Trash to Treasure - Turn fabric scraps and bed springs into Fall home decor

Gotta love it when you can turn trash to treasure! Today I'm sharing a video tutorial on how to create acorns from scraps of fabric.  Combine these with an old bed spring, some twigs and who knows what else you can find and you've got a fun candle stick holder!

To view the video - click here

Hints:  Old scraps of fabric are perfect for this project.  Gather twigs and maybe even a few berries from your yard to make this project festive.  I added extra texture by creating foliage with the S4-329 Foliage templates and dictionary paper.  It’s a fun touch and adds a little bit of unexpected texture!

Variation:  Paint your acorns in fun colors and decoupage words.  Display in a decorative bowl.  They make great conversation starters.

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ machine

MD1-006 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Shields One die templates

S4-328 Spellbinders® Foliage die templates (optional)

Dictionary paper (optional)

Scraps of fabric in fall colors and patterns

Burlap

Needle and thread with matching color

Scissors

Tacky glue

Green chalk ink and makeup sponge

Polyester fiberfill or other suitable stuffing material

Acrylic paint – Tan, brown

Flat paintbrush

For the candle:

Bedspring

Battery operated taper candle

Twigs and/or berries

Fabric bow

Hot Glue

Cut three shield shapes from fabric using the #3 (with #1 being the smallest) Shields three die template.

Round off the point with scissors approximately 1/4” from the bottom.

With right sides together stitch pieces together beginning at the bottom center upwards to the top approximately 1/8” from the edge. 

Open up and set in remaining piece.  Stitch around beginning at one side on the top and sewing completely around to other side.  (add a little daub of glue on the edges to prevent them from pulling apart and fraying.  Let the glue dry.)

Turn right side out and add stuffing.

Stitch around the top approximately 1/4” from the top and pull thread tight to close opening.  Add glue and let dry.  Trim off excess with scissors.

Cut a random circle shape from burlap about 1/2” bigger that the size of your acorn.  Glue to top.

Paint acorn tan.  Let dry and then streak with brown if desired.  Add a little darker brown to the burlap and let dry.

As an option, cut several foliage shapes from dictionary paper and color with green ink.

Arrange twigs, acorns, paper foliage and berries.  Glue onto bedspring with hot glue.  Attach a bow with hot glue where desired. 

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The EASY way to make a Snowman Canvas on today's Mixed Media Monday Video

Happy Monday Crafty Peeps!!!

Some of you have already gotten a sneak peek of the video feature for this week.  I am often asked what my favorite character to create is, it would hands down be SNOWMEN! They're so fun and just looking at them makes me smile.

So in this video, I share with you my secret tips on how easy it is to create this snowman on a mini canvas!  What a great little decoration - and what a great gift too!

I'd love to hear what you think - so please share with me your favorite snowman project or leave me a suggestion for future videos.

Click here to see the video on youtube



The EASY way to create a Mixed Media Snowman Canvas

 I’ve been collecting snowmen for years and years and in the wintertime, snowflakes and snowmen decorate my house!  They have a way of brightening up my day and make me smile.  In this video, I show you how to create this adorable snowman canvas which is a perfect project to start with if you are new to mixed media.  I used a canvas board, but think creatively and explore beyond the base.  What unique base will you create your snowman on?

Project Dimensions: Varies

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ machine

MD1-012 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Circles Three die templates

  

S5-117 Spellbinders® 2012 Snowflake Pendant die templates

SKU: F-003 – Spellbinders® Blue Premium Craft Foil or MM1-001 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™   Foil Pack One

Music patterned paper

Dictionary Paper or similar paper with words

Printed Phrase

Acrylic paint:  turquoise blue, green, red, orange, off white and white

Fine Tip Permanant markers – black and brown

4 x 4 Gesso board or canvas

Small star sticker

Tacky Glue

Paintbrushes (small flat)

Decoupage medium or Soft gel medium (glossy)

Cosmetic sponge

Sanding sponge

Moist baby wipe

Bubble wrap

Container of water

Paper towels

Decoupage music sheet onto canvas and let dry.  Sand excess paper away with sanding sponge.

