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L-O-V-E Banner


2011
01.06

Posted in Banner, Cricut LOVE Banner, Cricut Markers, Ephemera, Feather Boas, Funky, Funny, Grunge, Hearts, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Valentine's Day Craft, Vintage | 4 Comments »

 

So, I’m starting to think the orange as the background just isn’t cutting it in this photo! LOL!  Unfortunately, this is a banner I made over two years ago but I thought I would share it with you anyway!  Since it was made so long ago I honestly cannot remember all of the sizes things were cut at.  I do remember that I used Storybook, Indie Art, Tags, Bags, Boxes and More and either George or Plantin Schoolbook.  I made this when the markers were really hot stuff and cut the wings, lips and crown using the markers on the top layer – the marker outline REALLY made the images pop and gave the boarder an edgy… funky, yet shabby chic feel.  Everything is layered 2-3x for extra dimension and stability too.  Pieces of corrugated cardboard, scraps of paper, LOTS of chipboard, styrofoam letters painted black and then sugar coated with black fine glitter, pieces of feather boas, wire, clothespins, etc…completed the look.  The bottles hanging from the letter “O” are actually mini empty bottles of glitter.  I made labels for each.  One reads ” Love Potion #9 and the other reads “Hot Stuff – add three shakes to spice things up.”  I glued the labels on the bottles and then used a spray adhesive to cover the entire bottle and rolled each one in super fine clear glitter.  The tag bases are cut from chipboard using the deep cut housing blade.  Worked like a charm.  I then cut patterened paper a size smaller and used my sewing machine set on the largest zigzag stitch and black thread.  Little butterflies adorn the ribbon that were from some paper I had where you could just punch them out.  I layered all of the butterflies 2-3x and glued only the centers and fanned out the wings to make them look as though they were actually fluttering.  A large piece of black and white polka dotted ribbon was threaded through each tag and then small pieces of tulle, and ribbon scraps were tied randomly along with butterflies attached here and there.

It’s definitely an oldie but a favorite piece of mine.  Sure wish I would have taken the photo last year with a white sheet or something  behind it though….oh well!

Are you feelin’ the love?  *wink*

Happy Crafting, my friends!

xKim

1 Comment

You’re Da Bomb! (I’m just sayin’…) Valentine’s Day Card!


2011
01.06

Posted in Funky, Funny, Grunge, Indie Art Cricut Cartridge, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Stickles, Valentine's Day Craft | 1 Comment »

I have to admit I have a pretty healthy supply of Cricut cartridges (Please don’t ask me how many because I honestly have no idea and I’m not sure we need to go there just in case my hubby is reading this.  Hi Dear!  Love ya!)  I’m not one to hide things from my hubster…<insert clearing throat here>…ahem…I’m just sayin’….) LOL!  Just kidding!!  Anyway, my point is that with all of the adorable Valentine’s or shall I say lovey-dovey cuts available you would think I’d be cutting  out those images instead… or at least something from a new cartridge….but no, I have to show my rebellious side by making a card using the bomb from the Indie Art cartridge – isn’t Indie Art now a discontinued one too?!  LOL! I know Indie Art has always had mixed reviews.  People either loved or hated it when it first came out…  I don’t know about you, but for the longest time Indie Art was one of my favorite cartridges, probably because it’s so non-traditional and the cuts can be used in so many fun and quirky ways. :-)  That’s me you know, quirky crafty Kim. :-)  
So in honor of kicking off the “LOVE” theme this month for the January Challenge I wanted to tell all of you that I think “You’re Da Bomb!”

 Want to make a card just like this one? 

Here’s the recipe!

Ingredients:

 Cricut

Indie Art Cricut Cartridge

Your preferred Cricut font cartridge

White premade card or make your own measuring 5″x7″

1-2 old book pages 

Cardstock in the following colors:  black, red, white, silver, brown

Inks for distressing ( I used red, black and silver)

Stickles (Glitter Glue) in Red and Silver

White Pen

Your preferred adhesive

Pop dots (or dimensionals!)

Small piece of red tulle approximately 3″x5″ piece

Small piece of aluminum foil or silver paper

Directions:

 

1.  Using Indie Art cut the bomb – botton and top layer.  I cut the bomb at 4 3/4″.  The first layer the shadow/blackout layer was cut out of white paper.  The top layer was cut from black paper.  Don’t forget to cut the flame also from red paper leaving the size set at 4 3/4″.  I cut two of the flames and glued the end together that slips under the bomb and then curled the ends forward to give more dimension. Also, cut the matchstick from brown and the top of the match from red paper.

