Craft and Create with Cricut 

Today is a big day for many reasons. You will be treated to eight new craft projects using a Cricut to make flower themed crafts and decor from the Craft and Create with Cricut Challenge. Below you will find my quick 3D Art print, cut and draw project. Please be sure to read all the way to the end where you will find 7 more crafts you will certainly want to Pin to one of your Pinterest Boards.

Life can be crazy

During the last year my family suffered several severe health scares. We also celebrated engagements, our son's wedding and most recently our Godson was married in April. In Between the excitement shortly before Thanksgiving while ice skating  I suffered a broken leg. As I say my leg pirouetted and I did not causing a spiral fracture requiring surgery. Now I am still recovering from becoming a human tripod for several months but the prognosis is good. It is just a slower process than I expected. Which is why it is so important to stop and take in the beauty of the world around us. Last year my own personal journey of twist and turns is inspiration for this cute little 3D art print.

Supplies

1. Printer

2. Cricut Maker or Explorer

3. Shadow Box Frame 6 X 6 (opening for art)

4. Glue Pads 

5. 20 lbs. Copy Paper or Scrapbook Paper (remember it must fit in your printer

6. Cricut Spatula (recommend to prevent curling)

7. Light tack Mat from Cricut

Steps

After you gather your supplies place your paper in your printer. When your Cricut prompts you to print select your printer and then press print. 

The printing is complete simply place the paper in your upper left hand corner of the light grip mat. follow the prompts on your Cricut screen.

Next release the mat from your machine, using the spatula suggested gently lift the paper and fresh cut flowers in the Ball jar to set aside.

Now place a second piece of 20 lb copy paper on a light grip mat to draw. Be sure to add a fine print black pen to A for the draw portion, B should have a blade to cut out your background. again follow the prompts on your computer or tablet to complete this step. 

Remove the same way you did above.

Open frame back/

Place glue tabs on back off  Ball Jar Flowers.

Arrange the way you like.

Place your 3D Art in the frame, close the frame and enjoy. 

The frame I purchased is a Shadow Box Frame which comes in many sizes.

Love it, Pin It

I am thrilled to be back sharing projects you can create. This is a quick one which will be perfect for hostess, teachers, thank you, Mothers Day gifts or a cute spot of decor in your home. Please be sure to visit, Pin, and share the 7 additional creative bloggers who shared their talent with us today. Their links are conveniently listed directly below. 

Let Your Creative Spirit Dance,
Karen Marie

  Pinterest   Facebook  Twitter   Instagram   BlogLovin

How to make large paper flowers from Weekend Craft • DIY Wedding Rehearsal Bouquet with your Cricut from Happily Ever After, etc • Cherry Blossom Centerpiece from Sustain My Craft Habit • Create 3D Art with Print, Cut and Draw Features of Cricut from Dragonfly & Lily Pads • Beautiful Patterned Paper Flowers from Upright and Caffeinated • Embroidery Hoop Sign With Felt Flowers from Our Crafty Mom • Paper Flowers Made with Cricut from Create & Babble • How to Make an Easy Paper Daisy from Cookies Coffee and Crafts 

Mother of The Bride HTV Tote

Mother of  the Bride Tote

Today we are focusing on something we rarely do for ourselves. Self Care! How about Darlings? I know that is the last thing on my list most days. Truth be told when raising babies many of us were lucky to get a shower in by days end. Gross! It is real life. A group of bloggers are giving you Awesome ideas how to create Self Care made with Cricut projects. Jessica of the DIBY Club has gathered together a group of wildly creative souls. She is contributing the first link below this post with a pattern for pajama suit The Gabriella. I for one Love a lounging PJ Day,  These  projects would be great gifts or given to yourself too. I suggest two for me one for you idea. 💖After all we are promoting Self Care!!
Well gone are the days of babies crying at our house. Wedding number 2 Here We Come. We have two sons, but I never thought our family would be planning a second wedding in a year.
Taking the first son A & A wedding into account my take away from the beautiful day we added our first daughter to our family it is a blink of beauty, emotions and making sure the day was perfect for our kids and guests. For our
N & J wedding this Summer I thought a gift for her mother would be nice. Keeping your things organized along with the many parts of the moving puzzle of a wedding while looking graceful, calm and put together is no small feat.

DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

  Learn how to create this simple addition to your holiday decor in a minutes by adding a wrap to your candles for the holidays. These temporary wraps can be used for many different decor options. I designed these stars with my Cricut Explore Air 2. This darling decor project can be used for your home or any of your friends and family as candles always make wonderful gifts. 

 Lorene from Remodelaholic has lead a crew of talented bloggers to  give you 26 Creative Christmas project tutorials.

