Creativity Abounds: The Sequel
13The original Creativity Abounds topic has grown to an unmanageable length. With hundreds of threads and replies, many dozens of pics, load time for that topic have become significant.
So here we are looking at Creativity Abounds: The Sequel. Ya, that’s a pretty uninspired title. Maybe in true Meh form, creativity doesn’t quite “abound” but maybe trickles?
- 32 comments, 180 replies
- Comment
I’ll be kicking off this sequel with a plea for help with my Cameo 3. I have a pack of 8-1/2” x 11” sheets of Avery Industrial UltraDuty printable label stock. This is some serious stuff. Waterproof, and resistant to chemicals, abrasion, tears, UV and extreme temperatures.
My plan is to print labels for my portable tool boxes (9 in total) to more easily identify the trove of treasures which can be found therein.
For very quick identification, I want to print images like this, using my color laser printer, onto the Avery labels:
Next, I want to pass the label through my Silhouette Cameo 3 and cut out the images just like I was cutting regular vinyl. I’ll need to play around a bit with the knife settings, but I’m confident I’ll be able to reach a configuration which would permit me to weed the sheets and use transfer film to apply them to the toolboxes.
The challenge: getting cutlines to cut the shapes, aligned accurately with the printed images with minimal white edges. The Avery stuff is quite expensive, so I hope to minimize my fails.
My first (failed) attempt was to use the Silhouette PixScan mat. It worked, but not that well. I wound up cutting into the images in some spots and well outside the images in other spots.
Does the Cameo 3 have the ability for me to print a target on the label that the cutter can queue on to preserve alignment? I suppose this will mean importing my PDF image file into the Design Studio software and printing from there? But I was all over the Design Studio and couldn’t find such a feature anywhere.
Ok crafty veterans, please help me label my toolboxes!!!
@ruouttaurmind you can use registration marks but that really limits the available cut space on the sheet.
Otherwise you can try covering your cutting mat with painters tape and set a rectangular cut at 8.5x11 and have it cut the tape, then remove the 8.5x11 section of cut tape and replace it with your Avery labels. In the Studio software make sure your labels to be cut are inside that same 8.5x11 space and cut. So long as the cutting mat was loaded in the exact same spot it should cut them properly.
I’ve had decent successes doing this. I usually try to not unload the mat when removing the tape and adding the paper to be cut. If you do remove the mat, using a mat guide can help to get the proper alignment when reloading.
Be sure to test with printer paper first.
@ruouttaurmind both of the above suggestions would require you to print from the Silhouette Studio software.
@ruouttaurmind Labels? We don’t need no stinkin’ labels. Besides, I like opening a box and being surprised about what’s inside. You are going to take all the fun out of it.
@ruouttaurmind Hey, I know about this stuff! I make labels for the cylinders Brian builds and ships out.
Here is a video with print and cut as well as a kiss cut.
Also, I get our label sheets from onlinelabels.com.
@Barney It was amusing at first, grabbing the wrong box, opening it, realizing my gaff and grabbing the other one. That’s when I had 2 boxes. With 9 boxes that bloom has withered on the vine.
I tried to do text labels as a quick solution. But once in a while I’ll be working at my mother’s house, up on a ladder, or on the roof or something, and ask her to hand me a tool. She would have to read through the table of contents for each box to eventually find the tool I needed. With the picture, I can include a small label on the pic for each tool which should help her with tool identification. The concept of keeping similar tools together seems to escape her as well. Drills, impact driver, drill bits and the like all in one box. But she still struggles with that idea.
@Ignorant
If I’m reading the procedure correctly, the tape template isn’t reliant on printing from Design Studio, yes? As long as my alignment with the Avery material is spot on into the template, and I use the same PDF for printing and in Design Studio to create cut lines, it should be good, ja? That’s if I followed your procedure intent properly?
I want to try the Avery stock through our dye sub printer. It requires very specific software and image rasterizing. Design Studio won’t be able to print to this printer. If it works as I hope, the result will be a nearly indestructible label that won’t peel, tear, fade, or rub away.
@ruouttaurmind OK, you’ve convinced me, but you’re still no fun.
@lisaviolet That’s the ticket right there. It looks like I won’t be able to have reg marks if I print from anything other than Design Studio, so I guess the dye sub is out, but the Xerox color laser does a good job too. The output won’t be as durable as dye sub, but it’ll be good for a few years I’m sure.
I just checked their offerings similar to the Avery stuff I have. Price is lower when you get into quantities of many, but 25 or 50 sheets is about the same price as Avery. I was fortunate to find mine in the Warehouse Deals at Amz. 50 sheets for $17 plus a 20% discount during one of their promos.
Thank you a ton for the vid linky. That’s exactly what I need.
@Barney No fun? Lollipop, you couldn’t handle this much fun!
@ruouttaurmind You’re right, probably not.
