It's my life

Lori Whitlock Spotlight- Valentine Treat Bags

One of the reasons I get so excited about sharing projects using my cutting files from Lori Whitlock is that they are so easy to use.  I also love that you can create something that looks like you bought it from a store.

Aren't these little gift bags the cutest ever??  Well I think so, and would you like to know that they took me about 5 minutes to cut out, and about another 10 minutes to embellish them.

Yes, I made these in under a half and hour , with just a little scrapbook adhesive, a great paper collection, and a few embellishments.

This is a side view of one of the boxes.  The flap actually slips over the handle and then tucks into a little slit in the front of the bag.

The little flags were made with some paper folded and adhered to a pearl topped pin.  A really cute and quick embellishment to make.

Lori Whitlock Supplies Used:

Treat Box with Handle

Love Story Collection by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park

Other Supplies:

Silhouette Cameo

Scor-Tape

Black Twine from the Twinery

Stampin Up! foam adhesive

Pink Pearl Pin

Lori Whitlock Spotlight- Organization Idea for Project Life Supplies

Ok, here I am with another fun organization solution for you.  I've started doing Project Life this year and I am slowly feeling my way around the process.  I realized very quickly that I needed some way to organize my supplies.  I've been trying to premake a lot of journal cards and collect small items that I would like to incorporate into my pages.

So one day, as I was looking through my digital die cuts, I came across this Crate with Handle Box file in Lori's store and knew it would be the perfect way to store all of my supplies as well as being a pretty sight on my desk each day.

I used Lori Whitlock's For the Record 2 paper collection to create the boxes and well as this file called Crate.  

The box is really, really easy to put together.  Just a couple of pieces of double sided tape and I had one put together before I even got the next one cut.  I did alter the size of the crate just a little to make it fit my cards.

I also used the digital die cut file to cut out the tabbed index cards for my boxes.  I'll be able to organize by color, theme, or holiday.

Here you can see those tabbed index cards.

Trying to get a head start on my embellishments for Valentine's week.  These cards were made from Lori's files and her Love Story digital and paper scrapbook collections.

Here are a couple of things that I have been collecting for future weeks of Project Life.  The die cuts that you see are called 5 Chevrons and are new in the shop!  

And here is what they look like all lined up on my desk.  What could you use these Crates for?

Supplies used:

Crate with Handle Box

5 Chevrons

Other Supplies Used:

For the Record 2 by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park

Let's Get Organized

Today I have a blog post on the Petaloo blog that I would like to share with you.  It's about getting your cards organized for the year.  I have a hard time keeping up with all the people that I want to send cards to and so I thought this pretty little box decorated with Petaloo flowers might help me get those cards in the mail on time.  You can see more pictures and all of the details here.

I also want to share with you the link to where I got the pattern for the box.  It's really easy to put together and just requires a sheet of paper, a trimmer, and a pair of scissors.  You can get the free downloadable PDF at SP and Company from Samantha Peyton at the ScrapMaster's Paradise. 

Have fun making your card boxes.

Christine

Tuesday's with Lori Whitlock_Creating with Fabric

Those of you who frequent my blog often might be surprised to know that I love to sew.  There is something very satisfying about creating something out of fabric.  Quilting baby blankets and pillows are some of my favorite projects.  Sewing is something that I have done since I was very young but has taken a back seat to my paper crafting pursuits in the last couple of years.

My renewed interest in sewing is due to a couple of different things, but the most signifigant one is the trend of Scrapbook manufacturers and designers releasing their paper collections as fabric collections. Riley Blake Fabrics seems to be the biggest leader in this trend, with big names such as Lori Whitlock, Carina Gardner, Deena Rutter, Doodlebug, Bella Blvd, Samantha Walker, Zoe Pearn, and Bo Bunny, to name just a few.  I don't know what's better, working with paper or fabric from these fabulous designers.

So, the reason for my project is double fold.  First, when I was traveling during Christmas, I found some beautiful and sweet fabric called Vintage Baby by Lori Whitlock and so I wanted to share a project using it. But I also wanted to show how you can use your die cutting machine and SVG files to cut fabric to be used on sewing projects.

Cutting fabric on your die cut machine is very easy.  You just need to know one major thing. Fabric will not stick to the cutting mat.  So to get the fabric to stick to the mat you need to use some fusible interfacing.  I like to use Heat N Bond Ultra Bond.  One side of the Heat N Bond will get ironed onto your piece of fabric.  The other side is the paper backing.  The paper backing is what will stick to the mat.  It's really easy peasy!!

So to create my little pillow, I first choose the shape that I wanted to cut.  I just wanted something simple so I chose the Lori's little 2 layer bird.  I had to change a few things on the file so that I was able to cut out heart tail on the bird in a different colored fabric.  When I have a little more time I will come back with specific directions on how to do that.

I first ironed by Heat N Bond onto my pink fabric.  Make sure to cut your Heat N Bond just slightly smaller than your fabric piece.  Then paper side down, place it on your cutting mat.  Burnish it on the mat so that it sticks really well.  Cut out your shape using the Fabric Cotton print setting.  If you are using a heavier fabric than cotton, you might want to do a double cut just to catch all of the fibers.

Take your cut fabric off the mat and peal of the backing.  Place the fabric down on the surface you want to sew it to and iron it on.  Continue with these step for all of the pieces.  At this point use could choose to finish up your pillow without sewing the pieces on because the bond is permanent even through washing but I wanted to get it that applique look so I sewed around the edges of each fabric piece and then quilted the pillow top with long straight lines of stitching.  

