Free SVG File For Your Kitchen...

I posted a photo on Pinterest back in the fall of some really cute kitchen vinyl that I designed and added above my sink.  Well, the last few weeks it has taken off and is getting a bunch of repins.  So, I thought since so many folks liked what I did, I would give the cutting file away.

This is in a SVG format designed in my Sure Cuts A Lot 2 and I cut it on my Cricut Expression on a 12 X 12 mat.

I hope you enjoy it!

I am Thankful...

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  I love the crisp feeling in the air, the colors, the smells, the tastes!!!!  I was married in the fall, had both of my children in the fall.  I just love the fall!!!  It is a time when I am reminded how truly blessed and thankful that I am.

I thought that I would share a few photos with you today of some simple Autumn decor that I have added around my house to remind us of the Abundant Harvest that God pours into our lives on a daily basis.  I hope it inspires you to Count Your Blessings, as well.

Happy Fall Ya'll...

My fun Subway Art that I did in golden yellow vinyl on a piece of metal that I spray painted black.  And, a pumpkin full of cany corn!

Vases that I filled with layers of black beans, great nothern beans that I used yellow and red food coloring on, and then green lentils.  Very fallish colors!

My totally sweet plate that I made using the Cricut Damask Decor Cartridge and a plate from the dollar store.

I added a little wooden pumpkin that I have had for years with some bite sized candy bars, just for my son!

Aren't these pumpkin candles cute.  My husband's Aunt Nancy gave these to me several years ago and I just can't bring myself to burn them.  I love being able to pull them out each year.

Our Kitchen Table complete with burlap and lace.  I used a piece of burlap for the underneath table cover and then added the crotched table topper along with a bit of pumpkin and harvest themed fabric right under the old dough bowl.   I pulled out my mustard colored plates and made cute napkin rings.

My mother's old dough bowl full of harvest goodies!

The napkin rings that I made using copper strips that I found at Hobby Lobby.  I ran them through my Sizzix and embossed them.  Added a little black paint and green glitter paint and then wiped off the excess for an antiqued look.  I used a paper towel roll cut into 3 inch sections as my base.  Added a bit of black cardstock paper cut at 3 1/2 inches and embossed with a dotted swiss pattern over the paper towel roll.  Then added the copper strips and then tied a piece of burlap string up through the middle of the tube before adding my napkins.  I think they turned out pretty cute!

My $6 Michael's pumpkin that I cut the top out of and made into a planter.  I used copper vinyl for the wheat stalk and black vinyl for "thankful."  Then I made an arrangement out of flowers and cat tails that I picked up at the dollar store.  The entire arrangement costed around $10 to make.

On my downstairs counter, I added a little wicker pumpkin basket that I have had since my children were little and some yellow leaves.  That's my totally awesome children and hubby in those photos!  Yes, I am proud and oh, so 

THANKFUL!

I also pulled out these little figurines that my MIL bought for the children 15+ years ago from Hallmark.  I sent my daughter, who is now in college,  a picture of them and she got pretty nostalgic!  They used to spend hours at the kitchen table playing with these characters.  Maybe one day I'll be passing them on to some precious grandkids.

I repurposed this wire basket that I had into a fall planter using flowers that I already had for the wall by my front door.  Nothing like a splash of color to say "Hello & Welcome."

And, lastly my cute as pie "Welcome" pumpkin.  I cut "welcome" out in black vinyl and applied it to a pumpkin that my hubbie picked out.  He always picks out the BEST shaped pumpkins.  Then we added two yellow mums to the pots on either side.  I am planning on adding pinecones into the bottom pot.  I just haven't had time to pick them up out of the yard yet.  

Well, I hope that you enjoyed the quick tour of my home.  I hope you will be inspired to pull out all of your old deocrations and see what you can come up with.  But, most importantly just spend some time reflecting on the blessings that have been poured into your life and purpose to live with "An Attitude of Gratitude!"

Using My Cricut to Be A Blessing!

Just wanted to share a quick idea today with you of how you can use your creative talents and the tools that you are blessed with to be a blessing to others.

I have a friend who works with a women's ministry in my local town.  They recently moved their offices and had not been able to get a new sign for their front door.  I just happened to stop by one day to say hello - God was leading.  She mentioned the sign  and I took a look at it.  I thought that it would be pretty easy to use my Cricut Expression and Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software to design their sign.  I am the one who desinged their logo several years ago.

So, I took the logo and made an .svg file of it using Inkscapes.  I then pulled that .svg into SCAL and designed the rest of the sign.  I cut it out in their colors and applied to the back of their old sign.  It turned out great and they were so happy.  It would have cost them a good bit of money to have a sign company do all of those steps for them.  So it was a blessing for them and it made me happy.

Here is the front door sign for their office.

When I delivered the sign, they were in shock and overjoyed.  They mentioned that they had a new mission statement and had hoped that as some point they could have someone paint it on their wall in the reception area of their offices.  After seeing the front door sign, they were sure that vinyl would work better!  So, off I went again to design some vinyl wall decor from their new mission statement.

Again I used the Cricut Expression and SCAL software and cut the vinyl our of chocolate Oracle 631.  Here is the vinyl as I was hanging it on the wall.

A work in progress...

And here is the final product!

So the moral of the story is to use the gifts and talents God has given you to be a blessing to others.  You never know what fun things you will get to do!!!

A Quick & Easy Dry Erase Kitchen Menu Board

Today I have a quick and easy project idea for you to make a dry erase kitchen menu board.

I used a square plate that I found at Walmart for just a few dollars.  Then I pulled out the trusty Cricut Expression and used my Sure Cuts A Lot software to design some quick decor for the plate.

I cut the design out of black vinyl and applied the vinyl using transfer tape.  And Voila, a cute menu board in minutes.  It works great with dry erase markers!  Write on and wipe off.

I picked up a metal plate holder at JoAnn's to display it on my kitchen counter.  There you have it - Quick & Easy!

Paper Rosettes

I am so excited, I have finally figured out a sure fire way of making beautiful paper rosettes!  When I made my first three this morning they all popped and tore when I began to flatten them.  I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong.  But, then the light bulb went on and I realized that most of the tutorials on the internet showed using a 12" long piece of scrapbook paper that was no more than 1  1/2" wide.

My problem was that I was trying to make 2" and 3" wide rosettes.  To make them that wide you have to add extra length to the paper.  Problem solved.  Once I got going, I made a pile of beautiful paper rosettes to use in a project for a baby shower (which I will share with you soon.)

Enjoy the video.  Hope it helps you make some pretty paper rosettes of your own.

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