Be sure to hop over to these 26 amazing blogs, pin these 26 great tutorials to your Pinterest boards. The remaining 25 follow my holiday candle wrap tutorial

                                                 

Supplies for Candle Wrap

Glitter Paper 12 X12Measuring Tape
Candle (use candles with no flames)
 Removable Adhesive
Optional Cricut Machine or Scissors and Ruler (to make template)
Exact-o knife

Tutorial DIY Holiday Candle Wrap

Measure around the candle to determine the size wrap you need for your candle. Mine was 9.58' adding enough to slightly overlap completing the design. Then chose the height that is pleasing to your eye.  

 There are several holidays where stars are an appropriate decoration. Do you love interchanging decor items around the house? I 💓to swap decor from rooms to different houses. 

Weld the stars together by dragging your cursor across a horizontal line of stars with the tips of the the stars overlapping. When the stars are framed by a blue box hit the weld button with your cursor. Whala! 

Follow the steps on your computer screen to complete your cuts making sure to chose the Glitter Card stock. Place your material on your cricut mat carefully matching the edge to the lines on the mat. Place the mat on the Cricut then press the arrow to guide the mat in to the machine. Now that your ready wait for the start button to flash as well as your computer screen will prompt you.  

If you look closely you can see the stars are cut out and ready to be reverse weeded. Reverse weeded means you take the waste off first.

Be gentle as you remove the stars from the cutting mat. The DIY holiday candle wrap is delicate between the stars. Gently wrap the band of stars around the candle securing with removable adhesive.

 My small vignette of diy holiday candle wraps now grace my coffee table in the sun room. I am not ready to decorate for Christmas yet since I will be hosting six family members for a fun Thanksgiving visit. I am grateful my sister and brother in law host our Thanksgiving meals for the family.

I hope you love this quick project as much as I enjoyed creating this tutorial. If you 💓it Pin It!

Question of the day- What is your favorite Christmas decoration? 

Lets Get Social

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~ Let Your Creative Spirit Dance  ~ 

      

                                                     Karen Marie

Now darlin's don't forget you have 25 new friends to meet along with 26 home made tutorials to learn. These projects make great gifts for friends, teachers, coworkers, family or yourself. ⌣

                                                                                                                               

  

DIY Christmas Trees and Ornaments Wintry Silver Dollar Store Christmas Tree Decor | Remodelaholic Marbled Christmas Ornaments | Doodlecraft Scrap Wood Inlay Ornaments | The Ugly Duckling House Woodburned Wood Slice Ornaments | Sisters What Flocked Pine Cones | Practical and Pretty Abstract Monogram Ornaments | Domicile37 Concrete Christmas Ornaments | The Palette Muse Wood Slice Deer Ornaments | Our Crafty Mom Vintage Gumball Machine Ornaments | Beth Watson Design Studio Etched Glass Ornaments | Just Call Me Homegirl Unicorn Inspired Christmas Tree | The DIY Mommy Driftwood Reindeer Ornaments | Sustain My Craft Habit

The 40th Edition of TADA

Here is your text link if you use it:

40th Edition TADA! Thursdays

Mother's Day Hand Made Gift

 Hands can express so many emotions and feelings. This gift has been one of my favorite to make since the vision of a family holding hands brings me a warm cozy vibe. This tutorial of a Mother's Day hand made gift will provide you with the basic tools and ideas. This project came out so cool in less than 15 minutes excluding drying time. A young child would need help but a older children could handle this art/gift on their own.

Craft Lightning Valentine's Sands of Time

 Hello my Darlins', Today we are going to learn the steps to make you your own personalized cards at home for Valentine's Day. It is time for a Craft Lightning Post with my friends.

                               
Plus 40 more creative bloggers sharing crafts that will take you less than 15 minutes to make. There is more we are all providing a Free Printable for you.
  Let's get down to business on how to make your free Valentine's Day Card. Click here to and save to your computer as a Jpeg. File to start your card.

The Christmas Link-up Party Gifts

How are you doing with your holiday shopping? Have you found all the right gifts for your list? Darlins' I am bringing back a personalized gift I have made in the past. Making your Christmas list shortened by a gift you can make quickly but, look like you spent hours.

 Where did I find the acrylic ice tub? Home Goods and TJ Maxx.

How to Stencil an IceTub for Beverages

    I am so excited for my high school girlfriend and her family. They have made a "Big purchase" recently. They bought a house in the woods on a lake in Wisconsin. Growing up my girlfriend her family vacationed at the lake nearby their new home. She met her delightful hubby there while hanging out with the kids at the lake for Summer break. Their love story reminds me of the movie Dirty Dancing in a dreamy sort of way. <3
 I was digging deep for a great gift idea for celebrating the special time in her families life.This present needs to be as incredible as my friends who I consider chosen family. I purchased an acrylic ice tub in a rectangular shape from Home Goods. I have an added surprise for her hubby, but that will have to wait.
 My plan to create a template of their last name in LB Timely font to personalize the ice tub and the tray.