@Barney @ruouttaurmind I love this level of organization, want to come do my garage? It is a mess
@ruouttaurmind I’ve always printed from in software just to make sure everything is properly aligned with the cutout, you can do it the other way but would need to make sure to align the file perfectly inside your 8.5x11 rectangle in Silhouette Studio.
Here is a video demo just using a Cricut
If you go with the registration marks like @lisaviolet’s video there is unfortunately a lot of the paper that can’t be used but is definitely the easier way of doing it. You can probably even duplicate the registration marks and print them out from your other software.
@tinamarie1974 It drives my mom insane. After every task, I take the time to thoroughly clean all the tools I just used, oil where appropriate, and put each one back in it’s designated place in the toolboxes. A place for everything and everything in it’s place. Then clean up any sawdust, drywall dust or debris where I was just working. I refuse to move to the next task until I’m done. I won’t leave any cleanup to the end of the day. She really hates that.
@ruouttaurmind I am the same in the house, I love everything to be neat and tidy. My issue with the tools is my dad uses them over here. They never get put back where them belong, but really good free help is hard to find.
@ruouttaurmind I would think you might also be able to print your print & cut file to a PDF, take that to your dye sub printer, then bring it back to Silhouette for cutting. Been too long since I have messed with silhouette so I can’t say for sure, but if you have a pdf printer on your machine it shouldn’t make any difference to silhouette.
I am a little jealous of your organization scheme. My system is just pick up the box or bag and see what’s in it lol.
@tinamarie1974
Sounds like you and my mother have both been fortunate in this regard.
@djslack That is an inspired approach. I will definitely give it a try.
Since I embraced the Dewalt ToughSystem boxes I’ve really been loving the organization. Prior to this all the tools I use over at mom’s were packed into Craftsman 12” tool bags, piled into old milk crates. 11 bags and they all looked identical.
@ruouttaurmind extremely fortunate, but I do cook or take him out for dinner. I also help him with projects at his house. Pretty sure there is more benefit for me, but I do try to pay it back.
@tinamarie1974 She feeds me occasionally. Like this cold plate she surprised me with earlier this week when it was so hot. Simple, but plentiful. It really hit the spot. And I do love me some deviled eggs.
@ruouttaurmind you got a sweet mama
@ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974
Deviled eggs v cold and well made are just the thing in summer.
@f00l I’m a firm believer in the deviled egg credo: Mediocre deviled eggs are far superior to no deviled eggs at all.”
@f00l @ruouttaurmind but how do you like them? I am q bit of a purist. Egg yolk, may and paprika. Anything more is too much
@f00l @ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974 I don’t like eggs myself but I make this recipe for parties and everyone seems to love them.
https://www.chefsteps.com/activities/the-best-deviled-eggs-are-sous-vide-deviled-eggs
@tinamarie1974 What you said, but with a wee dash of mustard. A very wee dash. Like, just walk past the egg with the mustard bottle in your hand. Absolutely no relish. But… if someone hands me deviled eggs with relish in them… reference the deviled egg credo above.
@ruouttaurmind a wee dash may be ok…dijon or regular? I am partial to the dijon
@tinamarie1974 Dealer’s choice, of course.
@ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974
Yeah, that’s always my intent. My reality is I work until the last possible minute, grab the tools and shove them onto the workbench, haul ass to take a shower then head to work at 1445, hopefully with the job completed… Maybe once I retire (ha!)
@chienfou @ruouttaurmind IDK dad is retired, he still shoves them back on the first flat surface he sees
@chienfou @tinamarie1974 I have all those Dewalt tool chests, with dividers and Kaizen foam inserts, cut out to the shape of each tool. That definitely makes it easier to stay motivated to put everything back where it belongs. It’s like all those empty shapes are just inviting me to give them their tools back.
@chienfou @ruouttaurmind total dirty talk for ocd people! Lol
@ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974
Okay, so “clean talk”, is “dirty talk” for OCD folks… I think I’ve got it
@ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974
@chienfou @ruouttaurmind @tinamarie1974 Well we KNOW you can organize closets to a “T” (eg photos you posted of that room you turned into a closet that you and your dad did). Of course even if you organize your tools he likely won’t put them back right anyway. At least you are the one putting back your clothes where you want them/where they belong so there is that.
@chienfou @Kidsandliz @ruouttaurmind we just talked about that tonight because dad was over to hang some pictures for me. He couldnt find the level, because he didnt put it away last time he used it
Also, that room I turned into a closet, was my MB closet
When your husband has to wear a shirt for “sports team” day and he has no clue about shirts… Opt for sarcasm!
@mikibell Ted Bundy would be proud!
@mikibell @ruouttaurmind
Ooops, wrong Bundy!
@chienfou @mikibell @ruouttaurmind Poor old Al, no recognition even with his record of 4 touchdowns in one game.
KuoH
So it was represent your school today… Opppps… Tomorrow is sports day… Sigh… I think he just wanted 2 new shirts…
@mikibell Is it a PITA to do two colors like that? I struggle with alignment when I do that with adhesive vinyl. I can’t imagine trying to do HTV on cloth.
