Get Enlightened!

For me, there is nothing more iconic to summer nights than fireflies and hanging lanterns. When I was a kid we spent a week each summer at a campground where hanging lights were strung from tent to tent. A single light bulb hung from the middle of our tent to lighten the little home for the week, and other than the occasional flashlight streaming from the path, glowing fireflies were the only other glimmer of light in the darkness each night. But in that darkness it was magical, because heat and bugs and even humidity all vanished as the quiet moan of a fan breezed across us as we slept. Oh, to be a kid again!

Well, I’m not a fan of outdoor living like I was as a kid, not even for a week at this age. However, we do have that same style of lights hanging across our porch, and when I look out each night I have happy memories from those summer weeks living in a tent when I was a kid.

I do love the honesty of the bare bulbs on that string of lights, but I thought it might be fun to liven things up a bit and adorn them with lanterns of my own design, for at least a few nights this summer.

This project is so simple that it can be done before nightfall, hanging, and lighting your porch. In order to make these lanterns you will only need one of the cone shapes from the Cut Flowers Accessories set on LD (I chose the slotted cone shape to allow for maximum light to be visible). The only other thing to complete this project will be assembled and bradded flowers to attach to each lantern. I made flowers from all of the petal sets from the Cut Flowers collection on LD.

I simply cut out as many lanterns as light bulbs, in a rainbow of colors. A bit of tape secured each cone where the two ends meet and slide together.

Next, I chose various colors and shapes of petals, attached them together with a tiny brad, made a small hole in each lantern and bradded a flower to each one. I didn’t even get the glue out for this project. :)

To hang the lanterns on the lights (the bulbs are approximately 1 and 1/2 inches in diameter, this set is from Target) I folded the tabs in at the top of each lantern and gently slid them over the bulbs. The tabs work as a cover over the bulb and the lantern dangles from it.

Here is a photo, below, of an assembled lantern from above to show the tabs covering the bulbs and holding the lantern in place.

I hope you have some wonderful memories of your childhood summers and are making new ones with your own family and friends. Just incase you are looking for one more thing to create new memories this summer, think about turning this project into a new one. Who knows, this might be just the splash of color missing in your evening skies and future memories. Enjoy and happy summer!

On a Pedestal

I’ve been wanting to share projects that will encourage you to get the Accessories Set from my Cut Flowers collection on LD because I love the possibilities of paper crafting with this set in conjunction with all of the flower sets. In fact I have a few project ideas to share that have nothing to do with the flowers. Ideas that will enlighten you, shall we say. :) More to come on that very soon.

To begin with, from the accessories set, you will find four discs with different patterned edges (each a different color) that have matching cone shapes from the accessories set. One is scalloped, one diamonds, one dots and one slits (for lack of a better word). All are shown as pedestals in the photos above.

Cut out both pieces (disc and matching cone). Assemble the cone so that the small slits at the center top point outward from the cone, like a megaphone with tabs going out at the top. This is necessary in order to glue the cone shape to the center of the disc to make the pedestal stand. Below is an example of how to assemble and then attach the two pieces. You might also want to find the center of the disc and dot it in order to see the center while lining up the base with the disc.

Once you have the pedestals assembled you can add the floral parts. I chose to make flowers from all of the Cut Flowers petal sets and attach them with tiny brads. I used tiny white cupcake liners and candy liners (for candy making) as the mini stands for each of the small, floral centerpieces. Below is a close up of the tiny cupcake (candy) liner with floral pieces carefully attached.

In the photo at top you will see all four pedestals, some with mini floral arrangements, and some with one larger floral centerpiece. If you would like the stand to be a bit more durable, you could add a smaller sized solid disc under (glued between) the top (disc) and base (cone). This will add some stability if you are using the pedestals for something heavier than paper flowers. I believe these pedestals could hold small cupcakes or an individual cupcake per stand. Use card stock or cover stock for the pedestals, or the heavies weight your machine can handle while still cutting intricate pieces.

Create your own arrangements with these pieces and before you know it others will be putting you on a pedestal with your amazing creations!

Deck the walls with rows of flowers

Think about decking the walls of your baby’s room, your girl’s bedroom door, or even your own studio walls by putting a name to the face.

I thought it would be a fun and easy task to play with a name, and play up the look of a little girl’s room with the Cut Flowers Alphabet Set on LD. This set contains the letters and their stencils within a scalloped oval to be used as individual letters or strands of garland. I chose to use both parts:

~ the letters for the name atop the growth chart (see photo below),

~ and the garland for the name, with flowers connecting each letter (see photo below).

