A Piece of Life's Pie

Hello! My Name is Long Hiatus

Posted on November 3, 2017 by apieceoflifespie

Hello! Yes, I have been on a long hiatus from this domain. Apparently, I was swallowed up by the school volunteer monster for the past 4 years. It was a gift to be able to be soo involved in my kiddo’s school and sit on a PTA/PTO board. . . says no one ever! If you think the movie, Bad Moms, was satirical, think again! In all seriousness, it was an experience that I am glad I committed to and experienced. There were some pretty amazing bright spots in working along-side my kiddo’s teachers, dean, principal and some very dedicated parents, now dear friends.

Another thing I have been cookin’ for the past few years is being a Girl Scout leader for 20+ girls. Yes, I think I am crazy, but so worth the possible asylum issued straight jacket. It has been a treat to watch these kiddos grow up! I will be sharing some of our fun ideas, tricks and planning I have come up that helped navigate such a large troop.

As I write this, I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation and just wanting to gorge myself on every creative thing I see! So. . . in saying that, be forewarned! 😉

The first order of business in getting me pointed in the right creative direction, the hubs and I worked on relocating my craft space and giving it a HUGE facelift. I have to say, I am obsessed with rainbows. Living in Southern California, they are like finding unicorns. So the only logical remedy to my desire of chasing rainbows (outside of moving to Maui), is use them as the inspiration to brighten up my creative lightbulb hub.

Here are some shots of my new favorite room in the house. I plan on posting a video tour and organizational tips and tricks in the very near future!

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Posted in Craft room, Uncategorized and tagged Craft organization, craft rooms, crafting, Creative spaces, DIY, home decor ideas, Organizing. Bookmark the permalink.

An Easy Teacher Gift Brewed Up

Posted on October 18, 2015 by apieceoflifespie

Hello… I say sheepishly, as I know that it has been clearly over a year since I have posted a project. YIKES! Yes, I am slowly making my re-entrance back into sharing what I make. I humbly hope there are some of you that still remember me as I sneeze through the dust from my poor neglected blog and share this fun idea I came up with for my daughter’s 2nd grade teacher.

My kiddo’s teacher is truly powered by coffee. I am pretty sure it runs through her veins. She even has a Keurig in her classroom for coffee on demand. So coming up with an idea for her birthday was pretty set with coffee. I love making sure the kiddos are incorporated into the actual gift, so I figured out how to combine the both by adding some simple white card stock, Xyron Adhesive, a 2 inch circle punch and some kiddo creativity. I found a cute container for either coffee pods or wine corks at Kohl’s and poof, I got me an inexpensive, but sweet and useful gift for one great teacher!

Here is how I did it:

I punched out 2 inch circles and had kiddos decorate and write one kind word that comes to mind regarding their teacher.

Then I added adhesive to the back and slapped that baby on top of a Keurig Coffee Pod and called it a day! Yup, that easy! I have to say, she absolutely cherished this gift! You could stamp, use pretty paper, add cute embellishments . . . the world is your oyster with this idea!

That is it! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! Hopefully you found this one of those ,”Eureka!” type of crafty projects, like I did. AND mostly thanks for stopping by and visiting an old crafty friend.

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Posted in Xyron and tagged coffee pods, crafts, DIY, easy DIY crafts, easy gifts, keurig, teacher appreciation, teacher gifts, Xyron. Bookmark the permalink.

It’s Back To School with Goodies!

Posted on August 21, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Oh my have I been in a whirl-wind of summer fun with my kiddos! Today I resurface with this fun little project I made for a “Back To School” Party. I actually dusted off the ol’ Cricut Expressions and pulled out Doodle Charms and whipped these babies out – my kids even got in on the action!

Here is how I did it! The cut was the two basic cuts of the bus cut at 3.5 inches. I then stamped it with My Pink Stamper *retired School themed stamp set. I added some silver Candi to the wheels using a dab of hot glue.

I dug through some random paper I had on hand collecting dust and cut down to 5 1/4 wide x 7 inches long and folded in half. I then wrapped some ribbon around one half securing with tape and then I stapled them onto 5 inch clear bags (after I filled them with the goods).

Using Pop Dots, I added the little buses and called it done! Yup that easy!

DIY States Where I Lived Home Decor

Posted on July 21, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Hello and Howdy!

Today I am lucky enough to be up on the Xyron Blog showcasing this project that has been on my bucket list for a LONG time. Xyron has partnered up with the fabulously creative company, Maya Road, and I lucked out with two different types of embellishments that just screamed must be used! I gathered up an old pallet piece I have been patiently allowing to cure, pulled out the paints once again, fired up my Silhouette and secured my two fav Xyron companions of Xyron Dots and the 5 inch Creative Station and got busy telling my geographical story.

