Blast off into August! {plus Friday Freebie}

Have y'all seen the new Snailed It collection? It's so cute!

Snailed It includes 2 cut sets, 1 cut project, 2 graphic sets, 1 alphabet, 1 paper pack and 1 doodlebat (dingbat) but I love the cut files so much! The snails are hilarious! Click HERE to see the whole collection and you'll see what I mean. Too cute!

While you're at the LD site, don't forget to pick up your Friday Freebie. The Snailed It - Lip Balm Holder Cut Project is free for one week only. Better grab it fast! (Tip: If you don't want to use it as a Lip Balm Holder, just use the image and make it into a card!).

CLICK HERE TO GRAB YOUR FREEBIE!


Have a great weekend!

TUTORIAL: How to Make Printable Note Papers with Silhouette Studio in 5 Easy Steps

I've enjoyed using LD's graphics to make printables ever since I realized how easy it was to do by using the Silhouette Studio program. If you've never made any before, this is a simple tutorial to help you. You will need the Silhouette Studio program, a printer, a printable graphic and a printable patterned paper to follow along.

1. Make a simple template. 
Using Silhouette Studio, I drew a 6.5" x 5" rectangle and used the Freehand Draw tool to add an internal rectangular-ish shape. I also made an internal offset of the latter using the Offset tool. I set the Line Color and Line Style of the smallest shape to black and dashes with a Thickness of 0.5pt.

2. Adding patterns and colors
Fill the largest shape with a pattern (e.g. LD's printable patterned paper). Fill the second largest shape with a light color.

3. Add Graphic
Load the graphic that you want to use onto the Silhouette Studio mat and size it to your preference. Make an offset and fill with the same light color that you used in Step 2.

4. Position the Graphic
Group the graphic and its offset and place it where you want on the note paper.

5. Print and trim.
Once you are satisfied with the position of the graphic, you are ready to print the note paper! I like to prepare several of these with different designs and print them out at the same time. 

Two note papers will fit on a letter-size page in landscape. You can use the Silhouette machine to cut them out but make sure that you set only the outermost rectangle shape to cut or else the machine will cut the note paper where all the cut lines are, thus possibly shredding it. Personally I found it easier to cut the sheets manually with my paper trimmer. 

Since many of us are still mostly staying put at home due to the current Covid-19 situation, why not make some of these and send to a friend to let her know that you are thinking of her? These are so quick and easy to make!

You can even make some for the kids to send to their friends though they'll probably be more delighted if cuter graphics are used. Something like the ones that I have made previously:

I hope you find today's tutorial useful. If you make any of these note papers, do let me know. I'd really love to see them!

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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


Files used:
Panorama Plants - GS
Panorama - PP

Boba Sunday

"I'd love to hang out on the couch with you but I have a blog post to write. It's been 3 months since my last post."

"Mom! Come sit with us. It's already been 3 months. What's another 3?"

She's right and I know I can't argue with my daughter's logic. People say that time flies when you're having fun but I wished that someone would have told me that time becomes one very long day when there's nothing on your calendar. We had already been staying at home for almost 3 weeks before the Governor's Stay Home Order kicked in on March 25. All of our pre-scheduled events and appointments were wiped off from our calendars. Our plans for the weekends, and Spring Break (and now Summer) erased and deleted. Even though we still had to follow the kids' Online Learning school schedule, but with no outside activities planned, it quickly felt like there was no beginning or end to each day. Before long, the whole week felt like one very long day and I could hardly remember what day of the week it was anymore.

A few weeks into the lockdown, and when our favorite Taiwanese restaurant had re-opened with takeout orders only, Hubby decided that we should show them some support. So he started making a trip there every week. On Sundays, he would order take-out from the restaurant and pick up bubble tea from our favorite boba shop that was a few blocks away from it.

As much as we love bubble tea, it just isn't something that we buy often. We get some as an occasional treat or when we have something to celebrate. "School's out!". Bubble tea. "I got 100% for my test!". Bubble tea. But that was before COVID-19. These days, Hubby makes a stop for boba after he picks up dinner on Sundays. The drinks that he gets is a spark of joy for us in an otherwise mundane yet stressful week. It's all about the little things and the little things are sometimes boba.

I look forward to Boba Sunday. It is when we take a break from making dinner at home and offer some support for our favorite places of business. On Boba Sunday we give ourselves a little treat and celebrate that we made it through the week. During a pandemic when the media gives you nothing but bad news, Boba Sunday offers a little respite. Boba Sunday is both a finish line and a starting line. It marks when the week has ended and tells me that another is about to begin.

It is now June and Washington State has started to reopen. It is a phase-by-phase process and folks are starting to cautiously go outside again. Still, it will be a while before things go back to the way it was. Or it may never. Who knows?! Summer break is almost here and our calendar is completely blank. Our summer trips have been canceled and for the first time in many years, we are going to be staying put. We are grounded and I cannot wait until the day when we can all travel and go overseas again. Until then I will be looking forward to better days. I am already looking forward to the next Boba Sunday. ❤


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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


File used:
Bobalicious - Cute Teas cut set (SVG included)

Lucky to be your Gnomely one

Things have become rather strange in our world. Everyone is feeling uneasy and anxious. Social distancing has many of us feeling suspicious of others whenever we're outside. "Is that person who just walked by infected?" "What about the guy standing over there?". New information about the coronavirus is coming out everyday and now they are saying that an infected person may not even show any signs of infection. Schools are closed, restaurants are takeout/delivery only, and Costco is out of toilet paper?! Countries are in lockdown and we are all stuck at home.

