be-You-tiful Sign

I've been seeing versions of this saying around blog land and I decided to create my own to use on a sign.  I think the sentiment is perfect for all of us gals...no matter our age or shape, we are all uniquely ourselves and therefore, beautiful!  My pastor recently said something to the effect that our youthful beauty is fleeting.  That there will come a time when no cosmetic surgery or makeup or hairstyle will keep us up to the world's standard of beauty.  However if we have beauty in our soul, we WILL be beautiful, no matter our age.  Good advice!

This sign was created from a piece of scrap wood which was painted with yellow chalk paint.  I cut the sentiment and frame from black outdoor vinyl and applied to the wood.  No sealing necessary!

If you'd like to make a sign of your own, you can get the file HERE.

New Baby in the Studio

I teased you a month ago about a new "baby" in the house.  Well here it is...my brand new Silver Bullet cutter!  I've been wanting to upgrade to one of these babies for a few years and after finally admitting that I had outgrown my well-used Cricut, I knew it was time to "pull the trigger".  This is the big one...24" of cutting area.  In fact so big I had to order a stand to put it on because it wouldn't fit on the counter top!  Actually I'm glad it's on the stand...so convenient to roll it around as needed.  I also purchased the acrylic tables that go in front and in back of the machine.  These hold the mat level for best results.

After using this machine for a month, I have to say that it lives up to all the hype.  I haven't used all the features yet (any and all pen sizes for lettering, etching--on acrylic or metal, distressing and cutting fabric) but what I have done so far is awesome!  Intricate cuts are no problem---letters that are the width of a hair!  I made my own stencils---cutting through thick stencil material was like cutting through butter!  The print and cut feature--a quick calibration and it was spot on!  

If I wasn't busy preparing for a show next month, I'd be spending time trying out those unused features!  I can't wait to try out making some things from heavy chipboard and giving the pens a whirl.

I know some people have been intimidated by the Silver Bullet.  If you are familiar with SCAL and cut regularly on any machine, you will easily get the hang of it.  Support is top notch and there are instructional videos to watch as well as a complete printed guide included with the machine.  I thought that the machine was so easy to operate that this is what I cut within the first hour of getting the machine set up...

I'll keep you up to date on the new things I'm trying with my SB.  In the meantime, here are some of the vinyl projects I've been creating for the show: 

Vinyl on canvas. 

Vinyl on tile.

 Vinyl on glass ornament.

Stencil painted wood.

Glass Paint Review and Projects

One of the projects I was anxious to get to on vacation was trying out the new glass paint I recently purchased.  In the past I've used the Plaid Folk Art Enamels.  I have the complete set (purchased at a painting convention years ago), so even though I wasn't always happy with their consistency or coverage I hated to buy other kinds since I had all of these.  However now they are getting old and dried up so I was very interested in the Martha Stewart Crafts line of glass paint, also by Plaid.  I saw a beautiful project by Debra Mills in the June 2014 issue of PaintWorks magazine that used just two of them--Frost and Pearl so it was a great way to experiment.  

Here are just some of the glass projects I easily created using these paints.  I have to say that I love the applicator tip bottle which makes it so easy to do line work.  The paint is a nice consistency and covered well...both when sponged on and applied.  Now I just have to try some of the colored paint!

The glasses shown at the top would be a lovely set for a bridal party.  

They have such a lovely lace look.

You can purchase them HERE

 On this large plate I painted on the back side so that all of the plate could be used with food.

Fancy martini glasses...I added a design on the foot of the glass too. 

You can purchase them HERE.

 A covered apocrathy jar.  I'm going to display this with a battery tea light in it.

I have lots of these vases in the stash.  What a great wedding or shower centerpiece this would be.

View blog post for supplies

Distressed Birthday Card

Here's a scratchy, distressed card that features a trendy chalkboard sentiment--stamped (Hero Arts Birthday Blackboard) with Jet Black Archival ink, matted on white cardstock and popped up on the card with foam tape. 

Underneath the sentiment is an awesome scratchy distressed paper from Prima (Life Time Engraver).  The rulers were cut from a full sheet into pennants and added along with screw head brads (Oriental Trading).  

A great "guy" card that I sent to my Dad.

This card is entered into the following challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Monday--Scratched Up

Sparkling Dragonfly Card

I love dragonflies!  They are very abundant here around the lake...I love it when I'm swimming with Gus (my bulldog) and one lands on his head.  He's not sure what to do!  So this birthday card was built around the kraft embossed dragonfly diecut that a very generous online friend sent to me (Thanks Deb from ATT!).

 I used a few Ranger products to get the shimmer on the wings:  Perfect Pearls (Perfect Pearl), Distress Ink (Stormy Sky & 

Dusty Concord) and Distress Stains (Picket Fence, Brushed Pewter).  To the body I added Stickles (Starry Night and Lime Green) and then when dry, went over it all with Walnut Stain Distress Stain.

The background paper is from K & Co. "Jubilee"

I added two layers of lace, flowers with various centers, bits of a kraft diecut branch and a stamped (Inkadinkado "Celebrations") kraft tag. 

This specially made just for my bestie...and I was lucky enough to see her in person so I didn't have to mail this thick card!  I'm entering it into the following Challenge:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday--Make It Sparkle

Custom Lake Sign

Sorry I've been away from the blog lately.  I recently committed to being part of a local "Girls' Night Out" next month and I've been feverishly working to get enough product to take to it to sell.  I've made lots of new things to show you...just not enough time to blog about it!  However I'll be able to take some time off of the day job next week and promise to get back to my regular blogging schedule soon after.  Besides, it's summer...we're all kicking back a bit, right?!  

In the meantime, here's one of the new items I'm taking orders for at the event (and am also selling on Etsy).  I made the sample just for me---it's sitting on my great room shelf right now!  Signs are hot right now, and a personalized sign is even better.