Paper Christmas Tree

Have you ever run across a tutorial on the internet with too little details?  I found a fabulous paper tree tutorial, but thought it lacked the detail my OCD crafting brain wanted.  So, I am sharing my paper tree with more detail.  I found the original tree on Indugy.com here.  But it had no information on the size of the circles or the finished size of the tree.  I also thought the wire base would be a bit too flimsy, so I used some Styrofoam cones.

Here is how I made my tree.  I cut my biggest circle at 7" and cut a circle in the center to slip over the cone (see photo above).  To get the lines in my circle like the tutorial, I just traced the markings from a clock face for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,  and 12.  I then drew a line from 1 to 7, 2 to 8, 3 to 9 ( to the line opposite it on the clock face), etc around the circle.  McGill roller ball stylus.

I clipped in leaving 1/2" outside the inside circle.  To get the boughs to roll well I used the

 I cut each circle 1/2" smaller up to the top of the circle (eleven rows cut, clipped folded and glued.  I then cut one final circle and clipped out a quarter of the circle, I over lapped the cone and clipped and folder the final boughs at the top.

My finished tree is about 7" high.  After I finished my tree, I added a bit of Art Glitter to get the look of snow.  Now I have a little something for our music teacher!

Anna Griffin Planner Christmas List and Challenge

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 49th challenge, and there is no traditional anniversary gift to inspire this challenge.  So, this week anything goes.  Just share any UFO you are working on write a blog post,  then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online via Facebook and you get two entries this week.

This week I am starting my Christmas shopping and of course I wanted to begin by making a list.  I love a planner for keeping all my to do's in one place.  I have an Anna Griffin Planner, and wanted a Christmas list for it.  Since AG doesn't have this page in her planner embellishment kit, I made my own with some AG supplies.  I started by cutting up some older planner pages so that the lines and check boxes all matched.  Since AG's pages only have lines have way down the page, I added another half page at the bottom.  There was some space in the middle that had no lines, so I added some AG patterned paper and some items from Anna Griffin's Planner Embellishment kit.  

One page of my Christmas list says "believe",  the 2nd says "family" and the 3rd says "friends."   I hope Anna Griffin adds more embellishment packages for her planner!  I love the planner paper crafting and want some more AG options!

UFO Challenge #48 Anything Goes

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 48th challenge, and there is no traditional anniversary gift to inspire this challenge.  So, this week anything goes.  Just share any UFO you are working on write a blog post,  then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online via Facebook and you get two entries this week.
My project today is another page in my Anna Griffin planner.  The quote says, "Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings and friends that turned into family, and dreams that turned into reality, likes that turned into love."  The purple flowers are a Heartfelt Creation stamp, the black paper is DCWV and all the rest is Anna Griffin planner and planner embellishments.  

Dress Form Christmas Tree with Quarter Scale Form

Last year I saw a beautiful dress form Christmas tree on Facebook and knew what I wanted to do with a quarter scale dress form I have had for years and used as a door stop.  I started this dress form tree project, by gluing buttons, dew drops and other embellishments to the bodice area with a low temp glue gun.  I added evergreen picks from Michaels with a staple gun.  Below you can see the work in progress in my crafting space.

To transition from the picks to the waistline, I used some red petals I got from Mon Ami Gabby and a velvet ribbon from American crafts.   I love the fairy quality of these petals!   I used a rhinestone buckle at the center front of the ribbon.  

To help fill in gaps in the "skirt" portion, I added some holly leaves I cut with my Cricut Winter Woodland cartridge, more petals, and some JoAnn Fabrics 6" organza ribbon.  I added some scrap ribbon, and a poinsettia with more pick embellishments from Michaels as well.  On the evergreen picks I glued a few roses by Recollections.

Another close look at the neckline detail.  I can't remember where I got these pretty stick pins!  Can you see the red and white stick pins?  Love them!

