Vinyl on Tile

This has been a busy week, and I've spoken with several family members and friends who have been facing some obstacles and challenges, and this tile that I did a few weeks ago seems to be good advice to remember now and then.

Here is how it looked, cut on my Cricut mat.  I used wide masking tape to transfer it to the

16 inch tile. 

I will be doing a class on hand lettering on my UStream class

Tuesday evening this week at 8:00 eastern time.

Just click on the icon in the upper right corner, and it will take you there.  You can become a member of the "crowd" and add my channel to your favorites, too :)

Bring a pencil, black fine line pen, eraser, white paper, ruler, markers or colored pencils,

and get ready to have some fun!

Happy crafting~

Vinyl Projects - Step by Step

Creating beautiful vinyl projects can be some of your favorite Christmas gifts this year, and I have the step-by-step directions for you here today. I hope you will find some great inspiration!

This ceramic tile costs a mere 69 cents at a local home improvement store. It is 13 inches square, and the vinyl is a scrap from a local sign shop.... again just a few cents worth. I have used Make-The-Cut for this project, but the principles that I am using are the same for any Cricut project.

The most important thing I could tell you is to ADJUST the BLADE to 2 or 3 so that it only cuts through the top layer of vinyl, and not the backing sheet!!! This will allow you to maintain the proper alignment that your Cricut has already created for you! (Trust me... hehehehe!) Check out this post to see a BIG vinyl job that I did, so I know what I am talking about :)

This is what your finished project will look like (after flexing the project so you can actually see the cuts).

This is "weeding" or removing all of the unwanted vinyl from the backing sheet. Be careful to save all of the centers of "e's" and other such letters, and make sure you don't let the weeds get stuck to the letters you are keeping.

This is completely weeded, and ready for the transfer tape.

The next step is to add a piece of "transfer tape" or masking tape over the vinyl on the backing sheet, and rub thoroughly over it, so all of the letters/designs stick to the transfer sheet.

Then you flip it over onto your tile, and everything stays perfectly in place! Isn't that easy? Now you rub all over the images with your fingers, and carefully pull away the transfer tape.

I wanted to give the back of my tile a nice cushioned, finished look, so I cut fun foam to fit. The piece that I had was 12x18, so it required a little piecing, but that wasn't a problem. I used the hot glue gun to adhere the foam to the tile. Work carefully, and pretty quickly, as the tile is cold, and causes the glue to set pretty quickly.

Here is the finished project, though I did go back and add a gold layer to the star, after I took this photo :)

If you are interested in the SVG file for this project, please leave a comment, or send me an email at the contact info listed in the right margain.

I hope you have enjoyed the tutorial, and will leave a comment or two!

Please check out BettyBeesBuzz and see the vinyl projects that the HoneyBees have done last week! Great ideas for home decor and gift ideas, as well as a place for you to share your projects!

Happy creating ~

BettyBee

Christmas Houses

Here is my Christmas House that I created from a design by my friend, Kathy at Paper Phenomenon. She does a wonderful UStream class on how to create these magnificent paper mache houses. You might remember the Halloween House that I shared a little while ago, from the same design. Below are the steps that I followed....

The side view, showing the ice in the windows!

">
This is the basic house, from Hobby Lobby, split down the center, and opened up.

Adding the designer paper to the peaks to start the decorating!

Why does Blogger insist on turning some photos sideways? Inking the papers :)

Cutting strips of Threading Water for the roof. Some of the houses I did were covered in 3/4 inch circles of white paper instead of strips. Easier and just as cute.

Bird's eye view of the fireplace, hearth, carpets, throw rug with fringed edges, and 3D rocking horse.

Making the dimensional Christmas Tree, and adding the snowflake to the top. Hurray for the hot glue gun!

Another view, this time you can really see the Stickles on the flames in the fireplace, and teh rocking horse. So cute!

Here are the inside window treatments, with valances upstairs, and curtain rods (toothpicks) and draperies (fancy ribbon) downstairs. The bags and boxes are from Tags, Bags, Boxes and More cartridge. All windows had acrylic in them. Easy and very effective.

