Halloween Crafting: DIY Witch Broom Wreath

 

I previously shared the Witch Broom I made using a Dollar Tree plunger. Today I'm sharing what I did with it!

Supplies:

• Completed Witch Broom
• Wreath Form
• Decorative Mesh
• Pipe Cleaners
• Tulle
• Florals
• Skulls

I used a large wire wreath form (Dollar Tree) as my base, along with Decorative Mesh (also DT) and florals from DT and Michaels. 

Since I knew I was going to attach the broom and wanted to ensure other things were really secure on the wreath form, I added some pipe cleaners as shown so that I could use the ends to attach other elements. 

I covered the form with the decorative mesh, wrapping it so the pipe cleaner ends were still accessible. 

I used a combination of the pipe cleaner ends and some tulle to tie on the broom. Glue didn't feel like it was going to be strong enough!

I took my florals apart, then combined them how I liked in bunches, which I also used the pipe cleaner ends to attach. Once you know you're done with the pipe cleaners, trim closely, and they just blend in. 

I found this bag of Oil Skulls at Michaels, and the iridescent colors worked perfectly with my color palette. 

Then I used hot glue to add these randomly around my wreath. 

A little Goth. A little Glamour. Gothmour?

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Papercrafting: Cricut Birthday Card

 

Before COVID got me, I made a birthday card for one of my crafty friends, inspired by a paper pack I picked up at Michaels: Splatter and Swirls

Supplies:

• Patterned Scrapbooking Paper (Craft Smith, Splatter and Swirls, Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Paper (Stash)
• Base Cardstock (Recollections, 110lb Cardstock, Michaels)
• Focal Images (Cricut Design Space)
• Creatology Gems (Kids Crafting Aisle, Michaels)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)
• Tape Runner
• Glue Stuck

I started by choosing what I wanted to feature as my focal images in Cricut Design Space,  sized to fit my card, and cut. Card is 5x7. 

I picked a glitter paper that coordinated with this piece from the Splatter and Swirls stack mentioned above. 

I cut the patterned paper to fit my card, then applied the cut images using a glue stick. These "industrial strength" ones by Aleene's (Dollar Tree) are a go-to! They really hold things down. 

Once my images were glued down I grabbed these fun gems by Creatology from Michaels. I love peeping the kids crafts aisles for supplies and these are one of my favorites. 

I glued them to my card as shown using a dimensional glue, and added a few gold rhinestones to pick up the foiling on the paper. Et voila! 

The card's been received and my crafty friend loved it. My work here is done!

Papercrafting: Layered Tulip Mother's Day Cards

 

Even with postage constantly increasing, I still am a "snail mail" girl when it comes to holidays and making and sending handmade cards. I think now more than ever, with everything electronic and AI, it's important to maintain some analog hobbies! Cardmaking remains my first love and my gateway "drug" to all of my other crafts. The Mamas in my life will be getting these in the mail soon! 

Supplies:

• Cutting Machine 
• SVG Image  (Creative Fabrica)
• Coordinating Scrapbook Papers
• Cardstock (110 lb)
• Coordinating Stickers
• Foam Tape
• Gemstone Embellishments

I realize the irony (even the hypocrisy) of talking about an analog hobby while using downloadable files and an electronic cutting machine. I consider them tools, just like a tape gun or paper cutter. 

I found a layered tulip image I liked and downloaded the SVG via my Creative Fabrica subscription. I uploaded it into my Cricut Design Space software and sized to fit my card. I used two different green papers to give my tulips depth, and cut the tops out in pink metallic and white. 

I used a mini glue dot runner (Dollar Tree) to attach the layers as shown. Two green, one pink glitter, then the top in pink foil here, and 

white paper here. 

My standard card size is 5x7, so I cut my 110lb cardstock to 7x10, scored, folded, then my focal panels from my chosen scrapbook papers (Recollections) to 4.75x6.75, and applied with my tape gun.

Once all of my tulip focal pieces were done, they were ready to go on the front of the cards!

I squealed when I found these tulip stickers at Michaels, and I already had the butterfly stickers in my stash (Dollar Tree). I attached one of each to enhance each of the tulips. To finish, I added coordinating pink gemstones (Creatology, Michaels). 

DON'T sleep on the kids' crafts section at Michaels, which is where these gems are fun. More than I'll ever probably use, so for $3.99, they go a LONG way!

 

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Jewelrymaking: Fun With My Bead Show Haul

 

I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, and if you celebrated, a wonderful Valentine's Day. We had a very low-key one, but of course, there was chocolate!

I didn't take any in-process pictures, but had some fun over the weekend with some of the goodies I got at this year's bead shows. 

Since I don't have pierced ears, I make almost all of my own earrings. Clips aren't easy to find, and when I do, they're generally more dainty than what I wear, but thankfully, I can easily get clip earring backs at Michaels or online. However, it's sometimes hard to find "fronts", meaning something to which I can glue the backs. So when I find components that work, I stock up and was very pleased to find the silver ones shown here at one of the bead shows. The ones in the middle I found at Michaels, intended to be the hanging part of earrings themselves, but being flat on both sides made it easy to adapt them to my needs. 

As you can tell, I like bolder pieces. 

What are earrings without bracelets?! All of these are on stretch cord. I used black onyx beads for the black-and-silver bracelet, along with some bean-shaped silver beads, agate and glass beads for the one behind it, hammered and textured silver beads, and I don't remember what the small white beads are. I got a massive bag at a show last year for a steal. I also proceeded to spill a bunch of them and had fun finding them all on my floor! 

Since I wear a lot of black and white and neutrals, these work together, and with pieces I already have.

The great thing about making your own jewelry is that you can also remake your own jewelry! I usually go through mine once or twice a year, decide "I don't like this anymore", take it apart, make something new. But of course, that doesn't stop me from adding to my stash! 

Have you ever made or want to make your own jewelry? 

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Papercrafting: Layered LOVE Valentine's Cards

 

This week's party continues here through tomorrow. 

Busy as I've been, I found some time to make Valentine's Day Cards for family and friends. I had some great papers left from a stack I bought last year so I used them, along with a few new embellishments I picked up this year. 

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Seasonal Papers (Sweetheart Day Stack, Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers
• Adhesive Foam Dots, Glue Runner
• Misc. Embellishements
• Cut File
• Digital Cutting Machine

I always plan cards by the focal image I want to use and build around that. I went with this LOVE image from Cricut Design Space. 

In Cricut Design Space, I used the offset function to create two additional layers. I cut and assembled all of my focal pieces, then cut and assembled my cards following my go to 5x7 card and 4.75x6.75 panels. This stack had some great acetate papers included which I had fun with!

TIP: If I don't want to cut more papers for my panels, I combine leftover pieces and just measure them the same size as the panel. 

I found these embellishments at DAISO, and they were perfect for my cards!

Just added them to the letters etc.

These conversation hearts are from one of the acetate panels. 

That's about the extent of my Valentine's crafting this year, but I couldn't NOT show the people I love that I love them! 

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