Layered Flower Cuff

Hi Crafty Friends!

Today I'm sharing a tutorial for a layered flower cuff.   It's a design that I created for a make and take at the Creativation Show last January.  It's quick and easy and you can use your fabric scraps to create your own version. 

Layered Flower Cuff

Here's what you need to make this cuff:

An aluminum cuff (or other type of cuff)
A 1 yard strip of unbleached muslin (1" wide)
2 small pieces of double-sided tape
1 12" piece of print fabric (1"wide)
A crocheted flower
1 medium die-cut flower in denim
1 small die-cut flower in leather
1 small button
4" narrow ribbon
6" wire (22 gauge)
Needle and thread
Metal punch, scissors

The components for the cuff

First, punch a hole in the center of the cuff.  This is where you will attach the flower. However, if you don't have a hole punch, just cut your wire longer so that you will be able to wrap the flower on securely.

Next, make a running stitch along one edge of the print fabric.  Pull up to gather into a circle and tie the ends.

Now, fold the wire in half.  Thread the button on the wire.  Tie the ribbon onto the wire loop above the button. 

Thread both ends of the wire through the leather flower, denim flower, gathered flower and crochet flower.

Push both ends of the wire through the hole in the cuff and wrap the ends of the wire around the cuff tightly.  Press ends flat against the cuff.

Tape one end of the muslin strip at one end of the cuff.  Start over the end of the cuff so that the aluminum doesn't rub.  You can also add some extra fabric on the end and wrap over it. Wrap around the cuff working under the flower.  Wrap to the other side of the flower and tape down the end.  Trim the extra muslin and any threads.

And, here's the cuff:

Layered Flower Cuff

As you might have noticed, I changed the layering on the tutorial as I went along and placed the gathered flower in a different place.  It's all good!  That's what creating is all about!

I hope you have fun creating your own version of this easy cuff.  It's great for a group craft like a birthday party or craft night.  And, it's a nice way to use up some fabric scraps.  I am going to try it in a red, white and blue version for the Fourth of July with the denim and some scraps of bandana fabric.  What will you try? I'd love to see your version! 

Monogrammed Wreath

Hi Crafty Friends!

Today, I want to show you something I created for JOY Iron-on letters.  They have a lot of new items out now, and one of them are these nice large monograms.  These are 5" high.  I used it to make a monogrammed spring wreath:

The monograms come in white, but for this wreath, I wanted a softer tone.  Since the iron-on letters are dye-able, I used some RIT Dye to add a soft tan color.

The dye I used is Ecru, but that particular color is not available anymore.  You can use Tan or Taupe.  Leaving it in the dye bath for a shorter period of time will give you a lighter color. While you have your dye bath, consider dying some ribbon to match.

If you want a little more structure to your letter, you can iron it onto some heavy fabric like canvas or denim and trim the fabric to make a border for your monogram.  Or, you can iron it onto some lightweight wood or tag board, depending on how you want to display your monogram.

A note on the materials used:  The wonderful script wired ribbon is from Offray (purchased at JoAnn's).  The little foam eggs are available from Smoothfoam.

For all the instructions and materials on how to make the wreath, go to the Creating with Joy blog.  If you need more ideas, check out Pinterest under Monogrammed Wreaths!  There are so many ways to Create with Joy!

Have fun!

Fall Doorhanger

Hi Crafty Friends!

It's almost fall, and one of my favorite seasons for decorating the house.  You can't beat the array of colors - rich reds, brilliant yellows and warm oranges along the comfy shades of brown.

Here's a project that I created for JOY using their iron-on letters.  For all the instructions, head on over to the Creating With Joy blog.  These particular letters come with an adhesive backing so that they stay in place when you iron them onto fabric.  But, for this craft, I used the adhesive without ironing.  It's really quick and easy!