So what I did here is just break down the acutal cut file to just the state by ungrouping and making a compound path and deleting all but the state. Then I cut each state at 4.5 inches (Cut files click HERE and HERE), ran it through my 5 inch Creative Station. I used the Brooklyn Stack from DCWV for the paper choice. I took the Maya Road Lisa Upper Case Letters and heat embossed them with a Rust Embossing Powder from Globecraft and Piccolo then ran through my 5 inch Creative Station and placed on the pallet.

Then for the crown jewel of the project, I scored these adorable wooden embellishments, Alterable Bingo Motifs from Maya Road, and added a little paint and Xyron Dots and placed them in the area of the cities my hubby and I have lived in. For instance my hubby lived in the Bay Area while he attended college so he got a bird signifying flying away from the nest. We currently live in Southern California so we have the house as a symbol.

I went to college in Dallas, Texas and the star star symbol is kind of a BIG deal in Texas so I added that.

For Colorado, I was born and lived in the Colorado Springs area and it still to this day owns my heart, hence the heart. Colorado is beautiful and when I am there visiting, it feels like it is home.

Be sure to head on over to the Xyron Blog and see what my other fellow Design Team gals have cooked up . . . they never disappoint!

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Posted in DIY, Xyron and tagged Brooklyn Stack from DCWV, crafts, cut files, DCWV, DIY Home Decor, home decor, Maya Road, Silhouette, state cut files, States, States I have lived, Xyron. Bookmark the permalink.

Interchangeable Pix Collage

Posted on July 15, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Happy Tuesday and boy is summer flying by here! Speaking of summer I made a very fun gift for a friend that has three beautiful boys and they are all rays of sunshine in my book. When I got my happy mail from Xyron last month filled with May Arts Ribbon and Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine Collection I just fell in LOVE . . . in love enough to schlep out the paint, stencils and a mini pallet to cook up this colorful and full of life interchangeable picture collage that was made for this cheerful brood of boys!

As you can see I went to town with the craft paint using some stencils I had from Hazel and Ruby. Since this was geared for mugs of boys, I decided to be playful with the paint and allow for some rustic bleeding around the edges. All I did was add a very small amount water to the painted area with a paint brush and then smear it with my finger… got a few splinters, but it’s all good!

I cut down and added some card stock design paper from Simple Stories Good Day Sunshine Collection and ran it through my Xyron 5 inch Creative Station and applied it to the painted pallet. I then added the May Arts Ric-Rac Ribbon by hot gluing to the back of the pallet. This is base for anchoring pictures with the help of mini clothespins.

I added some sticker sentiments from the collection and then using Xyron Dots, I added some colorful sequences! Have I ever mentioned that my love for Xryon Dots run deep? This would be one of the things I would drag out with me in case of a fire!

As you can see this project is another super easy DIY number that could be a great gift or personal keepsake. Be sure to head over to the Xyron Blog and check out what my other fabulous partners in crafty crime have cooked up today!

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Posted in DIY, Xyron and tagged crafts, DIY, ideas for displaying pictures, May Arts Ribbon, paper crafting, picture collages, Simple Stories, Xyron, Xyron Creative Station Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Bookmark the permalink.

DIY Postcards

Posted on July 3, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

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Happy Almost 4th! Today is my lucky day to showcase a fun project I made using Lawn Fawn Stamp Set – So Much to Say and my trusty and I do mean trusty Xryon Mega Runner, that is up on the Xyron blog today. (Side note: I have used several Advanced Tape Guns and the Xyron Mega Runner is by far the BEST I have ever used- No fuss in the refill process and strong adhesive – I think I am in love!)

DIY Postcard

It is summer and if any of your are like me, you are in a fun whirl-wind of road trip travels, camping and kiddo camps. Since I have a 1st grader and a Kindergartner, I wanted to drag along some postcards they could ~~practice their writing~~ share their adventures with family and friends. I needed these to be bigger than the normal postcard due their ~~giant chicken scratch~~ eagerness of being early writers, so these will take a normal postage stamp. These are a cinch to make and you can even have your kiddos help or make on their own.

Here is how I did it (full supply list at the end):

For the Front of the Postcard: I found blank white card stock quality cards at the local craft store with the measurements of 6.5 inches wide and 4.5 inches tall. Using a paper trimmer, cut down some desired design paper with the measurements of 6.25 inches wide and 4.25 inches tall. I stamped the sentiment and image on the design paper. Using Xyron Mega Runner, adhere the design paper to the plain white card stock.

DIY Postcard3

For the Back of the Postcard: Measure the card and find the middle. Using a ruler, draw a line using a Jelly Roll pen and added some dashes for interest. I printed “To” on the right side and stamped a coordinating image from the front.