I made this for my niece because I want her to have a special Christmas tree from her Auntie!  Her nickname is La Princesa, so I felt I could make a fairy tale dress for my fairy tale niece!  So, she had to have a bustle right?!

A side view of the bustle.  

I love this project so much I want one for myself!  I went on ebay and found some 1/2 scale dress forms.  Well, that's out of the budget, sigh!  I will begin the garage sale hunt next Spring!  I feel like I just finished an unconventional challenge on Project Runway!  

Supplies 
Quarter Scale Dress Form
The Robin's Nest Dew Drops
Mon Ami Gabby embellishments
Buttons
Glue Gun
Staple Gun
Michaels Evergreen Picks
Joanns 6" Organza Ribbon
Recollections Boutique Fleur Rose
Recollection Poinsettia
American Crafts Velvet Ribbon
Cricut Winter Woodland Holly Leaf
Mon Ami Gabi Flower Petals

UFO Challenge #47: A Book

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 47th challenge, and the 47th wedding anniversary present is a book.  So, this week use a book or book theme in your UFO project and get an extra entry!  Don't have a book UFO?  You can still get an entry for working on any of your UFOs!  Just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online. 

I am using an online challenge to inspire me to work on two of my UFO's in one projects in the book theme.  I love the Scrap Your Stash blog and wanted to try their November Sketch +3 Challenge see the photo of the sketch above.  So for their challenge I used Glitter in column one in my small buttons in the banner in the upper left hand corner.  I used the # in the second column from Anna Griffin's planner embellishment kits near the oval title.  For the third column I used printed index cards from Anna Griffin's Vintage French Card kit.  

I continue to work on my Quotes to Live by Scrapbook.  This week I am making a cover for the book.  I used an old Franklin Quest ring binder that I used to use for storing my planner pages.  Now I am using it to store my planner pages for my Anna Griffin planner.  And later it will be my cover for my Quotes to Live by album.  
Supplies
Anna Griffin Paper (floral print)
Anna Griffin 12 Month Planner Insert
Anna Griffin Planner Embellisment Kit (#, arrows, banner)
Anna Griffin Vintage French Card Kit (Red and brown printed cards)
Anna Griffin Card Kit (Title oval and butterfly)
Cricut Audrey Cartridge (red damask printe tag)
7 gypsies Life is Good Paper (red newsprint paper)
We R Memory Keepers Storyteller For the Record Paper (lined background paper)
Clock die cut
Buttons
Franklin Quest binder

Save Thanksgiving and Stretch Your Seasonal Decorations!

My favorite holiday has long been Thanksgiving.  It has family and food and no stress for me (when I'm not hosting).  And even if I host Thanksgiving, it does not have the added stress of gift buying and wrapping that Christmas does.  I also love the message of being thankful for what I have now, for family, friends, life and so much more!  So, it bothers me that retailers open Thanksgiving night and I refuse to go out and shop!
I like to wait to decorate for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving.  But the weather can be too cold for outside decorating after Thanksgiving.

So this year, I have started by hanging my door garland, and giving it a Thanksgiving wrap.  I also added a sign cut with my Cricut.  So, I am entering this in the Fantabulous Cricut Blog #289:  Autumn.   I used a cut from Rad and Happy called Thankful Banner.  I ungrouped the cut and hid some contours to cut a mat layer.  I glued both layers to chip board and punched 2 holes.  After Thanksgiving, I 'll take down the garland, take off the Thanksgiving flair, and add a red ribbon, some floral picks and a Merry Christmas sign made with my Cricut.

UFO Challenge 46: Poetry

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 46th challenge, and the 46th wedding anniversary present is poetry.  So, this week use poetry in your UFO project and get an extra entry!  Don't have a poetry UFO?  You can still get an entry for working on any of your UFOs!  Just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your blue UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online. 

