Trying Something New

About a month ago I bought a new die cut machine, the Silhouette Cameo. I'd become intrigued with the many projects I was seeing using SVG files and started thinking seriously about expanding my abilities beyond what I could do with the Cricut.  After reading lots of good reviews on the Cameo I decided to take the plunge and buy one. There has been a bit of a learning curve for me with the software, but I am figuring things out and the more I use it, the more I like it. And it seems like everyday I learn of a new site to go to for files, a lot of them for free.
So, here is one of my first projects, a charger plate from Michael's that I decorated with vinyl. The cuts are  from Kim Bright at Creative Bling.

The Cameo cut the vinyl beautifully, even the small delicate pieces. I also added some yellow jewels to the flower centers. Gotta say, I'm really happy with this one!

In case you're wondering, no, I'm not giving up the Cricut. At this point I have way to much invested in it to do that, and besides, I like using the Gypsy to create and don't think I could give it up. I will say that I have become disenchanted with PC as a whole though and am especially unhappy with the lack of quality control in their products these last couple of years. My Imagine sits here unused because I am constantly fighting with calibration issues and it's just so frustrating  that I'd rather not use it than try to deal with it. Sad, because I really enjoyed using it when it worked right.
Anyway, just wanted to share my latest creation with my new machine. Hope you enjoy.
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Onsie with HTV

 What can I say, I really like working heat transfer vinyl! This time I made a onsie for a friend's newborn baby boy.

I saw this on a shirt in an online catalog and decided I had to use it. The Texas shape and word are from 50 States and the font is Mickey Font. If you haven't given HTV a try, you should. It's so fast and easy.
Both my daughters loved this design, so I guess I'll be making one for each of my grandsons too. Sorry about the picture. Another one of those times when I almost forgot to take a pic until I was wrapping it.
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50th Birthday Card

Let me start this post with a disclaimer. If you don't care for raunchy humor, you probably won't like the sentiment I put on the inside of this card.
I made this for one of our best friends who is going to celebrate a big birthday soon. I know he'll appreciate it, because I'm pretty sure it's how he feels!

My thought was to create an elegant looking card on the outside so that he would be that much more surprised when he opens it and reads it. The papers are from a Recollections stack called Regent Street and I like the classic look they have. The numbers and letters are from Billionaire and I used the Gypsy to weld the letters. The stopwatch is from Old West and the top note shape is from Art Philosophy. I added ribbon and a small buckle from my stash to complete the card.
And here's the inside sentiment:

It's really not too bad, but I know not everyone appreciates this type of humor. I can't wait to see my friend's face when he reads it, I know he'll get a kick out of it. The sentiment isn't my original idea, I actually saw it on a card I found online. It was just too perfect not to use!
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I Am One, another HTV shirt

Last week my youngest grandson, Felix, turned one.

 This is him. Isn't he a cutie pie? I know I'm a little biased, but it's hard not to be! Anyway, I made him a shirt to mark this momentous occasion and, like the one I made for his cousin Carter, I wanted it to be one he could wear more often than just on his birthday. The image and the font are from the Sesame Street Font cartridge.

While I'm at it, I'll go ahead and post the card I made for him too. The truck is from Boys Will be Boys. The star paper is from The Paper Studio and the blue paper is embossed with a folder from The Paper Studio.

Since my daughters were "kind" enough to have their kids just before and just after Christmas, I will now have a little break from the birthdays! Maybe I will actually get some Valentine's done.
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Heat Transfer Vinyl Shirt

After seeing lots of birthday shirts for kids, I decided to make Carter a T-shirt for his 4th birthday. I wanted one  that he could wear more often than just on his birthday so didn't want it to say "birthday boy" or anything like that. Since his favorite footwear these days are the cowboy boots he got for Christmas, I decided on this:

The design is made with heat transfer vinyl and was super easy. I made it in about 30 minutes the morning of his party. The cowboy cut is from the Cricut County Fair cartridge and the rest is the font from the Cupcake cartridge. I already had the vinyl and T-shirt on hand.
Carter's party was a few days before his birthday. I brought the shirt and asked if he would put it on so I could take a picture of him in it. He told me "no, I can't, because I'm not actually four yet"! What could I say, I just put the shirt on his bed and took the pictures. He did wear it on his birthday though, so I guess he likes it!
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Robot Birthday Card

My grandson Carter turned four today and I'm still a little bit in shock! He is growing up way too fast. His party was this past Saturday and he asked for a robot theme. This is the card I made him.

The robot image is from the Robotz Cricut cartridge and cut from shimmery grey paper. I added some small brads for buttons on his upper body. The gear is a stamp from Oriental Trading Co, heat embossed with opal silver lining by Clear Tops. The number four is a glitter Thickers sticker. It was originally white, but I colored it green with a marker. The background paper is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. I believe it is from the Robotz set. The ribbon on the top is some I've had forever and I put it on there because it is one of Carter's favorites. He has made several cards here with me and has used this ribbon on almost every one.
A week or so ago I joined in with a group of Circle members and pledged to use my stash for the next three months. The challenge is not to buy anything, except essentials, and use what we have. I'm happy to say everything on this card came from my stash!
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Altered Acrylic Frame

This was another gift I did for Christmas this year and I got the idea from the Splitcoast Stampers website. I made several for my mother and sisters in law and was in such a rush to get them sent out that I forgot to take pictures! Grrr! This is one that I made for my friend's mother and fortunately, I didn't have to mail it!

The frames are 5 X 7 and are from Dollar Tree. I cut a piece of paper to size and slid it inside the frame. The outer frame was created on the Gypsy by using a frame from Art Philosophy and welding a border image from Ribbons and Rosettes to the top. I added a piece of ribbon and lace to the top before adding the calendar, which I purchased here. The pen holder was created by folding a piece of 1/2" X 6" strip of paper, gluing it together leaving a loop on the end, then gluing it to the frame before adding the Post-It pad. I stamped the sentiment, from Hero Arts, on the top Post-It then adhered the pad to the frame with the ATG.  The flower pot image is from the Bloom Lite Cartridge. I used different images and made the outer frames slightly different on each of them. You'll have to take my word for it about how cute they all turned out!

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