Valentine's: Shadowbox Framed Layered Heart

 

This week's link party continues here.

I've been off to a slow start with 2021 creating. Other than a few birthday cards, I haven't done much. Between some non-Covid health issues and tests, one of my besties testing positive for Covid and worrying about her, and the events of the year so far, I've been stuck. Anyone else like that? Sometimes it just takes seeing something hit your inbox to get you unstuck and that's exactly what happened when I got an email from Maggie Rose Design Co. with a free SVG cut file for a gorgeous layered heart. If you have or are thinking about getting an electronic cutting machine, you really want to check out Maggie's site! As soon as I saw the design I fell in love with it and knew I wanted to make something using it. 

Supplies:

• Free Layered Flower Heart SVG File, Maggie Rose Design Co. 
• Five sheets of cardstock 
• Cardstock for background
• 12x12 Shadowbox Frame ( Michaels)
• Foam tape squares (Dollar Tree)
• Electronic Cutting Machine ( I used my Cricut Explore Air 2)

I went with neutral colors because I may keep this out beyond Valentine's Day. I used two sheets of cream cardstock, one black, one white and grey marbled, and one silver glitter. 

You'll be building your heart from the base layer up so think about that as you're deciding which paper to use for which layer. 

I imported the SVG file into Cricut Design Space and sized to fit centered in the frame. I made mine 9 inches. Cut your layers. 

Once you have your layers cut, you can begin building your heart. I started with a cream layer for the base and used foam tape squares to attach the black layer. 

Repeat with the remaining layers, taking care as you get to the more detailed final two layers to position your foam squares where they won't show. 

This is with the third layer applied and you can see how it's coming together ( oops excuse that errant foam square!). 

When you're all done you can see how all of the layers work together and I was so happy with how this turned out! 

To complete, adhere your background paper to the inside of the back of the frame and then I added a strip of tape to secure my layered heart. In this pic, I hadn't yet attached the layers so they're not lined up precisely. 

One of the skills I have on my 2021 list to learn is how to make my own layered files but as I do that, I remain grateful for Makers like Maggie Rose who share their creations! 

Sharing At: 

A STROLL THROUGH LIFE

Our Hopeful Home

BFF Open House

 

Happy Friday Eve all. 2021 is chugging crazily along and while I still haven't been making much, I'm grateful for the gift of creativity and the ability to be inspired by the projects you all share here. Thrilled that vaccine rollout has come to our state and hoping by the time this posts I will have gotten my Mom signed up. My bestie and her husband were both diagnosed last week:(  As my BFF said: "This sh** is scary". Please please please continue to mask up and wash up! 

Let's see some of the ideas from last week's party! 

My Home of All Seasons has a great post on transitioning from Christmas to Winter decor if you (like me) haven't put your Christmas decor away yet. Or pin for next year! 

Don't have a digital cutting machine? Priyam from Simple Joys is your go to source for paper cutting without one. Can you believe she made this paper chandelier without one?! I'm not sure I could do as beautiful a job with one and I have both a Cameo and a Cricut Explore Air 2! 

I keep a stash of organza and muslin bags on hand for small gifts, especially jewelry. Eccentricities by JVG shows us how to have some fun with plain muslin bags using Freezer Paper Stencils. I love that you can tailor these to any occasion!

I love cream cheese in frosting. I think it gives that extra body and cuts the sweetness just perfectly. And yet, I've never made a Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and can't wait to try this recipe from The Kitchen Is My Playground because it looks delish! 

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

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BFF Open House First of 2021

 

Happy New Year officially since last week's party was on NYE. I hope you had a safe and happy one and that the New Year is treating you kindly so far. I haven't been as creative as I would like...I've spent more time looking at the beautiful artwork at the hospital where I've had to go for a few tests ( not COVID ). Lifelong respiratory issues. Will get back to creating soon!

Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party to get the New Year off on a fresh creative foot! 

I love the simplicity and elegance and message of this beautiful card from Linda at Paper Seedlings. 

This is the time of year that so many are cleaning out / organizing. This is a great post by The Organized Dream on how to re-purpose some of those things we always seem to have plenty of...Old T-Shirts. 

This is the perfect thing for Mr. Chocolate and me: Bourbon Bacon Jam! I love bacon, he loves bourbon, match made in culinary heaven. From Homemade On A Weeknight. YUM!

Finally, as we all strive to eat healthier this time of year, there's no reason you can't do it in a way that's also delicious. Check out this Hight Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread from The House on Silverado. 

OK let's see what you've all been up to so far in the New Year! 

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BFF Open House HAPPY NEW YEAR !