My project at the top is another page for my Quotes to Live by album I am making and using currently in my Anna Griffin planner.  The flowers, swirl and flag are from an Anna Griffin card kit and the green and gold paper comes with the planner.  The quote is by John F. Kennedy and is perfect for everyday and for Veteran's Day, so I added a flag to my page.  It says, "As we express our gratitude we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."  

UFO Challenge #45 Sapphire Blue

I am continuing to challenge you to get your Un Finished Objects done, by posting a weekly challenge inspired by wedding anniversary gifts.  This week I post my 45th challenge, and the 45th wedding anniversary present is traditionally sapphires.  So, this week use sapphire blue in your UFO project and get an extra entry!  Don't have a blue UFO?  You can still get an entry for working on any of your UFOs!  Just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your blue UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online. 

For my project today, I am back to working on my Anna Griffin Planner.  I just ordered and received the refill pages for the next 18 months and I love this planner!  The entire planner has beautiful AG graphics and the cover is embossed faux pink leather.  She now has an even better ring available than when I ordered mine and a teal cover.  I love the pocket pages and the accessory kit that you can order to go with it too!  But I do have one complaint and it is a big one for me.  This planner starts the week on the monthly pages on Mondays (see photo above this paragraph for the original monthly page).  What!?  The week starts on Sundays!  All the other calendars, I refer to to get my deadlines and important dates start on Sundays.  We planner people, keep a planner so we don't miss a thing and having the wrong start to the week can lead to errors and missed dates or deadlines.  I have started to make my own planner stickers for the monthly pages to move the Sunday to the far left where it belongs.  I hope Anna Griffin fixes this for the next refill!

 
At the top of the post you can see my additions to Anna's planner to put my Sunday on the left and the added notes on the right.  I used Cricut DS to make the stickers.  The grid on the left is made with CTMH Artbooking.  I had to weld two shapes.  The note paper on the right is from a black and white pattern also in DS.  I used the Splice tool to cut a portion of the paper that had the most lines and a bit of the swirl in it and then distressed it with a bit of ink to match Anna's graphics  I love this DS paper pattern for journaling in my scrapbooks too!  .  I am going to enter this in Bittenbythebug2's flourish challenge.  I love using the paper patterns in the DS software almost as much as I like using the cut files!  

UFO Challenge #44: Anything Goes

It turns out that the only traditional 44th anniversary gift I could find information on is groceries.  Groceries?!  No, I think not!  So, this weeks challenge is anything goes.  To enter the challenge, just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your travel themed UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online. 
I planned a page for more Christmas cards I need to scrapbook.  I just have to find the time to cut and glue.  I used Anna Griffin's Lovely Layered  Cards 2 and hid some of the contours and deleted some layers to focus on the wreath in the white layer.  I am dreaming of a white Christmas.  The Merry Christmas is from Anna's Christmas Kitsch.  

UFO Challenge #43: Travel

As a long time Chicago Cubs fan, I just had to sneak this into today's post.  Congratulations on the National League Championship!  Go Cubs!

So, this week I am finally posting the 43rd challenge on Thursday and it's Travel Themed!   To enter the challenge, just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, on your travel themed UFO, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  And yes, I will accept a vacation plan for a trip on your bucket list!

I have deserted my UFO's this week to work on costumers for me and my co workers.  We have decided to be emojis for our Halloween parade.  Some of the request I got were for Cubs and Packer emojis.  Who knew there were such emojis?!  So, I printed some Cubs logos and tried the Cricut Snap Mat for cutting.

I was so excited about this feature, but did not find it accurate enough for this project. Pictured above is my finished logo cut with snap mat and below are the pre printed logos on the mat.  Some other comments on the snap mat, I was unable to move more than one of the circles on my mat to cut all four logos.  Since it did not center the image as I placed it, it all worked out.  I hope to play with this some more to determine if it is me or the Cricut DS that needs more tweaking.  I used an old ipad for the photo and will try this again with my newer Apple 6 phone.  I hope that the higher resolution photo will help!

