DIY Butterfly Earrings

Learn how to make butterfly earrings with shrink film and UV Resin.

final earrings

I was so happy with the result of these DIY Butterfly Earrings. When my daughters saw them they requested pairs be made for them too, so I knew I had stumbled upon something good.

stamped image

I began with a stamped image on Grafix shrink art film in white. StazOn ink is great for this process because it is made for every surface and stamps a rich dark black.

cut out film

After stamping the image and allowing the ink to dry, I cut out the butterflies with a small detail scissor.

colored in

Coloring the butterfly with water-based markers was a bit of a challenge on plastic but I have a few tips in the video tutorial to make it work.

size difference

See the size difference between the stamped image and after the film has been shrunk. I used a heat gun to shrink the film, a dedicated toaster oven also works well.

I colored the edge and the back of the butterfly with a permanent black marker. Then I coated the back with matte UV resin and the front with jewelry resin both from You-V. The cool thing about You-V resin is that it is a quick cure resin, less than a minute under a UV flashlight.

You can see the gloss of the resin on the butterfly now. Drilling a hole into the top of the wing prepares the piece for the jewelry findings.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates
AZ – Amazon, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, SB – Scrapbook, O – Other
Grafix Shrink Film
Grafix Shrink Film
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Jewelry Tool Kit
Jewelry Tool Kit
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AZ
StazOn
StazOn
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WRMK - All-In-One Tool - The Works
WRMK – All-In-One Tool – The Works
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You-V Resin
You-V Resin
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O

How to Foil Chipboard

Learn how to apply foil to chipboard for a colorful result.

final card front

What a fun way to upscale chipboard using foil. This chipboard was purchased at the Dollar Tree but any chipboard pieces will work. There are different ways to get texture with the foil based on how you apply the transfer gel. After foiling, I used the chipboard on the front of a card and added additional color and texture with cardstock pieces.

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materials

Materials:

Applying Transfer Gel on chipboard can be done in a variety of ways. Using my finger to apply it gave a very nice texture to the surface when the foil was applied. You can see the entire transfer process and card making in the video tutorial below.

Video Tutorial:

close-up of texture

The close-up image shows the texture detail from the foil on the chipboard. This version is the one with less foil applied as seen in the video tutorial. The brushstroke-like effect is very nice in person, while the overall color shimmers with movement.

Some items used in this tutorial were provided by the manufacturer in order to promote their products.

Floral Circle Card

Make an elegant floral card with this free SVG file. Great for weddings and anniversaries or any special greeting.

with CutCardStock

final card

What a beautiful card that could be used for a wedding, an anniversary, or just a special greeting. You can add your own sentiment or leave it as is. I love how the neutral colors coordinate together. Three different papers were used to make this card.

cardstock

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The papers used were Stardream Metallic in Quartz for the card. Stardream is my favorite cardstock because it has a shimmer to the surface. Cut the floral element from MirriSparkle Glitter in Gold, and the vellum insert from Curious Translucent in Clear.

cricut

I cut the file on a Cricut Maker. As a reminder, set the red lines to score and load your scoring tool before setting the file to cut. Similar weight cardstocks can be cut at the same time. Set your machine to 100lb cardstock for the Stardream and the Gold Glitter and run the cut twice. Just push the go button again without removing your mat.

parts

The cut file has three parts to glue together. Any adhesive will work, I am using Reptile Craft Adhesive. I’ve placed it into a smaller bottle (as seen in the photo above). You can purchase the pearl gems at the Dollar Tree.

circle box

If you would like a coordinating gift box, see the following link: Circular Box

Video Tutorial:

Please visit the store to download the free SVG file for the card. [Elegant Card SVG]

close-up of card

This view shows the detail of the decorative piece on the front of the card. I like the dimension gained from the addition of the pearl gems as well as the see-through element of the vellum.

card standing

The above view of the card shows off the see-through quality of the vellum.

