My passions lie in the beauty industry (since 1998) & the Craft industry (since childhood, but truly re-ignited in 2010).
Beauty & Craft inspiration, product reviews, and how-to's, as well as general life stuff..
This section in the bathroom just needed a little straightening up!
Before:
It was all a bit of a mess, and the heat tools were all jumbled up.
I really don't need the hair dryer at the top, I rarely use it. (I rarely use any of them really, but the hair dryer is the least used.)
I do, however, really love the hair dryer, and straightener in the Revlon Travel Series, mine are both red, and fold up. I've had them for at least a decade and they both travel well, and hold heat like they're brand new still.
Progress:
I decided all the brushes (3) and combs would be easier to find and work with if they were in one place.
All the larger styling products I'm currently using are now separated from the smaller items.
All the smaller products.
I decided to separate the styling products from the detangler's & hair oils. I use them (oils) far less often than any styling items.
After:
All put back together! This didn't take long, and looks so much better than before. It should be easier to just grab what I'm looking for, and put it away with ease. When all the products were together it was easy for the smaller items to get lost in the mix.
This also takes up a lot less space, so that's a plus.
I haven't found anything I love for doing my hair, do you have any suggestions? Please share them below!
First up today is how to cut larger than mat, with your Explore, Maker, or any machine without using smart materials.
I'll start with written instructions, and follow with pictorial.
Written Instructions:
1) Pick your design, and size to fit the material you've chosen to adhere it to. (Large sign, wall decal, etc.)
2) Find the easiest way to SLICE and fit to your mat. Try not to separate in the middle of a letter, number, or key element.
3) Slice each section needed, remember you can only slice with 2 layers.
4) Load material on the mats, CUT.
5) Weed design, apply transfer tape if needed.
6) Piece back together. I like to adhere one section at a time and then work from there.
7) Once all pieces are back together and adhered I like to burnish it all down one more time.
8) Admire your work!
Pictorial Instructions:
(1-4, I'm assuming if you're looking at how to do larger than mat you know how to cut, and layer. If you need help with that please message me on social media, or leave a comment below.)
12x24 Mat first, followed by 12x12.
I chose this one, because I'm from Mtn TN, not music. This design (available in DS) is too big to fit either mat.
In hindsight, if this were a real cut I was going to make, I should have chosen the straight edge square, and not the curve, but the process is the same.
I quickly figured out this was going to have to be 3 pcs. I decided to slice at mountain peeks, and avoid slicing into letters as much as possible. You slice where it's easiest for you to piece back together.
Seperated!
For this size a 12x24mat would need loaded 3 times.
A 12x12 is going to be 6 mats.
Working with the slices I already took for the 12x24 mat.
Now it'll all fit on 12x12 mats.
Mat one, of 6 if using a 12x12.
Once it's all cut, piece it back together, and apply. I like to do one section at a time, that way I can work a bit easier, and not have too many elements flopping around at once.
(Would you like a video? Let me know!)
OTHER TIPS:
Instead of duplicating an image in DS, and trying to figure out how many copies you can fit, use the PROJECT COPIES from the make screen. You can still move images around from here if needed.
How to turn Grid on & off~
How to change Canvas color:
What other Cricut How-TO's would you like to see? More tips & tricks? Cricut hacks? Let me know in the comments below!
Summer is always a busy time of year for us. We've had more sales, YAY! Hubby is working on his computer, his hard drive quit working. He had backups of most of his files, but has to recover a fair bit still.
Craftin' Wife's Creations has done a few shows, nothing huge, but they're fun!
We went to my nieces dance recital, she did awesome!
We spent a day at Splash Country (hubby gets reduced tickets through work), and sun screened about 100 times, but it worked and neither of us got burned.
This past weekend we went to a car show, then Sunday was a rainy lazy day. We caught up on laundry, cleaning, and I finally am all caught up on paperwork.
Tuesday is my next CT scan, and I've got the orange drink again (barf).
So for today's Fun Friday, as Summer is coming to an end, school started here a few weeks ago...
I know the schedule says Skincare Declutter, but I didn't have any items that needed decluttered currently. I will instead share what I'm using now, what I think about those products, and what my storage is looking like for the upcoming skincare in my rotation.
I got mine from Influenster. Both products are great! I decided to take a break from the peel because of a slight sunburn (from the pool all day). The peel is doing exactly what it claims:
• Refine pore size • Visibily diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles • Improve clarity and brightness • Brighten and even skin tone • Provide an all-over healthy glow, suppleness and smoothness to skin
It was obviously working by the end of week one (3 uses). I also like the sunscreen, it's on the thicker side, but melts into my skin well. Highly recommend both items.
Neutrogena Deep Clean~
It's a face wash. Get's the job done. Typical cleanser. Do you have one you love? Share below!
I've officially hit wrinkle cream status (40!!). I also received this through Influenster. I haven't been using it long, and it's working well with the other products I'm using. Since it's new it's a bit hard to tell if the benefits are from this or the peel, or both.
I use them to get makeup off pre washing, especially stubborn mascara. Or to just wipe off on non-makeup days.
All the skincare:
Slightly messy. The makeup brush scrubber needs cleaned, so it's going to the sink.
Note to self~ Do masks more often.
The Lanige Lip Sleeping Mask is a big hit for me, especially when the seasons change and I tend to dry out a bit. It's just the right amount of hydration.
All cleaned up:
The current items, other than the wipes, are in the vase I showed in the Brush Cleaning blog. The rest are in this drawer, closest to the wall (and other skincare).
Which products are you using right now? What are your favorites? Let me know in the comments below!
I had no idea what this was when my nephew sent the pic. In my recreation I did beast mode, instead of beast fuel. But that was a simple change. I later found out from said nephew, that Beast Fuel was his idea for an energy type drink for all ages. He recruited his 12yr old sister to do the graphic design work.
Those kids are awesome!
More keychains, for a show. Several of these are color changing vinyl (the red, pink, and white).
YAY SPORTS! Sleeve for a dance/twirl Mom.
Pocket design for my niece.
This one I created the SVG for, as I shared in my previous blog (linked above).
Super fun to do it in this printed HTV.
Had to add a lil something to the back as well.
My nephew had already said I was doing his back to school shirts, so the above one he designed with his sister, and the following 3 are what I came up with for now. I'll do more as the year progresses.
*I also did an IT shirt for him, I don't know if he can wear it to school or not (5th grade) sometimes the dress code is strict. It can be seen HERE.
I did the following shirt for myself, mainly to see how I liked this striped vinyl.
I'll let y'all be the judge in the comments below...
Current Works In Progress:
This sign, I already painted the wood pink. It was going to be something Summery, but Summer is almost over. I'm doing this with a red dress Minnie Mouse, pink background Disney printed HTV.
Lastly, is this labor of love. Hubby is a fan of Gremlins, and asked for the flasher (available in DS) but in color. Lots of contour, and duplicate. I'm not done yet, and this will be real fun to line up when the time comes:
This is where I am currently in the process:
Lot's of tee's this time. Which was your favorite? Let me know in the comment section below!
Next time we'll have a bigger variety of projects to share. I recently bought some wood rounds, and am excited to do some Halloween designs.
What other projects would you like to see? Let me know!!