UFO Challenge #42: Anything Goes

I'm late!  I was out of town this weekend attending the Covered Bridges Festival in Indiana to celebrate a sister's 50th birthday.  So, this week I am finally posting the 42nd challenge on Thursday and it's Anything Goes!   To enter the challenge, just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.

UFO Challenge #41 Put it in a Pumpkin!

I love the layered scene cut files on the Cricut!  And wanted to use one in my Michael's craft pumpkin.  I got the 9" Pumpkin and cut my scene at 5 3/4" inches.  I used a rounded corner punch in the bottom corners of the scene so it would fit inside and used foam tape between the layers.  You're gonna want one too!  So, for this weeks challenge, I am straying from the anniversary inspiration and offering an extra entry for the use of a pumpkin in your UFO.  To enter the challenge, just pull out a UFO you are working on write a blog post, then post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  
I am going to enter this in the Double D Pumpkintime Challenge.  If your a stamper, you will want to check out this challenge blog!

UFO Challenge 40

Our quest to finish UFO's continues (un finished objects), and this week we are taking our theme from the traditional 40th wedding anniversary gift:  Rubies.  So use red in your UFO this week for two entries.  To enter the challenge, just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  
For my project with red, I created this page in Design Studio in hopes I will get a photo of my new niece in her parents Christmas card.  Since I don't yet have their card and I don't know if they will send a photo of her this year, I am calling this a fantasy page and entering it in the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge 284.  And FCCB, if I am stretching this challenge and it won't qualify, I completely understand!  I am obsessing over all things Anna Griffin and the color grey, so I had to use Anna's Winter Wonderland and some grey paper from DS too.  The white rectangle is my photo placement.  The Merry Christmas is from Martha Stewart Seasonal Cake Art.  When I cut the page, I will add some silver glitter paper for the delicate swirl from the Love Struck Cartridge.  I can't wait to see how this page looks in real paper and with layers of paper!

UFO Challenge 39

The finish you Un Finished Object Challenge continues and this week is my 39th challenge.  Modern 39th Anniversary gifts include lace, so this week work on any project with lace or inspired by lace for an extra entry.   Just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  

For my lace inspired project I made a pumpkin inspired by Martha Stewarts carved pumpkins.  I have to use a little bit of Anna Griffin in everything I do, so I made this with vinyl, my Cricut and Anna's Elegant Embellishments.  

Martha used real pumpkins and I used fake.   This was my first project using a Dremel and I am not sure if this is a Pinterest fail or not!  But, in the dark of my front porch with a 5 watt bulb, I think it will look fabulous!  

Supplies
Cream :Pumpkin from Michaels
Anna's Elegant Embellishment Cartridge
Vinyl
Dremel
Exacto Knife
Small Files

UFO Challenge #38 Anything Goes

The finish you Un Finished Object Challenge continues and this week is my 38th challenge.  There is no 38th wedding anniversary gift tradition to inspire the challenge, so it's another Anything Goes Challenge.  Use this week to pull out any project you started for the Fall or Winter last year or in years past and get it done!  Just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  Work on any un finished object this week for two entries.  The prize for the UFO Challenge for the months of September and October is a Jamberry Application Kit and several wraps.  These were donated by Jamie Pengiel Furst.  Thanks so much Jamie!

For my photo above I scrapped another page in my Anna Griffin planner that will go into my quotes to live my album someday.  I love the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and wanted to go over these with my boys at the start of the school year.  We talked about putting first things first this week and I asked them to tell me what are their first three things.

Supplies
Anna Griffin Fun & Fabulous Instant Scrapbook Kit (paper behind Habits)
Anna Griffin Planner
K and Company Paper 

UFO Challenge #37 Anything Goes

The finish you Un Finished Object Challenge continues and this week is my 37th challenge.  There is no 37th wedding anniversary gift tradition to inspire the challenge, so it's another Anything Goes Challenge.  Use this week to pull out any project you started for the Fall or Winter last year or in years past and get it done!  Just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  Work on any un finished object this week for two entries.

