Sand and shells picture frame

I have always loved the addition of texture in art, whether it’s the tiny brush stokes of Van Gogh or the addition of fibers, rusty metals, embossing powder or glitter to my current craft project.
But this not a case of adding texture. It was a case of covering up an error. Yes, I know that’s hard to believe, but I occasionally make a few mistakes, and while you might never notice them, they drive me crazy. In fact, while some designers are the Queens of Creativity, or the Divas of Design, I am Her Highness of Hiding Mistakes.

This piece started out as a simple tutorial on how to make a little frame for one of my favorite quotes about the beach. It got ugly quick.

I use an awesome heat foam cutter. It cuts Smoothfoam like butter, but that’s my problem. I tried to zoom through the inner cuts and wound up with one side not only crooked, but ¼” smaller that the opposite side. When I tried to correct the error, I made the cut too long, almost cutting the entire side off.

So here’s what I did…I got out the heat tool, went outside and heated up the whole thing, using the side of a pencil to mush the edges into a semi-straight line. I liked the look, and instant texture was born. The effect reminded me of the beaches near Charleston, South Carolina where they aren’t white sugar sand, but have bits and pieces of beautiful granite mixed in and huge chunks of it protruding from the beach.

Once that part was done, I was officially in love with this project, and I became positively giddy as I added to it!

Supplies:

• Smoothfoam sheet, 1” x 6” X12”
   
• Golden Acrylic paints—Titanium White and Yellow Ochre
   
• Sophisticated Finishes metallic paint—Bronze
   
• 8-½” x 11” piece of muslin
   
• Computer and printer
   
• Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
   
• Chipboard or corrugated cardboard
   
• Assorted shells, beach glass, embellishments
   
• Heat tool
   
• Paint brush and sponge
   
• Adhesive tape

Safety note: Wear a mask when melting Smoothfoam; do it outdoors or in a large room with plenty of ventilation.

Instructions

1.  Cut Smoothfoam to 6” x 8″ and remove the center area (3-¼” x 5-¼”, reserve this inner rectangle).

2.  Heat this frame with heat tool, moving the heat around quickly as it starts to melt. If you have a large uneven section that needs to be straightened, heat it and quickly roll a brayer or the wooden part of a pencil over the area to flatten it. Allow to cool.

3.  Paint the frame, front and back, with a mixture of two parts Titanium White and one part Yellow Ochre. Be sure to get down into the crevices. Allow to dry.



4.  Working on a small area at a time, apply the bronze paint and quickly wipe it off with a paper towel. Using swiping and dabbing motions to get a nice mottled look. Allow to dry and apply more of the white/gold paint with a sponge to highlight some areas.

5.  Create a quotation on the computer and center it inside a rectangle that is the size of your frame opening. Tape a piece of muslin fabric to a sheet of computer paper. Place the fabric/paper in your manual paper feed tray and print the quotation on the fabric.

6.  Use a foam cutter to slice the depth of the piece of Smoothfoam you removed from the frame’s center to about 5/8” – this creates the sunken look when placed in the frame. Center the muslin on the rectangle and wrap it around the foam like a gift, secure with  adhesive tape. Place it inside the frame; it should fit snugly without  adhesives to hold it in place.

7.  Cut a sheet of chipboard or cardboard to 5-½” x 7-½’ and glue it to the back of the frame.

8.  Embellish as desired with shells and beads, etc.

And here’s how I discovered how handy those little scrap pieces of Smoothfoam can be…the 3/8″ sliver that I cut from the inner frame to make it thinner was laying on my worktable, broken into two pieces, when the mailman arrived with a very hefty package for me. It contained three huge vintage spools from cotton mills, which were used for the spun threads. Several pieces of silk thread in a yummy beige color were draped artistically across the spools. No way that was going in the trash! I picked up the scrap Smoothfoam and began winding the thread around it to keep it from tangling. I pressed the end of the thread down on the edge of the Smoothfoam and it held instantly.

Today is also another first Monday posting day for Designer Crafts Connection. Just click on the button, above left, to hop form blog to blog for Handmade Inspiration.

Now, go hug someone you love and dream of spending time with them on a beach soon.

Mothers Day Card

I can't imagine a better season to honor our mothers than spring. Iris and tulips are pushing up through the warmed earth, birds are singing and preparing nests for their new additions and the sun shines - most of the time, although those showers are helpful as well.

