Easy Valentines Day #1: Tic Tac™ Game

 

It’s easy classroom valentines week at Pazzles! It’s become a yearly tradition that we dedicate a whole week to lots of ideas for quick, cute valentines. We’ve got some fun ideas up our sleeves perfect for sending with a child to school or sending in the mail to your grandkids. 

 

Christine Vander Woude created this adorable and fun Tic Tac  - Tick Take Toe Valentine.

 

Valentine’s Day is a big deal for most kids in elementary school. Every year parents need to come up with a Valentine idea for each kid and make enough for all of their classmates. That can be a daunting task especially if you have several kids. I can’t help with the quantity you need to make but I did create a card that will please all the kids no matter what grade they are in.
This cute and easy Valentine Project is a two-in-one treat. Open the card and there is a container of Tic Tac ™ candy on one side and a tic-tac-toe board on the other. Use the little candies as playing pieces and eat them when the game is done!  The card is one that can span a lot of age interests and is fun for both boys and girls to give. It looks great in traditional red or pink but why not humor the boys and make the card in their favorite sports team colors? I can think of quite a few adults that would love this treat as well.
Usually this type of card uses a ribbon to tie it shut. Instead, I have created a tab that slides under the heart design on the front. Assembly is quick and easy: Cut your pieces in the desired colors, then glue the tab to the back on the inside before gluing the game board liner down. (It is better to pre-fold everything before assembly.) Glue together the heart design and adhere it to the front of the card with thin pop-dots leaving the middle free for the tab to slide through. If desired you can add a sentiment on the spine of the card which can be printed on your printer or written using the pen tool. Finish the card by using glue dots or double sided tape to hold down the candy container.

Click here for the Tic Tac™ Valentine cutting files in WPC
Click here for the Tic Tac™ Valentine cutting files in AI and SVG
Have Fun!
~ Christine

                        

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Valentine Advent Calendar

I know most people use an advent calendar to count the days before Christmas, but it’s our family’s tradition to count down to Valentine’s Day. This tradition started out accidentally. One year we were so busy during the Christmas holidays we forgot to bring out the advent calendar. The kiddos noticed about three days before Christmas and we were all a little disappointed. So that year, to make up for it, we created a Valentine’s Day advent calendar and we have done one every year since. I am sharing this year’s calendar with you so you can share in our tradition and maybe start one of your own. I made one in traditional Valentine's colors for my daughter and one in more masculine colors for my son.  You can get the cutting file and instructions here.

Mitten Gift Box

Brrrr, winter is at our doorstep and that means it’s time for Christmas carolers, hot cocoa, and warm fuzzy mittens!  Though this little mitten might not be able to warm any hands, it will warm the heart of the person you give it to.  It’s filled with everything they will need to keep their hands looking nice and sparkly through all the wintry weather that is ahead of us.

Coffee Cup Gift Box

I LOVE my coffee!  I head straight for the coffee pot as soon as my feet hit the floor in the morning.  I actually collect coffee cups with fun sayings on them.  I created this cup with my love for coffee and coffee cups in mind.  You can get the file and instructions here.

Hot Cocoa Gift Box

Whether it’s for a friend at work, a neighbor or a family member you know and love dearly, the Twelve Gifts of Christmas are sure to help with your gift giving this holiday season. These twelve projects dedicated to the wonderful tradition of holiday gift-giving are bound to be a fun and exciting part of this holiday season. Beginning November 20th and ending December 8th, this exciting countdown is full of holiday cheer and Christmas spirit. You can get the cutting file and instructions here.

Wooden Crate Gift Box

While shopping one day, my eye caught a large display of wooden crates. I immediately thought they would make cute gift boxes, only they would have to be a lot smaller. I went to work right away and created this little crate.

I left mine plain so you could see what the finished crate looked like without décor, but you could decorate the side of your crate with flowers or seasonal décor. It can be made in any color you like. I made one in pink the first time I assembled it. I think a white one with light blue sparkly snowflakes would be adorable, maybe with the makings of hot cocoa inside. This crate is amazingly sturdy and it can hold a heavier gift very easily without buckling. I have a luminary Mason jar and a box of tea for the fall season.

I’ve seen the luminary Mason jars on several different web sites and knew it would be perfect for my basket, and since I have a Pazzles Inspiration Vue, I knew I could make one myself for pennies. I made the leaf tea light luminary by cutting out a leaf, using Pazzles vinyl, and then applying it to the outside of the jar. I turned the jar upside down so paint would not get on the inside of the jar, then I painted the outside of the jar using left over spray paint. I let it dry then peeled off the vinyl leaf. I added some coffee (coffee beans would have been better, but I didn’t have any on hand) to the bottom of it and then inserted a battery-powered tea light. I tied some raffia to the top and voila; an instant, inexpensive home décor gift. This can also be made to suit your needs. Maybe a Christmas tree or a heart instead of a leaf. You could use jute instead of raffia and add some wooden hearts or jingle bells to the end of the ties. Really anything goes when you have the versatility of this amazing machine!
The cutting file and complete directions are below. I hope you enjoy making this versatile crate and that it brings a smile to whomever you give it to.

