Family Tree Template - Now available for download!

I just wanted to let you know that my Family Tree Template


is now available for download on Lulu.com:

http://www.lulu.com/content/1299017

Kids Card - Go Bananas!

Instructions (All cuts from George Cricut cartridge):

1. In brown, cut two circles at 4". Cut two more circles at 1 1/2". Cut two narrow balloons at 3 1/2".
   
2. In tan, cut two 1" circles and one 3" "fat" oval.
3. In white, cut two 1 1/4" circles.
4. In white, cut slotted tag in desired size.
   
5. Ink all edges.
6. Place star brads in white circles for the eyes.
7. Draw mouth on 3" "fat" oval.
   
8. Attach eyes and mouth to the front of one 4" circle.
9. Attach one 1" tan circle to the front of each 1 1/2" brown circle to make the ears.
10. Attach ears to the back of the 4" circle.
11. Attach balloons (to form hands/arms) to the back of the 4" circle. (Attach so that when the arms are folded in, they will cover the eyes.)
    
12. Attach the second 4" circle to the back of the decorated 4" circle (inked side out).
13. Chalk cheeks and add dots or decoration as desired.
14. Set snap/rivet in one side of ribbon. Attach with Zots to one hand.
    
15. Measure length of ribbon (so it will reach the other hand), and cut. Slide slotted tag onto ribbon after writing your message on the tag. Set another snap/rivet in the other end of the ribbon and attach with Zots to the other hand.
16. Decorate tag and card with Stickles as desired.
17. Use wavy scissors or a scallop cut to make the envelope decoration. Add Stickles and a yellow brad. Draw bananas on the front of the envelope and color with chalk. Add Stickles as desired.

Thanks for looking!

Kids Card - "Fishing" You A Happy Birthday

Instructions (All from ZooBalloo & George):

1. Cut out a fish bowl at 4" (Real Dial Size On) in blue. Cut the silhouette at the same size (again in blue). Cut the layer at the same size in white vellum.
   
2. Trim off the top of the vellum cut to resemble water waves. Trim the silhouette so only the bottom, outside ring remains (as in picture).
   
3. Cut out grass at 1" in green.
4. Cut out fish at 1 1/2" in orange (Real Dial Size On) and another at 1 1/4".
5. Cut "(" and ")" out at 2" in brown (Real Dial Size On).
6. Cut out envelope at 4" in white.
7. Ink edges of grass, fish, fish bowl, and envelope in desired colors.
   
8. Draw bubbles on envelope and ink in desired color.
   
9. Attach grass to fish bowl, trimming to fit the curve.
   
10. Attach white circle (ink edges in desired color and write "Happy Birthday" on it) to the center of the fish bowl. You can cut this from George at 1" or cut free hand.
    
11. Attach vellum to fish bowl only at the edges. Attach fish bowl silhouette to vellum.
12. Hook wire through 1 1/2" fish's tail and into one of the "(". Attach the other ")" on top to make the fishing pole. Attach to the fish bowl with a snap/rivet (loose enough to allow some turning). Insert fish into the "water", covering the "Happy Birthday" circle.
    
13. Attach 1 1/4" fish to the envelope flap.
    
14. Use Stickles and Liquid Pearls as desired.
15. Cut slotted tag from George in desired size. Ink edges and write "Fishing you a..." on the tag. Thread with ribbon and trim ribbon ends. Attach to fish bowl.

THE END - Enjoy!

Pick-A-Present...Coupon Book

A new take on the old-fashioned "coupon book" gift.

1. Cut 4 scalloped envelopes from two colors of cardstock at 2 1/2" (ZooBalloo). Assemble, but do not fold down the top flap.
2. Cut two scalloped envelopes (one from white cardstock and one from patterned paper) at 3" (ZooBalloo). Remove side flaps. Attach patterned paper to cardstock cut out.
   
3. Cut scalloped squares from Mini Monograms at 2 1/2" (You can also use the scalloped square on the tag from ZooBalloo if you turn Real Dial Size on).
   
