{Tutorial} Easter Pencil Topper

I am sure you have all seen the pencil toppers you can buy from any teacher supply store or Oriental Trading, especially around Valentine's Day.  Yeah, they are kinda pricey and not really that cute!  So I figured I could create them myself.  I actually created Valentine pencil toppers for my students this year but was unable to share them with you since I only just started this blog :)  So you get to see my Easter version.  Just let me tell you how much my students loved these.  Also not only are they getting a new pencil, it looks so darn cute as well! 

HERE'S THE TUTORIAL!!!

I will be including information so you can copy my design using your gypsy and cricut, however, you could also create this pencil topper using scissors and a hole puncher.  Due to technical difficulties, my gypsy file cannot be uploaded at this time.  Check back periodically to see if I have resolved the problem:)

Supplies:

Cricut Expression

Easter 2010 Cartridge

George and Basic Shapes Cartridge

Gypsy

Happy Easter Printout (download HERE)

Two coordinating colors/patterns of cardstock

Glue runner

Zots glue dots

Pencils

Embellishments

Directions:

1. Turn your Cricut on and insert George and Basic Shapes Cartridge.

2. Press the Center Point button on your machine and adjust the height to 2 inches.

3. Load your mat with the Happy Easter Printout and move the blade so it appears to be in the middle of your words. (Note: It usually takes me two or three tries to get it perfect.)

4. Highlight the shift key and the Q/Circle key and then press cut.  Repeat this for each circle.

5. Create a file on your Gypsy with the eggs at 4 inches and connect it to your Cricut.  Load your paper and press cut.

(Non Gypsy Users: Cut out Eggs using Easter 2010 Cartridge at 4 inches.  Punch top and bottom of the egg with a hole puncher.)

6. Remove from mat and set aside or create a pretty design and take a picture like I did :)

This makes me smile :)

7. Create a file with scalloped circles on your gypsy.  Load your second paper and press cut.

(Non Gypsy Users: Cut scalloped circles at 2 1/2 inches)

8. Remove from mat and set aside.  Turn off Cricut and Gypsy.

9. Gather all your supplies including all cut outs and glue.

10. Glue Happy Easter circle in the middle of the flower cut out with any type of glue runner.  I try to make it centered and have the indent of the scallop on the very top and bottom (it helps when you are lining them up with the holes)

11. Using Zots glue dots place one or two dots on the back of the flower shape.

12. Attach the flower shape to the center of the egg and let it cure for a bit.  Notice how the indents of the scallop line up with the holes :)

13. Slide your pencil gently through the two holes.  Voila!

Now comes the fun part!  Grab all sorts of embellishments and make the pencil toppers pretty.  Here are two other versions I created!



Just a few more photos!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via comment.  I am still working on uploading my gypsy files so you can create the pencil toppers without all the hassle of creating the gypsy files but I am having technical difficulties.  I will post as soon as the problem is resolved! Stick around because I plan on creating yet another pencil topper for the end of the year and for my new students:)

~Katania

{Tutorial} Terracotta, Chalkboard Paint, and Herbs

Okay, what do terracotta pots, chalkboard paint,

and herbs have in common?

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING,

Unless you are creating something FABULOUS for your garden!

HELLO GORGEOUS!

Since we moved into our house in 2006, I planted herbs in different types of pots on the deck.  The herb pots always provide me with fresh herbs throughout the season.  We also have a huge vegetable garden but it isn't always feasible to trek out to the garden (it's at the back of our property) just to snip a bit of basil for dinner.  The only problem I had was that I hated the pots I planted the herbs in and I always stuck the tag in the pot to remember which herb is which.  Definitely not the best looking herb garden.  So after doing a little blog surfing (well... maybe a lot) I spotted pots painted with chalkboard paint.  Let me just tell you this... I am in love with these pots and chalkboard paint.  SUPER FUN! 

Well to keep things just a little bit messy around here, I decided to tackle this project and provide you with a tutorial so you can create your very own herb garden.  But first...let me whet your appetite!

Supplies:

Terracotta pots

Chalkboard paint

Frog Tape

Paint brush

Newspaper to protect your surface

Step #1:

Tape the top rim of your pot with the Frog tape. 

Make sure you smooth out any bumps or you will

end up with some paint where you don't want it. 

(I kinda forgot to do this step and kinda ended up with a big mess but I learned from my mistake and will show you how to fix it.)

Step #2:

Mix your paint well and paint your pots trying to

make it as smooth as possible.  Let dry for a couple of hours.

Step #3:

Paint your pots with a second coat and let dry for a couple of hours.

