Visual Designs by Chris

Chris Durnan

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Project – Loft Bed Done.

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Projects completed! My son’s loft bed. My son has been going through this phase of wanting a desk, needing more room and getting rid of lots of younger toys. So Dad went to work on making his bed into a loft bed. Just awesome. That wall in the back there that is camoflauge-ish was my contribution to the project and I painted the side panels the light green. All the wood used was leftovers from other projects. 
yeah! I love that when we can use pieces we have here to create something. 
To this project I lost my bedside lamp, my fan because it could be screwed to the wall on the top, and the ladder from the RV (which is a wiring harness rack for a server – computer stuff. another awesome upcycle)
So all in all. Awesome project leading into the school year. Cleaning space. making better use of  space. and happy smiles all over. Enjoy!
Chris

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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

Wedding Album – used some of Chris’ files

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Jeff and I celebrated 30 years on June 25th.  We camped for a week to celebrate.  He fished and I scrapbooked.  Finished a few details when I got home.  You can see the entire album here:  https://www.facebook.com/memrybug/media_set?set=a.10200867675208121.1073741828.1651717818&type=1
Visual Designs by Chris files were used digitally by importing them into PSE 8:
#freebie Your Love Lifts Me Up
#CD00550 Love title
#CD00451 Your Love Brings Me Peace
#CD00883 Digital stamp – Next to You is Where I Belong
#CD00498 Wedding Titles – used the word GUESTS
I used the same products throughout for continuity:
*Colors:  Pink, Silver/Gray, Black, White and Dark Green
*Fonts:  Times New Roman and Wendy Medium
*Alphas:  Heidi Grace sticker letters (got on clearance at JoAnn’s a few weeks ago) & Girls are Wierd Sizzix dies
*Scherenschnitte pieces by Gina Bear (purchased in 1999) I started running out of the pieces so I used a frame sheet that came with them and cut some Tim Holtz Tattered Banners (got that die on clearance a few weeks ago too)
*Heidi Grace epoxy hearts (40% off at JoAnn’s)
*Pearls (50% off at Hobby Lobby)
*Mix of Prima, KI, and Paper Studio flowers (used coupons)
*Patterned Papers:  Anna Griffin QVC kit purchased in 2003, Becky Higgins Project Life: Wedding Edition Kit & some Midnight Core Kit
*Washi tape:  KI memories – $1 bin at Wal-Mart.  I tore some of it to look like an arrow and wrote people’s names on it.  
*Stickers:  Cloud 9, 7 Gypsies and Paper Studio – all purchased on clearance
*Glitz and Glimmer Wedding stickers (40% off at HL) – used these on the covers and the outside of the page protectors.
*Rose Ribbon – purchased on clearance in 1999
I used 1/4″ Corner Chomper which almost matches the Project Life corners
I created pennants from some patterned paper and many of the stickers.
This was my first time doing pocket scrapbooking.  It was fun, but I’m not certain I like the flimsiness of the pages.  I used a Pioneer strap hinge album.  Even with the pocket scrapbooking, I like my pages to appear as a book.  
Sorry for the glare.  I tried to use natural light without a flash but it still glared a bit.  
As you can see, I had been planning this for a long time with some of my purchases.  I am glad to have it finished.  Here’s to 30 more years!
** I also photo copied our marriage license to include on one of the last pages of the album.  It was fun doing these photos.  I am glad I didn’t do them when I was a newbie scrapper.  *smile*
 
~Angie~ (Missouri)
~I am blessed!!~

Hunting & Fishing Card

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Today is my Card A Day Blog post. and here it is below.
If you like this card. the file is on sale today. 
for 70% off. Today is the last day. It can be found. HERE



And the best part is I get to celebrate with my Dad this Sunday for his birthday!
In person. So excited to see him. I can’t remember the last time we celebrated all together.
This is a hunting card I made for my own Dad.
 It reads:
Hunting & Fishing 
Not much could be better!
Except your
Birthday
&Hunting 
&Fishing
Enjoy!
Chris Durnan

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My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

Huge Fireworks Sale 70% off!!!

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For just a few days!! so stop in quick. 
It’s a week of celebration! Independence Day! Take a moment to be thankful for our military as we celebrate.  Please be safe and careful on your travels this holiday weekend! Happy 4th of July! Enjoy! Chris

To get quick fun updates of things going on, you can join my facebook page.

My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

Letter to the paint companies..

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Dear Paint Company: Posting ads like this showing creativity are awesome! So awesome it makes us want to help your paint chip sample swatches ESCAPE! Escape from the boring store with white cans that hope for color some day. Escape to our craft rooms to be made into beautiful projects.
One day when you wonder where all your paint chips have gone. Just remember… I told you so!
Enjoy!
Chris

Photo taken of ad on back of Family Fun magazine. 

just because card using Chris Durnan’s Silly Bird cutter file

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What a cute little bird! I cut Chris’s Silly Bird file, put some pen stitching around his beak and wings, added a little glitter glue and he was ready to go. I pop-dotted the stamped phrase and tied a piece of blue ribbon and voila! an instant “just because” card. You can find Chris’s Silly Bird file here.

