Author Archives: apieceoflifespie

Embossing Powder {LOVE}!

Posted on May 9, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

I have a fun and easy project for you all today by simply pulling together some amazing Globecraft & Piccolo products to make a stunning faux metal key chain! This would make an excellent small personal gift that will dress up any set of keys.

Materials Needed:

Globecraft & Piccolo – Enamel/Embossing Powder Adhesive
Globecraft & Piccolo – Vintage Copper Embossing Powder
Globecraft & Piccolo – Ruby Red Slipper Embossing Powder
Globecraft & Piccolo – Real Rust Embossing Powder
Globecraft & Piccolo – Turquoise Lagoon Powder
Globecraft & Piccolo – Glastique Finishing Glaze Gloss
Globecraft & Piccolo – Soft Grip Tweezers
Globecraft & Piccolo – Beautiful Horse Charm Set
Hemptique – Hemp Cord
Stretch Magic – Beading Cord
Bead Gallery Beads
Bead Landing – 7mm Jump Rings
Q-Tip

Step 1: Embossing Bookboard Pieces – For the square bookboard tag, apply Piccolo Enamel/Embossing Powder and begin to layer Piccolo Turquoise Lagoon and Vintage Copper Embossing Powder heat setting and cooling in between each layer to create a patina effect. Repeat on opposite side.

Apply Piccolo Enamel/Embossing Powder to the small bookboard charms and dust with Piccolo Real Rust Embossing Powder for the horse and Ruby Red Slipper Embossing Powder for the heart, set with heat, allow to cool and repeat on opposite side.

Step 2: Punching sentiment with metal punches – Using a 1/8 inch lower case letter metal punch, punch letters into embossed tag using the tap hammer.

Step 3: Adding charm and sealing – Once letters are punched, apply a light layer of Glastique Finishing Glaze Gloss using a Q-Tip to the full surface of the tag. Add charm to the tag and then add additional Glastique to the charm to set and seal. Allow to dry.

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Step 4: Assembling key chain – Run clear beading cord through bookboard charm and tag and tie a secure knot at the top leaving a 5 inch tail for stringing beads and attaching the key ring. Run a piece of hemp cord through the tag and charm and tie into a bow and trim. Sting desired beads in 2 1/2 inch desired pattern and knot at the end. Using a secure and knot tightly the clear beading cord and trim off excess. Finally run through key ring.

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Once again, Globecraft & Piccolo’s products deliver a powerful punch when it comes to making projects using their amazing embossing powders. I just love how these ended up looking like they were made out of metal. They even responded to the metal punches like they were metal. Be sure to pop over to check out my other fun key chain idea at Globecraft & Piccolo. You can find these and other amazing Embossing Powders HERE!

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Posted in Globecraft & Piccolo and tagged beading, embossing powders, Glastique, Globecraft & Piccolo, Hemp cord, Hemptique, horse key chains, keychains made out of bookboard, metal punches, Pick Your Plum. Bookmark the permalink.

Life’s Cowgirl Theme Birthday Party on a Budget!

Posted on May 6, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Today is my two year blog anniversary! I can’t believe how good this blog has been to me. I have met some amazing fellow crafters that I think may be life long friends through this blog and it has given this very social girl that is now home raising two small children an outlet of creativity and social contact with ladies that share my same interests. I have been honored to grow this little ol’ blog of nothing into something that is part of my everyday life that has given back to me already so much. Today I am reposting my very first blog post ever as a crafting blogger, my first ever Cricut Crafted birthday party. Thank you all for sweet encouragement and support I have had over the past two years!

A Piece of Life's Pie

My oldest just turned 3 and she had a fascination with Jessie, from Toy Story, and she requested a Jessie and Bullseye themed party. I thought, “Not a problem” until I found out that to just limit the party swag to just those two characters was going to be tricky if I was to buy anything commercially and stay on a resonable budget.

I took matters into my own hands and started doing my homework and managed to be able to throw a cute and on budget themed birthday party that looked like a good amount of money was thrown at it.

For invitations, I had a friend that is a graphic artist design me a custom invite that looked like a movie stub that I could sent the file to Costco Photo and have two invitations printed out on a 4×6 photo. I then found a plain primary colors note card…

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Girls Just Want to Have Fun with Bubbles!

