Deena Rutter

Happy Christmas - Digital cutting files

Tiffany and Jeryn here, teaming up to showcase one of Deena's older collections: Happy Christmas - cutting files. Did you know there are 20 different cuts and overlays? One of the greatest things about this collection is all the different file types: SVG, AI, GSD, JPG, and PNG.  If you don't have a digital cutting machine, don't worry. This kit is still fantastic to use in printable/hybrid way!  Here are a couple of projects our creative team came up with.

For this hybrid Hot chocolate sleeve, I used THIS GIFTCARD freebie cutting file and made it just big enough for a hot cocoa packet. Then I added on the stocking file, a multi-layered cut, which is one of my favorites in the kit. I love the layers. Add some ribbon, and off you go. What a quick and easy project. It took me about an hour to complete ten of them, even with all the glue.

Pair it up with a cute little travel mug and it makes a perfect little gift.

Every year the kids and I make handmade ornaments for the tree. Some I will make myself and some the kids will make on their own (with my help, of course). Using the rectangle tag I created quick and easy tags for this year's ornaments. After cutting on the Cricut, I stamped it, added glitter, added washi tape- which BTW is THE best thing on earth and added twine. This project took probably less than 30 minutes to complete. Easy peasy!

Because this was quick and easy I decided to create a garland for the tree. I have been wanting to make a paper garland for the tree for some time now so this was a perfect opportunity. 

The circle tags were created with paper from Merry and Bright and textured cardstock glued to one side. String some twine through them and you've got garland! You can also hang one end from the ceiling along with other strands in different lengths for a pretty flowy look. 

We're fast approaching Christmas so we're going to take a few days off to enjoy the holiday with our families. We'll be back next week! Until then, Deena Rutter and the team wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

New Release Thursday: Holiday Essentials

It's New Release Thursday! For those of you following Deena's Facebook fan page you got a sneak peek of today's release. If you haven't liked Deena's FB page... well, what are you waiting for? You can find her here.

Today Deena brings you Holiday Essentials. This kit coordinates well with your December Daily album, your Project Life or just your everyday scrapbooking needs. These bits and pieces also go great with Be Merry. Check out what the CT created using both Holiday Essentials and Be Merry.

by Aria Andrus

by Jeryn Carlisi

by Arielle Gordon

by Tiffany Carter

by Tiffany Carter

Wow, that's some awesome eye candy right there! We also wanted to showcase a few other LOs created by our CT using Be Merry.

by Tiffany Carter

by Jenn Summers

by Arielle Gordon

Head over to Deena's shop at Design House Digital to pick up Holiday Essentials, 30% TODAY ONLY!

This is Jeryn, signing off till next time. 

Peace!

 

The BE MERRY collection + DIY Pendant Banner

Let the holiday cheer begin!  To celebrate my new digital release the BE MERRY COLLECTION, I am giving you this fun and easy DIY garland banner.

To download the file here: Download Drutter-Be Merry Banner.

Just download the file, print on white cardstock, cut it out, poke some holes, and string it up!  I used my tiny hole puncher plus my 1.25 inch circle punch.  The small pom pom garland was made with small felt balls bought on etsy.

Please enjoy this free download for your personal use only.  Also, be sure to check out my new Holiday Cards in the Be Merry collection.

Check out both sets of Holiday Photocards 1 & Holiday Photocards 2

Peace Love & Joy Art Print

Complete Be Merry Collection

DSD at Design House Digital Blog Hop & Tutorial

Time for another amazing blog hop with the designers at Design House Digital. We don't just give digital kits away for free, we give away fun designing advice as well!

 

In this tutorial I will show you how to create outlines for fonts and add embellishments, swirls, and manipulate your lettering.

To get started, open up a new file in Adobe Illustrator and type your wording.  I am adding swirls to my lettering, so I picked a font that is flowy and looks handwritten.  I found a font that is made up of swirls, picked a couple that would go well at the ends of some of my letters.

 

Then select the lettering and the swirls and right click.  Select "create outlines". 

You will notice that it is no longer a font, but a vector object.

 

I wanted my swirl to come naturally out of the "y", so I erased the edge.

I then selected my big swirl and moved it in a natural flowing spot.

For some balance, I selected and moved "girl" down below. 

Also for balance, I wanted to add a bigger swirl onto the edge of the first letter.  I erased it to the thick edge of the letter. In the same way, I erased the smaller swirl so just the right amount of a swirl end was coming off of the "B".

 

Select all and change the color using a color swatch of your choice.

TA-DAH!!!

Now, look what you can get for free just for following along on our blog hop!

DAYDREAM BELIEVER - A collaboration by Design House Digital.

 

We have made it easy to get this free kit...just collect the coupon code letters as you hop from blog to blog starting at the beginning.

My Letter is:

Now, head over to Erica Coombs blog to get some great info from her as well.

 

 

Last Chance for August Dollar Days

Final day to get my PURA VIDA digital collection for an absolute steal!...

Catch my PURA VIDA digital collection for $1 each kit before it is too late!

{inter} National Scrapbook Day 2012 - Blog Hop Freebie

This weekend is {inter} National Scrapbook Day, and to help you with your digital stash the Design House Digital designers are giving away this amazing collaboration kit, called Retrospect:

You can get this kit for free!  We have made it easier than getting it download by download...just collect the coupon code letters as you hop from blog to blog starting at the beginning.

Now for a quick tip:

MAKING A PATTERN BRUSH IN ILLUSTRATOR

Just for stopping by, I would like to share one of my most used tools in Illustrator...making dotted and scalloped shapes!  I am a "self-taught-project-by-project-Illustrator user", so when Carina Gardner shared this quick tip, I decided I had to pay it forward!  I did some crazy time consuming work to get a dotted or scalloped shape for many years, I can't let you do it too! 

