Birthday Cake with Candles

DSS made me a cake with candles for my birthday and what a surprise it was!

She put it in a baker's cake box - cardboard with cellophane window.. Here is a photo showing the cake out of the box to show all the detail:

Nine slices --- once I untied the ribbon I could take each slice out and open it to reveal my gift:

I like yellow/vanilla cake so she shows that in the stripes which would be the cake layers:

Open each slice to show money and a chocolate treat!

Love the red ovals she used for the decorated frosting border on the cake slices:

Very labor intensive but certainly very appreciated! I will definitely have to find a location in the craft room to put this on display! A HUGE thank you to her for spending the time to make a delish birthday cake for me!!! LOVE IT!!  

3D Egg Carrier turned in a tote - -

www.scrapdivadesigns.com  just held her March product release for Easter/Spring projects ahead. I picked up both her new Butterfly Set of dies - 4 sized butterflies in that set - and I also picked up her 3D Egg Carrier die set. Here is a photo of the butterfly set:

and a photo of the 3D Egg Carrier die set:

The Egg Carrier die set has the main piece for the carrier front and back pieces, and a stitched piece to fit over the front and back pieces. It also has all the dies for the bow as well as the egg carrier tray that fits between the front and back die pieces. Before I ordered this die set other crafters were showing this die set completed and it holds two eggs or two items you would want to put in there. It was cute but I wanted to make a tote out of the carrier so I can use it as a tote and fill it with treat holders I am making for Easter. Here are photos of the first two totes I turned this carrier die set into:

Each of my totes were made differently. The top one I used a floral print for the tote front and back pieces but I also used a small printed card stock to line the inside of the tote. To make the insert for turning the carrier into a tote I made two different sizes. For the pink floral/kraft card stock tote I decided to measure the egg carrier dies that were meant to be used and I used that width for the width of my insert. I used that width and for the length I used 11" as the solid card stocks for my totes I was using was 8 1/2" x 11".  I scored this strip with the long side at the top of the scoreboard at 2 7/8" and again at 8 1/8". Turned this and scored each long side at 3/8". Creased the scored lines and clipped the creased lines and at the top and bottom flaps. Normally I would use tear and tape to assemble boxes or a tote but this time I used liquid glue. 

To assemble these two totes - for the pink floral tote I die cut out the two front/back die pieces using kraft card stock. Then I measured the window opening, allowing extra, for my clear acetate window sheet. I cut two pieces of the acetate for the windows on the totes. I only have plain acetate but I wanted a design on it so I layered the two pieces of cut acetate sheets and I ran them through the die cutting machine in an old dotted embossing folder. Once embossed I was ready to assemble the tote pieces. 

Putting the kraft tote front piece on the work table, right side up, I then put tear and tape on the acetate sheets on the edges and adhered those over the window openings on both the front and back tote pieces. I used the stitched tote die and cut out my printed card stock for both the front and back of the tote. With those cut out I used liquid glue and put the printed card stocks onto the tote pieces over the acetate windows. For this kraft tote I wanted to line the inside of the tote with a light pink floral print so I cut out a front/back base carrier/tote piece. With the acetate adhered to the front and back pieces I used liquid glue and put the light pink floral print over the back of the kraft piece with the acetate sheet in the window. Set these aside to dry. Die cut and sponged my bow pieces and assembled the bows and added the butterflies I had made last week to the center of the bow on the tote front. 

For the blue floral tote I decided I wanted the box insert to be narrower than the kraft box insert. I measured the tote pieces and decided my width I wanted the tote to be and I cut a piece of the blue solid card stock 2 3/4" x 11". Again scored it with long side at the top of the scoreboard at 2 7/8" and again at 8 1/8". Turned it and scored on each long side at 3/8". Creased the scored lines and clipped the folds to form the box/insert and I used liquid glue to put the tote front and back pieces onto the box/insert piece. Glued the sides to the tote front and back to form the box/insert. Again assembled the bow and added a butterfly to the center of the bow. 

Here is a photo to show the two totes next to each other so you can see the size difference of the box/insert pieces:

And another photo to show size difference:

I will say I think the 2 3/4" width of the box/insert piece works better with the 3D Egg Carrier die set and it still allows lots of room to add treats or treat holders. That is the size I used on the blue tote.  Here is a photo to show the insides of the totes:

The blue tote shows the blue card stock used for the front and back pieces of the tote and in this photo:

You can see the inside pink card stock that I used to line the front and back tote pieces. This is a very easy die set to assemble and lots of possibilities for decorating the front of them. They are sturdy and free standing so could be used as a treat holder table marker at a holiday table. Cute tote to be used for any holiday or just to hold a gift. Happy I was able to finally get this tote made!

Shopping Haul

 Yesterday I scored another shopping haul -- one is all "previously enjoyed" (used) items and the second was a quick trip to Hobby Lobby. Here are photos of items I scored of used items:

Altenew floral stamp sets with matching dies, a MemoryBox Santa die set, a Bat tag die from Simon Says Stamp, and second photo shows the Berry Basket die set and Bunny Ears die sets from The Stamp Market. In the bottom photo I have a bag of gems for $1 for the whole bag and three spools of the metallic threads which I will use when I make my Christmas rosettes for projects ahead. 

