52 reasons why I love him...

My boyfriend and I have been together for 12 years and this year I wanted to make him a valentines gift that showed him how much I loved him...52 reasons to be precise!

What You Need:

pack of cards

2 sheets of 12x12 of sturdy paper/thin card (or 4 A4 sheets)

pen or printer

scissors or a cutting machine

ring-binder

hole punch

string/twine

PVA glue

Step 1 - Record your reasons

It took a wee while for me to get started but one I started writing things down it was easy to come up with my reasons of love. I tried to keep a mix of funny and serious (as my boyfriend is all about the jokes), taking inspiration from

• their quirks
• things they bring out in you
• physical attraction
• in jokes
• things they do for others

I used Wunderlist to keep track of my list as you can download the app on your phone and access online so whenever I got a spark of inspiration, I could add it to my list.

Step 2 - Print/write them down

I have a Cricut Explore which is what I used to cut out my cards and write on them but if you don't have one you can always print them out on your computer or just handwrite. 

I cut my pieces of card to 1.5" x 2.5" as this fitted pretty well on the playing cards and it you are using your Cricut, then make sure you attach the text to the rectangle images before cutting so that the text is aligned.

Step 3 - Punch those cards

This is a bit tricky as the hole punch is just smaller than your average pack of cards so you need to be pretty precise to make sure you don't cut over the edge of the card.

Step 4 - Bind your cards

Taking your ring-binder, cut/rip your rings out the middle. I used a pair of needle nose pliers to help push it off the card.

I then cut out a piece of the ring-binder card that was slightly bigger than the pack of cards to use as the background, hole punching it and then tying the rings onto it so they are secure.

Alternatively if you want a ring-binder front and back then you could just leave the rings in the binder and cut it so that the whole binder is just slightly larger than the deck of cards, like a mini hardback book

Step 5 - Glue in your love

Open up the rings and put all your playing cards in so that the backs of the cards are facing up. Then glue each of your reasons on the cards, using one of the jokers as the front page with your title on it. Careful not to glue your cards together though!!!!

I'll be back,

2014 - What a Blast!!!!

New nephew, new tattoo, newly weds, painted tigers, joint birthdays, MOD photography, Hellfesting, TV premiers, baby showers, screaming in the middle of the street once I found out my friends are having twins, musical bingo, new hair, not saying goodbye at leaving parties, road trips, new sisters, bridesmaid for my sister from another mister, pirate parties, Marge Simpson hair, lots of punk gigs, geeking out, celebrating 12 years of love, Lady Gagaing with my maw, meeting baby Ella and toilet roll snowmen 

2014 you have rocked my socks off and there have been too many happy times to name them all but I want to thank all my friends and family for making this year so special.

I also want to thanks all of you guys for supporting me through my new crafty adventures

At the start of last year I made a new years resolution to learn a new craft every month and for once, I managed to stick to a resolution...ok so December is a bit of a cheat but I tried new techniques I hadn't previously used so I am still counting that as a win!

Now I know some months are a little light on tutorials at the moment. I have the photos ready to go and just need to start putting pen to paper, so I promise even though it's a new year there is still some of 2014 to appear on your screens.

I ended the year on a real high when a few of us at work got together to organise a "Make your own Christmas Bauble Lunch" to raise money for a local children's charity. We raised £180 which will also be matched by my day job company (Sky) to bring the total to £360. Not only did I make some new crafty friends in the office, but I'm over the moon that we could use our skills to help buy children, who would normally go without during the festive period, some Christmas gifts.

So what's in store for 2015, I hear you ask? 

Well you may remember my boyfriend and I started a crafty alphabet challenge but unfortunately, because of all of the weddings, baby showers and other party organising, we didn't have much time left over to give this our full attention.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about then here's the haps:
Basically we put each letter of the alphabet into a cup and whimsically pulled out a letter from the cup when we were bored. We would both create something beginning with letter and I would put them up on my site for you to see

So this year we are starting afresh, 26 letters and counting - who knows, it might even get competitive....

Anything else?

Well that would be telling wouldn't it! I have a few things in the pipeline which hopefully you will see more of this year but I'm not giving anything away yet

Thanks again my little beauties. You have kept my year full of joy and I'm hoping this is the start of something amazing!

I'll be back,

Cricut Projects

I'm getting into my Cricuting grove and I've made a few projects from the basic shapes to show you guys it's not as hard to make your own as you might think!

Now don't get me wrong, I'm up for buying their digital image packs but only if there are a lot of images in the pack I want - but when there is just that oooooone image you want, is it really worth that £30 price tag!?!? Well maybe if you are mass producing an item but not if you like to do lots of one of items like me.

