Deena Rutter

My Mind's Eye American Made: Storybook Cricut Cartridge USA frame

Hi guys! It's Tiffany, back with another quick 4th of July paper craft idea! Today I made a super quick and easy USA frame. Just in time for America's big day! I purchased my mini wreaths at Hobby Lobby a few months back for a Spring project I was working on and had a few left. They are super cheap. I think it was about $1 for 6 or so. I started by cutting out my selected American Made paper using Deena's Storybook cricut Cartridge. Perfect. I then used Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to give my cut out letters a little "puff". Have you used this stuff yet? AWESOME!

Let them dry and then glue them to your mini wreaths. Then I got a white frame (I spray painted this one!), and took out my glass insert. I glued my paper to the back panel and then glued my little letter wreaths (in the right order!!) to my paper!! Easy. perfect.

And adds the perfect little American Made touch.

D-cut Crown Sneak Peek

Look what is available tomorrow at Design House Digital, crown cutting files! In the style of my popular Storybook Cricut Cartridge .  These crowns make great crowns for princess parties, cake sashes, and page borders.  Enter on my facebook fan page for a chance to win!

Storybook Cricut Cartridge: Summer frames

Oh how I love the summertime. Hey! It's Tiffany from the Creative Team. Since we are officially into the first day of summer I want to make sure I'm ready... with my decor.Today, we are going to make a Summer shelf banner using the Storybook Cricut Cartridge.

Materials needed for Today's project:

• 6 -8 frames (6 is essential, i used 2 extra for decorative frames.) I had a few and I got the rest from the thrift store and dollar stores for about $1 a piece. You can see they aren't the cutest frames and don't match at all. I like the different textures and sizes. Plus I'm going to paint them all the same color.
• Spray paint- I used Krylon, brushed metallic Black satin paint. It has beautiful goldish specks and just looks awesome, especially in that WARM summer sun.
• White Vinyl. I cut mine using my Cricut Expression and used my favorite Storybook cartridge.
• Window cleaner (to polish off those finger prints before applying vinyl
• Hot glue/ glue gun.

 

Start out by removing the glass and back stands from your frames. Do whatever you need to make matching them up later easier for you. Lay all of your frames face up on newspaper or a drop cloth and spray pain them all completely. Let dry. (Doesn't take too long. )

I took my frames back inside and folded back the metal tabs (that hold in the glass/photo/backing) so they lay flat against the back of the frame.

I polished my glass pieces, one frame at a time and placed the glass in the matching frame. I used a steady bead of hot glue filling in any gaps between the glass and frame, and trying to match them up as much as possible. I set out all of my frames and then used my Storybook Cricut Cartridge using different elements of the cartridge: shadow, different styles, and a few different sizes.  Then I places the vinyl on each of the frames I chose for the letter. I mixed it up with some larger frames, turning some sideways and different frame textures.

I wanted one more frame with a flower element (since I'm currently flowers obsessed.) I found the tutorial here.  I hot glued the paper flower to the glass of a frame.

I think I might just be onto something and do this for every season and holiday?

Happy Summer!!

So Sophie: Repurposed clock

Hi There! It's Tiffany from the Creative Team. Today I'm going to show you one of my latest projects with one of my new FAVORITE lines from My Mind's Eye - So Sophie. love. Don't have it yet? Don't walk. run. This line is just so cute, but so fancy. I just love it.

Let's get started, shall we?

Supplies Needed:

• Clock with a large flat exterior
  
• Exacto Knife
• So Sophie paper (2 coordinating sheets. I used Savvy- "Anything for you"-Helpful Houndstooth, and Savvy-"In Love"-Splendid Surroundings.)
• Modge Podge (I used the Hard Coat. The result has a shiny finish)
• Pen
• String
• Brown Vinyl or Stickers (12, 3,6,9)
• Ink
• Scissors
• A wall that needs to be beautified!

You see- I've had this clock since my freshman year of college. I remember buying it at Target and thinking how grown up I was, furnishing my apartment. Well, ten years later, the clock still works, but I wasn't still digging it. No worries... So Sophie to my rescue. The only hard part was trying to decide what papers to use.

I started by taking the clock apart. I placed the numbered circle in the center (or as close to center) of my paper and used my exacto knife to cut out the inside circle. Remember how I should have kept my compass from high school math? well, the next best thing in this case was to take a piece of string to my desk and my pen.  

I did the same thing with a coordinating piece, but cut the outside edge smaller. Then I glued them together, inking the edges. This helps me when I'm cutting with scissors. (still working on cutting completely straight) Plus it gives it a shabby-chic look.

Now for the Modge podge. love. I wasn't too worried about the outside edge since it dries clear. Hooray!

I decided that for my number I would use brown Vinyl and cut them from Deena's Storybook cartridge. Easy-peasy. I feel like a kid on Christmas morning waiting for my cricut to cut. I'm still amazed.  If you don't have a Cricut, you could use some cute stickers, chipboard, free hand or rubons for your numbers. 
I placed my numbers and mounted my clock back together. Too bad I couldn't get inside the clock face to spruce it up a little bit. I could have used the back-side of one of my center circles, since they match so perfectly.
No worries. How about some rosettes? I found a tutorial here .
I glued them into place and used a strip of scrap paper to make a little bow, inking all my edges.
...and there you have it.

Free SVG Cutting File - Royal Banner #mtc #cricut

Here is a little royal banner I made using my free svg file, as well as my Storybook font to spell BABY - shorty version. 

If you enjoy my freebies and would like to be updated on the goings-on at my blog, click the "like" button on the right side bar, and happenings will go right into your facebook updates! Easy.

 

Storybook Party Ideas #cricut

Here are a few fun ideas for a Princess Party using Storybook and my Freebie Crown.  My great + talented friend, Courtney, planned this party for her 3 year old daughter.  Fabulous, huh?