You have to try it to see how easy it really is.  I actually think it is easier than vinyl because you don't have to worry about bubbles when placing the shape on to your surface.  Have fun and let me know how you do.

Tuesday's with Lori Whitlock_Valentine Cards

Valentine's Day will be here before you know it so why not save yourself a little anxiety and make your cards now.  Planning ahead is a goal for me this year and guess what, all my Valentine cards are done.

Looking through the Valentine section in Lori's store, I was immediately drawn to this Valentine card set. Just as they are, they are beautiful cards, but I also saw what a little bling and extras could do to make them sparkle.

Here is a sneak peek of each card.  I used the pattern paper Love Story by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park and added glitter cardstock, gems, and ribbon.

When I first starting planning my cuts, I decided that each heart would be cut from glitter cardstock, so I copied and pasted each heart from each card file and placed them on a new page in my Silhouette program.  Cutting them all out together made it a lot easier.

Besides the extra bling that I used on the cards, I also modified some of the card fronts a little.  On the above card I recut just the front of the card base.  Then I cut it down so that I would have a 1/8 inch white border all around.  Before I cut out the front piece, I also resized he heart cutout so that the pink patterned paper's heart cutout was slightly larger than the original.  That created a small white border around the heart as well.  The layering of the papers and the cutout itself really makes this card special.

Using a little foam adhesive, I popped up the I love you sentiment on this card.  I also used a small polka dot stamp background to add some interest to the white accent piece behind the sentiment.

This cute little card has a pocket.  The heart tag pulls out for you to write an extra message inside.

The last card's style was a little different than I usually create but I embraced it and gave it some accents that are very me.  I added a nice thick grosgrain ribbon and knot.  The pattern paper front was cut from the original card base but when I adhered it, I moved it up a little so you could see the original white card base peeking out from the underneath.  I also used the black patterned paper in two places on the card to evenly distribute the colors on the card.

I hope you have learned a couple techniques to take your digital die cut cards to a new level.  Give it a try! Valentines' Day is right around the corner.

Lori Whitlock Supplies:

Valentines Card Set

Other Supplies:

Love Story by Lori Whitlock for Echo Park

Stampin Up! ribbon

DCWV Glitter Cardstock

Bazzill Cardstock

Red Twine from The Twinery

Bella Blvd Washi Tape

Cameo Silhouette

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Tuesday's with Lori Whitlock_Thank You Cards

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Celebrate with Epiphany Crafts

The theme for the Epiphany Blog is Celebrate and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than celebrating a birthday so I made a birthday card and gift tag using my Pennant and Star Epiphany Crafts Studio Tools.  

My card uses a combination of the Epiphany Crafts Studio Star and Pennant Tools. I love using these shapes on birthday cards.

Stop by the Epiphany blog to see more closeup pictures and to learn the little trick I use for making my pennant banner.

Epiphany Crafts Supplies:

Shape Studio Tool Pennant 25
Bubble Caps Pennant 25
Shape Studio Tool Star 25
Bubble Caps Star 25

Other Supplies:

October Afternoon Cakewalk Patterned Paper and Stickers Collection
October Afternoon Twine and Ribbon
Lori Whitlock Cupcake Diecut

Tuesday's with Lori Whitlock_Thank You Cards

Well, after a long absence from my blog, it's time to start getting it going again.  I stepped back a little to enjoy the holidays with my family.  We had a great time visiting everyone in Florida and watching Garrett take in all of the holiday traditions.  He just turned 1 1/2 and he really got into the presents this year. He was so cute. It was just a good time for me to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate.

So I'm back with not just one but two posts.  It just happens to be my day for posting on Lori Whitlock's blog and Epiphany Crafts.  So if you want to learn more about my Epiphany Crafts project please check it out here.

Well, with all of the presents and festivities, I need quite a few thank you cards.  Lori Whitlock has a bunch of different card designs to choose from which makes it very easy to cut out a bunch of thank you cards fast.  

For both of my cards, I used the Card Base and Envelope set #3.  One of the cards in the set has a beautiful bracket shape to it and I love how Lori also used that shape on the envelope flap.  Here is a little tip on how to add a decorative patterned paper to the flap.  Take the card piece and subtract some of the points of the card so that only the bracket part of the shape is left.  Then cut out the bracket shape with your electronic cutting machine from and trim it to size with your trimmer. Since both of my cards used the same paper I was able to use both ends to decorate the flaps of each envelope.

The flowers that you see on both of the cards is from a brand new set in the store.  It's called Layered Flowers and contains 4 different flower shapes along with leaves for all of them.  I think the key to these flower layers is foam adhesive.  I love using it between the layers to add interest and dimension.  

I used a different set of layers for the flower on my second card.  I added a few rhinestones to the middle of the top layer.  The thanks sentiment used on both cards, came from another card file, Thanks Card #4,  in the Lori Whitlock shop and was enlarged quite a bit.  

 

Lori Whitlock supplies used:

Card Base and Envelope Set #3

Layered Flowers

Thanks Card #4

Other Supplies:

Silhouette Cameo

Pebbles Patterned paper

Bazzill Cardstock

Stampin Up! foam adhesive

Stampin Up! Rhinestones