So here you are you lucky ducks - not only do you not need to buy these images, you also don't need to make them from scratch, best of both worlds. Just download the files by clicking on the links below and then on the download button or arrow

To import them into your Cricut craft room, click on file, then open and you should see an import option at the bottom

I use Cricut Craft Room for my Cricut mini so if you use the same then please click on my large links above the images. However, for those using design space, I've also attempted to make an .svg vector file so you can import it as well, which is the small link below the image. Some of my files would not convert into .svg but I've done my best to support both.

I've worked hard on these images and I'm happy for you guys to use them for personal projects but

PLEASE NO NOT USE THEM FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS!

Get in contact by emailing me on craftalavista@gmail.com if you would like to use it for a commercial project and we can discuss

Nerd

Design Space File - nerd.svg

Diamonds

Design Space File -diamond.svg

Pop Up Box Card - Instructions & Templates (.ccr and .svg)

Superhero Face (SVG file ONLY!!!)

Ten Sided Yin Yang Globe

About to Pop Baby Shower Decorations

Cat

I have done this image in layers so that you can cut out on different coloured card

Design Space Files - cat.svg

The .svg file has the same shapes, just in black and white, so you can still put the shapes on different layers to cut out the correct colour

Superhero

I have done this image in layers so that you can cut out on different coloured card

Design Space Files - superhero.svg

The .svg doesn't have the same amount of detail but I think it still looks good in the black and white

Love Birds

Design Space Files - LoveBirds.svg

Penguins Mate for Life

Design Space Files - Penguins.svg 

(the eyes didn't appear on the .svg file but just take two small circles and put them in the eye positions)

Birthday

Design Space Files -birthday.svg

Bicycle

Design Space Files - bicycle.svg

Peacock

Wedding Image

Design Space Files - WeddingCake.svg

Rose

Design Space Files - petals.svg     leaves.svg

Printed Loveheart Bunting

I love lovehearts, so when I got my Cricut Machine and saw this design for this heart I knew I had to make something from it.

This tutorial will take you through the template you need, how to make the lino stamp and also how to create the bunting so its a bargain 3 for 1 tutorial!!! 

What you need:

Cricut Machine & Folk Arts Festival template (or craft knife if  you don't have a cricut)

Sticky vinyl

Lino

Lino cutting tool

Super glue

Off cut of wood

Black ink

Small sheet of glass (I used a photo frame)

Rolling pin

Lino brayer roller

Linen

Hessian

Sewing Machine

Step 1 - Cut out your template

Using the online Cricut cutting room you can either create your own template or purchase ready made ones. I bought the folksy one as it has a really lovely font and lots of cute images. I loaded up my black vinyl on the cutting board and set it to the vinyl recommended settings.

Depending on how old your cricut mat is, might mean that the picture starts pealing away while it's cutting - this won't cause an issue unless a lifted piece catches the cutting knife and starts dragging it around. If this happens be ready to press stop on your computer screen quickly.

Step 2 - Cut your lino stamp

I then took my cut out vinyl design and placed it on top of a piece of cutting lino, after peeling the protective backing off. Once your sticker is stuck to the lino you can begin to cut it using your lino cutting tools (For those in Scotland, I learned how to do this at Edinburgh contemporary crafts). Once finished, your just remove the vinyl and your stamp is ready to go. 

Step 3 - Mounting your stamp (optional)

As an extra step I mounted my stamp on a block of wood with super glue so that when I was rolling ink on it I knew it was always on a flat surface and off of the floor/table. This is a step you don't need if you have a protective surface under your stamp.

Step 4 - Cut out your bunting

Take your Linen material and cut out a flag shape, which is big enough to fit your stamp. Then take the Hessian material and cut the same flag shape but slightly larger so that it acts as a border. Leave a slightly larger border at the top so you can fold it over later

Repeat this step until you are happy with the length of your bunting

Step 5 - Stamp your image

Put a little ink onto your glass - I used an old photo frame I had lying around. Then take your Lino brayer roller and roll it in the ink before rolling it across the top of your stamp.

Place the linen material on top and then roll on top of it with a rolling pin or glass for an even finish.

Step 6 - Sew your bunting flags

Pin your linen flags to your larger Hessian counterparts and then sew round the edge of each pair to attach them together. Remember to leave that larger border gap at the top!

Step 7 - Create bunting

Turn your flags over and one but one start dewing them to your twine. To do this I placed the twine near the top of the flag before folding it over on top of the twine and then sew the material in place.

Step 8 - Hang your bunting

Happily hang your bunting for everyone to admire and be dead chuffed with yourself! I know I was :)

I'll be back,