 

Courtesy of Gina C Creates

New Year's Eve Greetings everyone! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. One of my son's packages finally arrived YESTERDAY! Still tracking the other. It was the one w/ all the homebaked goodies which managed to survive in tact. It was special when he opened one container that was filled with a cookie I only make at Christmas and to see his face on ZOOM as he said "Smells like Christmas". 

While I always marvel at the end of a year and wonder how we got there so fast, I don't think many of you will argue about saying "Good Riddance" to 2020. Gina C Creates has some fun NYE props like the "Happy New Year" graphic above if you're looking for last minute ideas. We are doing "Nacho New Year" tonight and will I'm sure be asleep by 10! Whatever you do, Happy Happy. 

Let's see some ideas from last week's party!

Satsuma Designs has a great post on ways to celebrate NYE with kids. Love these Faux Fortune Cookies! 

Got burned out bulbs? Or maybe pick up some on sale post-Christmas, but Mary Jo from Masterpieces of My Life has THE perfect use for them. Maybe a New Year's Day project to get a jump start on next year!

With all of the extra boxes from this holiday season, that's a lot of cardboard to recycle or re-purpose which makes this idea from Howling Liz just perfect! Cardboard Canal Houses or you could start now on a Faux Gingerbread House for next year! 

If you need a last minute dessert for tonight or want to plan ahead, check out this "Death By Peanut Butter and Chocolate" (my preferred way to go) from Marilyn's Treats! 

Thank you ALL for making 2020 bearable by sharing your creativity and talents here each week. I don't get to comment on every link but I look at them all and am so honored you choose to share your work here. 

Be safe! Mask Up! Here's to 2021! 

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First Post-Christmas Cards: Cream Gray and Turquoise

 

I hope everyone who celebrated had a wonderful Christmas celebration.We Zoomed with our son on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and fingers crossed, his packages will arrive today. Grrr. He took that in better stride than we have! 

I started on my "catch up" New Year's cards ( a couple people I inadvertently missed with Christmas cards) and January birthdays. After making the snowflake card using some Christmas papers, I really liked the color combination so I used it to make the first of my January birthday cards. 

For this one, I used a snowflake patterned paper from Recollections "White Christmas" stack and then an icy bluish / light turquoise Craftsmart glitter paper. I cut snowflakes using my Cricut Explore Air2 from cream glitter paper, and layered using foam dots as shown. To finish, I added an iridescent snowflake sequin and light turquoise snowflake sequin. Simple but fresh and clean for a new year!

I liked the color combination so much I went with it for the first 2021 birthday card I needed. I used the same glitter papers to make the party hats. I'm an "ecumenical" crafter so for this one I used my Silhouette Cameo and an image from the Silhouette online store. It's a layered image so I cut out of three different glitter scraps and then layered to make the hats. I think I'm going to do more of these in other color combos so I have party hats at the ready for future cards. I mounted these on a gray Echo Park Paper and used the Craftsmart light turquoise glitter papers. The sentiment is also from the Silhouette online store, and I cut it using Cricut silver adhesive foil, applied it to a cream cardstock scrap, then a light turquoise glitter scrap, and finished with some silver star sequins. 

Happy last days of 2020. I don't think any of us will be sad to see you go! 

 

BFF Open House Merry Christmas!

 

Happy Merry Christmas and Friday Eve all! Wishing the happiest of holidays to all those celebrating. It will be a different Christmas for many of us. Our first without our son since we made the collective decision to not have him travel right now. It's all good (except for the fact that his presents may not arrive on time..."out for delivery" is vague) but they'll get there. As he was growing up, I vowed not to send him off to college without cooking survival skills and he's only continued to develop them in grad school, especially during this pandemic. He will make himself a special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day meal and I can't wait to see the cookie recipes he's trying! 

Putting the party up early and then spending the rest of the day doing some baking and maybe even relaxing! What's that?! Let's take a look at some ideas from last week's party! 

If you're still looking for a last minute idea, printables are your friend and Kathleen from Our Hopeful Home has some cute ones.

Especially this year, it's possible celebrations are smaller and if it's just one or two of you, there's no reason not to make it special. Grab some things and make your table special. Mantel and Table has a great post! 

I think it's an understatement to say that we'll be glad to say goodbye to 2020 and The Apple Street Cottage has a great way to say goodbye! 

Finally, you've seen Charcuterie Boards, but how about a Dessert Board for New Year's Eve? Yes please! Check out this idea from Lindsey's Sweet World. 

I want to thank you all for sharing your creations here this year. You all have inspired and kept me going through this crazy year and I can't wait to see what 2021 brings! 

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