@ruouttaurmind it is wicked easy!! but it takes a little practice… there are a lot of flaws in this, but it is easy to cover up if you pay attention
Like, I reversed the layer of the red and black in the Ls of mudville, so I literally peeled the red off the red backing and stuck it to the black. The M I cut off the starting swirl, but with a little finagling, I was able to align it almost perfectly and the heat kinda blended the line where they met, melted into each other fine. I totally cheated with the red in the brim too… I could only find a 6 inch sheet of red (I know I have more somewhere, but the idiot waited until 9 pm to ask for the shirt!!!) So I cut the brim out of the excess in the bottom swash and again stuck it to the black. This design was especially easy because the gray is the shirt color. If I were actually layering the gray, there might have been more of a line up issue. The trick with htv and layering is not to press each layer for the full time. The HTV will shrink a bit each time you press the vinyl. So, for example, I offset the brim just slightly to compensate for shrinkage 
In this case, I didn’t need to because I pressed the brim red and black outline all at once. Seriously, not hard at all. and oh so pretty… If it were for a customer, I would not have made so many adjustments, btw…
@mikibell You did an exceptional job from what I can see! I got bored with HTV pretty quickly because I was afraid to venture into multicolor designs. But… maybe I’ll try just something simple and see how it goes!
Thank you for sharing. Appreciated!
@ruouttaurmind thank you! I made a layered design of the springfield isotopes and simple average joes and one for my son. It was interesting to see how all the colors and paths worked together.
@ruouttaurmind oh and I made goonies this weekend… Not my designs… Don’t LOVE the colors, but hey, ho…live and learn.
@mikibell I really like #2. But then I’m a die hard Goonies fanboi.
@mikibell @ruouttaurmind too bad you guys are not local. A local charity group is doing an outdoor family night on a farm outside of St Louis this month. DJ, games, door prizes and Goonies on the outdoor screen (or maybe the side of the barn) after dark!!
I made a card. It’s a shaker card. the background is a digital paper I bought off of etsy. Printed out two pieces and cut it so that the background and front would look like the same image. Since that’s what it is. That was the only part I didn’t hand color.
I was pretty happy with how the “happy birthday to you” came out. I die cut three pieces of white and blended ink on it, then spritzed with a shimmer spray. I’m getting better with my coloring/blending skills.
I got the confetti inside card on Lawn Fawn (who, by the way, is having a 15% off sale through tomorrow) as well as the critters and balloons and grass.
@lisaviolet Perfect, as always! Your creativity and artistry never cease to amaze me.
@ruouttaurmind Thank you. I watch the videos over and over, watching how they do the blending and I try so hard, but my stuff never looks anything close to how good theirs are.
And I tell myself “it’s the copic markers, it has to be the copic markers”. Of course it’s never me. lol
I was pretty pleased with the name on the balloons. I stamped and cut out a balloon die, cut out the center of the balloons, taped it backwards on a stamping block, centered the letters and then stamped over the balloons with Versamark, then embossed it with white. Walking through the house, “I’m good, I’m good, I’m good…” when it turned out. (Yeah, I do stuff like that.)
@lisaviolet
I cannot say I agree with that. Try this: “I’m great, I’m great, I’m great…”
@ruouttaurmind
Kind of slow here lately…
Anyway, if you have a die cutter and are interested in making your own holiday cards, Hero Arts October monthly bundle has loads of possibilities.
Like using the window frame for the front of the card, using acetate sheets for the window panes and do the tree on the inside, so it’s like you’re looking into someone’s house at their Christmas tree. Add chibi lights on the tree?
Yowza, totally, awesome card (shut up bot). Pre orders start shipping tomorrow.
I’d already started pulling paper for what I thought was I was going to do…I might have to think about this.
POKER! JOKER! NOT MEDIOCRE! AWESOME!
@mediocrebot You don’t listen very well, do you.
@lisaviolet Cute stuff. I am always impressed by your awesome creations. (Gotta throw in an “a” word for mediocrebot. He gets lonely.)
POPSOCKETS! ROAD ROCKETS! SONNY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@cf1 Hero Arts has some really nice things, but I’ve been on a Lawn Fawn kick (they have a lot of interactive products) for the past few years.
I get emails from Hero Arts and this one caught my eye. Usually, it’s just, “cool, but meh, I’d never do anything with it”. This one, I could see possibilities.
Recently bought a new sublimation printer, first project I’ve done to sell. I did some other stuff just to play around with it and get used to it. So far this is much better than dealing with vinyl cutting.
The idea is to drop this near gifts so your kids find them in the morning, further proving the big guy was there.
@lichme oh this is great. Where are you selling them
@tinamarie1974 Thanks! Just advertising locally through buy sell pages and marketplace with shipping to the US
@lichme @tinamarie1974
Super clever!
@lichme this is ace. Need to get one of those to leave on the table Christmas Eve.
@lichme which printer? That is my next big purchase!
