July is
a very special month for me. It is the seventh month which represents
completion. I also joined this awesome design team two years ago this month. Coincidentally,
it is my birthday month!! It is only befitting for me to share a celebration
card.
I
decided to finally use my Prima doll stamps I been sitting on for well over a
year. Because she is kinda tall for a stamp, my card base measures 4.25x7. It
is this awkward size so it can still fit in a 5x7 envelope. This card is very dimensional and her skirt is extends off a bit.
I colored the image with colored pencils. I used the Lyric Prima Paper for the
mat as well as the embellishments. I fussy cut the collage and lace from the
same paper line. For the stamped image, I used an EK Success ticket punch. I
added some I Am Roses flowers throughout the card front. I also used
recollection bling to finish off the card.
Although
it is not pictured, I brought the outside elements into the inside of the card.
There was no way for me to take the picture without exposing the sentiment. I
forgot to snap a photo prior to writing it. Trust me when I tell you, if you
like the outside, you would have loved the inside :)
What do
you think? What is your special month and why? Thanks for stopping by, Kenya~
June marks the end of the school year for my children. This
year was bitter-sweet however. One of our favorite teachers decided to move to
California. While I respect her decision, I was really sadden that she will not
be my daughter's teacher next year. Because she was so loved, I decided to make
her a mini album to reflect different events throughout the school year.
As most of you know, I don't do mini albums often. Since she
was teacher I wanted to do a shaped mini of something school related. I thought
of an apple, but I decided to make the album shaped as a backpack instead. I
constructed the outside using Make the Cut and the basic shapes. I used the
shadow feature for the solid. The smaller outside pocket came from the gift bag
file from the Silhouette store. Inside of the pocket we (the children and I)
had a personal note of thanks and extra embellishments if she wanted to add
them later. I also added ribbon to
replicate the straps of a backpack. The closure are Velcro and I added a few
personal touches to the front and back. I also added faux stitching to make it
look more realistic.
The inside was simply done by making cardstock into pockets.
Once the main structure was completed, I added the pattern paper. I added some
photos I had and left open spots for her to add her own. Also, I used photo
corners so she could remove photos if she had different photos she wanted to
use instead.
The tags were made from left over cardstock and pattern
paper. One side is for more photos and the back was a journaling spot. The
pulls were made from fussy cut shapes from the paper collection and mounted on
cardstock which was punched out using a circle punch. I added faux stitching to
match the outside of the mini.
I used cutouts from the paper collection, die cutting
machine and embellishments I had in my stash to lightly embellish the inside. I
didn't want to over embellish since the paper was somewhat busy.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed today's project! Until next
time, Kenya~
Kenya here to share perhaps the simplest project I have made
to date for you all, but the most impactful! Lately, I have noticed how
important time really is. I mean, I always knew time was of the essence, but I
never really treasured it; you know? Every morning as I am getting ready to
drop the children off to school or running out of the door, I look at the clock
and time seems to fly.
My daughters are starting to get older and like being in the
bathroom. The unfortunate thing is bathroom time is limited because our family
is large. I decided to put a saying on the clock as constant reminder to HURRY
UP!! As the song goes, "Time won't give me time"!
I designed this saying in Make-the-Cut. I typed my saying
and welded the words.
Next I used the Bezier Warp tool (located at the bottom
of the screen) to manipulate the words into a circle to fit the clock and sized
it to the glass on the clock.
Now it was time to cut. Use any cutter that is
compatible (I saved mine as an SVG and imported into the Ecal software to cut
with the Eclips) with MTC (Silhouette, Zing, Gazelle, Silver Bullet...) and cut
the vinyl. Use transfer tape and adhere to the clock. That's it!!! Simple but
much needed in my household!
Have a good and safe Memorial Day!! Tune in, the same bat
time, and the same bat channel....Until next time....Kenya~
After you read this, you may think of me differently. Perhaps
some of you can relate. Growing up, on Easter Sunday my mom would make me dress
in a frilly dress, gloves, patent leather shoes, and a hat. Ugh, I strongly, on
the verge of hated when Easter came around. I mean, it was bad enough going to
an overcrowded church but to be uncomfortable too...that was too much! Then to
add insult to injury after sweating out my freshly pressed hair, I had hat hair
when I was able to FINALLY take off that hat! I think out of everything, the
hat was the thing I could not tolerate. I did however like to have my hair down
:)
As I was looking through the Silhouette Store, I saw the
Easter Hat Box. I actually cringed. Then I had a thought, I could make it and
give it to my mom as a "prank" because she knowshow I feel about hats. I purchased it and
this is what I came up with.
