"Creativity is the natural extension of our enthusiasm." -- Earl Nightengale
Have I mentioned that I'm now on the design team for Smoothfoam? Smoothfoam has a great surface for painting,
sanding, collaging, marking and cutting. It comes in numerous shapes and sizes which makes it ideal for
use in crafting. As a teacher, I've found endless uses for it in the classroom, whether for art lessons, math manipulatives
or science fair projects (fabulous for solar system and DNA models).
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A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you. -- Author Unknown
I recently came across Mini-eco's website and have fallen in love. Kate's design esthetic is whimsical, urban chic. Her tutorials are fantastic, such as this one for 3D paper hearts.
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"At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet." -- Plato
These easy to stitch felt hearts declare your love to all who see it.
Continue reading "Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop: Felt Hearts Valentine Decoration" »
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Continue reading "Valentine's Day Door Decoration using a Smoothfoam™ Disc" »
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"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold,
everything is softer and more beautiful." -- Norman Vincent Peale
This is a quick easy project for children of all ages!
You will need:
12" x 6" x 1" Smoothfoam™ rectangle
1 sheet each of emerald green and turquoise blue tissue paper
1 1/4 yards of emerald green grosgrain ribbon
18" piece of 20 gauge wire in silver
8mm sequins in assorted colors
sequin pins
small seed beads size 11/0 or 10/0 in assorted colors, including white or silver
1/2" snowflake punch
1 sheet 6x6" white glitter paper
Modge Podge® Matte
white glue
sponge brush
ruler
pencil
scissors
awl / large tapestry needle / skewer
9"x12" light blue craft felt
Let's create!
1. Sketch out the tree. Measure the center of the top of your Smoothfoam™ rectangle. Mark it with your pencil. Line up your ruler between this mark and the bottom right corner. Draw a line. Repeat from the bottom left corner.
2. Collage the tree and sky. Cut each color of tissue paper in half. You will only need one half of each, so save the rest for another project. Cut the tissue paper into small rectangles. Spread a small amount of Modge Podge® Matte onto the tree shape with your sponge brush. Press green tissue paper into place. Repeat until entire tree is covered. Smooth out any wrinkles with the sponge brush. Allow the green to dry before preceding in the same manner with the blue tissue paper for the sky. Allow the blue to overlap along the sides. Give a final coat of Modge Podge across the entire surface and allow to dry.
3. Trim the tree. Pick up a bead and then a sequin with one of the pins and push into tree. Continue in this manner until the tree is "decorated."
4. Add snowflakes. Punch 10-14 snowflakes out of the glitter paper. Pick up a white bead with the pin. Position the snowflake and press the pin through the center. Push the pin until the bead and snowflake are firmly attached.
5. Add the bow. Cut the edge of the ribbon on an angle. Spread a thin amount of white glue along the edge of the rectangle. Press the ribbon into place. Trim excess ribbon, cutting the edge again on an angle to prevent any possible fraying. Cut 2" off the remainder. Form the remainder into a loop and glue the edges together. Take the 2" section and wrap it over the center of the loop and glue the edges together. Glue to the center top of the rectangle. Use a few pins to hold it in place while the glue sets and dries. Remove pins.
6. Cover the back with felt. Measure and cut a 6" x 12" piece of felt. Spread a thin amount of glue along the back. Press felt into place.
7. Add the wire hanger. Wrap the wire around the pencil. Remove the pencil and spread out the "spring." Punch holes on each side of the top a 1/2" in from the edge. Push wire tips into the holes until they are snug.
Hang your decoration on the wall, a door or set it on a table.
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"Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients
of a truly merry Christmas." -- Peg Bracken
My most treasured ornaments are not ones store bought, but those made by family and friends. Pass along the tradition and make a few for yourself and others! These two "icicles" are easy peasie. Big and bold, they will be add a colorful dash to your Christmas tree.
You will need for each:
Smoothfoam™ 1" ball
Smoothfoam™ 1.5" ball
Smoothfoam™ 2" ball
Smoothfoam™ 3" ball
Mod Podge® Matte
sponge brush
1 sheet colored tissue paper
scissors
hot glue gun
hot glue sticks
1" eye pin
aluminum foil
8" piece of 1/4" double-faced satin ribbon
For Blue Icicle you will also need:
1/2 snowflake paper punch
1 sheet of glitter paper
sequins
straight pins
For Red Icicle you will also need:
glue dots in assorted sizes
fine glitter
Let's create!