How to Etch Glass

It is easy to etch glass with the right tools. Learn how in this tutorial.

with Etchall

finished salt and pepper

Etching glass is a very simple process given the right tools. I enjoy working with Etchall Etching Creme. One reason is that Etchall is reusable so a small jar lasts a long time. Making these Salt and Pepper shakers was simple and fast but the result is fantastic. I wanted to make these for myself but they would make a great housewarming gift or hostess gift too.

etchall bottle

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They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

Materials:

with alcohol spray

Before you begin any glass etching project, you need to make sure the glass surface is clean and clear. It is best to use rubbing alcohol to clean your surface.

cricut maker

Cutting the vinyl, I used a Cricut Maker. In Design Space I used the Cricut font and typed the two letters I needed with space between them. Before cutting them out, I made sure the height and width fit the front of the shakers.

vinyl in place

I centered each letter on the front of the shakers. For this application, I didn’t need to use transfer paper but if your design is more detailed, you will find it helpful. See the video tutorial below for application tips and centering the vinyl.

with etchall creme

I applied a generous amount of etching creme to each shaker. There is no need to worry about using too much since it is reusable. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions for use. Etchall works in 15 minutes of application.

Video Tutorial:

finished shakers

With a bit of ribbon added these are ready to fill or give as a gift.

How to Make Button Earrings

How to make fun button earrings.

button earrings

Making your own button earrings is a fun way to make earrings for a special outfit or event. I made these for my daughters for a recent trip to Disney. They are easy to make and cost-effective. Button earrings also make a great gift.

materials

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They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

Materials:

  • Wire nippers
  • adhesive
  • buttons (mine were found at Walmart)
  • earring findings
  • sanding block or nail file

The materials needed are rather simple and you can use a variety of options. For cutting the backs off the buttons I used wire nippers but utility scissors can also work well. If you have a Dremel, that would do the trick. For the adhesive, I used Super Glue Gel. E6000 or a jewelry-making adhesive will also work. To sand the backs a nail file, sanding block, sandpaper, or a Dremel can file down any rough edges. The video tutorial below will show you the simple process.

Video Tutorial:

Being worn at the most happiest place on earth!

DIY a Ribbon Keychain

Follow the instruction to make your own ribbon keychain. Made with ribbons from Gwen Studios.

with Gwen Studios

finished keyring

This keyring craft was a reminder of times past. Did you attend summer camp and make lanyards? Well, this keychain is a version of that, made with ribbon. What a fun craft for kids to do. Why not make one for Mother’s Day? Make one yourself or teach your kids to weave a lanyard.

materials

They’re very few needed materials. You’ll need a keyring, four colors of ribbon, and a pair of scissors. I chose to seal the ends of my ribbons with a lighter. If you choose to do this with kids, I recommend supervising them or doing the lighter for them.

The links provided are for your use and may contain affiliate links.
They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

ribbon pack

For spring, I chose to work with pastels from the Gwen Studios grosgrain ribbon pack. These ribbons are available at Walmart and Walmart.com. Look at how beautiful those colorful ribbons are. There are so many color combinations to choose from for this project.

woven ribbon

This little nugget of weaving was made with four ribbons each 32″ in length. If you want your piece to be bigger, use longer ribbons.

Video Tutorial:

top of weaving

I chose to wind the keyring through this end of the weaving. If you don’t want ribbon tails, you could turn the whole thing around and loop those tails around the keyring and finish it off in the same manner that I collected the ribbon tails – what a fun alternative!

Making a Circular Box

Grab the free SVG and follow the tutorial to make a circular box. Great for storage or gift giving.

with CutCardStock

finished round box

Not only was this circular box fun to put together, but it also has great function. You can use it for storage or as a wrapping for a gift. The SVG file is adjustable so you can make the box in a variety of different sizes. The design comes with the top decorative element but you could omit that and do your own thing with the basic circular box.

The links provided are for your use and may contain affiliate links.
They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

cardstock packs

I used the Glama Card Stock in Kraft for the box structure and MirriSparkle Glitter Card Stock in Gold for the top decoration. The Gold Card Stock has a glittered front with a matte white back. It is great for crafting as the glitter doesn’t flake off.

cricut maker

I cut the file on a Cricut Maker. As a reminder, set the red lines to score and load your scoring tool before setting the file to cut. FYI – I always add additional protection when cutting cardstock by using washi tape around the edges so the cardstock doesn’t move when cutting.

cut out parts

I actually cut two additional circles from the Kraft Card Stock. You will see in the video tutorial that I used them to sandwich the tabs between them for a clean finished look. This also added more stability to the box.

The video tutorial below shows how to put it together.

Video Tutorial:

Visit the store to download the free SVG file for the box. [Circular Box SVG]

This view shows the detail of the decorative piece on the top of the box. There is a bit of glue showing but it will dry clear and not be noticeable. I really like how the kraft card stock and the glittery gold work together.

Artesprix New Stamp Pads

Artesprix has new colored ink pads for sublimation.

final tag

Artesprix has a lot of new products coming soon. The tag pictured above was made with their new colored stamp pads. They sent me a few stamp pads to try out in advance of their release. There are a total of nine stamp pads available in Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Pink, Brown, and Black.