I am working on Easter projects in the craft room and just found out that all I have left of yellow glittered card stock is a few very small pieces. I made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby and picked up a couple sheets of the yellow and other colours of the glittered card stocks. Also picked up daisies and a package of small eggs to decorate some of my Easter projects. All Easter products were 40% off so I paid less for those but they will get used this year. Happy to have new and new-to-me additions for this craft room....

Parts Department - -

www.Scrapdivadesigns.com  just released her new products for March 2025. The first die set I ordered from this release is her 7 piece Butterfly Set of dies. This die set makes four different sizes of butterflies and all of them put texture on the card stocks when you die cut them. Here is a photo of this new die set:

Lots of her team members on YouTube have put out videos on their projects using her new release products so lots of inspiration there! I decided to dig through the stash and I used single sided and double sided card stocks, shimmer card stocks, plain and coloured vellum.  For the butterfly body/antennae pieces I used foiled card stocks, shimmer card stock, and scraps of gold poster board from the Dollar Tree. This is a small project so I was able to use a lot of printed card stock scraps for the butterflies. Here are all the pieces after I did my die cutting:

I did not want my butterflies to be all matchy, matchy so some of them I used two pieces and others I used three. All of my butterflies do have a layer of vellum -- some of the older vellum in my stash is very thin so when I tried to die cut the first butterfly layer from this vellum the vellum tore and it was hard to get it out of die. So I decided to try again -- I put the die, cut side up, on the die cut machine plate. Then I put a piece of the vellum, and then a piece of light weight white card stock. Put the top plate on this stack and ran it through the machine. This time the vellum and white card stock were cut together and the vellum did not tear and it was easily removed from the die:

Some of the crafters using this die set suggested you emboss a piece of vellum in an embossing folder and then cut out your butterfly so that it is embossed. But if you do it in that order the embossing design will get flattened while die cutting out the butterfly. So I cut out the vellum butterflies and then put those in an embossing folder and embossed them in the machine. This way the embossed design is raised on the vellum and more noticeable. With all pieces cut, embossed and ready to go I assembled all my butterflies. Once they were all assembled - some with tear and tape and others with liquid glue - I pulled out my little stash of premade flowers and used hot glue to add flowers to the center of the butterflies:

Once the flowers were added to the butterflies I pinched the wings towards the center to show the layers of these:

And some of the groups of them:

For my butterflies I used the two smaller dies. These butterflies will make nice embellishments, look nice on a tag, treat holder, etc..  Happy to be able to use more of the stash and the scrap printed card stocks. The next die I ordered is the next project I am working on - her 3D Egg Holder which I am making into a tote to hold treat holders and treats... Another cute product for Easter projects ahead! 

Butterfly Clothespins

Decided to make Butterfly Clothespin embellishments for Easter projects ahead using the glittered butterflies I made from inspiration from Happy Bird's Glitter Nest on YouTube. Here are the finished butterflies after assembly:

I looked through my stash and decided on using the smaller clothespins for my butterflies - here is a photo of the smaller clothespin next  to a regular clothespin to show the size:

I did not want to paint the clothespins but I did want to put something on them. I decided to look through the washi stash and that was the solution. I covered each clothespin with ModPodge and put on the washi tape. I did this to both the front and back of the clothespins. Once they were dried I put a second coat of the ModPodge over the washi tape to seal it. When they were dry I used the Beacon 3 in 1 glue and put a gold or silver jewelry bail at the bottom of each butterfly to hold a charm once dried. 

I put the little charms on each bail and closed those. Then, using the Beacon 3 in 1 glue, I put the butterflies onto the washi tape and set those aside to dry. Here are the butterflies on the clothespins with their bails and charms added:

Being on the clothespins I will be able to clip them on the handle of a gift bag or use them as a bag topper for treats, etc. Happy I have these finished and ready for use. Also - FYI - one of the washi tapes I had in my stash (in photo the hot pink butterfly is on that clothespin) is not the normal shiny tape. It is a fabric adhesive washi tape and I used the ModPodge on that as well as the Beacon 3 in 1 glue and both worked well with no problems. I knew not to use hot glue as that does not work with washi but I knew the Beacon glues would work. Happy all butterflies are adhered and in place!

Glittered Scrap Butterfly Embellishments

Trying to work on projects I have wanted to do for a long time but never got to - happy I did make the altered clipboards so for each season/holiday I can keep a list of things I want to make or info on where I saw them at etc and keep this notebook on the clipboards. The butterflies I made today I had seen made by "HappyBird'sGlitterNest" on Youtube and I was happy I would be able to use scraps and supplies I had on hand.... only thing I did not have was the EK Success Butterfly punch she had used in her video. When I saw her show this punch I decided to shop for it on Ebay and at that time I found a new punch still in the box so I bought that for this project. Here is a photo of that punch: 

 Here are my almost finished Glittered Scrap Butterfly Embellishments:

I have the bails to put on the bottom of the butterflies to hold a charm/gem but I am not sure what projects I will be adding these to yet so I will wait on adding the bails and charms. The how-to video for these glittered butterflies is easy to follow and she covers each step. I started with a solid piece of coloured card stock scrap and punched out two of the butterflies. Then I punched out two butterflies from scrap white card stock for the backs of the butterflies:

In the above photo you see the upper left set of butterfly front and back piece I cut off the antenna and the body piece at the bottom. On the lower right butterflies I left them as the punch punches them out. I used Beacon 3 in 1 glue and put the purple butterflies onto the white butterfly bases. With that done on all the butterflies I used a gold paint pen and a silver metallic marker for the antenna and the body pieces:

With the layers dried I added the gold and the silver to the butterflies. Did not take long for those to dry and I put the butterfly with the antenna on the work table. Folded the top butterfly that I had cut the antenna/body off of in half and that half crease mark I put some of the Beacon glue on that fold and put that on the bottom butterfly piece. Used reverse tweezers to hold those together while drying:

The Beacon glue does not take long to dry. For each of the butterflies I used crystals/gems from the stash and put those in the middle of the butterflies on the fold of the wings. Used the Beacon glue to adhere those. Once they were dried I pulled out three types of glitter from the stash - a fine glitter, a thicker one, and a larger one with holographic pieces in it. Put these all in a small jar with lid and shook that up so the glitters would mix together. Using a small craft paint brush and a scrap container with a small amount of the Deco Triple Thick I brushed the Triple Thick onto the front of the bottom layer of the butterfly and then did the same for the top - did one side at a time:

Here is a photo of the Triple Thick bottle:

And a photo of the jar of mixed glitter which I used a metal spoon to sprinkle it onto the butterflies:

Once both layers on one side of the butterflies was glittered I then did this same thing to the other side of each butterfly so that the whole butterfly had the glue/glitter on it at one time and I set them aside to dry:

In this photo from the side you can see the glitter on the lower base piece of the wings:

I made all my butterflies in an assembly line so that they would all be drying at the same time. These are very easy to make and the Triple Thick cleans up with water so it was easy clean up. As she used in her video she had a piece of wax paper under her butterflies while she was making them and adding the glitter - I only had a roll of the parchment paper from the Dollar Tree in the craft room so I used that and it made for easy clean up of the glitter and also I put the butterflies on this paper to dry. The glitter does not show up as shiny and sparkly on the camera but IRL they really sparkle.... They will make nice embellishments or additions to treat holders, etc...

The "HappyBird'sGlitterNest" on YouTube has a lot of beautiful projects on her channel and her blog -- ornaments, angels, flowers, butterflies, etc.. Happy I finally made these butterflies and it did not take long to put them together. Esp like I was able to use more of my card stock scraps and items I already have on hand in the craft room. For some of the butterflies I did not have the correct colour crystals/gems to use for the centers of the butterflies so I pulled out a roll of the crystals that have a holographic finish and I used that on a few of the butterflies -- again using Beacon 3 in 1 to add the crystals/gems to the centers of the butterflies:

I had bought this roll a long time ago at HobLob and it certainly adds sparkle and shine to the center of the butterflies:

The EK Success Butterfly punch makes a sizeable butterfly - approx 2" wide by 1 3/4" high so the glitter really brings the sparkle to them. Happy I saw her how-to video and happier I finally made these butterflies for my upcoming Easter projects! Very easy project and you can use any punch or craft die for your butterflies that you have in your stash. A big thanks to her for sharing her how-to's for this pretty butterfly!

Spellbinders Foiled Fall Card

Decided to make a card for Fall using one of the foiled/stenciled card fronts I recently hot foiled using the Spellbinders BetterPress Raining Pumpkins Plate. Here is a photo of the foiled piece after hot foiling and then after stenciled:

Wanted to use a pumpkin coloured card stock for the card base but with that colour and all the pumpkins on the stenciled piece it was too much. So I decided to add white to the card front to break this up - here is the finished card:

I cut and scored at the top the pumpkin coloured card stock base. Cut a piece of white card stock to the size I wanted for the card front. Put that on the card base using liquid glue. Trimmed the hot foiled pumpkin piece to the size I needed for the card front. For the greeting I used the "Happy Fall Sentiments" die set from Spellbinders:

For the shadow pieces behind the words I used scrap pumpkin card stock and for the words I used scrap gold poster board from the Dollar Tree. I used liquid glue and put the words onto the shadow pieces. Did not want to put them right onto the foiled/stenciled pumpkin piece so I decided to cut a piece of vellum to go behind the words. I cut the vellum longer than the width of the card front and wrapped it around the foiled/stenciled pumpkins piece to the back. Then put the foiled/stenciled card front onto the white card front using liquid glue. 

Now to add the words and shadow pieces -- did not want to glue them to the foiled/stenciled pumpkins so I pulled out a scrap piece of card stock and put that behind the vellum piece. Then I added liquid glue to the shadow/word pieces and put them on the vellum for the card front:

Removed the scrap card stock once the words were dried and here is the card again:

And a photo to show the poster board letters on the shadow pieces:

The foiled poster board also has a brushed gold finish to it so it goes well with the gold background on the card front. Closer to time to mail the card I will add a little bling to the card front for some sparkle.