You can find the pattern and instructions here.

Flat Bottomed Pumpkin Boxes

Fall is officially here! It is one of my favorite seasons, and a trip to the pumpkin patch is only secondary to decorating the house. I always wrap a leaf swag around my banister, put a festive fall wreath on the door, and add fun, fall themed items to just about every flat surface!
These stand up pumpkin boxes have a dual purpose. They can be made for decoration or to give as a gift. I chose to use them as décor for a shelf in my kitchen.
I added a stone in each of them to weight them down. I made them in three different sizes, and used three different pattered papers for interest.
The great thing about the Pazzles Vue is you can customize your pumpkins to any size you like. One idea is to make an extra-large pumpkin and use the candy cups from the Heart Shaped Valentines Box file and include lots of small gifts or candies, or you can make a smaller one and can use the gift card insert to add a gift card to the inside. The possibilities are endless. So whether you use them for décor, or for gift boxes, I hope you enjoy them, and they bring a little cheer to your fall season! You can get the pattern and instruction here in the Pazzles Library

Light up Lanturn 3 different ways.

It’s hard to believe that summer is almost over and the cooler months are upon us! Soon leaves will be changing their colors, cutout pumpkins will pop up on porches, families will be sitting at Thanksgiving tables then a visit from Santa will come quicker than we imagined!
I created this lantern and decorated it three different ways, so it would take you all the way through the upcoming cooler seasons. You will only have to make one lantern, then redecorate it for each holiday.  All the cutting files are included to complete all three looks.
This lantern glows beautifully using the battery powered tea light. The transparency used for the window panes give the illusion of real glass and adds an additional warmth and depth to the lantern.
I hope you enjoy using this lantern as a fun addition to your holiday décor.

You can get the cutting file and complete instructions by clicking here Pazzles Craft Room

Guitar Box

I live in Music City, USA, better known to most as Nashville, TN. Not long ago, the new amphitheater opened and the city exploded with music! Music is a part of everyday life here and during the summer, you can find a concert almost every night! Some on the rooftops of restaurants, some on the river front, and others, of course, at the amphitheater. I love that you can walk in downtown any night of the week and see Elvis impersonators, street artists, and plenty of aspiring musicians playing their guitars and singing for offerings.
I created this fun guitar box and card set with the city and all those aspiring musicians in mind. It’s a great gift box set for anyone that is musical in your life. You can make yours in traditional colors like this one, or maybe make it in pink or with wild colors and patterned paper. That’s the great thing about being a Pazzles owner; you can customize your projects to fit your needs by changing the size, color, or adding a name or special logo. The possibilities are endless. I hope you enjoy making this fun guitar box and maybe one day you can come visit Nashville and catch a concert with me!  You can get the instructions and cutting file by clicking this link Pazzles Craft Room

4th of July Shelf Box

I think outside of Christmas, the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. We always have a huge 4th of July celebration and cookout in our neighborhood and it is typically held at my house. It’s so much fun having everyone over and we have made some amazing memories. One of my favorite things to do is to pull out pictures from past years and see how much all the neighborhood kids have grown. I will always cherish these moments.
Every year I make party favors for our gathering and this year is no different. I think this firecracker shelf box is going to be a fun surprise when everyone opens them. I added some candy and fireworks to my shelves, but you can add anything you like. I decorated mine with stars and used a bit of bakers twine to hold it closed.

You can get the cutting file and all the instructions from this link Pazzles Craft Room 

Personal Spray Bottle

Ok so me and the hubs go to Planet Fitness at least three times a week, where they have this great policy. When you get done using a machine you spray it with their disinfectant and wipe it down for the next user. The only problem is there is only about two spray bottles for each area and the area Keith and I work out in is really large.  Sometimes you just have to wait because someone is using the spray bottles. Its not the end of the world but it can add additional time of just waiting to your workout. Soooo I got this "brilliant" idea to make my own so I don't have to wait at all. I used my Pazzles Vue and cut out some gears to match the Planet Fitness logo and stuck them on the front and back of the bottle in addition to adding a planet fitness sticker to it. I put a round rubber washer and a key ring at the top so I can hang it from the key posts that are on every machine! It was perfect!  We were able just to go right on to the next machine when we were done. I bet it saved us a minimum of 15 mins of wait time.  I just filled it up from one of the large bottles when I got to the gym.

Pocket Knife Box. It really works!!

