Surname Signs

 Before I ever owned a Cricut I ordered the vinyl and stained my own board. To make  this sign.
 I had originally seen the Wall Art in my Sister In Laws home. If you want you can also order the whole sign pre-made from them. The company is Its ASign...I do highly recommend them. 

Since getting married my daughters have asked for one for their home.  They have each been waiting awhile. The main reason I have postponed it is lack of planning.  I always think of making them when there isn't enough time to actually get it made and in the mail in time for a birthday or holiday.  Another reason is I haven't wanted to layout the wording for the Scripture and do the welding, etc. on my Cricut.    I told myself if I finished the album in time I would tackle the long awaited signs.   I guess this  is a season of getting the long awaitied projects done. I have many.

Walla, They are finished, well actually only  two are finished. I still need to make another two, hopefully before their birthdays or Christmas.  It will be easier now because the layouts are done....it should be a piece of cake...I just need to buy or cut two more wood boards.
I used my Gypsy to layout the design using the 12x 24" mat option. 
I used a two page set up so I could layout the smaller font to a correct size over teh larger font when you use a 2 page option you can see the other page through each other so you can make adjustments to size visually seeing the comparison.
I cut the Surname  using Plantin SchoolBook, Shadow Option
I cut the scripture using Calligraphy Collection...
I own Opposites Attract which would be great for making this sign but I like the script look when welding better from CC...and the Block lettering of PSB better for the surname.
The letters will appear red on the Gypsy if you have chose the weld option for cutting...be sure to preview your design before cutting the script font.

I did have to re-cut the vinyl for the "erve" in Serve on the white script.  A piece of vinyl had managed to get loose and stick to the bladeand  some of the vinyl lettering.  To do this I just hide the cuts for the rest of the phrase and then cut only the partial cut I always save before I first cut so I can adjust and cut separate parts but I never re-save the design so I always retain the original cut design.  I will be able to open this cut and change the surnames. and cut one or two signs. as I wish.

I get my vinyl at SignWarehouse.com This link will take you to the hobby vinyl I use most. They do sell sheets pre-cut for a Cricut Mat, but when I cut my own vinyl I tend to use white or Black, and use these rolls.  The rolls I have purchased will last for ever, and I have used them for decorating tile, votives, and other glass at my daughters wedding. I have also made lots of glass gift jars and awards with candy etc.  It is well worth the cost if you plan on making lots of things from vinyl.
  I also have done vinyl shares in the past with other people so we could get several primary colors for the cost of one roll. In addition I have found assorted small vinyl pieces for a good price at Amazon. I did this so I could get  Gold and Silver for Cub scout career arrows, but have used the other colors on gifts.   If you are using it outdoors I suggest buying a more expensive outdoor option at sign warehouse.   I also will occasionally buy a Cricut Vinyl  tube if it is on clearance and a good price.

 For the signs I used a 24" by 6" pre-routed board I picked up at Micheal's for 7.99$.  I stained the boards using some old stain and then sealed the board after it dried with 3-5 coats Krylon Clear Matte Finish Spray paint. I like the look better if I do several light coatings of spray sanding after the first coating slightly and wiping with a damp cloth. After it dries well I affix the lettering and then resealed the vinyl and board with 3 or more coats of the same finish.  The letters on their sign are about 5", while my sign is at about 6".  I designed my letters to fit the board.
Until later... Happy Stamping!

GOOGLE GIRL that uses Bing for rewards

I have been doing BING REWARDS If you would like to try it You can earn gift cards and other items by searching with Bing...I have found the search challenge to be a little questionable....if you search and choose Google 2 times then you will get three searches and they remove all images from the search and you end up getting images from Bing and Not from Google.. they have you respond until Bing ends up the winner...not a fair comparison...But I do my daily searches to get my rewards so I can get gift cards to buy things with... maybe Google should do this for me so I can keep searching with Google all the time...

anyway if I post a link I get rewards don't know if Blogger will let a Bing Link stay but I am going to try.. feel free not to click on it...
hmm well I had issues using my standard methods ( as expected) things  didnt work like normal so I will just try to paste it...  copy and use it if you like

http://www.bing.com/explore/rewards?PUBL=REFERAFRIEND&CREA=RAW&rrid=_42df9fad-1df6-3448-2cc2-68df519a1219

 I think Google and Microsoft are just not friendly to each other...
In reality I am a naughty GOOGLE GIRL, I love Google + and all its advantages...