1. Hot glue the Smoothfoam™ balls together. Add a dot to the center of the 3" ball and push the 2" ball in place. At the opposite side of the 2" ball, add a dot of hot glue and push the 1.5" ball in place. Repeat procedure with the 1" ball. Allow to cool.
2. Cut tissue paper into squares and rectangles of assorted sizes. They should be no larger than 1" square.
3. Pour some Mod Podge® onto a piece of foil. Cut a sheet of foil and roll up the sides to make a dish for the Mod Podge®. Pour in a small amount of Mod Podge™. Dip your brush into it and paint a thin layer onto the ornament base. Stick a piece of tissue paper to it and push into place with the brush. Keep going until the entire ornament base is covered. You may need a second layer if some areas look thin.
4. Allow ornament base to dry thoroughly. Place the form on a clean sheet of foil and allow to dry.
5. At the top center of the ornament base, push in the eye pin.
6. Embellish!
For Blue Icicle: Punch out 2 dozen snowflakes. Pick up a sequin with the straight pin and attach a snowflake to the ornament base. Cover the entire ornament, leaving some space between each snowflake.
For Red Icicle: Add glue dots to the surface of the ornament. Apply larger ones toward the top and small ones at the tip. Shake on glitter. Brush off excess.
7. Tie on the ribbon. Thread ribbon through the eye, bring ends even and knot together.
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We trust in plumed procession
For such the angels go -
Rank after Rank, with even feet -
And uniforms of Snow.
-- Emily Dickinson
Inspired by my collection of vintage German ornaments, these little angels are sweet tabletop decorations for the holiday table. They are simple to make and a whole choir can be completed in an afternoon.
You will need to make 4 angels:
- 4 Smoothfoam™ 1" balls
- acrylic craft paint in skin tone, blue, red, yellow, and brown
- paint brush - #000 round
- paint brush - #1 sword or filbert
- 4 toothpicks
- 8.5 x 11" glitter paper (One sheet is large enough to make 4 angels.)
- 40 1/2" white tinsel or red tinsel pompoms per angel (160 total for 4)
- hot glue gun with low temp setting
- hot glue sticks
- 8 paper holly leaves
- gold glue glitter
- scissors
- pencil or pen
- lid to food container that = 4.5" in diameter
- paper cup
- sheet of printer paper
- paper plate
- a couple of clothes pins or binder clip
Let's create!
1. Cover your work surface.
As this process can be a bit messy, cover your work surface with newsprint or brown paper.
2. Paint the heads for the angels.
Turn the paper cup upside down. Take a toothpick and poke 4 holes into the paper cup. Space them widly apart. The cup will be your drying station. Push a toothpick 3/4 of the way into each of the Smoothfoam™ balls. Pour some skin tone paint onto the paper plate. Using the sword or filbert brush, paint each ball. Place the toothpick end into your drying station to allow the balls to dry. Add another layer of skin tone paint and allow to dry. Paint the hair, giving your angel bangs across the forehead. If you want a blond angel use yellow paint or if you prefer a brunette angel, use brown paint. With your round brush, use the back end of it to make two dots for eyes with blue or brown paint. With the brush end, use red to paint a small smile. Allow to dry.
3. Embellish the wings.
Add a thin line of gold glitter glue to the edges of each holly leaf. If you smear a little, that's okay. It will add just a bit more sparkle! Allow to dry.
4. Make the template.
Trace the food container lid on a sheet of printer paper. Cut out the circle. Fold the circle in half. Fold it in half again. Open it up and cut one quarter out of the template using the fold lines as your guide.
5. Make the paper bodies.
Plug in your hot glue gun and let it warm up. Set it to low temperature. Trace the template onto the back of the glitter paper. You should be able to make 4 tracings on one sheet of paper. Carefully cut out each circle. Roll the first piece into a cone shape with the edges overlapping each other. You should have a small hole at the top of each cone. Add a a few dots of hot glue to hold the cone shape. Clamp with clothes pins or binder clips until the glue has set. Repeat this procedure on the other three pieces paper bodies.
