Sketch N Scrap Inspired by Sketch #9

Today I'm here with the newest Inspired By sketch from Sketch-N-Scrap. Don't forget to play along and add your layout to the SNS blog for a chance to win.

The photo in this layout is from Brileigh's first haircut which was just a couple of weeks ago. It took some talking to, but she finally agreed to have her hair cut. As long as it was just a little trim. She is such a Rapunzel! 

For my layout, I started by cutting out 10 circles on the left side of the paper using my cricut. I then layered different papers underneath and embellished them on the top side with different little items.

I dug through my little embellishment drawer for some items and made some new for the left side. I also added some of Brileigh's newly cut hair to the layout securing it with washi tape.

Once again I turned to Illustrator to design my title piece and cut it out with my cricut.

Items I used in this layout:

Fancy Pants Designs • Childish Things • Book Shelf

Crate Paper • Emma's Shoppe Collection • Dolls

Cosmo Cricket • Little Girls • Biography Collection

Ranger • Stickles • Gold

ATG Gun

Adobe Illustrator

Cricut Expression

Paper Studious • 1.5" Scallop Punch

Vaessen Creative • 1" Butterfly Punch

Banners & Embellishments

Yesterday I put together some banners and I'll take you through the steps. Super easy and so many ways to embellish.

I started with a good ole cereal box. The cheapest chipboard around. I want my banners sturdy so the cardboard adds that stiff backing.

I measured out 3x2" rectangles and cut them out with my rotary blade. Then I made the banner shape on one cut it with scissors and used it as a template on the others. 

Next I glued the banners onto sheets of old book paper, covering both sides. This old paper is extremely fragile, but once adhered to the chipboard, it is very sturdy.

Next I used my walnut distress stain and ink pad to color the edges giving the banners a nice distressed look.

To make the banners even more sturdy, I used a Crop A Dile Big Bite to add grommets to the pieces.

Next, embellishments! I pulled out some scrap paper my punches. I cut out a bunch of different shapes out of various papers. I also used my big shot and some thinlit dies for more shapes. Once I had a pile of shapes I inked the edges and started layering pieces.

I ended up with 16 unique embellishments perfect for different projects. These are great little pieces to use on tags, cards, layouts, mini albums and more. I used pop dots to give them extra dimension.

I picked out 5 from above and added them to my banner. The banner was strung with some jute to complete the look.

 

The banner was made to embellish a piece I was working on. I took an old drawer I found at a flea market and painted the bottom with chalkboard paint. I'll attach hangers to the back so it can be hung on a wall.

I also finished this little altered chalkboard. The banner here is made from washi tape. Another fun quick way to make a banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

What I've been up to

So over Labor Day weekend I headed back to my parent's house with the kiddos. Mom and I went to a "junk" sale while dad watched the kids. And of course I managed to find some good things, no photo though, sorry! My dad raced on Saturday night so the kids got to watch Papa in his race car again. They even got to go on the race track during intermission to high five some racers.

 I had only planned on being gone for one day, but it stretched into two. When I came home I picked my garden over. Time for more canning! This:

Became this:

I also had been planning on building a cabinet for the last couple weeks. I had drawn out the plans, figured dimensions and purchased the boards. I knew exactly where it was going in the house and what was going in it.

Now that the kids have started school I have a few hours a day to myself so I can work on these things and not worry about what the kids are getting in to. I was able to put the cabinet together in one afternoon.

I made the shelves deep because they are going to be holding my antique crocks.

It's coming together quite nice ;)

After I nailed the last piece I puttied the screw holes and let it sit. The next day I was able to sand, paint and stain. After a couple of days of drying in the garage...

It was moved into the house.

Perfect! Now I can get back to my regular crafting. I hope to have some new goodies done in the very near future, so stay tuned!

Sketch N Scrap Card Challenge #33

Today I have a new card sketch for you from Sketch-N-Scrap. The prize is from Robin's Nest this month, so make sure you get your card uploaded to the blog today!

