In honor of today’s release of the Possibilities series from Lifestyle Crafts, I decided to test the limits of my Epic 6 and see what the “possibilities” with it really are.  You know I love the letterpress capabilities, but what else can I use this thing for?

First up, can it cut vinyl?

I used one of the nesting frames dyes and a piece of regular old black vinyl, face down.

It cut like a dream.  I added it to this dollar store soap dispenser

and then used a chalkboard marker to label it.

(Just call me captain obvious!)

Challenge #2, can it cut fabric?

I applied a fusible web to the backs of my fabrics first.

(I peeled off the paper before cutting.)

I cut 2 shapes using the nesting flowers set and then decided it needed a little something else.  I used one of the nesting stars and only cut part of it.

Then I trimmed off the sides.

Put it all together with a dollar store dish towel and here’s what I came up with:

Cute, right?

To celebrate the release of the new dies in preparation for CHA this week, you can get 20% off the new Possibilities line (or anything else) at Lifestyle Crafts using code “CRAP”.

***Lifestyle Crafts provided me with my Epic Combo and the dies.***

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I feel like the universe is conspiring against my desire to blog!

I’ll be back later today with a project and a direct link, but I wanted to give you all a heads up:

Lifestyle Crafts (you remember them…the letterpress that’s also a die cutter) has a big new release coming today.  They’re calling it their “Possibilities” line.  This will be Lifestyle Crafts’ highest value line with products containing up to 22 dies and sizes ranging from .25" to 5.75".

AND, they’re offering you all 20% off using code “CRAP”.

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First things first:

The winner of the Everyday Lettering giveaway is Andi.  If your name is Andi, check your email and respond to claim your prize!

Where have I been?

You know…around.

We took a little break from the crazy and headed up to Bear Lake for a long 4th of July weekend.

Looking for deer off the deck

We also fulfilled Macy’s birthday request to attend the Cache Valley Cruise-In.

Someone has an old car obsession, particularly Bel Airs.

And by “obsession” I mean she took over 600 pictures.

We also celebrated my grandma’s birthday.  There are pictures, but she threatened to kill me if they were published on the internet.  Does my grandma have the internet?  No, but she says she has connections.  I’m talking about you, Amy. 

We ate a lot of salsa

and spent a lot of time swinging on the deck

and reading car magazines with Grandpa.

We even managed to get a few new pictures taken.

And we got home just in time for me to do 6 or 8 loads of laundry and then head back out the door to EVO.  More on that to come.

How’s your summer shaping up?

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Meet Heather.

Heather says:

I’m a stay-at-home mom to one fantastic little two-year old boy and I’m a photographer based in Brigham City, Utah.  I have been doing photography for over three years and have loved every second of it.  I have met tons of great people and I have gotten to be a part of some of the biggest moments in their lives.  It has been wonderful.

About two years ago I saw some photo letters in a store and fell in love.  But at over $150 for my little last name (Jones), I knew I couldn’t afford it and there must be others who couldn’t too.  So I searched for a way to make it more affordable.  Then I spent over a year collecting pictures of everyday objects and editing them to make them beautiful.  I hope you enjoy Everyday Lettering as much as I do!

Heather realizes that we all like a little variety in our lives, so she has 2 different options for your lettering.

THE SINGLE:

In this option, you are just ordering the photographic prints and you can frame or display them however you want.  They come in 3X5, 4X6, and 5X7 and are SUPER reasonably priced ($2 or less per letter!).

THE BLOCK:

This option has each letter mounted individually on a wood block.  The blocks are approximately 5.5” tall, 3.5” wide, and 1.5” deep.  Pricing is $4 per letter.

THE BOARD:

The board option features your entire name on a single board and is also $4 per letter.

(My head is spinning with ideas for THE SINGLE and my guess is that I’ll have ordered some by the end of the week.  I have no self control.)

What’s in it for you?

Heather is giving one lucky Crap I’ve Made reader one word or name valued at up to $30 plus FREE shipping!

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment on this post saying what word/name (you can just say “my last name” if you don’t want to leave your last name in the comments) and which option (single/board/block) you’d choose!

BONUS ENTRIES:

Follow the Everyday Lettering blog.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

Follow Everyday Lettering on Facebook.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

Share the giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Come back and leave a comment on this post saying that you did.

***Giveaway runs through Sunday, July 10th at 10pm MST.***

And, if you’re in the Brigham City area and in need of a photographer, be sure to check out Heather’s photography sites!

Joy Photography by Heather

Joy Photography by Heather on Facebook

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Here’s hoping that you’re spending it with the people that you love!

(And that your mom didn’t make you wear red white and blue…)

Fun giveaway coming in the morning.  See you then?

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This is the extent of my holiday décor.  Thanks Lara and Neil for saving my butt.

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(That is quite possibly the lamest title ever)

So, last month when I was in Kentucky for the GE Momsperience, I visited the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft.  In the gift shop, there were some gorgeous leather cuffs with flowers made out of gemstones or crystals or something equally fabulous.  The problem?  They were $130.  (I’m sure they were worth every penny, I’m just cheap.  And I lose stuff.)

