Decorating Mylar Balloons with Vinyl

Welcome to DAY TWO of Vinyl University and the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog Cricut Crawl (blog hop).  Today, here at Jilliene Designing, you are going to learn how to use vinyl on Mylar balloons.  It is a VERY easy process and would make a wonderful submission for our Vinyl Challenge!!!  Remember, if you post a project using vinyl and one Cricut cut and link it to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog you will have a chance to win a Cricut Expression and loads of other goodies. 

Follow along our Cricut Crawl/Blog Hop and you will have a chance to win 18 more giveaways!  You are currently at stop #2 on the rooster so if you missed Robin's Creative Cottage, be sure to pop back before you move on to Heather at Scrapping Runner Creations.  Here is our entire blog hop line-up:

Robin http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com
YOU ARE HERE  -> Jilliene http://jillienedesigns.blogspot.com
Heather http://scrappingrunnercreations.blogspot.com
JoNeita http://createwithjoneita.weebly.com
Jackie http://luv2scrappp.blogspot.com
LB http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com
Connie http://www.conniecancrop.blogspot.com
Amy T www.craftingwithamy.com
Missy http://www.quickchickdesigns.blogspot.com
Cindy http://www.cindyvernon.blogspot.com
Rebecca craftingmisfit.blogspot.com
Catarina http://blog.docerelashop.com
Kim ogdendoll.blogspot.com
Emily molliemugsblog.blogspot.com
Amy HS http://thestampingtree.blogspot.com
Ro http://rodonner.blogspot.com
Lynn http://mycardsnstuff.blogspot.com
Michelle http://justanutterpapercrafter.blogspot.com

As I mentioned in yesterday's post, last weekend we threw a surprise pirate birthday party for my daughter.  We wanted to get the most bang (kaboom) for our buck so I used my Cricut to "Piratize" many of the decorations.

I printed and cut the skull and crossbones below with my Cricut Imagine using the Imagine Cartridge "Buccaneer." 

Then I ran the skulls through my Xyron machine and attached them to stapled Dollar Tree foam cowboy hats. 

My favorite project was turning a few simple Mylar balloons into a pirate party bouquet! I purchased 9 balloons from Dollar Tree in white, red and black. I used 3, 6x12" vinyl sheets to cut out pirate graphics from the Cricut cartridge "Life's a Party" (vinyl sheets are only $.99 each at Cricket Vinyl Supplies - white, red, brown.)

It was so simple to dress up these balloons - I just couldn't believe it! First I selected the image I wanted to add to the balloon and then I placed the vinyl on my mat.

 

I squeegeed the vinyl down securely on the mat to prevent air bubbles later on in the process. Next I adjusted the image size so that it would fit appropriately on the balloon and I adjusted my cut settings on my Cricut.

Vinyl cut settings: blade depth-4, speed-4 and pressure-4 

Once cut, I removed the excess vinyl around the image and within the image so that I was left with only the cut I wanted to transfer.  I left this image on the mat. 

Now I needed to cut my transfer tape to a size large enough to cover the entire vinyl image, but not so large that there was extra tape hanging over the edges that might cause creases and other transfer issues when I went to apply the vinyl to the balloon.  To do this I rested the transfer tape above the image so the the edge of the tape sheet sat a little father over than the image edge.  I used my scissors to cut the transfer tape from the larger sheet so that there was just a small overhang on the other side as well. That was my horizontal measurement.  I repeated the process for the side of the image to get the vertical measurement leaving me with a piece of transfer tape just a tiny bit bigger than the actual image.

TIP:  If you do not have transfer tape on hand, you can use Con-Tact Quick Clear Self Adhesive Shelf Liner from the Dollar Tree for $1.00.  It actually works great and is much less expensive than official vinyl transfer tape.

To apply the transfer tape to the vinyl, I peeled a small portion of the transfer tape back so I could position it on top of the vinyl, distributing it evenly, and then I gradually eased the tape over the vinyl smoothing out bubbles and wrinkles with a spatula tool as I laid it down. You should smooth over the transfer tape/ vinyl "sandwich" several times to remove as many bubbles as possible and to make sure that the tape is adhered to the entire vinyl cut.  This will prevent the vinyl from stretching out of shape or grabbing onto the Mylar before you have it positioned correctly.

