BFF Open House

FEBRUARY! Happy new month already. Happy Black History Month, Love Month, Cardiac Awareness Month, Mardi Gras Month and more! It's hard to believe we've already completed a full month of a new year. It's Bead and Gem Show season in Tucson which is HUGE. Numerous venues all over town, each one an experiences. People from all over the world come bringing gems, minerals, and stones also from all over the world. If there is something in this space that you're looking for and can't find it, it doesn't exist. I've been to three venues and going to another today. 

This week I shared a Tiered Tray Valentine's Vignette and a fun Valentine's Shadow Box. 

Valentine's Day is just two weeks away and you've all been busy getting ready. Let's take a look at some of the awesome projects you've shared. 

Master Pieces of My Life shared a collection of beautiful Tablescapes perfect for Valentine's Day!

If you have someone who LOVES reading, then check out these Valentine Heart Bookmarks from Sum of Their Stories. 

Fun a Day has some fabulous Straw Art ideas that are great for kids or adults! 

Finally, how special would someone feel waking up to these Valentine's Biscuits from Walking on Sunshine? Yum!

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 

 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

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Valentine's Decor: Layered Heart Shadowbox

 

I love using my Cricut machines for holiday decor. My subscription to Creative Fabric is a win-win combination since I can always find a new layered image to use!

Supplies:

• Shadow Box Frame (Michaels)
• Seasonal Paper (Sweetheart Day, Recollections, Michaels)
• White Cardstock
• Pink Foil Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Layered Heart File (Creative Fabrica)
• Seasonal Stickers (Dollar Tree)
• Foam Tape

I love these frames from Michaels and stock up on them whenever they have a BOGO. The 12x12 come two to a pack, so you get four for the price of two when they're on sale! 

I picked up this Valentine's paper stack for Valentine's cards but made this first! 

I chose this "LOVE" sheet from the pack to use as the backdrop, then uploaded the design I chose to Cricut Design Space, sized it, and cut the bottom layer from white cardstock, the middle from pink foil cardstock and the top from white. 

Attached the layers using foam dots, then using foam tape, I attached to the background paper. 

To finish, I added a sticker from a pack I picked up at Dollar Tree, then assembled in the frame. 

It's sitting on the little table holding my Tiered Tray Vignette. 

Sharing At:

Sundays on Silverado

Valentine's Decor: Tiered Tray Vignette

 

I was so excited about the tiered tray I found in time for Christmas Decor, and I knew it would become part my seasonal decor year round. A stroll through Dollar Tree and a few on hand things came together just perfectly for Valentine's Day. 

Supplies

• Tiered Tray (Thrifted Find)
• Chalkboard Sign (Dollar Tree)
• Battery Heart Lights (Dollar Tree)
• Red Package Filler (Dollar Tree)
• XOXO Muslin Bags (Dollar Tree)
• Valentine's Stickers (Dollar Tree)
• Glittered Hearts (Michaels)

I should have picked up a new chalkboard pen when I was at Dollar Tree because as I found out, the one I thought I was going to use was all dried up. No worries! I'd picked up a couple packs of stickers so...

I left the chalkboard sign unfinished and used a piece of chalk to rough up the background. Then I chose some of the stickers and placed as shown. 

The XOXO Muslin Bags come three to a package. I used two and stuffed them with wadded up paper to give them depth. 

I sprinkled the paper crinkles on the tray then put the heart lights on the bottom with one of the stuffed bags and a couple of glitter hearts. On the top, I placed the chalkboard sign, more glitter hearts and the other bag. Simple and festive! 

Easy Peasy! 

Sharing At:

Sundays on Silverado

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve again already! Hope you've all had a good week that's flown by and let me be obnoxious by pointing out that it's exactly 11 months from today until Christmas 😂so if you made a commitment to get started early this year on Christmas gifts...

