Monday, December 30, 2013

Dollar Store Crafts - Make a Shadow Box Notebook

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Many times I draw on past experiences to inspire me in my design.  This is project is no exception.  My Mom and I are avid lovers of the dollar store and my Aunt’s have been creating shadow boxes full of memories since I don’t know when.  Combine a set of mini notebooks from the dollar store with the shadowbox idea and it turns into this really simple but really beautiful notebook!  Have fun with this and sprinkle them everywhere – you never know when a creative moment will happen!





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Monday, December 23, 2013

Mixed Media Monday -Make your own stencils - An EASY mixed media technique

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Welcome to Mixed Media Monday!  Wow - Monday's seem to roll around with a blink of an eye! What a busy time of year this is for everyone and for me it's no exception.  My project to-do list is growing by the second.



Last week I attended our girls weekend creative retreat and I took the opportunity to make a load of greeting cards using a variety of techniques.  Mostly I was playing, with textures and composition, but in the end turned out some cards I really love.  So during this busy time of year, take some time out for yourself for creative play and refresh your inner soul.  Since cards are small, they can give you some quick gratification!

In this video, I show you how to make the most of Spellbinder's dies to create a stencil and then add dimension to your cards with modeling paste.  It's so easy and I know you'll love the effect!

Can't see the video?  Click here to watch on youtube.

Please leave me a comment below - would LOVE to know your thoughts or if you have any creative ways you've used stencils and modeling paste



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Monday, December 16, 2013

Mixed Media Monday - Decorate for Winter - Easy Diy Vintage Bottles

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Happy Monday!

We're digging out from a very early winter storm.  The view outside is beautiful but inside it's warm and cozy!

Aged metal intriques me.  I’m not sure what it is, but I love creating surface designs.  Perhaps, it’s because there is a bit of mystery and wonder as to what will happen.  I combined this technique, with polymer clay and some vintage bottles from our family farm to create this winter inspired home décor project.

I'm sharing one of my favorite types of projects - my Trash To Treasure projects.  I discovered this treasure on a recent trip to the treasure ditch.   It's such an easy project and adds a sweet touch to my home decor!



Can't see the video?  Click Here






Spellbinders Supplies:
GC-001 Spellbinders® Grand Calibur machine
S4-338 Spellbinders® Holiday Tags die templates
E3D-006 Framed Labels Eighteen M-Bossabilities™
MB1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ovals One Bezels
MM1-004 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Aluminum foil sheets
GC-003 Raspberry Spacer Plate
Bottle with flat front
Burlap approximately 1 1/2 inches wide with fringe.
Acrylic paint – red, brown
Antiquing medium
Polymer clay: light tan
alphabet stamps 
Music sheet

Burlap strands or twine
Jump ring
Artificial greenery (optional )
E-6000 silicone-based glue
Low-tack tape
Cosmetic sponge

Cut one ornament shape from aluminium sheet using the Grand Calibur™ machine

Place the metal ornament into the M-Bossabilities folder and tape into place.  Sandwich the folder between the embossing plate and the raspberry spacer plate and pass through the Grand Calibur.

Paint ornament red and allow to dry. Paint additional coat is needed.

Apply brown paint over raised areas to give an aged effect, allow to dry. Apply antiquing medium with cosmetic sponge

Condition a marble sized ball of polymer clay in your hands and roll into a log.  Press into pendant blank and smooth with fingers to fill the cavity.

Stamp desired word into clay.

Bake clay and pendant according to manufactures instructions for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Paint cly with brown paint. Allow some of the paint to remain in the cracks. Wipe away the excess paint as desired. Antique.

Glue pendant to ornament base.

To finish, wrap bottle with sheet music and glue.

Wrap a strip of burlap around bottle over music.

Wrap twine around bottle, and tie ends in a knot.


 Attach ornament with jump rings to the knot.
 Add bow made from twine and greenery.





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Monday, December 9, 2013

Mixed media Monday! How to make a whimsical winter postcard


A quick post today to share Mixed-media Mondays whimsical winter postcards. Unfortunately, handwritten letters and cards seem to be a thing of the past. That's such a shame. Bring a smile to someone special when they open up their mailbox and see these adorable postcards just waiting for them.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment below and make sure to click  the like button on the video.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.







Monday, December 2, 2013

The easy way to paint a penguin - Make Gift Tags



 I’ve had a long obsession with cuteness!  When I first started in this industry, I made miniature characters in polymer clay.  Sculpting really helped me train my eye to see simple shapes. I was then able to translate this into 2 dimensional form and draw.  
The simple shapes of the dies in the Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ really help make this little character quick, easy and fun!  Just another way to explore beyond.


To see the video in youtube - click here

Of course, id love to know what you think of this project and give me suggestions on what you would like to see!




Project Dimensions: Varies 


Spellbinders Supplies:
MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan X-plorer™ machine 
MD1-001 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Ovals One Die

MD1-010 Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™  Hearts Two Die Template
Shipping tag from office supply store
Craft foam
Gesso
Acrylic paint: black, light blue
Alcohol markers - red, orange
Fine line permanent marker - black
Small strip of coordinating fabric
Double stick tape
Decoupage medium 
Printed phrase
Scissors
Acrylic block
Cosmetic sponges

Cut one oval with the #3 and #1 (with #1 being the smallest) from craft foam. Cut one #2 heart from craft foam. 

Attach shapes to acrylic blocks with double stick tape to create foam stamps. 

Apply gesso to tag and allow to dry. Use a cosmetic sponge to daub on light blue paint to background to give a mottled effect. Let dry

Apply black paint to larger oval stamp and stamp onto tag in lower left corner.  Apply black paint to small oval and stamp onto body for arms. Refer to picture for placement. Allow to dry. 

Apply white gesso to heart stamp. Stamp an upside down heart in the center of oval and let dry. 

Apply decoupage medium over tag and let dry. 

Draw a triangle for beak with orange marker. Add feet with orange marker. Draw a red heart onto body. Add dots for eyes with black marker. 

Add any additional details and outline penguin with black marker.

Cut out and decoupage words. 

Tie fabric to whole at the top of the tag. 

Add touches of snow where desired with white gesso.  


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