Red Solo Cup Ornaments

 

     

A DIY Stenciled Inspiration Board

    We look for inspiration everyday, in many places. I have read about achieving your goals, by placing them on a board, and looking at it daily. A place to organize your thoughts, where, what & how will you get to your next goal. The far off future goals too. Now you can see where the idea for the DIY stenciled inspiration board came for this post. In my Fall Mod Podge Pumpkin post I mentioned buying two carts of goodies at +Michaels Stores. I bought several framed cork boards that were on a great clearance sale.
To be honest I struggled with what would be the best approach to make this board inspiring. Then in a series of unrelated life circumstances, I was in Pompano Beach, FL. looking for document boxes with Prince Charming.The Office Depot was having a clearance sale because, they were moving. I found what I needed at the store 30% off and Gelio Gel pens for 50% off. Hmm. This would work on the cork board but, now what should I stencil?

I chose the inspirational phrase by Kolette Hall and +Silhouette America Flourish design.

Fall Mod Podge Pumpkins

   A recent Fall trip to our lake home was not providing the desirable effect. Cold, wind, and rain were dampening my mood. Do you remember my Mod Podge Miracle post?
 My Prince Charming had to drive to the store. Normally I would skip the grocery store to stay lakeside but, not today. He offered to go to our local +Michaels Stores with me, then I could find a creative outlet to brighten my gloomy day. Now a trip to a craft store with my guy, may not be every girls cup of tea but, I was happy to get to spend time with my busy man.

  I spotted an affordable, easy Fall craft project, on sale in the first aisle. This display of sale items led to Fall Mod Podge Pumpkins. We bought two items on our shopping trip paper pumpkins, and cocktail napkins for this craft. We all know I could never walk out of a craft store with two items. Two carts were full! Those items are for future posts. Hey! It was a Clearance Sale.  I already had the paint brush, and Mod Podge from previous projects. 

Fall Lovin October Silhouette Challenge

     This month the theme for the October Silhouette Challenge is Fall! I chose
 5 different shades of +Bazzill Basics Paper card stock: on sale for 59 cents at  +Michaels Stores
 One group of leaf shapes from the +Silhouette America Store:  99 cents.
 One wreath Stand from +Decor Steals:  (previous purchase)
 The leaves I wanted to cut out from my Silhouette library

Personalized Classroom Sign for the Teacher

     Today is a day of firsts for Dragonfly & Lily Pads. I can not thank you enough for taking your time to read what I have to share. While readers have been increasing, I am gaining confidence. This is the first blog post, I am writing as the owner of my domain name.                          www.dragonflyandlilypads,com\

  This week is the August Silhouette Challenge. I decided to make a personalized sign for a special teacher.  My brother teaches First Grade in a local school. Teaching children is something I have in common with my brother. Did you know that I have an Early Childhood Degree? 

  The theme for this month is" School". After I pondered this project, I settled on giving my brother label stickers. I called him to find out the size, and shape that would fit his needs. By the time we finished brainstorming together, we decided a classroom sign would be even better. He added, before he hung up that the school colors are blue & white, and the mascot is a dolphin. 

  I purchased this dolphin shape from +Silhouette America 

for 99 cents

"Favorite" Silhouette Challenge

   

  This "Favorite"Silhouette Challenge is one I have been waiting to share with you. I had this project waiting in the wings.  A family emergency kept me from completing my design for an earlier challenge this year.

   List of Supplies, 

Kindred Spirits

A Handmade Gift Exchange started by my friend Tori

 created a journey of Kindred Spirits.

 Two Karens, same country, different states, 

Married 10 and 30 years, Loving Husbands (different men) LOL. Two children all boys, SAHM one starting the other finished, 

both creative, and talented in the many ways.

Handmade Gift Exchange

 Tori was following our Facebook Group called the Silhouette Challenge. All of this handmade work swirling through the words of our members. Each post a person, pictures of a new project, with loads of encouragement below. Others asking for an opinion, which looks better?  Where do you get the best vinyl? Tricks to keep your machine running smoothly, and money savings tips too.

Tori Set up an event Handmade Gift Exchange asking people to participate, then she split us into pairs sent us our present partners, gave us ideas how to get to know each other, and of course a deadline for when the packages to ship.

Facebook

As you can see from above, is how I met my kindred spirit Karen. We have not met in person but, we have corresponded like modern day pen pals. 

Monogrammed Gifts

   I started making Monograms for gifts. I create them with my +Silhouette Cameo, scrapbook paper, glue, and my +Xyron Inc sticker machine. I Made them as gifts, which needed personal touches for each precious person. These were all given to my nieces, and nephews. Auntie Karen Marie had to add a special color, paper design, or some even have a nod to their nicknames.

All you need from the Silhouette portion of this project is right on this screen!

