Cricut Foil Tool: Thanksgiving 2020 Cards

 

This week's BFF Open House Link Party continues here

I've had a fun week getting started on some Christmas and Hanukkah projects but today I'm sharing the cards I made for friends and family for Thanksgiving. For us, this year won't be much of a chance. PhD Man hasn't come home for Thanksgiving since undergrad since he comes for an extended stay over Christmas. Hoping that's the case this year! But, I know for many this will be a different Thanksgiving as we continue to make our way through this pandemic. Since I've always been remote from a lot of friends and family for whom I'm thankful, I've always made cards to send to them. 

Supplies: 

• Marsh Flower Stack (Michaels)
• Recollections Gray, Cream, Brown 110lb Cardstock (Michaels)
• Cricut Foil Tool for Cricut Explore Air 2 or Cricut Maker
• Cricut Foil
• Gold Foil Cardstock ( Recollections, Michaels)
• Tape Gun and Foam Tape

I found this paper pad during one of Michaels "Buy One, Get Two Free" promotions on their Hot Buy papers and decided I really loved these colors and patterns for Thanksgiving cards. 

I've been anxious to use the new Cricut Foil Transfer Kit I ordered in October, I'd already done my Halloween cards so I knew I was going to use it for my Thanksgiving cards. If you have a Cricut Explore or Maker YOU NEED THIS TOOL!  It works with the Cricut foil which is pressure based vs some foils that interact with a medium. This kit comes with three tip sizes which easily pop in and out of the housing which in turn pops easily in and out of the machine.  

It was very straightforward to use. Follow the instructions that come with it or there are multiple tutorials on You Tube. 

The first thing to decide is your design. I went with a simple "Thankful" word and simple leaves and designed this in Cricut Design Space. Right in the SW you can choose "Foil" which makes things easy. 

The kit comes with a selection of different foils but I also bought a standalone pack of 12x12 gold foil since I knew I'd be foiling all the things! You place what you want to foil, in this case I used a self adhesive cardstock on your mat then this is the only tricky part: you lay the foil on top and then tape down the edges either with the tape strips that come with the foil packs or you can also use Washi tape. It is important to make sure your foil is taut since the tool will tug on it a bit so lock it down! 

Once your machine is done, peel back the foil and look how cool!  I then cut these into the sizes I needed for my cards, mounted on gold mirror panels, and mounted in the middle of my cards. 

The Marsh Flower paper collection already had some foiled papers so these coordinated nicely. I selected my papers and cut out panels to make my cards: 

• 5x7 Cards made from 110lb cardstock
• 4.75 x 6.75 panels made from selection of papers with another layer cut 3.5x5.5 and mounted on gold foil panels cut 3.75x5.75
• "THANKFUL" focal adhered with foam tape
• Layer as shown 

This tool is a game changer for me and I'm sure I don't yet know in how many ways! 

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all! It's hard to believe that two weeks from now is the annual stretching of the pants day known as American Thanksgiving wherein we cook for two days to consume a meal in 20 minutes! It's tradition, and wouldn't have it any other way. I know it will be different for many this year, being unable to gather with all of the extended family so hopefully by next year that can return. 

In the meantime, let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party! 

Whether as an addition to your own decor or to make as a gift, Lisa, from Fresh Vintage by Lisa S has the cutest idea for a repurposed alarm clock. 

I think nothing makes a tablescape stand out better than having some depth. Stillettos and Shiplap shared how to make this fabulous table riser to take your festive tablescapes up a notch. 

If you're a jewelry maker and looking for a great gift idea ( or for yourself!) check out this beautiful Rope Necklace from Michelle at My Bijou Life.  She's got a step by step tutorial. 

Finally, from The House on Silverado, check out these decadent and delicious looking Milk Chocolate Toffee Shortbread Bars! I can't stop staring at them.  

Now let's see what everyone's been up to this week! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Holiday 2020: Peppermint Crackle Framed Printable (Plus Hanukkah Printables)

 

Happy Hump Day Makers! Excited to show you how I used one of the Christmas Printables I shared yesterday and below, you'll find some Hanukkah themed ones I also made. 

