More Fun Tutorials: My Creative Scoop, Creative Smiles, and Ink On My Fingers

Hey, Crafters!

Here are some more fun blogs with creative tutorials!

1.  Mindy Baxter of My Creative Scoop!  If you are like me, you can always use help coloring with Copics.  In her fabulous step-by-step tutorial, Mindy shows you How To Color Grass.  If only my grass could look like hers!

Isn't this just too cute?

Pay Mindy a visit, give it a try!

Come back here and post your project in our Never-ending challenge!

2.  Donna Ellis of Creative Smiles!   Donna's fabulous Butterfly Flutter design is just off the chain.  I love tall cards, I love creative die designs and I love this project!  The tutorial is cogent and beautifully photographed.  

Lovely work and the palette is simply stunning!

3.  Billie, over at Ink On My Fingers, is one of my favorite designers.  Her designs are creative and fun!   Billie usually spotlights interesting techniques and this week she created a fabulous fall scene using the Masking Technique.   If you did not know differently, you would think it is a single stamped image.   Great Job, Billie!

I really thought the leaves and the ant were one stamp!

Stop by and leave a little love on the blogs of these wonderful designers!  Thank them for sharing their talent and inspiring us all!

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Challenge # 11 - Up-cycled Banana Stand

Hello, Crafty Beginners!

This week's challenge is:  Upcycle a common household item.

We all have things around the house that could use a little Spring sprucing up.  I have decided to spruce up anything that is remotely connected to my illness.

I eat a lot of Bananas because I NEVER want to have to take potassium again.

THIS IS MY UPCYCLED BANANA STAND

Supplies:

Banana Stand

Napkins

Chalk or Acrylic Paint

Decoupage Glue

Matte Varnish

Bananas

Disassemble and Wash thoroughly with warm soapy water.

 I allowed mine to air dry for a day before I started painting.

No one has entered a project in the challenge in the last couple of challenges, so I am not setting up a link.  If you decide to upscale one of your household items and want to share it with me, you can enter it here - Never Ending Challenge

Have A Fabulous Week!

Hugz,

Chana

Challenge #9 - The Quaker Oat Box Challenge - Repurpose A Cardboard Food Container

Hello, Crafters!

Daylight Saving Time (United States) 2016 begins at 2:00 AM on

Sunday, March 13

Repurposing is a great way to help save our environment.
  This challenge to both beginner and seasoned crafters, is:
Create a project using a Quaker Oats Canister or any cardboard food container.
This Challenge runs for two weeks

March 7th - March 20th

 

I realize not everyone will have a quaker canister, so, feel free to use any cardboard food container.   I am going to use a Quaker Oats Canister for my project and will post it here when it is done.  At this point, I think I am going to create a holder for my tea light candles.

Here is a list of supplies you will probably need to complete your project:

Gesso 

Chalk, Milk, or Acrylic Paint

Mod Podge® or some other Decoupage Glue

Decoupage Paper or Designer Papers

Wax or some other Sealant (you can use Mod Podge, if you prefer)

One key to repurposing is to have a clear idea of the new purpose of your canister.

Another important element is identifying a theme and building your design around it.  For instance, I think my tea light holder will live in my dining room, so I am looking at colors, papers, embellishments, etc., that will work well with the decor in that room.    

If you are creating a gift, take into account the personality of the recipient and, of course, the occasion.  And, finally, you must make sure that your creation will be durable, so construction is very important.  I always reinforce the bottom of my canisters by adding a piece of heavy duty chipboard or  corrugated cardboard. 
BE CREATIVE AND THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

HERE ARE LINKS TO A COUPLE OF FOOD CONTAINERS PROJECTS
HOPE IT PROVIDES SOME INSPIRATION.
CARDBOARD CANDY CANISTERS
REPURPOSED QUAKER OATS BOX 

Lighting the Shabbos Candles was my first Mitzvot observance.  

When a Jewish woman lights her candles and welcomes Shabbos into her home, she ignites the spiritual light that will guide her family, not only through Shabbos, but also through the ensuing week.

I created this project to hold the tea light candles that I use to welcome the Shabbos Angel.