When I think of my mother, I think of sewing, baking and setting a high moral example for her two daughters. She loved family history, anything old as well as the latest trends and beautiful color combinations. This card reminds me of a beautiful purple wool straight skirt that she paired with a purple twin sweater set. Add pearls and heels and she was definitely decked out.

She made all of our clothes when we were growing up, and there were always scraps from which we fashioned doll clothes. Today, my scraps are now baskets of paper pieces left over from my latest projects. When I saw these wonderful quilt-patterned stamps, designed by Ann Butler for Unity Stamp Company, I knew they would make the perfect frame for this card.

There are 20 additional designers in the blog hop today. Just click a name to hop from blog to blog.

1.	Ann Butler
2.	Beth Watson
3.	Candace Jedrowicz
4.	Candice Windham (you are here)
5.	Carol Heppner
6.	Cheryl Boglioli
7.	Cindi Bisson
8.	Debra Quartermain
9.	Denise Clason
10.	Eileen Hull
11.	Fabrizio (Fab) Martellucci
12.	Jen Goode
13.	Jonathan Fong
14.	Kristin Kelly
15.	Lisa Fulmer
16.	LIsa Rojas
17.	Lorine Mason
18.	Madeline Arendt
19.	Melony Bradley
20.	Rebekah Meier
21.	Theresa Cifali

Be sure to scroll all the way to the end for a great coupon from Unity Stamp Company!

Here's how I made this simple card:

Supplies

• Stamps, 1" Doily Picnic and Leaves All Over (Designed by Ann Butler for Unity Stamp Company )
• Versamark Ink
• Silver Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Card stock, 5 3/4" x 5 3/4" (Basic Grey)
• Card Stock, 12" x 6 ",  4" x 4" and 5" x 5" white
• Cardstock scraps, 6" x 1/2" coordinating patterned paper, approximately 20 strips
• Double Stick Tape
• Craft Knife
• Cutting mat
• Stamping mat or rubber padded mouse pad
• Sponge
• Dye inks to match your patterned paper (Colorbox Dye Inks)
• Paper Towels
• Lace Ribbon, two pieces, 7" (Offrey)
• Square Punches, 1 1/4" , and 1 1/2"
• Scissors

Instructions

1. Fold white card stock to 6" square and set aside.

2a.  Measure  1 1/4" from each edge of the 5 3/4" square. Trim the center out to create the frame.
 

Step 2a. Measure margin and trim center out.

2b. Mark the center of each edge of the frame and use this as a guide for stamping. (I used a 2" square acrylic block and set both my stamps on it to save a little time.)

Step 2b. Find the center of each side and mark lightly with pencil.

 3. Begin in the center, aligning the point of one stamp with the center mark, and stamp four images on two opposite sides. On the other two sides, line up the center point (if you are using two stamps on one block) and stamp the two images. Apply silver embossing powder and heat with heat tool until it melts.

Step 3. Stamp the images on the frame with Versamark ink.

4. Sponge ink on frame and buff it off the embossed areas. Be sure to hit the paper edges of the frame as well to hide the white inner core.

Step 4. Ink frame with a sponge and dye ink. 

Step 4. Buff embossed areas lightly with damp paper towel.

5. On the 4" square of white cardstock, create an opening that is 1/4" all around smaller than the other frame opening. Adhere to the larger frame to create a white liner. Set aside.

Woven Background
1. Draw two lines corner to corner. Line up two strips of 1/2" paper along the pencil lines and adhere both ends to the white card.

2a. Weave paper strips with alternating patterns, using the two guide strips to keep the lines straight. Once you have woven a strip, adhere one end only to the card stock. This will make it easier to weave the last few strips in place. 2b. Trim any edges off the white card stock and paper scraps. Adhere the frame to the top of the woven strip.

Step 2a. Tape down only one end of the woven strips.

Step 2b. Weave all the strips into the base, alternating colors.

3. Place double-stick tape on each end of the ribbon and wrap it to the back side of the frame.

4. Stamp (or print from your computer) the sentiment. Punch it out on the diagonal with the 1 1/4" square punch. Punch a scrap of patterned paper with the 1 1/2" punch and layer the sentiment on it. Adhere it to the woven center of the card.

5. Punch a heart from a card stock scrap, apply Versamark and silver embossing powder and heat with heat tool. Form the center bow by wrapping the ends of the lace ribbon  across the center of the ribbon and secure with double stick tape. Apply the heart to the ribbon center and attach it to the card.

6. Adhere the entire frame front to the 6" folded white cradstock.

I will probably think of a hundred things I could have added to improve this card, but at the moment the only thing that would make this card better is if I could hand it to my mother personally.

