More Christmas Decorating Ideas

Here are some more ideas I have used around the house this season to help make things more festive. Below is a picture of a centerpiece I put together for our dining room table. It is a clear glass vase that I etched the deer and word "Joy" on, I then filled it with red bulbs and topped with a couple of berry sprigs. Fun, Easy and Festive! I am selling these embossed vases for $8. Pictures of ones I already have made up are located in my store at: www.judesignstore.blogspot.com. Glass etching can be done on any glass and mirror surface, so if you would like for me to etch on a vase, cookie jar, glass plate, mirror, etc. for you, just let me know!

Here is a red plate that I added the word "Noel" to with white vinyl.

For one of my shelves in my Hutch, I made this festive "Noel" frame. I stamped and white embossed the medallion on black paper and used red vinyl on the glass for the word "Noel". I am selling frames like this for $6 with the word "Joy" or "Noel".

Another fun project that I made was for the kiddos. I used a clipboard to create this Countdown to Christmas. My son enjoys changing the numbers on it everyday. I sell altered clipboards starting at $10.

Christmas Decorating

Well, my first big show and Thanksgiving are behind me. I have been staying busy with filling orders, but did take a short break to decorate for my favorite season of the year...CHRISTmas! There are so many things I love about this time of year and one of them is all of the pretty colors of decor that we have to choose from to help make our homes look so cheerful. Every year I challenge myself to come up with at least one new way to decorate differently from the year before, whether it is using what I already have and changing it up a bit or spending just a little bit of money and getting something new. This year I changed several things up a bit and decided that I would like to purchase a wreath to go over the fireplace. I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and found the perfect wreath! The only thing was it was $130, but it was on sale for 50% off. I still was not wanting to spend that much money so I decided I would purchase the materials, that were also 50% off, and make one myself. I am tickled with the outcome and spent way less than $65!!

Fun with Vinyl

As I am still getting ready for our big local Craft Show in a couple of weeks, I have been having fun working(playing) with vinyl. Here are some projects that I have created using vinyl.

These first couple of projects I used my cutting machine to cut out the designs and words. The neat thing about the plate is that it can also be used as a message board. Just use a dry erase marker to leave messages for your family or guests. On the frame I heat embossed the medallion on paper and placed it inside the frame and cut the word "Noel" out of vinyl and placed it on the top of the glass.


These next couple of projects I made using stamps, paper and vinyl. The "Blessings" frame is a magnetic frame, so I also made some magnets to go along with it. The 5" x 7" frames start at $8 and the 8" x 10" frames start at $15. If you would like to place an order feel free to contact me by e-mail at: judesigns@hotmail.com.

Magnetic Boy Frames

I have been busily making a variety of magnetic framed art projects. Here are some magnetic frames that I made for little boy's rooms. Magnets can be used on these frames to post pictures, art work, notes, etc. I can also personalize frames with a name, so e-mail me if you would like to order one. These 8 x 10 easel frames with 3 magnets sell for $15.

Magnetic Calendar

I got a request for a magnetic calendar for my neice's b-day. This was a fun and challenging project, but now that I know what works and what doesn't I am excited to make more! This calendar is in a 14.5" x 14.5" wood frame. I used bottle caps for the numbers and chipboard and paper to make the months. I will be selling these for $35, so e-mail me if you would like to order one and let me know what colors you would like for me to use and if you would prefer a white frame or a dark brown frame.

Life Journal

Wow, I can't believe it has been over a month since I have posted anything. I have so many fun things to share and am not sure where to start. I have been busily working on b-day gifts for friends and family as well as several projects for a local craft fair coming up. I guess I will start with a b-day gift idea I put together for several friends and family.

I wanted to come up with something personal and unique, so I designed a Life Journal. Each one of us is made up of stories and a lot of times we don't take the time to write them down or even share them, so we forget them. I designed a journal with several pages of questions about childhood all the way to the here and now. After all these stories are OUR stories and no one elses. God made each of us special, one-of-a-kind and our life story IS worth sharing! Here are some pictures of a couple of the journals that I made.