The silhouette represents the Jewish woman who safeguards the spiritual integrity of her family.

The clock represents Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

The matchbox fulfills the Mitzvos to use beautiful things to honor HaShem and the beauty of the Shabbos Commandment given to the Jewish people.

The Step Tutorial will post to my blog on Saturday.
This project was completed in my capacity as a blogger for DecoArt®.  All paint and decoupage products used were provided free of charge by DecoArt®

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge # 6 - Playing with Stencils

Hello, Crafty Folks!

This week we are going to play with stencils!  Stencils open up new vistas of creativity for crafters at every skill level!    Later today, I will post a new Stencil project with a step by step tutorial.   As with all my Tutorials, draw inspiration, but if you don't have all the products...use what you have on hand, you may surprise yourself!

I am using the Tim Holtz Crackle Layering Stencil for this week's project!

BUT FIRST, HERE ARE OUR TOP THREE PROJECTS FROM CHALLENGE#5

 All of the projects were well done!  Thanks!

CHALLENGE # 5 - TOP THREE

(in no particular order)

MARGARET of  Cards and Cats

Very balanced design!  Great image choices and composition!

Lil Artsy Woman

The colors are nicely integrated and the bold sentiment definitely elevates the design!

IMKE of My Crafty Place

Love the colors and the composition on this design!  

The addition of the twine was a great design decision.

Thanks, Ladies!  I will e-mail your badges!

CURRENT CHALLENGE:  PLAYING WITH STENCILS

The challenge this week is to use a stencil as the focal of your design.  

The FOCAL is the image, embellishment grouping, or sentiment that serves as the "center piece" of your project.  All other elements should complement the Focal point.  

Minor elements should never overwhelm your focal.  Even your background papers and layering papers should complement rather than distract from your focal elements.  

THINK PINK

This project, created for Canvas Corp Brands ® during Breast Cancer Awareness,  is one of my favorite creations using a stencil on canvas.  The Stencil "Live Inspired" is by Donna Downey.

The canvas size is 6" x 6".  

Hugz,

Chana

STAINED GLASS "NEW BABY" GIFT TAG

Supplies Needed:

Tag Dies or Tags #8,  Layering Stencil, Distress Inks, Modeling Paste, Mod Podge and Fairy Dust.
Clear Acetate.

STEPS

Determine the size of your tag, I used #8 which is the largest die in the Alterations Tag Die Set.  To get your frame,  you must use the large #8 and the next die down.   Cut a piece of card stock to serve as your base.  It should be large enough to cover the entire frame.

 Select the Distress Ink Colors you want to use for your stained glass window.  I used: Pine Needle, Aged Mahogany, Brushed Corduroy, and Chipped Sapphire.

Apply your distress ink in your desired pattern.  I used finger daubers, but I also applied ink using the Tim Holtz foam blending tool.   It is your creative decision!

Once you are satisfied with your window design, place your layering stencil (I used Tim Holtz's Crackle) over the design and apply a thin layer of modeling paste. Remove the stencil and allow the paste to air dry.  You should be able to see your colors through the paste.

After your paste has dried, use your blending tool to lightly swipe colors across the surface.  Allow the paint to dry (you can help it along with your heat tool.)  Apply a thin coat of Mod Podge and while it is still wet, sprinkle a light layer glitter over your window.  Allow to dry.

 To create the shadow box effect, apply foam tape to the sides of your window base.  I cut my foam strips in half.  I used three on each side as well as the top and bottom.  If you are making a shaker card, sealing the top and bottom will prevent your shaker elements from escaping.

You can now decorate your base and set it aside.

 Apply double stick tape to the back of your frame.  Cut a piece of Acetate large enough to cover your frame. (I cut a piece from an old die package.  I save these to use on projects.) Remove the tape cover from the frame and apply the acetate,

You can now assemble your project.  Remove the paper cover from the foam tape on your base and apply your frame.

 Backlighting highlights the Stained Glass Effect!

Remember, all challenge are open until December 31, 2016.