 

First make a circle and keep it selected.

 

Make a new brush by selecting the "new brush" button, and selecting "new pattern brush". Click OK.

 

The pattern brush options will come up. Change your scale to what you would like.  I set this brush to scale - 25%, spacing - 100%. Click ok.

 

Your brush will appear in the brush pallette. Draw a circle without a fill.

 

With the new circle selected, click on the new circle brush in the brush palette.

(You can change the spacing and size by double-clicking it in the brush palette, and even see a

preview if the preview box is checked.)

 

I also made a half circle and did the same steps as before to make a scallop brush.

 

I wanted my scallops closer together, so my spacing came down to 15%.

 

Make another non-filled circle and keep it selected.

 

Select your half circle brush for a scallop edge.

 

 I made another circle and changed the size and spacing for the look I was going for.

 

This is how my decorative circle turned out.  I hope this helps you in your creativity.  The possibilities are pretty endless with this little tip!  I know it makes my work so much more fun!

 

 Now for something to WIN!:

STARS AND STRIPES FABRIC GIVEAWAY

I know it isn't paper, but wouldn't you love to win some of my Stars and Stripes fabric?  Perfect for a picnic quilt to spread out and make some memories to scrap about! 

 

Enter to win your pick of 5 different fat quarters from the Stars and Stripes Fabric Collection by commenting here and telling me the song that reminds you most of SUMMER!!!

You can enter again by becoming a liking the Deena Rutter facebook page and commenting that you did!

Entries must be in by May 7th, 11am MST.

 

Don't forget to grab your letter, you will need it to get the RETROSPECT kit for FREE!

If you are doing the DHD Layout Challenge, my challenge is to use the font league gothic in your layout.

Now, head over to Carey Bridges blog to get some great info from her as well:

Carey Bridges

 

 

Freebie: Clover SVG cutting file

 

Hey! It's Tiffany here with a quick and easy hybrid project just in time for St. Patty's day this weekend. I used paper from Deena's Jolly Holiday collection at Design House digital. Then I used this freebie clover from Deena. (click here to link)

I cut out three different sizes with three different papers and sewed them together in the center. I fluffed them a little to get the 3D effect I was wanting and glued them to my paper. Hopefully it will bring us some Luck this St. Patrick's day!

 

DHD: Homeward Bound - Pink - hybrid Birthday card

Hi, It's Tiffany. I wanted to show you a quick and beautiful birthday card set using Deena's newest digital kit, Homeward Bound - Pink Collection. The colors are so lovely and spring- like. I started by selecting my papers.

Then I used the D-cut Basic Envelope and Notecards set. I wanted something simple. Did you know that even if you don't have a digital cutting machine (i.e. Cricut, sillhouette, etc) you can still use these D-cut files? When you download the file there are a handfull of different options to use. I used the .png file type and made the notecard and envelope to use as a clipping mask, and then I cut them out by hand. (Sometimes I just go back to my old hybrid scrapbooking days!)

I formatted my page to be an 11x17 page to have a little more print area. It worked out great to get the full sized 4x6 size card and envelope on one sheet of paper.

I wanted a pretty design on the inside of the envelope, so I printed this beauty on the back.

after I had cut it out by hand, it was time to fold it. If you don't have a bone folder, or a scoring tool. Use the side of a countertop or table.

 

It works great.  Last thing, is glue down your edges. to make a cute little envelope with a beautiful lining... not to mention a great little birthday card. I'm so in love with flat cards right now, so the not card was my perfect option.

my Happy birthday and address window are both elements from the Homeward Bound - Pink collection elements availabe at Design House digital.

I hope my birthday girl is as excited about her pretty birthday card as I am about making it for her!! Happy Weekend!!

A Kind Word: Tissue Paper Heart tutorial

Hi There! Tiffany here, with a fun, quick little valentine's gift. I know, it's been ages since I've done a post here. Something about valentines day just makes me happy. 

Items used:

-Red Tissue paper

-computer/printer

-A Kind Word: Love edition part 2

-Sewing machine

-Valentine candy (I used M&Ms)

Today I mad some tissue paper hearts filled with my favorite treat (well, one of them!) Here's how I did it.  I found a great tutorial for printing on tissue paper. I'd seen a few tutorials around the web, but I liked having a video.  I didn't print any photos, but you get the idea.

I decided that I wanted my tissue paper red and the KIND WORD to be grey. I positioned them in photoshop the way I wanted and printed. If I'd known how easy it was to print on tissue paper, I would have done this earlier. Now my head is going crazy with things I can do with all this spare tissue paper.

Once printed, I cut apart my words and cut them into my hear shapes. Make sure to use 2 sheets of paper (one printed, and the other as the backing) so they will be the same size heart.

Once my hearts were the shape I wanted. I went to my sewing machine and stitched around the outside. This isn't the easiest paper to sew, but just go slowly and lift up your presser foot if you need to smooth out the paper.

Be sure to leave a big enough opening for your favorite treats. My first couple I sewed a little smaller that I would have wanted to. It was fine, I just had to fill them one. candy. at a time.

fill as full as you like. I don't get too crazy with this part, so I make sure I have room to sew the opening closed.

 

sew that little opening closed, and there you have it. So easy, and "SEW" cute. (get it?)

Yummy enough for your valentine.

thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a happy Valentines day. Stop by the shop and pick up your KIND WORD - love edition today!!

Owl Treat Box - Free Template

 

Click the picture above for your free template to make your little Valentines really HOOT!  Check out the Design House Digital blog for how I personalized my little owl friend.