2.  Cut the phrase “You’re Da Bomb” from your preferred Cricut font cartridge.  I have to admit.  I made this in a flurry and have been working on several things and I cannot for the life of me remember which font this is ….Can anyone tell just by looking?  I want to say it’s Lyrical Letter BUT….I’m not positive!  I do know that I cut it at 1/2″ from the red paper.

3.  Okay, time to assemble! 

  • First thing we’re going to do is tear the old book page(s) into small squares.  Ink all four sides with red ink and a light dab of silver ink for extra Ooomph! Next, adhere the bookprint squares to the card front overlapping a bit so it resembles a collage look.  Any excess hanging off the edge of the card can be trimmed.
  • Next, assemble the bomb.  Ink the edges of all pieces with black and silver ink.  Place a small piece of aluminum foil or silver paper large enough to be centered underneath the top layer opening that resembles a bean shape.  Glue to the base cut making sure it lines up with the top layer so that the silver paper/foil shows through the top layer opening.  Next, add pop dots (dimensionals) to the back of the top layer and attach together.  Attach the bomb to the front of the card with more pop dots for extra dimension.
  • Using a white pen and a heavy hand, outline the “starburst explosion” that’s the part underneath the flame. 
  • Attach the phrase “You’re Da Bomb” to the bottom of the bomb using the photo for placement.
  • Assemble the matchstick and glue to the card front using the photo for placement.

4.  Now, for the final details!  Add silver dots with Stickles (or any glitter glue) around the bean shaped opening on the bomb and around the white shadow part of the bomb (the bottom layer) in groups of three dots.  Also add silver dots around the explosion to add random sparkle.  Use red Stickles on the flame, matchstick and letters.

5.  Scrunch up a small piece of red tulle and place under the top left of the bomb so that the top of the netting flares out.  Add red glitter dots for extra bling randomly using caution to not get it on the card. 

6.  For the final hurrah!  Make sure to ink all four sides of the card with red ink and then a dab of silver here and there – gives the card a nice finished look.

7.  The inside of the card reads “I’m just sayin’….Happy Valentine Hot Stuff!”  This can be cut using a font cartridge and your Cricut or simply by using your computer and printer.

I hope this Valentine card has caused an explosion of creativity!

Olive making Valentine’s Day crafts, don’t you?

xKim

2 comments

“Merry Holly Days” Winter Frolic Cricut Cartridge Christmas Card!


2010
12.01

Posted in Book Pages, Christmas Projects, Cricut, Cricut Card, Cricut Cartridges, Ephemera, Funky, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Pop Dots, Project Tutorials/Instructions, Stickles, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 2 Comments »

And here is the second card I made!  *still wiping the sweat away…”  Man that was work grasping for a creative brain cell! *wink*

This card was also made using the Winter Frolic Cricut cartridge.  Did I mention that I LOVE this cartridge?  Yeah?  I thought I did but just wanted to make sure you caught that in the other post I made using Winter Frolic. *insert smirk here.*

So…here’s card #2 after almost two months of ZERO mojo….well…no mojo and no time to even attempt  to be creative but last night I pulled out my craft stuff and dug in…I actually think I might have time ( if I scramble) to whip up a few more things tomorrow before packing things up again….keep your fingers crossed for me! *grin*

This snazzy little penguin card was made using two different Cricut cartridges – Winter Frolic and A Child’s Year. 

Ingredients:

Cricut or Imagine

Winter Frolic Cricut cartridge

A Child’s Year Cricut cartridge

Core’dinations medium green/black cardstock

black, light pink, medium pink, white, yellow, light turquoise and off-white cardstock for Cricut cuts

small piece of sheet music

Stickles (glitter glue) I used yellow and Diamond (clear)

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen

felt snowflake pieces ( these are from Paper Studio- Hobby Lobby) 

1 light pink styrofoam ball  or a pom pom for top of hat (found in floral section at craft stores)

“Merry Holly Days” stamp or your preferred stamp sentiment or use your computer and printer!

2″ wide ribbon – I used a light pink with fuschia polka dots!

Preferred adhesive

Pop Dots

Scissors

Directions:

1.  Using “A Child’s Year” Cricut cartridge and the turquoise paper, cut the card from page 75 of the handbook.  I cut this card at 6″ so the actual card measures 4 3/4″ x 6″.

2. Using the score lines, fold the card using your preferred scoring tool.  Ink the edges using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo.

3.  Insert the “Winter Frolic” Cricut cartridge and cut the penguin at size 5″ from page 57 of the handbook.  Cut the bottom layer in the off-white cardstock and the top layer in black.  Trace the rounded part of the belly onto a piece of sheet music and cut by hand or cut the bottom layer using the sheet music and attach to the off-white cardstock for extra stability. Ink lightly using the Tim Holtz Distress ink in Antique Linen.

