Free SVG Valentine Cupcake for Cricut!

You don't have to have a Cricut make this cute cupcake, but it is designed for a Cricut.

In honour of a new friend, I have named this svg "Cupcake Melissa' :)

The file is in 3 parts, i) a base, ii) the cupcake top and iii) the hearts. I am going to design a few more cupcakes, but I wanted to make this available first.

If you have SCAL2, you can download the jpg file and then open it directly into your SCAL, or use the svg.
I did save it also as a SCUT file for Cricut and SCAL2,

The 'good, old-fashioned way to use this, is of course, to download the jpg and then print it, and cut it out with scissors!  Click HERE for the jpeg version 

If you have a Cricut, Click HERE for the svg file Cupcake Melissa svg

Enjoy!

Zentangles Through the Lookinglass

I showed these images during my show and wanted to share them with everyone.  I have taken one pen drawing, and using ACDSee 3.0 Pro, manipulated them with various effects.  I know which one is my favourite --- how about you?

The original - regular ballpoint pen (don't recommend it)

Glowing Edges Heart

Heart embossed and perspective altered

Heart in Sheet Metal

 

Crayon Heart

Contour Heart

Free Zentangle Digi Stamp!

 R. Birnbaum Cohen 2011 (c)

As promised during last night's episode of robi@nite, here is the version of my heart zentangle which can be printed from your printer and then you can colour it in any way you like.

Click HERE to download your free file


 ENJOY!

Robi@nite --- What went on at the show last night?

If you missed the Feb 3rd show, here is the link to the playback:    CLICK HERE

Show Summary

Zentangles through the Lookinglass

How to make your own Star Book

How to make your own matching gift box

We gave away a wonderful Craft Book!

Star Book

 

Add caption

Heart of Enamel

Our GIVEAWAY! Congratulations to Lee of Texas!

I had a wonderful evening and I hope everyone who attended did too. My next post will feature ALL the zentangles I manipulated, and more pictures and description of how to make a Star Card. There will also be a FREE digi-stamp made available.  For now, I'm going to bed:).

Heart of Contours

Free SVGs and templates for the Chinese New Year

I have just made available 3 new freebies for download. SVG and SCUT2 ready for all my fellow Cricuteers! in JPG form if you would like to print out the outline and then cut it out yourself.
The Chinese letters are in Word.

Free template for lucky Chinese envelope - jpg

Free SVG Chinese Envelope -svg

Free template Chinese letters "Welcome"

Enjoy!

Free Valentine's Templates

Great for class projects, Girl Guides, Teachers... 

Avery products are wonderful  and if you sign up for their email program, you will often get offers for FREE DOWNLOADS, craft ideas and projects...
These are adorable templates for Valentines' Day 


Adorable Templates for Valentine's Day

Have Fun!!!!          

In The Zone - January 31st - What did you MIss?

If you would like to watch the playback for the January 31st, 2011 episode of In The Zone, here is the link for the playback:      Click here for Playback

It was so much fun sharing great ideas and crafts tonight. My technical issues prevented me from showing all of my demos, so I have 2 separate posts with full tutorials.
Cyn Gagen had NO problems with her technology and gave a lovely demonstration and talk about Chinese Brush Painting.  Many in the audience had never seen some of the objects Cyn showed and it was a wonderful learning experience.

Chinese Brush Painting Demo - Cynthia Gagen 2011

Cyn proceeded to demonstrate Chinese Brush Painting and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. She showed the delicate intricacies involved and nuances in shading.

We also are fans of a wonderful Oriental Card Making blog created by Fabrizio Martellucci. Fab has several wonderful blogs and I encourage everyone to check them out (you will be able to find them by clicking on the link I just provided).
Here is one of Fab's cards

Fabrizio Martellucci 2011

:I am filled with a sense of 'TOTALLY LOVE IT" when I look at this card!!! Isn't it wonderful?


For a full tutorial on HOW TO MAKE A PLUM BLOSSOM CENTREPIECE - Please click here

For a full tutorial on HOW TO MAKE CHINESE PAPER LANTERNS - Please click here

How To: Make a Beautiful Paper Lantern

Continuing with our theme this week of  the Chinese New Year on the Creative EdVentures Network here is another tutorial I hope you enjoy.
The traditional Chinese lantern is usually a bright red, but why not crack open those beautiful scrapbook stacks and choose something a little extravagant??

The important thing to remember about the lantern is that your piece of paper can NOT be square. If it is, cut a strip, roughly 1 or so inches wide from the sheet and set it aside.  We need to fold the paper into a rectangle. If the the paper is square, well, you'll never get that rectangle!!

Pretty, pretty lanterns all in a row!!! I placed them on fishing wire and strung them up behind my workarea!

A lovely piece of Martha Stewart double sided paper needs to be cut down because it is square.  The strip of paper that is left will be used as a handle for the lantern.

Once you have a rectangle, fold the piece long-wise, so you have a long rectangle.

  Why not grab your favourite Fiskars scissor or other fancy scissor instead of a regular pair?

You will need to cut about 10 to 12 slits into the paper starting from the FOLDED side, but not cutting all the way through.

 

All the cutting is complete! Now you will open up the page and bring both sides of the page together.

Staple or glue the ends.

Grab the extra strip of paper attach it to the inside of the top of the lantern to form a handle.  Hang up your pretty lantern and ENJOY!!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  Please let me know if you did! If you decide to make your own lantern, please send me a picture!!

How To: Make a Plum Blossom Centrepiece

We were celebrating the Chinese New Year (the year of the rabbit) on In The Zone on The Creative EdVentures Network tonight.

This is the first of two tutorials for some fun crafts.  I really loved making the plum blossom piece and I'm very happy with the results.

The supplies required to complete this project: Chenille wires, brown or mahogany coloured acrylic paint, scissors, styrofoam ball, quick-dry glue, pink tissue paper, paint brush(es)

Cut styrofoam ball in half and paint it.  Put it aside to dry.

Ideally use brown or black pipe cleaners ( I am only using the grey for illustration purposes). I used 3 pipe cleaners.  Cut each pipe cleaner into different length pieces - some shorter, some longer...

Twist pieces of wire together and bend into form of twigs/branches.

Cut your tissue paper into 1" square pieces. Plum blossom is pink, but of course you can use any colour you desire.  I chose to use two shades just for variety.  Start with about 40 squares.  I cut my squares while holding the entire package of tissue paper so I only had to cut 'once'.

Place your 'branch' flat, and put a line of glue along the surface - but leave at least 1 1/2 inches at the bottom of the lower branch and do NOT put glue there -- that is where the branch will insert into the foam.

Using the end of a paint brush, place it in the center of a square of tissue paper.  Pick it up and wrap the paper around the brush end. While holding the wrapped piece to the brush, place the tissue paper onto a spot of glue. Pull the brush away and the piece will stick to the branch.

Continue placing the 'blossoms' on the branch, leaving a little space in between each piece.  Once you have covered the top, place it aside to dry.  When dry, flip over the branch and repeat the process on the other side of the branch.

The branches and blossoms have dried and placed however you wish .  I added a little glitter to the ball (just because I like glitter :)

 I hope you enjoyed this tutorial. If you did, please let me know.  If you decide to try it for yourself, please send a picture!