Scrapbook and Gifts Update

Just wanted to update and let everyone know my taxes I mean the Scrapbook is done...

What a relief.
I have taken a ton of Pictures, but I hesitate to show them all.  I want my Daughter to enjoy them first.
When I get back from delivering it I will post more pictures. For now though I will just upload a few, of the less exciting pages...
The first is the Layout from buying the dress.... I forgot my camera this day but luckily I had my iPod in my purse and captured these images. It surprised me how nice they looked when I printed them up as photos....

These albums always turn into a first year of marriage thing in order to fill them up. The second layout is really boring, but I have about 6 pages that either have a place name, or "memories", "sites" and "Adventures" on it.  I do not have images from the study abroad that her and her husband did together last fall.  She will have to finish these pages herself...hopefully she will.

The last layout page is for their anniversary...
again they will have to take pictures for this and add them after it occurs. I am doing my best to remember to bring the anniversary cake to  them when I bring the album.  The last wedding we had I for got the cake top and had to mail it.   It made for a great blog post and a funny memory for my other daughter and her husband, at least I hope it is funny to them.

I also finished up some Birthday Gift items for  two of my other daughters that I will be delivering. I scheduled a post so they will appear after I deliver them...
Until later ....Happy Stamping!

Supplies:  DCWV, Cricut, Gypsy
 SU the only new items used not mentioned on the previous post  is the  5 point Flower punch.  I used the same ones I used to make their wedding announcements....

Wedding Albums and Taxes

I have been working like crazy on my wedding album for my daughter.

Its funny how projects like this make me feel. I always have to black mail myself into starting the project. I tell myself "You can't make another thing until the album is finished."  Once I start it goes rather quickly.   This sort of explains my lack of post for the last year.  I love that I get to make one for my Daughters but  it is the one thing in life that makes me sorry I have 7 daughters.  There is only one other thing that I associate these similar feelings too, I realized Sunday Morning at 2 am., and that is Taxes.  I had just finished my 6+ hour ordeal of helping the same  wedded daughter with doing her last minute taxes....last minute in my book because I always do mine in Feb.  So why do I do it?LOVE!

  If  I was making a scrapbook like a lot of creative people out there it would be a better experience.  I am really making a paper craft picture album. That is not nearly as creative a project as it should be. The girls however as very happy and thankful that  one I help them with

their taxes and two that I make them a beautiful memento for their wedding day.  Though it is such an ordeal, such is the life of a mother.  Since I last posted I have picked  out and loaded  a scrapbook in order  for 40 pages using Die Cut  With A View "Storybook" paper.  DD wedding was Shabby Chic and in Purples and off whites...it was hard to find papers to go with those colors in a shabby chic everyone else uses pinks....(sigh). This DCWV paper was the best thing I could find in the shades of purple I wanted... and had an element of telling a story which her pictures certainly have a story to tell. I also have cut and laid out 6-12X12 Cricut mats of lettering. using my Cricut, Gypsy and  the "Plantin' School Book" Font Cartridge.  I guess I have a BOOK theme going! I went on a fun trip to Michael's to pick up  some  more Xyron "X" refills.  I didn't have a back up, now I do! I actually ended up picking up two more projects to finish before the trip.  I used the "X" to mount all the lettering on the adhesive and have spent 2 evenings and afternoons adhering letters onto 22 pages of the album. The pictures show the piles as they  currently exist.

This weekend was busy with other things so today I will be attaching more lettering, hoping that job is finished today.  I was too lazy to run up the stairs to grab the good camera to have a picture to post so I grabbed my trusty iPod and took a few quick shots.
Well its time to go back to work and finish up using those letters so I can start mounting pictures and some fun embellishments the fun part, but first I should probably order the pictures...
Until Later ... Happy Stamping!

Back Again...I think

I have decided I really do want to use my stuff that I have been acquiring over the past year. I have made a few things but I am always doing it at the last minute so I throw it in and envelope and mail it or head out the door with it, never actually taking a picture.

