I called my freebie Paper Flower Pieces . . . because that is what they are!  Feel free to grab the template!  It comes in AI, SVG, DXF, JPG, PNG and PSD, plus I included a PDF for you non-digi types!  Covered all my bases!  Essentially, what I’m telling you is that you do NOT need to own a digital die cut machine to use any of my templates!!  You can cut them out by hand (which is actually what I do 75% of the time, anyway!).  AND, you do not even have to have Photoshop to use my templates.  If you open up the PDF “lines only” version, you can simply print it out on a piece of paper that you have in your stash.  Easy!

I’d like to lead you through the steps to creating a gorgeous paper flower that will rival anything that you might buy in a scrapbooking store.

Check it out!

I recommend using cardstock for these flowers because it is sturdy and can stand up to being very wet and handled quite a bit.  You could print digital paper onto matte photo paper, however you will have to handle your flowers very gently since you are dealing with a thin layer of ink over paper.  The ink might bleed and it will definitely crackle.  Be prepared for a grungy look if you go the hybrid route. It does look cool, though!

First, cut out the flowers.  In the template, I have provided 9 flowers in 3 graduating sizes, which is exactly what you will need to make a pretty flower.  Obviously, the easiest way to cut the flowers is by pushing the “cut” button on your machine, but you can always cut by hand or even use a flower shaped punch if you have one in 3 sizes!

Now, stack your flowers and poke a hole in the middle of each set.  I used a small nail and hammer, but you could always use a pin!

Poke a brad through the middle and fan the layers as shown.  You will want to use a little brad for this part.  You can always remove it later and switch it out with something more elegant!

Use a small spray bottle to spritz your flower with water.  You could always just run it under a faucet, though!  Spray both sides until they are very wet!

Now the scrunching begins!  Start in the middle with the smallest flower and scrunch it up close to the brad as shown.  Pinch, pinch, pinch!

You will need to keep spraying the flower with water to soften up the flowers as you scrunch!

Pinch it in the middle, nice and tight as you keep adding layers.

Squeeze, crinkle, wrinkle!!  Pinch it like a Hershey’s Kiss in your fingers! (Oh, but be gentle, because it could tear . . . which is actually okay!)

Now, begin working from the outside layer into the middle to separate and curl the petals.  I use a piercing tool or a pin to “grab” the layers as I go.

Repeat the pulling out and curling process throughout the remaining layers.

When you have messed with it and you like what you see, it’s time to let the flower dry.  You could let it air dry (which could take for.ev.er.) or hit it with your heat gun, like I did!  Be aware the the heat gun could “burn” the edges of your flower!  RUSTIC!!

Done! At this point, you can dress your flower up with some glimmer mist, glitter the edges of the petals, change out the brad or cover it with some bling!

I used this flower on my new Standing Pillow Box Template Set which is available as part of the August Digi Files @ The Daily Digi!

(Standing Pillow Box and FREE Paper Flower Pieces Template by Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs (The Digichick), digital paper by Karen Lewis from the Shutterbug Boutique Collaboration (The Digichick), Bling by Prima, flower by me!)

The Daily Digi is a super fun blog style website filled with tips, trick and tons of tutorial for digital scrapbooking, photography, journaling and all kinds of memory keeping.  The Digi Files is a ginormous grab bag filled with full sized kits and template sets created by some of digital scrapbooking’s top designers (like ME!!).  My template is ONLY available in The Digi Files until the end of August, so if you want a super amazing deal on a massive, quality filled grab bag, go grab it now!!  (The Standing Pillow Box Template Set will be available in my store at The Digichick in September!)

If you like what you see, please pin it! 

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Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
Paper Flower Pieces Tutorial (and a FREEBIE!) is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

I’m happy to announce that NOT ONLY have I converted the template files to cutting files (including psd, pdf, ai, svg, dxf, jpg, png), but I also updated the template to make the top “fluffier” and I cleaned up the lines a bit.  It was a LOT of work, but the finished result is SO worth it!!  What do you think?

 Eeek!  I just love it!  Look at that fluffy “frosting!”

Let me show you how I put this together!

As always . . .

Before I get started, let me direct you to some pretty good tutorials (if I do say so myself!) found at The Hybrid Chick:

Where to Start – offers suggestions for basic materials to get you started with hybrid.

Using Templates – guides you through the process of using my templates from downloading to adding digital paper, and preparing to print.

Borderless Printing – shows you how to find your borderless printing option on your printer . . . or at least gets you headed in the right direction.

Now, print your project! Of course, you can use digital paper or simply print the lines only version on some of the patterned paper or cardstock in your stash.