@lichme @mikibell @tinamarie1974
I used to pull some fuzz off the trim for the stockings and stick it to the milk glass as “Santa’s whiskers…”
It’s the little details that sell it!
@chienfou @lichme @mikibell agree, I have a pair of wire rimmed glasses and a torn piece of red velvet to place on the fire place door. Think my niece will fall for it
@mikibell I got the Epson ET2800. I woulda gotten the ET15000 if I could find it, and if it didnt cost 3x as much. I may be nought it without consulting the Mrs.
The one I got only does 8.5 wide, so if I wanna do bigger designs I have to tape them first.
@chienfou @mikibell @tinamarie1974
When I was growing up my mom taped a piece of our dogs poop onto a sheet of paper and put a little Santa hat on it so we could wake up and find Mr. Hanky
/giphy Mr. Hanky
@lichme cool… I am looking at the epson et-2760 from costco… Was it a large learning curve? Hubby wouldnt care if i bought the cheap printer without consulting him… A sawgrass or a glowforge… Yeah those need consultation!
@lichme @mikibell @tinamarie1974
that was after the kids got grown, so never got into that shit…
@mikibell I couldn’t find the 2760 when I was looking, costco was out of stock. So far it’s been pretty easy and I haven’t messed anything up. The 2800 was probably the same price as the 2760 with similar features. I went with cosmos ink and asub paper. I’ve done a couple shirts, coasters, a mug, puzzle, pillow cases, and maybe some other things. I’ll try and post some when I get to a PC. I definitely like it way better than using vinyl.
I used a heat gun on the mug because I don’t have a mug press or spare convective oven or air fryer. Hoping to try tumblers soon.
@lichme I hear you on the sublimation rather than vinyl, a lot less prep work. I found a mug press on marketplace for about $100… with all 4 mug sizes. I had grand plans of using it with HTV, but I haven’t turned it on yet!
I was going to put the printer on my wish list for Christmas… but I am running out of room for toys! We have a variety of printers for different uses, plus my son’s 3d printer, laser engraver and one more I can’t remember ( thank you grandparents!!! )… and my sewing and vinyl cutters!!!
My husband wants to move his woodworking tools inside too!! (He does that as part of making a living)…
My niece is a huge potterhead so I made her a Lightbox for her birthday.
@sillyheathen Those are great, and I love HP! I made a Frozen one for my daughter that’s hooked up to a smart plug so it auto shuts off after an hour. What color paper did you use, and how did you separate your layers? I used zots, but I think I got ones that were too thin so there wasn’t a ton of depth.
@sillyheathen That’s beautiful
!
@lichme I used to cut frames out of thin draft board and use paper. I now use a combo of paper and foam board and I’m loving the effect.
@sillyheathen that is awesome – I haven’t had the patience to work with paper yet.
VAN GOGH! MANGO! TANGO! AWESOME!
Soo hubby bought me a thing…
So I have been making different things on it…
elf sweaters
starry night bun holders
vax card holders
@mikibell I’m jealous— that looks like fun
@cf1 omg. It is! I did not get any instruction other than how to turn it on, so it has been an adventure! (Never go to the sewing shop at 3 when they close at 4) it is rather intimidating to start … But one it is set and running… Omg it is awesome… No waiting to change threads when there are only 80 stitches for a color… Yada yada… I can actually walk away and do something else. AND it stitches like a dream!!
POPSOCKETS! SPROCKETS! DAVY CROCKETT! AWESOME!
@mikibell I bought a smaller version to learn on but have yet to take it out of the box, let alone turn it on. I am feeling inspired now…
@cf1 go for it! A lot of what I have made is scrap packs… Rather learn on inexpensive materials… I screwed up a hand saniters holder because I embroidered an itinial to both sides of the vinyl!! A bit of cutting, it was usable but meh… $1 worth of vinyl and a bit of time… I learned to think about end result before I hit go.
@mikibell JEALOUS! Is that the Brother six needle machine? Like P67 or something model? Very nice. Have you tried doing a hat yet?
Before that, I made some stuff for a charity auction…
@mikibell you are amazing
@tinamarie1974 I would love to take credit, but I am just the machine operator
@mikibell these are fantastic.
@mikibell Is that a little tiny Hulk costume hanging on the rack?!?
@sillyheathen thank you!!! In the earlier photo, I have short sleeve sweaters that were made with scraps from part of my daughter’s eagle project, where she made 150 blankets for a homeless shelter! We are trying to be creative in using up the scraps too!! but omg… no more supplies… too many hobbies!
@Kyeh yes, it is… isn’t it adorable!! the lady who designed them has a baseball uniform and navy and marine uniforms, she has accessories like cookies on a sheet pan and dough in a bowl… those are next on my list to try!!! My great nephew and my great great nephew are into the elf on the shelf, so they are getting a raft of supplies!
@Kyeh P.S. if you have a little person who needs a hulk costume, I would gladly send you one – ask @carl669 I am only SLIGHTLY annoying if I have your address.