She cut 3 large Storybook 3's out of cardstock and hung by ribbon above the activity table.

These party bags were made with a white lunch sack cut down and ready to hold the party favors.  Decorative frame and lettering are from Storybook.  The crown is from the Celebrations cartridge. 

She added ribbon for the handles and adorned with jeweled stickers.

Kate even got a chance to wear her crown.

Smattering Giveaway Winners Announced

Thank you to all who entered my smattering of a giveaway.  We will have to do that again soon.  I was so flattered by all of your kind comments.

Now on to the LUCKY WINNERS:

The Grand Prize winner was Megan!  Megan won my Storybook Cartridge, My Mind's Eye Paper, + Riley Blake Wheels Fabric.

Megan said:

I LOVE your designs ... so beautiful and inspirational!!

Runner-ups all will receive their choice of My Mind's Eye Paper or Fabric + a $10 coupon to my DHD digi-shop.

Tammy said:

I am a newbie to your site....What an awesome giveaway....going to browse around. Will post this on my site as well. Have a super week! smiles...Tammy  

Katie said:

I love how colorful your kits are. They make me happy!

Sue said:

Deena, what a great giveaway! Would love the Storybook cartridge, but I'm also a paper hog! VBG Thanks for the opportunity.

Free SVG Cutting File - Princess Crown #mtc #cricut

©2010 Deena Rutter  For non-commercial use only.  Altering the file does not void the copyright. Please do not share the 4shared link.  Please link directly to this blog.  Thank you for understanding.

Here is a little extension of my cricut cartridge Storybook.  Here is a little crown I made (2 pieces connected).  This would be so cute at the base of a cake as a cake sash.  I am sure you can come up with lots more creative-ness, too. 

*Don't forget to enter my "Smattering of a Giveaway" - still just a few days left to enter!!  Scroll down below to see how to enter!!

Deena Rutter Giveaway + Free SVG File #cricut #scrapbook #digiscrap

**giveaway closed.

Grand Prize: Everything you see here!  Cricut Storybook Cartridge, MME Paper Collection Smatterings, and Fat Quartered Wheels Fabric.

3 Runner-Ups will receive their choice of MME Paper Collection Smattering or Fabric, plus a $10 coupon to use at my Design House Digital Shop.

There are so many ways to win! Each item below will have your name placed into the drawing.  If you already "Follow me" leave me a message as a reminder!

1. Make a comment below. I’d love to hear what you think of my collections. 

2.  “Tweet” about this giveaway and the "Smattering of a Giveaway" by Deena Rutter” on Twitter.

3. “Follow me” on Twitter and let me know you are.

4. Become my “FAN” on Facebook,  or let me know you are already a fan on my facebook page. 

5. Share my post on your Facebook page with your friends.

6. Blog about the giveaway and comment with the link.

7. "Follow my blog"

Entries must be received by April 13th at 10am.

Won't this be fun?

Here is a little bonus cutting file to wet your whistle.

So, I have 4 children.  The 3 oldest (and just keep getting older) are all boys.  No more cutesy little gift- giving or getting for them.

Here is a perfect way to give a gift card or cash to your favorite guy. Actually, this works for anyone - just pick your paper accordingly!

For this easy project I downloaded the free svg cutting file. Then I used my new paper line, So Sophie, that I designed with Jen Allyson for My Mind's Eye. Don't be tricked into thinking this an all girlie line.  It is feminine, but with so many great patterns and colors perfect for a masculine touch...especially the CHARMING color scheme.

BY THE WAY....don't forget to get in the running for my SMATTERING OF A GIVEAWAY right here.

©2010 Deena Rutter  For non-commercial use only.  Altering the file does not void the copyright. Please do not share the 4shared link.  Please link directly to this blog.  Thank you for understanding.

The Giver + {freebie}

I don't have to look far to find giving people in my life....especially this GIVER, Tifiny Reed.  The 50 steps between my home and Tifiny's is a well trodden path. We share ideas, food, stories, laughter, and tears.  On most afternoons once the homework is done, we share children as well.  Tifiny is one of the most organized people I know. And what she does with the time she frees up from being so organized benefits everyone she comes across.

Tifiny's creative outlet is cooking and making EVERYTHING FUN for her family and friends. She plans a week or a month ahead with her dinner menu and makes sure she has everything on hand.  If you are in need, you can count on a scrumptious dinner from Tifiny.  She has been known to take dinner to others at least 4 times a month! 

Tifiny passes her love of serving and cooking onto her children by making cooking time fun.  They turn the music up and start creating.  Her son was the only scout in his pack that knew how to crack an egg the right way.  If you knew Tifiny's children, you would know they are learning from her example, for they are turning into little givers themselves.

Her five lucky children will never feel deprived of holiday traditions.  Each holiday has a unique twist in the Reed home.  You can find pink pancakes on Valentine's Day, green milk and gold coins from the leprechaun on St. Patrick's Day, a neighboorhood breakfast cookout on the first day of school, and don't even get me started on Christmas time.

Tifiny inspires me to be a more giving mother and a more thoughtful friend. She is a steady force of courage and conviction.

Now it's my turn to give!  Here is an easy to make Valentine bag.  You would think I would want to be more creative with my children's valentine boxes for school, but I prefer simple and cute for this holiday.  I will let Jack make his own cardboard-duct-tape-valentine-holding-platypus...

 

We used a small handled kraft bag (5 1/4 x 3 1/4” x 8 3/8”), the free svg file download bag topper, my cricut storybook cartridge (letter T), oh darling cutting file (in the $1 section of dhd in February), printed paper from the Oh Darling Collection at dhd, and ribbon. Embellish this bag and watch the Valentines start to pour in!