I used plain card stock for the base of the hat. I inked the
edged of the scalloped edge. The hat assembled a little wonky, so to hide that,
I used tulle and added pearls to the base and top of the hat. To embellish, I
kept it simple. I added a piece of pink frayed rosette. I also add two yellow
roses from Wild Orchid Crafts. To finish it off, I added a feather.What do you think?
The paper hat is not so bad. Perhaps I am being healed in
the area of hat hating? I can tell you one thing, on Easter Sunday, I stick to
the meaning of the day and fellowship with my family afterwards (that is what I
LOVE about Easter aside for the true meaning behind it). Although mom is trying
her hardest to get my girls into those dresses LOL...but no hats!!! What is
your favorite or least favorite Easter memory?
I hope you enjoyed today's Project! Have a great weekend
everyone...until next time, Kenya~
Well, do you? I love doing mixed media! There is something about
getting my hands full of Gesso and using miscellaneous items. This project is
for my niece who has jumped on the mustache band wagon. I wanted to make her
something she could hang in her room.
I cut the mustache shape out chipboard on an electronic die
cutting machine. I lined the chipboard with thick pattern paper. Then I stamped
"mustache" all over the pattern paper and then added a thin layer of
Gesso. For the edges, I used crackle paint. To add texture, I applied texture
effects using different stencils. Then, I used different embellishments and die cuts
(Spellbinders) to reflect her personality, likes and enjoyments. Finally, I
added another layer of Gesso to add a little more texture.
I really like how this came together. What do you think?
Thank you for stopping by, Kenya~
A little while ago, I was at Hobby Lobby (one of my favorite
stores EVER) doing a little shopping. I went into the gift section and saw one
of the cutest jewelry holders shaped as a shoe. I remembered I purchased a shoe
file a LONG time ago and decided to do a paper version. That is inspiration for
the project. Today I would like to share my prototype with you.
For my prototype, I used the Safari Stack by DCWV. I also
used the solids from the Christmas/Winter Combo pack (the brown matched
perfectly). After I chose the papers, I selected my shoe file which was
purchased in the Silhouette Studio Store. (When files are opened from the
store, the entire file is grouped together and placed on the mat. Sometimes,
they pieces are larger than the mat and you must move ungroup them). I
ungrouped the images and separated them according to the colors I wanted to
use. Basically, on one virtual mat I had the outside of the shoe and the inside
and heel was on the other mat. On the inside sole piece, I added slits for the
rings that could be stored in the shoe. A word of warning, make sure you keep
in mind the inside and outsides of the shoe especially when using a pattern
paper or textured paper! It took me a couple of tries to get the pieces to line
up properly.
Once the shoe was assembled, I used some brown lace I had in
my stash (purchased from Hobby Lobby) and scrap pearl string I had left over
from a different project. I decided to make lace flowers for the front and back
of the shoe. This is a good trick to cover up some of the imperfections :) The
center of the flower is a cluster of single pearls and I colored them with a
Copic Marker (sand) to match the pearl string.
I am going to keep this one since it is a prototype, but
next one will be for my mom! I hope you enjoyed today's project. Thanks for
stopping by, Kenya~
Kenya here to share another up-cycle project with you! As
many of you know, I like to make something out of nothing. I feel confident in
saying, most of you do too! I am a member of the audio ministry at my local
place of worship. Sometimes, the CDs do not copy correctly or we throw away the
clear filler disc. I have shared an etching project using them. Well today, I
have a mini album using the "throw aways".
For this project, I used the CDs and KaiserCraft's 75 Cent
paper collection. The good thing about the CDs is the fact you will have a
sturdy photo album. I also used the Mod Podge Molds and other random
embellishments. To make the process faster and easier, I used a Cricut E2
preloaded cartridge to cut the circles to fit the discs. I sized them at 4.75;
which was perfect!