4. Cut a slotted tag from George at desired size. Write "Pick-A-Present" on the tag.
   
5. Ink edges of all pieces.
   
6. Set an eyelet at the bottom center of each of the 2 1/2" envelopes.
   
7. Fold the 3" envelope at scoring marks and again 1/4" from the bottom edge scoring marks. This creates a box shape at the bottom of the envelope.
   
8. Set eyelets at the bottom center of the 3" envelope on each side, matching up the height with the 2 1/2" envelope eyelet settings.
   
9. Set an eyelet at the top of each side of the 3" envelope, front and back (see picture for positioning).
   
10. Set an eyelet at the top of each scalloped square.
    
11. Use small ribbon and a ribbon embroidery needle to easily thread ribbon through the eyelet holes. Tie ribbon individually onto scalloped squares. Thread ribbon through the bottom of the large envelope (front) and all the small envelopes and out the back of the large envelope. Thread another ribbon through the sides of the large envelope. Thread both sides of ribbon through the slotted tag you made from George and knot ends (see picture).]
12. Write gifts/coupons onto scalloped squares. (Ex: "This coupon good for your favorite home cooked meal.", or "This coupon good for one evening out.", or "This coupon good for one toy up to $5 at your favorite toy store.", etc.)
13. Insert scalloped squares into small envelopes or a gift card will also fit if you choose (see picture).
14. Tie ribbon from bottom of envelope up and over the scalloped top. Situate the bow behind the George tag.

Other ideas for this arrangement:

• Write reasons why you love someone on the cards and give them your love notes in this cute package.
  
• Use as a way to do drawings or raffles...each person picks a card from the collection for their prize.
  

Empty Nest

1. Cut bird and nest from ZooBalloo in brown at 3 1/2" (remove baby bird from cut).
   
2. Cut bird in blue at the same size (real dial size off). Attach blue bird to brown nest.
   
3. Cut branches in silhouette at 2" and 1 1/4" in brown and again normal in green. Ink green branches and attach behind the brown cut out.
   
4. Use brown satin ribbon and brown sheer ribbon to create the look on the nest. (I attached with Zots).
   
5. Use Pewter Liquid Pearls to give the bird shimmer and then use Dark Blue Stickles to add some glitter and outline the bird. Use Orange Peel Stickles for the bird's beak and Cinnamon Stickles for the branches and bird's legs.
   
6. Attach all pieces to card. (I used a pre-made card from a Michael's card box.)
   

Small Criss Cross Card

Small Criss Cross Card

• For the "envelope", cut a 12x12 in three sections (4x12 each). Score each strip 3 1/2" from each edge. Cut digonally from the top of each score mark to the lower, outer corner of the strip. When the sides are folded in, they should overlap slightly and form a "V" shape.
  


• I cut a brown strip that matched the top side of each flap and added some light brown ribbon. I added green Stickles to the envelope paper and then added some Primas with a green snap at the fold. I used double stick tape to close the envelope on the bottom edge.

• For the inside card, I cut a 4 1/2" rounded rectangle from the George cartridge from cream cardstock. I used distressing ink around the edges and added ribbons to the top. I stamped the sentiment on the card and added some green Stickles.

• This size criss cross card will fit in a regular invitation size envelope.

Thank Ewe Card

Thank Ewe Card

This card was made with multiple cuts of the George cartridge (Cricut) flowers on shadow blackout. I crumpled each of the flowers and used distressing ink. I then sprayed them lightly with water to help spread the ink a bit. When they were dry, I attached them to the card and added some dimension on the edges with a Snow Writer.

The face is a George cartridge oval and the ear is a petal from a flower cut. The legs were cut from a rounded rectangle. I cut the rectangle in half lengthwise and then again in half the other direction.

I hand cut the grass with "grass" craft scissors, used distressing ink and then added some green Stickles.