4.  Cut the lollipop parts by selecting  the “layer” feature key once with shift selected and once without.  Use a variety of colors to get the desired lollipop color  I cut the lolliop base in off-white, then the stripes in light pink, medium pink and turquoise.  Assemble and glue together.

5.  Cut the hat first in light pink at size 5″ and then the top layer in the medium pink.  Assemble by stacking and attaching with a pop dot between the layers.  Glue to the top of the penguin and attach the small pink styrofoam ball or pompom for the top of the hat.

6.  Tie the ribbon completely around the front panel and tie into a bow.  Trim the bow edges to desired length.

7.  Stamp card sentiment or print using your computer and printer on a piece of light turquoise paper.  Hand cut the sentiment and attach to a scrap of sheet music.  Again, hand cut leaving a slight border and then ink. 

8.  Cut the scarf found in the Winter Frolic handbook on page 31 of the handbook.  For this scarf to fit across the front of the penguin it needs to be cut at 7″ and then trimmed slightly.  Ink and attach.

9.  Attach the penguin to the card front overlapping the ribbon.  The penguin’s hat will hang off the top of the card.

10. Add the sentiment to the card front – use the sample photo for placement.

11.  Add three different sizes and colors of felt snowflakes stacked and glued together and then glued to the center of the bow.

12.  Glue felt snowflakes to the card front.

13.  Add Stickles (glitter glue) to the penguin’s scarf, hat trim, beak and feet.  Also add a few dots of clear glitter glue to the corners of the sentiment.

I4.  Once the scarf is dry, cut small slits in the scard ends and curl upward.

Wa-La!  Another super fun Christmas card using the Winter Frolic Cricut cartridge!  I hope you like it!

xKim

8 comments

Moonlight Press Single Page 12×12 Layout


2010
09.23

Tags: ,
Posted in Book Pages, Cricut, Cricut Cartridges, Funky, Funny, Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, Humor, Humorous, October 31st Cricut Cartridge, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 8 Comments »

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out….the mummies are  wrapped tightly and the moonlight glows eerily in this slightly creepy crawly layout waiting for your little goblins 2010 photo. :-)   This layout was made using the new Happy Hauntings and October 31st Cricut cartridges, along with some fabulous paper by Graphic 45.

Ingredients:

Graphic 45 “Society Page” from the Communique Collection paper

Making Memories “Spider Web Toil & Trouble” paper

Black, yellow and cream/off-white cardstock

orange glitter paper

2 manilla shipping tags

cheese cloth or gauze

orange pom pom fringe

olive green glitter ribbon

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen and Tea Dye

Adhesive - liquid glue to attach pom pom fringe 

Directions:

Using Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge cut the following:

1.  The mummy from page 32 in the handbook.  Cut the base in black at size 5 1/2″ and then in off-white/cream using Layer 1.  Glue the offwhite to the top of the black base cut of the mummy.  Wrap the mummy in pieces of gauze or cheesecloth torn into small narrow strips and inked with Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  Using the gold Copic Spica marker, lightly outline around the eyes, nose and mouth.

2.  The frame(frame9) from page 46 of your handbook. Cut the base using the shift key and the Making Memories Spider Web Toil & Trouble paper at 8 1/4″  Cut the top layer using black cardstock.  Cut the bugs by selecting “Layer 1″ and “shift” and the orange glitter paper.  Glue the top layer of the frame to the base.  Attach the bugs to the sides of the frame. 

3.  Cut “moonlight”  at1 1/2″ - 1x with black paper which is the top layer and 1x with the same paper as the base of the frame by selecting the “shift” button - this is the shadow.  This phrase can be found on page 56 of the handbook.  Glue the black piece to the top of the shadow piece.

4.  Cut the letters “P-r-e-s-s” using black cardstock.  The font used was the ‘Spooky Font.”  The “P” was cut as an uppercase letter at 1 3/4″ and the rest of the letters were cut at 1 1/4″ all as lowercase letters.  Attach to the moon.

Using October 31st Cricut cartridge cut the following:

1.  Cut the moon at 3 1/2″ using yellow cardstock.  Ink the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Tea Dye.  Add random dots with the black Copic Spica marker.

2.  Cut the skull and bones 1x with off-white and 1x with black cardstock – cut each at 2″.  Ink the off-white piece with Tim Holtz Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Tea Dye.  Run under water and smear the ink.  Set aside to dry for a few minutes, then glue the off-white layer ontop of the black cutout so that it is slightly off-center to show a slight black edge.  Using Copic Spica Markers, add detail to the bones with the gold marker by lightly drawing and shading around the edges to outline the bones.  Add random dots with the black Spica marker.