Posted on May 1, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Yay! It is another fun challenge week over at Decorate to Celebrate and the theme is “All About Girls”! The Design Team and Guest Designers came up with some great inspirations for throwing an all girl themed wing ding! As you all know, I am not lacking in the little girl department, so this idea came easy.

My oldest is heading off to Kindergarten in the fall so I am wanting to really make this summer fun. What I cooked up is an idea to throw a beginning of summer party play date that was only girls and all about bubbles! How fun would it be to just play with bubbles for a few hours! So here is my invite and favor to our bubbly extravaganza!

I created everything via my Silhouette and the bottle holder cut is a Lori Whitlock cut. I also found the cut file for the invite at the Silhouette Store. I pulled out some Glossy Accents (I had not used that supply in a very long time) to embellish the bubbles and dusted with some glitter. The paper is DCWV Summer Stacker and Fawn Lawn (Chevron) and the ribbon is from American Crafts!

Now head over and check out the rest of the fun projects over at DTC and link up your own “all about girls” project!

Thanks for sharing a piece of “bubbles, bubbles, and more bubbles” pie with me.

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Posted in Decorate to Celebrate, Silhouette, Silhouette Cameo and tagged bubble party favors, bubble party invites, chevron, crafts, cuts for water bottle holders, DCWV, DIY, Fawn Lawn, glossy accents, kid party ideas, lori whitlock water bottle holders, silhouette cuts, summer party ideas. Bookmark the permalink.

Roses are NOT always Red . . .

Posted on April 29, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

It is Monday and it is another fun filled challenge over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog. This week’s challenge is “Paper Roses”. You will need to make a project using paper roses and have at least ONE Cricut cut and LINK up your fantabulous project! If you are needing inspiration the Design Team came out in full forces for this challenge and there are some amazing inspirational projects!

Well… I kind of have a confession to make… my project is not made with paper roses. It was MADE by using a paper rose cut from Cricut’s Flower Shoppe, but it is not paper, it is fabric and jute. I also was on a double date in my craft room with both my Cricut and Cameo. They seemed to assume their proper roles and helped me come up with an amazing project.

fccbrose

I have seen this type of project floating around where people used buttons or fabric, but I wanted to pull out my Hempitique thread (Hemp thread) that Dave over at Hemptique sent me and see how it worked in regards to how it embroiderer. Boy did it deliver! It was strong, super easy to work with and the color is just vibrant! {LOVE}!

What I first did was sketch out the monogram on the light canvas fabric using my Silhouette and Silhouette sketch pen. Then using my Cricut, I cut out two sizes of flower patterns from Flower Shoppe (Scalloped 5 inches and 6 inches). I then traced the flower stencils on fabric, cut, rolled and held together with hot glue.

For the embroidery portion, I just used a tapestry needle and a high quality soft canvas and stretched it onto a 6 inch embroidery hoop. I just did a simple chain stitch and ta-da! I had myself my first ever made hemp embroidered monogram! After that was finished a stitched the two buttons on with the hemp thread (the yellow button was from a score from Pick Your Plum!). I then hot glued my roses on and secured the left over edges to the back of the hoop with just a few stitches. To be clear, I am not someone that you see with a needle and thread, even the hubs looked at me cross-eyed, but I am expanding my horizons and actually liking it (I only stuck myself once on this project 🙂 ). I am still afraid of my sewing machine and I am hoping I can gather enough courage to turn that thing on and make a few things! 🙂

I just loved how this turned out and I have a feeling I will be making more of these! Now be sure to pop over to FCCB, check out the great projects the DT has and link up.

Thanks for sharing a peice of “I can’t believe I am using a needle and thread” pie with me!

Linking Up To:

Everyday is an Occasion – Sunday Funday

I Gotta Create – Wildly Original Linking Party

The Real Thing – Real Family Fun

8 Comments

Posted in FCCB(Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog) Design Team Projects and tagged crafts, Cricut, DIY, embroidering with hemp thread, embroidery, flower shoppe, Hemp thread, Hemptique, Hemptique Hemp Thread, making fabric roses using cricut cuts, sketch pens on fabric using the Sillouette, using sketch pens on the Silhouette. Bookmark the permalink.

Samantha Walker Guest Designer Spot!

