Saturday, March 23, 2013

Super Hero Shelf

And BTW - I'm Published!  I can't tell you how excited I am to have my project published in Cricut Home Decor 2012 Idea Book (although it's really a magazine.)

My shelf is on pages 92-93.  Here's the layout:


I think the photographer did an excellent job.   Here's how the same shelf looks at my house.
   

Super Hero Shelf

Some closeup pictures (taken by me)
Letter "A" and Spaceship
Super Hero Dog
Super Hero Car and Letter "P"

This shelf was created for my two grandsons Andrew and Paul (hence initials "A" and "P"). They are both super hero fans. Andrew's favorite super hero is Captain America and Paul's favorite is Batman. Their mother Kristin convinced me to help her decorate their room in a Super Hero theme using Cricut cuts. It's been great fun. Since the shelf we have added bookends and wall art using Cricut cuts.

The editor's were able to condense my VERY DETAILED instructions down to just a half of a page.  Here is the instructions that I originally sent to them with the shelf:
  1. Paint shelf using Apple Barrel Bright Red acrylic paint (Two coats)
  2. Paint shelf hangers in four different colors:
    • Craftsmart Mediterranean Blue acrylic paint
    • Apple Barrel Spring Green acrylic paint
    • Apple Barrel Real Yellow acrylic paint
    • Apple Barrel Cloudless acrylic paint
  3. Initial "A"
    • Cut using green card stock from Plantin SchoolBook Cricut cartridge. Roly Poly on page 32of the handbook at 2.25 inches.
    • Attach to shelf using Mod Podge Gloss.
    • Once dried, accent with Inkssentials Glossy Acents.  I completely coated the letter using Glossy Accents.
  4. Orange Spaceship
    • Cut spaceship using orange card stock from Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  Accessories 3 <suprgl> on page 57 of handbook at 3 inches.
    • Cut lightening bolt for spaceship with yellow card stock from Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge. Accessories 3 <vmpris-s> on page 51 of handbook at 0.653 inches.  I used the Cricut Craftroom to make sure lightening bold would fit the spaceship.
    • Attach lightening bolt to spaceship using Zig 2 Way Glue.
    • Attach spaceship to shelf using Mode Podge Gloss.
    • Once dried, accent with Ranger Liquid Pearls in the Bisque color.
  5. Super Dog:
    • Cut red cape out of red glitter card stock from 3 Birds on Parade Cricut cartridge.  Layer 2 <Suprhero> on page 69 of handbook at 1.097 inches.  Use the Cricut Craftroom to size and make cuts.  Cut off the leading tie portion of the cape.
    • Cut the yellow symbol on cap from yellow glitter card stock from 3 Birds on Parage Cricut cartridge.  Layer 1 <Suprhero-s> on page 69 of the handbook at 0.5 inches.  Attach symbol to cape using Zig 2 Way Glue.
    • Cut shadow of Terrier out of black card stock from Create a Critter cartridge.  Shadow on page 34 of the handbook at 2.389 inches.
    • Cut 1st layer of Terrier out of brown card stock from Create a Critter cartridge.  Layer 1 on page 34 of handbook at 2.389 inches.
    • Cut another Layer 1 out of blue card stock at 2.389 inches.  Cut off the dog's feet to use as boots.
    • Cut 2nd layer of Terrier out of light tan card stock from Create a Critter cartridge.  Layer 2 on page 34 of handbook.  Real dial size for this cut is 1.556 inches.
    • Cut collar out of yellow glitter card stock from Create a Critter Cricut cartridge.  Layer 3 on page 34 of handbook.  Real dial size for this cut is 0.083 inches.
    • Cut mask out of blue card stock using the Raccoon from Create a Critter cartridge.  Layer 2 on page 33 of handbook.  Real dial size for this cut is 0.458 inches.  Use the Cricut Craft Room to assist in sizing.
    • Cut the super hero symbol out of red glitter paper from the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  <suprby-s> on page 56 of the handbook.  Real dial size for this cut is 0.25 inches.  Use the Cricut Craft Room to assist in sizing.
    • Put the terrier together with Zig 2 Way Glue.  Add the raccoon mask and blue boots as well as the red cape to create the costume.
    • Attach to shelf using Mod Podge Gloss.
  6. Super Hero Car
    • Cut two circles out of silver glitter card stock using the Cricut Craft Room Basics (free).  Cut at 0.667 inches.  These will be used for the car wheels.
    • Cut the car out of black card stock using the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  Accessories 3 <suprby-s> on page 56 of the handbook.  Cut at 2.208 inches.  Use the Cricut Craft Room to remove contour cut lines.
    • Cut lightening bolt for front of car out of yellow glitter card stock using the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  Accessories 3 <vmpris-s> at 0.556 inches height x 1.875 inches width (resized using Cricut Craft Room).
    • Cut two flames for back of car out of yellow and orange glitter card stock using the Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  Accessories 3 >vmpris-s> at 0.361 inches height x 1.208 inches width (resized using Cricut Craft Room).
    • Attach flames and wheels to car using Zig 2 Way glue.
    • Accent car fin using Ranger Liquid Pearls Bisque.
    • Attach car to shelf using Mod Podge Gloss.
  7. Initial "P"
    • Cut using green card stock from Plantin SchoolBook Cricut cartridge.  Roly Poly on page 47 of handbook at 2.25 inches.
    • Attach to shelf using Mod Podge Gloss.
    • Once dried accent with Inkssentials Glossy Accents.  I completely coated the letter using Glossy Accents.
  8. Accent top portion of shelf:  make dots using Ranger Liquid Pearls Bisque color.
  9. Once everything is dry, spray the entire shelf as well as the cuts using Tree House Studio Clear Acrylic Gloss Coating.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Monogram Hairbrushes With Shrinky Dinks Charms

 I purchased these four Conair hairbrushes at Walmart for $3.98 each.   I liked the fact that they had a nice flat back - perfect for adding a monogram.


Initial monograms in white vinyl.   Initials were cut at 2.5" using Cricut Storybook cartridge.


Adding Shrinky Dinks Charms!   Images printed and cut at 2.5" using Cricut Imagine Best Friends cartridge.   Above picture is before shrinking in the oven (325 degrees for 3 minutes.)  Place images on a cookie sheet with brown sack underneath.   Images need to be baked printed side down.

When printing / cutting on Cricut Imagine, make sure to print on the ruff side to prevent streaking.   Also, when complete the image will be reversed.  As seen above, images with text were backwards - I should have "flipped" the image before printing on the Imagine to correct the issue.

Additionally, I punched a 3/16" hole at the top of each charm before placing in the oven.


Shrinky Dinks after coming out of the oven.   Charms shrink down to 1/3 of original size.


Purple hairbrush with charm added.  The purple ball chain was purchased at Hobby Lobby for $1.47.  Original chain was much longer; I cut to desired size using regular scissors.

Jump ring was added thru charm to enable attachment to chain.

I also added Mod Podge Dimensional Magic to top of charm to give it the extra thickness and shine.   Make sure the jump ring is in the charm before adding the Mod Podge Dimensional Magic.  Allow the charm about 3 hours to dry before handling.


Pink monogram hairbrush with charm.


Orange monogram hairbrush with charm.


Blue monogram hairbrush with charm.