Halloween Decor Anyone?

I love, love, love Halloween so I am so excited that it is not too far off!!!  In the next couple months, look for some fun Halloween decor items from me.  I already have lots of the supplies, just need to get some time to work on the projects!  I haven't had as much time to craft lately.  Our house has been under construction for months and the remodel of our main level is almost complete.  I will share the before and after photos when complete.  I am getting so anxious for it to be done, so I can decorate!!!  Especially for Halloween!  :)

Here is the first shadow box I made for Halloween.  I just love creepy and spooky things so I had to do something with a creepy tree!!!

 

Materials:
- Tree SVG is part of the Free Spooky Scene SVG at Precious Memories Scrapbooking
- Bat Fence SVG by DtsArt (no longer available)
- Free Bat SVGs by Free SVGs Blog
- Stickles glitter glue
- Tree Ornaments & Spider Web to embellish

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!
Mel
                                                                                           

Whimiscal Wednesday Blog Hop is HERE!!! Fab Prizes!!!

Welcome to the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop!!! You should have arrived here from Amber's blog http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com/. If you just happened to drop by to say hi please go to the Whimsical Wednesday blog to start at the beginning of the hop. For this hop, we all made banners/wall decor that will be sent to a nursing home. The link to read more about this great cause is posted on the Whimsical Wednesday Blog.

For my project I decided to make a 10x10 shadow box.  My inspiration was the motivational quote I used (word art/digital stamp by Raindrop Echo Designs).  This quote seemed appropriate for all ages including residents at a nursing home.  I enjoyed every minute of making this!!!  When you are making something for a wonderful cause as this, the inspiration just doesn't stop!  I like the end result and I am sure the recipient will too!  I might have to make one for my craft room too!  :)

Other Materials:  Ribbon by American Crafts and Celebrate It; Used Cricut and SCAL to cut flower SVG by Images by Heather M and frame SVG by SVGCuts; Tim Holtz inks and paper distresser,Vintage brad and Gradient Gem stickers by Creative Charms, Glitter by Martha Stewart Crafts; Shadow box frame by Collector's Museum

These our the generous sponsors for our blog hop and what they are giving away for PRIZES!!!

• Patsy from the Prairie Bird Boutique http://www.etsy.com/shop/prairiebirdboutique- Your choice of one bundle of Shabby Crinkle Ribbon
• Babbette from The Kraft Outlet http://www.kraftoutlet.com/store/Default.asp- The Kraft Outlet has generously donated their “Inspiration Play Pack”;  This is a collection of The Kraft Outlet's top selling items valued at over $45. The play pack comes with 10 yards each of the red and brown baker’s twine, an assortment of 50 of the plain and grungy tags, an 8 sheet assortment of their cardstock and text weight papers, an 8 envelope assortment, one sheet of Kraft labels, a set of their vintage dictionary pages, 1 yard of black twill tape and a CD full of 100 graphics and backgrounds.
• In addition the Kraft Outlet is offering 10% off all purchases made during the ENTIRE  month of July. All you need to do is enter the code JULY10 at checkout.
• The grand prize for the blog hop is a Gypsy, donated by Stephanie. In order to qualify for the grand prize you must leave a comment on each of the designers blogs. At the end of the hop please return back to the Whimsical Wednesday Blog to leave a comment saying that you finished the hop and left a comment under all our post. The blog hop will run through Sunday and end at Midnight.

Thank you for joining us for the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop! Your next stop is the very talented Faith-Abigail at http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/.

Here is the full blog hop line-up in case you get lost along the way:
1. Whimsical Challenge Blog: http://whimsicalwednesdays.blogspot.com/
2. Stephanie: http://www.alwayscrafting.com/
3. Star: http://starspaperpassion.blogspot.com/
4. Jessica: http://chick-n-scrap.blogspot.com/
5. Shelly: http://cardsbyshelly.blogspot.com/
6. Chloe: http://chloeandherclipons.blogspot.com/
7. Amber: http://my3escrapbooking.blogspot.com/
8. Melanie: http://inlovewithabug.blogspot.com/
9. Faith-Abigail: http://www.faithabigaildesigns.com/
10. Cindy: http://cindybcreations.blogspot.com/
11. Joni: http://justcounting.blogspot.com/
12. GiGi: http://thecricutbug.blogspot.com/
13. Amber: http://stayingcrafty.blogspot.com/
14. Carlene: http://misspinkcricut.blogspot.com/
15. Karen: http://kaleidoscopicsparkles.blogspot.com/
16. Glora: http://glorascrafts.blogspot.com/
17. Nanne: http://nannes-creations.blogspot.com/
18. Cathryn: http://inthepinkcathryn.blogspot.com/
19. Whimsical Wednesday: http://whimsicalwednesdays.blogspot.com/

Mel

Spring Shadow Box is Now Displayed in My Entry Way!

I had so much fun making my Spring "Welcome" shadow box (details HERE).  I absolutely love how the tree turned out and can't wait to make other backgrounds when the seasons change.  I was so excited to hang this shadow box on the wall.  I kept asking my husband when he would hang it that I think he thinks I am crazy!  :)  Unfortunately, I didn't win the SVGCuts challenge I entered this into, but I will certainly treasure this shadow box for many years to come!

Thanks for looking!

Spring "Welcome" Shadow Box

My husband and I are remodeling our entry way, so I thought it would be fun to create a welcome sign to hang up in this room.  I was inspired by the challenges going on where you need to use SVG files from SVGCuts because I absolutely love their files!  I decorated this welcome sign/shadow box for spring using mostly SVGCuts files.  I plan to switch out the background of this shadow box for each season.  One down, three more to go!