Posted on April 24, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Hi all! Today I am beyond thrilled to share with you all that I have the amazing honor to be the guest designer over at Samantha Walker’s blog TODAY! Yay! Before your head over and check out my two 3D projects using her amazing Silhouette cuts and paper from Carta Bella called Paris Girl, check out this fun and sassy project I made using four sweet tea pot cuts from her Silhouette cut collection. You can find these cuts HERE.

All I did was pick up a 10 inch blank scallop MDF wall hanging from Michales and designed the cuts in Silhouette Design Studio. I free handed making a 10 inch circle using the stock shapes and using the stock font, I wrote up the saying and the take the four tea pots, ungrouped each tea pot and only kept the layer with the flourish design. Then lined them up and sized the tea pots down and group together and positioned under the saying. sw word

I cut it out on vinyl, burnished to the wall hanging with transferred tape and spray painted. I allowed the paint to dry and and pulled off the vinyl. Hit with the sander and to distress and called it done!

This project is a bit of an inside joke around my house and the hubs and I have a good laugh when I coyly quote this to him when he asks how was my time with my girlfriends if I recently met up with them for a visit. So, in the spirit of sassy fun, I decided to make this to hang in my craft room.

Now be sure to head over to Samantha Walker and check out the fun projects and video, yes I said video, I made for one of the projects! YIKES! LOL!

Thanks for sharing a piece of “my sassy side” pie with me!

4 Comments

Posted in Samantha Walker Designs, Silhouette, Silhouette Cameo and tagged crafting signs, crafts, distressing craft projects, DIY, funny quotes, projects using the Silhouette Cameo. sign making with the Silhouette cameo, Samantha Walker, tea time crafts, using vinyl for stencils, vinyl crafting. Bookmark the permalink.

Clothespin are for more than just Laundry!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

ag6

Spring is in the air and what better use for clothespins, other than hanging freshly laundered sheets, is making a bright, full of sparkle and cheery wreath using 3-D Enamel gels from Globecraft and Piccolo, glitter and washi tape! I got this idea from one of my best blog buddies, Holly from Ribbons and Glue, and just have not got enough of making these things! I feel like Bubba from Forest Gump…, “Clothespin wreaths with washi tape, Clothespin wreaths with glitter, clothespin wreaths with fabric, clothespin wreaths with Globecraft and Piccolo 3D Enamel Gel . . .” I think you get my point, I want to make a million of these things and in my opinion the world could not have too many clothespin wreaths! 🙂

Materials Needed:

Globecraft & Piccolo: 3D Enamel Gel – Satin Honeydew
Globecraft & Piccolo: 3D Enamel Gel- Colbalt Turquoise
Globecraft & Piccolo: 3D Enamel Gel – Lemon Butter
Art Glitter: Elegant Eggs Mixed Pee Wee Kit
Art Glitter: Dry Clear Adhesive
Paper Issues: Washi Tape – Yellow Chevron
Paper Issues: Washi Tape – Bird on a Wire
Paper Issues: Washi Tape – Spring Bouquet
Paper Issues: Washi Tape – Bright Stripes
Paper Issues: Washi Tape – Pink Dots
6 inch Wooden Hoop
Clothes Pins – 31 are needed for this sized hoop
Clothes to My Heart: White Daisy Stamping Ink
Dauber
Celebrate It Ribbon – 1 ½ inch wide

Step 1: Prepping 6 inch hoop and clothespins Using white stamping ink and dauber, ink the full hoop to give a “white wash” appearance to it. Then ink the top and sides of the clothes pins for the same effect. Set aside to set and dry (this should only take about 10 minutes).

ag1

Step 2: Glittering tops of clothespins Separate out 14 clothespins and decide on how many clothespins go to each color of glitter. In this project, (6)glitter colors were used and divided out (3)clothespins per the two lightest colored glitters and the remainder colors had (2)clothespins each.

Apply Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive to the top of the clothespin, dust glitter over the adhesive, shake off the excess and set aside to set and dry. Repeat for all 14 clothes pins. The glitter clothespins will set in dry in about an hour.

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Step 3: Applying 3D Enamel Gel to the tops of clothespins Using (6) of the inked clothespins apply Piccolo 3D Enamel Gel to the tops of the clothespins and set aside to set and dry. For this project, two clothespins were assigned to each 3D enamel gel color.

ag3

Step 4: Adding the Washi Tape There should be 11 remaining inked clothespins. Separate them out to the number of washi tape patterns you have. In this project, there were five different washi tape patterns used. (2) clothespins were used for four of the five patterns and for the last pattern, (3)clothespins were used.