Supplies: 

• Frame. New, Thrifted, or Stash. Mine was one I had on hand
• Acrylic Paints. I used Apple Barrel Bright Red and Craftsmart White
• White Glue. I used Elmer's
• Painter's Tape
• Printable

The frame I used has a beveled inner edge and I decided that I would leave the outer edge black so I taped this off using painters tape. Painted the remaining exposed frame with the Bright Red. This took a couple of coats. You can make this completely opaque with additional coats but since I was going for a crackle finish, I was fine with some of the black streaks showing through. 

Next you'll apply a medium coat of white glue. This is the same process I used for some Halloween Girlfriend Gifts so you can click here for the detailed instructions.  

The key here is to have your brush strokes go in the same direction. When your glue is not fully dry, brush on the white paint in the same brush stroke direction as your glue. 

You will see the crackles start to form as the paint dries or you can speed it up with a warm ( not hot ) blow dryer. DO NOT USE A HEAT / EMBOSSING GUN. Your paint will bubble.  Once your top coat is dry, remove the painter's tape. 

Here you can see the remaining black outer edge of the frame. 

I imported my printable into my graphics program, sized accordingly and printed on a transparency. You can also print on paper. I chose a sheet of cardstock from the White Satin paper pad by Recollections (Michaels) that wouldn't be too busy behind my transparency but still give it a little more depth if that makes sense! Trim transparency and cardstock to fit inside your frame. 

Et voila!

As I mentioned above, I also made some similar Printables for Hanukkah!

Hanukkah

Dreidel

Menorah

Holiday 2020: Free Typewriter Font Printables

 

It's Holiday Maker Season!!! To start things off, I am sharing some quick printables I made. Printables are still for me the easiest way to change  up your decor for only the cost of a frame and most of us already have tons of those on hand right? 

Please feel free to use. I didn't watermark the images and while not a requirement, would appreciate a link back if you use! I also would LOVE to see how you use them! They're sized 8x10. To download, click on image then right click to save as. Enjoy!

Happy Merry Christmas

Happy Merry Joy

Happy Merry Peace

Fall Decor: Rustic Silk Leaves and Feathers Wreath

 

Happy Monday all! We in America move full speed ahead to our national day of thanks and gluttony and I've finished the last of the things I'll make ( I think ) for this short season between Halloween and Christmas. Anxious to get started on some Christmas goodies so be on the lookout! 

Also humbled and excited to have been again featured in the Hometalk weekly newsletter last week! They included my Plastic Egg Acorns and Pinecones and I couldn't be more tickled. If you aren't on Hometalk, you should check it out both as a place to share your creations and to find even more inspiring ideas! 

Supplies:

• Square Wreath Form. I actually had some inserts from 12x12 shadow box frames that I used but you  could also use a square frame. 
• Silk Leaves (Michaels 80% off)
• Twig Vase Fillers (Dollar Tree)
• Feathers ( Michaels)
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

From left to right: Shadow Box Frame Inserts, Silk Leaves, Dollar Tree Birch Stumps and Twigs

The frame inserts are not the sturdiest so I glued two of them together to stabilize them. The silk leaves I found for 80% off at Michaels. I used two packages of 30 with a few left over.

These came in two sizes, the larger having some gold veining and the smaller being plain. I alternated these around the wreath. Pretty straightforward. After I glued the leaves around the frame I placed a few of the birch "stumps" , offset, "because I did" which is a technical creative term!

I have a ton of these twigs left over so may save them for next year or throw them in a vase. 

I grouped three feathers (Michaels, Art Minds or Creatology) at the base of each "stump", then added some of the twigs. 

To finish, I had some of these Acrylic Gem Maple Leaves in my stash from a past project so glued a few of those on. Living in the West, this may be another thing I leave up year round. Haven't decided yet. We don't have specifically "Western" decor but I like some bits here and there. 

Et voila!