Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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VisualDesignsbyChris.com

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Hello and Welcome.

I have jumped space to my new blog at
www.visualdesignsbychris.com

Please join me there for more updates and freebies.
I am still creating digital cutter files, printables, project life and more…

Following the creative path and loving every moment of it..

Enjoy!
Chris Durnan

See you at Visual Designs by Chris

Strawberry Jam yumyum

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I must admit.. my guys are spoiled when it comes to jams and jellies. I love to can. I make jam, jelly, syrups, concentrates and more. However, I still have not taken the jump to pressure canning. Wew. I get a little nervous at the thought and say I stay within my comfort. Well rather, my enjoyment zone. I, also, found I like to make small batches and put it away after. I don’t need nor want in the middle of summer to stand over a hot stove for days on end when fruit is ripe. I was really excited to try the freshtec jam & jelly maker. For my first run, it was uber easy. In an hour I started the process of cleaning and smashing strawberries, dumping them in the “maker”. I then pulled out 5 jars and put water on to boil. When the jam was done “making”, I poured it in my hot jars and hot water bathed them. All in all I think the time investment was an hour and 5 minutes. And I am satisfied with a pop pop pop pop and don’t feel like I am trying to run a smuckers shop in my kitchen. Pretty cool. My guys are impatiently waiting for the 5th partial jar to cool in the fridge so they can partake. There has been alot of grumbling about jam choices here recently. Haha. I am happy to help them out. Love my Life.

Enjoy!
Chris

PS. If you own one of these machines and have a good resource for recipes, please comment and let me know.

 

Review of:

Ball® FreshTECH Automatic Jam & Jelly Maker (by Jarden Home Brands)

Basketball Cards

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Still celebrating my new space. So here is a project life download for today! I’d love to see your projects you can find out how to share with me on the contact paqe above!

BasketballprojlifeHoz

In my quest to make a project life album this year, I needed a few basketball cards. I have created some for my own project and share them with you. If you use them, I would love to see your project. I created them vertically and horizontally because I needed them both ways. These files are for personal use only. The password is iagreetou. They can be downloaded in pdf format to be printed.

Enjoy!
Chris

 

Horizontal

Vertical

 

BasketballprojlifeTall

 

 

Sunburst Card Cuts

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VDBC2014_SunburstCuts

Still celebrating my move to a new space. Woohoo!

Today, I am offering you a file to make your own sunburst/starburst card. I cut this to create a 4×6 card. I cut 4 different papers and created 4 different sunbursts. One I used on my handsome Hubby’s card, another I cut to use in my project life and the others I put in my to use pile. They will be quick and useable for birthday cards etc. You can increase the size of the file and make a larger burst or two.

I like these cards. Pretty fun and full of color if you choose the right papers.

I will post the rest of my card pictures later in the week.

Enjoy!

Chris

File details:
Clicking the below LINK means you are agreeing to Personal Use Only Terms
You can download here.
This is for your personal use only.
The files already loaded when I prepare this post are: MTC, SVG, DXF, AI, KNK
I will upload more versions when I have different softwares open.

 

Please share your projects with me. I would love to see them. You can contact me by anyway listed on my Contact Page. 

 

 

 

Valentine Card Cut

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Today … or rather this week… I have some freebies to share. If you like them, please share my blog post with them. So here is the first one offered this week.

Thanks for stopping by!

This is a card that cuts away the hearts and you will need to back it with some paper on the inside. VDBC_heartanddovecard

 

The details…
This file is for personal use only.
By Clicking on this link below
You are confirming that you will not share nor pass on my file. That it is for your own personal use. 
You can download the file here.

I would love to see what you create. You can email to me, visit the VDBC facebook page, or join our crafting Facebook group page.

Enjoy!
Chris

Valentine’s Day Card – wood grain

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ValentineWoodCard

I created this card after purchasing a Paper Studio Embossing Folder on a binge shop at Hobby Lobby. That store can be so dangerous. And it was on sale for a few dollars. I used the wood grain for Valentine’s Day, but originally purchased it because they had some very “guy” style folders. I am constantly on the quest for non-frilly with my guys.

A very easy card. and not to fooffy. I hope you Enjoy!
~Chris

Method:
Embossed brown paper, Scuffed it up a bit
Used a heart paddle punch to cut the heart.
Glued some red scrap behind it and left it to dry.
Then printed the verbage and glue the card to the front.

Join our facebook group. “VDBC Crafting Fun”

Grandpa’s visit 2014

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My Dad lives in Wisconsin and it is freezing and below zero somedays right now.

So he came to visit and hang out with us for camping. It was a wonderful time!

Enjoy!

Chris

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Conversations with a 9 year old… cutting a man in half

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This morning the question that gave me pause:
Can I cut a man in half?
Ahhh… my mind says just wait. But I am thinking it through. He was digging in his room. Lots of digging. We were talking pinewood derby for Scouts. Competition is steep, but not that steep…. hmm. I’ll just pause…
MOM, Can I CUT A MAN IN HALF?
Now I just give the pause outloud. “Ahhhh. If you are a doctor…. potentially”
You never know in this house. My husband and I do alot of crafting, building, fixing. They also watch Dr. Who which in itself makes a Mom think twice. And my son is no different. He will pull things apart adjust them make them different. Sooo… there is a good definition for “man” I know there is. My child however has not thrown it out for me to grasp onto.
And out of the room he comes staring intently and carefully and very focused. Holding a little plastic green army man…
“Or we could burn the bottom off” he says this with a considering tilt of the head.
My response.. “Yes. I think you can cut a man in half! Let’s not burn it. Maybe something you can do with Dad.” As I smile and he lines it up on the counter and looks at the angles of the little green man. Soon to be half a man, but for a good cause.
Looking forward to this years derby car. Has alot of thought going into it. I bought 4 different colors of paint and new paint brushes per D’s request. Also, there is conversation about dremmeling door lines out. And now green army men. And lots of planning. 🙂
I love the creativity of it!
Love my life.
Enjoy!
Chris

Disney countdown & printable

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One our gifts for D was tickets to Disney. Here is a countdown calendar I made for his box. He had a map of Disney compliments of Aunt Becci, $25 Disney Card, and a Mickey Mouse t-shirt. Recently the comment was made that we may never go again and he went when he was 4. sheesh. So now we go when he is 10. Should be fun!!
The countdown calendar is printed on white card stock and I printed out three sets of them for the three sets of numbers. I also printed out a few for the very bottom that said! Excited for Disney etc. 
Here is a download link for it. The password is iagreetou which means you agree to download for personal use.
I didn’t get any great photos in the making. However, it is a piece of chipboard cut in half. And 3 pieces of black ribbon bridging over the top of the two pieces of chipboard. Then I put red cardstock over the two sides covering the black ribbon. (you can kinda see it in thie bottom picture a little) and used my crop-a-dile to punch holes in the little cards and add the binder rings. It was a quick last minute project to add. Luckily I found some Disney stickers in my things to add to the front and a black and white ribbon.

Enjoy!
Chris