Vinyl'd Cutting Board - Version 1

Hello Friends!

 

Oh my heavens, what a crafting day it's been. Quite frustrating, actually, but that's the way the creative life is. It all started out so well...and then it took a turn.

I wanted to decorate some small cutting boards. I knew I wanted a doily-like pattern so I logged into the Silhouette store and found two designs I liked pretty quickly - one for a round cutting board and one for a square.

I downloaded my selected designs, resized them for my projects and cut them on the Silhouette. After they were cut, I weeded out the vinyl that was not part of the design and transferred the designs to transfer tape.

I applied the first design (the black one) to the cutting board and it was completely off center. And here's the thing about this vinyl...it's pretty unforgiving. Once stuck, you can pull it up again if you want to. But it's not pretty. I didn't even want to take a picture!

With hopes high, I tried to use a different method of application for the second (red) one. And it? Was a tiny bit more successful. But not enough to make it, you know, good. It was folded on itself and bumpy and...a fail!

So I struck out on both projects today...like I said, frustrating. But I'm not giving up. It's the nature of the creative beast.

 

This may not ever be my favorite medium but I'm determined to figure out a way to make it work. I'm not going to let this vinyl get the better of me! 

 

~ M ~

Final Water Bottles and New Jar Jewelry

Hello Friends!

 

I hope everyone had a great weekend. All my plans worked out so I got to visit and spend time with people I love. Awesome!

I worked on these yesterday. I started them here but was out of printable vinyl so I couldn't complete them. I got my vinyl shipment yesterday so I got to finalize the design and finish them in the afternoon.

I print these labels on the highest level - photo - quality. They print out beautifully, even on my inkjet printer, and the ink is dry almost immediately. None of the ink lifts when I cut them so they work wonderfully for cutting on the Silhouette.

I completely disassembled (also known as peeling all vinyl off) and put these bottles back together; I wanted a less random pattern. I love the final, final product - so cute!

I also made these little lovelies. I found the small wooden shapes at Michael's, in the glassware section. The package was labeled 'jar jewelry'. I think that means they're supposed to be tied around mason jars but I painted them white, sanded them a bit, and monogrammed them with vinyl.

I'm thinking: cool key chains, backpack tags, purse tags, luggage tags or even pendants for necklaces. They come 10 to a package and they're so easy to make so they'd work perfectly as little gifts for people you love, large and small.

 

If you haven't got a Silhouette cutter, you can still use printable vinyl! All you need is a design and some scissors or a craft punch. Print your design on the vinyl, cut or punch out your design, peel the back from the vinyl and adhere it to your project.

 

You should try it - I think you'd be surprised how easy it is!

 

~ M ~

Two Gifts for Three Girls

Hello Friends!

Here comes the weekend! It's going to be a busy one so I'm jumping right in today.

I made these bottles today. Well, I didn't make the bottles, but I decorated them.

They're for triplets, all little girls who play soccer. Their name labels are not final yet - I ran out of printable vinyl so I made paper templates to act as space savers and arranged the soccer balls around the templates. I taped the names with scotch tape so they look a little funny in the pictures.

The names are not quite the right color and they printed in a weird way. I'm so glad I've learned to print test samples on paper before I print on the more expensive vinyl. I'll fix the color issue when I do the final print and share pictures when they're all done.

I also made, for the same 3 girls, little personalized candy jars.

I created the template for these labels on this site, then downloaded the images to my computer and modified the template a little more by changing the center image to a heart.

I found these candy jars at the Dollar Store, believe it or not. I had a similar one at home but hadn't been able to match it. When I came across these, I knew they'd work just as well as the one I had at home. And for such a reasonable price, too.

 

I love these little jars. I've filled them with all kinds of assorted candy and gum. They're almost as sweet as the little girls who will receive them!

Speaking of sweet, have a sweet weekend. I'm planning on visiting with some people I love. I hope you're planning the same!

 

~ M ~ 

Rustic Chic Canister Labels

Hello Friends!

Do you remember this label, from here? It was the first of my new canister labels, and here is the second of two (so far). I'll be making more - for pasta, rice, beans, brown sugar, etc.

I'd labeled these canisters before; I painted a chalkboard square on each of them, but I found that it was difficult to write on smaller containers with chalk and the chalk rubbed off easily. A change was needed...

I know I'm becoming really repetitious but here it is again - I made these labels from printable vinyl and cut them on the Silhouette. They're great for kitchen jars; they're water resistant so they can be hand-washed without damaging the labels.

