Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Wednesday With Tutorial!



Hi all! Today, I'm sharing the tutorial for this cool, interactive steampunk card over at the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog. It's another version of the tunnel card I've been making by altering Karen Burniston's Accordion Rectangle die. Go HERE to check it out!

I've just started experimenting with ECD's Shimmer Sheetz and let me tell you, this material is amazing! Don't those hinges look like real brass? Nope - Shimmer Sheetz!

You can find all the supplies I used at Elizabeth Craft Designs and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.




Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you enjoy the tutorial!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

12 Tags of 2015 - Pop it Ups Style

Hi all! It's been awhile since I played along with Tim Holtz's 12 Tags and I had a spare afternoon yesterday so I decided to whip up a quick card. One thing that I love about this challenge is that Tim has done all the work, so all I had to do was pick out my embellishments! I decided to make mine masculine so that I could use it for a Father's Day card or masculine birthday card.

I basically followed Tim's tag layout, but used Karen Burniston's Rectangle Accordion Card die for the base. I cut two panels out of black cardstock, then cut two more from burlap paper. After I snipped the center burlap pieces free, I went to town decorating them.

Since the panels are a bit shorter than a tag, I split the tag layout between them. I replaced the ribbon with Tim's Jute String, and used Karen's Gear die to cut gears from metallic Shimmer Sheetz so that I had a die cut element to replace the flowers that Tim used. I love the look of the Shimmer Sheetz! To give them a vintage look, I sanded them lightly and then swiped a bit of black paint over them and wiped it off. I don't have the new tokens he used, so I just flipped over a Holiday Token and added a rub on. It's a great way to get double duty from holiday-themed embellishments if you have extra.

Once the burlap pieces were decorated, I adhered them to the center of the card and then attached the panels to each other to create the accordion. I love this style of card - so fun for the recipient to display!

All of the supplies I used can be found at Elizabeth Craft Designs and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.




Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

DecoArt Faux Painted Wood Planter

Hi all! Hope your week is off to a great start. I am so excited to share this faux painted wood project with you today. It's a little planter box made with Eileen Hull's 3D Block die, DecoArt Media paints, Graphic 45 paper, and lots of chipboard!

The inspiration for my lidded case came from one I saw on Dot & Bo. (I love that site - so many gorgeous things.) Their case is larger, made of wood, and costs $170. Mine is a little smaller, made completely out of chipboard, and costs just about nothing - plus you can customize it however you want.

The basic design lends itself to any number of uses. I have been very inspired by gardening lately, so I decided to turn mine into a vintage-looking seed box. You could also make this shabby chic and feminine, dark and masculine, or anything else you could imagine. Keep it in the kitchen, or use it in the craft room to hold supplies. The possibilities are endless!

Here's how to make one for yourself:

Create three boxes from medium weight chipboard using Eileen Hull's 3D Block die and glue together as shown. Cut strips of chipboard to cover the sides and ends. Mix DecoArt Media Hansa Yellow, Cerulean Blue, and Pthalo Green Yellow with Tinting Base to achieve a bright green color. Mix in a dollop of Crackle Paint and paint all strips and the inside of the boxes. When dry, lightly sand to give an aged appearance.

To create the lid, cut a piece of heavy plastic (I used die packaging I'd saved) to fit the top. Create a frame for the lid by cutting strips of chipboard, mitering the corners, and painting to match the box. Make two sets. Glue one set around the top edge of the plastic, and attach hinges. Glue the other set on the other side, sandwiching the plastic in between and hiding the hinge brads.

To highlight the cracks and give the planter more of a worn look, mix DecoArt Media Raw Umber paint with Ultra Matte Varnish. Paint over the 'wood' and wipe off excess. This step both antiques and seals the piece.

Create faux nail holes by piercing the panels with an awl or piercing tool. Apply more of the antiquing mixture to highlight the holes.

Apply the antiquing mixture to the box lid and adhere to box. When dry, adhere Farm Fresh image from Graphic 45's Home Sweet Home paper to the front.
Note: I actually misjudged the size of my hinges and ended up having to glue them to the back. If you decide to make one yourself, you might need to get a bigger hinge so that it will open and close properly.

To create the seed packets for the cubbies, die cut kraft paper using Tim Holtz's Pocket Envelope die. Stamp repeatedly with the Homegrown stamps from G45 and Cracked Pistachio Distress ink. Assemble envelope and glue seed packet image to front.

To make the markers, die cut chipboard using Eileen Hull's Bloom and Plant Markers die. Scrape DecoArt Media Crackle Paint over the sign area and let dry. When dry, stamp images with StazOn ink. Ink the bottom with Gathered Twigs Distress ink.

How cool is that crackle? I love how it looks on the plant markers. And, isn't it incredible how much the chipboard looks like wood? I can't wait to use this technique more.



To finish my seed box, I put a peat pot in the center compartment and added some moss and a bird. Tiny garden tools and a stick to prop the lid open add the perfect touch!

All the supplies I used can be found at Sizzix, Simon Says Stamp, and Amazon via the links below. Please note that these are affiliate links and I do receive a small commission when you purchase from these stores. And I very much appreciate when you do! :)





Thanks so much for stopping by today. I hope you're inspired to make one of these storage boxes yourself! Make sure you check out the Art With Heart challenge over at Eileen's blog. There is a great prize for one lucky participant and we'd love to have you join us!