Drawing In Studio

Have you ever had the perfect idea for a craft project but just couldn't find the perfect image or cutting file? Learning to draw with your Studio software will give you so much creative freedom. I have Photoshop CS5 but often find myself drawing in Studio. Don't get me wrong; I sure don't know what I would do without my beloved Photoshop.

There are some people who don't have a good drawing program but love to craft and create. I am going to start making more YouTube tutorials on how to do more with the drawing tools. I made a video for YouTube today to get started. I love being able to help others enjoy their Silhouettes and the Studio software so this is my way of helping. I hope if you have the time to view it, you enjoy it. Here is the link if this video is too small: How To Draw with Studio

More Water Bottle Recylces

These were last minute Easter projects made with yes, those water bottles. I pretty much emptied our recycle bin on these projects since I made so many. The Easter baskets were made but cutting out the bottoms of the water bottles, punching holes in the sides, using some pretty colored pipe cleaners as handles, and some scrap ribbon and lace for the decorations. I used my paper shredder to make filling for the mini baskets.

The red vase was made by using Modge Podge to adhere some tissue paper to it. After it dried I added some red glitter to make the designs (they are hard to see in the photo) on the cup. Then I grabbed the lace, pipe cleaner, and ribbon to embellish it.

When I make something like these; I also try to think how they can be used for other things like parties, showers, and other holidays. I hope these will inspire ideas on how to recycle by re- using some things you have laying in around the house or in your recycle bin. Happy crafting everyone! :-)

Spring Bridal Shower Lights

Here's a way to make a lovely little decoration for the Spring and Summer bridal showers coming up. I made this with any empty water bottle, battery operated tea light, lace, and of course my Silhouette Cameo which cut out all of the sweet little purple flowers and their leaves.

This is a great way to recycle and make some pretty decorations. They can also be used for other things besides bridal showers.

I haven't purchased the miniature shepherd hooks yet so the length of my hangers will have to be adjusted. Each guest will have a pretty little bell light with their name on it as their table placement. When you have to make this many it is best to do some recruiting to help assemble them all. :-)

Here is what you will need to make bell lights just like these.

1. Empty water bottle
2. Lace
3. Ribbon
4. Card stock in the brides chosen colors
5. Glitter or adhesive backed rhinestones
6. Hot Glue Gun (set on the low heat setting)
7. Silver thread or ribbon to make it hang.
8. Miniature shepherd hook to hang your lovely bells on.

To make these cut the top of the bottle to the size you want your light to be with a pair of kitchen scissors.

1. After you have cut your water bottle, take your battery operated tea light and apply some hot glue to the edges then place it inside the water bottle. Make sure you align it evenly and that it snugly fits into the top of the water bottle.

2. Cut 4 strips of ribbon or heavy silver thread to the length you desire. Place some hot glue on the ends of the thread and tuck them to the inside top of the water bottle. Each strip should be lined up evenly across from each other. Once you are sure they are nicely aligned loop over the 4 pieces of ribbon to make a hanger then knot it to hold the loop in place. You can also use a ring for a hanger; just tie all 4 pieces to the ring.

3. The last steps are to embellish you bell light with some lace ribbon and your flowers. Create the look you desire for your event.

A Pocket Full of Posies

Ring-a-around the rosie...my little grand daughter loves this! She asked me what a pocket full of posies were for. I didn't want to give her the real grim details but, I did want to make her a pocket full of posies card.For those interested in the grim details of the popular nursery school rhyme; here it is:

---"Ring around the Rosie"--refers to a red mark, supposedly the first sign of the plague
---"A pocket full of posies"-- refers to sachets of herbs carried to ward off infection
---"Ashes, ashes" --either a reference to the cremation of plague victims or to the words said in the funeral Mass..."Ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Sometimes line three is rendered as "Atischoo, atischoo"--sneezing, another sign of infection.
---"We all fall down." -- The Plague was not selective in its victims; both rich and poor, young and old, succumbed. -  by:Magistra Nicolaa de Bracton


As for me; I just like holding hands with my grand daughter singing the nursery rhyme, watching her laugh as we dance around in a circle then, plop to the floor, giggle some more and wait to hear her ask me; "Let's do it again grandma!".


The posies came from Google Images. Yes, another pretty little freebie graphic. The button was made with several layers cut from my sweet Cameo. The button has a shiny look to it like a real button. I used Paper Glaze to give it this look.

I Made The Cards

In the post below this one are a couple of screen shots of  these two cutting files. I always take a screen shot of all of the files I design so I'll have a picture to go along with the cutting file.

 I wasn't sure if I would ever get into the craft room to test them out. Yea! I did some card making today! It was great getting back into the craft room. Today, I had the opportunity to try out the paper piecing card file I designed to share on the Silhouette Plus forum.

My photo skills are not the best and I really need some new glasses. Good news is; I have an eye doctor's appointment this week. After I get the new glasses; I don't know what excuse I'll be using for out of focus pictures. Perhaps, lack of good camera skills will have to be my go to excuse. :-)

A Couple of New Card Designs

Wow!...it's been a while since I've blogged, crafted, designed, or made a YouTube tutorial. Things are finally starting to slow down around here. I plan on getting busy doing a lot of fun stuff. Today, I designed a couple of Silhouette Studio cutting files to share with the Silhouette Plus group forum. If you haven't joined in the fun yet; come take a look around. You can click on the Silhouette Plus blinkie on the left hand side to take you there. You will find lots of friendly, helpful, and fun members. Plus, there are all kinds of shares going on over there. File shares, ideas, inspiration, and much more. Come on over, kick off your shoes, and visit for a while.

Here's the two cards I'm sharing over at the forum. The pictures are just screen shots of the cutting files. I plan on making them real soon.

A Tragic Loss

Many of you may have noticed I've not posted in a long time. On January 4, 2012, my dear step-dad passed away after a long battle with Small Cell Lung Cancer. He remained at home under the care of hospice and my wonderful and loving mother. She did all of the care and only relied on hospice for emergencies. She loved him like no other and they were truly soul mates. She is a retired nurse but gave him so much more than nursing care. Her heart is broken. she told me she would have cared for him the rest of her life to be able to have his presence in their home. This horrible cancer took a toll on his body.

Tommie went through all of the harsh chemo treatments which hospitalized him several times including the one time which caused his kidneys to shut down. He then was scheduled for some preventive radiation treatments to help prevent the small cell cancer from attacking his brain. The results from the chemo gave him so much hope. He and my mother planned trips and life. Suddenly, my mom noticed changes in his perceptions. They returned from a trip to make Tommie's appointment with his oncologist. After some scans they discovered the cancer was back and with a fury. It had already attacked his brain. He immediately began radiation treatments which left him so very tired and his ears were so burned up from the radiation. After the radiation treatment his health declined even more.

My mom and Tommie came to visit us in Indiana after the radiation. He could no longer drive because his driving was erratic. Within two weeks after they returned home he began falling. It was three days from his first fall and a rush to the hospital by ambulance they discovered he could no longer walk. He had lost all mobility in his legs and later the rest of his body would fail him too. They sent Tommie home to die. His will to live was so strong. He hung in for almost 9 weeks. On the early morning of January 4, 2012, he packed his bags, said goodbye to this world and went home to be with our Heavenly Father and his son.

I made a small tribute for Tommie. This little video barely covers the warm, loving, caring man he was. He loved God, his country, family, travel, and people. Everyone who had the honor to meet Tommie; loved him. He was one beautiful soul. Now his beautiful soul dwells in heaven with his mom, dad, son, and many more he loved.