This is an album for my husband so I wanted to keep it
simple. So I focused on the front of the album more than the inside. I used Old
Paper Crackle Paint, Stencils and Stucco (Martha Stewart) for interest and
texture. The gears were made using the Gear Spellbinder Dies. They were colored
with Copper Inka Gold. I used Scrabble pieces for his initials. The title was
colored with copper mixatives and I used a flourish by Zva (just for a touch of
bling).
The inside was simply embellished with charms made with the
molds and extra gears. I also added a photo mat for pictures and he can write
journaling (I doubt he will) on the pattern paper if he chooses to.
That's it! What are some old products or "throw
aways" do you like to bring new life to? I would LOVE to know!Thanks for stopping by, Kenya~
OMGness Christmas is less than a week away! Have you decorated your home yet? I JUST finished! Sad but true. Today I
would like to share a couple of projects with you that is easy to put together
and get the kiddos involved! Best of all, you can use what you have on hand :)
Snowflake:
Supplies-
Parchment paper or a
non-stick mat
Pearls/beads loose
Pearl/bead strand
Hot glue (gun)
First lay down a dab of glue to the mat and press in a
pearl or bead.
Add a glue around the pearl/bead and add more beads
around the center bead
Add a line of glue making sure glue is touching the
cluster of beads in the middle
Design as you wish
If the children are doing this, please supervise them as the
glue is HOT!! The snowflake can be used as an ornament or as I did here as an embellishment
to this wall hanging.
Wreath:
You will need-
Die cutting machine
Wreath file-mine is from the Silhouette Store
Beads
Ink
Ribbon
Glue
Cardstock/paper (of course)
I cut out the circle and the leaves from the file. I did not
cut all of the pieces that came with the file. You may want to cut extra leaves
to make your wreath fuller. I used a blue and white cardstock which coordinates
with the color scheme of the tree. Once the components were cut, I stapled the
ribbon to the base layer. While I was doing this, the girls used ink to ink
around the edges. We assembled the
leaves and adhered them down. I added silver beads (again to go with the color
scheme, but you can use any color you wish) in clusters to mimic berries. We did
this randomly throughout the wreath. Once the wreath was dry, I tied the ribbon
we stapled earlier and added the snowflake embellishment.
Here is the finished wall:
I hope you enjoyed today's project! It is a good way to get
some projects done and keep the kids busy too. So from the Guard family, MERRY
CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS/HAPPY KWANZA and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Until next time,
be safe and I will "see" you all soon ;) Kenya~
Can you believe Turkey Day is right around the corner? This
year has gone by so quickly! I know for me, this year has had some ups and a
lot of downs. But through it all, I have a lot to be thankful for. Sometimes,
you have to focus on the good even though it is easier to focus on the
negative. I choose to be positive no matter what happens! Life is only as good
as you make it!
Today's project is a reflection of spending time with my
family on an outing. My family is the most important thing to me on this earth.
I am so thankful to have them in my life! These are my four little angels. As
you can see, they get tired of me snapping photos of them, but I don't care. I
tell them, when they get older, they will be happy I have so many pictures of
them. I know from experience. My mom lost 95% of my pictures growing up. When
the girls ask to see photos, I only have just a few to share. That is sad isn't
it? In a way, a part of my legacy is gone. I will not let that happen to my
girls! So I will snap, snap, snap at every opportunity! I know each of you will
too LOL!
Thank you for sharing
a snippet of what I am thankful for this season. Happy Thanksgiving!
As you look back over 2013, what are some things you are
thankful for? Kenya~
Kenya here to share a simple project with you! I don't know
about you, but I have a track record of buying scrappy products and not always
using them or using them to the fullest. Today's project is using some of those
unloved products! I hope you enjoy and that it will inspire you to pull out
some of your "stash" as well!
As I was looking for something in the craft lab, I found
some watercolor paper I picked up from the dollar spot at one of the local big
box stores probably a year ago. I remembered I had some of Distress Markers and
I had an idea. I also used my stamp/die combo that I used once before by Hero
Arts and Sizzix.