I used my Pazzles Vue to create this pocket knife gift box to give the hubby a gift card for Father's Day. The blades and cork screw actually pull out and go back in. I think it adds an element of WOW to it and gives you a place to write a message to dad.  You can find the cutting pattern and instructions here....http://www.pazzles.net/wordpress/2015/06/08/masculine-week-pocket-knife-gift-box

Super Hero Etched Glasses

Just made these etched glasses for my son's teacher. He is a HUGE Marvel fan. I plan on filling them with his favorite candy and such. I am hoping he will love them. It always amazes me that I can take something inexpensive and make it FABULOUS using my Pazzles Vue. I Googled Marvel Super Hero's and used clip art to make the cutting files and then followed these instructions in Klo's glass etching class. 

Flip Flop Box

Yeah! It’s finally getting warm! Spring is here and summer is on its way! One thing I love about these warmer months is wearing my flip flops. They are so easy to slip on and off and inexpensive enough that I can have all sorts of styles and colors.
Another thing I love about summer is pedicures! If you’re going to wear flip flops, your toenails have to look pretty! I thought a flip flop box might be a fun way to give someone a do-it-yourself pedicure kit. Of course you can customize your contents with anything you like, maybe with a new pair of sunglasses or special sun screen, lip or face balm, etc. I thought a 4th of July themed flip flop might be cute for party favors for my upcoming neighborhood party.
You can get the cutting file and instructions for these fun flip flops by clicking here.

National Scrapbooking Day Party!!! Whoop Whoop!!!

 Join us Saturday May 2, 2015 for a day of fun in celebration of the best holiday ever, National Scrapbook Day! We’ll be partying and creating all day, so plan now to spend a few hours with us.
Here is the schedule of events:
7am MDT Free Files
We’ll share a collection of free files here on the Pazzles blog. Grab them in WPC, SVG and AI file types so you can use them in various software programs.
7am-9am MDT Online Chat
Join Klo and Michelle in the member chat area to get to know one another, chat about paper and cutting files, and play a few games for prizes. To find out what time this is in your area, use the World Time Converter. All times are posted in USA Mountain Daylight Time. You do not need to be a paid Craft Room Member, but you do need to have a free forums account to chat with us. ( Click Join Now and then choose free forum account.)
9am MDT Video Class
Join Klo for a video class. She’ll share tips and tricks for using our Cut and Paste Sketches. The video will be posted here on the Pazzles blog.
10am-2pm MDT More Free Files and Sketches
Every hour on the hour we’ll share a scrapbook sketch and the free files to cut that sketch out. The files will be free to everyone in WPC, SVG and AI file types. Use the sketches to create your own layouts and share them with us in the Pazzles Gallery Albums. You’ll have a week to create and on Sunday May 10, 2015 (midnight MDT) we’ll randomly pick two lucky participants to win a Pazzles prize.
We hope you’ll join us and spend the day celebrating this special holiday to the fullest!

         

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny is on his way! I am so excited! I love dressing up for Easter service at church, watching the kiddos hunt for eggs and of course putting together Easter baskets for my kiddos. The school will have an egg hunt and Easter party too! One thing we like to do as a family is give small gifts to the neighbors and the teachers and staff at the school. I created this Easter egg box just for that!

You can make your topper fun and simple or more elegant for a special recipient. You can personalize it with a name or a monogram to make it even more special. We added candy and a note inside telling our recipients what Easter means to us. This box is fairly easy to assemble so you can make multiples in no time. I hope you have a great Easter and that you can bring a little Easter joy to someone by gifting them with your handmade Easter egg box!

You can find the cutting files and instructions in the Pazzles Craft Room. 

Vinyl Refrigerator Labels

Just used my Pazzles Vue and white permanent vinyl to make labels for my fridge drawers. I love them! Kiddos like them too. Now maybe they will put stuff where it belongs....yeah, right...lol

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Isn't this adorable?  I think it would make a perfect teacher's/co-workers gift for Saint Patrick's Day. You can find the file here   Happy Pazziling!!!

Heart Shaped Box

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays! Why? Because of those big heart shaped boxes filled with those little round yummy pieces of chocolate! But alas, this year I am on a diet and I will not be indulging in one of them this Valentine’s Day. Every time I pass them in the store I stick my bottom lip out like a pouting child, because I know I can’t have one. That got me thinking about how many other people won’t be able to enjoy one for any number of reasons. Be it because of a diet, health reasons or because they just don’t like the candy that comes inside those beautiful heart shaped boxes. So I created a heart shaped box for myself and for all those other deprived valentiner’s that can’t have those yummy chocolates.