Using finger or cosmetic sponge apply blue and green color over the music paper.  Rub away excess with baby wipe to leave some of the music paper showing through. 

Cut one large and one medium circle using the #2 and #3 (with #1 being the smallest) Circles Three dies.  Decoupage them to the canvas.

Cut one small snowflake from foil if desired.

Paint over snowman with off white, rubbing some of the paint away to expose the paper underneath.  Add white for highlights.

Paint a red scarf using a slightly curved line between the body and head and add two long triangles for scarf tails.  Add white highlights.  Let dry.

Paint in cheeks with a blend of red/white and a small orange nose. Let dry.

Cut out phrases and decoupage them to the surface.  Let dry, then outline with marker.

Outline the snowman, add “x’s” for eyes and mouth and draw in any extra details.

Frame the canvas with random lines around the perimeter.

Add a small amount of white paint to bubble wrap and randomly stamp onto canvas for snow.

Glue on silver snowflake and add star sticker.

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We named them Hilda and Matilda- Dressforms from scratch

My very creative cousin Kelly came from California to visit me  last week.  Our Mom's are sisters. You can really tell that we come from the same family because our personalities and things we like are so similar, yet we each possess our own different perspective, which I LOVE! (I happen to love dragonflies and her...not so much )  It was so awesome(sauce) to have her around to create with and to bounce ideas off of.

Kelly's specialty is creating jewelry from vintage china and stoneware. And being that she does a number of vintage markets in the southern California area she wanted to learn how to create some dressform displays.  Check our her Tularosa Vintage facebook page.

We created Hilda and Mathilda completely from scratch using a recycled armature, chicken wire and home-made paper mache.  We covered them with tissue from vintage patterns from my Mom's collection - which I think makes them extra special.  (Hilda is on the left and Mathilda is on the right).   We laughed as we gave them personalities and even joked that if we lived closer we would open up a shop called Hilda and Mathilda.

We made the most of our 5 days together with some junkin at Phoena's Vintage Market in Billings, MO, an awesome garage sale and tons of time in the studio creating jewelry using a variety of metal working techniques.

We soldered, and rusted and dapped and hammered and most of all laughed until the wee hours of the morning!

And we finished up her visit with a journey to our favorite Tea Room - Spring Creek Tea room in Ozark.

"Hilda" loves bicycles - I think she only has about 300 or so....give or take a few and this one caught her eye.

Time with family is so precious - especially since we get so little time to spend together living so far apart.  I really hated sending her back home.

Keep checking back - I've created so much jewelry that I'll be posting more frequently.
Keep livin' the creative life!

Linda (aka Mathilda - do I really look like a Mathilda?)


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Project SNOWFLAKE! Create gifts with Dollar Store Candles - Mixed Media Monday

I personally love handmade gifts.  They don’t always have to be big elaborate gifts, sometimes, it’s just nice to give a small – “Hey, I’m thinking of you” kinda gift!.  These candles from the Dollar Store are perfect to keep on hand when you need to give a little something.  During the winter season, I love decorating with snowmen and snowflakes and how easy it is to do with the dies from Spellbinders!

Watch the video on my youtube channel - Click here

Project Dimensions: Varies

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ machine

MD1-012 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Circles Three die templates

  

S5-117 Spellbinders® 2012 Snowflake Pendant die templates

SKU: F-003 – Spellbinders® Blue Premium Craft Foil or MM1-001 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™   Foil Pack One

Music patterned paper

Dictionary Paper or similar paper with words

Printed Phrase

Acrylic paint:  turquoise blue, green, red, orange, off white and white

Fine Tip Permanant markers – black and brown

4 x 4 Gesso board or canvas

Small star sticker

Tacky Glue

Paintbrushes (small flat)

Decoupage medium or Soft gel medium (glossy)

Cosmetic sponge

Sanding sponge

Moist baby wipe

Bubble wrap

Decoupage music sheet onto canvas and let dry.  Sand excess paper away with sanding sponge.

Using finger or cosmetic sponge apply blue and green color over the music paper.  Rub away excess with baby wipe to leave some of the music paper showing through. 

Cut one large and one medium circle using the #2 and #3 (with #1 being the smallest) Circles Three dies.  Decoupage them to the canvas.