I wanted a rustic look so I chose a distressed and vintage (looking) font and a chalkboard background, as well. The shape is even a little irregular - all small details that add to the desired imperfect look of the finished product. Just what I had in mind!

 

Every day I find new ways to use my Silhouette Cameo and for so many different projects: home design, cards, gifts, organization, office products. It's kind of amazing, especially because it's so easy for a home crafter to use.

 

One of the best things about being creative now is the abundance of information about whatever your creative pursuit might be. There are so many YouTube videos, Facebook groups, and manufacturer and vendor web sites that it's easy to find answers to almost any question you'd have.

If you're thinking about trying something new, start learning now. With so much free information available, you'll know exactly what to do when it comes time to make your first project!

~ M ~

Kitchen Aid Mixer Update

Hello Friends!

Can you believe we're more than half way through summer already?! I hope yours is going well and that you're having all kinds of fun.

I had fun today...sprucing up my Kitchen Aid mixer. I love this mixer - so functional and sturdy and solid. I didn't think I could love it more until I got a look at a few pictures from Pinterest. That got me inspired!

Although I couldn't find the exact picture, I saw another mixer with cherries on it and - given my love of red and the general happy nature of cherries - that's the design I went with.

The cherries are made from printed vinyl and as I said yesterday, they're semi-permanent and water-resistant once applied (they can be peeled off if you work at it for awhile). I didn't follow a specific plan when I applied them, just turned the mixer around as I went to make sure they weren't too close together.

I printed and cut 26 cherry decals and ended up using 16 of them...so far. I needed to walk away before I added more; I was afraid I'd end up with wall-to-wall cherries.

Although it's done for now, I'm pretty sure I'll make a few more additions before I call it completely finished. I'm thinking something to do with polka dots...

I'm so happy I spruced up my mixer. It's such a small thing but certainly adds a pop of cheer to my kitchen décor.

~ M ~

Pillow Covers and Other Good Things

Hello Friends!

 

I can not believe how quickly time flies. The weekend was here and gone in a blink and somehow, Monday snuck by, too! Here's what I've been working on...

 

What is it, you say? It's a pillow! Okay, not exactly a pillow. It's the beginning of a pillow cover. In a nod to farm-style decorating (love!), I've designed a set of pillow covers; this is the first in the set. It's heat transfer vinyl (HTV), cut with the Silhouette, on linen-colored linen. The pillow will be 20" square when completed. I'll share a picture soon.

 

I'm working on another pillow, too - gingham, red, heart...what's not to like? This, too, is HTV, cut with the Silhouette, on red-and-white gingham. And this pillow, too, will be 20" when it's finished.

All of these items are for future projects: water bottles, kitchen canisters, candy jars - even a Kitchen Aid stand mixer. I printed these labels and shapes on printable vinyl. Once applied, they're permanent and water-resistant so they can be used in several ways. I'll be showing you how in the days and weeks to come.

 

So many projects, so little concentration...I think I may have crafting ADD!! Do you think there is such a thing?

 

~ M ~

Baby Girl Gift Tile

Hello Friends!

 

Happy Friday to everyone! I hope you have big plans for the weekend. Ours involve a little house cleaning and a lot of avoiding the heat. It's sort of a summer routine around our house. :)

 

Today, I designed and created a gift for a couple I know who recently had a baby. In case it's not obvious, it was a girl and her name begins with a 'P'! As for the rest of her name, I've edited it out since I have no idea what other folks like to share about their children and what they don't. I'd rather err on the side of respecting their privacy.

 

This project was created using a 6x8" ceramic tile (with a design that emulates marble), colored vinyl, printable vinyl, a Silhouette Cameo and a printer. I found the tile at the ReStore; I'm sure it was less than a dollar.

To get started on this project, I first cleaned the tile well. Then I cut the pink vinyl, weeded it, and transferred it to the tile. In the process of weeding and transferring, I lost two small vinyl elements - can you tell what they are? I'll recut and add them tomorrow morning; I still have a few days before I plan on giving this gift.

After I transferred the pink vinyl, I printed and cut the 'vitals' label and transferred that to the tile. Both types of vinyl are permanent and water resistant; this tile can be cleaned gently with warm water and a mild dish soap - no scrubbing, though!

 

After I replace the two missing elements, I'll add felt circles to the corners of the tile back and it'll be done. All ready to tie up with a bow and be gifted to a great family!

 

~ M ~