Costco at 7:48 pm on Mar 16, 2020

My girls have been keeping themselves busy with assignments that their teachers have given them before the schools closed but Hubby is about to go stir-crazy from working from home. Habits are hard to break and as much as he appreciates not having to make that awful commute to work every morning, I think he misses his routine. Meanwhile, I have released the inner chef in me. Heh.

Lemon Chicken, Wonton Noodle Soup, Shrimp Scampi

It has only been a week and a half since our school district closed and a few days since the Governor shut down everything else. We still have a long way to go before things can go back to normal. Things will probably get more challenging once the cabin fever hits but we are going to stay home and do our part in social distancing.

Stay safe, wash your hands, and have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! ☘


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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


File used:
Irish Gnomes - Lucky - cut set (SVG included)

Life is what you bake it

Oh look, it's Pi Day again! My daughter used to always wear her ℼ t-shirt to school whenever Pi day falls on a school day but today is Saturday and besides, school is closed until April 24...

Print the sentiment and cut out with a Frame metal die. Cut pie out using different colored cardstock and layer together.

It has been an interesting week. All the schools in our school district were closed a week and a half ago and we moved into online learning last Monday. We loved remote school! Besides giving our day some structure and normalcy, it kept the kids busy and engaged. Even though they seem to have more work than a typical school day, I like that they were continuing to learn from their teachers through the Zoom classrooms. The school closure and online learning was supposed to last for two weeks. That all changed when our Governor ordered all the schools in our county to close for 6 weeks. The next day, after he extended his order to close all the schools in WA state, our school district decided to put online school on pause.

The kids doing work during online learning.

Even though I understand that they had to suspend online school so they can iron out some equity and legal issues, I can't help but feel sad and disappointed. From reading the various forums, I was comforted by the knowledge that I am not alone in feeling this way. Many parents are just as bummed. I am trying to be optimistic and patient but I really hope that they can resume online school soon. Until that happens, I suppose I'm going to have to make the most out of this situation.

My kids told me that they still have some school assignments to complete and their teachers still have work for them to do. Even if online school doesn't resume soon, they already have plans of their own. One of my girls suggested that I start a "Cooking School" so I can teach them how to cook some of their favorite dishes but first, they'll like to make a pie. Cos' it's Pi Day! lol! 😄😄

We'd probably not make one today but I will put that on our To-Do list. Along with all the other things I've always wanted to make with them but could never get everyone to participate since everyone is always too busy with this and that. Perhaps now we  could finally spend some time to make the things that we've always talked about making together. Like a Pie. 

Happy Pi Day, everyone!


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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


Files used:

Pie Y'all - Sayings - graphic set
Pie Y'all- Sayings cut set (SVG included)

(Note: Even though I used both the graphic and the sets for these cards, you can totally just use the Cut Set for this project. Personally I prefer the look of the printed sentiment from the graphic set but you can also print the sentiment from the cut set too. )

So lucky to have a friend like you

My phone buzzed.

"2 girls got 2 perch plaid birdhouses today."

"They hung out by the stockroom and followed the tank out."

My friend, L., was sending me text messages of what was going on in Home Goods that Friday morning.

The day before, another friend, S, had sent me pictures and offered me some other ceramic goodies that she has found in Marshalls.

A day after, yet another friend, J sent me pictures as she went through the shelves in her T.J. Maxx....

A few years ago I started collecting Rae Dunn pottery. While scouring the stores for the pieces that I was missing, I found some of the nicest people I've ever met. People like L, S, and J.

No thanks to COVID-19, my school district is currently closed and the kids are doing online learning from home. Even hubby is working from home! Since I can't go hunting for pottery like I used to, my friends are keeping me posted about what's available in the stores.

Rae Dunn collectors know that it is birdhouse season (the time of year when the stores starts putting out her ceramic birdhouses) and I had to laugh when I saw LD's new Girliebird collection. Seeing LD's birds and birdhouses just cracked me up! How timely! I had to make something with it.

Using Silhouette Studio (DE), I designed a card with a lot of Weld and Offset. In fact, the method that I used to design this card is similar to how I made a card in the video tutorial HERE. 

I cut out the bird using different colored cardstock and printed the background. I cut out the printed background with my paper trimmer and layered that onto a heavier card base. I adhered the assembled bird on top of it and added some glitter to the clover. I finished the card with some bling and ended up with this:

I can't help but think of my Rae Dunn friends, L, S, and J while I was making this card. I used to think I was lucky whenever I found a piece of pottery that I wanted, but now I know that I was truly lucky to have found friends like them. 💗


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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


Files used:
Girliebird - Lucky cut set (SVG included)
Patty Mouse paper pack
Unicorn Dreams paper pack
PN Garment District font
ZP Gingerale

Happy Leap Day! (plus Friday Freebie)

Happy Leap Day!

