Notes to self on using iron-on vinyl with the Explore

Here in the PNW it feels almost like T-shirt weather!  I've been reading up, watching videos and taking a class on using vinyl so that I can make cute T-shirts for my family.   Here are my notes to self and a picture of my very first finished shirt.

*   Heat Transfer Vinyl SHRINKS!  Choose a design with as few layers as possible.   This Create-a-Friend character has 2 full length body layers, and one layer with everything except the head.  Beneath the yellow boots lie layers of black, skin tone, blue, and a second layer of black - none of which shrank at the same rate.  See?

Don't forget that Design Space has a T-shirt shaped canvas that really helps when laying out a design.

*  The iron - on setting is on the dial NOT in the custom menu!  (No need to explain the reason for this note to self!)

*  Mirror every mat BEFORE messing around with the placement of the cuts.

*  With HTV, the shiny, carrier side goes on the mat.  The Explore cuts through the vinyl but leaves the carrier side intact.  Even if it's not the same color, put the shiny side down on the mat.

*  Trim the vinyl around the cut to make it easier to layer your cuts on the T-shirt.

*  The carrier is sticky so weed out the unwanted bits like the eyes or the middle of the letters before pulling off the rest of the vinyl.  (I only managed to remember to do this once and had to take a picture 'cos I might never remember again!)

*  The sticky carrier makes it easy, peasy to layer the vinyl, but remember it SHRINKS!  Layer from the bottom upwards and the cape goes on FIRST.

*  Decrease pressing time for bottom layers, but give everything a good press through the pressing cloth when the final layer is attached.


So, when I finished the shirt for Master J, I immediately ordered more vinyl from ExpressionsVinyl.com!  I had some red and black scraps left over and I cut out a ladybird that I adhered over a spaghetti sauce stain on a favorite shirt of mine. It's wearable again and very cute!  I am hooked. 

Thanks for visiting with me today.   : )   Christine aka Captain Chaos' Grandma!

Fishin' Cards

Just a quick post to share a couple of the note-cards I am making for the annual auction at DH's fly tying club.  All the cards are made from kraft cardstock in the hope that this 'ties' the collection together! 

Thanks for visiting today and be sure to come back tomorrow to see my DT post for Sheila at She's a Sassy Lady.   : ) Christine

Floral Birthday Box Card

Sometimes it's just so much fun to throw everything on and enjoy the razzle dazzle!  

The card in a box comes from SVG Cuts and is one of the Box Cards set.  The paper is (mostly) from Graphics 45 Secret Garden and the pearls are from Bo Bunny. 

Thanks for visiting with me today!   : ) Christine

Spring Banner

The challenge at my local Craft Warehouse this month was to create a Spring Banner using 3 assorted chipboard banner pieces and a piece of lovely double sided paper.  My idea was to combine the chipboard pieces to make a cartoon-y bird and perch it on top the banner.  It would be sooo cute, I thought.

And then I found this pretty green paper from My Mind's Eye, and used it to cut banner shapes from Pretty Pennants.  I designed cartoon-y pots of flowers from Walk in my Garden to add to the pennants but ughhh, they did not work.  (Has that ever happened to you?) 

Back I went to Design Space and sigh, one more time, I pulled up Art Nouveau.   Just the flowers I was envisaging!  So no cute cartoon-y bird, no cartoon-y flowers and no challenge!  Ah well, there's always next month's challenge and I just loved looking at the banners the other crafters created.  Wow!  Here's my banner:-

Lots of green here with a pop of yellow, red, blue and purple.  The butterflies on the end medallions were printed on my printer then cut on my Explore.  This is such a time saver with teeny cuts like the butterflies.

I am linking my banner with  challenge # 246 at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog
and the Green Linky party at Craftin' Desert Divas.   You HAVE to pop over to these two sites and take a look at the inspiration from their Design Teams!

I also entering my banner in the Decorate to Celebrate 3D challenge # 95.  Oh my!   What wonderful projects over there!

Thanks for visiting with me today.  : )  Christine

Time To Welcome Spring!

Here in our corner of the PNW, we have had an extremely mild and enjoyable winter - touch wood!  I had to travel to Florida to enjoy the sight of 'snow' on the roof tops!

Sitting in Hogsmeade, sipping hot butterbeer, a card for a very special family member in New York State, popped in my head, inspired by this week's challenge at BBTB2.  I designed it using the I-Pad app. and cut it when I got home.  How cool is that?

In between loads of laundry, (LOL!) I created the background using the Simon Says Stamp 'Falling Snow' stencil with embossing paste and TH coarse glitter.  The clock image comes from the Picturesque cart and I used this 'framework' image to support the amount of Ultra Fine Flower Soft snow that I wanted to add on top of the clock.

The outer sentiment comes from Gypsy Wanderings and the inner cut comes from the Phrases cart.  I'm still undecided about the 2 substitution for the word "to."   Hmmm.  I added a handwritten note that I was sending warm wishes for an early snow melt plus an invitation to visit us to warm up!

Wow!   I just squeaked my card in on time (!!!) to swell the numbers at BBTB2.  I just love, love, love what the DT did this week.   Pop over and take a look.   Thanks for visiting today.   : ) Christine

Treat Holders for St. Patrick's Day

This post didn't appear earlier this week, either!   Obviously, I am technologically challenged when packing for a vacation!

The tutorial for these cute, cute treat holders comes from Splitcoast Stampers and is very simple to do, except that I found the measurements a little bit off.  After folding the 6 inch square into a triangle, I scored at 2 and 3/4 inches along the long edge, flipped the triangle over and scored again at 2 and 3/4 inches.

The shamrock was cut on my Explore and I tucked a 'gold' coin in one of the pockets.  The pockets hold a Ghirardelli chocolate perfectly!   Love this design!   Thanks for visiting with me today.  Now to get the washing machine going!  : ) Christine

Happy Birthday Shaped Card - file

We're back - regretfully - from our little trip to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios and it was amazing! 

Trying to catch up with my emails and I'm sorry the link did not work. Hopefully this link WILL work!   : )  Christine

https://us.cricut.com/design/#/canvas/25199486