An InLinkz Link-up

Challenge # 4 - CASE This Card

Hello, Crafty Peeps!
One of my biggest challenges when I first started paper crafting was CAS designs.  CAS is the acronym for Clean And Simple.   CAS design employs a minimum number of layers.  Usually it is a single layer card.  Minimal embellishment and lots and lots of White Space.

White Space (negative Space) does not mean simply leaving it untouched.  The untouched space must contribute to the overall graphic design.

This week, you can practice CAS design by CASEing this Card.   CASE is the acronym for Copy And Share Everything (Copy And Share with Everyone.)   What I want you to do is copy the Sketch. You must change at least 3 things.  You can use either the interior or exterior design as your CASE!
Good Luck!

Exterior Design

Interior Design

Remember, all challenges remain open until December 31, 2016.  You can enter your project at anytime and I will give you feedback!   Hugz,  Chana!

An InLinkz Link-up

THE NEVER ENDING CHALLENGE

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

Here is a simple tutorial for DIY coaster inserts.   At the bottom of the page is a link up that will allow you to show us your projects.  As with all APTS  links, it will be active until December 31, 2016.    I would love to see your projects!

THE GREAT COASTER SALVATION

This tutorial is all about the salvation of four coasters from "The Man Cave"

BEFORE SALVATION

Well, to be fair to my husband and my grandson, two of them did have a little cork left, but I had already ripped that out before I remembered I needed a picture.  I had been staring at these bad boys for a while and thinking that I needed to purchase new coasters for the cave.  Finally it dawned on me, "hey, idiot, you have like a cajillion pieces of scrap paper up stairs and some of it is viny and some is cork.  Get busy, girl!   This project was so successful, hubby found a coast set at the good will and brought it home for me to SAVE!  GO FIGURE!

 THANKS, to my wonderful husband, Asa Binyomin, for these fabulous photos!

SUPPLIES

• Coasters - You can get really UGLY coasters from the dollar store and use them to practice up-cycling/recovering/restoring household items.
• Spellbinders Nestabilities Standard Circles - Large
• Cork or other absorbent t materials.  I actually used vinyl wallpaper and design papers. 
• Mod Podge™ or other wet glue.
• Varnish.  I used Earth Safe Finishes® VOC Free Varnish.
• Earth Safe Finishes®Chalk It Up™Paints - Licorice.

TUTORIAL

1.  Remove cork and thoroughly clean the coasters.

2.  Paint the interior of coasters with Earth Safe Finishes®Chalk It Up™ Licorice Paint.  (I first used white gesso,but that is not necessary with chalk paints.  If you decide to use an acrylic paint, I would recommend using gesso first.     

3.  Measure the interior of your coaster and select the appropriate circle die to fit the diameter of your coasters.

I used the 3rd die, which should work on most coasters.

4.  Select your materials and cut.  Make sure you check the sandwich arrangement for your particular cutting machine.  The sandwich configurations are printed on the Big Shot Platforms:

BIG SHOT PLUS

 BIG SHOT PRO

BIG SHOT STANDARD

My Main coaster inserts were cut from vinyl wall paper samples. 

I wanted to reduce my paper stash, so I rummaged through my scrap pile and cut smaller circles to fit in the center of my coasters.   I was not so particular about the painting on the inside of the coasters since it would be covered by the inserts.  

After the glue dried beneath my paper cut out, I placed a piece of parchment paper over them and applied heat using my crafting iron.  This smoothes out any wrinkles or air pockets that may have formed during the drying process and ensures that the paper will not peel away. 

Allow the inserts to cool and then apply two coats of Mod Podge™ allow to dry between coats.  After I applied my second coat of Mod Podge™, I allowed my inserts to dry overnight.  Finally I applied two coats of varnish (always allow sealants to dry between coats, this will avoid over stroking.)   When you are sure every insert has dried completely,  apply glue to the bottom and insert into coaster base.  I used a heavy copper cylinder to apply even pressure to each coaster and avoid buckling.

This puppy is filled to the brim with pennies and weighs a ton.  It is sealed on both ends. I use it to seal and flatten a lot of things! 

Thanks, to The "Engineer" Hubster, I have all kinds of fun and unique toys in my studio.

Would love to see your projects, if you use this tutorial.

Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Click here to add your project.

An InLinkz Link-up