Shrinky-Dink-A-Do

Here are some more gifts I made for my daughters' birthdays, this time using Shrinky-Dinks.

I cut all of the shapes using my Vagabond, stamped them with StayzOn ink and colored a few using Sharpies (it has to be permanent ink), then popped them in the oven for a few minutes.

I must admit, I was enthralled with the shrinking process and got really excited when things began to miniaturize. When they were cooled I applied a couple of coats of Glossy Accents, which made the colors even deeper and more vibrant.

As you can see from the above photo, the wings didn’t turn out, they curled up into themselves and I couldn’t get them untangled before they hardened. Maybe next time I'll try using my embossing heat gun.

My favorites are the camera, clock, phone, typewriter and sewing form. My daughter made the typewriter I gave her into a necklace and it looks darling. The sewing form, which took quite a bit of time, is a magnet for my other daughter’s fridge. The little measuring tape was made from Washi Tape, everything else is Shrink-Dink stuff. I applied pop dots to the backs of some of the other things like the clouds, pumpkins and butterfly so they can be used for scrapbooking.

I visited the Shrinky Dink Web site and discovered they sell colored and clear sheets as well (I used white), so I'm putting it on my birthday/Christmas list. I love getting crafts supplies as gifts so I can perpetuate the giving!

I Did A Little Crafting

Even though I've been fighting this dang flu thing (cough, sore throat, stuffy head, no energy), I managed to do a little crafting.

 

This is probably my most favorite card I made so far. Dawn bought me different-sized acrylic people buttons, so I used one of the ladies, isn't it fabulous? I threaded it with some twine (from the Christmas Advent calendar goodies, see December) and tied it in a little bow.

 

I am in love with that twine, can you tell?

 

The "Crafted by" is a rub-on. I like how it looks like it's printed with glossy ink.

I also made Deni a Valentine's Day card. It's a bit on the gaudy side, but he liked it anyway.

Valentine's Day is also the anniversary of our first date, so I made up this silly ditty for the inside. "Roses are red, violets are blue, today is special, cause it's our anniversary, too!" I'm such a dork.

The polka-dotted frame and little tag on the back was cut using my Vagabond and a Nestabilities frame die. The hearts were made with a Martha Stewart punch. (Dawn made a heart banner for one of her co-workers' birthday by threading them on thin ribbon and it turned out adorable!) I could have printed out the text, my handwriting is just awful, but I think it gives it a more personal touch.

Next time I'll post photos of the rosettes I made, I'm so excited to have the die!