The tags:

1.  Remove the white string and replace with the olive green glittered ribbon.  Tie and trim edges. 

2.  Ink the card edges using the distress inks.

3.  Using a fine tip black marker, doodle around the border of the tag to add some extra detail.

Assembling the page: 

1.  Glue a strip of orange pom pom fringe to the right side of the paper.

2.  Attach the frame to the 12×12 Graphic 45 paper by using pop dots around the edges making sure to leave the top and the center untouched so you can slip the tags underneath the frame.

3.  Glue the moon with ”moonlight press” to the upper right corner of the Graphic 45 paper.

4  Glue the mummy so that it’s walking in front of the frame.  when gluing to the layout make sure not to glue it to the frame so that you can lift the mummies body enough to slip a photo underneath.

5.  Add the skull and bones to the lower left corner.

6.  Slip the manilla tags under the frame where you left an opening.

The frame is large enough for a 5×7 photo OR you can use a 4×6 with a border of the background paper showing around the sides. 

I am loving these new Halloween cartridges!  There are so many things on each that my mind is just spinning with ideas!  Now to get my hands to work as fast as my brain…!

Hope you’re all having a great day!

xKim

2 comments

Homemade Apple Cinnamon Simmering Potpourri Recipe


2010
09.21

Posted in Fall Projects, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Olive Food & Recipes!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 2 Comments »

As soon as the crisp cool air moves in I long for the scent of apples and cinnamon filling my home.  To me there is nothing cozier or warmer feeling than a home filled with rich aromatic scents (and of course a fire burning in the fireplace too!)!  This recipe was created by me  MANY years ago, when I was a teen, I can remember my mom baking homemade apple pie and the smell was so intoxicating I wanted to smell that apple pie scent every day!  One day, out of boredom, I started goofing around with my mom’s spices and came up with this awesome and yummy scented potpourri that I like to  simmer it in an electric potpourri pot all day long.  Just this one pot is enough to scent your entire home with the smell of homemade apple pie -I’m telling ya’ll,  there’s really nothing better! :-)

I use this recipe from early fall until mid-winter.  I do have a couple of other homemade potpourri recipes I’ll share with you that are perfect for the holidays.  In the spring and summer,  I usually switch over to a citrusy scent that scents the air with fresh and clean aroma. 

DISCLAIMER:  Please do not leave this simmering potpourri unattended.  Only simmer while nearby and PLEASE make sure to always turn it off if you’re going to be leaving your house – this is no different than a candle!  Make sure to check the water level on a regular basis and add more as needed to keep the pot from cracking or from starting a fire.  Please do not use this when small children are present.  Kids this is for adults to try only!

Recipe:

1-2 apples (I like to use the apples that are getting too soft or have a few too many bruises.  I also toss in any apple peels that may be collected throughout the day.)

1/4-1/3 cup cinnamon.  I get a big container of it from the local Dollar Tree Store and it lasts for several weeks.

Apple Pie Spice

Water

Optional:

10 or more drops of Cinnamon, Apple, Apple Brandy, Vanillar or any other complimenting fragrance or essential oil (this is optional but REALLY gives a stronger scent.  I have made this recipe for years without using the fragrance/essential oils.  I’ve only recently started adding it to kick things up a notch – blame it on Emeril! *wink*)

cinnamon sticks

nutmeg

anise

oranges or orange peels, pears

sugar (by adding a 1/2 cup or so it gives a sweeter scent – I used to add sugar all the time but now prefer the more pungent spicy scent of the cinnamon and apples)

apple cider or apple juice

saucepan

an electric potpourri pot with a low setting

Directions:

I like to heat up this concoction before adding it to my electric potpourri pot because it gets the scent wafting MUCH quicker.  You can just toss it all in the potpourri pot but it will take quite some time for everything to heat up enough to smell.

In a saucepan, combine all ingredients.  Add enough water to fill the container.  If using apple cider or apple juice you can skip the water or add equal amounts to the potpourri mixture. (The photo above does not show all of the water.  The fruit should be covered – fill that pot up!)  Stir and place on  burner on med-low setting until the mixture is heated through.  Once it’s hot, pour the contents into an electric potpourri pot and turn on to its lowest setting. Make sure to check the pot regularily for water level so the pot doesn’t crack or start a fire.  This mixture can be used for several days before losing its scent or getting skunky.   When it seems to resemble sludge instead of potpourri toss it and make a fresh batch.  I’m telling you, your home will smell amazing! 

This recipe can be made without fruit too and you will still have great results.  If I have no extra fruit but want to smell up the house in a good way, I’ll just toss some cinnamon in a saucepan of water and simmer that.  Sometimes I add a few drops of fragrance oil and other times I don’t. 