In addition to the Cut Flowers Alphabet, I chose flower petals from all of the Cut Flowers petal sets as well as the Cut Flowers Vine set. The vine set was used on the growth chart and the flowers were used on both the growth chart and the hanging garland. All of the flowers were connected to their bases with tiny brads in coordinating colors with the flowers.

Above are a few close up shots of the growth chart to see how the flowers are built and positioned with the vines. I glued the vines to the chart first, then attached the flowers with the brads. You might want to also glue the base petals of the flowers to the chart for a better hold. Do all of this after you trim and assemble the growth chart.

If you would like to make the growth chart for your own little ones, you can download my free chart (in pinks or blues) by going to my U-Pick button at right and choosing GrowthChartPink1-4 (four 8.5 x 11 files total) or GrowthChartBlue1-4 (four 8.5 x 11 files total) and make these for the little people in you life. You can always use the blue growth chart with any of the other cut-it files from LD, because flowers might not appeal to the boys in your life, but trucks and sports always will. They have lots of cute art to choose from!

Above are samples of the free growth charts in pink and blue. You will need to download all four 8.5 x 11 sheets to print, trim and attach to make the 22"- 60" chart. My growth chart is nine inches wide and 38 inches high (in length it is a 22" to 60" ruler). You will find the free charts in four files for pink or four files for blue, so make sure you download all four parts; (they are numbered 1-4 on the files).

To get the Cut Flowers files for these projects, go to my Sheri’s Creations button at the top, right, or click here to go directly to my Cut Flowers collection on Lettering Delights. I think this project will grow on you if it hasn’t already, and besides, it has your name written all over it. :)

It’s in the bag, well, on it!

Time to share one of my favorite things about working with the Cut Flowers bundle from LD. This is my newest trick and I’m all about it. Think flocked flowers. And now think, humm . . . but how to flock the flowers, making them velvety soft?

I found this fun but practical handbag at an estate sale and have been looking for just the thing to dec-it-out and make is a one-of-a-kind carrying case.

Well, the idea came and the project followed. I have been using vintage, satin flocked ribbon (see photo above) with my Silhouette cutter and the results have been super cool. I simply stick the strips of ribbon to the cutting mat, satin side down, turn on the machine and watch lots-o-flocked-petals appear before my very eyes.

Next step is simple too, I sort and stack the petals to create flowers. Add some flocked leaves. Stitch the flowers together with sequins and seed beads. Sew them onto the bag to complete the 60's styling carrying tote of coolness. Okay, so the tweeded bag adds great texture against the velvety flowers and shimmering sequins. Lovin’ the gray texture against these throw-back colors of the late 50's. Hey, even the sequins are vintage to complete the older than thou and cooler than now look.

So, start thinking about the velvety softness of Cut Flowers. Get those files, crank up that cutting machine, and grab some florist ribbon (satin on back side and flocked on top side) to get in the groove with your 60's style deco-bag.

Above is a shot of the ribbon, to show you what I use for the flowers. I think this type of ribbon is still current and available. Below is a shot of the ribbon and paper cabinet that opens up my little creative world to texture and color each day! My wonderful husband’s handiwork is all about my studio (latest project~ribbon dowel in cupboard, below). He’s a  master at making my creative world a functioning factory for my work and play.

You can get the Cut Flowers bundle or individual Cut Flowers files at LD by clicking here, or go to my Sheri’s Creations button at top of blog. It’s in the bag, the cool, retro bag!

Costume Clubhouse eye candy

The costume kids are arriving early for Halloween, but don’t be tricked, think of them as a treat, maybe even eye candy, or better yet just candy! This year, the candy coating is thick with sweetness.

The Jolly Jabber, from the Fat Quarter Shop was kind enough to talk about the Costume Clubhouse collection and included a few fun facts about yours truly. You can go to their blog (here) to read the Q & A article. It will give a bit more insight into the creative process behind this collection. Thanks Jolly Jabber!

This halloween collection wouldn’t be complete without candy on the fabric scene. They parade around the bunting panel. They dance across ribbons on the clubhouse party print and create quite a scene trying to escape the acro-bats who try to sink their teeth into them on the scene panel.

In additon to candy these halloween fabrics wouldn’t be nearly as sweet without the original Costume Club kids, ghosts and bats. There are a few new club members, see if you can spot them, and of course new places for them to haunt, obviously the graveyard for one.

The Costume Clubhouse collection will be on display this weekend at the International Quilt Market, which just happens to be in my hometown, Kansas City. I will be checking in on the Costume Clubhouse kids at the Riley Blake Designs booth and make sure they aren’t misbehaving.

I would love to see any of you who might be coming to Spring Quilt Market on Friday, May 18 or Sunday, May 20. I’m planning on hanging around with my bats and buds at the RBD booth. Okay, so bats are not people, and buds are not the beginning bloom of a plant, you get that, right? :)