TIP: If you do not have a official vinyl transfer tool or Cricut spatula tool you can use a grout/ paint spatula tool from Dollar Tree found in the hardware section next to the paint supplies.

There are two strategies for removing the vinyl from the Cricut mat.  The first option is to remove the vinyl from the mat with the backing still on the vinyl.  If you have used the 4, 4, 4 settings, the blade should have gone through the backing and you should have no trouble lifting the entire cut.  This is ideal when you are putting down a vinyl image that is large like the "Arrrgh" (below) because you can "peel and place", meaning you can peel a little of the backing off at a time, place down a portion of the image and smooth, then peel, etc.  This method will allow you to course correct if it starts to lay down wonky and will help prevent distortion and stretching.

The other strategy for lifting the vinyl off your mat is to lift it slowly and carefully so that you leave the backing on the mat (see below).

This method is best when you have delicate images that could easily tear or become distorted.  With these, you might want to lay down the vinyl starting from the center, top of the image and gently smooth the transfer tape moving down and outward.

Once you place the vinyl down, gently use your spatula to secure the adhesion.  Remember, you are working on a delicate, air filled substrate (that could pop), so don't worry too much about minor stretching or bubbles.  Mylar balloons are rounded and have their own creases so most vinyl blemishes will blend in.

Now gently pull off the transfer tape and your balloon is finished!

Vinyl University and FCCB Cricut Crawl

Welcome to the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's "Cricut Crawl" (a Cricuty version of a blog hop), day one of "Vinyl University" sponsored by Cricket Vinyl Supplies, and if you are new to Jilliene Designing, welcome to my blog!

This week FCCB is challenging you to create a Cricut project using vinyl. You can purchase vinyl for your project at Cricket Vinyl Supplies using the coupon code: fantabulous for a 15% discount! 

Prizes, prizes, prizes... If 100 crafters submit a project for this week's Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog's challenge, Cricket Vinyl Supplies will give away a Cricut Expression package that includes:

• a Cricut Expression machine
• deep cut blade
• Jasmine Cricut cartridge
• ten 12” x 12” assorted sheets of matte vinyl
• one 12” x 12” gridded transfer tape. 

Winners will be selected by random.org so your project doesn't have to be an extravagant masterpiece to qualify to win!  You just need to use vinyl and one Cricut cut.

But wait!  There's more!  There will be Blog Candy (Prizes) at every one of the stops along the Cricut Crawl which means you have 18 opportunities to win crafty goodness. And there will be a Grand Prize up for grabs at FCCB for one of the participants who submits a project using vinyl.  That's a lot treasure to collect on your Cricut Crawl adventure.

Speaking of treasure, yesterday we threw my daughter a surprise pirate birthday party and there were eye patches, swords and hidden treasure for everyone.

 

This is how I used vinyl and my Cricut to add to the pirate party decor.  

 

I bought red, black and white balloons from the Dollar Tree and customized them using the Cricut cartridge "Life's a Party" and some of the fabulous vinyl sent to us by Cricket Vinyl Supplies.  (I point out that the vinyl they sent was "fabulous" because not all vinyl is created equally.  I learned this the hard way which I will share with you later this week.)

These balloons took me less than an hour and were so easy to make.  Stop by my blog tomorrow for step by step instructions on how to use Vinyl and any Cricut image to decorate balloons.

Now let's talk about the prize I will giveaway next Sunday, 7PM PST.  I just love the tools created by We R Memory Keepers and the Sew Ribbon is my new favorite.  I just purchased mine last Spring and now it seems like I incorporate ribbon sewing in almost all of my projects.  My absolute favorite design is the scalloped so I am giving away a Scallop kit, extra ribbon needles and some gorgeous red ribbon.

