My 2020 New Years Resolutions

Acrylic Exercise Blanks

White Glitter Acrylic Family Birthday Board Tutorial - No painting, glitter or epoxy needed! 2018

Welcome back Rhonda Fox as our guest blogger today! This is such a detailed tutorial you are going to want bookmark or print it out!

Let's dig in!

Materials Needed:
* items have links to the items
* 1 set of CC 1 5/16" round acrylic disks Select 2 holes White Glitter
* Angel Wings Charms 

* Celebration Birthday Anniversary Family Sign Board - White Glitter

* Siser Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl - Black Glitter

* 1 sheet of black permanent vinyl 
* Heavy Guage Silver Tone Oval Jump Rings
* Double J Earring Wires - Backs are optional if you want to 'lock' the discs on the board

  Transfer tape
  Cutting machine

  Cutting Matt

  Weeding Tool

  Parchment Paper

  Work Gloves (no bumps)- optional

  Heat Press - set to 320

 First you will need to get your template attachment, sent in your shipping confirmation email from Craft Chameleon. Open your email attachment following the instructions given and save the file where you can find it again.

This is what the template looks like when you open it. 

Here, using the Silhouette Studio software, I have added an oval shape to fit the shape of the actual celebration board using the ellipse tool. Center the oval on the top line of the rectangle as shown above. Highlight both oval and rectangle and go to the Transform Panel and choose HORIZONTAL and the middle alignment. This will center the oval across the top of the rectangle.

 

Go to the MODIFY Panel and with the oval and rectangle highlighted, choose WELD.

Your design should now look like this. 

Draw another oval and place within the shape you just completed. Edit until you find the shape and line thickness you like.

Now you can design with your own fonts, words and flourishes.

Cut your flourishes, heading, months and special dates from the black glitter HTV using the appropriate settings for your machine. In addition to those, I use the over cut (triangle in the lower right-hand corner) option. If you are using Siser glitter HTV remember to mirror your graphics.

Make sure to remove the protective plastic coating prior first so you don't forget later. It will be messy if you forget and ruin your acrylic. 

Cut a sheet of parchment paper large enough that when you lay the acrylic on the paper you will have enough to fold over on top also. DO NOT use a Teflon sheet, the striations will show in the plastic.

Using the htv carrier sheet, place your htv design on the acrylic celebration board and then fold the parchment paper over to cover the htv and board. The yellow in the photo is heat transfer tape.

Cover the base plate of your heat press with parchment, place your acrylic with the design side down on the parchment paper.  If you place the design side up, your acrylic will have a matte finish, not the current gloss finish. Cover with parchment.

Press with firm pressure for 15 seconds or until you can remove the carrier sheet without pulling off your design. After carrier sheet is removed, replace the board face down on the parchment paper and cover.  Press again for another 15 seconds.

Carefully remove the HOT* acrylic by lifting it with the parchment paper and placing it on a flat smooth surface. Place something heavy on top to help keep the acrylic celebration board flat until cool. *This is when you may want to use some work gloves without gripping bumps as the bumps leaves marks.

Add the months above each hole on the board with Oracle 651 black vinyl. It's really easy using the file with the months that came free with the Celebration Board. They are spaced and ready to cut! Cut and apply.

Again make sure to remove the protective plastic from all the acrylics.

Cut names and dates, then apply. I placed the names on the glitter side and birth date on back (not glitter) side of each the disc.

Add 2 of the oval jump rings in the holes under each month. I found by doing this the discs hang more evenly. However earwires can also be used.

Slip the discs on the Double J earwires. If you would like to "lock" them into place try silicone earring backs. Using earwires also makes it easier to add a new birthday, wedding or anniversary dates later.

As I assembled the discs, I added an Angel Wings Charm for family members who had passed. I added the DOD on back of the disc underneath the DOB. You might like to also add charms for anniversaries or other special dates.

Attach a chain, ribbon, or jute string for your hanger and you are done.

This is a great project that brings a lot of satisfaction. What's more important than family? Be sure to post your take on the Celebration Board!

Thank you so much Rhonda Fox. This is inspirational!

Please inspire other crafters by sharing the images below on your favorite social media and Pinterest accounts.

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ARGGGHH 🏴‍☠️ Talk Like a Pirate Matey. Tutorial and blanks for the best DIY Pirate Loot! 🏴‍☠️ 2018

Today we welcome back Darci as our Guest Blogger. Did you know in less than a month it will be 'Talk Like A Pirate Day'? Yes September 19!  

Well, today's blog post tutorial would be a fun way for your little pirate to parley with mateys and foes alike! In addition, these would be a big hit at a birthday buccaneer party or Halloween or every day pretend play!

So let's get to it!

Materials Needed:
* items have links to the items

* CC tooth fairy canvas bags
* 1 set of CC 1 5/16" silver mirror acrylic circles (select no hole)
* CC Pirate acrylic & included free svg
* CC Pirate ship acrylic & included free svg
* 1 sheet of black permanent vinyl 
* 1 sheet of black htv 
* Ball Chains (optional)
transfer tape
cutting machine


Pirate "Coins"

Import the pirate and ship designs into your cutting machine's software and size them to fit inside a 1.25" circle.  Load your vinyl into your cutting machine, cut and weed. I used the default cut settings.  

 Apply your designs with transfer tape. 

I placed the pirate design on one side of the acrylic and the ship on the opposite side.  Make as many pirate "coins" as you'd like.

Pirate Coin Bag

Import the pirate design and size it for a 3" square bag.  I made my design about 2.75".  You could also add a name to personalize the bag if desired.  

Flip the image/name horizontally (aka mirrored) and load your htv into your cutting machine.  Cut and weed your htv.  I used the default cut settings.  

