Steampunk Valentine paper cutting

 

I cut this out with my eCraft using a file I got at Krewella Kreations blog. I think it’s pretty!!! As always I struggle with the correct pressure settings on my eCraft and what paper to use. Grrrrrr. But I’ve been having a lot of fun designing my own files…the “love” cutting inspired me to make this -

It’s a steampunk heart with wings. I LOVE it! I had fun learning how to make the gears and putting it all together. If anyone else wants the cutting file email me and I’ll email it to you as I haven’t taken the time to get a sharing site yet. I think I love steampunk because I love the “industrial-ness” of it. I still don’t know how to describe it to anyone without sounding like an idiot…so I’m going to say “industrial”. lol.

And…did you notice my new blog header? I made it myself…as I’m sure you can tell :). As I learn more I’ll be changing it up a bit. (Don’t you think the “Kim’s craft diary” part should be curved like the pennant banner?) Maybe changing it totally. Just goes to show…you CAN teach an old dog new tricks!!!

Next week I’m going to try sewing a shirt. Now that I’ve announced it to the world I guess I’ll have to follow through. I have so many functions to go to (like my son’s choir concert tonight) that are “casual” and I have nothing to wear!!!! I either have funeral clothes…or paint-the-house clothes. It’s time and I’m scared. I’m scared I’ll spend all that time cutting and sewing and end up with more paint-the-house clothes. I think I’m going to practice with an old sheet first. I just know the pattern will need some alterations to fit right…I’m just too darn short-waisted and busty. Who am I kidding…my “waist” isn’t really even there anymore…is it too much to ask that the shirt makes me look tall and lean?

Happy Crafting!!!

Leather bracelet…

What do you think?! I got some great 1/8” copper so I stamped on it with my metal stamps…and then riveted it to a leather bracelet. I love it!!! I just need to get some snaps and we are in business. I KNOW these will sell well at our church bazaar – I’m excited to show the ladies at church!

Happy Crafting!!!

Christmas went by so fast!

We barely had time to enjoy the decorations! This is how I decorated the top of the hutch this year. I loved it. And now it’s packed up until next year…

I put up six Christmas trees this year. Here are three of them. (I count the tiny one on top of the hutch as one of the six). I wish I had taken more pictures…I had a lighted Nativity inside the hutch that was really pretty…oh well, I’ll take a picture next year. Also to do next year…replace lights on garland that is hanging at the top of this photo. I never got that done! And – make a tree skirt for the top tree. And - replace the twine with fishing line on the gold snowflake from the top photo. And – take proper photos, not cell phone photos!

We also took our fish house up to Lake of The Woods to fish. All five of us went. It was the first time ever…and the first time we all stayed in our fish house. Everyone did very well and thank goodness we got the big fish house! I didn’t get much crafting done…I wasted most of Saturday just laying around. Sunday I started needle felting some bird bodies but haven’t finished them yet. Now, today, I went in a completely different crafting direction and made a bracelet that I’ll show you next time. I have to find a clean spot in the house to take a photo lol! I’m really feeling the need to get.rid.of.STUFF! A garbage bag of ball caps went out to the garbage today…I’m going to go through my closet next. Do I really need a stack of turtleneck shirts “just in case”? I don’t even like wearing turtlenecks! I’ll compromise and keep two. And that pair of jeans that fit great for about ten minutes then bag out everywhere…GONE! Less stuff=less mess. Period. And I promise, I’m not going to think about how the turtlenecks would make good t-shirt yarn…or how the jeans would make a great quilt…I’m not…it’s all going to The Salvation Army – intact.

Happy Crafting!!!

Unintended blogging break…

Well, that blogging bread wasn’t planned lol! I just lose track of time when our schedule gets so out-of-wack! The kids were on vacation for a couple of weeks and my husband’s schedule has been crazy…I don’t know if I’m coming or going. I did spend a couple hours yesterday getting myself back on track. I spent time with my calendar and started making different “forms” to make things easier. I don’t know if it my history with Lyme disease or if I was just born this way but when I try to envision “time” or a calendar it’s as if I’m dyslexic. I really struggle with timelines. Anyways, I’ll share the files with you that I’ve created once I figure out how to share them lol.