Fall Doorhanger

I want to mention one of the techniques that I used for this sign.  I used a watercolor look, but the watercolors that I used are Rit dyes!  I painted the canvases with Rit® dye in Tan.  Then, I added some color in the middle and around the edges with Cocoa Brown.  I dipped the letters in Tangerine and dabbed some of the brown here and there on the letters.

This is a great way to color your JOY letters - just dip and dry.  And, Rit® dyes come in just about every color imaginable!  And, you can mix them to create more shades!

Have fun creating with fall colors, JOY letters and Rit® dye!

Pretty Palettes: Wabi-sabi

Hi all,
Today I'm playing along with the Pretty Palettes inspiration on the Halcraft blog.  Our inspiration this month is wabi-sabi.  Here's the explanation from the blog post:

“Pared down to its barest essence, wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and profundity in nature, of accepting the natural cycle of growth, decay, and death. It’s simple, slow, and uncluttered – and it reveres authenticity above all.” NobleHabor.com


Here are the beads that Erin Prais-Hintz chose for this challenge this month:




I love the colors and the mix of shapes and textures.  I already had the agates and the mixed rings.  And, I had some gears in my collections.  I also had a large heart pendant that I made in a class I took recently from Jen Cushman at an Art is You retreat.

Here the heart pendant:

I thought it fit perfectly into the theme with both the colors and the gears.  I had a lot of fun creating it and getting to play with materials such as Ice Resin that I don't usually use in my jewelry.

Here's my mixed media wabi-sabi necklace:

Wabi-sabi Heart Necklace

I had so much fun playing with this combination of beads and gears.  I probably could have kept adding to it for hours!
Here are some of the extras:  I added some ceramic beads, made a copper hook clasp and cut strips of old denim jeans to add to the necklace.  I pulled the threads on the edges of the denim and stamped them a bit for a little color.  

I think I changed the order of the components five or six times, but it's easy to do when they're linked with jump rings.  Right above the heart, I stacked and glued gears and beads.  The resin on my heart was a little sticky on one side, so I sprinkled some embossing powder on it and melted it.  I wasn't sure it would work, but it did!  Now, I want to try embossing powder everywhere! 

So, this piece is very experimental and sure to have its imperfections!  I chose the denim from a pair of old jeans to represent the authenticity of old-fashioned hard work and the wear and tear of everyday life.

For more fascinating designs around this theme, head to the Halcraft Pretty Palettes Reveals - one and two!

Etched Fairy House Lamp

Hi Crafty Friends!

As a member of the design team for etchall, I get to try out some of their new products from time to time.  This month, as part of the etchall® design team, I received the new self-illuminating lampshade kit or "Lighten Up" Kit.  It's a battery-operated lampshade that will fit over a glass bottle or jar.  The white cap screws off and batteries go inside.  The plastic template makes it easy to cut paper or fabric to cover the shade.

"Lighten Up" Kit

I pondered for a couple of weeks on the direction that I wanted to go with this new lampshade.  Then, the light went on!!  I made a little gnome home once that was a lot of fun, so I thought I'd go in that direction with this piece and create a Fairy House Lamp.  I wanted to make the jar and shade look like a fairy house in a tree.

Here's the glass jar I used:

Glass Jar

I masked off the windows with some shelf liner I had.  I masked off more windows on the sides.

Masked Windows

Then, I applied etchall® etching creme.  Mine is getting a little old so it has turned brown, but it still works.  

etchall® etching creme applied

I let it etch for 15 minutes, then scraped most of it off and put it back in the jar because it's reusable.  Then, I rinsed off the remaining creme under cold water and etched the other sides in the same way.

Once it was etched, I applied a couple of colors of metal patinas from Ranger.  These are some of the best paints I've found for coloring etched glass.  Here's how it looked after painting.

Painted Jar

The "Lighten Up" lampshade comes with a template that I used to cut out green paper to cover the lampshade.

Cutting out the lampshade

This attached pattern made it so easy to fit the shade.  I attached the paper to the shade with spray adhesive, which worked very well.  Then, to make it look like a tree, I cut leaves with a die and die cutter and covered the shade.

