Let's Create The Art Journal Series Part 1

Today is the kick off to a new series of videos all about Art Journaling.  I'm sharing my favorite tips and techniques to get you started to this really fun form of creating miniature artwork and creative journals. In this video, I'm showing you how I create my own stencils and use them to build up layers.  It's so easy and fun.  

Click here to watch the video on youtube

Please leave me a comment and let me know what your favorite art journal technique is.  And....don't forget to click the "Like" button on the video.  Thanks so much for being a loyal viewer!

Subscribe here

Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription.  Thank you!

Make Time to Cre8Time! March is National Crafts Month + Upcycled Noteholders

March is National Crafts Month and my favorite craft month of the year! Let's start this month with a project that is inspired by my book Creative Ways to Organize your Home.

In this episode of Creative Life, I show you how to up-cycle a mousetrap and turn it into a note holder. These can be displayed in so many places and are great for home and office. They can be decorated in so many ways!

By the way if you are new to my blog, I give you a sneak peek of Monday's video every FriDIY along with extra tips and tricks only available in my newsletter - so don't miss out and subscribe below!

Click here to watch the video on Youtube and please take a moment to click the like button!

Check out Kazan’s Create an Aster Video for a more in-depth tutorial – click here

Project Dimensions: Approximately 3” tall

  

Spellbinders Supplies:

MMM-001 Spellbinders® Artisan-Xplorer™ machine

S2-063 Spellbinders® Create-An-Aster

S6-011 Spellbinders® Reflective Moments

S5-143 Spellbinders® Jewel Flowers and Flourishes

MP1-001 Susan Lenart Kazmer™ for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Ephemera Papers 1

Cardstock in color of choice (I used a manilla folder)

Acrylic Paint – Plaid® Folk Art  Antique White

Sentiment Stamp

Length of Ribbon

Metal Charm/findings or embellishment of choice

Beads

Ink in colors of choice (Tsukineko® Memento-Morocco, Pistachio and Olive Grove)

Magnets

Sanding Block

Cosmetic sponge

Decoupage Medium

Tacky Glue

Pliers

Designers Note:   Consider using this as a photo holder or to display your childs artwork. 

Slide the tension pins off of the “slapper” with pliers.

Pull on the side of the slapper and remove all components.  (hint:  refer to another mousetrap for re-assembly if needed – though you will not need the metal center piece that holds the bait)

Select paper from the Ephemera Papers 1 book and decoupage onto front and back of trap.  Let dry.

Cut/emboss Reflective moments #3 die (with 1 being the smallest) from cardstock

Cut/Emboss flourish from Jewels flower and flourish die template set.  Apply green ink.

Cut/emboss petals for asters from a double thickness of cardstock.

Beginning with the largest petals, dip the end into glue and adhere to the base, working clockwise.  Repeat the layers using the next size smaller petals and so on.  The fullness of your flower depends on the amount of petals you apply.  I made mine to look more like a mum. 

Apply ink to flower and leaves.

Curl up petals to give a more realistic look.

Add embellishment and bead to center and let dry.

Apply acrylic paint to the “slapper”.  Let dry and reassemble the mouse trap.

Cut flourish elements from the Reflective Moments die and arrange onto mousetrap.  Glue on flourishes and flower where desired.

Stamp sentiment and cut into a ribbon.  Glue into place

Attach a ribbon at the base.

Glue on magnet.

Wanna win some cool SWAG?  My friend Tiffany Windsor from Cool2Craft shares how - Sponsored by Cre8Time

 Click for more info

Subscribe here

Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription.  Thank you!

How to transfer images to Friendly Plastic - New How To Video

I am often asked how to transfer images to Friendly Plastic.  There are a number of ways from simply decoupaging an image, using T-shirt Transfers or this newly discovered easy way!

I found nail tattoos at my local Wal Mart.  I wasn't quite sure if they would work but being that they were under $3.00 I decided it would be worth a try.  It was so easy and I really loved the result.  In essence these tattoos are really just water slide decals.  But they are quick and easy and the designs are quite nice too.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you would like to see in future episodes.