I chose digital paper from the adorable collaboration called A Sweet Day by Sugarplum Paperie and Ellie Lash, available at The Digichick.

After adding the digital papers to the psd version of the template, I printed my project out onto polar matte photo paper by Red River.  (The blue is just for scraps and decorating!)

Next, I scored on the dashed lines using a bone folder and cut the entire template out by cutting on the solid lines using my craft knife.

I folded along the scored lines (notice that one of the hexagons is flipped back), and then unfolded the template again to decorate it before assembly.

To assemble the cupcake shaped box, I first I applied my favorite wet adhesive, Beacon’s 3 in 1, to the side flap as shown (with one of the hexagons flipped back) and then adhered the flap to the inside of the box.

Add some glue to the bottom of each of the 4 small triangular shaped tips and p

ress the inside hexagon to the tips.

Then, add some glue to the bottom hexagon and press it to the bottom.  At this point, I turned the box over and pressed the inside with the end of my craft knife to make sure it was nicely adhered!

To assemble the top, I first slightly curled the flaps, just to give them a bit of a bend.  Then, I folded the three rounded flaps in.

To close the box, hook two of the little circle pieces together.  Then, add the third, hooking it as shown. That’s it!

Finish it off with a pretty little button and admire your handy work!

This adorable Cupcake Shaped Box will hold something about the size of a ladies’ fist: a small cupcake, a bag of truffles, a new necklace and more!  Wouldn’t it make the most adorable wedding shower favor?  So cute!

Now, I just have to compare the old box and the new box, so you can see the difference:

Um, yeah. BIG difference, don’t you think?  It’s been “Refrosted”!!  Wahoo!

You can purchase the updated Cupcake Box Template – now called the Cupcake Shaped Box – as an entire set of files, or just the cutting files!  Oh, the options! 

So, what do you think?  Is it an improvement?  Are you as excited as I am??  YAY!!

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A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
The Cupcake Shaped Box Template: Refrosted! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

I have discovered recently that Pinterest is also a really great way to get the word out about a post or product, especially for those of us in the crafty field or home decor niche or blogging world.  I get most of my blog hits from Pinterest these days, and just yesterday I had someone tell me that she found my Etsy shop and made a purchase because a friend of hers pinned my cash envelopes to Pinterest!  Gotta love Pinterest!

When I first signed up, I found it to be really easy to figure out how to add the Pin It button to my search engine toolbar.  In fact, Pinterest has a video tutorial.  Easy.

What it doesn’t have is an intuitive tutorial to explain how I can add the Pin It button to the bottom of one of my blog posts to encourage my readers to share my content on Pinterest. I think I finally figured it out!

This little tutorial will explain how to add the Pin It button to a specific post on your blog.  It is not javascript and it will not work to embed the Pin It button into your WordPress template so that it appears on every post of your blog, but it is really not difficult to add to a single, remarkable post once you have figured it out.

First, finish writing your blog post (or work with an existing blog post) and get all of your images in place.  It might even be easier to quickly publish your post and then come back and add the button so that all of your urls are in place.

Next, go to Pinterest > “About” (upper right) >choose “Help” from the drop down menu > Choose “Goodies”

Fill in the boxes with the following:

URL of the webpage the pin is on: = Copy and paste the post url from your browser.  It will start with http://

URL of the image to be pinned: = Right click (or control click) on the image that you would like people to pin and go down to “Copy Image Location”.  Paste that code into the box.

Description of the Pin (optional): = The description you write will show up in the box when people pin your post! Use obvious key words so that your post will show up in searches!

The code in the box will change as you enter the information.  When you are done, copy that code.

Now, go to the HTML edit mode of your blog post (indicated by the red circle in the screen shot below).

Paste the code at the bottom of your blog post.

That’s it!  Go preview your post and test your link.  It works! Yay!  Now, publish your post again and invite others to “Pin It!”

I’d love your feedback! Please let me know if this works for you!

Pin It

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
How To Add The Pinterest Pin It Button to a Blog Post is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

He desperately wants a Nacho Libre costume, but they only come in adult sizes.  He wants me to make one for him. I’m on the lookout for some light blue girls stretchy pants or sweats. “No, Chancho! I would never leave you! I just need to borrow some sweats!”

I decided that I could at least get started on his costume by making him a cape. This is the second one I’ve made, so I figured I would share my process with you!

I chose an old t-shirt that was my husband’s, so it is an XL.

My t-shirt doesn’t have seams up the side, so it was kind of difficult to know where to cut, but I winged it. No biggie.

