The missing piece

As a self-admitted clothing addict, I put together outfits for my 3 daughters and obsess about every little detail until the outfit is perfect.  For weeks I have been stressing over what the girls should wear in their hair with their Christmas dresses (I know, how lucky am I that hair accessories are high on my list of worries??).

Until today....

when I realized that my Big Shot (which you were formally introduced to here) can cut fabric (it says it right on the package but who am I to read instructions?).  So I got myself some felt and some brads and made me some felt hair flowers!

Here's how:

Step 1: Cut a square of felt the size of the Sizzix cartridge ( I used this one) but any of the layered flowers will do.  Run the cartridge through the Big Shot.

The felt will come out looking like this:

Step 2: Punch a hole through the middle of the flowers (I used my Making Memories paper punch and craft hammer) or you could just hot glue the flowers in a stack from largest to smallest.



Step 3: Bling it out.  I pulled a brad through the hole I punched but you could hot glue or sew a button or put whatever you like in the center. 

I hot glued mine onto an alligator clip, but you could do a clip, a pin (to wear on a shirt) or even on a headband.

And here is the possibilites I came up with to go with the Christmas dresses (Janie and Jack Uptown Holiday for inquiring minds!).  Opinions?

And on my model L. who just wanted to use her jingle pony-o's to shake-it belly dancer style.



Birthday Banner and a Bum

So today while I was doing a little papercrafting, my oldest daughter L. decided she wanted to join in.  I gave her my cutting mat,  my circle cutter and some cardstock and she was good to go.  It kept her quiet while I worked on a little Soda Fountain-inspired birthday banner for the lovely Violet who turns 1 shortly.  L. was so engrossed in her creation that I didn't even look to see what it was.  Can anyone guess from the title of this post what it turned out to be??
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It was a bum with a head and hair on it.  Because why not use pretty paper and a make a bum out of it?  When you are 7, toilet humour reigns supreme (okay, maybe it still does when I am 30, otherwise this wouldn't have made my post, right?)

So here is her masterpiece:

And here is an introduction to a few of my favorite tools that I use when I am scrapbooking or papercrafting.

My personal favorite, The Big Shot.  Not only does it feature pink and sparkly accents, but it cuts lots of cool things like all of the lettering I used on the birthday banner, the cupcakes, ice cream cones and ice cream sundaes.  And best yet, the cartridges don't cost an arm and a leg.

Next is my EK Success circle cutter.  I have a love/ hate relationship with this thing because I like what it does, but only when it does it right, which isn't always. Would love recommendations from others!

And finally, my craft hammer and paper punches for making the holes to string the banner together.  Love these because unlike a hole punch, you can use is wherever you want on the paper, even dead centre on a 12x12 piece of paper.

I saved the best picture for last, the whole reason for this post, Violet's birthday banner!  Bree, I will be sending it off to you tomorrow!