I did my first sublimation project this week! I really like the printer I got although I forget that it cycles through periodically on its own to check ink levels and can startle me. I shared my First Sublimation Project a little bag I can use for miscellaneous things when traveling. 

If you got a Circut machine for the holidays last year, you will want to attend this upcoming workshop hosted by Abbi Kirsten. She's a great teacher! Feb 5th through 9th. 

Time to take a look at some of the inspiring ideas shared at last week's party! 

If you're a Dollar Tree regular you've seen these tin tiles. Take them to another level like Artsy Va Va did here with this Faux Tin Tile Heart. 

Hunny I'm Home DIY shared this fun Rae Dunn-inspired Conversation Heart Sign, a fun addition to Valentine's Decor. 

Living in the desert, I'm a sucker for succulents. Not being much of a gardener, this Faux Succulent Centerpiece from Crazy Little Lovebirds is perfect and works for any climate! 

Finally, check out these extra-special brownies from Sonata Home Design, Symphony Brownies made with Hersey's Symphony bars. 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've whipped up this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

First Sublimation Project

 

I know I'm late to this trend but I'm here now! I played with my new Brother Sublimation printer that I got for Christmas and I'm hooked! I'm probably not going to invest in a mug or tumbler press at least I don't think so...we'll see. 

For my first project, I wanted to keep it simple and useful. After getting my printer set up which was a breeze BTW, I needed something to make so I ordered a package of small bags from Amazon. In reading up on Sublimation, it's important to make sure you use things designed specifically for sublimation which these were. 

Supplies:

• Sublimation Blank, I used bags from Amazon
• Sublimation Paper, I used the paper that came with the printer
• Image, I designed in Procreate then imported into the Brother Artspira app
• Heat Press

These are the bags I ordered from Amazon...10 for $8.99. They came with instructions about what temp to set the heat press which was great! 390 degrees.

I pressed the bag first to make sure there weren't any wrinkles. I'd designed the image in Procreate or you can use any graphics design program. Then imported into the Brother Artspira app and printed on sublimation paper.  

The Artspira app automatically mirrors your print. If you've printed using a different application, make sure you mirror before printing. This is hard to see because the ink is on the underside and this is the back. 

It didn't come out as vibrant as the printed image. I read afterwards that sublimation printing needs pressure on the heat press so I'm learning as I go! But even with a more faded look, I'm happy! This will work great for chargers and cords for travel. Another thing I'm going to try with the next project is using some sublimation spray I got after making this. It is supposed to help deepen the colors of the sublimated image by giving it more to stick to. 

This is the printer I got as well as some of the additional supplies!

Stay tuned! 

Sharing At: 

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all. How we're already halfway through January, I don't know! For everyone continuing to be snowed in and/or frozen, I hope you're staying warm and safe. 

This week, I unboxed my new Brother sublimation printer and got it all set up and ordered some sublimation blanks I hope to play with this weekend. Maybe an "elder moment" or just a tech ignorance moment, but took me a minute to figure out that I can't use the Artspira app that works with the Brother printer on my Windows laptop since you can't download from the Google Play store. At least I already knew you can't use the Apple App Store! No biggie since I will be using things I create in Procreate on my iPad which works great with Artspira. FYI...

You've been off to a busy start to the year so let's take a look at some great ideas!

You've made or chosen a gift. Wrapping it should be as special as what's inside and Crazy Little Lovebirds has some Creative Pretty Giftwrap Ideas! 

Perfect for snow days with littles, Fun a Day shared these great Day and Night Canvases. 

Creatively Beth shared another fun project, a Dollar Tree Pixel Heart! 

Finally, since not even I can live on chocolate alone (sigh) and I've been in love with Spanakopita from the first bite I took at a Greek Festival in college, these Puff Pastry Spanokopita Bites from Drug Store Divas are a must try! Phyllo dough is the usual pastry but it's very temperamental to work with! YUM. 

Thank you to everyone who linked up and can't wait to see what you've been up to this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter