Ain't She Crafty

2 balls + 4 t-shirts = halloween genius!

Thank you Pinterest, for the world's greatest Halloween costume idea.

Thank you organized craft room,  for letting me find a long enough piece of pink felt.

Thank you beachballs.com, for existing. (Have you ever tried to find a beach ball outside of the state of Florida in October?)

Thank you husband, for being man enough to be called "a giant boob" and letting other dudes fondle you all night.

Thank you said fondling dudes, for being aware enough to know what the pink ribbon stands for and thinking it was "pretty cool of you to put that on your costume" before going back to your jokes about motorboating.

Thank you Christy and Dave, for having a Halloween party. Apologies for our giant boobs knocking both plates and people to the ground throughout the evening. It was Don's fault - he doesn't know how to handle his boob.

Thank you Mom Jones, Karin, my Conyers, Lisa and all the other warrior women who remind us what strength and beauty really mean. Love the ta-tas!

last minute Halloween projects!

Waiting until the last minute for a little Halloween craftiness?  Yeah - me too.  With the weather getting colder (SNOW anyone?) in several parts of the country, this weekend is the perfect chance to put together a few fun, easy projects - with instructions included! Got little ones? Check out our kid-friendly mummy candy box below.  Happy Haunting...err...Crafting everybody!

Mini Halloween Garland

3 or more 12x12 patterned papers from 

Bella Blvd Too Cute To Spook collection

Scrap pieces of cardstock

Sizzix Sizzlits Mini Paper Rosettes die*

Manual die cutting machine (this project used the Xyron Creatopia with the Shapez component)

Trimmer

Adhesive Runner

Liquid Glue

Coordinating Twine (this project used The Twinery's charcoal twine)

1 1/2" punch

1" punch

Xyron 1.5" Create-A-Sticker (also known as "the X")

 

*Don't have this die?  You can also create these manually using a scoring tool.  Here is a great tutorial for how to do it!

 

Using the scrap cardstock, punch a 1 1/2" circle for each large rosette you will be creating and a 1" circle for each small rosette you will be creating.

 

Run the circles through your X and lay them on the table with the adhesive side facing up. Arrange them approx 3" apart alternating small and large circles.

 

Lay the twine across the circles and press gently to adhere.

 

Cut patterned paper in to 2 1/2" strips.  You will get a large rosette and a small rosette from each strip, and the paper is double sided.

 

Run paper through die cutting machine using Rosette die until you have the desired number of rosette strips.

 

Fold the rosette strips in to an accordion and use either liquid glue or an adhesive runner to attach the edges to each other, then gather the top of the paper together and gently push down so that the bottom spreads out to form the rosette.

 

Apply liquid glue to your first scrap circle and adhere rosette to the circle (press down for a few seconds to make sure it holds).  Repeat for all rosettes.

 

The mini rosette die also cuts out small circles for the center of your rosette that you can run through the X and apply.  You can also use buttons, letter stickers, whatever tickles your fancy!

Welcome little ghouls and goblins with this darling door knob hanger featuring Maya Road and Echo Park!

 

Boo Hanger

1 Maya Road ATC Coaster

1 sheet of patterned paper from Echo Park Apothecary Emplorium collection

Xyron 2.5" Create A Sticker  (also called the 250)

Xyron 1.5" Create A Sticker (also called the X)

BOO diecuts or stickers (letters in photo created using Cricut)

WRMK Crop-A-Dile

Coordinating Kaisercraft Gems and/or Pearls

Trimmer

Sandpaper

Black ink pad

Decorative buttons (skull button in photo purchased at Michaels)

Coordinating glitter or flocking

Coordinating ribbon

Scissors

 

Cut patterned paper to 2.5x3.5.  Run through 250 and apply to ATC coaster.

 

Sand edges of coaster to round corners and eliminate any overlapping patterned paper.

 

Ink edges of coaster.

