Target Clearance Find!

The other day I had a training at work and they gave us an extra long lunch. Being the shopper than I am, I took advantage of being near a Target and headed that way. I was scoping out the clearance isle and found this great lantern. It is considered summer decor so it was marked down quite a few times. I checked out the price and it was only eight dollars!! I figured I should buy it....because you know I could figure some use for it.

Once I got home I was unloading my bounty and pulled out the lantern. It just so happened that my Christmas Kitsch cartridge had come a few days prior and was still sitting on my dining room table. I immediately thought I could make this Christmas-fied and turn it into a cool candle holder. I went to work using vinyl and and my Explore and cut out a bunch of fun Christmas images. I plan on placing a candle inside with some pine cones and bells. I am so pleased with how it turned out.

Make Your Own Ornament!!

So there is a new trend floating around Facebook and all the craft boards....making your own ornaments!!

After some extensive research through Pinterest, Youtube, and Facebook I decided to partake on my own mission of making my own ornaments.  It is so fun and addicting!!

What You Need:
Glass Ornaments (I ordered mine from ConsumerCrafts.com)
Glitter
Pledge Floor Wax (I used this kind link)
Adhesive Vinyl
Cricut

How to do it:
After all my research I found that the key in making a good ornament is relaxing and just having a little fun with it! 

1. I took my glass ornament and removed the metal cap/hook. Then I squeezed in a good amount of Pledge and began swirling it all around. Make sure you get a good coat on all the walls inside. You want your glitter to stick! 
2. After you think you have a good coating, dump out all the excess back into the bottle. This part is important....you want ALL the liquid out. I just turn mine upside into the bottle and let it all drip out. 
3. Add your glitter. I just make a funnel out of a paper and pour a bunch in. I have found the finer the glitter the better it coats but really any glitter will do. Feel free to have fun and add two colors. The possibilities are really endless! 
4. Shake it up! I just stick my thumb over the hole of the ornament and shake shake shake! Sometimes with a song....but that's up to you.
5. Dump out your excess glitter. I am a hoarder so I save it for later.
6. Carefully put your cap back on the ornament.
7. Apply your adhesive vinyl/stickers/ribbons/bows/whatever!

I used my Cricut to cut out the snowflake and the Grinch SVG that I got from kraftynook.blogspot.com (she has great stuff!). I then applied them with clear contact paper onto the ornament smoothing it out as I go. 

It's that easy!! I have big plans for ornaments for this year and can't wait to get started on them!

Baby Book Completed!

It's done! It's done! It's finally done!! After numerous weekends of purple and owls and I have finally finished one of my oldest friend's baby book. I am so happy with how it came out despite the little imperfections here and there. It was a fun journey and I think as the book goes on my growth in scrapbook making shows. Now for the best part... PICTURES!!

The cover was made with vinyl for the lettering and flourish. I then used printable vinyl and the new print then cut feature for the owls!

I added monthly photos to the end of the book so mom can add her own photos through out the year!