Wishing you all a very happy Mothers Day, just a little bit early!

Use this coupon to get a great deal on Ann Butler's Stamps as well as all Unity Stamps!

Recycled Sun Catcher

Welcome to the Designer Crafts Connection April blog hop. Our theme this month is Spring Flowers, but we were also challenged to only use items we already had around the house. This wire and glass sun catcher fit the bill.

There wasn't a lot of sun when I took the photos for this project, so trust me: that beveled glass can really sparkle. To see another spring project using the roll of wire described in the materials list, see my blog post of March 22.

Be sure to click on the Designer Crafts Connection button at left to hop to other bloggers participating in this event.

Here's how I did it:

Materials
Metal Coat Hangers, 2
Roll wire (Found in the garage. No one knows what gauge it is or why we bought it.)
Wire Cutters
Needle nose pliers
Regular pliers
Beveled glass pieces, 1 large, four small (Purchased at a salvage store several years ago. I think they were made for light fixtures.)

Instructions

1. Straighten one of the coat hangers leaving the hook attached. About 8" from the top of the hook, bend the wire and form a circle. Cut the other hanger into two pieces, one approximately 8' and the other approximately 16". Bend the 16" piece in the middle and attach it to the sides of the ring. Add the8"piece to the remaining side side and wire to  the center hook piece.

Cut wire pieces and wrap around ring to secure the center wires in place.

Form four wire flowers, wire to ring and finish off flower centers with a wire spiral.

Wrap a piece of wire around the vertical portion of the glass, leaving stems about 2" on the top. Twist to hold. Place another piece of wire around the glass horizontally, locking the ends around the vertical wire. Form circles with the wires ends at the top.

 Hang the large piece in the center and space the four smaller pieces around the sides of the ring. This could be made with fishing line if you have holes bored in the glass for stringing, but a good stiff wind could break them if you hang them outside.

Don't forget that today is April Fool's Day. Go play a trick on someone you love and be sure to hug them afterwards!

Artist Trading Card Box

We all have them. Some people have more than others. Some are patterned. Some are solid colors. But rest assured that no matter what your craft of choice is, you’re always going to have scraps…and scraps….and scraps.

Here’s a little solution to eliminate some of those scraps: Go ahead and prep those smaller pieces for Artist Trading Cards (ATCs) or card backgrounds. This way, when you participate in an ATC swap or need a card or a little something to dress up a project or gift, you have it right there at your fingertips.

Artist Trading Cards have been a round for a while, so much that some folks have forgotten the ATC rules.

Size: 2.5” x3.5”

Restrictions: ATCs are just what the name says: Artist TRADING Cards, not Artist SELLING Cards. ATCs developed among artistic groups as a way to have a little piece of art from your colleagues without a huge monetary investment. Each artist would create mini-masterpieces, then swap them with their artsy friends.

I love this box size and shape. I love it so much that I have several around my studio, holding different things, and therein lies the problem: I spent more time trying to find the one with ATC sized cards than it actually takes to cut the paper to size.

Duetica to the rescue! I love all the Duetica Lettering Arts Studio fonts, some more than others. I set the letters A,T, and C, using DT-Mandolyn, DT-Piper and DT-Tin Whistle. I used the software features to get just the right letter styles I wanted. I then opened the files in Photoshop and added background colors.

Here are  the  instructions:

Materials

Duetica Lettering Arts Studio Software

White cardstock

Cigar box (approx. 6 ½” x 4 ¾” x 4 7/8”)

Assorted printed papers, three patterns (Graphic 45 Le Cirque Collection)

Tags (Graphic 45 Le Cirque Collection)

Adobe Photoshop or similar imaging software

Stazon Black ink

Stamps, 1”, Leaves All Over and Stripes.Dots.Hearts. (Ann Butler Faux Quilting Collection for Unity Stamps)

Sponge

White Pen (*Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen )

Fiber, embroidery floss

Wheat Grass (optional)

Premium Extreme adhesive (Kool Tak)

Ribbon doilies zigzag strip (Basic Grey Paper Ribbon)

Instructions

Notes:

a. All paper edges were aged using a sponge and black ink.

b. All papers were adhered with Kool Tak Premium Extreme Adhesive.

1. Sand edges of box and remove any loose papers. Coat edges with Stazon Black Ink.

2. Measure and trim papers to cover all sides and inside lid of box.

3. Set type using Duetica Lettering Arts Studio.

Box Lid

• Stamp upper and lower edges of lid paper with black Stazon Ink.

