Sweet Cakes Album Tutorial

Isn't it fun when you can create the most versatile and personalized album for someone? The most fun celebrations always have cake!!! So why not make a completely decorated cake album to capture the memories of the event? 

This album features a double opening cover, ready to decorate with your favorite papers depicting the special event, then pile on the embellishments.  You can make it match the decor of your party!

The theme of the cake is always showcased with the cake topper, and this masterpiece is no exception! Here we have birthday candles, but you could have a name, graduation cap, numbers, Christmas tree, spooky haunted house, baby shower theme, bride and groom, new home, just ANYTHING!! This is the center photo tag, which fits into one of the pockets built in to the album. 

Every special event deserves a cake and a matching album :)

Capture your photos of the Easter egg hunt, and visits with the Easter Bunny, as well as everyone all dressed up in their Easter Bonnets, in this adorable version of the SWEET CAKES album.

The photo filled SWEET CAKES ALBUM tutorial is available for only $5.95!!

Download it today, and make one for every celebration♥

Valentine Banner

For Valentine's Day, what is more fun than an "I Love You banner".... and what better place to hang it than on your headboard?!

This project was featured as a hands on project in my "Cricut 202, What Does This Button Do?" class on UStream. Just click on the icon in the upper right corner of the blog, and you can see the recorded class there. If you are in my area, and would like to take a class in person, send me an email!

Use the SET PAPER SIZE Button to let Cricut know you have an 8 .5 x 11 inch paper on the mat. Set the AUTO FILL button to get (9) 2.5 inch hearts.

Our next exercise was to set the QUANTITY Button for 45 1.5 inch hearts. This 12 x 12 inch paper gave us 42 hearts, and told us that when we insert the next mat it would cut the remaining 3.

Next we cut tags using the simple method of hitting the tag key seven times (we needed eight, but had one from another cut).

We also cut eight tags using the SHADOW feature. Then the letters I LOVE YOU, also cut in red. (Sorry I forgot to take the individual photos, but you can see them in the finished project photo).

Ink the edges of the hearts.

Score and fold all of the 1.5 inch hearts, and take five for each fan fold layered heart.

Place glue on one side of the heart and layer another heart on top.

They will fan out to make an accordian or honeycomb type of center.

Keep layering until you have all five stacked into a fanned out heart. (It will be attached to the project below with hot glue.)

Using a glue dot, adhere the large heart behind your long banner ribbon. Then layer your 1.5 inch fanned out heart on top.

Use a pretty good amount of hot glue to secure the fanned out heart to the ribbon and big heart.

Add a gem below the fanned hearts, then tie the tags between the hearts to complete your project.

Have fun, and enjoy using all of the creative features of your Cricut!!

If you have questions, please leave a comment on my blog, or send me an email.

Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times is a series of seven boxes, of three different heights, designed to have interchangeable frames, which celebrate all occasions of the year.

Each box is cut from a 12x12 piece of .30 chipboard.

This shows the measurements for the largest box.  Begin with a 1/2 inch tab on the left, then mark at

2 1/2 inches, then 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/2 inches and 10 1/2 inches.  These marks are the same for all three box sizes.

Rotate so the top is at the left edge of your scoring board, and mark 1/2 inch, 2 1/2 inches, 7 1/2 inches, 9 1/2 inches, and 10 inches.  This is for the large 5 inch tall box.

For the middle size box:  mark 1/2 inch, 2 1/2 inches, 6 1/2 inches, 8 1/2 inches and 9 inches.

For the small box: mark 1/2 inch, 2 1/2 inches, 5 1/2 inches, 7 1/2 inches and 8 inches.

Cut out the box, and trim the 1/2 inch tabs as shown. 

Using a craft knife and a metal ruler, carefully score the marked lines, creating folding lines. 

Fold the box.  Add strong double sided tape to the tabs.  Close two of the tabs.

Add a few smooth stones to the box to weight it for home decor convenience, then close the last tab.

Wrap your box in paper of your choice.

Using metal flashing tape, which has been embossed with a design of your choice, wrap the outside edges of the box, creating a decorative edging.  This could also be done with punched paper, ribbon, or other decorative treatment, if desired.

Add a spot of adhesive backed hook and loop tape to the front of the box. 

Mats for the boxes are:

5" box = 4 1/2 x 2 1/2

4 " box = 3 1/2 x 2 1/2

3 " box = 2 1/2 x 2 1/2

inside mats are

4x2

3x2

2x2

Embellish and have fun!

Watch for lots of project ideas here throughout the year!!

Please come back and share what you have created!

Copyright BettyBrett  2011  All Rights Reserved

Bless You Box Tutorial

 So, when is a tissue box not a tissue box????

 When it's a BLESS YOU BOX!!!

 How about creating a gorgeous floral and fairy inspired BLESS YOU BOX, with a spray of roses on top?

You can have a unique opening, and rich, elegant papers....

 

... themes, like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles in the exact colors for a young man's room...

or the perfect pink for her room ♥ 

And don't forget decorating for the holidays, too!

Many more suggestions and ideas to come, as well as a

BLESS YOU BOX GALLERY!

Send me pictures of your Bless You Boxes, and I'll put them in the gallery!

The instructions, along with photographs and printables, is available now!

Check out the Recorded

BLESS YOU BOX Class
on my UStream Channel at UStream.tv/BettyBeeDesigns

 

Order your Complete Pictorial Tutorial Now!

BLESS YOU BOX TUTORIAL  $9.95

* For download instructions click here! 

Happy creating ~

Finger Puppets from Digital Images!

One of the most creative playthings for children is a puppet. It brings out their imagination, and allows them to develop their creativity from a very young age. It is the most basic of story telling, and evolves into very elaborate imaginative tales of wonderment and character development. The simplest of these are finger puppets. Today's Tuesday Tutorial will show how to print digital images from a Word Document, through your printer, onto fabric. Then these images are sewn into darling little puppets. Then turn an old picture frame into a Playhouse Theater for showing the next Speilberg's masterpieces!

Here's the video:



I hope you enjoyed the show, and will be checking out the Digital Delights images and creating some imaginative puppets for storytelling with your little people! (You might want to keep the video camera ready, because "Kids DO say the Darnedest Things")!
Happy creating ~
Betty

Celebration Station

Celebration Station is a desk or counter top sitting folio, created just for keeping all of the dates, lists, and pertinent information about birthdays, anniversaries, and other special occasions right at your fingertips.  Along with the information, it also has pockets for keeping stamps and cards ready to send to celebrate these very special people in your lives!

The Celebration Station is a 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 flip over folio that sits on an easel, so you can enjoy the beauty of the gorgeous papers that it is made from!  It also features four pages, and several functional pockets, as well as lists to help keep information about these important events in one central location.

The tutorial and printables only are $12.95

The complete kit, which includes:

36 Sheets of Designer Cardstock

12 Sheets of Solid Designer Cardstock

15 Sheets of 12 x 12 Cream Cardstock

40 Sheets of 8 1/2 x 11 Cream Cardstock

Binder Rings

48 Eyelets

Easel

12 Montly Tabs

12 page photo laden Tutorial

Three Printable Downloads

Only $49.95 plus shipping! 

 (US Shipping is included on PayPal button, but International Fees will be invoiced separately before shipping)

Suggest: Additional ATG Tape Option... 3 Rolls for $5.00 at no additional postage with kit purchase