The links provided are for your use and may contain affiliate links.
They cost nothing for you to use.
Thank you in advance for supporting this site with its use.

stamp pads

The Artesprix stamp pads I received are in blue, purple, and green. What a great color combination! These stamp pads are rich and juicy. They are more of a foam texture instead of a felt which means they are easy to ink up your stamps with a light tap of the stamp onto the pad.

align blank

For this project, I stamped a pattern of dragonflies and painted them. See the video tutorial below for the how-to of this stamp and paint technique. Instead of outlining the blank first, I stamped a pattern large enough to cover the blank and then chose the placement of the blank.

ready to heat

Follow the instructions for preparing your blank to heat. Make sure your blank is taped in place to the transfer design. Then use protective paper on the top and bottom, creating a sandwich. Once the heat source is placed, do not move it around. You might find a bit of pressure to be helpful.

Always lift a small corner to check the transfer before removing the taped design. This can really save your project. I had to heat mine twice since the EasyPress was losing some heat when I moved it onto the sandwich.

Video Tutorial:

I finished my tag off by going around the outside edge in purple Unicorn Spit and then placed a label on the back with my contact information. The label was made using a Cricut Joy. I plan on using it on my luggage.

Purple edge as a finishing touch.

The stamp pads should be available on the Artesprix website by May 5th.

DIY Your Own Cricut Cutaway Card

Learn how to make a DIY version of Cricut’s Cutaway Cards.

final card

I was excited to see the Cutaway Card materials from Cricut. But, I have a few packs of insert cards. So I decided to do a DIY version of the cutaway card using the materials I had on hand. I actually used materials from two different card packs.

card pack

This is the insert card pack I started with and used a pink insert from a different pack. Recently I found the insert card pack at Hobby Lobby on clearance but you could use any cardstock materials.

cricut joy

I’ve missed using my Cricut Joy. It’s been a while. I used the Cricut Joy and its card mat to cut out the design. Using one of the new phrase designs from Cricut Design Space, I edited the image to change the words. See the video below to see how I edited the free file.

Edit Phrase Video:

card is cut

To make this work, I used transfer tape to hold the pieces in place. Originally I tried to transfer everything directly from the mat but that didn’t work. So, I removed the card with the transfer tape in place and then moved the pieces I wanted to keep with the card over. You can see the entire process in the video below.

Video Tutorial:

Suggested Materials:

Links are Affiliates
AZ – Amazon, C – Cricut, SSS – Simon Says Stamps, O – Other
Cricut Card Mat
Cricut Card Mat
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AZ | C
Cricut Insert Cards
Cricut Insert Cards
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AZ | C
Cricut Joy
Cricut Joy
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AZ | O | C
Scraperfect 32 Clog Writing Cap, Medium
Scraperfect 32 Clog Writing Cap, Medium
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AZ | SSS | O
Scraperfect Best Glue Ever
Scraperfect Best Glue Ever
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AZ | SSS | O

Bunny Treat Box and SVG

Make a bunny treat box for Easter with this free SVG file.

with CutCardStock

bunny box

With Easter right around the corner, why not make this cute bunny box. What a cute way to give a treat. Both young and old will get a kick out of it. You can make them in different sizes and colors. Personalize them and they make a great place setting name tag.

Many of the items I use in posts are provided by the manufacturers to promote their products.
A special thanks to those brands who sponsor this site. Some links are affiliates, thank you for using them.

I used Stardream Metallic Card Stock in Crystal for the box and Astrobright in Pulsar Pink for the ears and nose. CutCardStock’s Stardream line is one of my favorite card stocks with a bit of metallic, it has a great look.

I cut the SVG file out on a Cricut Maker. Placing two different pieces of card stock on the mat, I adjusted the file in Design Space. This made it easier to cut once instead of twice.

As a reminder when cutting, set the red lines to score and load your scoring tool before setting the file to cut. The materials are minimal for this project making it so easy to make. It would be fun to get the kids involved.

I cut the whisker with scissors from a scrap of black and chose to draw in the eyes instead of cutting them out.

The video tutorial below shows how to easily put the pieces together.

Video Tutorial:

Please visit the store to download the free SVG file for the box. [Bunny box SVG]

This view shows the size of the box that can be made from an 8.5 x 11″ sheet of card stock. Just the perfect size for a treat or a group of jelly beans!