Press the htv design on the bag for about 20 seconds at 315 degrees. Remove the transfer sheet and fill the bag with "coins."  This coin bag is perfect for pirate pretend play, Halloween costumes, Talk Like a Pirate Day or Birthday Party Favors.

BONUS: Pirate Bag Tag

You can also use the 3" Pirate (and/or Pirate ship) acrylic shape for bag tags by adding vinyl and a ball chain.  The bag tags are great for backpacks, lunch bags or Halloween pails.

Plus now you have a pirate cut file for tee's, bags, cups and more! All for $.90!

🏴‍☠️Thank you Darci for sharing your creative juju with us once again! 🏴‍☠️

Sharing is caring so please consider sharing the horizontal image on Facebook, IG or your favorite social media.

Or Pin this image!

New & Free Tutorial for School Days DIY Re-Usable Photo Sign - Beginning or End of School Year

Reversible Last Day / First Day of School

Acrylic Chalkboard

By: Faye Mitchell – Blogger Extraordinaire

Faye is back with a great tutorial on making up our School Days Acrylic Photo Board. These boards are reusable at the beginning and end from year to year.

Supplies

Items listed with an * are clickable links to the products on the website.

* Acrylic Chalkboard with free cut file

* 651 Vinyl 

* Weeding Tool

Scissors

Vinyl Applicator / Squeegee

Transfer Tape

SVG Design Program

After gathering your supplies, open the Cut Design file provided by Craft Chameleon. The link is sent in your order confirmation email.

Make any necessary alterations you want to it.  I changed the name and added an additional design next to the name. I also changed the wording at the bottom of the board. The design file provided by Craft Chameleon is only for the first day of school I did a copy & paste of the design and then changed it to say the Last day of School. 

 Cut and weed your design.  Normally to save on vinyl I would combine the two designs to eliminate waste.

But in this case, I just left them separate and used separate pieces. 

It makes getting the design centered and layered onto the chalkboard easier I think.  If I wasn’t in a hurry and didn’t want to waste viny, I could have combined the designs before  cutting.

  

Ta-Da!!!! You’re done and have an amazing reusable, reversible chalkboard to use while taking your kiddo’s first and last day of school pictures.

Faye, you are amazing too! Thanks for another great tutorial. To add the date and other information you will need some coordinating paint pens. Then use some alcohol to remove for the next year.

Please consider pinning the image below. Sharing is Caring!

May the Fourth DIY Acrylic Coaster Blanks Tutorial (and in time for you to make them!) 2018

In a crafting universe, not so long ago, a woman, Terisa Bostic, made "May the Fourth Be with You" coasters. Thanks for sharing your great idea Terisa!

Supplies:

Items with * have a link to the Craft Chameleon products

* Adhesive Vinyl  (Terisa used solid black)

  SVG Design Program ( Silhouette Studio is used here, Design Space, SCAL, etc)

  Transfer Tape

  Vinyl Application Tool

* Weeding Tool 

* Clear Plastic Coasters
  Star Wars Style Font - Star Jedi is available on DaFont
  Star Wars Quotes  (Google is your friend on this or use Terisa's)

Let's get started!

When Craft Chameleon sends you a shipping confirmation for your coasters, they will attach a link to download the SVG template for the coaster.  This file will have several fantastic designs in it, but for this project, you want the simple coaster outline.  This will give you a guideline for positioning your text. 

If these coasters are for sale and not personal use, here is a tip, I purchased a font from the Silhouette Store titled “In a Galaxy Far Away”.  Select your text icon, and then select this text from your list of font options.

This set of Craft Chameleon comes with 4 coasters, so I created 4 quotes. Type out your desired quote or text.  Each quote or text grouping should be its own individual box.  This makes it easier when you need to change the size to fit the coaster outline.

Click on the transform icon on the right side of your Silhouette Studio screen.  This will allow you to change the size of the text box. My desired size was 3.4”x3.4”.

Type out your 4 desired quotes and adjust them all to fit in the coaster outline. 

Then, highlight the quote within the coaster outline. Right-click to bring up the menu options as shown.  Then click on flip horizontally.  This will reverse the text to allow it to be applied to the underside of the coaster. Do this for all of the coasters.

Send to the Silhouette by clicking 'Send', and then select your material type as Vinyl, glossy. Off it goes and your vinyl is cut.

 Weed out background vinyl, so you are left with only the letters.

 Apply transfer tape to the letters and rub hard on the backside with a scraper.  This allows the vinyl to adhere to the tape.

The acrylic coaster will come with a brown paper covering on both sides. This is to protect the acrylic surface from scratches and dings.  This must be removed before adding the vinyl. 

Simply slide your fingernail under an edge to get a good lift and then slowly peel back. You will end up with a clear piece of acrylic.

Next, peel the paper backing from the vinyl decal.  All the letters will be attached to the tape.

          Line the decal up with the coaster and position as desired.  When you are satisfied, stick the tape to the coaster, and rub hard with the scraper.  Slowly and carefully, pull the transfer tape back from the coasters.  

From this side, the design will look backwards, but this will be the underside of the coaster. Place the clear bumpers on the underside, which will be the side that the vinyl is actually stuck on. Repeat this process for the other 3 coasters.

So are you ready to make your 'May the Fourth be with You' coasters? Remember, "Your focus determines your reality" (Qui-Gon Jinn) and if you think you can't do this then, "I find your lack of faith disturbing" (Darth Varder).  Remember it's easy and "Mind tricks don't work on me" (Watto) and "Great, kid. Don't get cocky" (Han Solo).

Okay, Terisa did not write that corny quotes ending, I did (Jamie). But a big thank you to Terisa for putting together this great idea and tutorial! And May the 4th be with you.