Fab Five Friday

Welcome to Fab Five Friday. For those of you that are new to this blog, every Friday I showcase five blogs, websites or posts that I think you will enjoy.

Be sure to visit BHG for more inexpensive centerpiece ideas.

I love this Christmas card and the others that are posted on the Simon Says Blog.

Be sure to check out The Whoot for an amazing Mandala Rocks Tutorial.



Elspeth McLean is a very talented artist. Wow!

 Be sure to visit Mod Podge Rocks for information on all these versatile products.

I fell in love with this technique by Karen Hightower.



Thanks Karen for the wonderful video!

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous Fab Five Friday!

Anna Griffin® Window Ledge Cardmaking Kit and Dies

I am in love with Anna’s Window Ledge Cardmaking Kit and Dies from HSN. I received this kit as part of an auto ship. Each kit keeps getting better.

I made this card using her kit. What I love about Anna’s kits is that I can use the pieces she provides and create my own look!

I made this card for a friend that recently got a new job. It was so quick and easy to make.

You also get the dies to make you own card pieces and I can’t wait to try them too.

Thanks for stopping by and have a marvelous Wednesday!

Make it in Minutes Monday…Congrats

Welcome to Make it in Minutes Monday. I thought it would be fun to feature quick and easy cards and projects that take only minutes to make, but look like you spent more time making them.

I had some left over paper that I blended with my distress oxide inks, so I decided to make another card.

I cut the Elephant Family Border (#168010) that I purchased from the Silhouette on-line store and attached it to a rectangle measuring 5.5 x 2.5 inches.

I used distress oxide inks for the blend that looks like twilight. I used worn lipstick, wilted violet and broken china. I love blending with distress oxide inks! I know I keep saying that, but it is so true!

I added a congrats sentiment that I die cut using black cardstock. I attached the panel to a black card base measuring 5.75 x 4.25.

This was such a quick and easy project that I may make several versions.

Have a wonderful day!

Simply Organized Sunday

Welcome to Simply Organized Sunday…SOS for short. Every Sunday I showcase blogs, websites or posts that provide innovative approaches to organizing and designing your craft space as well as other areas in your home. My sister sent me this link on how to repurpose bookcases. I love how you can use bookcases to be more organized.

Be sure to visit The Cottage Market for more details.

My favorite one is how to turn a bookshelf into a kitchen island. Wow!

I hope you are having a simply organized Sunday!

O Little Town of Bethlehem

I fell in love with the O Little Town of Bethlehem (#106081) cut file from Silhouette and I could not wait to try making it.

The star and script were too small to cut so I used the print and cut function. I cut the silhouette out of black card stock. The cut was intricate and small but my Cameo came through for me.

I used the print and cut function to add the star and script to the dark blue paper that measures 3 1/8 x 5.5 inches. I glued the panel to a card base that measures 5.5 x 4.25 inches.

This was such a quick and easy project, that I may make several versions.

Have a wonderful day!

Make it in Minutes Monday Congrats Card

Welcome to Make it in Minutes Monday. I thought it would be fun to feature quick and easy cards and projects that take only minutes to make, but look like you spent more time making them. My father-in-law had a major heart attack last Monday, so I took off some much needed family time. He is stable and recovering well for his age.

I am a Weight Watcher leader and needed another congratulation card for one of my members. This time I decided to use my Cricut Explore Air.

I cut the Ribbon ( # M4137B) image from the Something to Celebrate Cricut cartridge. I used paper scraps from my stash and dimensional squares.

I cut a rectangle measuring 3.75 x 5.5 and sized the ribbon to fit. The finished card measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches.

I used the print and cut feature to do the sentiment. I love how it looks like I stamped the sentiment. I used Sergoe UI light for the font, but you can use a stamp or any font you have..

Thanks for stopping by and have a marvelous Monday!

Simply Organized Sunday... On A Monday!

Welcome to Simply Organized Sunday…SOS for short. Every Sunday I showcase blogs, websites or posts that provide innovative approaches to organizing and designing your craft space as well as other areas in your home. It was a long Labor Day Weekend for us, so here is your SOS on a Monday!

I use dryer sheets for crafting and laundry, but that is all. I can’t believe Jillee from One Good Thing, came up with 55 ways to use and reuse dryer sheets.

I had no idea that dryer sheets would make chrome shine and clean your iron. Wow! Click here for all the details.

And you can even recycle dryer sheets and make flowers. Amazing. Check out Such a Pretty Mess for step by step instructions.

I hope you are having a simply organized Sunday!

Fab Five Friday

Welcome to Fab Five Friday. For those of you that are new to this blog, every Friday I showcase five blogs, websites or posts that I think you will enjoy.

Be sure to check out this card and amazing post on Simon Says Stamp blog. While you are there you may also want to check out the September blog hop. Stunning fall colors!

I have made tons of bar soap, but have not tried making liquid soap. I can’t wait to try this fun project from Lia Griffith. Wow!

Martha Stewart has been decorating for months using the 2017 Pantone colors of the year.

I am loving the softer colors.

Every month I look forward to Silhouette’s School monthly wrap up. I seriously love their tutorials.

Kristina’s handwriting is so beautiful and I love this message.



Her video is so beautifully done and relaxing!

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous Fab Five Friday!

How to Make Background Paper Using Chalkola Makers and Chalkola Markers Review

First I would like to thank Chalkola for sending me their pens to review. I loved using them in the traditional ways to write on nonporous surfaces, but my favorite use was to make background papers with them.  In the following video, I talk about the pens and then  demo how to make unique and vibrant background papers.