• The ATC top is all one piece of paper with the words artist trading cards added in reverse type.

• Add complimentary paper strip1/4” larger top and bottom than your printed piece.

• Attach ATC type sheet to box lid.

• Adhere zig zag strip to bottom of lid.

• Attach fiber strip (box outside lid and just to the edge of the inner lid) to top with Premium Extreme adhesive.

• Tie embroidery floss around box lid and attach tags.

• Attach zigzag paper ribbon, wheat grass and/or additional embellishments

Note:

If you lid is a tight fit to begin with, use a knife to cut notches on either side where the floss and fiber wrap around the edge.

Box Sides

• Layer each letter on a scrap of the papers used on the box.

• Sponge edges and adhere to all sides.

Finishing

Use the white pen to customize your letters.

This took me about an hour to create, but the time it saves hunting through my stash to find this box makes it worthwhile.


Now, go find someone to enjoy this wonderful Good Friday with (the someone can be yourself if you prefer)  and have a beautiful Easter!

Tribute to Spring

Welcome to Pam Bray's All Things Altered Spring Blog Hop! Be sure to hop through the list below to see all the fabulous art. Several of the bloggers including Pam are giving away some eye candy, so be sure to read the directions on each give-away blog for entering. To hop to the next blog, just click on the blog on the list at the bottom of this post.

I have been looking at a big ball of rusty wire in my studio for more than a year, trying to come up with something really cool to create with it. I filched the wire from my hubby’s workshop. He didn’t remember buying it, so that meant it was up for grabs as far as I was concerned.

The wire easily bent to form the flowers.

Although the metal was rusty, it was still very strong, perfect for this little bit of spring art. Finally, I had inspiration. I began to twist the wire with the help of a couple of jewelry pliers until I had a fairly large flower. I had purposefully left about 4” of wire on each end and wrapped these over the front center, twisting it in the back to secure the petals, then curled the ends of each wire. I repeated the flower, using small petals this time. I then cut two pieces of wire18” long, gently folded them in the middle and then, beginning at about 3-5” from the folds, twisted the four pieces of wire into a stem, pulling and curving the top of the loops into long leaf shapes. I added a couple more twists mid-stem and at the bottom.

Here’s how I made the rest:

Materials

• Frame, 12” x 12”  (Darice)
• Printed Paper, 2 sheets (Bo Bunny)
• Wired tissue ribbon, 12” (Peacock Park)
• Metal Keyhole (Tim Holtz Ideaology)
• Metal latch (Stanislaus Imports)
• Tags, one large and one small (These are from my stash and are hand colored and hand-stamped)
• Colorbox Chalk Inks
• Acrylic craft paint, ivory
• Printed sentiment from computer
• Lace, 12”
• Assorted paper scraps
• Inka Gold, assorted colors (Viva Décor)
• Temporary adhesive
• Spray Adhesive, Super 77 (3M) Note: I only use this to attach the background
• papers.
• Kool Tak ^TM Clear Adhesive Foam Pads
• Kool Tak ^TM Clear Foam Roll
• Kool Tak ^TM Ultra Clear Adhesive, ¼”
• Butterfly stamp (LaBlanche)
• Phrase and embellishment stamp (Oxford Impressions)
• Swirl Stamp (Bee Line Stamps) 

Instructions
 Note: All edges are inked with brown ink.

1. Create wire flowers and stem and set aside.
2. Remove the glass and photo holder from the frame opening. Paint all the edges with ivory paint, including the small frame edges. Allow to dry, then add inks around all the edges to match your papers.
3. Apply paper to the outside edges of the small frame opening. Flip the frame over and trim out the center.
4. Trim one piece of scrapbook paper to 11” x 11”. Ink edges with brown ink and adhere to front cover with temporary adhesive. Flip the frame over and cut away the photo center. Measure 3/8” inch all around the inside frame opening on your paper and trim this away from the opening. Ink all edges, then adhere to frame base with spray adhesive.
5. Stamp swirls and butterflies.
6. Adhere lace to frame. Tear a strip of scrap paper 11” wide and 1 ¼” tall. Trim ends straight with scissors. Ink edges and apply over lace.
7. Tear a strip of scrap paper approximately 3 ½” wide and 12” in height. Ink edges. Apply to top and bottom over frame opening with spray adhesive, then cut away from the frame opening. Ink the new edges created with the cut away.
8. Apply spray adhesive to wired tissue ribbon and press to frame cover, gently easing wire as straight as possible. This tissue is delicate, so be gentle. Rub chalk ink over the tissue to highlight the texture.
9. Stamp large tag with phrase and embellishment stamp. Pull string through keyhole, adhere tag and keyhole to the frame and tie bow in string. 