To enter for your chance to win:

1. Follow my blog by clicking the button "Join this Site" on the upper right and signing up.
2. "Like" Jilliene Designing on Facebook by clicking HERE.
3. Leave a comment below letting me know that you did both #1 and #2, plus introduce yourself and tell us if you have played with vinyl before.

Your next stop is with heather at Scrapping Runner Creations.  Make sure to visit all the stops along the way and when you get done, make sure you link up your project to FCCB's Fantabulous Cricut Crawl post!!


Here is the line up in case you get lost :

Robin http://robinscreativecottage.blogspot.com
YOU ARE HERE  -> Jilliene http://jillienedesigns.blogspot.com
Heather http://scrappingrunnercreations.blogspot.com
JoNeita http://createwithjoneita.weebly.com
Jackie http://luv2scrappp.blogspot.com
LB http://www.coolbeansbylb.blogspot.com
Connie http://www.conniecancrop.blogspot.com
Amy T www.craftingwithamy.com
Missy http://www.quickchickdesigns.blogspot.com
Cindy http://www.cindyvernon.blogspot.com
Rebecca craftingmisfit.blogspot.com
Catarina http://blog.docerelashop.com
Kim ogdendoll.blogspot.com
Emily molliemugsblog.blogspot.com
Amy HS http://thestampingtree.blogspot.com
Ro http://rodonner.blogspot.com
Lynn http://mycardsnstuff.blogspot.com
Michelle http://justanutterpapercrafter.blogspot.com

We are giving away a Cricut Expression!

I am so delighted to announce that Cricket Vinyl Supplies is sponsoring the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog the week of Sept. 9th and, if we get 100 challenge entries, will giveaway a...

Cricut Expression!

On top of that, the entire Design Team will participate in a FCCB Cricut Crawl (our version of a blog hop), and each and every stop will have blog candy! The theme and challenge for the week is Vinyl. 

We are calling this week of excitment Vinyl University and there will be tutorials, project how to's, videos, tips, tricks and inspiration! 

If you would like a chance to win a Cricut Expression submit any type of project using vinyl. If you would like a chance at winning some fabulous blog candy, visit all 21 Design Team blogs and enter their drawings. Winners will be selected by random.org so your project doesn't have to be an extravagant masterpiece to qualify to win!  You just need to use vinyl and one Cricut cut.

Don't wait to the last minute! Get a head start and order your vinyl now!

Cricket Vinyl Supplies is offering a 15% discount to their already low prices.  Use the code: fantabulous.

FCCB Heat Wave Challenge using Summer Celebrations Cricut Cartridge

This week's challenge at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is "Heat Wave," which left me with a lot of wiggle room to create a project.  I decided to do something from the Summer Celebrations Cricut cartridge since I had not had an opportunity to use it yet. 

After a lot of page flipping, I decided to do the Pool Party card but instead of doing the single color silhouette layer presented with the card, I elected to use the full primary images from pages 33 and 34 and adhere them on top of the the card cutouts.

 

I used Design Studio to size the boy and girl images to fit perfectly on the card silhouettes.  Since their sizes were customized to fit on the card, I was unable to use the "relative" feature.  This meant that I had to I re-size each of the layers so that the clothes and other elements fit perfectly on the boy and girl base images. This was a little tedious but necessary to make everything line up perfectly.

I had a lot of fun building the color palette for the two figures.  I wanted to give the two characters some personality so I dug deep into my scraps and brought out a few of those 6 x 6" pads that I can't seem to use because they are too pretty. After some hunting, I got the look I was after.  In several cases I cut the same layer multiple times with different paper so I could introduce additional color into the design. 

For example, the little girl's skirt, bathing suit top and glasses came from one layer which I cut twice with both pink and pink polka dotted paper.  This gave her outfit a little variety.

The boy's towel and a portion of his ball were also a single layer which I cut twice with both yellow and blue cardstock.

I don't know why I chose that color for the card - I guess it just spoke to me - but once I had the card cut out I thought "wow, that is a lot of green" so I cut the card + shift in white to offset it a little.  Then, once I had the primary images of both the girl and boy assembled, I adhered them on top of the white trim so that a tiny part of the white was visible. I was still uncomfortable with the amount of green and considered re-cutting the card in a different color altogether, but then I added the sun from the Pack Your Bags Cricut cartridge and it all came together.