These Life Journals can be purchased for $15 + shipping. If you would like to purchase one e-mail me at: judesigns@hotmail.com.

Handmade Cards

It has been awhile since I sat down to just make cards. Splitcoaststampers had a Virtual Stamp Night recently, so I decided to take the opportunity to make some cards! Here are a few that I made.

Smile it's your day!
There are several b-days this month, so I wanted to come up with a fun and easy card. Here is an easle card that I decided to make. I had fun using a new stamp from "It's your Day" set from The Angel Company.

Thanks card
This card I made for a challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was to try and use only the colors Amber and Purple. I had fun using the clear heat embossing technique with the "Aged Ornaments" stamp from The Angel Company.

Pumpkin Hello
Here is another card that I made for a challenge on Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was to use water somehow on the card. For the background I used my brayer and rolled it with three different colors, spritzed with water and rolled it on cream colored cardstock. I stamped the pumkins and colored them in by using my color pencils dipped in water.

Friendship lightens every burden
This last card was for a "BRAVE" challenge. B - Use blue, R - Use ribbon, A - Accent, preferably with something shiny, V - Use vellum, & E - Use an embellishment. I had fun using my "A Child's Year" Cricut cartridge and with heat embossing with silver.

Counter/Desk Organizer

Lately I have been trying to find ways to reuse the many food boxes our family goes through and I came across this Oranizer idea. I used an empty microwave popcorn box.

Covered it with a solid earth tone color paper.

Then I embellished the front with paper from The Angel Company, ribbon and used the Storybook Cricut cartridge to cut the paper design and the flower tabs used on the dividers.

The tabs say: Bills, Mail, Receipts, and Other. I love to have a place for everything and everything in its place, so I think this will come in handy on a kitchen counter or desk to help keep things organized. :)

Altered Mini 4 Subject Notebooks

I came across these neat sized Mini 4 Subject Notebooks yesterday and thought that they would be very fun to alter!

I chose the paper I wanted to use, cut it to size, and used my adhesive tape gun to apply it to the plastic cover.

To finish it off, I used my Storybook Cricut cartridge for the Top Note design, then I embossed the "enjoy" and the bird which is a stamp from The Angel Company Unexpected Joys stamp set, using white embossing powder. Another fun and simple altering idea!

Here is one I made up that can be used as a fun Christmas Planner/Organizer. I used my Cricut to cut the snowflakes and the word "joy" out of vinyl. I used the Gypsy Wanderings and A Child's Year cartridge for the snowflakes and the Sesame Street Font cartridge for the word "joy".

Magnetic Note Frames

I just discovered that you can use dry erase markers on glass and it wipes off! I know, I don't know where I have been, but with that discovery came the inspiration for the following Magnetic Note Frames.

This first one I used Cricut cartridges Disney-Mickey Mouse and Storybook. The flowers are magnets, making it easy to keep notes, receipts, etc. in one spot.

This Magnetic Note Frame I used Cricut cartridge A Child's Year and the tree is from the Childhood Portrait stamp set from Close to my Heart. The flower on this frame is also a magnet.

More fun gift projects

My children have been visiting grandparents this week, so I have been busy crafting! Here are a few things that I have been working on.

Post-It Note Holder
This project has two of my favorites: (1)Post-It notes (2)Getting to use my Bind-it-all! This Post-It Note Holder is made out of chipboard and is a fun way to keep Sticky Notes on your desk, in your purse, by the phone, etc.

Small Treat Gift
Ok, I really don't know what to call these, but they were fun and simple to make. I used my Cricut to cut the Top Note window out and you can add anything you want inside of the clear bag inside.