I used several different colors and types of paper.  Because I'll want to take the cap off and change the batteries eventually, I worked up to the edge of the cap.  Then, I glued more leaves to the top and bent the leaves down over the side of the cap.

To finish the Fairy House Lamp, I glued pieces of sticks and tiles around the door and windows.  I added a piece of brown paper for the door and glued on a door knob.  Then, I took a brown pen and drew wood grain lines to the sides of the jar.

The self-illuminating shade has a switch on the underside and a pressure plate in the center.  To keep the light on, you must keep pressure on the plate with a bottle or some other way.  For my lamp, I turned the lid upside down on the top of the jar and added a wine bottle cork to the center.  It's not seen when you put the shade on the jar.  

Here's the final Fairy House Lamp.  Now, I just have to wait for the fairy!

Etched Fairy House Lamp

Fairy House Lamp

You could use the lamp inside or out on the patio.  I think I'll put it outside on my table with some potted plants.  When the light is on, it illuminates the interior of the house.

Word got out about the new house in the neighborhood and a gnome stopped by!  Unfortunately, he decided that it was too small!

It was so much fun creating this little lamp!  I hope you'll try it, too!  

Happy creating!

Terry

 

 
 

Spring Craft Ideas

Hi crafty people!

Spring brings a lot of fun occasions for decorating and family get-togethers.  Here's a few ideas that you can adapt to fit any festivity!

First of all is a little Bitty Bunny that I created for Smoothfoam.  Although I created it as an Easter craft, it would  make a fun kid's craft anytime.  You could also use it as a decoration in a flower pot or a child's room. 

Bitty Bunny for Smoothfoam

Here's another spring-y idea for you.  It uses JOY Iron-on letters to create an easy Spring Banner.  I tied it to the Welcome sign that's in my entry.  I like this idea so much that I want to create one for each season!  It's so easy with these letters.  Another possibility is to create them for a special occasion like a baby shower and welcome the new mom or baby.

Spring Banner for JOY letters

You can find Smoothfoam and JOY Iron-on letters at many of the larger craft stores now or you can order through their websites.  (I am happy to promote these fine companies as I am on their design teams.  As a member of the design teams, I occasionally receive free product with which to create.)

One of my favorite things about spring is buying flowers and starting new plants for the garden.  JOY letters are perfect for labeling your pots and tags when you start your seeds.  Or, use them as a gift tag when you give a gift from your garden.  Follow this link for instructions for these gardening labels.

Herb Garden Labels for JOY Letters

There are lots of great projects on these two blogs.  Stop by and see for yourself at the Smoothfoam blog and on the Creating With Joy blog.

Happy Creating!
Terry

National Craft Month

Hi Friends,
It's National Craft Month and I'm celebrating all things crafty!  What do you like to do?

Here's a few of the things that I like to play with:

First on my list is beads.  Here's a set that I did for Craft Ideas.  It's perfect for weddings or other spring and summer occasions.  You can find the instructions on the Craft Ideas website under jewelry or in the spring issue of Craft Ideas.

Lavender Butterflies Set

Another craft that I love is needlepoint on plastic canvas.  Here's one of my latest designs at Herrschners.  Irises are one of my favorite flowers and I created iris coasters in three different colors.  Here they are:




And, of course, I create with Smoothfoam™.  Here's my latest creation for them - a Gazebo Centerpiece.  You can find the instructions on the Smoothfoam™ blog.  Decorate for a spring dinner or special occasion such as a bridal shower!

Gazebo Centerpiece

 If you need more crafty ideas, this month on the Designer Crafts Connection blog, we have a collection of our favorite craft ideas.  There are thirty ideas right now to get your craftiness started!

Happy Crafting this month and always!

Terry

CHA Bound

Hi Crafty Friends!

In a few days, I'll be off to the Craft and Hobby Mega Show!  It's the 75th anniversary of the organization, so it's sure to be a show to remember.  