@carl669 @Kyeh @mikibell my niece has a female Elf. Did you make any girl super heros (like maybe wonder woman?)
@carl669 @Kyeh @mikibell
between the two of us, we may send Carl to the sanitarium!
@carl669 @Kyeh @tinamarie1974 let me see what is avail… i am sure I have the ww W if that will work? What is the appropriate color for the sweater!
Or I can make a ww dress for the elf! Or the frozen princesses’s dresses… i have a minnie mouse sweater!
@carl669 @Kyeh @mikibell I think she would like all of that just let me know how to $$ you!! She will be estatic
@tinamarie1974 pay for shipping and I am good… is she a toddler or older?
@carl669 @Kyeh @mikibell @sillyheathen
Too late… He fled the country!
@chienfou @Kyeh @sillyheathen I saw that… Trying to figure out what trouble silly is causing for Carl and if I should be worried about the association…
@mikibell she is 9, will be 10 in Dec
And I would b happy to pay you for your hard work!!!
@tinamarie1974 after Christmas I will be making supplies for the reindeer that goes with the elf! They have a cool saddle and a sleigh and and and… It is addictive. But I promised myself it was after Christmas so I wouldn’t start ANOTHER project!!! I am getting the great and great great nephews the deer for Christmas as well as the dvds.
@mikibell oohhhhh. Reindeer supplies! That is exciting
@carl @carl669 @chienfou @Kyeh @mikibell @sillyheathen
He better come home with the max you bring home when traveling internationally as the TV said this morning that with supply chain issues (including a shortage of glass to bottle crap in) the supply of alcohol is down 25% and with alcohol being the new toilet paper, there may be a real shortage soon.
@carl @carl669 @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mikibell @sillyheathen
Damn! Doesn’t that burn like hell??
@carl @carl669 @chienfou @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mikibell but if leaves you squeaky clean!
@carl @carl669 @chienfou @Kyeh @mikibell @sillyheathen
@carl @carl669 @Kidsandliz @Kyeh @mikibell @sillyheathen
There FIFY…
@mikibell Thank you for the offer - I don’t, but I sure wish I’d had an aunt like you when I was a kid! Wow! I almost want to get myself an elf just so I can put it into a teeny Hulk costume - but I hate the elf on a shelf.
All those costumes are adorable!
@carl669 @chienfou @sillyheathen
@mikibell
Here’s what sillyheathen did for carl:
https://meh.com/forum/topics/the-orange-coats-are-coming-the-orange-coats-are-coming
@Kyeh I gotta say the elf and the santa cam are kinda creepy… I will research if the costumes will fit GI JOE
I know they will fit Barbie height dolls. I have learned strange tidbits about doll scale while researching hangers for the sweaters …
@mikibell Interesting! I have a friend who’s collected vintage Barbies for years; she’s given the collection to her daughter, who’s now an avid collector herself. She’s learned from Youtube videos how to restore Barbies that aren’t in the best shape, like how to redo their hair to make it look new. Quite a little subculture.
More coolness that this machine makes… Hand sanitizer holders…
@lisaviolet … not that you need it, but did you see the free card classes from Michaels?
https://www.michaels.com/12daysofcardmaking?cm_mmc=EMAIL-
@mikibell Thanks, I’ll check it out.
How stinking hard can it be to have a sky blue/powder blue/ice blue ink pad that doesn’t have green in it?
Damn. I’ve purchased upwards of twenty different blue pads, looking for the perfect blue. It’s for my holiday cards, think darkening sky background, lighter at the skyline, getting darker as it goes up.
In my neck of the woods, winter skies are NOT green tinged.
Yeah, I’m done now, ended up with a Ranger Archival ink “French Ultramarine”. It’s not a pigment ink (they blend much better), but it will have to do.
Rant over.
@lisaviolet hahha… I feel the same about colors of felt!! How many freaking greens can there be?
@RiotDemon & others:
I was at local JoAnn craft/fabric store today for a couple of markers - they still had quite a wide variety of Halloween items available @ 70% off. This included skeleton cookie cutter/press, eyeball chocolate mold & zombie popsicle maker
I assume some people like to stockpile supplies until next year
Latest project, probably fits in pretty well around here
@lichme sublimation? I like it so much better than the vinyl ones I did a few years ago… Considering embroidering some tho
@mikibell Yep, subbed directly onto the TP
Any idea where to get a template for an Avenger ID? Business card size?
The mini-Avengers go in on Wednesday for spay/neuter and there will be six carriers. My husband thought making Avenger ID cards and attaching them to each carrier would be fun. Photo, name and kitten info on one side, our information on the other. I found some printable PVC cards and the tray that will work with my printer, should be here today.
I don’t know what comes with, if anything, but I’d like to have something to work with, hoping to get them done tomorrow.
In other news, here’s a short video of my holiday card idea:
http://catler.org/woot/P1100001.MP4
So I made a couple of dresses for my niece for Christmas. (Still need to press and hem them though.) Patterns are from Ellie & Mac. I only have about 8 more sewing projects I need to do before we go to my sister’s the 1st weekend in December. Yikes!