6. Add the head to the body.
Remove the pins or clips. Add a dot of hot glue at the tip of the first cone. Push the toothpick of the first angel head through the hole at the top of the cone, pushing it into the cone until the head is at the tip touching the hot glue. Allow to set. Repeat this procedure for the rest.
7. Embellish the paper bodies with pompoms.
Just under the head draw a ring of hot glue. Push pompoms into the hot glue until you've achieved a full collar. Draw a short line at the base of the cone and push pompoms into the glue. Repeat this procedure at the base until the entire base of the cone is covered in pompoms. Add two dots of glue evently spaced between the collar and the base at the front and push a pompom into each dot of glue. These two make the "buttons" of the angel's "dress."
8. Make the wings.
Put a dot of glue on the back of the angel's "dress" and add a holly leaf. Add another dot of glue and place the second leaf.
Your angels are now complete!
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Remember
This December,
That love weighs more than gold!
~Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
A colorful holiday tree to decorate your sideboard, mantle or dining table. Use a paper with a holiday print or upcycle from your stash. This project is easily completed in an afternoon.
You will need:
1" diameter circle paper punch
1" star paper punch
12" tall x 4" diameter base paper cone
thick glue (I used Aleene's® Fast Grab Tacky Glue™.)
scissors
ruler
toothpick
awl
pencil or pen
2 sheets of 12" x 12" holiday-themed paper in one print
1 sheet of holiday-themed cardstock
Let's create!
1. Mark your cone. Begin by making a mark 1" up from the base of the cone. Now mark every 3/4" from this mark to the tip. These marks will be your guide for lining up and overlapping your circles.
2. Punch circles. With your ruler, mark 1 1/4" rows along the back of your holiday-themed paper. Cut the paper into strips along the lines. Using your circle punch, cut circles out of the paper strips.
3. Glue the circles around the cone. Starting from the base and working your way to the top, glue the circles to the cone. Add glue only to top underside of the circle. This will allow the cicles to overlap like scales.
4. Make a star. Once you've covered your cone with overlapping circles, use your awl to poke a hole at the tip. Punch out two starts from cardstock. Add some glue to the center back of one star. Place the toothpick in the glue. Add the other star. Allow to dry. Be sure you glue the backsides of the cardstock together and not the frontsides!
5. Place the star at the top of the tree. Push the toothpick into the hole you made at the top of the tree. Allow only the star to be visible. If the connection is not secure, add a dab of thick glue and allow to dry.
A big thank you to Jen Goode of 100 Directions for organizing this blog hop! There may be some blogs that will be offering giveaways so make sure you leave comments along the way.
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The Possible's slow fuse is lit
By the Imagination.
-- Emily Dickinson
The Craft and Hobby Association's (CHA) 2012 Summer trade show was full of crafty inspiration. This was my 4th show to attend and I finally got smart about it. I scheduled my time so I could fully walk the floor and enjoy as many make 'n takes as possible. Time to relax and play really helped me to learn more about the materials and see what they could do.
This holiday curmodgeon can't wait to start preparing for Halloween. Don't you love the owl I made at Floracraft! You can make one too.
These beaded trantulas from Blue Moon Beads are craftabulous!
I also love the other displays from the DCWV / Blue Moon Bead booth. This company never fails to dazzle with their displays. I must find a skeleton to bling out for my porch this fall. The neighborhood kids would flip out.
And talk about a freaking clever use for old lace tights and bits of broken chain!
Of course, Halloween isn't the only holiday. There was plenty Christmas fun too. This little wire tree with paper cut ornaments is so simple and so cute. I also like this use of acrylic board and paper. A great gift tag that doubles as an ornament.
The annual Crafty Couture display by the CHA designers group has inspired some fantastic booth displays. Check out the paper and crystal sparkle of this dress!
Here's a detail. See what I mean? Incredible! I also love the Hello Kitty bike. It is over the top cute, but in a way that works.
I always leave the trade shows utterly exhausted and yet refreshed. There are so many ideas to consider, new materials and tools to explore that I can't help but ignore my tired feet and head to the studio.
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