 

My favorite part of spring is when the Crabapple and Redbud trees blossom so I wanted to include one of these trees in my design.  I used my Cricut and Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) to cut the shapes for this tree as well as most of the other shapes used in this design.  I used the hydrangea flower SVG file from the Moonlight Garden Party SVG Collection at SVGCuts to create the blossoms on the tree.  The tree trunk I used is from the Camping at Fox Ridge SVG Collection at SVGCuts.

I also wanted to include rain without making it the focus of the design, so I used the scalloped corner free SVG from SVG Cuts to separate the gray/rainy part of the design.  The clouds, rain drops, and Robins are from the Robin's Return SVG Collection at SVGCuts.

Other materials used:

• Paper - Cardstock is by Baazill and DCWV, Patterned Paper is by My Minds Eye (29th Street Market)
• Robins - Robin's Return SVG Collection at SVGCuts, I used small black pearls for the eyes and embossed their tummies using my Swiss Dots template and my Sizzix Texture Boutique machine.
• Tulips - free SVG file from SVGCuts
• Butterfly Silhouette - free SVG file from SVGCuts
• Picket Fence - a free SVG file by Penny Duncan Creations
• Grass - from Plantin SchoolBook Cricut Cartridge
• Font used for "Welcome" is PMingLiU-ExtB by Microsoft, I made the font thicker using the shadow function
• I used 3D foam squares by Therm-O-Web to pop-up the Robins, grass, tree, clouds, and raindrops.  I stacked the foam squares 3 high for the "Welcome" title so it looks like it is at the front of the shadow box.

I entered this project into the Spring SVG Challenge at the SVGCuts Forum and the current challenge at the Sure Cuts A Lot Challenge Site.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

"Our Family" Shadow Box

I finished the shadow box I have been working on and thought I would share some pictures with you.  As many of you know, I used Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) to design this layout.  If you missed it, click here to see last week's post (I included instructions as well).

I am really pleased with how this shadow box turned out.  So here are some pictures.  I kept the color scheme warm and neutral so it can hang on the wall all year round.

 

I made the blue and yellow flowers and I absolutely love how they turned out.  I used the water distressing method (get tutorial link here) and I think I am addicted to making these flowers now!  There are so many color combinations to try!  Here is a close-up of the flowers I made.

I included a quote about love.  To make this quote, I used a free "Love" word art from Scrap Orchard and changed the color of it to yellow.  Then, I added the quote in brown text.  The font used for the quote is Blackjack available at Font Squirrel.  The quote says:  "Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading to its hope; It can outlast anything. Love stands when all else has fallen." ~Corinthians 13:7-8.  I used Tim Holtz ink in Tea Dye to give the white cardstock an aged look. 

 

Other materials used:

• Orange paper flowers by Prima Marketing Inc., I layered them and put a yellow skittle in the center.
• Yellow striped paper by We R Memory Keepers
• Cardstock by Baazill
• Lace by Stampin' Up!
• Glimmer Mists in Tattered Leather, Blue Skies, Riptide, and Pearl to color and add shimmer to the flowers
• I used my Cricut and SCAL to cut the flourishes by Skhedr Designs, the doily mat by Sensationally Chic Boutique, 6 petal flowers by Images by Heather M, bracket frame by Cricut Crafty Clare, and the title using the Blackjack font mentioned earlier.  All are free SVG or font files.

I am entering this project into the Sugar and Spice Challenge at Getting Cricky.  I think it has "sugar" - lots of family love, and "spice" - per the candid shots and colors used. 

My next project will be a Spring themed project.  There are lots of Spring challenges going on and I am hoping to enter a couple! 

Thanks for taking the time to look at my project!  Have a great day!

Melanie

"Cabin Memories" Shadow Box

I made this shadow box for a good friend of mine for his birthday.  When he was little, he would spend time at his grandparents' cabin and he has very fond memories of being there.  So, as a birthday gift, his wife asked me to design and create a shadow box for him.  I was so honored that she asked me and I absolutely loved making this.  I put so much love into making it, I think I exhausted myself!  :) 

 

I added 3D Foam Squares to pop-up the tree in the upper left corner of the shadow box.  I stacked them 3 high so the tree looks like it is at the front of the box.  The tree was a free SVG file from My Scrap Chick.  SVG file included the branch and leaves as well.

Here is a close-up of the owl.  Isn't he the cutest!  He is from the LD Woodsy Doodlebat Font available for purchase at Lettering Delights.  The graphics in this font are now available as a SVG set too!  Check out the entire Woodsy SVG set!

 

I used SCAL to design the layout of the shadow box!  I was so excited when I realized I could add the pictures to the layout in SCAL.  Also, I changed the colors of the cuts to match the paper colors I would use.  I like to visualize what my projects will look like before cutting/printing anything so this worked perfectly!  

Other materials used for this project:

• Evergreen Trees & Cabin - Camping at Fox Ridge SVG Collection available for purchase at SVGCuts
• Font used for "Cabin" in title - LD Woodland Font available for purchase at Lettering Delights
• Font used for "Memories" in title - Blackjack Font available for free at Font Squirrel
• Fishing Boat came from the Vehicle Cuts Font available for free at Denise's Scrapbooking Room.
• People in the boat are a free Lego Man SVG available at the SVG Shop
• Fishing Pole came from a free SVG at SVGCuts (no longer available)

Update 6/28/11:  I have a tutorial HERE that shows you how to design in SCAL.  Also, this shadow box was published in the May 2011 issue of GingerScrapStreet Magazine!!!

Thanks for looking!

Mel