I had my son try it on before trimming the length.  I cut it to hit the back of his knees.

My first cape is shaped a bit differently at the top. This works, though.

Cole had to test it out . . .

He likes it!  I thought he was saying, “Yes!” however he told me that he was acting out a wresting move. Then, he ran inside the house and reenacted scene 20.

Um, by the way, that is NOT Spiderman. Spiderman doesn’t wear a cape, silly.  That is Nacho.

So is this:

Because Nacho wears his underwear over the top of his tights.

{giggle!}

YES, I am the mom accompanied by a child wearing a costume all around town.  He may look like Buzz Lightyear or Spiderman or a Storm Trooper, but he is definitely Nacho Libre.  I do make him take his outer underwear off before we head to the grocery store, though.  My superhero is with me wherever I go!

Oh, he’s gonna love me in 10 years when his friends discover my blog!! 

Linking to:

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A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
No-Sew Super Hero Cape! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

This has given me a chance to do a little baking, do a little laundry and do a little reading.  So wonderful!

AND, since I have time on my hands, I thought I would show you what I’ve been doing for the past few days to spice things up around here.  Well, it smells spicy anyway!

Oranges are in season (wahoo!), and super cheap at the grocery store lately.  I think Safeway has them for 49¢/lb, which is about 3-4 oranges per lb.  Not only are they excellent for the toe of the stocking, but they are inexpensive, healthy snacks!!

And, what do we do with the peels when we are all done?

Make Orange Peel Potpourri!!

All you need is this:

Basically, just some orange peels and spices.  I’ve been using whole allspice, cloves and cinnamon sticks.

Then, you just add water and let it simmer on the stove!  Remember to keep adding water so it doesn’t dry out, and I just remove a few old peels when I add fresh ones.  The house smells wonderful!

Other ideas for orange peels:

• Let them dry out on the counter (or over a heat register in the family room) overnight to freshen up the house.
• Another way to dry orange peels: put them in a paper bag in your car.  Wonderful air freshener! Just make sure the peels get plenty of air circulation and don’t forget that they are in there!
• THEN, you can put them in a bowl as dry potpourri or crumble them up to allow them to let off more fresh scent.
• Zest the orange peels to use in yogurt, baking (yummy in scones and cookies) or cooking. I made a yummy orange chicken last night!!
• Put the orange peels and some ice cubes down to garbage disposal to clean it and give it a fresh scent.
• Rub the peel around your kitchen sink to clean it!  I love to do this with lemons, too!

What else can you do with orange peels?

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
Orange Peel Potpourri is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

Check out my store at The Digichick where I’ve listed my three contributions, and put them ON SALE for New Release Thursday!!

PLUS, you can still pick up all of our freebies and peruse the tutorials that we put together for the fabulous blog hop:

• Day 1 – Christmas Cash Envelope (freebie)
• Day 2 – Advent Calendar (oh, the eye candy!!)
• Day 3 – Pretty (no, GORGEOUS!) Peppermint Bark
• Day 4 – Vintage Gift Tags
• Day 5 – Sugar Scrub (freebie)
• Day 6 – Hand and Feet Reindeer
• Day 7 – Paper Strip Ornaments
• Day 8 – Quick Christmas Cards (freebie)
• Day 9 – Wish Baskets (freebie)
• Day 10 – Candycane Reindeer (freebie)
• Day 11 – Treat Tent (freebie)
• Day 12 – Question Jars (freebie) – And you have to check out the tutorial she posted the next day about the felt flower!!

I’m STILL needing some more ideas for the Wish Baskets we are giving to the boys.  Can you think of some fun, inexpensive, family oriented activities to list on their coupons??  I need help!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
Quick Gifts! A Blog Hop Round-Up and New Releases! is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

It’s the last day of our 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop, and although we are sad to see it end, we are pleased to go out on a fun note!  Head on over to Pam’s blog @ Keeping Life Creative and get ready to be inspired by her fun project.

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
12 Days Blog Hop: Keeping Life Creative is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs

Hop over to Melissa’s blog @ Domesticated Lady and check out what she has for you!!

A sincere thank you to my current sponsors!
International Family Services - Adoption Services

Keeping Life Creative - unique art prints on Etsy

JeniLu Scraps - handmade wristlets, bags & wallets on Etsy

Bluebird Chic - hand sewn camera straps on Etsy

Visit my new Etsy shop to purchase cash envelopes!
12 Days Blog Hop: Domesticated Lady is a post from: Kelleigh Ratzlaff Designs