Author Archives: deb_m

About deb_m

By day, a teacher. By night, a geeky crafter. I have one hubby, 2 kids, and 4 dogs. I like to take pictures and like it even more when they don't suck. I use a KNK Maxx 24" machine, a Zing, and a Cameo.

You can’t buy love

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…but you can rescue it.

I’m all about keeping it real so I’m going to show you my failure. But first, I’m going to show you what I finally ended up with:

I ended up using some of the 12×12 chipboard from KNK USA and gluing some print paper I had and inked the edges. Then I cut the quote out in white vinyl and stuck it on.

Easy, Quick and fun.

Now for the failure:

I cut the image out and reverse weeded it and then stuck it on 8×8 canvas. I used acrylic paint and a foam brush and dabbed the paint on. when I peeled the vinyl off, I was left with this. I was ready to cry because it took me forever and what was in my mind was definitely not what I created.

I’m not sure what I did wrong, but I was very disappointed that it didn’t work.

Any suggestions, please let me know. I’ll have to go to my good friend Google and see what she says (yes. Google is a girl in my mind!)

Machine/Software Used:

KNK Zing, red blade, vinyl settings

SCAL 5/Macbook Pro

Materials

8×8 canvas

paint – acrylic

vinyl (from my Dad’s stash… it was probably old and maybe didn’t stick well.)

12×12 chipboard cut into 8×8

Thank a Teacher

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I apologize for being late. I’ve been sick for three days. Finally seem to be on the mend so I was able to get into my craft room.

I know. I did a teacher thank you card last month. But then my favorite “go to” site www.lovesvg.com posted this design and I knew I had to use it.

I cut it out in red and green vinyl and reverse weeded it (and even used the hearts! It was easy, quick and done in no time at all. That’s my kind of card. These are 4.25 x 5.5 cards. I’m thinking I need to give one to my substitute today. Apparently my fish tank picked today of all days to overflow.

Machine/Software Used

Zing: red blade, vinyl setting; SCAL 5

Materials

red vinyl, green vinyl, card stock (white 60#, kraft 120#).

Many Thanks

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You can never have too many thank you cards, right?

I needed some cards and I needed them quick. I’m a teacher and I am always needing thank you cards. I saw this design at www.lovesvg.com and I knew it would make a perfect card. The problem is, it needed four different colors. I’m starting to use vinyl a whole lot more on my cards. It’s easier to weed and it’s easier to stick and a whole lot less messy. I am sick of seeing my glue marks all over my cards. The vinyl just looks and cuts cleaner.

Anyway, I realized I didn’t have any brown or red vinyl and so I thought, what if I just used markers and colorthe vinyl the colors I wanted it to be? Well, guess what? It works. And it looks pretty good. I used paint pens, the ones that you use for rocks or other surfaces and I used matte white vinyl. I’m not sure if it would work as well on shiny vinyl, but hey, I wasn’t sure this would work and it did.

I did learn it is easier to color after you weed because you can see the image better and you can sort of ink the sides of the cut pieces so you don’t see white after you weed. I did it both ways and this way was clearly better. You do have to wait a bit for the ink to dry and I even thought about giving it a little spray with acrylic to make sure the color sets. I didn’t for these cards, I’ve been rubbing my fingers all over it and none is coming off.

Anyway, I’m sure someone out there has thought of this idea, but it sure worked for me in a pinch today!

Materials

110# cardstock for card base, matte white vinyl and paint pens (I got these off Amazon).

Machine

Zing with SCAL: used vinyl project setting

red blade

Our family has expanded by four paws

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Hello. I think I’ve mentioned this, but last June, my daughter and I started fostering kittens for the San Diego Humane Society. Over the months, we fostered 22 kittens. Unfortunately, two passed away, but it was a good feeling that we were able to help 20 kittens find their homes.

The day after Christmas, there were 5 puppies available. I had never fostered puppies, but decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, we lost one the first night and the rest were not doing so well. We got them on antibiotics and well… let’s say that these guys have thrived. They were nearly a week old when I got them, eyes closed and had to be bottle fed every three hours, kept warm and had to be stimulated to go to the bathroom.

Tomorrow they go get spayed and neutered and then go to their forever homes. I found them all homes, so I will get to visit and get updates. And well, one is going to stay with us.

My daughter started an Instagram account (@sdfostermoms) if you want to see Lucy’s sister and brothers (Sally, Charlie Brown and Linus)

and the kittens we fostered.

So I designed this little sign to use for our “little announcement.” I kind of messed up because the sign turned out blurry in the picture, but I’m an amateur, so still learning.

I used SCAL 5 and my mac. Hooked up the Zing-a-ling and it was so easy! I just used the “vinyl wall decal” setting. Unfortunately, I cannot get my KNK Maxx 24 to work with SCAL. I hope to fix that soon, otherwise it has just become a very big paper weight because I no longer have a PC. I may have to upgrade Parallels, but I’m hoping to get it to work.

I actually designed this file, looking at some ideas I found on the Internet. It’s a SCAL 5 file. Please use it for personal use only. I used Kimberly Geiswein fonts, so I believe you have to buy a commercial license if you would like to use her fonts for things you sell.

I cut it out with white vinyl. It fits on 8 1/2 x 11 paper (I used black chalkboard paper) and then mounted it on a 9 1/2 x 12 piece of chipboard.

Machine/Settings

Zing; SCAL 5, vinyl wall decal settings

djm_ourfamilyhasexpandedbyfourpaws.scut5

 

Happy Birthday card

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This was probably one of the easiest cards I’ve made in a long time. I downloaded this FREE graphic from lovesvg.com and then printed out the balloon lines. I ended up using a different font for the Happy just because. I cut out the letters in different colors of cardstock and then mounted them with foam tape to give them a little bit of lift.

I think it’s very simple in design, but still is cool.

https://lovesvg.com/2018/12/happy_birthday_balloons_8228/

Machine used:

Zing; red blade, 10/10

Materials:

kraft paper for base

scrap card stock for the rest

printer for background.

 

PS… no pandas this month. Nancy has the panda-cuteness covered. Aren’t those cards adorable?