So there you have it.  I just love the interest created by the shadows in these images.  The designers did a great job with the Summer celebrations cartridge.

Now I need to find some time and money for a trip to Paris so I can use the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile image on page 31.

New Cricut Cartridge: Create a Friend

I am back from vacation and feeling so refreshed.  I was so excited to learn about Cricut's new cartridge "Create a Friend" this morning!  I never buy cartridge's at full price.  I always wait for the big sale or buy them on ebay, but when I saw this cutie, I was REALLY tempted to put it in my shopping cart!!

I don't usually create scrapbooking pages with people die cuts but I am so inspired with these darling images! I also love the shadow design for the images and phrases.  I probably wouldn't use gray as my background; I would probably use white. Either way, the effect is so clean and professional looking.  If you would like a closer look at this gem of a cartridge, click below to tour the handbook:

Link to Cricut cartridge, Create a Friend PDF digital handbook

Finally, Family Time and Relaxation

We are in Angels Camp for a few days after a CRAZY busy week. It was hot and muggy today so we spent most of the afternoon at the pool and in the rec center. 

The first day of vacation is always transitional... it takes some effort to let go of multi-tasking and over-stimulation.  Oddly enough, my challenge hasn't been unwinding and enjoying the quiet; I've been stressed about everyone else's fun. 

Between my mom's expectations for bonding and spending time together, my kid's obsession with playing video games and checking out in front of the TV and my husband need for activity, I am feeling uncomfortable with my ability to disengage with the world. I slept in, floated on my air mattress, worked out at the gym and soaked in the jacuzzi tub for 45 minutes.  All the while watching my husband's restlessness, hearing my kid's claims of boredom and feeling my mom's frustrated vibe because the kids want to turn the TV on whenever they get the chance.

These are the nuances of life that I find baffling but they are luxury problems that do not warrant the energy I give them.  Tomorrow is another day and I, for one, plan to enjoy it.  Hopefully everyone else will do the same, but if not, I'm gonna try not to fuss with them.  After all, I am on vacation.

FCCB Challenge with CRI-Kits pens!

This week's challenge over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog is to make a project featuring "Cool Treats." Our sponsor for this week is CRI-Kits and they are providing a Pen Kit and Holder for this weeks winner!  That is a pretty amazing prize -I know this from personal experience.  I used the Regular and Neon Pen Kit to make my project this week and it was super easy and a lot of fun!

I used the Cricut Imagine cartridge, Better Together for this layout. I combined graphics from page 18 and 22 and used a small hole punch to make the scoops of ice cream.  The talk bubbles came from Graphically Speaking. 

The photos were modified in Instagram using the "Rise" filter. I wanted to capture the feelings I had about summer when I was a kid.  We used to pile into my dad's station wagon and drive down to Thrifty to get their cylinder shaped ice cream scoops on a sugar cone.  As I recall, a single was $.75, a double was a $1.15 and a triple was $1.50.  Maybe even less, but definitely not more.  I thought the "Rise" filter made the photos look like the pictures my mom took with her old Kodak when I was little.  It was the kind of camera that you wound in between each picture.

I loved using the CRI-Kit pens to write the dialogue for this layout.  They were easy to install and I didn't have any trouble with smears and smudges. 

The rule of thumb is always do your cutting first and writing second.  Also, when switching out your blade for a pen and vice versa, always slip a piece of scratch paper under the carriage so you don't accidentally draw on your project.  Give them a try - they make a really nice addition to your Cricut arsenal!

RGB Codes for Hair and Skin

I can't believe how often I have to look up hair and skin tone RBG codes these days.  Last week I had to find the code for blonde hair for an image I was modifying with my Cricut Imagine and today I was editing some photos and wanted the right shade of brown to repair red eye in a photo. (Don't you hate it when the automated "red eye removal" feature makes the eyes even worse?) So I thought I would post some great reference information just in case you find yourself looking for RBG color charts of hair and skin tone

 BLOND HAIR

 BRUNETTE HAIR

SKIN TONES

There are a gazillion RGB charts out there to help you find that perfect color.  Below are a a few of their links:

• Disney Character RGB codes
• HTML RGB to HEX
• CMYK - RGB - HEX Converter
• Pantone Colors

Have you met Maggie?