When my father passed away, a scrappy friend of mine sent me
a beautiful card. It had a watercolor effect on it and that was the inspiration
for this card. I used various colors of the Distress Markers/Distress Inks and
a water pen to add the scene effect. Watercolors can add a very subtle look to
a project. Playing with watercolors can be fun and a great way to express
yourself! I really like how this project turned out.
Share what's in your stash you forgot about or goes unloved?
Kenya~
I don't know about you, but sometimes I find jewelry,
especially earrings, to be irritating. While they are cute, after about an hour
of wearing them, my ears feels heavy and they are red. I have tried all kinds
but they all are epic fails! Sometimes I just push through but that is not
always possible. As a natural girl, large earrings work better for me, but as I
mentioned above, they make my ears feel heavy. Because of this, I started
making paper earrings. I will say up front, I am not a jewelry maker, but I
have fun pretending!
Paper earrings are light and you can customize them to be
like no other. In the past I have used my electronic cutter to cut different
shapes, but this time, I used my Nestibilities. To give them a little strength
and shimmer, I used Lindy's Stamp Gang Embossing Powder on them. The embossing
powder gives them a metal like look. I took some jewelry findings from my stash
for the earrings and a ring blank for the ring. To stabilized them, I used glue
specifically for jewelry. I do not recommend using a craft glue unless you only
plan to wear your pieces once. Although Glossy Accents may work well. Also use
a good quality cardstock. For mine, I used Stampin' Up cardstock. That stuff
can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'! To really jazz them up, you could add
bling! I was in a hurry and wanted to wear red accents (to go with my shoes)
for a splash of color against the black and white outfit I was wearing so I
KISS(ed).
I know they will not last forever, but I have managed to
wear these pair a few times throughout the summer! However, this is a fun way
to accessorize on the cheap! You can also use the same blanks, just use an
extra jump ring and change them out as needed!
Have you ever found yourself in a creative slump or in need of a quick card? Lately, I have found myself in both. For the last three months or so, my creative juices slowed to a trickle. I mean, I had ideas but when it was time to execute, I just did not have the oomph to do it! Then my mother wanted me to make her a card for a co-worker. I have to be honest, before my “slump” I would have jumped on this opportunity! However, this time I dreaded the thought. I needed something that would take less than 10-15 minutes to make. I did just that! It also helped me get my creative juices flowing once again. I enjoyed my craft room for the first time in a long time!
For this project, I used the Floral Ovals and Decorative Labels Eight Nestabilities dies. I layered the die cuts on top of each other. From the scrap pieces, I used a Martha Stewart butter fly punch. For the faux pearls, I used the white Viva Decor pens. I decided to use all white so I did not have to spend too much time trying to get just the right color pattern paper and card stock.
That’s it! It was very quick and easy to pull this card together. Most importantly, my mother was very pleased with the card and so was the recipient! What do you think?
So tell us, when you find yourself in a creative slump, what do you do to get the creative juices flowing again? Kenya~
Over the years it seems like I finally have ran out of space
in my crafting area. Do you ever feel like that? We purge and rearrange our
area but it is not enough! Not to mention the creative block that come with a disorganized space! Well today, I am sharing three ideas I use that
saves, maximizes, an organizes my space. Also it
did not cost an arm and leg either!
1. Shelving
I am a machine junky! I know a lot of people have more than one machine too! I use three tier shelving units to
store the machines I use the most. Since there is enough space behind each
machine, I can leave the shelves and cut a full 12 inches or pull them out if I
am using a larger mat. I can also easily access the machines and put them
ona portable table if need be. Since
using the shelves, I have an extra 2 feet of space! Shelves $19.99 each
2. Under Counter Storage
Kitchen items are great for craft areas! Very seldom do I
use the underside of shelving. That is wasted space! I use this drawer under
one of the shelves to maximize the space as well as for organization. It
attaches on the wires with a groove and tightened with a screw. It's very
sturdy. In this drawer, I store different blades, blade housing, and other
machine components. The drawer slides out and I can grab what I need quickly
and everything is in one area. The drawer is strong enough to hold ink pads,
stamps, markers...anything! I should also mention, you can use this drawer on
wood shelves too! Drawer $9.99
3. Cricut Cart Storage
When I first started out, I used to store my cartridges on a
peg board. As my collection grew and I did not use the cartridges as much, I
decided to store them differently. I use this small three drawer rolling cart.