I hope you're all having a good one. LD released a new collection yesterday and they are giving a printable card as their Friday Freebie. It's only available for a week so do grab it before it's gone. I've added the link to it at the end of this post.

Have a great weekend!

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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


Files used:
Just Dance cut set (SVG included)

Link to Friday Freebie: Girliebird printable card

Animal Parade

Happy Mardi Gras! Fat Tuesday is upon us again and there's a mini animal parade happening on my deck! haha... 😆

Just kidding! LD released their Animal Bop collection last week and I needed a reason to play with the new cut set. I had originally planned for more animals in my Mardi Gras parade but I ran out of time so it's just a mini parade now.

By the way, if you have not grabbed your free LD set for this week, I've added the link to it below. The file is free until Friday so be sure to get it before it goes back to full price.

That's all for now. See you later, alligator! 😘

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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 


Files used:
Animal Bop-Squerade cut set (SVG included)

Link to Friday Freebie: Animal Bop printable cards

Fotoshoot Friday {Outlander-inspired} : Claire and Jamie

The kids are on mid-winter break this week and I was looking forward to spending a little time card-making. When LD released their new collection last Friday, I was ready to cut out some of those cute Scottish Terriers for a couple of shaped cards. As I started up my Silhouette Studio, my mind kept going back to the other cut set from the same collection.

I have never read the Outlander books or watch the TV series but STARZ kept pushing their ads all over my Facebook page. It's no wonder that I recognized the two main characters in the cut set since I could never look away from those ads. Side question....does anyone else ever feel like they need a cigarette after watching the ad? No? Just me? And I don't even smoke! 😩

As soon as I saw the new LD cut set, I knew they had to be inspired by the Outlander series and I supposed I couldn't stop myself from cutting and assembling Jamie and Claire.

There are a lot of detailed cuts on the two files so I had to make several adjustments to make it work. For one thing, I had to cut the two out at a relative large size (7" and 6" tall). I also eliminated a couple of layers that make up a plaid pattern by using some plaid papers that I had in my stash.

They were fun to put together but I'm thinking that they may be a little bit too big for a card. I should go and pick up a frame or a shadow box. They'll look super cute in one! Now that I'm done with these two, I guess I can finally get back to cutting out the Scottish Terriers...

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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 

Files used:
A Wee Bit Scottish cut set (SVG included)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!❤❤

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Listed below are the products that were used in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy. 
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Files used:
Gnomeo - CS (cut set, SVG included)
ZP Whiplash font

I love you a latte

Of all the things that I like to make with my cutting machine, shaped cards are probably my favorite. They are quick to make but they look so good! Using my Silhouette Cameo and the Silhouette Studio (DE) software, this is what I came up with. I can't get over how cute the LD hedgehog looks! I love it!

If you would like to try making your own, this is how the card looks like on Silhouette Studio (DE) before I cut out the layers:

If you would like to see more of the shaped cards that I have made in the past, click HERE to take a look over at my gallery.

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Listed below are the products that were used to make the card featured in this post. If you click and make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

Files used:
Hedge Hugs Cut Set (svg included)
Hedge Hugs Sayings Cut Set (svg included)
Hedge Hugs Paper Pack (graphics)

Cut and designed with
Silhouette Cameo cutting machine
Silhouette Studio (DE) software

Quill You be Mine?

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase through those links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.  

Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

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I have always loved making Valentine Day's cards. I get to use all the ♥ things that I've been hoarding and it's a great way to show your affection for your friends and your loved ones. Even though a laugh and an eye-roll usually comes once they see my cards, I'm quickly forgiven for being punny.

LD seems to always release some of their best graphics during this time of year. Their Love you a Latte, Tiny Princess Love, and Hooked on You, are a few that I love and their newest collection, Hedge Hugs, has also quickly become a favorite of mine. I mean, seriously, it's a collection of hedgehogs! How to resist all the cuteness?

As soon as I saw the release last week, I knew I had to make a card with it. For today's card, I used Silhouette Studio DE to design a shaped card with a print-and cut background. The hedgehog and the card base were cut out from different cardstock with my Silhouette Cameo. The hedgehog was assembled and put together with foam tape and glue.

The hedgehog will be cut from different colored cardstock and assembled.

The background was print-and-cut.

Here is the finished card:

By the way, the freebie for this week is a set of two printable bag toppers from the Hedge Hugs collection. CLICK HERE to get them before they're gone!

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Files used:
Hedge Hugs Cut Set (svg included)
Hedge Hugs Sayings Cut Set (svg included)
Hedge Hugs Paper Pack (graphics)

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year!

May the Year of the Rat bring you good fortune and good health!

Supplies:
Sentiment and background stamps by Mama Elephant.
Other stamps were bought in Itoya in Ginza, Japan when I was on vacation.

The mouse was colored with Prismacolor colored pencils while the sentiment was stamped in Versamark ink and heat-embossed with black embossing powder.