Olive the smell of homemade apple pie, don’t you?

xKim

P.S.  If you like this recipe and would be interested in others please leave a comment here.  If you have a recipe/concoction that you have tried and would like to share please contact me – I’d love to feature you and your delicious scents! :-)

3 comments

Funky Pumpkin Craft – Another Great Craft for Kids of All Ages!


2010
09.20

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fall Projects, Funky, Halloween, Halloween Projects, OLIVE KIDS!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 3 Comments »

I think I must be ready for fall because I certainly have punkins on my brain the past few days (especially this evening!)…  I have a couple more pumpkin projects I whipped up just in mere minutes this evening as I was sitting here examining the toilet paper pumpkin I posted earlier.  I got to thinking how addicting those things are to make because they’re so much fun to make, there’s no cutting, sewing or gluing necessary.they’re super duper quick and just too stinkin’ cute to have only one….so when my husband started hollering, “honey, uhhh…where’s all the toilet paper?  There’s none in any of the bathrooms and why do we have 12 pumpkins lined up where the toilet paper used to be instead?  And WHY are there pumpkins in all of the  toilet paper holders “….. He knows I’m craft obsessed like no other BUT who would ever want to admit to doing something so corny?!  Sheesh!  So I just shrugged my shoulders and said I had no idea how that happened and then starting shucking the other 12 under the table as fast as I could….  I figured I better find myself a new addiction or should I say a new victim…to “pumpkinize”" (another new word you saw first here on OJS *wink*)! So, I did just that.  I started looking at the case(s) of pumpkins I had decorated earlier and realized I could come up with a more realistic looking one by adding some filler….so I began to play.  I grabbed a bag of fiberfill for one pumpkin and some dry rice and plastic shopping bags for another and started on my next pumpkin adventure….

The tutorial below is based on the darker orange pumpkin on the far left.  These same steps also  apply to the black and white checked pumpkin – you just need a larger piece of fabric, more filler and a paper towel tube.

 Ingredients:

1 empty toilet paper tube for the smaller orange size pumpkin OR 1 empty paper towel tube for the black and white pumpkin

enough fabric to wrap around the filler and tuck far enough into the tube

dry rice

fiber fill, old socks, crumpled newspaper, shopping  bags, rice, etc..to fill the pumpkin

Pumpkin or cinnamon scented dry potpourri ( I used the kind in the paper envelope satchets but any dry brand will work.  Another idea is to use Carpet Fresh but I don’t think the scent would last as long.)

cheese cloth or an old nylon to put the potpourri in

a stick to use for the stem

green fabric scraps or ribbon for the stem

2 green fabric coated floral stems

Directions:

1.  Lay out the fabric so the pattern is face down on the table. Then, stand a toilet paper tube directly in the center of the fabric and start adding small handfuls of dry rice for weight and fiberfill to build the body of the pumpkin. (Sorry for all the wrinkles.  I had already put the pumpkin together but then decided to take it apart to get photos for a tutorial! )

2. Next, start pulling the fabric up and tucking the fabric ends into the center of the tube. 

3. Keep forming the pumpkin, adding additional fiber fill if needed or removing some  if it’s too stuffed.  Continue pushing the fabric ends into the tube.

 

4.  Once all the fabric is tucked in the tube and the pumpkin is formed into your desired shape, add the bundle of fragrance to the tube. (I forgot to take a picture of this step but all I did was add fragrance pellets in a piece of cheesecloth and then tied it with a rubber band.)  By adding it here you can easily remove it to add a new scentor refresh as needed.  Next, place the stick into the tube for the stem.  This also helps hold the fabric in place.

 

5. Grab your scrap of green fabric  and fold in half pushing the center down into the tube.  Arrange to form leaves.

6.  Wrap the green floral stems (or chenille stems) around a pen to form spirals.  Stretch out slightly and tuck one end of each down in the tube. 

Aren’t  these just the cutest darn punkins you’ve ever seen??  Now, I want you to imagine doing this very same technique with a gift wrap paper tube and a large piece of fabric or a sheet.  Can you just imagine how adorable that would look with a pile of funky patterned pumpkins sitting in a corner all grouped together?!  The best part of this whole project is that you can easily take them apart to store and then rebuild them again next year!  The fabric can be washed, changed and the fragrance refreshed whenever needed. 

I’m off to go find something else to turn into a punkin….kids, ya better look out because your mama has lost it!  *grin*

Olive me some funky punkins, don’t you?

xKim

P.S.  If you make any of these PLEASE share!  :-)

4 comments

Toilet Paper Pumpkin Project- Perfect for Kids of All Ages!