Now a few words from Chalkola….. They recommend that you use the markers on Non Porous Surfaces only (So it’s best to test a small area). Like - Chalkboards, Whiteboards, Glass, Plastic, and Windows. The reason being that porous surfaces have small holes that can absorb the liquid chalk ink and sometimes it gets difficult to completely erase them.



Chalkola is offering readers a 15% flat discount on all Chalkola Products when you use the Coupon Code - 15OFFSTR (Applicable on their  Website  and Amazon)

To buy the 6mm Pens from Amazon, click here. (Different Packaging).

To buy the 15mm Markers from Amazon, click here.

Have a great day!

Cricut Maker….. First Impressions

I just bought a Cricut Maker and want to share some of my initial impressions with you. I am mostly a paper crafter, but want to try cutting fabric, felt and wood. I thought the Cricut Maker would be perfect for me.

This card is a Make it Now project and was cut on my new Cricut Maker.

I used paper for my first project so I could compare the Maker to my Anna Griffin Cricut Explore Air when doing intricate cuts. I also have the Cricut Explore Air hooked up to a computer in my family room and the Cricut Maker connected to my laptop in my craft room. That way, I can compare cuts from both machines. I plan to keep both machines until I am more comfortable with the Maker.

The first thing I noticed was no dial. And when I went to cut paper, I discovered there is no setting for regular card stock, even in the custom material settings. I shared my discovery with Cricut’s help desk.

In the custom material settings, medium cardstock has a pressure of 273 and light cardstock has a pressure of 279. In my opinion, medium cardstock should have a heavier pressure than light. I also shared this potential error with Cricut. Their team is amazing and they are so kind.

I also compared my Cricut Explore Air default dial settings to the new Maker settings just to get an idea of what pressures I used to use for cutting light, medium and regular cardstock. After numerous tries, I found that for most of my cardstock, I need to use the medium cardstock setting on the Cricut Maker. However, if my paper was slightly heavier, I set the pressure default to “more” and if my paper was lighter, I set the default to “less”. This card was cut using Recollections paper and set on medium card stock.

Cricut said their cardstock should be cut on medium setting. In the material settings, you will see a Cricut logo by the settings for some of the Cricut materials and papers.

I am still experimenting with the pressure setting for regular cardstock and made a custom setting for a single cut with a pressure of 299. The regular cardstock default setting on the Cricut Explore Air dial is set to a single cut and pressure set to 299. The 299 pressure seemed to work well on the Maker too. My Maker now cuts Anna Griffin cardstock perfectly using my custom setting of a single cut with a pressure of 299.

Thanks to Cricut and their wonderful instructions, setting up my new machine was very easy. I love the new software and I am so excited to be able to right-click again! At this point, I am very impressed with the Cricut Maker.

I just ordered the fabric pen and felt, and can’t wait to try a felt project. I am beyond excited for the knife and new blades to come out. The Maker is solidly built and a very stunning machine. It is now front and center in my craft room.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the new Maker! I am still learning and would love to share any tips and techniques that you have discovered.

Have a great day!

Fab Five Friday

Welcome to Fab Five Friday. For those of you that are new to this blog, every Friday I showcase five blogs, websites or posts that I think you will enjoy.

I love this mini album created by Joanna.

Click here for more beautiful photos.

This adorable card made by Bridget from Bridget’s Scraps made me smile. Be sure to check out her stunningly beautiful blog!



Check out this video from Over the Big Moon. Pam shows how to cut 25 different materials with the new Cricut Maker. Wow!

Be sure to check out Silhouette’s blog to design you own gift card. I love how they created the tabs using a circle shape and the eraser tool.

I love fresh corn on the cob and had to smile when I saw this post. Click here for 10 brilliant hacks for easy and delicious corn on the cob from One Good Thing.

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous Fab Five Friday!

Forever Friends

A few weeks ago, Jennifer McGuire made several cards using the June Hero Arts of the month kit and I fell in love with the kit. I rushed to order, but they were sold out. I was determined to make similar cards using my Silhouette Cameo. This is my second card and I love the safari theme.

Since, I did not have the stamps that came in the kit, I used the safari file (#18473) that I purchased from the Silhouette on-line store.

Then I used my new distress oxide inks to do a blend that looked like a sunset. I used fired brick, spiced marmalade and fossilized amber. Once the ink dried, I cut a rectangle measuring 2 ¼ x 4 ¼ inches. I am loving the new distress inks! They blend perfectly!

I used the print and cut feature to do the sentiment. The font is Forget Me Knot HMK and sized at 21.35, but any font you like will work. I added a black border and my finished card measures 4.5 x 5.75 inches.

Have a wonderful day!

Simply Organized Sunday

Welcome to Simply Organized Sunday…SOS for short. Every Sunday I showcase blogs, websites or posts that provide innovative approaches to organizing and designing your craft space as well as other areas in your home.

I love before and after photos, especially if they involve organizing my drawers with cereal boxes!

I can’t believe Jen made these adorable drawer organizers from cereal boxes. I saw this post several years ago and I totally forgot about it.

I really love the look of these.

Click here for step by step details.

I hope you are having a simply organized Sunday!

Fab Five Friday

Welcome to Fab Five Friday. For those of you that are new to this blog, every Friday I showcase five blogs, websites or posts that I think you will enjoy.

This fun project from Oh Happy Day made me smile. Who doesn’t love giant pinwheels?

Speaking of smiling, this post From Tatertots and Jello will have you and your children smiling too!

Do you remember spin art? Dianne from Back porch used a salad spinner to recreate spin art.

A special thanks to my sister for sending me this post!

Be sure to visit So Sew Easy for all the info! I love the lavender book tote!

Please click here to download a free copy of their catalog.

Thanks for visiting and have a fabulous Fab Five Friday!