Birthday Mailbox, Organizng Punches and New Copics!

The target mailboxes are so versatile! I made this one for my best friend's birthday gift! This one is made with the pink mailbox and the new K&Co valentine papers. The flower punch on the flag is the Martha Stewart pop-up water lily punch. I was a little hestitant about this punch since it is so big and bulky, and since I use the Cricut to cut most shapes, I didn't want to add more supplies that may not get used. However, I do like the detail the punches offer for smaller shapes. I think this flower is multipurpose. It is perfect to cut poinsettas, any spring flower shape, and since it has some depth - I like it! The border punch on the mailbox is the Martha Stewart valentine lace border and the shiny plastic flowers on the ends are Blossom & Leaves from Creative Impressions. I made a small card to include in the mailbox using the Martha Stewart scoring board.

Last week, I was inspired to clean out my punch drawer and see what I really have. I put some in my "get rid of pile" and decided to organize the remaining scissors and punches. For each punch I cut the shape, for the scissors I cut the design, and adhered them to white cardstock . I am hoping that I will use more of the items I have, if I know what I have! I really try and resist the EK Success and Martha Stewart punches, but they are so wonderful! One area that is lacking in my punch word, it large circles and scalloped circles. I think I would use them all the time, but I try and remind myself that I can easily cut them with the Cricut, but sometimes it would be so easy to open the drawer! I did go to IKEA last week, and bought a picture frame ledge that I want to install above the countder top. I like to pull seasonal items out and display them - I seem to use the items then! So this shelf will be perfect. I am trying to figure out a solution to move the paper off my counter because it bothers me visually where it is at!

One highlight of the week for me were some items that I bought off a member of the Cricut message board! She is moving to Amsterdam and listed some items for sale! I was so excited to purchase some Copic markers, and a few cartridges from her. She was really nice and included a bunch of freebies with my package! I was so excited this morning to add the markers to my collection. Over the next few weeks, the studio is going to revamped! It functions fairly well, but I have some areas to improve, and I need to add some life to it! Happy Sunday!

Decorated Metal Valentine Mailbox from Target

I was so excited the other day when I saw these metal mailboxes at Target! Many very talented papercrafters have been decorating them since last year, and I thought I would give it a try. Very easy project! The paper is last year's valentine paper by K&Company. The stamp cut is from cuttlebug along with the embossed love image. The heart is cut from the new Cricut Love Struck, and the small heart in the middle is a Martha Stewart sticker. The paper around the edges is the new Martha Stewart heart doily punch. Someone has created a cut file, but I just cut the paper 4x12 inches to cover the box. The ends are covered with paper cut by tracing the ends.

SCAL or MTC

I love my cricut - eveyone knows that! One of the things I dislike about it is having to use cartridges for every design. It really limits creativity. I have know for awhile about SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) that you can use to cut virtually any file with your cricut. Now, someone has designed a new program - MTC (Make the Cut.) This morning, I uploaded the trial version and cut an All Time Low and Harry Potter logo. Since it is the trial version, a slash mark was cut through each logo, but WOW, am I impressed! I know Madeline and Andrew will be quite excited when they get home and see the potential! I know Madeline wants to make Mayday Parade t-shirts for a concert at the end of the month. I did the Whaler t-shirts in the fall using the freezer paper method, but for this project, I plan on ordering some iron on vinyl.

New Year's Eve

Just wanted to post a note to wish everyone Happy New Year! Looking forward to a new year, and taking time to learn something new - and share my ideas and thoughts with others. I am blessed to have my family!

Kids are Home!

Today is one of the best days! The kids are home from school and that makes me very happy! The kids are working on all different projects down in the scrapbook studio and I am assisting as needed. I have no expectation of getting anything done myself, but just being available to help them is the role I am playing today. I did pull out the New Year's scrapbook and maybe later this evening I will try and put pages together for last year. We always write letters to ourselves on New Year's Eve, and five years later we open the letter up. Everyone always looks forward to opening the letters and I am sure this year will be no different!

For Christmas, the kids gave me a Bind It All that I am really looking forward to learning how to use! But for now, I am just going to enjoy the greatest gift I have - the kids home for the holiday break!

Thanksgiving Cards

Managed to make a few Thanksgiving cards early enough to send them out!

Penny Black Cards with Copic Markers

Here is a series of cards I made using my Copic markers with Penny Black stamps. I love how I can use the markers to make the images have such depth! I really love the new Martha Stewart scoring board - to be able to make envelopes to match the cards is so much fun!