2010
09.20

Tags: ,
Posted in Funky, Halloween, Halloween Projects, OLIVE KIDS!, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 4 Comments »

This is a great craft for anyone and is super fun for kids of all ages to make.  It is a pretty fail proof project and only takes minutes to complete.  I have made this several times with children as young as two all the way up to adults.  They always turn out absolutely adorable and look quite smashing when grouped in bunches!  Unfortunately, I can’t take all of the credit for this idea because it’s been around for years.

Ingredients:

1 full roll of toilet paper – any brand!

1 fat quarter of orange solid or patterned fabric or enough  tissue paper, crepe paper, plastic tablecloth, towel, shirt, etc., to wrap around the roll of toilet paper

scraps of green solid or patterned fabric for leaves OR floral silk leaves, paper leaves cut with your Cricut or real pressed and preserved leaves

1 stick OR an empty toilet paper tube, a brown paper bag OR whatever else you’d like to use for a stem

2 green coated floral stems OR chenille stems in green or brown

Directions:

1.   Grab your supplies and a clean surface to spread out the fabric.

 

2.  Lay the fabric out face down on a flat surface and place the roll of toilet paper on top in the center of the fabric.

3.  Begin pulling up the sides. 

3. Tuck the extra fabric into center of the roll of toilet paper pressing into the tube opening with your fingers.

4. As your pulling up the fabric and wrapping the toilet paper,  try to fold and tuck in the puckers  (where the fabric seems to loose).  Continue tucking  the fabric in the toilet paper tube until you achieve desired results.

5. Now it’s time for the stem, if you’re using an empty paper towel or toilet paper tube first cut the whole tube open and curl it up so that it fits inside of the toilet paper pumpkin.  If you’re using a stick just push it in.  If using a paper bag, wrapping paper or cardstock crinkle and fold it up to give it some character and then insert it into the pumpkin top.

6. Cut out two leaves free handed or use your Cricut.  I cut these out by hand. 

7.  I forgot to take a picture of this step but all you need to do is take two green coated floral stems (that’s what I used) or two chenille (pipe cleaners) stems and wrap each one around a pen to form a coil.  Stretch each out a bit and either wrap around the pumpkin stem. Stretch the stems out a bit.  Ta-Da!  You just made yourself a purdy lil’ toilet paper pumpkin!

WARNING:  These pumpkins are addicting and before you know it you will have every roll of toilet paper wrapped in your house.  Please remember to leave one roll of toilet paper “un-pumpkined” for those needing to do paperwork! *wink*

Olive funky fun crafts for all ages, don’t you?

xKim

5 comments

A Haunted Picture Frame….Ooooooo-OOoooO!!!


2010
09.13

Tags: , ,
Posted in Funky, Funny, Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge, Humorous, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Repurposed, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 5 Comments »

An eerie picture frame using the Happy Hauntings Cricut Cartridge!  I also used the Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter on the ghost – soooo spooky cool!!!

Ingredients:

Happy Haunting Cricut cartridge

Cricut Expression

1 12″ x 12″ black Shimmer paper by Core’dinations

1 12″ x 12″ black glitter paper by Core’dinations

1 12 x 12 of a patterned paper the diamond shaped paper in oranges and yellows is from Paper Studio

2 manila office folders OR cream colored cardstock

2 pieces of chipboard or several pieces of cereal/cracker boxes glued together

1 small piece of gauze or cheesecloth

a stamp resembling newsprint (the stamp used for the project is from Delta Stamps)

Black ink for stamping

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot

Tim Holtz Distress Ink inAntique Linen

Liquid adhesive  (highly recommend Beacons 3-in-1, Zip Dry or Liquid Fusion!)

Hot glue gun

Optional:  bling to “pimp it up” (photo at the very bottom…),  sandpaper and Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter (this stuff is sooo cool!)

4 large circular pieces of foam, or furniture floor protectors to give lift and dimension  to your project.

Directions:

1.  (Please Note: There are quite a few layers of each piece  of the frame that I cut to give additional stability because cutting the frame and stand out of only cardstock isn’t heavy enough to support a photo, let alone stand. )

With the Happy Haunting Cartridge you need to cut the following pieces at the stated sizes:

All frame pieces are cut at 7″.

Cut from chipboard: The frame base (layer 1), the stand (layer 1 + shift), and the front piece with the oval cutout (3D Frame + shift).  When cutting chipboard you will need the  deep cut housing and blade OR  if cutting  cereal/cracker/gift boxes you can use the regular blade  and multi-cut but will need to cut out 3-4 of each piece to get the same thickness and then glue the layers together.