Thanks for looking!
Sussann

Digi-Cutter Files offered in SCUT, GSD, KNK, WPC & AI (SVG) at www.visualdesignsbychris.com

Fun Summer Ideas – Cone Delish Dessert

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We made these with our den at camp this year. I saw the idea in many places so wrapped them all up into a “did it” activity. Yeah. LOVE when I actually do these things I see.
This may be the perfect addition to 4th of July. 

Cone Delish Dessert
Basically we took some waffle cones. Filled them with marshmallows and mini candy bars we had leftovers of. Then wrapped them in tinfoil and sharpied the name on the side. Then we threw all 36 of them on the grill after we were done grilling lunch. We let them just heat through. My hubby said when they felt soft he pulled them off. And the kids ate them and enjoyed. 
They were all oooey and gooey yum. 
So you need: sugar waffle cones, tin foil, and your choice of sugary treats, marshmallows. etc.
Some tips were to make sure there were marshmallows on top to seal in the chocolate. Don’t leave them on to long because they will burn. Use the cones that are waffle sugar and not the light colored square ones.

Hope that makes some sense.

Also a parent put marshmallows, pineapple, cherry, and mounds candy bar in one. She said it was yummmm!
Have any other combination ideas?
What sweets do you grill?
My son and I worked on these Fun Summer Ideas together so we would love love to see what you put in your Cone Delish Dessert. 
Enjoy!
Chris

Summer Fun Idea – Paper Masks

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Have you ever seen the books.. Guardians of Ga’hoole or how about Legends of the Guardian?
My son jumped in with his own ideas for this Summer Fun Idea. How to make your own masks and talons similar to the characters in the books.


He created the mask on his own and then found a how-to online for the talons. They were origami claws I think. Here is the link.  Folded them all up on his own.

This kid never ceases to amaze me. He cut all the mask and paper and showed it to my hubby and I guess they chatted and the decision to make the headband piece around the back to hold it in place was made. So with a little ingenuity, Dad’s help, paper, scissors and some inspiration, my son was creating one of his favorite book characters masks. Pretty cool. However, I might be biased. 

So if you can think of a character in your favorite book and create a mask it can be lots and lots of fun. And there are tons and tons of origami folding tricks out there on google. 
Enjoy!

Chris

**Disclaimer: the image above and the series of books mentioned are not mine. nor do I have any affiliation with. my son just loves them. loves them. I have no representation of it in anyways. Other then my son thinks they rock! and I can’t buy enough of the series for him. 

Fun Summer Day – Photo Booth

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Some days are meant for fun and giggles and photos. If you have a cutter you can cut out all kinds of fun disguise pieces.

Then put together a photo booth. How about a sheet hung over the back of two chairs. A tall footstool to set the camera on and props.

You can cut out some props and put them on straws if you have a digital cutter.
Or you can dig through what you have. hats, glasses, scarfs and silly. Maybe some Halloween costumes that you have random pieces for.

I think the best part is making the photo black and white just because. Might give you some fun photos to scrap or put in a frame.

And don’t forget some fun happy music in the background. One person can be the photographer and shoot pictures. Don’t forget to get in the photo with your kids. Later in life when looking through photos they will gladly tell their kids. “That is your Grandma and we had so much fun that day just being silly. ” They won’t care that you don’t like your wrinkle or your eyes or your smile or your blah blah. They will care that they can share the memory.

If you create any, we would love to see!! My son and I worked on these Fun Summer Ideas together so we would love love to see what you come up with props!

Enjoy!
Chris

To get quick fun updates of things going on, you can join my facebook page.

My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!

CAD – Thinking of you Owl.

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Today is my day on Card A Day Blog… I chose to highlight one of my long time Creative Team members project. Enjoy! Chris

Sussann, from the VDBC Creative Team, recently had some bumps with her computer and digital cutter. I am super happy to see she has it back in gear and working again.

This was her most recent card and it fits well with the Just Because theme of this week.

This is what Sussann had to say about her project.

“How cute is this owl?! This is part of a cutter file that was included in Chris Durnan’s Quarterly Membership Club. I cut him out, pin-stitched and chalked the edges. I layered him on a torn and inked piece of patterned paper. I stamped the Thinkin’ of you! sentiment on a torn, inked piece of cardstock and pop-dotted it on the card.”

I really could never make it all happen without the VDBC creative team and awesome forum members.

Thank you Sussann !!

They are just awesome. I hope you enjoy the cute card.

Enjoy! Chris, Visual Designs by Chris

To get quick fun updates of things going on, you can join my facebook page.

My files in the store can be located here. Thank you for stopping by!