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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

1 Comment

Snazzy the Snowman Styrofoam Ornament! Perfect for Kids of all Ages!


2010
12.14

Posted in Christmas Projects, Project Tutorials/Instructions | 1 Comment »

Make this chilly cool fella by following the instructions below:

Ingredients:

two Styrofoam® balls in two different sizes

5 black floral foam balls cut in half OR use mini black pom poms or buttons

felt for scarf and hat

1 pom pom for the top of the hat

three twigs or toothpicks

small piece of orange chenille stem

liquid adhesive

1 paper clip

pink marker, paint, ink or makeup

Directions:

1.  Attach the styrofoam® balls by inserting a toothpick/twig into the larger ball and then pushing the smaller ball in the other end.  You can add a dot of glue between the balls for extra stability or leave it as is.

2.  Cut a circle from felt by tracing a milk cap or something similar in size.  Glue to the top of the snowman’s head.

3.  Glue a pom pom  to the top of the hat.

4.  Cut the black floral foam balls in half to use for the snowman’s eyes.  Attach with glue.

5.  Fold the orange chenille stem in half and poke into the styrofoam right under the eyes. 

6.  Cut the remaining black floral balls in half or use tiny black pom poms for the mouth and buttons.

7.  Add a small twig (or toothpicks) to each side of the larger styrofoam® ball for the snowman’s arms.

8.  Cut a scarf approximately 8″ x 1 1/4″ and fringe the ends.  Wrap around the snowman’s neck and add a dot of glue to hold in place.

9.  To make into an ornament add a paper clip that is opened up to resemble a letter “s” and poke one end into the back of the snowman – add a dot of glue to secure.

10.  Use a pink marker, a bit of pink paint or a pink marker to color in your snowman’s cheeks!  You can even use pastels, chalks or old makeup!

This chilly lil’ fella looks adorable hanging from a tree, used as a decoration in a wreath, attached together with string with several other snowman as a garland or even as a gift topper!  Have fun personalizing your very own snowman this holiday season!

 

Olive fun and easy crafts for kids, 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

2 comments

“Brrrr! ….Baby it’s Cold Outside…” Winter Frolic Christmas Card


2010
11.30

Posted in Christmas Projects, Cricut, Cricut Card, Cricut Cartridges, Humor, Humorous, Pop Dots, Project Tutorials/Instructions, Stickles, Tim Holtz ink, Vintage, Winter Frolic | 2 Comments »

Well?  What do you think? 

I MADE A CARD….ALL BY MYSELF!!! *insert look of shock and dismay here.*  I actually made TWO cards for Memory Miser for my December gig and this is one of them - thank goodness Marla over there is a doll to work with and has let me a slide a bit with my designer responsibilities the past month or so because I swear my brain went bu-bye for a while.  It’s been well over six weeks since I’ve made anything with paper… I had to SQUEEZE….and PULL…and…STRETCH…and PRAY for just a dash of inspiration…and after a glass of wine and some Christmas Carols *hiccup*…..    I seriously think there just might be hope!  *go ahead roll your eyes here.* Anyway, I think my mojo is starting to waken because  after hours AND hours of deliberation last night THIS is what happened! Whew!  I’m still wiping the sweat from my forehead because I really did have to work it but I do have to say, I am happy with the outcomes and think the card turned out pretty darn cute!  I have had Winter Frolic for several months but just took it out of the plastic last night – I LOVE IT!  I have to say it’s my “new favorite” cartridge, especially for winter/Christmas stuff – just so charming and vintage-y!  If you don’t have it yet or couldn’t decide if you needed it, guess what?  You do!  LOL!  So you better go git it cuz yer gonna love it!

 

Brrrr!   

Inside reads:  “Baby it’s Cold Outside!  Wishing You a Warm & Fuzzy Holiday Season!”

Ingredients:

 Cricut or Imagine

Winter Frolic cartridge 

Light turquoise cardstock to make a 4 ½” x 6 1/2”  card 

Alphabet/Red and white polka dot (reverse side)paper  

White embossed cardstock or make your own using your favorite embossing folder and Cuttlebug! 