Manila folder or cardstock:  Cut the frame piece with the oval cutout  (3d frame + shift)AND the back base of the picture frame (layer 1 + shift)

Black Shimmer paper:  Cut the stand 1x (layer 1 + shift)

Black Glitter paper:  Cut the top layer with the spider web 1x (3D frame)

Yellow and orange diamond shape pattern paper (or whatever pattern you choose!):  Cut the base piece 1x (layer 1)

Ghost from page 37 of the handbook:  Cut  the top layer (select shift) at 4″ from a manila folder or cardstock 1x and then the blackout shape of the ghost 1x from black cardstock (make sure to turn the shift key off).

Stamping and Inking:

1.  Now you’re going to use your newsprint stamp and stamp the manila pieces – all but the ghost shape.  Cover the entire pieces.

2.   Next, with the ink still on the newsprint stamp,  stamp the center of the yellow/orange diamond print paper so that it looks washed out/faded.  If you need to apply additional ink stamp one time on a scrap piece of paper before stamping on the patterned paper.

3.  Ink the edges of all pieces, including the chipboard with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Black Soot. When you ink the stamped  manila paper frame with the oval cutout (this is the piece that fits under the spider web) use either a sponge, paintbrush or your finger dipped in water to smear some of the ink to give a more aged appearance ( I used my finger in water to get the look in the sample project!)

4.  (I also lightly sanded the yellow and orange diamond patterned paper just to give it a more aged appearance.)

5. With a liquid adhesive, glue your layers of the frame together in this order:  The black glitter spider web frame layer to the top of the manila/cream scalloped frame piece you just inked and then glue to the chipboard that matches the scalloped frame.  Set aside.  Next, glue the yellow and orange diamond pattern paper (or whatever pattern you choose) to the top of the chipboard base (this is the piece that is just the scalloped square with a few notches in it for the stand.)  Next, flip it over and glue the other piece of manila stamped paper to the back.  This is the opposite side so just match it up as best as you can – it will be slightly off  but gives a more whimsical look and does not show from the front or you can always leave this piece off and just paint the back of the chipboard or leave it plain. Glue the black shimmer paper to the stand (this is the piece you cut out that matches the (layer 1 + shift piece).  Glue the stand using a hot glue gun to the back of the frame.  I didn’t bother using the notches since I covered the pieces with paper but you can – it  will work either way.

2.  Add four large (size of a quarter) foam circles or furniture floor protectors (those felt like circles with adhesive on one side) to the four corners of the frame.  Add a dot of hot glue to the two bottom foam dots/felt furniture protectors and then carefully place the top frame layer (the one with the spider web) to the foam/felt circles so that  the corners match up.  The top  remains open so you can slip a photo inside.  To keep the photo in place use a repositionable glue dot if you want to change the photo each year OR just glue a photo in the inside.  If you are permanently gluing a photo inside you can also glue the top felt/foam circles – so many choices! :-)

 

Assembling the Ghost:

1.  Glue the cream colored ghost to the top of the black ghost cut out.

2.  Ink around the ghosts edges, eyes and mouth with the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen.

3.  Also, ink the piece of gauze with the Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen and then shred the edges slightly.

4.Glue the gauze to the back of the ghost shape and around the arms so that it fits around the head and then flows over the rest of the body.  Add a bit of hair spray or spray starch if you want it to hold it’s shape. 

5.  Optional but uber cool:  Lift the ghost’s “sheet” and add a bit of glue to cover the eyes and mouth and then sprinkle a liberal coating of Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter.  Tap off excess.  This stuff really works and looks really neat when it’s dark!  (I about freaked when I came downstairs last night to find a glowing “thing” sitting on my dining room table!  Here it was the whole bottle of glitter!)

 

6. Before gluing the ghost to the picture frame, gently bend it back to give a more 3d effect by holding the ghost in one hand and lightly folding without creasing the center and crinkle the ends or roll tomake the bottom of the ghost appear more “realistic.”

7.  Glue to the picture frame using a hot glue gun so that it slightly overlaps the opening for the photo. 

8.  The photo below is a more “pimped up” picture frame  with blingy clear rhinestones added around the picture frame oval, of course this is optional! :-)

Ta-Da!  That’s all there is to it!  What a super fun and easy way to add some spookiness to a bookcase, shelf or countertop!  This would also make a great hostess gift for the Halloween parties you may be found howling at during the month of October? 