DIY Postcard1

I set up an “assembly line” and mass produced these in no time. You can go as simple or as detailed you want – keep in mind these are postcards and they need to be flush.

DIY Postcard2

Supply List:

Lawn Fawn – So Much To Say stamp set
Xryon Mega Runner
Paper Trimmer
Recollections Chevron Paper
Recollections Blank White Cardstock Cards (6.5×4.5 inches)
Ruler
Black Jelly Roll Pen
Stamp Block
Stampin’ Up Ink (Classic Black and Pumpkin)
Close to My Heart Ink (Slate – used for the yellow card)

Happy 4th and Happy Summer!

Arin

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Posted in Uncategorized, Xyron and tagged chevron, DIY, DIY postcards, easy crafts for kids, how to make postcards, Lawn Fawn stamps, summer craft ideas, Xyron, Xyron Mega runner. Bookmark the permalink.

4th of July Pinwheel Wreath

Posted on July 2, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Hello and Happy Summer!

In just a few short days my kids will be hopped up on sugar and completely water logged, I will have gone to many car shows, participated in push and pull’em parade and soothed my sweet pound puppy as the sounds and sights of freedom light up my cul-de-sac as my kids dance around with sparklers. Yes, I just gave you my 4th of July run down and what better to kick it off than adorn my door with this simple 4th of July wreath.

Using the pinwheel cut file that came standard with my Silhouette software, I cut out two different sized pinwheels (4.5 inches and 3 inches) on Die Cut with a View Stack paper added some brads to hold it all together, added some buttons and baker’s twine and sprayed with Heidi Swapp Gold Lame Color shine for a fun finish.

I wrapped some cute burlap fabric given to me by my neighbor (can be found at WalMart) around a flat wooden wreath (found at Michales). Secured fabric with hot glue and added the pinwheels using Xyron Adhesive Dots. Another easy peasy wreath under my belt!

Happy Crafting

Arin

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Posted in Xyron and tagged 4th of July wreath, crafting with burlap, DCWV, DIY patriotic wreath, Heidi Swapp Color Shine, holiday crafts, xyron dots. Bookmark the permalink.

DIY Washboard Welcome Sign

Posted on June 24, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Today is my last post as a Kiwi girl! It has been a really fun run and putting my DIY twist to the templates. Of course I would end on a note of doing it again by turning an old washboard into a summery welcome sign using some fun templates, some fun stencils from Hazel & Ruby and my trusty Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Click HERE to get all the deets on how I made it! Easy Peasy!

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Posted in Kiwi Lane Designs, Xyron and tagged crafts, DIY, Kiwi Lane Templates, reclaimed crafting, washboard, welcome signs, Xyron Creative Station Xyron 5 inch Creative Station. Bookmark the permalink.

The June Trifecta

Posted on June 9, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Traveling On. . .

Posted on May 23, 2014 by apieceoflifespie

Bonjour! All week Xyron and Paper House have been traveling the world together! If this is your first stop, please head over to Xyron’s and Paper House blogs and see what they got cookin’ in the areas of inspirations and awesome giveaways.

Since I am so lucky to be on both design teams I had a change to take a stab at two projects! My first project is a travel journal I made for my daughter. This summer we are going to travel the world . . . OK we are going to the Vegas strip to give a “Cliffnotes version” of what Paris, Rome, Italy, New York, Seattle and Egypt is like to my 5 and 6 year old. In that spirit, I whipped up a cute travel journal for my 6 year old to record her adventures in each place.

Here is how I took an ordinary $ bin composition book and turned it to this (fully supply list included at the end of this post):

DIY Travel Journal 1

Xyron 1

Xyron 2

xyron 4

Add embellishments to cover and use faux stitching on the pennant banner. Use letter stickers for the name and Baker’s Twine for the accents. To secure the bow along the spine, use a Xyron Dot.

xyron 5

Supply List:

Paper House Productions – Paris Canvas Stickers
Paper House Productions – Enjoy the Journey
Paper House Productions – 12×12 Garden Pix Paper Pad
Xyron 3 inch Sticker Maker
Xyron Double Sided High Tack Tape
Xyron Dots
Twinery Bakers Twine
Target $ Bin Composition Book
Washi Tape – Pick Your Plum
Stamp Ink
Scissors
Pencil

Now since I am playing double time designer, I made a fun layout (yes, I said I made a layout) of my time so long ago in Yellow Stone using Xyron 5 inch Creative Station and Paper House Yellowstone Collection to represent Paper House. Whew wearing so many hats can get a tad bit sticky (pun intended)! 🙂 How fun is this collection, it brought me back to some fun memories and I almost felt I was there while working with the collection. So if you have Yellowstone on your adventure list this summer, this collection is a must!