I designed this pretty valentine heart shaped box and candy cups so that you can put anything in them that your recipient would like. I added candy to mine, as it is for my son’s teacher, but you could add money, sugar free or homemade candy, chocolate dipped strawberries or even small toys inside of yours. I used foiled cardstock to make mine, but regular cardstock will work just fine. The heart topper was created using the WYSIWYG technique in the Inspiration Studio Pro software, and is included in the cutting file, but you can choose to decorate yours any way you like. Decorate with flowers, words, a paper piecing, or even your recipient’s name or monogram. I am sure that any way you decorate it, the recipient will be delighted, as its contents will be customized to what they like and they will know you cared enough to put it together for them.
I hope you have a WONDERFUL Valentine’s Day!
I’ve included the directions and the cutting files for the heart box, candy cups, and heart topper. Enjoy!

Click here for the PDF instructions for the Heart Candy Box
Click here for the Heart Candy Box cutting files in WPC
Click here for the Heart Candy Box cutting files in AI and SVG
~Heidi

Let it snow sign

One of my friends was throwing out a sign that said, "I may be 50, but at least I am not pregnant". She asked me if I wanted it and I said, It's funny but I wouldn't use it". 

Then I got to thinking and told her I changed my mind and would love to have it.  I just flipped it over and used vinyl to cut out the Let It Snow Title from the Pazzles Library and used it as a mask. I painted the snowflakes first and after they dried I added the words.  I also added little gems to the ends and middle of the snowflakes and a silver bow to the hanging wire. I have this on my front door instead of a winter wreath.  I am very happy with the way it turned out. My Pazzles Vue really does make treasures out of trash. 

Tardis Ornament

 

I made two of these for some friends.  I used my Pazzles to cut them out of course!  You have to know that the Tardis is only about 2.5 inches tall! Can you believe how well the Pazzles cut it out?  The windows were so small I almost couldn't see them to weed them out....and no it wasn't because I am old..lol Even though its hard to tell the background is glittered. I used a transparency and Pazzles vinyl. First I cut the transparency to fit inside the ornament and then cut the Tardis from the vinyl and applied it to the transparency. Then I rolled it up and popped it inside the clear glass ornament. I used a pair of tweezers to straighten them out and put the lid back on and tied the bow. I'm thinking my friends are going to like them!

Pazzles Holly Jolly Holiday Hop - Christmas Tree Delivery Truck

Welcome to the second stop on the Pazzles Holly Jolly Hop!

Christmas Tree Deliver Truck

 If you haven't gotten your Christmas tree yet, this truck is loaded and ready to deliver one to you!  To make this truck I used the Cool Cars Vintage Truck file and the Wreath file found in the Pazzles Craft Room Library and the Ruffled Christmas Tree file found in the projects section of the Pazzles Craft Room. There are PDF instructions for each file I used in the Craft Room. I created the sign on the truck by hand using a true type font and a Christmas tree found in the image gallery.  Using the Vue's built in optical eye, I printed and cut the sign out.  It was easy to assemble and will make a fun addition to my Christmas decorations.  My son asked if he could have it for his bedroom and I think that's exactly were it will go. 

I love using my Inspiration Vue to make fun projects and home decor.  Since it cuts all types of mediums the possibilities are endless. It truly is a remarkable machine!  

After you've hopped through the entire Pazzles Holly Jolly Hop. Hop on over to the Pazzles Craft Room and check out all the amazing projects you can do with your Pazzles Inspiration Vue! 

I hope you are enjoying the hop so far. There is lots more to see and learn. 

*Don't forget to leave a comment on each hop to be eligible to win a Pazzles gift card!  

The third stop on the Pazzles Holly Jolly Hop is Belle's Blog. Be sure to check out her inspiring project!  

Belle Blog :  http://www.flutterbellecreations.com/pazzles-holiday-hop-christmas-cottage-bendi-card

The Pazzles Holly Jolly Holiday Hop Is Coming!!!

Are you ready to see some awesome Christmas projects?  Then don't miss the Pazzles Holly Jolly Holiday Hop!!  Not only will you be inspired, but you have a change to win a great prize!! Don't miss out. The Holiday Hop starts Saturday, December 6th!  

Leave a comment for your chance to win a $30 Pazzles Gift Card. Leave a comment on each of the blogs by Tuesday December 9, 2014 for more chances to win. One lucky commenter will be chosen and notified on Wednesday December 10, 2014. Terms and Conditions: Open only to people aged 18 or older. Giveaway ends midnight MST, December 9, 2014. Only one entry per person per blog please. One winner will be chosen via random drawing. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited

Melissa Frances Cutting Collections at Pazzles!

How great is this Christmas village!!  All of these buildings have cutting files to match so you can cut your choice of paper to an exact fit for each surface of your building. Some even come with bonus shutters. This would be a great project to do with the kiddos. Even little ones can do this project.  So go take a look over at the Pazzles website and choose from 8 different buildings or get them all and make an amazing Christmas village like the one above.