I'm still settling in in our California townhouse! Here's one of the HOME DECOR projects that I promised you. Since we have downsized (from 3000sqft to 1000sqft), we have to be 'space smart' and make our decorative elements serve multiple purposes and be 'functional' as well as 'decorative'. One of those areas for me now is the entryway. Before my entryway had enough space for me to have these baskets (4 of them), artwork and two black cabinets. I also had a coat closet for those seasonal things. Now, there is no closet and the entryway is a 5' x 5' tiled space with the front door and the door to the garage.
One of the things that I have always liked having in my entryway is this family "Post Office" system. It has saved our lives many times (and the lives of our children) because when someone checked the mail it was easy to distribute it to the appropriate basket. We had 8 baskets... one for each family member (5 Skinners and Memaw), one for our current foreign exchange student and one for junk mail. No more lost mail... or mail that got put on the table... or the kitchen counter... or tossed into a bag... or wherever. Even after my son joined the military, his mail continued to come to our home, so we would put it in the basket and when the basket got full, we would mail it to him or just wait for him to come home and check it. Like I said, I love this system because it kept us organized. I purchased these baskets at the CONTAINER STORE (each one has two baskets) years ago. I painted them red and printed the "Skinner Family Post Office" off my computer with a clipart border, then framed it in a black frame from the dollar store.
Not only have the number of baskets changed (we only need one 2-basket), my colors have changed with the move. My living areas used to be black & red, with a touch of green. Now, green is the main color and I added yellow to the black. I love it! So colorful! So, spray paint was on the shopping list...
Instead of printing the sign, I can now be more creative because I have a cricut now! I used OPPOSITES ATTRACT cricut cartridge and ART PHILOSOPHY cricut cartridge (CTMH) for everything.
Here's a quick video showing how I welded the top font to layer on the bottom font that I stretched taller... all using my gypsy:
Click HERE if you cannot see the video above
I love how the one font layers over the other! You can do this technique for the titles of your scrapbook pages. Click HERE to see a cute Halloween layout that I did using this same technique, it also includes a video and free cutfile.
I backed the nameplate with a pretty green fabric because the size of my frame is 13" x 15" and scrapbook paper would have left a seam.
I think that this frame is really pretty just like it is, but the ART PHILOSOPHY cartridge from CLOSE TO MY HEART has so many beautiful elements on it... I just couldn't resist adding a little somethin' somethin' to the top corner. So... here it is:
RECIPE
LEMON FLOWER Paper Stack by DCWV
ART PHILOSOPHY Cricut Cartridge by CTMH
Layer 1: scalloped circle cut at 3.5"
Layer 2: three leaves cut at 2"
Layer 3: three flowers cut at 3" and 4"
Layer 4: two swirls cut at 2"
Black ColorBox cateye ink
Lime ColorBox cateye ink
Beautiful! I think I may have to make some of these for Christmas gifts this year and substitute the word "Post Office" with the first names layered on top of a last name. Overall, this is a very inexpensive gift, but would be treasured I'm sure.
Here is my entryway now... told ya... small. But, now so cute! I'm really happy with how it is turning out!
If you haven't purchased the Close To My Heart ART PHILOSOPHY cartridge yet, you can order it from my friend, Melanie HERE. She has made MANY things with it and have posted them all in one post HERE! They are truly beautiful! Don't wait on this one... if you order before midnight August 30th you can get all this:
Not only will you get the stamp set shown above, but you will also get a Typeset stamp set for free if you purchase the Stamp of the Month for only $5.
To break it all down...
Between August 15-31, get your Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge for $99.00. The Cricut Art Philosophy bundle includes:
* Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge, Three Stamp Sets (retail value of $17.95 each), & Three Dimensional Element chipboard sets (retail value of $4.95 each)
- Because you spent over $50, you can now purchase the August Stamp of the Month (Halloween) for $5.00 a value of $17.95!
- Now you also qualify for the Typeface mini alphabet set a $6.95 value for FREE!
- Since you spent over $75, you’ll also get the Pair-a-Phrase double D-size stamp set a $35.90 value for FREE!
YOU SAVE $55.80
Let's add that up: For $104.00 (plus tax and shipping), you get:
- Cricut Art Philosophy Cartridge
- 3 Large (size D) Accompanying Stamp Sets
- 3 Chipboard Dimensional Elements Sets
- 1 Stamp of the Month (Halloween) - must add to cart separately during checkout
- 1 Typeface Mini Alphabet Stamp Set - must add to cart separately during checkout
- Pair-A-Phrase Stamp Set (2 sets) - must add to cart separately during checkout
That's a whopping SEVEN stamp sets, the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge and 3 chipboard dimensional elements sets!
Now, in order to get the Typeset Stamp Set and the Halloween Stamp Set, you must order by end of day, Wednesday, August 31, 2011 so don't miss out!
Now I like a good deal! So I thought I'd pass it on to you too!
to order before it's too late!
Creatively yours,
Tammy