Stick the washi tape to the top of the clothespin using the edge as a guide for setting. Add pressure to stick. Cut and trim the ends and then trim down the side that has the excess washi tape.

ag4

Step 5: Assembling the Wreath This is clearly up to the crafters desire. This wreath was done in loose pattern of (1)washi tape, (2) glitter and (1) 3D enamel gel starting at the top and working clockwise down. Finish with looping 18 inches of 1 ½ inches of ribbon around the top and hang!

ag5

This fun, easy and fresh wreath will add a touch of spring to any door or mantel. The 3D Enamel Gels are a great addition to a project like this since it really ads a whole new level of texture and pop among the pattern wahsi tape and the sparkle of the glitter. Be sure to head over and check out my project using some new C-O-O-L product they have over at Globecraft and Piccolo! It is a MUST HAVE!

LINKING UP TO:

Everyday is an Occasion – Sunday Funday!

Gotta Create- Wildly Original Linking Party!

The Real Thing with the Coake Family – Real Family Fun

Craftin Desert Divas – Craft it Up & Link it Up Party #4

I Heart Nap Time – Sundae Scoop Link Party

Navy Wife – Submarine Sundays Link Party 28

Angels Homestead – Saturday Spotlight

Paper Issues – It is Serendipity

18 Comments

Posted in Globecraft & Piccolo, Wreath {LOVE} and tagged clothepin crafts, Clothespin wreaths, crafts, crafts made with washi tape, Crafts wreaths, DIY, DIY wreaths, glittering clothespins, globecraft and piccolo, Piccolo 3D Enamel Gels, Ribbons and Glue, tutorial using globecraft and piccolo products, washi tape. Bookmark the permalink.

Baby Got Subway Art!

Posted on April 17, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Happy Wednesday everyone! Today a new challenge kicks off over at Decorate to Celebrate and the theme is B-A-B-Y Showers! Sadly I am at a place in my life where my circle of friends are not having first babies, which means NO showers to attend, throw or dream about. But that does not mean there are not babies to snuggle, smell and love on. It just means the multiple children effect is happening and our type of showers are now thrown in the hospital room during visiting hours or at their home when you bring them a meal and a small gift . . . so you can hold the baby! 🙂

I made this for a dear friend who just celebrated the “birth day” of her #5 ! I am hoping I can trade this and a meal for a sweet babe snuggle time party!

Thanks to my Silhouette Cameo, this was a snap to make. I created the subway art using various fonts and positions and then made sure all were outside cuts and grouped together. I then cut it out on vinyl I scored from Pick Your Plum! I burnished it on transfer tape and then burnished on to the finished canvas.

For the canvas, I wanted to do some bright colors that did not scream B-A-B-Y! I painted the canvas bright yellow and then found a Silhouette chevron cut file! I cut that on standard white 12×12 card stock and then using a sponge, I sponged the red paint on the canvas using the chevron cut as a stencil. Once that was finished and dried, I headed down to the hubs workshop and hit canvas with a power sander to dull and distress. Once that was done, I added the vinyl.

Now be sure to head over to Decorate to Celebrate and check out the fun inspirations the design team has cooked up (word has it, we have some A-M-A-Z-I-N-G guest designers this challenge) and LINK up your fun Baby Shower project!

Thanks for sharing a piece of “babies make you want to decorate to celebrate” pie with me!

10 Comments

Posted in Decorate to Celebrate, Silhouette, Silhouette Cameo and tagged Baby gift ideas, baby room decor, baby shower gift ideas, canvas projects, chevron projects, crafting, crafts, DIY, Pick Your Plum, Silhouette, spinkle shower ideas, subway art, vinyl, word collages. Bookmark the permalink.

April Showers Bring Rainbow Smiles!

Posted on April 15, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Happy Monday all! Today over at Fantabulous Cricut, we have a new challenge on deck! April showers using an umbrella. Sadly, I don’t see much rain since I live in the ever sunny Southern California, but when we do see rain we normally see rainbows, which always make me smile! That was my inspiration for this week’s challenge.