Here is a picture of one thing I made last month for church, a Lip Balm Purse. I ordered the organic Vanilla Lip Balms HERE . They were very nice and I would recommend ordering. The postage made it a little pricey(for me) at 8.25, but for the cost of gas and running around looking for some it was worth it. I would suggest ordering them  more than a week before you need them...without expediting  the order it took 8 days to get them.   I made 30 or 40 I can't remember. 

I used THIS to make the labels on a whole sheet label and then trimmed them on my paper cutter. I got 8 out of a 12x12 piece of paper the purse piece length was 6" but and I believe the width I cut to 3".  I used a Marvy Large Scallop for the top flap.
MS for the leaves and SU for the pointed 5 petal Flower Punch.  The satin  was a clearance ribbon  from my Local Craft supply store... same brand as I have grabbed in the past for wedding invites.


Now I really need to start my Daughters Wedding album since her Anniversary is coming up soon.
I should be try to get it finsihed before I head out of town in a few weeks.  In an effort to motivate myself I am making this blog post to tell you to check back and see how I am doing.  I am hoping that will motivate me to start the Scrapbook soon...wish me luck...and
Until Later...Happy Stamping!

Helping Tami

Just going to put this out there.. to ask for help getting the word out...and for donations...

this Link is for a fund raising site (Go fund me) 

 set up to help my High School friend.

When we were seniors in HS she broke her back in a fall doing Gymnastics...she used to have a van to get around in and got in an accident earlier this year.  The van was provided by the state of California, she had insurance for the van but the state of Calif. took the proceeds from the insurance and no long provides vans...so she has been left with no way to get around.  She can do a bus for some local things but has to often go out of town for medical treatments and other job opportunities, which depends on the generosity of others.  Tami's mother is deceased and she is pretty much on her own.   She was very careful investing and saving her money she received for her injury but lost most of it in the stock market fall 5 years ago...she does not have a way to get to work right now and my sister set up this go fund me site to help her get a van.   These vans regularly sell for over 100,000$. She is trying to find ways to get this used handicap van before it is sold...the van company is holding it right now in good faith for her.   I was hoping some of you might be willing to put a link on your blogs,  or post them in FB to help to try to get the word out to fund this van.   Many small donations can make a world of difference in her life. ..so... if you can 5$ will greatly help.
If you or anyone can help please do, or contact me with any other helpful information I will see that Tami and my Sister gets it.

Again Thanks for your help...Kathy

Graduation Cards 6 ways

Still timely I think since the celebration keeps going.  I had a grad at my house. This is one of my favorite pictures from the Day.
 She is busy  making arrangements for college registering for classes, and spending times with her friends before they all go separate directions. Just finished having an Open House for her the week before Fathers Day.
 This week I have a grad party for a Senior at our church. SO I needed to get my cards made, and I need to get some in the mail.

For Graduation this year I stuck to using my old stand by favorite QuiKuts Grad Cap die. I love it and since only use it for HS or College graduations it does the Job. I love teaming it with an Embossing folder From Provo Craft, and a sentiment from StampinUp. This year I used several different sentiments from my stash, some new and some retired.  For the first set I used the "Congrats" from  "Say It With Scallops". I really like how  they look together.  I  used the Music CB embossing folder, with one because the grad is in to choir, and band, and Music.  The  Colors are their School Colors if I know them.

The Second Set I used different sentiments, "Congratulations" from "Something to Celebrate" and "Happy Graduation" from "Teeny Tiny Phrases" I also used the "D'vine" swirl Cuttle-bug EF, because I always think of a cap being tossed in the air when I use it. The colors are mostly retired  or scraps from my scrap box.. the Black is Embassy Black from Wall mart, The white was an old Wedding Card left over of cover Stock from GP. The red on the second picture is Real Red, the green and Blue are Brilliant Blue and Green Galore... The colorful CS on the first set are mainly Scraps I had.  The brads are all mostly from old color combo sets from Making Memories, and the tiny ones are from color sets I got  from Queen Co. along time a go. I used my Decorative Label and Word Window Punches too. The Ink Jet Black StazOn.

So if you haven't figured it out yet, I am still sticking to the theme of using my old supplies.  And spending my money on  the occasional new punch die or stamp set.  "Trying" is the operative word here while I try to get my stash to a more manageable level.


Until Later ...Happy Stamping!