My versions aren’t *quite* as fabulous as the original, but they’re CHEAP (you could make your own for $5) and easy and I won’t feel bad when I lose misplace one of them.

You’ll need:

A leather cuff (mine came from the leather store, but you can get them at Hobby Lobby as well)
Leather dye (again, mine came from the leather store, but Hobby Lobby carries it)
Some sort of embellishment.  I like these stretchy rings because they’re easy to attach.  Mine came from Claire’s clearance and Rue 21.
Leather “string” to attach the embellishment (mine came from Hobby Lobby)

For the black cuffs, I used leather dye.  You swab it on and then buff it shiny once it dries.

For this one, I brushed the leather with olive oil:

And for this one, I used wood stain:

Once you’ve got your leather the color you want it, decide where you’re going to place your embellishment.  The stretching rings have 4 holes, so I just transferred those over to the cuff.  I (it was totally Macy) made the holes using a hammer and a nail.

There’s probably an actual leather tool for this, but I used what I had on hand.

Tie on your embellishment with the leather string, and you’re good to go!

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I did it.  I busted out my sewing machine.  I took the fabric I’ve been hanging onto for months, and turned it into pillows for my living room.  See?

I’ve got one more somethin’ somethin’ in mind for the long couch.  In my mind, it’s fabulous.  We’ll see how that translates to reality.

And then yesterday one of my favorite teenage neighbors came over for the day and we came up with this super simple (reversible) sling bag based on a cell phone pic she’d snapped.

I have to make a couple of modifications to the pattern piece and get it scanned and converted to PDF, but look for it soon!

You know what else I did yesterday?  I made a delightful leather cuff bracelet thingy.  It was inspired by one I saw in Kentucky, but that one was $130.  Total cost for mine?  About $5.

Look for that soon, too.

XOXOXO

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We haven’t done this in a while (a super, super  long while), and I have a few things I’m REALLY digging right now, so I though I’d share.  And they’re all (except one) available at your friendly neighborhood Target.  And probably WalMart, but I don’t shop there…it makes me swear.

#1: Lemi Shine

Are your dishes all filmy after the ban on phosphates in dish detergent?  No more!  I believe the directions say to use it in place of detergent, but I just sprinkle about a teaspoon in the dispenser and then add detergent as normal.

#2: Nicole by OPI glittery nail polish

Want the glitter toes look without the mess?  This stuff is for you.  It looks EXACTLY like when we’ve done glitter does with Martha’s glitter, but it’s a whole lot easier.  Don’t be alarmed after the first coat.  Add a second coat and you’ll be in good shape.  I just wish it came in more colors…

#3: CoverGirl’s NatureLuxe Lip Balm

I’ve been on a quest for the perfected tinted lip balm for years.  They’ve all been too shimmery, too runny, too glossy, too bright…  You get the picture.  I think this one by Cover Girl is perfection.

#4: Continuous spray sunscreen

If you’ve got a bunch of pasty blondes around your house like we’ve got around mine, you NEED this stuff.  I love that I don’t have to pin down 4 children and slather them from head to toe.  I can line then all up and spray and be done in a minute or less.  I also love that it requires pretty much no touching.  If you have a kid with SPD/Asperger’s, you’ll know why that alone makes this stuff worth it’s weight in gold.

#5: My Eclectic Whatnot camera strap cover

If you follow along on Facebook, you’ve already heard about this one.  Sorry, but someone dorky enough to buy a strap cover that matches their blog is also dorky enough to talk about it more than once.  Or twice.  I hear Ruthanne is closing up shop for the summer on July 1st, so if you’re needing one for yourself, you’d better get it soon.

So, what are you loving right now? 

***In the interest of full disclosure, I bought all this crap with my own money.  ***

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Well hello there.

Can I start with a little PSA?

Please, please, please ask your parents/grandparents/in laws if they’ve signed up for Medicare if they’re eligible.  The mess we’ve been dealing with the last week is unbelievable.  Fingers crossed that the Medicare interview this afternoon ends with some good news about it being retroactive.

Seriously…go call them right now.  Make sure they’re insured.  Please?

And now, the information you’re all really after:

JUNE SILHOUETTE PROMOTION:

Silhouette SD
2 packages tattoo paper
for $199

and/or

25% off of EVERYTHING in the Silhouette shop (excludes downloads and gift cards)!

As always, use code CRAP to take advantage of the savings.  Promotion runs June 21st – 29th.

The nice folks at Silhouette sent me some tattoo paper to play with.  In the interest of current life chaos, I made some tattoos.  The kids had a fabulous time with them, and I didn’t take any pictures.  I did have a little trouble with the machine not cutting all the way through the paper on the settings that pop up in  Silhouette Studio, even with double cutting.  I’d suggest increasing your depth just a little.

We also made BC some tattooed golf balls for Father’s Day, as seen on the Silhouette blog.

(If I did it again, I wouldn’t cut out the centers of the letters…that’s what caused the little black floaty things.)

I’ve got a couple of other ideas brewing with the tattoo paper, and (hopefully) I’ll be back sharing them later this week.  And if you’ve emailed me, I’m sorry.  I probably haven’t even looked at it yet.  Maybe today?

XOXOXO

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