Weekend Surprise: Finally Broke Out My Christmas Present (Teri)

For Christmas I was given money to buy my own present, I bought myself a Cricut Expressions machine. I know, I know, how could I wait this long to use it…..I’ll sum it up for you in two words overwhelming intimidation. I was scared to use it, not because I didn’t know if I could figure it out, but because there are so many things to do with it, and frankly I didn’t know where to start.

Let me start my story by telling you what a fabulous deal I got on my Cricut. I went shopping with my wonderful Mom, the day after Thanksgiving. Walmart had it in their ad for $188 including two cartridges. What an awesome deal, since the machine normally retails for about $350, and the cartridges that came with mine retail for about $25 each. I figured Walmart would be a zoo, and I probably wouldn’t get a machine, but a local craft store had them for $199 with two cartridges, so I decided to go there. Better yet, when I got there the lines weren’t horrible, and they met Wally’s price, $188! Aren’t you turning green with envy at what an awesome steal I got?

I decided that I would start with something really simple, and cheap so as to limit the intimidation factor. I don’t have any Valentine’s decorations at all, so I thought I’d make me one. I had this frame on hand and so I cut this cute heart out of scrapbook paper I already had, and mounted it on more paper I already had using Mod Podge, I let that dry and coated the whole thing again with Mod Podge, let it dry and put it in the frame and voile there you have my first Valentine’s Day Decor (and the world's longest run on sentence). For free!!! Can’t beat that. If any of you have any fabulous suggestions about overcoming my intimidation and overwhelmedness (I know it’s a made up word, but it perfectly describes how I feel) with my Cricut, please give them to me!

Looking at these pictures I realize that my wall hanging needs some work. I am going to put a colored ribbon on the tall ivory candle, any other suggestions?

This post linked to the Frugalicious Friday party at Finding Fabulous and Market Yourself Monday at Sumo's Sweet Stuff and Motivated Monday at Shimmer and Tulle and Get Your Craft On at Today's Creative Blog

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Guest Day Thursday: Kim’s Winter Frame

Some of my real life friends have said that they don’t know who is blogging when we blog, so we will try and let you know from now on. Teri here. I know I’ve mentioned my book club before, but they really are where a lot of my inspiration has motivation has come from. They are way more than a book club, they are life long friends. Well, this lovely lady and I both used to belong to aforementioned book club, and have both since moved (sad I know). She is amazingly talented and gorgeous to boot! Her name is Kim and she works for Rusty Pickle (they design and sell scrapbook stuff in case you lived under a log, scrapbooking wise anyway). Without further adieu I’ll let her introduce herself. Take it away Kim!

Well, let's see....I am a wife to one fabulous husband, daughter of two patient parents, mom of three unbelievable children, friend to four amazing women, and sister to five memorable siblings. I am a designer for a local scrapbook store & Rusty Pickle, a scrapbook company. I have a passion for creativity and love to tell stories through my photos. I sometimes feel frazzled, but most of the time I am overwhelmed by the blessings in my life.

The quote on the frame says:
"Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it is still snowing."
I know that you probably have memories of shoveling, but don't have much white stuff now!
{This was made with Cosmo Cricket's Jolly Be Golly paper line and all their yummy embellishments! The frame is by Fancy Pants.}

Thanks you Kim! That quote is so true, if you could see my house right now you would agree. If you would like to see more of Kim’s darling projects, you can go here. I hope I will be able to post some more of my talented friends and their projects!

Teri’s Wall Art

My daughter Emma’s room is a work in progress. I have had this project in the works for a while, and I LOVE how it turned out. It was fun to create.

I started with a 12x12 artist’s canvas that I painted black.

(and yes my table is covered with Glad Press n’ Seal)

After this was dry I painted a light coat of pink over the top so the black still showed through.

As this was drying I cut 12x12 black cardstock down to 10.5”x10.5” and different patterned papers in color themes of pink/green/black down to 10”x10”. I mounted the patterned papers on the cardstock using Mod Podge. When the canvases were dry I used Mod Podge to adhere the papers to the canvas (with much smoothing and Mod Podge all over my hands). I then coated the whole front of the project with Mod Podge and let it dry.

Once it was dry I use vinyl letters to make Pres. Gordon B. Hindkley’s '”“Be” phrases in black and green. Then I got to add the bling!!! I used various scrapbook and craft trim, flowers and rhinestones and used hot glue to adhere them.

They are going to be hung as a large grouping on an entire wall in her room. Here is how I think I will hang them, and suggestions of a better way to group them (they will have more space between them on the wall than they do here).

I had a lot of fun, and although some of them didn’t turn out the way I envisioned, I still love them

*This post is edited to reflect our participation in DIY Day @ A Soft Place to Land & Room A Month Makeover @ Shades of Pink

Anyone visiting from a McLinkey, we would love for you to check out the rest of the blog especially this weeks Mystery Monday post.