@msklzannie those are adorable
@msklzannie Wow, very nice! I’m sure they’ll love them.
@msklzannie I love the prints you used.
@msklzannie God bless you, those are fabrics that like to pucker! Very pretty!!
@msklzannie I’ve got a few patterns from E&M. How do you like them?
@Thumperchick I really like them. I don’t really have anything to compare them to because E&M are the only clothing patterns I have. This summer I made 2 dresses for myself from their patterns… first articles of clothing I’d ever made. (Technically I still need to hem the 2nd dress but wasn’t sure if I was going to change the sleeves to 3/4 and shorten the skirt; made it long-sleeved maxi.) E&M describes their patterns as being for “confident beginner and intermediate” sewists.
@mikibell I really didn’t have any problems with the fabrics. I used my serger. I sure wish I had a coverstitch machine for the hemming though. I may end up using my serger again and making a rolled hem.
@sammydog01 The blue fabrics were from Joann (the “local” one still has the glitter one but is out of the unicorn). The black is a remnant of stretch corduroy. It and the leopard print came from Hobby Lobby. That corduroy sure sheds when you cut it!
@msklzannie nice job coordinating and on the collars. Those are a weak point for me when I sew clothing.
@msklzannie oh sweet… I was going to recommend a lettuce hem if you had a serger!! I have a serger that has a coverstitch but I have not tried it yet… Mostly doing masks on it
@msklzannie those are so flippin adorable! I can’t let my daughter see the unicorn version.
I got the tags done for the carriers.
For some reason, they don’t look as good in the photos that they do real life. Weird.
Our info is on the other side. I like that they’re waterproof as well. They’re like credit cards.
@lisaviolet Those are terrific!
Kitty ID cards - what a great idea!
I tried (and failed) my first sublimation tumbler today. Luckily I was able to bake the original out enough to try again after making some adjustments, now I’m thrilled.
Fail:
Much better:
@lichme LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICH!!
@carl669 CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARL!
@carl669 @lichme I don’t know how I missed this but that tumblr is AMAZEBALLS!!!
What did you all make for Christmas?
Here are somethings I created/enhanced…
@mikibell
I did this for a friend who’s a cooking influencer.
@mikibell
This was for our neighbors’ front door
@mikibell
Finishing this painting of our family’s farm in Amite, LA today for my sister.
@sillyheathen I am betting she will LOVE that painting… What a beautiful job, and something she can always take with her!
@sillyheathen that cutting board is phenomenal! I like the doorhanger the best, tho… Love the details.
@mikibell it’s based on a watercolor that my grandmother had commissioned years ago. My sister really wanted it but my uncle would d up with it when my grandmother passed so I’m making her her own version.
@mikibell my creations for
:
Christmas gifts
@cbilyak @mikibell Nice
!
@cbilyak I am so jealous of you glowforgians! Trying to talk the hubby into buying one but we have to get rid of something first! I voted get rid of the kids
do you make the artwork or find svgs or both? Amazing job!
@sillyheathen family… We are dealing with my mil’s estate. So glad I am an inlaw… I want nothing and I get nothing!
@mikibell I draw some and use some images. I do it by hand though with this, it is $10, no need to sell the kids: https://www.harborfreight.com/30-watt-5-in-1-hobby-woodburner-63850.html
@sillyheathen Nice! Here is one my daughter painted for me for Xmas:
@macromeh that’s fantastic!
@sillyheathen Here are a couple more that she did for Xmas:
@macromeh wow! So very nice!
@cbilyak @mikibell Just ordered one! I have been putting off a wooden tree swing project for my son and DIL to memorialize their dog they had to put down earlier this year. This will be perfect. Thanks for the link @cbilyak!
@ruouttaurmind i was so excited to show you how much I learned this year… I took my mil’s index card sized recipe and used photoshop to remove the background and enhance some of the words. I tried to stay true to her handwriting, spelling, etc when I traced in Silhouette software, but for weeding sake I took a few liberties
I am just so disappointed by the final execution. We figured out that my heat press, which is almost as old as I am, is warped. So parts of the image barely got heat and others were smushed to death!! My inner anal self was not amused, but the tired elf in me said, it is what it is… 
this was the best of the bunch by a lonnnng shot. Others had the outline of the rollingpin ruffled or missing etc…
@mikibell Wait! What? You can apply HTV to wood???
Silly questions aside, I think that looks great! And the creativity? Totally inspired. It’s wonderful!
@ruouttaurmind bahahahaha ahh grasshopper, you have so much to learn! Yes, you can apply htv to wood, but of course any variation makes it a pia… I bought these cheeseboards at target and I am assuming they are relatively flat. Easing up the pressure on my heat press was almost impossible, again, it is sooooo old… You can see in the white at the top where the pressure was too much and the adhesive oozed
and the bottom right where the black just smuusshhhed from too much pressure …and that was after I started doing a quarter of the board at a time, swapping it around and leaving the other parts hanging off the press …I tried my craft iron, but I was running out of time to use that - it took MUCH longer, with similar results.
