Introducing a Brand New Type of Embellishment...I think I invented it!

Monday, April 9 - UPDATE - OK, it looks like I didn't invent my cute little embellishments, but the commenter who said she'd seen them before didn't tell me where or give me a link.  So, if someone has a link, I'd love to check out the inventor of this cool idea! ;)

Last night, while creating a last minute Easter layout for the store, I think I might have invented a brand new and COOL (if I do say so myself) embellishment!  I searched the internet and couldn't find anything exactly like it.  Yes, the supplies are used together in a few different projects, but nothing with just a Glue Dot and Baker's Twine.  Sure, it's a very simple ideas, but I think the best ideas always are!  My new "Swirl Pops" (yes, I just made that up this minute), are the perfect addition to your next card, scrapbook layout or altered journal...just a small 'pop' of color.  They are not at all sparkly or girly with absolutely no glitter, they'll be perfect for on projects for guys, heirloom projects or where you just want a bit of flair with no glitz!

So, without further ado...meet the new Swirl Pop:

With a pile of baker's twine and a stack of Pop Up Glue Dots on my craft table, this idea just 'popped' into my head.

First, remove the clear acetate from one Pop Up Glue Dot.  Hold the cut end of a piece of baker's twine, twist the end clockwise, in the direction it is intended to twist, and press the very end into the Glue Dot with your finger nail or a paper piercer.  (If you're using twine from the bolt, don't worry about cutting the twine yet, any length will do, but I wouldn't go LESS than 6")

Next, twist the twine clockwise around where you initially pushed it into the Glue Dot.  Do this slowly, making sure the twine you are wrapping doesn't start to untwist (making the color & white strings very loose).  Keep the strings twisted while wrapping the twine around itself a little bit at a time.  You may need to use a finger to apply a little pressure to the swirls of twine as you wrap.

When you get to the outside edge of the Glue Dot, keep wrapping one more time, so that your twine is covering the side of the Glue Dot, as well as the top.  At this point, cut the twine, so that you have a very short tail, smaller than the diameter of the Glue Dot.  After cutting the twine, peel the Glue Dot off of its backing.  Flip it over and press the tail of the twine into the underside of the Glue Dot.

Congratulations, you have created your very own Swirl Pop!

After creating this layout and applying my Swirl Pops to it, ideas for new uses for the dots have been 'popping' into my head all day!  I'll be back soon with some more Swirl Pop creations!

For now, I'll share the Easter layout I created just before I came up with my new invention! ;)

I love the bunny stamps that coordinate with this beautiful collection from WeR.  The collection is called Cotton Tail and I {LOVE} it!!!

Happy Easter!  And please let me know what you think of my new embellishment!

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Supplies:

Paper:  WeR Cotton Tail Collection, AC White Cardstock
Ink:  Martha Stewart, Forget-Me-Not; Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Walnut Stain; Color Box, Heliotrope & Orchid
Baker's Twine:  The Twinery
Punch: WeR Lucky 8 (pink punch)
Template: The Crafter's Workshop, Chicken Wire

Silhouette Class...Lesson 1

OK, I was more than EXCITED to have WON a Silhouette Cameo from Kim over at Today's Creative, back in January!  If you've got one on your Wish List, you'll want to move it to the top, as quickly as you can!  And remember to check over on Kim's blog, she just gave another one away last week and who knows when there might be another giveaway!  (Follow my JulieChats Facebook page & I'll be sure to let you know when I see another giveaway!)

Since receiving the machine, I've created some small projects...pieces for kits I'm designing for a workshop series at the store, some cute Project Life cards (no, I'm not doing PL, but these cards are TOO cute to pass up) and I even created some theme party items for my daughter's 11 birthday Rock Climbing Party.  I promise to share all the details of the Rock Climbing Party in a separate post, very soon!  There are just too many photos and details to create a post right now.

After some experimentation with my brand new Silhouette Cameo, I read a Facebook post from the Queen of Online Digital Scrapbook Classes...Jessica Sprague where she announced that Kerri Bradford would be teaching a Silhouette class.  The class is called Silhouette: Getting to Know You and you can find it HERE.  I signed up for the class and started Lesson 1 today.  Right now, the class is on sale for $19 and it's a bargain!  You have access to it FOREVER and it comes with tons of great Silhouette patterns too!

Now, being a person who gave her best effort with the Pazzle machine (The store where I work owns one and I had it at home for year and wished I could throw it out the window at least a couple times a week!)  So I did have a rudimentary knowledge of the type of program that comes with the Silhouette.  So I moved very quickly through the first few parts of Lesson 1.  But WOW, there were so many tips and new things to learn about organizing my files, the Silhouette store (I didn't know there were files on sale each week!  HELLO!) and I learned some great things about the program that I didn't know before that will make using it SO easy!

Well, at the end of Lesson 1, we cut out a circular flower card and the sentiment Thanks.  Given my current love of mist (I used Luminarte Radiant Rain mists in Ginger Flower and Blue Flame), I couldn't resist misting the petals (they were meant as negative space to be tossed out) and sticking them back over the die cut card.  I also inked the edges of the card with some fun Eggplant chalk ink from Inkadinkado.  I cut my card from some white card stock with small white flecks in it...not sure where it came from...and my Thanks. out of some amazing shimmering purple cardstock from Peterson Arne...don't have any details on it either....

I think the card turned out pretty cute and I can't wait to get to Lesson 2 of the class!  I'll try to share my creation after I complete that step too!

If you own a Silhouette, you should definitely give this class a try!

Here are some step by step photos of my little card...

Such a fun little card!  It would also be cute for Christmas, as a card or gift tag!

 This photo shows the box after the petals were removed!  Remember to always mist in a box,

and for an even shimmer of color, spray at the BACK of the box

and let the mist "rain" down on your die cuts.

I LOVE the finished product!  A few of these tied with a ribbon would make great teacher gifts!