Click here to watch the video






Spellbinders Media Mixage  Bezel of Choice
Friendly Plastic - light colors - I used white
Nail Tattoos
Miscellaneous beads and chain

Subscribe here

Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription.  Thank you!

Thought of the day - How to handle rejection in a positive way....

Hello Crafty Friends,

Doing my usual morning peruse of Facebook, I ran across this.....

(picture credit)

I thought WOW! how true those words are!  Although I wasn't recently rejected from anything major in my life, I have dealt with my fair share of rejection in the past- personally and professionally. It sucks!


For a designer or an author, it can be that our work was rejected from a publisher - bad day! and while we think we're the absolute worst at what we do, in reality it simply means - It's just not the right time or we simply don't have the room to include it.

I've also been let go from jobs - and that stinks! - like big time stink! But, if I had those jobs today, I wouldn't be working my dream job!

Or how about something good coming to an end?  That's the way I felt when The Carol Duvall Show taped their last series of shows.  I loved being a guest, I loved what I was doing - how could this all end?  But you know what Carol said to me?  "Linda, when one door closes, another one always opens".  I have cherished those words and she was right - so many opportunities that I could have never imagined have come my way.

Those words can relate to so many aspects of our life.  It's the trials that make us strong, not the successes.  The successes are just the reward from all the hard work and persistence!

I hope you all have an amazing weekend! And if you're one of the ones in line for this next winter storm like we are - grab a project and have a crafty weekend doing what you love! Remember if something doesn't turn out....there's something much better along the way.....

xx - Linda

















Subscribe here

Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription.  Thank you!

Mixed Media Monday - Bling Your Bezels - The easy way to make a Zebra Pendant

I’m drawn to things that are classic, classy and don’t go out of style.  Animal prints are always fashionable and black and white, well, it just goes with everything!  If you have wanted to try polymer clay, this is a great project to start with.  It’s easy and you can make it an wear it in about an hour!

A big thank you to the folks at Sculpey.com for generously donating the clay used in this project.

Watch the 2 minute video  - click here

How to make a Zebra Pendant with polymer clay

Project Dimensions: varies

Spellbinders Supplies:

MB1-002S Susan Lenart Kazmer for Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ Squares One – Silver bezels

Premo®polymer clay in black and white

Brayer or pasta machine

Spiral crimp tubes

Clay knife*

Leather cording

Jump ring

Toggle/clasp

Crystal Dangle

Sculpey Gloss Glaze

Non-stick work surface

E-6000® glue adhesive

Oven

Jewelry pliers

Designer tip:  Any of the bezels in the Spellbinders® Media Mixáge™ line or The Guilded Life line will work with this project, so choose your favorite.  I chose the square shape to make the pendant a statement piece.  You can also create a coordinating bracelet and earrings with the MB1-502S or MB1-503S set.

We will be using the large and the medium size pendant in the set.

Condition each color of clay by rolling it through the pasta machine, fold the sheet in half and pass back through several times until it is soft and pliable.  You can also condition by rolling the clay by hand with a brayer, folding in half and repeating these steps several times.

Flatten each color of clay to approximately 1/8” thick

Press the top of the large bezel into the black clay to create an impression.  Cut out with clay blade and insert black sheet into the bottom of the bezel.

Fill the medium bezel with white clay. 

Cut thin angled strips of black clay.  Position onto white clay to create zebra pattern stripe.  When finished gently roll a brayer over the surface to even it out and set the stripes in place.

Bake both bezels according to the manufacturers directions for approximately 45 minutes and let cool. 

Apply a thin coat of clear nail polish to the clay surface and let dry.

Glue medium bezel into center of large bezel.

Attach bezels to cording with jump ring.

Attach toggle to cording with jump rings. 

Attach dangle to bottom loop with jump ring.

Subscribe here

Please follow the instructions in the confirmation email to confirm your subscription.  Thank you!