But yes, htv on wood works nicely… And it is so much easier to weed for small details in projects like this.
Okay. I just got a Cricut Maker for Christmas. Any tips on making planner stickers with it?
@riskybryzness sorry don’t have a cricut, but just a note… Stay away from cricut materials… They make awesome machines but meh supplies
i get my sticker stock from online labels. I get my other vinyl supplies, transfer paper, etc. from expressionsvinyl.com
VAN GOGH! MANGO! TANGO! AWESOME!
@mikibell That’s what I’ve been hearing. I’ve only purchased their sticker paper so far to test with since it was on sale. I’ll absolutely check that place out.
@riskybryzness oh. And for replacement mats, at least for the silhouette, nicapa mats are great… They have a LOT less stick, so less need to “season” the mat, i.e. destickifying the mat with the oils from your hands or fuzz from your most comfy sweatshirt…and the sticky lasts for quite a while.
@riskybryzness p.s. hope you have a blast! I looked at a maker when they first came out, amazing machines. My beef with cricut is their sucky software and that they made my buckets of cartridges basically obsolete…
I made these on my 3d printer from files on thingiverse.
Trying to figure what I was gonna do for the background
Done, hanging on the wall
Right kitty
Middle kitty
Left kitty
@lisaviolet I LOVE those! They’re wonderful!
@lisaviolet Those are really cool!
Hey! Pulling this thread back up because it’s great and also–if you have a Cricut, Amazon and craft stores have been having REALLY steep discounts on their merch. Picked up some new fine point blades for $5 each on Amazon–some vinyl for $2 as well. Might be worth a look for anyone interested.
A few things I have done lately… Dressed the bunnies, sublimation for the first time!! And some coasters…
why have these been on such good a sale?? I bought a no-name version for about the same price near Christmas… works well for those quick HTV projects, like the bunnies above – I put names on the ears for the great nephews…
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07VKPZS24/?creative=9325&camp=1789&tag=dealnewscom&m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&ascsubtag=235urd47tb858jy9jrn2hjWc5e7dAqzE
p.s. this scraper is 72% off… don’t own this one, but the smaller ones get the job done.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SQBJ896/
I have no idea if this is a good deal or not. I don’t fuss with HTV often so I’ve never shopped out presses before. But the machine seems like it’s loaded with (possibly?) useful features and accessories. And the size seems like it’s ideal for someone who fusses with big designs or high volumes. I was somewhat interested to note it includes a tool for hats and round objects like cups.
Anyway, tossing it out there for your consideration…
Amazon: VEVOR Pro Heat Press Machine, 12 x 15 Inches, Fast Heating, 5 in 1 Combo 360 Swing Away Digital Sublimation T-Shirt Vinyl Transfer Printer with Anti-Scald Surface, Hat, Mug, Plate for $175 after the 30% discount is automagically deducted in checkout. Free shipping, of course.
This deal is good from now until later.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B092LDZFSV/
Wow, no new projects?
I have one I finally finished last week, I was working on it all summer (kept changing my mind what I wanted to do and had to think about it…a lot of thinking
).
Anyway, it’s my first try at a light up card, using chibitronics lights. There are things I learned (after it was put together), mostly about the battery area. Something I’ll have to work on. I’ve seen tutorials for making the compartment so that the battery slides out and can be replaced.
The finished card:
Little door opens! I used a gold brad for the knob:
The inside with sentiment and gift card holder:
And the lanterns light up!
@lisaviolet That’s adorable, great job!
@lisaviolet
Oh, that’s so wonderful!
@lisaviolet Wow, had no idea this technology was available! Looks fantastic!
@mossygreen @Kyeh @ircon96
These chibitronics lights are amazing. Just looking at their shopping page to share, I see something new. Light sensors…woohoo! That sounds incredibly interesting. I also see they sell Lawn Fawn products, which is what I’ve mostly been using for the past few years.
I kinda got out of the Cameo projects because I was salty the library wouldn’t work for me for so many months. (I couldn’t delete, it would just copy, it was very frustrating, they finally fixed it, but by then, I’d turned my interest to die cutting.) I do want to get back to Cameo, though.
I think my next chibi project will be a lighthouse. And use the fade effect sticker for the light.
Here are some Chibi projects: https://chibitronics.com/category/craft/
Lawn Fawn has a ton of interactive dies (link to youtube). Like the tree having the open door.
I think getting a card that I can play with is awesome!
Thank you!
WORKER BEES! HERCULES! TURKEY GREASE! AWESOME!
I was glancing through the posts here and saw the one where I was bitching that I couldn’t find the right color of blue ink for the Christmas card I was making.
I never mentioned it again.
I did find the right color of blue. It’s part of the sky in the little window.
Here’s the card (using a lawn fawn die).