I know I have mentioned her, but I am not sure I have introduced you to Maggie Donoso.  She is one of my dearest friends in the whole world but also works for my scrapbooking/ photo archiving business, Jilliene Designs.

Because my scrapbooking and photo archiving projects were so massive, I depended on Maggie to double check all of the work, help research faces and locations for the databases, coordinate the various phases in processing the photos and overseeing a bulk of the administrative responsibilities.  She has truly been my right arm for more than 4 years.

Additionally, when I transformed the art program I had been teaching into the Create and Innovate program back in 2009, Maggie was right there helping me lead the classes.  She is amazingly gifted with children and has a vast amount of experience with hands-on, creative learning.  Let me put it this way- her house is the house on the block that all the kids congregate to.  She has 2 boys, 18 and 10, but regardless of ages or genders, the neighborhood children flock to the Donoso house to look for bugs in the backyard, set up a lemonade stand on the sidewalk, play football in the front yard, or do some crafting with Maggie on the patio. 

I feel so blessed to have Maggie as my new business partner for Create and Innovate.  Officially sharing this growing enterprise with her makes it even more remarkable.  You will be hearing more about her as time goes on so I thought I should formally introduce you.  Everyone, this is Maggie... Maggie, this is everyone.

August Art with the Tiny Humans

I was really surprised to see that it has been a week since I last put up a post.  August arrived with a thump.  "Hello Jill, I'm here and have I a lot in store for you."

The last couple of days I have been preparing the Create and Innovate 2013-14 school year schedule and last weekend we spent 2 days stocking up on our project supplies from RAFT.

Maggie is now my Create and Innovate business partner which is so exciting!  The last few years Maggie has been a huge part of the Create and Innovate program and since it continues to grow, it was a natural step that we work together as a team.  She is the Ying to my Yang but we also share a brain.  We were working on program details today and I realized the point to my statement after I had already started talking so my words were a scattering of nonsense, but she knew just what I meant.  A bonus to our new partnership will be sharing all of the behind the scenes work which will allow me time to also focus on my blog and my work as the Product Rep and as a DT member for Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog.

This week we did a lot of fun projects at camp- I can't believe there is only one week left!  For our first activity, I used one of the projects from my last blog post.

It was an incredible undertaking but a ton of fun!

Confetti Bowls

To start, I had the kids cover the bottom of their balloons with tissue paper and Modge Podge so that the interior of the bowl would be protected.

Then we put out a tub of watered down Modge Podge, several boxes of confetti and dollar store cookie sheets.  

 

The kids held their balloon over the tub while I scooped Modge Podge all over the bottom of their balloon.  They let the excess drip off and then set their balloon on the cookie sheet.  

Then they showered their balloons with confetti, gently patting the coat so that it soaked into adhesive solution.  

They brought their balloons back to me for a second coat of Modge Podge and they repeated the confetti process.  

 

When we were done with the project Jessica (a fabulous camp councilor) and I were practically tarred and feathered!

Then we hung the balloons out to dry.  We had one clothes line collapse from the weight because surprisingly, they became quite heavy after they were coated.

I can't wait to see what they look like when they are dry!

We also made treasure jars to put out in the garden.  These jars are so beautiful to look at and the best part is that you can put treasures inside of them. 

 

We used mason jars and the glass pebbles you can get at the dollar store or Michael's. 

The only adhesive that seems to work for this project is E5000 so you really need to do the project outside because of the fumes. 

 

The best way to apply the stones so that they stay put rather than slipping down the glass is to apply a coat of glue to an area, wait 90 seconds, then place the stones. Repeat the process until the entire side is complete.  If you wait 10 minutes before you turn your jar to work on the next side, the stones should stay in place. 

The kids took their time and enjoyed one another's company which was so sweet.