I’ve also been playing ALOT with making my own SVG files. It is addicting! I can make anything I want and my eCraft will cut it. I still have to tweak quite a bit and wish I could spend more time on these projects!

In crafty news I made some of these-

We had a Pinterest party at my book club. Each of us had to make something we saw on Pinterest and make enough to share with the other members and provide directions. I made these little guys. My directions were something like:

Crumple up a ball of newspaper and cover it with tinfoil. Stab a piece of wire through it to become the hanger. Cover it with polymer clay. Paint it. Make a little hat and ruffle. Glue them on. Glitter. Well, they took about a week to make by working with them off and on. I just wish I had made more. I only made about 10. I think from now on I will be making multiples of everything right off the bat. That way I’ll be better prepared for the bazaar in the fall.

We are now planning an ice-fishing trip. The first one as a family in the new ice-castle. I’m both VERY excited and worried I’ll forget to bring something. Along with some drawing supplies I’m bringing my calendars this trip to get them nailed down and organized. I want to feel in control this year. I’m making a “master calendar” to stay in my purse and whoa to the child that messes with it. ha ha!

Happy Crafting!!!

Needle felted Santa…

I can’t remember where I got the inspiration for this Santa but he sure has been a hit! And I’m tired of making them…I made 10 last weekend and they are all gone. Phew! I also made 10 snowmen and got them shipped on Friday. It has been a busy Christmas Season!!! I’m now working on paper projects. People…I’m making my own SVG’s! (That is the file that my eCraft cuts from). Hopefully I’ll have something to show you next week. I have glue and ink all over my fingers…and floor…and table! I have to break out the shop-vac today and get rid of some paper and dust bunnies! I can’t have random dog hair and dust getting stuck in my glue lol!

If you have time on your hands go read this post about making a simpler Christmas. I agree with her!

And I have to say my heart is broken over the tragedy in Newton. It’s so hard to watch the news coverage…I pray that each and every family finds even a moment of peace and comfort.

Cutting ornaments and cards with eCraft…

There’s a lot of wonderful free cutting files out there and I’ve been having a ball finding them and seeing what my eCraft can do! One of the free files I’ve tried is the “Baubles by Bird” file.

I’ve also purchased a few files from Lettering Delights. One of my favorites is “Season’s Tweetings”. So far I’ve been very happy with my purchases too! Here are a couple birds using the Season’s Tweetings set-

And here are some ornaments using “Baubles by Bird” files-

  

I have just been having waaaaayyyyy too much fun! There is paper EVERYWHERE…little tiny pieces wedged into every crack and crevice of this house lol! Good thing it vacuums up so well…

Happy Crafting!!!

eCraft

Did I ever mention that I got an eCraft digital cutting machine for my 40th birthday…a year and a half ago? I did! I was so excited I went to JoAnn’s and bought 75 sheets of scrapbooking paper to practice with!!! I expected there to be a learning curve with the machine…but I didn’t expect to fail so horribly. I had done a lot of research before I decided which machine to buy. I picked the eCraft because you didn’t need to use a cutting mat and you were only limited by your imagination as to what you could have the machine cut. Well after getting discouraged time and time again by bad cuts and ripped paper I finally realized I received a lemon. Last summer I packed it up and shipped it back for a replacement. I got my replacement and am just now starting to play with it. I approached it like it could bite me – I was scared. The good news is that this machine works much much better than the old one. As you can see in the picture I’ve had it cut some pretty intricate cuts and so far so good. If I really get excited about everything being “just right” I’ll cut off the little tabs with my craft knife. I’ve started to play again. Now I can’t wait to rush through my housework and get back to the eCraft. I want to design my own SVG’s (that’s the file the machine cuts) and that will take more time. Maybe even more time than I can give it…lol. My brain doesn’t accept learning as quickly as it once did. The program has almost gotten the best of me a few times. When I explained to my dad what I was buying he said “Isn’t that cheating?” my dad uses an excavator to dig basements…is it cheating to use the excavator rather than a shovel?

Happy Crafting!!!