Olive a creepy craft, don’t you?

xKim

1 Comment

My Alter Ego….Everyone Needs One! :-)


2010
09.09

Tags:
Posted in Chipboard, Ephemera, Funky, Funny, Grunge, Humor, Humorous, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Repurposed, Tags & Wall Art, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage | 1 Comment »

 This is me….well, how about my alter ego!  The wild red ‘fro, the crazy jewelry….zebra print…bright colors….mixed patterns….very white…flat chested (almost as flat as a board…*wink*)…why can’t my butt shift to my chest?….It’s covered in crazy thoughts and sayings people close to me have heard me say on occasion..(don’t look too closely I might cause your jaw to drop)…and my name tag from my very first job when I was 16 which was just a few years ago (Ahem….What?!  Don’t believe that I’m only 21?).  The clock  face and the watch represent all of the time I spend in my creative world….tick-tock….thinking and creating my next “crafterpiece” (you heard that word first here at OJS -yep, insert a wink and giggle here…) The whole piece reminds me of my “loudness” at times  (sometimes it’s just me fighting with the voices in my head and other times it’s me being a smart alec in person or it’s from an obnoxious pattern I’m wearing).  What can I say,  I like to have fun….I like to laugh…I like to make people smile and I can’t  help but smile when I pass my wooden Kim alter ego sitting on top of our piano with a zebra table runner under her feet! :-)  I can’t help but think about what a groovy chick she is and how I want to be just like her!

I often wonder what the real world thinks of the flesh and blood Kim who sometimes (okay, often) feels a bit lost in the shuffle going on around her because she’s typically  lost in her own happy place in her little creative world free from violence….pain….sorrow and sadness…If only the whole world could see things the way a creative soul does I think the “real” world would be a happier place to be…to raise a family…and to be who you want to be…free.  ;-)   I think everyone needs to have an alter ego living in their home who is a funky chick or cool dude.  What about you?

How’d I make it? 

1.The body is a chipboard form I picked up at Michaels a year or so ago.  I have several so don’t be surprised to see some of my other split personalities surface (LOL…some days I wonder! heh-heh-heh!) 

2.I painted the body with a flesh tone acrylic paint and then inked it with Tim Holz Distress Inks – a mixture of Antique Linen, Old Paper and Tea Dye.

3. The skirt and dress was made by tracing the body on a piece of paper and then flairing the bottom out to make a skirt.  I then just kind of free handed the top of the dress and added the green reptile skin paper for the waist.

4.5.  Once the dress was glued down with Mod Podge to the chipboard form, I went through all of my stickers and picked out the funny sayings that reminded me of ME!  It’s definitely a great way to use up stickers!

6.  Next, I applied Mod Podge to the entire doll going right over the dress and stickers.  Once dry, I lightly sanded the edges.

7.  Once the Mod Podge was dry, I glued the  pink beaded fringe to the bottom of the skirt.

8.  The white bow is a long piece of tulle that I doubled up and wrapped around the waist and tied in a bow.  The pin in the center of the bow is a metal flower I had in my stash – not sure where it came from!

9.  I then used a strand of Christmas bead garland and twisted it together with small pieces of silver wire to form a necklace and slipped it over the head.

10.  The watch is a piece I found at a garage sale – I have a lot of these things that I’m always collecting for the “just right” project.

11.  The name tag was from my very first job working at Micky D’s – isn’t that fun?

12.  The clock face is from Heidi Swapp and the clock hands are from the Tim Holtz collection.

13.  The hair is some funky and fun yarn that I cut into strips and tied bunches together at one end and then glued around the head forming hair.  It’s definitely as crazy as my hair can be when worn down!

You might recognize this alter ego from my previous blog.  I didn’t realize until now that “she” didn’t make it to my new blog so I thought I’d quickly upload her so she has a new home.  I hope you like it and are inspired to do something as crazy fun as this was to make….

Happy Crafting, my friends!

xKim

4 comments

Abby Cadabby Birthday Invitations


2010
09.01

Tags:
Posted in Humor, Humorous, Olive Juice Studio, Olive Juice Studio Inspirations(Gallery), Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts, Stickles | 4 Comments »

This is one of the projects that has kept me quite busy the past few days, 35 Abby Cadabby invitations for a three year old’s birthday.   It was really fun to do something ”girly” and use soft colors  after making boy invitations with robots, monsters and dinosaurs for the past 10 years! The card is in all pastels which is why is why it was so hard to get a good picture to post!  I did use the Cuttlebug and three different embossing folders.  Abby is just an image I found online that I  printed out in color.  There are three paper layer/mats  underneath her and then Abby was attached to the card using pop dots.  I added some clear glitter glue to her dress and wings.  “It’s a party” was cut from the Celebrations Cricut cartridge.  I knotted a piece of light blue tulle with silver dots and added the white silk flower with a pearl to the top.  It’s hard to tell in the photo but I also used a soft pink ink dot to distress the edges.  The inside has the same pastel green mat for my customer to add her own personal sentiment on top of (that’s the way she ordered the cards).  It’s times like this that I WISH Abby Cadabby could make my wishes come true by turning my printer into an Imagine (not a pumpkin like she does to everything on Sesame Street!) – I could have really put that new machine to use this past week! :-)

Happy Crafting!

xKim

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