Mini Clipboard
I found these cute mini clipboards and decided that they would be fun to alter. It is hard to see in the picture, but I used Stickles to add some bling. If you click on the photo it will make it bigger and you can see it better. :)

File Folder Notebook

One project that I have been wanting to make is a File Folder Notebook, I finally remembered to look for some cute file folders and found some at Michaels the other day. This project came together pretty quickly and I think turned out cute. :)

Silk flowers using the Cricut

I just cut fabric with my Cricut!! This is very exciting to me, in case you couldn't tell. I went out and bought 7 different fun silk colors and was anxious to get started making some silk flowers.

These are the three colors I used for this flower.

Once put together I used the handy dandy Crop-a-dile to punch a hole in the middle and then used a brad.

I then used a Bone Folder to hold the flower in place while I used the heat gun to singe each petal of the flower to curl and crinkle it.

Here is a before and after shot. Now it is ready to put on a headband, hair tie, necklace, bracelet....

Tips and Tricks

I have come across some neat tips and tricks that have made my crafting life better, so I thought I would share them with you.

#1 Making your Cricut mat sticky again
I came across this video where someone used repositional glue to make their Cricut mat sticky again, so I had to give it a try. For those of you who do a lot of cutting with your Cricut machine you know how fast the stickyness wears off of the mats and how pricy it is to keep replacing them. I went to a local craft store and purchased a craft glue that is permanent or repositional on sale for around $2. It is repositional if applied to a project and left to dry before applying anything to it. I applied it to my not sticky mat, used a foam paint brush to spread it around really good and let it dry. It worked great!

#2 Embossing with your Cricut blade upside down
Another video that I came across was someone using their Cricut to emboss where they used their blade upside down. I have been looking at embossing machines and trying to decide which one if any I should get. After giving this a try I may not need to. Especially, since I have a Gypsy that I can design what I need and have the Cricut do the embossing for me. I purchased a package of embossing mats from Spellbinders from a local craft store, using the 40% off coupon I got them for around $6. You place the mat on your Cricut's sticky mat and then attach the paper, metal, etc. to the mat with tape, load into your Cricut and emboss away! I am all for using what you have and not spending more money if you don't have to! :)

Magnetic Wall Hanging

I am into metal in case you haven't noticed. :) For this project I used some metal from a roll of galvanized flashing that I purchased at our local Lowe's.

Once I had the 3 pieces cut I used masking tape around the edges, because this stuff is SHARP! I have also read that you can sand the edges, so I might have to give that a try.

I then covered the metal pieces with paper and used my Crop-a-dile to insert the eyelets.

To finish this project I tied ribbon between the pieces and a longer one on top to use to hang. I then made magnets out of buttons and flowers to use to attach notes, photos, etc.

Altered Jars

I love these little jars. They have an airtight lever and make great gifts. I made this set for a friend and filled the jar with her favorite candies. The tag on the front was cut out using the Storybook cartridge on the Cricut, the bird was made from a SU punch and I love using Stickles, so I added some of that as well. Beside the jar is a small monogramed notebook. I glued on paper and used the Cricut to cut out the monogram and the swirly on the top. Both of these were fun and easy to make. Kind of my thing. :)

This gift set is an altered jar with a mini photo album. I embossed on the paper I used on the top and used a stamp set from Close to my Heart. I made the mini album out of chipboard, paper from The Angel Company, rings, ribbon and on the inside of the album I used horizontal badge id holders that I picked up from Wal-Mart to hold photos.

Fun Gift Ideas

Here are some fun and simple gift ideas that you can make! This first one is a small desk calendar that I made out of chipboard and paper. I recently purchased the Bind-it-All! I had fun using it on this project.


This one is a small magnetic calendar that I also made out of chipboard and paper. I glued magnets on the back, so it can easily displayed on a fridge or anything else metal!

This little project uses a card sized envelope. You seal the envelope and cut off the top part, so it can be used as a lid. You then use the crimping tool to crimp the envelope, which makes it small enough to fit inside of the piece you cut off for the lid. I enclosed a little magnet inside which was made out of chipboard, paper, and stickers.

Here is a diaper folded pouch. Yep, you fold a square piece of paper like a diaper, embellish and fill with goodies. I used a 12x12 sheet of paper for this project.