tools and supplies but only one size of this punch.  She was making tissue paper flowers with a Dum Dum lollipop as the center.  I only have the 2" size and I love it and it has served me well, but I didn't think it would be big enough.  I couldn't immediately find it since I often use my tools and then don't put them back where they go.  (Actually I'm still in the process of organizing my work space and so many items still don't have a permanent home.)  I began doing a search on the internet to try to find the project she was wanting to do.  As I sat there thinking about the project I remembered that I own a couple of Nestabilites stacking dies.  I got them out along with my Cuttlebug  and got to work.  When I see or hear of a neat idea, I like to try it out for myself.  I had some cheap, white tissue paper that I've had for awhile from Walmart.  It's square in shape so instead of cutting it down to size I simply folded it up til I got close to the size I wanted.  I then ran that through the Cuttlebug.  I used the largest size scallop circle in the package.  I then used one of my small hand punches to punch holes in the center of the circle. (1/16" works, but the 1/8" worked the best.)  I didn't have any lollipops readily available, so I used a pipe cleaner, cut off of another project I had in the room.  For the center I used a bell that fell off of a pair of Christmas socks.  (They were fun, but drove my cats nuts wondering were the cat toy was, but not ever seeing it, (they LOVE the fishing pole toys with metallic paper and a bell.))    I then added the tissue paper one layer at a time, scrunching it together round the bell before adding the next layer.  After all of the layers were on, I then slowly opened each layer up, sometimes folding it backwards so that I could reach all of the layers.  I then flipped it back on itself so that it looked like a flower.  It turned out great!  Looks a lot like a carnation, but the peony it one of my favorite flowers so that's what I'm calling them.  After making that one, I tried to make them smaller and by using some lollipops I found in the house.  I liked the big ones better.  I had to try it in other colors so I went to the store and bought different colors.  Those are really fun, color adds a whole new level of beauty.  As soon as I get pics I'll post.  I'd also like to post a tutorial, but 'll have to wait til my friend returns my machine.

For the flowers pictured above, all I did was take a pipe cleaner, add a clear pony bead to the end, and wrapped about two inches around itself.  I then punched a hole into the center of the circles and added them one at a time to the pipe cleaner scrunching each one.  I then carefully peeled back each layer until they were all unscrunched and put back into place creating the flower.  I then added another clear pony bead to keep them in place.  I then found some green straws and slipped the straw over the pipe cleaner which then gave them much needed stability.  I may try to wrap the stems with floral tape and see what that does.

"My Quote"

There's a lot that's been going on with my extended family and I'm trying to get past a lot of the hurt that's been going around lately.  So I'm trying to compose a letter to everyone that is non threating and hopefully uplifting.  Maybe I'll post it here and you can give me your opinion.  So here's my quote, that I think came out of my own head.  If you've heard somrthing similiar, please let me know, so I can give credit where credit is due.

"Family is God's way of giving us built-in friendships.  On the day of our birth we instantly have something in common with each other, family.  It does not mean we will all get along, but all friendships take a great investment of time  and a lot of hard work."

---Amanda Smith

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday also!  To me that is.  Yes, on Tuesday I turned another year older!   No, I have not forgotten about this blog, I've just had a lot going on this year.  

We got to go home for Christmas, but we had to drive on Christmas Eve day.  We got there just in time for the first Christmas get together, but were a little late after unloading our vehicle and freshened up.  But it was so good to see everyone.   

The only down side to the whole week was that since my Grandpa passed away this summer two families have been very upset, and do not have my Grandma's best interests at heart- IMO.  So they kept themselves and all of their families away from  the rest of us so that we were unable to celebrate Christ's birth with them.  I mean, we drive all day long to get there and hope to see all of my family and all of their new family members, and they exclude us from getting to see them.  The whole thing made me very sad and not want to go on the trip at all, but I knew other family members were counting on us, so we went and had a great time despite of everything.  We may get to go home next year so I really hope all of this trouble gets put behind us.  The whole thing is literally making my Grandmother physically sick, you know the saying worried sick-well, it really does happen.  Keep them all in your prayers!  Thanks! 

Oh, I brought back something---the crud---yuck!!!  I hate being sick!  Hopefully I'm on the mend, but if this goes on any farther, I'll go see the doc.  I intended for this blog to always be about crafty things and happy, but that's not real life.  So hopefully I'll post something fun  soon.  Here are some pics of the bad weather we drove home in.  My wonderful husband drove the whole way--gotta love him!

 

Til next time!