   Did you know that you can print paper from your Silhouette? I was searching for paper with bears and stopped by Archiver's Scrap booking Store. (Sad this Company is now Closed) I asked a clerk, she was a delightful person, who showed me how you simply type bear paper in the Silhouette Cameo search box and hit enter. A few second later there was a paper that was perfect for my bear project. When I arrived home I added it to my cart, and a few seconds later, I printed it out on my printer at home on card stock.

I think it came out very successful.

I wanted to show you here that I used a 6" x 6" frame on the top. When I was completing my gifts I ran out of those frames. Being a Creative Person, I adapted to what I had on hand, 9" x 9" frames for the remaining 3 frames. It does let me show you how you can get a different look by adding an additional background paper and foam tabs to lift the design off the page.
 Of course my plan all along? LOL

How many of you have a Big Family? Now I mean BIG!

   I love giving gifts to all my nieces and nephews but, when you have been blessed with enough to field more then two baseball or softball teams. Next mix in 3 great nieces, 6 great nephews, and an additional delivery is waiting to surprise us any day now?

Wow! I just realized we can field another team + One, I hope by now!

    Each color and style of Font has been chosen for the room colors, personality, and gender. As you look at this picture above, you will notice the Letter mans Font from the +Silhouette Stores in the middle.

1. Here you see how I set up my page. I add the 6" x 6" Square first because it gives me the area I will need to work.
2. Then I select the Monogram Letters. The Center is the last Initial which I make larger then the first and middle. In this instance K is the last  name initial, L is the first name, and M is the middle one.

 3. The final step to set up my monogram project is to make another layer to add depth. To do this I Copy my letters and paste to page  then line them up as shown. Move the individual letters and square off the page for a minute. Next I highlight and drag over the whole image in the bottom left of the screen and hit weld. Then you can drag it all back to be on one page again to save. Click save I used  the persons name, it was easiest for me, then I could use this template for each layer.

 Now to create the layers you will need a Background, Welded and Three separate initials.

This is where I choose to through in each personality of the recipient of the gift.

   Above is is an example of how I did this with the paper. First the background is paper with bug stickers for the nickname bug. Just lady bugs and fluttery bees did not fit this boy's personality but I needed bugs. The stickers worked out great and know my nephew has custom paper for his gift. I do wish I would have copied, and saved the paper with the bugs, as a image for future use though. Next time! In order to cut the layer I just moved the other items to the side and cut only the 6 x 6 inch section.

 Next I moved over the welded layer into the page and slid out the background.

   Layer number two is the welded layer, which I usually chose a subtle pattern. 

This one is grass because that is where bugs live! Pretty corny I know. Ha Ha! 

Then I move the welded section off to the side.

The final Layer is the individual letters. I like to make them all different paper patterns that compliment each other. I put one letter on at a time, because I am usually using small pieces of paper by now. I do not want the paper to get caught in the up machine.

 I know, I could attach them all lined perfectly but, this is just my preference, after a few mishaps.

 I glue the first and middle initials on then place the last initial on top to give it more importance.

 TaDa! Three of the many Monograms I have made.

 I have realized that I could have used no cut option on this project. I have learned that process since I made these for gifts. That is one of the great parts of life, we always have opportunities to keep learning. If you are wondering where frames came from it is one of my favorite stores +Michaels Stores. I hit half prices sales and stock up.

Until Next time........

~Let Your Creative Spirit Dance~

Please follow along with my Silhouette Challenge Friends have shared their posts today too!

1. McCall Manor // 2. The Turquoise Home // 3. Creative Savings // 4. Sandpaper and Glue // 5. The Thinking Closet // 6. Sowdering About in Seattle // 7. Persia Lou // 8. From Wine to Whine // 9. Dream a Little Bigger // 10. Please Excuse My Craftermath... // 11. Play. Party. Pin. // 12. Everyday Paper // 13. Practically Functional // 14. A Tossed Salad Life // 15. My Favorite Finds // 16. The House on Hillbrook // 17. Adventures in All Things Food // 18. A Glimpse Into Barb's Life // 19. TitiCrafty // 20. The Experimental Home // 21. feto soap blog // 22. Creative Ramblings // 23. The Stamp Doc // 24. Ginger Snap Crafts // 25. Simply Kelly Designs // 26. Whats Next Ma // 27. unOriginal Mom // 28. Bringing Creativity 2 Life // 29. Cutesy Crafts // 30. My Paper Craze // 31. Create & Babble // 32. Grey Luster Girl // 33. The Sensory Emporium // 34. Lil' Mrs. Tori // 35. Black and White Obsession // 36. Mama Sonshine // 37. Weekend Craft // 38. Creative Carnival // 39. Peace, Love and Joyce // 40. Tried & True // 41. The Frill of Life // 42. Dragonfly & Lily Pads // 43. Get Silvered // 44. Minted Strawberry