On the top of the drawer, I store unopened cartridges, my Gypsy and Imagine
cartridges (they are in a binder). This adds more storage in a small space!
In the top drawer, I
store the physical cartridge. I used a thick chipboard and attach the
cartridges with a piece of Velcro. Each piece of chipboard can store 20
cartridges on each side of the chipboard (40 in total). The drawer is deep
enough to hold 5-6 layers of chipboard. In one drawer, 200-240 cartridges can
be stored. Larger cartridges are available...it holds more!
The second drawer holds the overlays. They were in
alphabetical order, but as I added more, I just put them in the drawer. I don't
use the overlays too often since the Expression 2 and Imagine has a virtual
overlay. I do keep the physical ones to refer to if necessary or to use in an older machine.
The third drawer stores the booklets. These are in
alphabetical order. I alternate the spines to maximize the space in the drawer.
I am able to keep all of the booklets and skim through easily to find what I am
looking for. Please note, since the books are the heaviest, place them on the
bottom otherwise you can warp your cart because of the weight. Ask me how I
know! Cart $11.99
For less than $50 I have more efficient space and storage! A lot of items in a small area huh?
I hope you found this post to be helpful! Do you have any
storage or organizational tips you would like to share? Until next time, Kenya~
I have heard many times, WHAT
IS JUNETEENTH? A lot of people do not know what June 19th signifies. Juneteenth
is an annual observance to celebrate the date Union soldiers enforced
the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all remaining slaves in
Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Texas was the last state in rebellion,
following the end of the Civil War, to allow enslavement. Although the rumors
of freedom were widespread prior to this, actual
emancipation was not announced in the last state practicing
enslavement at the end of the Civil War until General
Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on the "19th of June",
almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation
(nationaljunteenth.com). To learn more, click HERE.
Here is a quick and simple
project to celebrate using scrap pieces and a free image! I used the title
strips from the My Mind's Eye Made in America Paper I also fussy cut the banner
from that same collection. The sentiment "happy day" is from LilyBee
Designs. I thought the sentiment was fitting; don't you? I printed the focal image from the internet which was fussy cut. See
simple and I used what I had on hand ;)
I know some states observe
June 19th as a holiday while others do not. There will be a lot of parades and
celebrations going forth today. If you are going out to enjoy the festivities, have
fun but please be safe! Hope you enjoyed today's post! Thanks for stopping by,
Kenya~
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend! Today, I would
like to share a masculine card that can be used for any occasion. It is grungy,
distressed and I REALLY like how it turned out!
I used Swagger by Fancy Pants. Now I will be the first to
admit, I am not a huge fan of FP. I find it hard to work with their papers for
some reason. However, I can see myself using every single page of this luscious
paper! It screams MAN...mmmmhmmmm!
For some texture, I used stencils by Crate Paper and Prima.
Once that was dry (I used my heat tool to speed up the process), I was going to
add some white acrylic paint to some of the pattern paper. Side note, do not do
this OVER your project while being distracted....yep you guessed it; paint
everywhere. BUT it worked out because it added more interest and grunge to the
project! Sometimes accidents are good! The arrows were fussy cut from the
collection.
I used a sentiment from Close to My Heart. It goes with the
Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge. However, I hand cut the sentiment. I used an
eyelet to make the occasion. The wonkiness of the eyelet added more distressing
to the project. As said, some accidents are good! That's it!!
I hope you enjoyed today's project! Remember to like us on
FaceBook! Kenya~
Did you know Earth Day is April 22nd? Today's projects will
help us celebrate Earth Day, get prepared for Mother's Day and get the children
involved in the craft room. We are going "green"!!
Green House:
This project will help keep plastic bottles out of the
landfills (at least temporarily) and can be an inexpensive gift for Granny from
the grandchildren. Who doesn't love gifts from the grandchildren? If you are a gardener,
this will help you get a jump start of planting your seeds and protecting them
from the birds.
Take two bottles (water or soda-pop) and cut one towards the
drinking spout and the second bottle on the other end. You want to make sure
you cut them so they will fit properly. You may need to cut slits on one side
for a better fit.