I'll be working in the Eye Connect Crafts booth again this year. Erin Sparler has created some amazing new products, which will be available at the show.  Eye Connect Crafts also has a new partnership with Sizzix/Ellison.  Be sure to check out the Eye Connect Crafts blog for more on that news.

Here's a little sneak peek of the project for the booth that is still in progress now!  Yes, I'm working up to the last minute!  I turned this:

Into these:

Butterflies

I'll be taking these butterflies along with some birds and making a mobile with them.  I really like the way they came out.  I painted them with Americana® Décor™ Chalky Finish Paint in three colors, then cut scraps of print fabric and old lace tablecloth to embellish the wings.  Then, I added paint or ink for distressing along with a little sanding and raveling of the edges of the fabric. 

For more craft ideas with the recycled tag board shapes - both poppets and lace-ups, check out the blog.  If you are attending the show, please stop by Booth #2206 and say hello.  We've got make-and-takes going on all day and we'd love to show you around!

Happy Crafting!

Terry

Leaf Place Card

Hi Friends!

It's fun to decorate the table for harvest, Thanksgiving or other fall celebrations.  Here's the perfect easy place card to add that touch of fall to your table.

Leaf Place Card with JOY iron-on letters

You can place these on the plate as shown here, or attach them to a pumpkin or other holder.  Scatter a few more leaves around the centerpiece for a lovely fall accent.

Close-Up of Leaf Place Card

I used JOY Iron-on letters to add a name to the leaf.  Short names work best for this or you can use initials.  You can iron on the letters or use tacky glue.  You can find all the details on how I made this Leaf Place Card on the Creating with Joy blog.

Wishing you family gatherings filled with joy and warmth!
Terry

Welcome Banner

Hi Crafty Friends!

Welcome your friends and family for fall occasions with this easy banner!  It's made with JOY Iron-On letters, burlap ribbon, felt leaves and a little glue, pen and paint.  You can whip one up in a jiffy!

Welcome Banner for Fall

I used a dowel and a couple of spools to hang the banner, but wouldn't it be fun to use a piece of a branch for a natural look?  Or, add a few leaf veins with dimensional paint or embroidery!  Personalize it to suit your taste - that's what creativity is all about!

Here's the link for all the instructions: http://creatingwithjoy.blogspot.com/2015/09/fall-welcome-banner.html

Stop by the Creating with JOY blog for more projects that the design team creates with these fun letters!

Happy Fall Y'all!

Terry

(I received materials and compensation for this project as a member of the JOY design team.)

Do Not Disturb Sign for the Nursery

Hi Creative People!

Have you discovered JOY Iron-on letters yet?  You can find them at Michaels or on the JOY website.  There are so many things that you can decorate with them and they are so easy to use! 

Here's what I created with them last month -

Do Not Disturb Sign

You can find the instructions on the Creating with Joy blog.

Stop by the blog and see all the other projects that the Creativity Team has designed.  There are more projects for baby, fall decorations, monogrammed items, art ideas and lots more.

JOY-fully yours,

Terry

Manufacturer's Challenge - deflecto®

Hello Crafty Friends!

This month, we have another manufacturer's challenge on the Designer Crafts Connection.  A manufacturer's challenge is when some of us designers on the DCC receive a sample of product from a company with which to create a project.  In return, we use our time and talents and blog to promote the project, the manufacturer and each other.

Our manufacturer on this hop is deflecto®, a producer of plastic frames, organizers, floor mats and other office and home related products.



This is the wonderful selection of items that I received.

deflecto® products

When I get a new product and I haven't worked with it, I do a little research to see what has been done. I like to see if other designers and crafters have tried ideas I am considering.  It helps me to know what works and what doesn't and it helps me create something unique.  One of the places I checked was the deflecto® blog. To see the projects from their design team, go to their blog.  Ann Butler Designs has recently hosted a deflecto® hop, too, and here is that link.  I found that a lot of different products can be used and I decided to try some paint and decoupage and see how that worked with the plastic surfaces.

