paper ball ornament

my dear friend linda (think: “in the making design”) had this pattern available to purchase once upon a time. 

(sniff..  sniff…)

so I had to make due, and figure one out with these papers, that I am, again, obsessed with!

 

so I started out, using my cricut and using some bad words, cutting 3 inch circles.  linda suggests starting with 2 inch guys, but I wanted a big guy.  so I went three inches.

you need 20 circles.  twenty.

after you have your circles all cut out, or punched, then you start to score.  the trick is to score an equilateral triangle, perfectly in the middle of the circle, with the three points touching the edges of the circle.

I would not/could not do this without my martha stewart scoring board. 

thank you george (he’s the voice in my iPhone, sometime I will tell you all of the funny things he’s done/said).

use your bone folder to make those creases SHARP.  this makes things easier later on.

now there are a few tricks to getting those darn equilateral triangles the right size for your circle guys.  you need your triangle to be about 1/2 inch smaller than your circle.  so my triangle for my 3 inch guy was 2 1/2 inches, but the triangle for my 2 inch circle was 1 3/4 inches.  see, no exact math, but wikipedia did help out, a lot.  and now I feel guilty about not donating to their cause…

linda had an awesome template that printed right out on her “be merry” papers, but like I said before,  that was once upon a time.  (why did she have to retire?  well, I really know why..  totally support and love your guts linda, just still a little sad.)

so I guess I will just make one…

 

(click on it to download.  you can adjust the opacity as needed to hide it better on your paper when you print.)

so now you have 20 cute little cut and scored circles…  or maybe 10?  why did I take that picture?

next step is to start gluing.  I like tombow mono multi liquid glue.  LOVE IT!!

start with five cut and scored circles for the top, and five more for the bottom.

you will glue them so the points all go to the middle.  it will look kinda like a lid.

(and eating white chocolate peppermint m&ms seems to help out too..)

do this for the top and bottom, and then set them aside.

you will take the remaining 10 cut and scored circles, and start gluing them to each other so it makes a band of sorts.

put glue on your tabs on one side of the band, and attach the top, then do the same for the bottom.

cute, right?

you can always add a bit or ribbon or string so you can hang them if desired.

many thanks to linda for her inspiration.

(xoxoxxooxxxx linda!!!)

I know I am not done making these.  pretty sure they will be filler everywhere around my house!

free is good.

one of the many reasons for which I love jessica sprague is that she gives free classes.

they aren’t dinky, little information free classes, the things I get/learn from these classes are some of the things that I use all. the. time.

these free classes are also a great way for you “newbies to all things digital” to start out in this most awesome digital world.

(and you know who you are!!!)

so go.  sign up now.

(I already have!!)

A little Spring for your Monday. *UPDATED WITH LINKY*

At my house, right this minute, it is snowing.  There is a little thunder and lightening mixed in with that snow too.  Out my front door, when I took the girls to school, there was the sun shining, but in the distance, dark, dark clouds.  We could hear the thunder and knew what was coming.  When we looked out the back door, it was so deceptive!  There was full sunshine, a little blue sky, some light, white clouds, but a totally different world out that back door.
The point in all of this..
It is springtime in Utah.
This is how I have to get my fix for Spring on days like today:
Echo Park has a new line out today, “Sidewalk Chalk”.
(Click on image for full credits.)

Spendid Fiins has Baker’s Twine, new in store today.  I love the stuff already!!
(Click on image for full credits.)

Hope you have a little Spring wherever you are!
(Hope you can find some if you are in the same boat that I am..  or sled.)
Just for kicks and giggles, here’s the templates I made for these layouts, for you, for FREEEEE!! 
If you use them, link up to this post, show me what you did with them.
Swooshy squares template.
Simple Circles template.
**I wasn’t sure how difficult/time-consuming it would be to add a linky to this post, to, you know, link up what you did with the template, but turns out it’s not so hard!
So link away ladies…
Link away.**

Freebie Friday!

I almost forgot!!

(Okay, I totally forgot..)

There is a wonderful FREEBIE from Splendid Fiins.

Remember, it is only free until Sunday..

(So go get it!!)

(NOW!)

Credits:

Papers & Elements:

Splendid Fiins (FREEBIE!!)

Stitching:

Splendid Fiins

Font:

Courier

Jump!

We do spend a lot of time doing this..

It would be flat out wrong if we didn’t spend most of our time doing this!
Our kids have spent a large portion of their young lives on a trampoline..  it is in their genes I guess.
It is nice that they can finally go out and not have to clear snow off of it.
I made pretty much everything myself, except the staple..  so here are some freebies!  (Look for more soon..  making a lot!)
- template
-wish paper
Enjoy!

Digital fun: Fall style..

I have been working away, finishing the last little bits of the craft room, and the prizes for those who guessed the color palate accurately. :)
One of the prizes was in need of a custom stamp (a brush for you digi fanatics like me..) so I sat down, took a break, and made one..  and then another, and another, and another..
All the while Peyton was thoroughly enjoying herself and my stash of supplies.
Our loft area is now very glittery!

Here's where to get it...
Winners and pics of the craft room to be posted soon! :)

Freebies..

It feels like it's been a while..  too long.
I have been busy..
I have also been trying to find the motivation to finish the old craft room.  I hate it when I get to the end of a project, and just don't have the excitement it takes to finish it.
I really do have some things I would like to unearth in there..  some projects I would love to be working on.
But no.
It just isn't happening.
I am all about digital lately..
So relaxing.
Here's a layout..

And some freebies...

(Download available here..)
Oh wait..  more for ya..

(Download these here..)

For the Boys...

I have been messing around still with making my own digi elements..
Thought I would do one for the boys. ;)
Not that I have any, or even know how to work one..
These are just part of a kit, hopefully coming soon.
You can download here.

Give it a go..

This is one of those things I was SOOO excited about, just the idea of it, when I began this last Jessica Sprague course.
Making and sharing (possibly selling) digital scrapbooking schtuff.
So, here's my first freebie that will forever be free. :)
A brush set created by yours truly..
Let's all hope I get better at this!Go here to download.