I cut the word "Thanks" and the letters for "EWE" from the George cartridge on white cardstock (regular) and in black cardstock on shadow blackout. I used distressing ink on the top half of the white letters to give it the gradient effect. I cut the "s" off of both of the "Thanks" and then attached the top cut to the shadow cut and then attached them to the card.

The card background is an 8x8 piece of cardstock scored in half. I added the white topper and cut the edges with scalloped craft scissors. I used distressing ink and added the black dots with a fine tip pen.

Thanks for looking!

BBTB Fall Contest Entry - Family Tree

Family Tree -
5 Generations!
Framed Artwork or Scrapbook Layout

Instructions:

1. Design and cut out tree base on brown (8 1/2 x 11) paper. Cut identical reverse image on another piece of matching 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Distress edges (except very bottom and inside of tree). (Tree design now available on Lulu.com for download. http://www.lulu.com/content/1299017)
   
2. Cut out family name letters from Cricut George cartridge at 1 1/4" - once regular in burgundy paper and once shadowed on cream paper. Distress all edges.
3. Cut out 2" diamonds from Cricut George cartridge on dark green and light green paper. Round three edges to make leaf shape. Distress all edges. (This probably would have been a lot easier if I had Walk In My Garden and could have cut out 2" leaf shapes!)
4. Write names of all family members on the leaves. Use dark green for male family members and light green for female family members. You can add birth/death dates if you desire.
   
5. Cut 2" heart from George and distress all edges. Cut in half. (Cut small hearts in burgundy from George if desired to decorate the tree.) Write the names of "Mommy" and "Daddy" (yourself and your spouse) on each half of the heart. I have the male name on the left and the female name on the right.
   
6. Distress three edges of two pieces of yellow cardstock.
7. Attach tree cut out to each piece of yellow cardstock. (Attaching to the non-distressed side of the page.) [Be sure in this step that when you match up the non-distressed edges of each paper, the tree should match up and be a whole tree and the distressing should be continuous along the edges of the large rectangle made by the two pieces of paper.]
   
8. Place the half-hearts on the trunk of the tree. I have the male name on the left and the female name (me) on the right.
9. On the male tree piece of cardstock, attach the male family name along the outer edge of the page. (Burgundy letters attached to cream shadow letters and then attached to the page). Do the same for the female family page.
   
10. Attach the leaves to the tree. I always keep the male name on the left and the female name on the right so that the color will be even throughout. For the leaves on the inside of the tree, each name should attach at the bottom of the "v" in the branch. The first "v" will be the name of one of your parents, the next "v" will be the name of your parents parents (your grandparents), and so on. The final leaves (your great-great grandparent) will be attached to the tip of the branches.
11. Place small burgundy hearts throughout the tree as desired.
    
12. Find two matching 12x12 frames and mount your work (hanging side by side as in the picture), or place in your scrapbook as a beautiful 2 page layout!
13. If you have children and wish to include their names, here are a few ideas (this will make a 6 generation tree):
1. Cut out extra leaves and write the children's names on them. Attach the leaves on the ground under the tree (like fallen leaves).
   
2. Cut out bug shapes and maybe some grass. Write your children's names on the bugs and place them on the ground under the tree (or attach butterflies like they are flying in the air).
3. Cut out flower shapes and some grass. Write your children's names on the flowers and place them on the ground under the tree.

PS - All names have been blurred in the image and the family names have been changed "to protect the innocent"... :o).

***This pattern is available for download from my store on Lulu.com. http://www.lulu.com/content/1299017
Be sure to check it out!***

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1103371

A bit about me...

I am a Christian stay at home mom of two beautiful (and quite often...crazy) kids.

My husband and I celebrated our fifth anniversary this July. We have a daughter, Lacie, that is 3. Our son, Javan, is 1.

I enjoy making cards and keeping myself overstocked with paper and pens and anything to help that addiction along.

Check out my children's book (Max's Motorcycle)
and homeschooling planner (WEAVE)

Order them online!!!
http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1103371