Here is the other side of the room.... the tree skirt is a Tim Holtz die that pinch pleats like this.

Over the fireplace is a mirror made from a frame cut from one of the cartridges (sorry, can't remember which one, and the "mirror" is shiny flashing tape. The candles on the mantle are tiny glass icicle ornaments that are standing in a bead glued to a brad, and tied with floss...so cute!

This particular house was auctioned off to raise funds to purchase shoes for children for Christmas. I am so grateful for those who purchased tickets, and it goes to such a good cause.

I have made another house for my own, but it's not quite finished yet. I'll post a photo when I get it done.

Happy crafting ~

BettyBee

Happy Thanksgiving, and more.....

Wishing you the very best holiday! I am grateful to have this time to count my blessings today, and be at home with family and friends. This past week has been a health challenge for me, and I have been greatly blessed to have the worst things they were looking for be ruled out. I have good hospitals, doctors, medicine, a supportive family, friends, and most of all, the Lord who knows and loves me. I have great faith that all will be well soon, and that's all that I need.

Thank you for your kind prayers and concerns! You are the best!!

These place card/napkin holders are from BettyBee's Buzz this past week, and they have been such fun to make! Rosemary gave the pattern on the blog, and I had so much fun creating different styles to match my china patterns!! They are a simple triangle design, and can be adapted for any occasion.

Next up is a Girly Girl card for, Whoopsi Daisy which was a delight to create for a special niece who just had a sweet baby girl. Linnie's digital images are precious, and a delight to color.

I'll be back soon with a vinyl project, and more fun!

Happy creating ~

BettyBee

Cricuteers in Paradise Swarm

This past weekend was a great weekend of crafting, laughing, eating, laughing, sharing, laughing, designing, laughing, staying up late, ... and did I mention laughing? This is one group of ladies that know how to have a good time, and create some amazing pieces of art at the same time. The Cricuteers in Paradise hold swarms (crops when Cricuts get together!) several times a year, and this time the theme was "Angels Among Us". There were 25 ladies present, though a couple had to scoot before this picture was taken. If you are ever in the area when Flossie and her friends are swarming, be sure to come by!

O Holy Night

It's Christmas at WhoopsiDaisy blog, and I've chosen Linnie's precious images of the Angels and Baby Jesus for my card this week. I really wanted the simplicity of the starry sky for the background, and this K & Co. paper was just perfect. The golden paper at the bottom is a gorgeous shimmery gold from Marcos paper company, and it cuts like a dream, with this Martha Stewart punch. I just love WhoopsiDaisy's sweet faces, and her flowing, rich gowns, which are so much fun to color with Copics! I hope you will check them out!


And, from Monday's Post, the first ever WHOOPSI DAISY BLOG HOP, our winner is......

CLEAH!

Cleah, I have left you a message on your blog, but if you see this first, please send me a message with your email address, and I will send you the sheet of four Whoopsi Daisy images, which includes the one that is on my card! Congratulations! Thanks for being part of our blog hop!

Three New Things ... WOW!

Well, happy Wednesday, and time for a HoneyBee Showcase piece! I've done a candle facelift as part of our first ever Motivational Monday at BettyBee's Buzz! Rosemary gave a great tutorial, and this is my take! I used a darker candle, and it smells SO good! Check out the link to find out how to create one of your own!

Next we have brand new images at Digital Delights by LoubyLoo, and they are so cute for the holiday season! My image is Candy Cane Ginger, and I printed her out double...one in reverse, so I could have ginger bread twins! I colored them with Copics, glittery gel pens, and water color pencils. The paper is Core'dinations and Me & My Big Ideas. The ribbon is Offray and the flowers are Wild Orchid.