You can replace the quotation with a spring photo.

10. Attach latch base with Kool Tak TM Ultra Clear Adhesive. Position tag hole over latch and attach tag to framemwith Kool Tak TM Clear Adhesive Foam Pads.
11. Determine which points of your metal pieces will touch the frame base. Place Kool Tak TM Clear Adhesive Foam Pads and Strips to wire backs and arrange on frame base.
12. Print or hand-letter sentiment and embellish with additional stamping. Place glass, sentiment and easel into frame opening.
13. Apply Inka Gold to wire for highlights.

Easy, peasy.


Here's the list for this terrific blog hop:

1. Pam - http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

2. Pinky- http://www.blueyecicle.blogspot.com
3. Debbie- http://studiobeecreations.blogspot.com/
4. Betty-http://scrappybetty.blogspot.com/
5. Gloria - http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/
6. Jess B. - http://thatzuneek.blogspot.com/
7. Angela Holt- http://www.angelaholtdesigns.com
8. Christine -www.scrapbookingtechnique.blogspot.com
9. Barbara - http://blackholeartstudio.blogspot.com/
10. Irit - http://iritshalom.blogspot.co.il/
11. Candice -http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/
12. Jennifer - http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com

Today is not only the first day of the rest of your life, it’s Friday and the weekend is here! Do something creative this weekend. Get out of your comfort zone, push the envelope and have a great time doing it!

I received product from Kool Tak, Clearsnap and Viva Décor.

Spring is here...almost!

Since Spring is supposed to be here already - flowers are pushing up, trees are blooming, birds are singing and ripping the stuffing out of my porch swing cushions to pad nests, but the weatherman has issued a winter storm watch for the Mid-South.

No need for worry. I have brought spring into my studio with this Spring Chimes project on the Kool Tak blog. Go here to get instructions and be sure to come back to my blog March 31 for a tutorial on creating a wire and glass wind chime, similar to the one used in this project.

Happy Spring. Don't hurt your back shoveling snow!

Hats off for Buttons Galore!

 Upcycle a Hat for a Spring Garden Party or Wedding, Plus Two Cute Headbands 

Welcome to the Designer Crafts Connection (DCC) Designer Challenge. This month’s challenge product is from Buttons Galore, and believe me, they definitely have buttons galore! I received an assortment in different sizes, colors and shapes, plus some gorgeous goodies from one of their Trim Collage Kits. The colors were so spring-like, and the styles blended beautifully.

Buttons Galore prizes!

Buttons Galore and Viewtainer (http://viewtainer.typepad.com/blog/) are providing prizes, one for a reader (just go to the Buttons Galore website (http://wp.me/p2hPby-1Du, and leave a comment and your favorite project from the blog hop before March 17) in a random drawing, and one for a participating designer, to be selected by the fine folks at Buttons Galore. 

Be sure to click to hop forward or back on the Designer Crafts Connection button at left.

This inexpensive hat (less than five bucks at a discount store) is pretty as-is, but I like dressing it up with a pretty hatband for a spring event. Buttons were just the ticket. I began by measuring the diameter of the hat crown, then added about 36” to that measurement to determine the length of the green grosgrain ribbon (Offray). Beginning in the center of the ribbon, I simply attached the large buttons with needle and blue thread, stitching the green, yellow, blue and periwinkle buttons 2 ½” apart. I then took the tiny flower buttons, removed the shank and attached them between the large buttons with Beacon FabriTac. After that it was just a matter of tying it around the hat crown and trimming the streamers to the lengths I wanted.

The headbands were just as simple.

I used the Buttons Galore Dotted Buttons on the black stretchy headband, stitching them so that the sides were touching, to make them about an inch apart when the band was stretched.

I added a couple of inches of ribbon on either side of the gathered ribbon button (from the Buttons Galore Oceanic Trim Collage Kit), trimmed them to fish tails and stitched them onto the blue stretchy headband.

The entire project – a hat and two headbands– was completed in less than an hour from conception to photography. It doesn’t get much quicker than that.

Now I’m off to a party, but sad to say, it isn’t a Spring garden party ,so I can’t wear my classy hat. I can, however, wear the dotted button headband!

I received product from Buttons Galore and  Beacon Adhesives for this project.