For my card I kept it simple adding some scrap paper from Fancy Pants for the banners. The cupcake is a stamp from Kaiser Crafts that I fussy cut out and colored with my Faber Castell markers.

Work Tray Wednesday

Today's work doesn't quite fit in the tray ;)

Sketch N Scrap Layout Challenge #64

Here is a great sketch from Sketch N Scrap. We have a great prize from Robin's Nest this month so don't forget to upload your take on the sketch to the SNS blog.

The kids had their first experience with BB guns a few months back and they really thought they were sharp shooters. These pictures were perfect for this layout. I used a line from American Crafts and did some fussy cutting to make the embellishments.

I designed the title in Adobe Illustrator and cut it out with my cricut. I covered the piece in glossy accents to give it an puffy epoxy look.

I layered different papers to add color to the overall layout. The little triangle arrows were cut out of one of the paper.

Items I used in this layout:

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Deer Creek

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Wolf Creek

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Buffalo Lake

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Twin Lakes

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Elk Creek Trail

American Crafts • Campy Trails • Evergreen Point

Ranger • Glossy Accents

Adobe Illustrator

Cricut Expression

Scotch ATG Gun

 

More Garden Goodness - Sun Dried Tomatoes, My Way

So, do you have a dehydrator? If you don't, you need one. I have this small one and it is awesome. So many things you can do and I've barely scratched the surface.

One of my favorite things to make with mine is sun dried tomatoes. Years ago when I started gardening and planted my first cherry tomato plants I realized I had more tomatoes than could be eaten. So I searched online for ways to preserve them. My first attempts were in the oven with salt and oil poured on. They were alright, but what a mess and the time, not to mention running the oven all day long in summer. Yuck. So I tried them with the dehydrator and fell in love. Basically I slice my tomatoes in half and layer them cut side up in my dehydrator. Plug it in and let them sit all night long.

 Now to clarify, I don't dehydrate my tomatoes to a crisp. I like them a little chewy. Seriously I can eat them like candy. So when I take them out they are still a little squishy, but by no means runny.

 Once in a while I throw in a layer of chili peppers from the garden. These will be ground up for chili pepper. When I am dehydrating these guys it goes to the garage. Peppers can be a little hard to breath in.

 Now because my tomatoes are not completely dried out I can't just store them in bags in the pantry. They would end up molding. So I separate them out in portion bags and vacuum seal them and throw them in the freezer.

  These tomatoes are awesome in pastas, salads and I like to use them on veggie pizza rather than the ripe ones.

 As shown in the photo above I've been getting a lot of different produce canned lately. Tomato halves, tomato paste, banana peppers, pickles etc. And the other day I made a batch of spaghetti sauce, ohhh yum.

I also had my first canning accident. Whilst stirring my spaghetti sauce some bubbled up and melted the skin right off my arm. Ouch. I'm a little more careful with my stirs now.

Work Tray Wednesday

Yep, that's my work tray, time to get to work!

All in a days fun.

So recently I've been trying to check off a lot of my "to do's". I've had some pieces sitting in the garage that needed painting and we had a decent day weather wise so I decided to tackle that project. I debated what to do with the kids. Leave them to run crazy in the house, zombie them out with a cartoon, or do what they asked and let them play outside. The only reason I feared #3 was because we had gotten some rain recently and we do not have a lawn as of yet. So after lining them up and explaining some "rules" basically play nice and STAY OUT OF THE MUD, I set them loose. 

I pulled out my recently bought paints and chose my color and got to work.

 I look out the garage and see the boys hovering around a nearby mud puddle. I remind them of the rules and get reassured that they are just "fishing". Deep down I already know where this is going...

The next time I look out to check on them, can you believe they just accidently fell in? "Not on purpose mom!" That was their story and they were sticking to it. I wonder if their shoes had fallen off prior to entering the mud accidently too.

By the time I had finished that one little shelf I had something bigger to clean up than my paint brush.

And yes, Brett is holding a toad. Poor creature...

Music Monday