Black, red, brown, light pink and turquoise paper cardstock scraps 

Turquoise glitter ribbon (purchased from Hobby Lobby!) 

2 clear flat backed stones 

1 clear turquoise flat backed stone

 Small piece of orange felt for carrot nose 

Glue dots 

Pop dots  

Your preferred adhesive 

Stickles (glitter glue) in a clear diamond, turquoise and light pink 

Tim Holtz Distress inks in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen 

Paper cutter

Scissors

 

Directions: 

1.       Cut a piece of turquoise paper to 6 ½”x 9”.  Fold in half using your preferred scoring tool to make a card measuring 4 ½” x 6 ½”.

 2.     Cut a piece of the alphabet paper/red and white polka dot paper to measure 4 ½” x 6 ½”.  Tear the top edge of the paper holding the paper in one hand and pulling the paper toward you with the other so the right torn edge is on the piece that you will use on the card.  Lightly ink the edges with Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Antique Linen.  Attach to the front of the turquoise card base.  Use the photo for placement. Ink the edges using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo.

 3.      Tear another piece of the alphabet/red and white polka dot paper so that it measures approximately 3 ½” x 4 ½”.  Lightly ink the edges with Tim Holtz Distress ink in Antique Linen.  Attach to the red and white polka dot paper on the front of the card. 

4.      Using your Cricut and the Winter Frolic cartridge, cut the snowman located on page 28 of the Winter Frolic handbook at size 5”.  Cut the bottom layer in brown, the top layer in embossed white cardstock.  Slip a small piece of black cardstock scrap under the white snowman where the eyes and mouth are located.  Glue the pieces to the brown snowman layer.  Lightly ink using Tim Holtz Distress ink in Antique Linen.

 5.      Cut the gloves, cheeks and bowtie using the shift key and  the “layer” feature key cut the hat from black paper, the cheeks from pink and the gloves from red paper.

6.      Cut the word “Brrrr!”  found on page 33 of the Winter Frolic handbook.  Cut it using the “phrase” feature key and the bunny key on the keypad overlay.  Cut at 1 ½”  on black cardstock.  Next, cut the top layer from turquoise cardstock by selecting the “shift” key and the bunny on the keypad overlay.  Glue the turquoise layer to the top of the black word.

 7.    Attach the remaining pieces to the snowman – add the gloves, hat, bow tie and cheeks. 

 8.    Using the carrot nose cutout as a guide either trace or cut around the carrot nose on orange felt for extra dimension.  Attach using a glue dot or liquid glue.

9.    Attach the snowman to the card front (use the card photo for placement) using pop dots. 

10.  Glue the word “Brrrr!” to the card front so that the word goes across the bottom of the snowman. 

 11.  Add the clear flat backed stones to the upper left corner of the card using liquid glue or mini glue dots.

12.  Tie a small bow with the turquoise glitter ribbon and glue to the upper right corner of the card.

 13.  For final pizzazz, add Stickles (glitter glue) to the embossed area of the snowman, the tie, gloves, hatband, and the top layer of the word “Brrrr!”

14.  Decorate the inside with remaining pieces of the alphabet/red and white polka dot paper and the phrase “Baby it’s Cold Outside” found in the Winter Frolic handbook on page 47 or type a sentiment on your computer and print it out to add to the inside.

 I hope you enjoyed!

Olive my crafty friends, don’t you?

xKim

3 comments

Glow-in-the-Dark Skull Tag


2010
10.10

Posted in Grunge, Halloween, Halloween Projects, Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | 3 Comments »

 

I mean, who doesn’t need a glow-in-the-dark skull tag?

Doesn’t everyone?

 

I have more to share but I’m off and running the roads today!  Make sure to check back later and throughout the week for more creepy craft ideas!  Bwa-ha-haaaa!

 

Ingredients:

Happy Hauntings Cricut cartridge

Cricut

manilla shipping tag

scrap piece of black  and cream damask print paper (this is from Paper Studio)

cream colored cardstock OR a piece of a manila folder

Scraps of black paper large enough to cut the skull base

orange and green glittered velvet ribbon

1 orange button

1 lime green button

stapler

preferred adhesive

Spray adhesive for the glitter

Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Antique Linen

Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter

Directions:

1.  Cut the skull at 4″ – use the black paper for the base/blackout cut.  Use the manila for the top layer.  Assemble.

2.  Spray the front of the skull with spray adhesive and cover with Martha Stewart Glow-in-the-Dark Glitter.  Tap off excess.