I loved the stackable cube organizer that I received and I had on hand some chalk paint that I bought to use on furniture.  I wasn't sure that it would work on the plastic, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

The DecoArt® Americana® Décor™ Chalky Finish Paint adhered to the surface very well.  The sides of the organizer are textured, so the paint adhered and covered evenly there.  But, it worked well on the smooth plastic of the drawers also.  Here's how the organizer looked after the first coat of paint: 

Stackable Cube Organizer

Not bad, but I wanted to have more texture and cover up my uneven brush strokes, so I add a second coat.  This time I used a sponge instead of a brush.

I liked that much better, but it needed some contrast.  I found some matching paper and decoupaged the sides and top.

Decoupaged and Painted Organizer

You can use this organizer anywhere.  Coordinate it with a child's room, the bathroom, the kitchen, your work space - anywhere you need a little storage.  Decorate a few and stack them up; the organizer comes with clips to hold multiples together.  Add labels on the drawers or embellishments like stickers or trims.  I added some die cut labels to the front.  I still haven't decided what I'll put in these, so the labels are blank, but I think it will end up on my sewing table.  It's perfect for thread, needles, bobbins and other sewing paraphernalia.

Organizer with Chalky FinishPaint and Decoupage

Be sure to check out the rest of the deflecto® blog hop posts to see what the other designers have created with these great products.  Go forward or back on the big blue Designer Crafts Connection button on my sidebar to start or go to the Designer Crafts Connection blog for all the links in one place.  For more information on deflecto® products for crafts, go to their site.

There is a giveaway.  To enter, leave a comment on any of the linked blogs, enter the Rafflecoper on the Designer Crafts Connection blog and like the deflecto® facebook page!  Here's what you can win!

Good Luck!

And, Happy Crafting!

Terry

Leaf Coasters with etchall®

Hi Crafters!

Did you know that etchall® etching creme works on slate?  Well, you do if you remember my post from last December when I created an etched slate heart. Yes, that was a while ago!  Today I'm getting back to that batch of slate I bought, and I'm creating a set of slate coasters with etchall® etching creme.  I really like the way etched slate looks and it's so easy to do!

Here are the coasters before etching:

Slate Coasters

Since it's almost fall, I thought I'd create a set of leaf coasters.  I have a Sizzix Big Kick and a Tim Holtz® Tattered Leaves die that I'm using to cut my stencil, but you can use any die you have or cut your own leaves.  Since this die is designed for cutting leaves and not stencils, there is not much of an edge around the leaves, so I used extra tape around the stencils.

I cut a piece of stencil material and ran it through the die cutter.  Since there are three leaves on this die, I cut them apart.

Stencil Placement

After removing the backing, I placed the leaf stencil diagonally on the coaster and rubbed it down so that all the small indentations of the leaf were stuck to the slate.  Since slate has a rough surface, take your time and make sure it adheres everywhere.  The etchall® squeegee does a good job of getting air bubbles out and adhering the stencil to the surface.  Then, cover all the edges with masking tape.

Applying the stencil

Apply the etching creme and let it sit for 15 minutes.  Gently scrape as much of the creme as you can and put it back in the bottle (it's reusable!).  Then rinse thoroughly before removing the stencil and tape.  Since the slate is rough, the stencil picks up pieces of it, so the stencil is not reusable.  

Adding etchall® etching creme

Here are the finished coasters:

Etched Leaf Coasters

Tie them up with a piece of raffia or twine and add a tag.  These make a great hostess gift - tuck them into a basket with a bottle of wine, a couple of (etched) wine glasses and some pretty napkins!

Happy Etching!

Terry

PS  Do you want to try etching with etchall®?  Follow the bee on my sidebar to buy all your etchall® needs.  (I get a small percentage if you order through my site, and as an etchall® ambassador, I receive payment for this post.  All opinions are my own and I would not be a member of the team if I didn't like the product!)