Mother’s Day is just around the corner.
Let’s make mom a photo frame with a picture of the family.

Pull out one of your card stock.
This is Speciality Cardtock, Me and My Big ideas.

Chose a page that you think will look the best.

This step can be done directly on your card stock paper.
It will work even better, if you start of with just a printer paper or any scrap paper you have around.
This way you will not have any fold marks on your finished project.
Position your picture and trace.
Decide on the size of the picture frame and mark.

Cut any access paper you may have.
Fold the pattern photo frame in half.

Fold in half again.

Use your scissors to cut inside your picture placement and close to the edge.

Audition on your card stock where you would like to cut it.
Since you only cut a scrap paper, you can give it another go if you are not happy with the result.

Turn your card stock around and trace.

It will be easier to cut around the photo frame.
Use an exacto knife on the inside photo placement.

Choose your favorite way to decorate your photo frame.
Use stamps, colored pens / pencils or anything you want to embellish with.

Using a stamp on photo frame.

Going over the stamp with Silver Metallic ink gel pens in various colors to give it a pop.

Take a sturdy cardboard to help your photo frame stand up.
Don’t have one on hand? You can use a cereal box.

You will need 2 pieces.
One that is slightly smaller than the photo frame.
Trace and cut.

The other slightly larger than the photo frame.

Take another piece of card stock paper.
This will be used to cover the front facing side of the cardboard.
Trace and cut.

You now have your decorated card stock, place behind it your coordinating colored card stock and behind that the cardboard.

You can use glue stick, double sided tape or any adhesive that will hold all layers together.
I use my trusty Scotch ATG 714 Tape Glider.

Tape card stock to cardboard.

Tape small cardboard to the back of your decorated frame.
Make sure you glue on 3 sides ONLY.
You want to be able to insert your picture in and also be able change it at a later date.
In this case the top was left with NO glue.

A look from the back side once glued.

Now you can glue the decorated frame to the card stock.
Use glue ONLY on the back of the small cardboard and not on the decorated frame.
If you glue the decorated frame you will not be able to insert the picture in.

Take a small piece of the cardboard and bend a small piece.

Glue the small bend to the back of the photo frame.
This step will get your photo frame to stand.

You can now insert the photo into your completed photo frame.
You can chose to insert your photo inside a photo sleeve protector for added protection.

Make sure you tell your mom you love her, not just on Mother’s Day 🙂

This project is suitable for kids, make sure to supervise while using scissors.

Enjoy!

Let’s create something!

Valentine’s day fast approaching…
Want to create something special for your loved one?
Want it to last and not be tacked away somewhere?

Use a shadow box.
This way you are not limited to something flat and you can create something that has dimension.

Remove the back of the shadow box.
Most of the time you can just twist it to the side and it opens.
On occasion the screws are over tightened, you may need to use a screw driver.

The glass and backing are separated.
Notice the Black border around the glass, it will partially block the view of the design.
You can use part or all of the backing area for different style results.

Take a patterned paper and cut to the size of backing.
Paper can be as busy or solid color depends on results you want achieved.
In this case 7 * 9.5 inches.

Make sure it fits the backing of shadow box.
Attach to backing at this point.
Use double sided tap, Adhesive Transfer Tape or glue.

Pull out your Cricut machine.

All the designs are from Happily Ever After cartridge.

Put your paper on the cutting mat.
Silver color was selected as background color in this case.

Use the Cricut spatula to gently remove paper from cutting mat.

The Cricut spatula and Cricut Tool Kit will help prevent the paper from bending as you try to remove it from the cutting mat.

Play around with how you want to place everything on your backing.
Once you get an idea of where things will go start gluing the pieces together.
Use a Glue pen or use Create-a-Sticker Machine.

This is how it should look.
Now you have less pieces that you need to move around.

Take a Red piece of paper and cut it to a note card size.

Use Clear Choice stamp ‘I love you’ or any other stamps you would like.

Place it on a clear Acrylic stamping block.
Clear your stamp after each use.

Use different ink colors with the same stamp to create a 3D effect.
Use additional stamps, in this case the heart to create a pattern.
Add a White paper underneath it, to make it stand out more.

Add ribbons in Valentine’s theme.

Use flowers in different sizes and create a layers with different colors.

Use chipboard circles with a message as the focal point of the flower.

Use Valentine theme buttons as accent in your flowers.

Arrange all components in shadow box.
Don’t glue everything all around, this will add to 3D effect.
Hang or place shadow box with love.

Your Valentine shadow box is now complete.

Happy Valentine!
Let’s create something!