3.  Ink the edges of the tag with both inks.  Use more of the Antique Linen and lightly edge with the Vintage Photo.

4.  Cut a strip of the black and cream damask paper to fit the front of the tag.  Snip the top two corners to fit on the tag.  Ink the edges and adhere to the manila tag.

5.  Attach the skull to the bottom of the tag.  Snip of the base of the skull if it hangs off the tag. 

6.  Tie a piece of green glittery velvet ribbon to the bottom of the tag so that it covers the bottom edge of the skull.  Fray the ends of the ribbon.

7.  Remove the white cord from the top of the tag.  Thread through the orange button and tie in a bow.  Cut off excess.  Glue the orange button to the top of a lime green button slightly larger than the orange one.  Glue to the top of the hole on the tag. 

8.  Attach a piece of orange and green velvet ribbon to the top of the tag.  Staple to the back. Fray the ends.

9. Add a sentiment to the back of the tag if you dare or if you’ll be using it on a card, layout or another spooky project get it on it and then send me a picture so I can admire your creepy craft! *wink*

Enjoy your Sunday!  I am off and running to a local Fall Festival with my family.  It’s 86 degrees in Illinois – definitely not fall like BUT beautiful!

Olive a fast craft idea, don’t you?

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!  :-)

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


2010
09.20

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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

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Wine Bottle Gift Bag and Tag Tutorial, Designed by Julia Moss


2010
09.19

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Posted in Olive Juice Studio, Project Tutorials/Instructions, Random Posts | No Comments »

I’m so very excited to share with you our very first awesome tutorial submitted by the very talented Julia Moss from Scrapella’s Blog!  With the holiday season fast approaching I can guarantee many of us are going to be pulling our hair out trying to think of the “perfect gift” and then how to wrap it to make it extra-special.  Take a look at this gorgeous wine bag and tag Julia designed for us with a super well-written tutorial and photographs along the way.  I think it’s absolutely gorgeous and makes the gift of wine an even more sophisticated and elegant gift to give no matter if it’s a $1.98 2010 bottle of Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill or a $24,675 – 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley.  :-)

Please make a point in hopping over to Julia’s blog at http://www.scrapella’sblog.blogspot.com  to see more of her AMAZING creations – she has so many REALLY cool things!  The whole point in offering these tutorials is to help drive traffic to different blogs.  Please do your part and check out the designer’s blogs and leave a comment either here or their personal blogs.  If you like what you see consider following them too.  It’s always nice to see a new smiling face letting you know your work is appreciated. :-)   Thanks everyone!

Wine Bottle Gift Bag and Tag created by Julia Moss  

“An elegant way to present a bottle of wine is with a gift bag and tag that is handmade.”

Here is what you need: 

For the bag: 15” x 15” piece of fabric and coordinating thread

                             Sewing Machine       

For the tag:  7” x 3 ½” cardstock

                        6 7/8” x 3 3/8” coordinating cardstock

                        1 ½” circle punch (larger punch for thicker fabric)

                        Scoring tool

                        Embellishments of your choice

                        Corner rounder (Optional)

Instructions for Bag:

Step 1

With reverse side of fabric facing up, fold over the top edge about ¼” and sew.

Step 2

Fold fabric in half with reverse side facing out.

Step 3

Sew together side and bottom.

Step 4

Fold bag right side out.

 

 Instructions for Tag:

Step 1

If you prefer to have a tag with rounded corners, do so before adhering the cardstock together.  Take your corner rounder and round out each corner of both pieces of cardstock.  If you do not want the corners round, then start by taking your 6 7/8” x 3 3/8” cardstock and adhere it to the 7” x 3 ½” cardstock.

 Step 2

Using your circle punch, center it about ¼” from the top and punch your hole. 

 Step 3

Score it at 2 ¼” from the top.

Step 4

This is your tag.  Now you can embellish as you wish.

 

 This is what your finished project will look like!

 

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