 

Adhere BOO letters to coaster (letters in photo adhered with the X)

 

Insert decorative buttons upside down in to the X.  Rub thoroughly and gently peel button from adhesive backing.  Place adhesive side up on your work area.  Sprinkle glitter or flocking on button, spread with finger to cover entire button, and tap off excess.*

 

Insert decorative button with glitter/flocking side up in to the X.  Peel off adhesive backing and apply to coaster.*

 

*If you have excess adhesive on your button, use the tip of your scissors to remove.

Use Crop-A-Dile to punch holes in top two corners of coaster.

 

Select length of ribbon and tie both ends through holes in coaster.

 

Decorate as desired with gems/pearls.

Mummy Candy Box

1 sheet 12x12 kraft cardstock

Approx 1 yard of white party streamer (could also use toilet paper or gauze)

2 googly eyes

Xyron 2" Runner

Xyron Mega Runner

Clear tape

Trimmer with scoring blade

 Scissors

 

Score the kraft cardstock at 4" and 8". Rotate paper 90 degrees and score again at 4" and 8" - this will give you a tic-tac-toe pattern.

 

Using the top left square as #1 - cut the cardstock between squares 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 7 and 8, 8 and 9.

 

Add adhesive to squares 1,2,7 and 8 with the 2" Runner.

 

Fold squares 2 and 8 at a 90 degree angle to begin to create the sides of the box.

 

Fold up the 1,4,7 side of the cardstock, adhering square 1 to the back of square 2, and square 7 to the back of square 8.

 

Fold up the 3,6,9 side of the cardstock, adhering square 3 to the inside of square 2, and square 9 to the inside of square 8.

 

Apply tape to one end of the party streamer and begin wrapping around the box.  Once box is completely wrapped, tape the other end of the streamer to the box.

 

Apply adhesive to the back of the googly eyes using the Mega Runner.

 

Adhere to one side of the box.

 

Fill with treats and enjoy!

Crafty Canvas in Canada!

A few weeks ago I had the joy of teaching MnTs at the innaugural Crop & Create event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  While I love teaching techniques and showing people how to use Xyron products in new and creative ways - my own creative spirit is re-energized when I see people take a project and make it their own...and those fabulous Canadians did just that!

One of our MnTs was a darling fall tag using a Canvas Corp canvas tag, Maya Road mists, and the Xyron Creatopia (see bottom of this post for directions). While I created a basic project to encourage crafters of all levels - I was tickled that so many people felt comfortable experimenting with the techniques and products to create something that expressed their own personalities.  Take a look and see for yourself!

The original project:

A sampling of the projects created by Crop & Create attendees:

Thank you wonderful Saskatchewanians (yeah - I made that up...it works - right?) for sharing your weekend and your creativity with me.  I left you feeling excited and motivated and re-engaged - can't wait to come back!

Want to make a tag of your own?  Get out a few items and start creating!

Fall Canvas Tag

Canvas Corp canvas tag

Maya Road Mists

misting mask (if desired)

background stamp (this project used Hero Arts La Lettre)

black ink pad

assorted scraps of fabric (approx 6x6)

Xyron Creatopia with fabric adhesive refill

leaf die (this project used Sizzix Bigz Die Tattered Leaves)

die cutting machine (this project used the Xyron Creatopia Shapez component)

coordinating buttons, rhinestones, ribbon, assorted embellishments

Instructions

Mist canvas tag to desired coloring, using mask for additional shading if desired. Set aside to dry.

Run fabric through the Creatopia fabric adhesive.

Run fabric through die cutting machine using leaf die. To get an assortment of leaf colors you will repeat this process at least three times using different colored fabric. Set extra leaves aside for another project.

Determine approximate placing of leaves but do not adhere. Using background stamp and black ink pad, stamp image on "blank" areas of tag where leaves will not be applied. *Hint - for less of a "blocky" look, use a baby wipe to wipe off ink on outer edges of stamp before stamping on canvas.*

Peel backing off of leaf die cuts and adhere to tag.

Embellish as desired and enjoy!