Xyron Design Team Call

Xyron is having a design team call!  I am applying, especially since Xyron has been a huge part of my crafting for at least fifteen years.  My entire life I have been an over-gluer.  When I craft I want to ensure that my layers stay stuck.  Before I found Xyron, I used an adhesive runner...only to have my card layers and photo mats separate after just one year.  My friend Mindi told me about the Xyron 850, showed me her machine, and I purchased my own Xyron 850 in the late 1990s.  I now also own a Xyron 900 and a Xyron 250.  And Xyron adhesive is super strong!

Summer school is nearing an end so I wanted to create a thank you card for my daughter's special ed teacher.  I used my Xyron machines for the layers on this card (except for the chalkboard chipboard frame.)  I used the double-sided tape on the May Arts ribbon and the adhesive dots for the chipboard frame.  I applied a few layers of adhesive dots to hold the frayed twine behind the button and to also adhere the twine-backed-button to the chipboard frame.  My sentiment is an SRM sticker.

 My other daughter probably would not have survived sixth grade this past year without the use of my Xyron machines.  She made quite a few posters and hundreds of vocabulary flash cards using my Xyron machines.  This is my favorite poster she created for an English research project...100% Xyron!  Here is a closer look:

 Lastly, my grandma's 92nd birthday is this Saturday, August 2nd.  I had to create a birthday card for her using her sewing machine that she let me have a few years ago:

  The jar stamp and die cut are by Stampin' Up.  I used my Xyron for both the jar and the base layer.  I used glossy accents on the jar; the Xyron is necessary when applying heavy glossy accents.  I have had paper buckle even when using a lot of adhesive...except with my Xyron. The Xyron is also terrific for holding back those pesky sewing machine threads safely behind the base layer.

If you are also a Xyron-enthusiast, I urge you to apply for this design team call.  I only endorse quality products and I honestly and whole-heartedly support Xyron.  Wish me luck!

Happy Wednesday!

Shaped Card with an Animal challenge

It's time to Cut It Up again and this fortnight we are looking for shape cards and you must include an animal on your card.  This was the perfect challenge for me to create a thank you card for my daughter's therapeutic riding instructor.

Enter your shape card with an animal...remember to also use a die cut somewhere on your creation...and you could win a $10 gift card to Kadoodle Bug Designs!

Supplies:
Die cuts:  Cricut "Birthday Bash" p.38 (card shape cut @ 4 1/4"); Cricut "Create A Critter" p. 59 (horse cut @ 2"); Stampin' Up! "Bitty Banners" Framelit (thank you banner)
paper:  Echo Park "Hello Summer" 6x6; white card stock
adhesive:  Xyron
border punch:  Martha Stewart (fence)

I am anxious to see your shape card with an animal and at least one die cut creation...link up at Cut It Up.  You have until August 6th to play along.  I hope you win!
Happy Friday!

Under the Sea challenge at Cut It Up

 It's time to Cut It Up again and this time we are going "Under the Sea."  Now is the song from Disney's "The Little Mermaid" stuck in your head?  (You're welcome!)

Once again we have two sponsors each with a prize to be won:

As Cute as a Button

$20 Coupon Code

AND

Die-versions

$15 gift card

Supplies:

die cuts:  Cricut "Create A Critter" p.43

paper:  Echo Park "Paradise Beach"; white card stock
adhesive:  Xyron
sentiment stamp:  My Pink Stamper "Punny-licious"

Now let's see how this challenge inspires you.  Please remember to include a die cut on your project and link up at Cut It Up by July 23rd.

Happy Friday!

The SRM Challenge: July 4th

 We are changing things up at The SRM Challenge blog and making four ways to have fun with SRM products.  Our monthly challenge now has four different options:

Choose any one, two, three, or all four of the challenges to jump start your inspiration.

I was inspired by the "inspiration challenge."  I loved the basket weave background, the black/grey and pop of red.  I perused my SRM stash and chose the thank you sticker sentiment and placed it on top of a bright blank red polka dot label sticker.  To imitate the grey flip flop straps, I made a bow from stone twine.

My lattice-embossed layer is Tim Holtz/Core-dinations kraft-core "Nostalgic collection" card stock that I embossed and sanded down to mimic the basket weave in the challenge.  I used my xyron for all of my layering.

Which challenge jump starts your mojo?  Just remember to add at least one SRM product to your creation and link up one, two, three, or four times at The SRM Challenge.  I hope to see you there!