Last, but not least, is a color inspired centerpiece for Passionately Artistic. This pumpkin is an artificial one that came from a hobby store, and was easy to cut. The flowers arranged in it are traditional fall bushes with touches of rich, deep red ~ to match the accents of my living room. The new Thanksgiving cartridge for the Cricut has beautiful scrolled sentiments, and "Give Thanks" was just perfect to accent the front of the pumpkin. The leaf was heat embossed in russet, orange and gold. The cat tails are real!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you are having a beautiful fall, and I wish you lots of creative mojo!

Come see us at BettyBee's Buzz!

Whoopsi Daisy's First Blog Hop!

Welcome to my stop along the WhoopsiDaisy blog hop trail, and you are almost finished!

We've decided to hold a blog hop to celebrate our return to weekly challenges!

You hopefully should have started the hop at Net's blog, so if you haven't have a virtual hop over there to begin.


There is a letter on each blog which forms a phrase common to all of us! Please make a note of each letter, creating the phrase. Your last stop will be the WhoospiDaisy blog. Please leave a comment there, but not the phrase! Linnie will pick a winner and they will then email her the phase and win their choice of 4 sheets of digis. There is also a drawing on each blog and the winner will receive the digi that the designer used! Mine is the fairy on the pumpkin with her glass slipper!

The letter you need to complete your phrase is "G"! Now, leave me a comment so you can be in my drawing (and I hope you'll enjoy your stay enough to become a follower here or at my other blog http://bettybeesbuzz.blogspot.com/) and then hop on to finish up at WhoopsiDaisy
and leave a comment with the correct phrase, and you might be the winner!

Witches Brew Plaque

I've been having so much fun making a few Halloween things, and this plaque is a new piece for my kitchen. I saw this poem on the internet somewhere... if you can help me identify the author, please do, so I can give them proper credit!.... I just love the message! It inspired all of the images, which I cut with October 31st and Paper Doll Dress Up. They are all colored with Copics or watercolor pencils for dimension, with a few Stickles thrown in for pizzazz!
I hope you are following all of the extreme fun over at the hive with BETTY BEE'S BUZZ. Those HoneyBees have been really BIZZY doing a lot of cool things this week, and we want to see what you are doing, too.... See you there!

Happy crafting ~

A Child Is Born

It is the day for a very special New Release at Digital Delights by Louby Loo!

This is illustrator, Wendy's, precious Holy Family along with the stable, and their faithful and awed companions, the sheep and the camel. This digital set can be found here.

Each individual image was colored with Copic markers, then cut out. The background is cut from the new Cricut Christmas Village cartridge. Each of the village pieces was edged in Elmer's Gold Leafing. Add a touch of Smooch liquid pearl for the star, and the sentiment, "for Unto Us a Child is Born", and the image is ready to be layered with adhesive dimensional. It was very easy to do...Just add two dots to the baby, so he stands above his mother and father. The addition of an opulent braided cording around the bottom finishes this 5x7 wish for someone on your Christmas card list!

I hope you'll be stopping by to see the other designer's great work, as well as considering these delightful images for your digital art collection.

Today is Day 3 of EEK WEEK!!! over at Betty Bee's Buzz, and Rosemary has a fun and spooky spider web banner to share with you. Blogger and I were having gremlins help earlier, so my part will be coming along a little bit later in the day ~ that's okay ~ we hope you won't mind! Please come on over, and become a part of our new hive of activity!!!

Happy crafting ~

Happy Monday! Lots going on :)

Happy Fall, Y'All!

Isn't this the most gorgeous tree??? It is right at the end of my brother-in-law's driveway, and of all the places we traveled, it was absolutely the best tree we saw!

Gotta admit that none of these were too shabby, but the top one still wins the prize!

We really enjoyed our trip, and I was inspired along the way!

Here is a sneak peek to the first project over at the BeeHive at Betty Bee's Buzz today! I hope you'll hop over and check out EEK WEEK!! There will be a whole week of Halloween fun for you.

And speaking of FUN! Here is my dear friend, Kathy Files, from Paper Phenomenon.... in her awesome studio. Be sure to check out her UStream class tonight! This is one MEGA talented woman!!!

Lots of fun things are happening, and I appreciate you checking them out!

I'm on the road again today :)

Happy crafting ~