@lisaviolet I’m not a stamper or a paper person so much, but I love lawn fawn dies. So, so cute.
@lisaviolet Adorable! Did you get the blue here on Meh?
@Kyeh I think after doing research and buying different blue stamp pads, I used one I already had. Ranger Ink cornflower blue. I’m pretty sure that was it.
It was a water based ink which is why I think I hadn’t tried it before. The ones I had been using were pigment inks.
@mossygreen Their new product drops every three months kills me. Adds this to cart, this to wishlist, this to cart, this to wishlist…
I don’t know if you watch their youtube videos (I can spend hours down that rabbit hole), but Marine is one of the best designers they have. She’s so creative.
You all are amazing! I loved looking through this thread!!
I recently finished this hand made leather wallet for my friend who taught my kids guitar. I copied the design from his actual guitar and he recognized it right away, which was cool, lol!
I haven’t had much time to do leather working recently, and I’m still kind of new at it, but I’m hoping to start making more stuff soon.
I’m currently about half way done a purse, so there is still plenty of time for me to completely screw it up…
@k4evryng That is fantastic!
@k4evryng
Wow, my brother would be jealous. That’s so clever and well-thought-out!
@k4evryng Nice!
Finished my next leather crafting project and I’m so happy with how this turned out. This is my first tote so it was a little intimidating with all the hand stitching. But I need all the practice I can get!
I hope lots of you post your handmade cards and gifts!
I love seeing them!
@k4evryng That’s beautiful! It looks professionally done. I really like the colors you used.
@k4evryng Also I’m happy to see this thread revived - I’ve been wondering what the forum craftspeople have been doing lately.
@Kyeh I love this thread too!
So many amazing things to see from these talented folks!
(I just have to be careful not to pick up yet another craft addiction. I have far too many already!
)
@k4evryng Argh, me too. At least you finish stuff! Maybe I should post some photos of my UFOs* to shame myself into working on them.
*(UnFinished Objects.)
@Kyeh oh boy! I have plenty of those too!
Been boringly quiet with crafts lately… Too much going on in real life, dad is declining, I changed jobs, family criticizes other’s crafts so I worry mine won’t be well received…sigh!
Cement coasters, front
Cement coasters, back with faux cork fabric
Etched cutting board
Being a fair godmother in an exchange where the person’s gifter did not send a package. Theme of the exchange is “disney, marvel, pixar, star wars or a little bit of everything”. The person I have picked disney… So far this is what I have created:
@mikibell At least you know the person receiving these will be thrilled, especially since they are one of a kind! And hopefully they will appreciate the effort you put into this. Make sure they know you made these because then they will treasure them more and be really happy the original gifter was a shit head.
@mikibell Fantastic! The things you make look so professional.
@Kidsandliz the entire exchange is supposed to be crafted… There is a point system and such … It is a 10 point exchange, so I am just assuming mine are 2 points each at this point.
Simple math AND since this person was jilted, who cares if they get a little extra!
@mikibell very, very cool! They look fantastic!
I’ve never seen cement coasters before…do you seal them to keep the design from wearing off? Does the cement absorb the liquid?
I love the cutting board as well. The recipient will love these!!
@Kyeh I
you… I see all the flaws in what I made… Like Kronk is 1/4 inch off center and the paint on the cement could be a bit crisper … Etc… I embroidered today… Will post those when they are done.
@k4evryng honestly, I have no idea if I should seal them. I am trying to use up things I already owned for this exchange. I bought the coasters on clearance at Joanns years ago and actually thought they were slate. I was going to etch them too. When I realized they were concrete, i went with the gold paint. I have to research the to seal or not to seal before I mail them. We are in for a doozy of a storm, hoepfully we keep power long enough to finish off the projects!!
@mikibell hope you don’t get too much snow! We are in eastern PA and we’re supposed to just get rain and wind, but who knows. I hate losing power!
Sealing is a tough decision because if you don’t seal them, the coasters will be able to absorb moisture, but the design could wear off. But if you do seal, the design is protected but they might not absorb. But either way, they are really nice and so creative!
@mikibell this is amazing. You are so talented
I finally got to embroidering:
@mikibell BEEEEAUTIFUL!
That little purse is really neat - did you design it yourself?
(Or I’m assuming it’s little, but maybe it’s not?)
@Kyeh it is a bit bigger than a lipstick holder…
I think I did the middle size of this image:
I did not design it, but it is from bowsandclothes.com. It was so cool that I could mail it flat and the person could “build” it…
@mikibell Oh, that IS cool! I really like the pattern of vinyl (?) you used.
@Kyeh thank you, it was vinyl with the pattern “cruella cupcakes”!!
@mikibell
Oh, fun!
@mikibell
those are fantastic. Never thought about making headbands. Every time I see stuff made on one of the embroidery machines it makes me want to get one and play with it.
There is a sewing place opening soon a block from my house. I wonder if they will have…… No. I do not have room or time for another project. I must be strong.
@mikibell they all turned out so great! How are you liking it so far?