This card was super fun to make! It is a 6×6.5 inch card. The base card stock is from Stampin’ Up and the inked edges is from Close to My Heart Slate stamp ink. I had both my Circut and Silhouette sharing duties. I found the cloud cut over at the Silhouette store by Lori Whitlock. I cut it twice, inked the edges and stamped the sentiment using Scrappy Moms Kids Incorporated stamp set. I used Pop Dots to add height to the layers.

For the umbrellas I cut each from Cricut cartridge, Everyday Pop-Up Cards at 1.5 inches using Recollection Bright card stock. I then ran them through the Cuttlebug using Cuttlebug embossing boarders. I added different heights using Pop Dots. Using mini Glue Dots, I added Dew Drops, from Robin’s Nest and Skittles.

This is going to be a hard card to let go, since it truly makes me smile. Now be sure to head over to FCCB and see the other amazing inspirations that the rest of the design team has cookn’ and link up your April Showers and umbrella project using at least ONE Cricut cut.

Thanks for sharing a piece of “who does not smile when they see rainbows” pie with me.

12 Comments

Posted in Cricut Cartridge: Everyday Pop-Up Cards, FCCB(Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog) Design Team Projects, Silhouette, Silhouette Cameo and tagged cards, challenge blogs, crafts, Dew Drops, DIY, glue dots, Lori Whitlock, Mini glue dots, Rainbows, Scrappy Moms Stamps, Silhouette, Skittles, Umbrellas. Bookmark the permalink.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

Posted on April 5, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

Just popping in today to announce the lucky random winner to Monday’s FCCB’s April Fools Day Blog Crawl blog candy of Heidi Swapp Swag!!

Drum roll Please!

Maida @ Loving Scrapper 101!

Congratulations! I will be in touch to get your mailing info!

For the rest of ya’ll, I bet you have noticed my blog got a bit of a face lift recently! The ever so talented and lovely Madeline, from TSV Blog Design has been my blog designer and I just love her! If you are in the market for a bit of “spring bloggy spruce up” then drop her a line!

Thanks for sharing a peice of “even my blog is getting a bit of spring cleaning” pie with me!

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Posted in Uncategorized and tagged DIY, heidi swapp. Bookmark the permalink.

Time for a Spot of Tea!

Posted on April 3, 2013 by apieceoflifespie

It is another fantastic challenge kicking off over at Decorate to Celebrate with this round’s theme being “Tea Party”! As many of you know, I am mother of two little girls so one can imagine the many impromptu tea parties we have around here. I decided to make this cheery chalkboard sign to hang on my kiddo’s playhouse front door to announce upcoming tea parties we throw for their dolls and play dates. I swear, I am such a BIG little girl at heart!

I found the wooden tea pot at Michales recently and applied a quick and dirty coat of cream colored craft paint. While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I pulled out the Silhouette and cut the circle stencil on 12×12 card stock and used Glue Dots to secure to the tea pot so I could spray the chalkboard paint to the project.

While the chalkboard paint was drying I took laser cut bees I found at Michales and glittered the wings using Piccolo Pure Sparkle Gold Glitter securing with Glastique. I then applied Piccolo 3D Enamel Gels (Lemon Butter, Colbalt Turquoise and Orange). I set them aside to set and dry.

Once the chalk board paint dried I heat embossed the tea pot with Piccolo Embossing Powder Adhesive and Turquoise Lagoon Embossing Powder.

I then took some buttons and threaded with Hemptique Hemp .2 mm thread and hot glued to the bees. I then took the thread and some Hemptique Hemp Cord and tied around the top of the tea pot and then threaded a button with more hemp thread and hot glued to the center. I fluffed the cord and thread. I was very happy how the hemp thread texture and vibrant colors really complimented this project with following the whimsy feel, yet keeping the all natural no-nonsense integrity of the product. If you have not worked with hemp and all natural crafting products, you must add that to your list and check out my friends over at Hemptique!

Now be sure to head over to Decorate to Celebrate and see the amazing “Tea Party” ideas that the rest of the design team has come up with and LINK UP your creative tea time inspiration.

Thanks for sharing a piece of “enjoying every spot of tea party my little ones invite me to” pie with me.

LINKING UP TO:

I Gotta Create – Wildly Originally Linking Party

The Real Thing with the Coake Family – Real Family Fun

Everyday is an Occassion – Sunday Funday

Craftin Desert Diva’s Linking Party

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