Step #4:

Remove the tape and GASP! loudly when you notice the paint on the rim of the pot.

Step #5:

Take a deep breath and then find some fine grit sandpaper.  Lightly sand the end of your pot until all the extra paint has been removed.  Then wash the dust off your pot and let dry.

Your pots will go from



"Oh no!"

 

to "Oh yes!"

Look how fabulous they look all cleaned up!

Step #6:

Fill the pot with potting soil and add your herbs. 

Step #7:

Now the fun part! Steal (I mean borrow) your son's sidewalk chalk and write the names of the herbs on the side of the pot. I am still looking for those smudge proof chalk markers but I haven't found them yet.  The best part about chalk, is if you make a mistake or you have different herbs each year, just take a wet cloth and erase the words then write the new ones in.

I am extremely happy with the way the pots turned out and can't wait to add the herbs to my cooking.  I also want to add some twine around the top part of the pot and buy a tray I found at HomeGoods to hold all the pots.  If I end up changing things up I will definitely take some pictures to show you. 

Now it's your turn to shine!

Have you used chalkboard paint in your
garden this year? 
Leave a comment and if I get at least five different ideas I will post a {Friday Favorite} Chalkboard Paint edition. 
I would love to feature your work :)

~Katania

Happy Mother's Day and a Sneak Peek

Happy Mother's Day

 to all the awesome moms out there!

I hope your day was extra special and you were appreciated and loved by your little ones and love of your life:)

Love this little man! (Check out the Donald Trump comb over! I think it's time for a haircut again.)

Since I was very busy this weekend,

(lucky me attended a Hybrid Crop at Papercraft Clubhouse in Westbrook, CT for National Scrapbook Day and spent some quality time with my lovely family for mother's day) I was unable to get any pictures and posts up.  Also I am still trying to finish my post about the pencil toppers I shared with you earlier.  I didn't forget, I have been experiencing technical difficulties :). I was hoping to add the gypsy file to the post for download but every time I try to backup my gypsy, it stops working and I can't get the right file on my computer.  If I can't fix the problem, I will have to post without the file :( Sorry.

I started working on a project about a week ago and I am so excited because I just finished it this morning.  I still want to add some twine and pick up a tray I found at HomeGoods but I am excited about what I have already. 

Here's the sneak peek!

Do you have any idea what it is?

Come back soon to check it out and get the tutorial!

~Katania

One More {Friday Favorites} Teacher Appreciation

OOPS! I forgot to post this!
:)
I saw this project linked up at I Heart Naptime and I just had to include it in my {Friday Favorites} Teacher Appreciation edition but I didn't want to post it without sharing this idea first.

How stinkin' cute is this?

Source: The Happy Scraps

She used her Cricut to cut out flowers, punched the holes to fit over the tops of the pencils and then created a pencil bouquet.  OMG! I would absolutely love this as a teacher appreciation gift!  I also love how easy it is to make but it looks like a lot of time and effort went into it.  Thank you so much Happy Scraps for this adorable teacher appreciation gift.

Check out this idea and more by clicking HERE!

Did you show your appreciation to your child's teacher this week?

Thank you to all those great teachers out there (especially my friends at KEG School)

~Katania

{Friday Favorites} Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

 to all the mother's out there. 

Just remember you are all absolutely beautiful and strong women!!!

Now for the next edition of

{Friday Favorites}

Mother's Day!



Mother's Day cards from Pumpkins and Posies



Mother's Day Coupons from Penny Candy Studios

Mother's Day Printables from The Housewife Bootcamp

Mother's Day Cards from Fabulous Features

All I want for Mother's Day is... from Ambrosia Girl (This is so great!)

 Mother's Day Designs from TomKat Studio

Mother's Day Cupcake Toppers from Hello, Good Gravy!

Mother's Day Printables from Love Party Printables

I would like to thank all the blog owners for allowing us to download their fantastic designs for FREE!  If you would like to have your Mother's Day craft/printable/idea featured here please feel free to leave me a comment with your blog address and I will add you asap!

Happy Mother's Day!

~Katania

Spring!

It was such a gorgeous weekend here and I just couldn't say indoors.  I was unable to get anything crafty done, but I figured I could make due with some spring photos.  Also, I have been working with my camera, trying to remember how to use it off AUTO (gasp... yes I have been using Auto for a while now) but not for these photos of the daphodils (yes they are all daphodils) in my garden.  Let me know what you think :)

My favorite!

Ok, I promise I will post the pencil topper tutorial sometime soon.  This coming week will be a bit crazy but I should have some time to get everything typed up.  Until then, enjoy the lovely weather and the beautiful flowers :)

~Katania