On the shorter end add soil, seed and add water. Do not over
saturate, but water well as this is the water that will continuously water the
plant. Now add the second bottle. Make sure there is a good tight seal by
overlapping the ends. Add transparent tape around the bottle where the two bottles
overlap to ensure the moisture stays inside. Now you can decorate as your heart
desires :) The children can decorate their bottles too. If you start now by the
time Mother's Day rolls around, the plant/flowers should have a bloom!
The good thing about this project is no watering necessary!
It will cause it to "rain" inside from the evaporated moisture. Just place in a window sill and let it grow. Once the flowers get too
tall, the recipient can take the "green house" apart and repot or
plant outdoors!
Flower Power:
You may be wondering about the other part of the bottle that
was not used. I created the flower on this card from the remaining plastic. I
cut the bottle into useable pieces. Once it was cut down, I used my Sizzix
flower die to cut the shapes. Then I added alcohol ink for color and then used
a heat tool to shape the flower and dry the ink. The petals are held together
with a bling brad. To keep this card simple, I embossed the front of the card
using the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder. The paper is a scrap piece
from the Black Currant Stack by DCWV. I added a sentiment and DONE!
I hope you enjoyed today's "Green" projects! It
may not keep plastic out of the landfills forever, but at least they can be
used to make something beautiful even if it is short lived. I hope you try
these out...until next time, Kenya~
Have you ever saved something and had no idea why? This happens
to me all the time. A few months back, I received a package in the mail and it
included some circular packaging. Usually packages have that waded wrapping paper or
packing peanuts. When I saw these pieces I knew I had to save them. Why and for
what though?
I made an ATG stand years ago. When I purchased a new gun, I
did not have a place to store it. I thought about making a new stand, but I wanted
something quick. After thinking and getting tired of knocking it over because I
would sit it upside down, I remembered the Styrofoam!
I traced the bottom of the ATG Gun and cut the Styrofoam with
an Exacto Knife. Since the gun has a slight angle, the inside is not cut
straight across. Once the hole was satisfactory, I measured the Styrofoam and
cut a strip out of the DCWV Glam Girl paper stack (it has a lot of purple in it
and it is cute). I applied the paper and cut down some mesh bling. I added that
and then several flowers (stampin’ scrappin’, I Am Roses and Wild Orchid
Crafts) to the base.
I also decided to alter the ATG Gun to coordinate with the
base. I used the same sheet of paper and measured both sides of the gun. I added
the mesh bling to both sides, but flowers to one side shown. I only altered the
one side because I like the gun to lay flat when I change the tape.
I really like how it turned out and the gun can be taken out
at any time or it can stay in the base while being used! Yep, it is fully functional :)
I hope you enjoyed today’s project! Thank you all so much
for stopping by, Kenya~
Kenya here to share a project that was inspired by Renee
about a year ago. Tiles can be purchased at the home improvement store for less
than a dollar. If you are like me, I have vinyl just lying around. For less
than $5 you can make a beautiful custom gift for Christmas, house warming
parties, Mother’s Day, baby showers, wedding gifts and more. I assure you, it
will be a gift that will be cherished for many years to come.
You will need:
Tile (4x4, 6x6, 8x8 or 12x12)
Vinyl
Transfer tape
Weeding tool
Electronic cutter that can use 3rd party software
Software (Silhouette Studio, SCAL, FunTime, MTC)
Every program is different, but the concept is the same. Find
a fancy font you love, bring it into the program of choice. I used Regal. You must
separate the letter by using a rectangular shape and break the letter apart
then you can move the sections up and down. Size another rectangle and then
copy it. Place the rectangles in blank space in the letter. Once you are happy with the placement “join”
or union the entire piece together. Finally add your word of choice in the
center. For mine, I have the word FAMILY.
Cut out the image on the cutter of choice. Let me tell you,
the weeding can be tedious, but it is worth it in the end. Be careful because
some of the cuts are thin and you could lose them as you are removing the
excess vinyl. Take the transfer tape and rub it until you can easily lift the
vinyl from the backing. Carefully apply the vinyl and rub vigorously. Slowly remove
the transfer tape….and viola a beautiful tile that was inexpensive and took less
than 30 minutes from start to finish!
I hope you enjoyed today’s project! Thanks for stopping by,
Kenya~