Cut one small snowflake from foil if desired.

Paint over snowman with off white, rubbing some of the paint away to expose the paper underneath.  Add white for highlights.

Paint a red scarf using a slightly curved line between the body and head and add two long triangles for scarf tails.  Add white highlights.  Let dry.

Paint in cheeks with a blend of red/white and a small orange nose. Let dry.

Cut out phrases and decoupage them to the surface.  Let dry, then outline with marker.

Outline the snowman, add “x’s” for eyes and mouth and draw in any extra details.

Frame the canvas with random lines around the perimeter.

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Hey Cool Crafters - We need your help!

As you know, I love sharing creative ideas with you all and this time we need your help.  I've been associated with Tiffany and Cool2Craft for the last several years and we both work hard to bring our love of crafting to the masses.    It will only take a minute to vote for Cool2Craft in order to move on to the next phase to get a grant to bring crafting to kids in her community.

Click here to watch Tiffany's video on how you can help! Really it only takes a click ! While you're there be sure to subscribe to her channel - she has over 900 how to videos!

Thanks for your help and your support! You're the BEST!

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How to disguise TOILET PAPER - DIY how to video

Well, did I get your attention?  I saw this done at the BlackBerry Creek Bed and Breakfast where I recently stayed and thought - WOW What a great idea!!  You know it's nice to have extra TP and now it looks cool too!!

Click here to watch the video on my Youtube channel
Want more fall DIY and decorating ideas? Click here to watch my Fall DIY playlist




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Mixed Media Monday - Cold Connections and Vintage Tin Charms - + Video

I just returned home from a mini-pickin’ trip where I happened to find some gorgeous vintage tins.  I fell in love with the pattern and the color and knew the metal in these would make great charms, pendants and beads.  This is a great project to begin with if you’re just starting to work with metal.  There’s nothing hard about it –just jump in and Explore Beyond™.  

I also learned a really cool technique on how to cut your nail/brad to just the right length using a credit card from a class I took from Kate Richbourg - awesome class!

Cant see the video? - Watch it here

Watch a playlist of my favorite  jewelry making videos - click here

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ machine

MD2-009 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Hearts Three die templates

MB6-012 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Frames Two brass blanks

Miscellaneous flat spacer beads

Jump rings

Chain of choice

Clasp of choice

Bench block (or hard surface to hammer against)

Texture hammer

Metal shears (or heavy duty scissors to cut metal)

Metal jewelry files

.125 metal hole punch

1.0 x 12.7mm wire nails (found at a hardware store)

Wire cutters

Ball peen hammer

Low-tack tape

(optional:  instead of a texture hammer, you can use a riveting hammer.  Age the brass metal if desired by lightly brushing the surface with Jax® solution for brass)

• Position the metal over the heart from the Hearts Three die template set and pass through the Artisan X-plorer™.  (you can repeat this step a couple of times for a nice indentation)
• 
  
• Cut along “cut line” to cut out the heart shape
•  
• File edges smooth and refine the heart shape with a metal jewelry file.
•  
• Punch a hole in the center of the heart with the .125 metal hole punch.
•  
• Insert the wire nail through the back of the heart and thread on a spacer bead. 
•  
• Punch a hole in an old credit card and insert over the spacer bead.  Snip excess wire using the thickness of the card as your guide.  Remove card.
•  
• Gently tap on the nail head with a ball peen hammer using a circular motion.  This will blossom the nail head and secure the spacer bead embellishment to the heart.  Continue to do this until the nail head is flat against the bead.  (hint – you can glue a tiny rhinestone over the nail head to hide it) Punch an additional hole in the heart where you want to attach it to the chain.
•  
• Set the brass blanks onto the bench block and use the texture hammer to apply a cross hatch pattern. 
•  
• I’ve offset the frame blank and the backing blank, marked where I wanted my hole to be in the top and punched it out with the metal punch.  Insert a rivet as you did with the heart charm to attach.
•  
• Cut a piece of metal or use a photo to fit inside the frame. 
•  
• Attach chain, charms and beads with jump rings.  Attach toggle clasp.

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