It's time to wrap my holiday gifts and so I whipped up some quick holiday gift labels using my ScanNCut and their new printable sticker kit. I love how easy it is to use the “Printable Sticker Wizard” that's inside ScanNCutCanvas. I can add text to the stickers or even create my own designs and upload them into ScanNCutCanvas to use.

To make your own DIY stickers follow along with the tutorial below or watch this video:

Supplies Needed:

• ScanNCut machine and accessories

• ScanNCut Printable Sticker Kit

• ScanNCutCanvas

• Color ink-jet printer

Instructions:

Step 1 – Open up ScanNCutCanvas and change the project area size by going to “project” and then “area size,” and change it to “A4” and “portrait”.

Step 2 – Next, click on the “Printable Sticker Wizard” button & then scroll through to find the sticker you want to create.

Step 3 – There are two ways to add text to the stickers in ScanNCutCanvas.

• The first way is to just edit the font inside the wizard. When you select the sticker you want to use you can see it has text already on it. Delete that and then add in the text you want to use and then click on “preview” to see the changes and then click on “ok” to add it to the mat on your computer screen.

• You can also delete the font in the wizard and then use the ScanNCutCanvas “text” feature to add text to the gift tag once it's placed on your mat. To change the font colors and other options click on the “properties” icon.

• You can also add in your own sticker creations onto your mat by going into “edit” and “paste image” and then choosing the file you want to use. You can now use that design just like you would the stickers from the Wizard. The sticker I used for this project is actually a digital scrapbooking element was created by my friend Robin Sampson (and is a free download on her blog), and I just added the text using a photo editing program and then saved it as a .jpg before loading it into ScanNCutCanvas.

Step 4 – Now I can save my whole sticker sheet as a .pdf so it can be printed. Just click on the .pdf button and then click on the file name to rename it, and then save it.

Step 5 – Print out the .pdf file on your color ink-jet printer. For best results make sure your printing in photo quality on the white side of the sticker paper that comes in the kit. Allow your print to dry.

Step 6 – To laminate the top of the sticker prepare the laminate sheet by pulling the tear strip off . This allows a little area of adhesive to remain at the bottom of the sheet. Line that adhesive up with the bottom of your print out and use the ruler as a scrapper to smooth out the laminate so that no air bubbles develop. I like to push it slowly so I can make sure it's going on smoothly.

Step 7 – Lastly, apply it to the standard cutting mat & insert it into the ScanNCut machine. Make sure your machine settings are set at the recommended settings for the sticker kit and that you do a test cut before you cut out your real sticker. You should be able to cut through the sticker and not the backing, so adjust your machine settings and blade so you're able to.

When you're ready, do a “direct cut” scan of your laminated sticker paper and then cut it out.

And walla! We're done with our customizable and easy to make sticker gift tags!

Sponsor: Brother International

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product. 

This post contains affilliate links. If you buy from this link it won't cost you a penny more but I make a little bit of money (not enough for a pony)

The winter season is upon us! For those of us in Southern California that doesn't mean much change in the weather (although we've FINALLY got some rain!!!), BUT is the perfect reason to add a touch of snow to our homes! This stacked snowflake wreath is a great way to celebrate the change of the season no matter how cold your weather gets this winter.

Supplies Needed:

• ·ScanNCut machine and accessories
• ·USB flash drive (see the compatible ones HERE)
• ·10" embroidery hoop
• ·White acrylic paint
• ·Paint brush
• ·Approximately 5 sheets of 12" x 12" white patterned paper
• ·Buttons
• ·Foam adhesive mounting tape
• ·Glue gun and glue
• ·Download the free snowflake cut files HERE.

Watch the how-to video below:

Instructions:

Step 1 - Start off by separating the embroidery hoop. For this project we are using just the inner circle, not the one with the hardware on it.  Paint all the sides of the hoop white and allow it to dry.

Step 2 - Next we need to cut out our snowflakes.  

You can use the ones pre-installed on your ScanNCut machine, the free download ones, or scan in and then cut your own.  I made my biggest flake 4" high, and my smallest about 1.5" high.  You will need a lot of them cut out since they will be layered up. I used about 40 various sized snowflakes.

The papers I used for my snowflakes are all white with pearl finished debossing.  Mixing up the size, shape, and pattern of the flakes really individualizes each snowflake stack!

Step 3 - Once your finished cutting, build your snowflakes by starting with the largest size flake and then adhere a medium flake on top of it with foam adhesive and then a small flake on top of that.  Vary your flakes so some are stacked 2 high, and some 3 high.

Step 4 - Using your glue gun, attach the snowflake stacks to the top of the hoop.

Step 5 - Apply one layer of snowflakes on the back side of the hoop to create depth.  You can stagger different sized ones around to fill in any areas that need some filling out from the front view.

Step 6 - Add some embellishments, such as buttons, to your front facing snowflakes.

I love how the layers of the snowflake stacks look so dimensional when it's finished.

Sponsor: Brother International

Disclosure: I am a paid consultant for Brother International Corporation and have received a ScanNCut from Brother to evaluate. However, the opinions expressed are entirely my own and based on my use of the product. 

Yay, I'm really excited to share with your that I'm going to be teaching at TruthScrap in January! I really hope you will be able to join us for this event!  TruthScrap is the ONLY online, live virtual art and crafting event focused on celebrating the intersection of faith and art. With inspiration brought right to your desktop, there’s no need to change out of your PJs because you’re logging on, right from home!

If you want to learn more about the HOW and WHY of infusing your creativity with your faith, Truth Scrap is the event for you. Learn new skills while getting a new take on old favorites! And with seven energizing, talented instructors, you’re sure to be inspired.

The class I'm teaching is on Faithbooking...which is a way to scrapbook your faith. I will be sharing ideas on how you can do that and why you should! I can’t wait for you to join us! Click here for more info!

One of the things I wanted to do while art journaling in my Illustrated Faith Bible is to try different techniques than what I normally do. Now as a former scrapbooker I have a ton of letter stickers and other scrapbook embellishments so I thought, gee, I should really use some of those instead of always doing mixed media.  So here's my first, albeit rusty, attempt.  

Lately the theme of God's steadfast love keeps poping up all over the place for me, so while I love the theme of this one, the outcome is just...how shall I say it...boring?!

 These stickers I picked up at the craft store and I just cut them up to fit my needs. 

 Once I had the word stickers in place I added some other leftover stickers.

And a touch of lace transparency.

And here's the finished result.  I'm not in love with the look of it, since it doesn't really feel like "me," but I will admit that it was MUCH faster!!

Here's another page I did recently.  I doodled the sheep in the margin and found another one of those word stickers to use.

I ended up painting a bit before I actually stuck it down.

And here's the finished page.  I'm liking this one a bit more even if it's not my usual abstract look.

So, what techniques are you trying that are stretching your creative side?