I am posting a scrap booking page I scrap lifted from Chris and Paige.  It's one of my new favorite blogs!  I love all pages with circles and have a fondness for globes, so I had to scrap lift this page in the photo above!  I did not have the same papers, but you know I wanted to use some Anna Griffin!  My favorite is the original page, but I am happy to have scrapped a memory with paper I love!

Supplies

DCWV Mariposa Paper (Back ground paper)

Anna Griffin Fun & Fabulous Instant Scrapbook Kit

Anna Griffin Card Kit

Yellow Glitter paper

Cricut Close to My Heart Artistry Cartridge (Globe)

Cricut Audry Imagine Cartridge (teal polka dot paper)

Try It Tuesday: Stuck Sketch Blog

I love a challenge to motivate me to scrap a memory and if you follow my blog or my Pinterest account, you know I love any scrapbook page with a circle!  In fact I have a whole board on Pinterest called Scrapbook Pages:  Circle in a Square.  So, I am all in for this Stuck?! Sketch challenge   And Fantabulous Cricut Challenge this week is for Back to School, so I will enter this challenge too.  I used my Cricut Explore to cut a circular maze I found on the Internet, as well as the birdy sign, the Cabin sign, the star and the Field Trip circle.  Cartridges used are:  Cabin, Songbird, Designers Calendar, Store Front, K-12, Close To My Heart Art Philosophy.  I used the Explore's print and cut for the Cabin, birdy and Field Trip signs and just cut the rest and glued the layers.

Above you can see the inspiration sketch.  I played with the circle portion, and left the title and embellishment placements similar.  I dropped the mat pattern paper because my circle was bigger and I wanted to highlight the maze.
The American Pickers would be proud of me, because I even used a button from a local estate sale to embellish this page.  So, a page about the oldest build in the county also have some local ephemera.

UFO Challenge #36: Anything Goes

This week marks my 36th Un Finished Object Challenge and there are still a few people who join us regularly.  So, for the 36th Wedding Anniversary the traditional gift is bone china.   Not a thing most of us craft, so I am making this an Anything Goes challenge.  Just pull out a UFO you need to work on and post a link to your blog post below, or photo online.  You can even join us on Facebook with your project.  Work on any un finished object this week for two entries.
My card above was made with Anna's Elegant Embellishments and the blues are the standard Cricut palette navy and light blue.  I changed the layer colors and flattened the image to print.  I will try and post a card using this later.  The flower and sentiment are from an Anna card kit.

August with Anna Final Day

Well, my August with Anna event has come to a close and here are some of my favorite projects.  Here are some things I learned while crafting with Anna:

1. It's quick.  I love that I can find time to create in this busy life!
2. It's beautiful every time!
3. Items always look professional.
4. My family and friends can't get over the beautiful cards!
5. Anna's affordable!
6. Anna's timeless!
7. Anna's kits coordinate with each other!
8. There fun!
9. Anna Griffin product are forever in my top 3 favorite products!
10. I can use Anna on my Cricut

Thanks to everyone who visited this month and joined me on my journey with Anna Griffin!

August with Anna Day 28: Coral Challenge

The finish you Un Finished Object challenge continues and this weeks theme is based on the traditional 35th wedding anniversary gift:  coral.  So, get an extra entry this week for using anything with coral pink!  To participate in the Un Finished Object Challenge, just leave a comment on this post with a link to your project or post to my Facebook Group.  

August with Anna Day 26: A Sketch Layout

One of the things I love about the Cricut Design space, is the ability to sketch a page layout before I cut any paper!  So, today I am shrine a page sketch using two Anna Griffin Cricut cartridges:  Annn's Elegant Embellisments and Anna's FlourishCards and Embellishments.
I am so excited to have a medium to share sketches that is free:  Cricut Design Space!  And for my Cricut friends, the cartridge info can be posted too!