Happy Easter metal project

Wooden blocks, craft paint, a vintage wash, and some embossed metal letters are all you need to create this charming display. I really like playing with the metal sheets. This project simply reminds me of a very expensive line of purses, shoes and jewelry.

I'd been removing some of my rubber stamps from their blocks for the sake of saving some space. You can use the removed rubber on your acrylic blocks by attaching the rubber with double sided tape. So nothing is lost. And in the long run, you've gained some space. That's how come the blocks are all different sizes. I like that look.

I then painted each block with a different color acrylic craft paint. After that, I used a water and walnut ink crystals wash. Just to antique the blocks a bit. Stamp your favorite stamps on one side with your favorite ink. Spray with a sealer and you are ready for the easiest step!

I used QuicKutz's large Cookie Cutter Diesel font and cut out all letters except the 't', or cross depending on how you look at it, from brown/silver metal craft sheet from Ten Seconds Studio. For the cross, I free handed a shape and cut it out. Then I used the Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy embossing folder (click here) and placed each letter in a different spot within the folder. I embossed one letter at a time. I think it makes each letter look very unique and it's hard to tell they all came from one embossing folder, don't you think? I ran the folder through my machine, I've heard you can also use a rolling pin if these embossing folders don't fit your die cutting machine. After the letter is embossed but still in the folder, sand with a soft sanding block. This removes the color from the raised embossed areas. Use a very sticky double sided tape to adhere the letters to the blocks. The word 'happy' is from a QuicKutz cookie cutter phrases set.

Be Creative!

Metal art...or just more stuff

Not sure what the answer is. Except that playing with metal sheets is so much fun. I can see this translating well into the home dec area of my life.

I took a class last Friday night from a very lovely and talented lady named Christy Gilbreath, who is a sales rep for both Bo Bunny and Ten Seconds Studios. So guess what was in the class kit? Bo Bunny paper and Ten Seconds Studios metals... It was really fun and a great learning experience. I've changed up the class pages a bit and then actually accomplished that which I set out to accomplish... I made a metal covered cross. It's not perfect, but it's done and it's ok.

So let me explain a bit about the metal. You should venture onto Ten Seconds Studio (click here) to see all their beautiful samples and see their product. So as not overwhelm you with details, I'll just give a brief snynopsis of what I did. First off, the brown polka dot flower, the green "mats" and the brown scroll strip are all metal art. The metal comes coated with a color on one side. This can be your front side should you want a predominate color. So you would cut your piece to size and then lay the cut metal on top of an embossing plate. You can use your QuicKutz, Cuttlebug, and Fiskars (did I leave any out?) embossing dies or folders for this too. Then you use a special pointed tool and rub all around the raised elements of that which you are using to emboss. Once the piece is embossed, then you use a soft sanding block to sand off the color on the raised areas. Of course the metal can be "smushed" so it's not meant for heavy wear and tear. If you are using your metal art for an item that will be handled a lot, then Christy recommends you fill the back side with some really runny spackling and let that set. You want to be sure to only keep the spacking in the design so that any overflow doesn't show on the back side of your art piece. For your scrapbooking and card making pieces, use it as is. It's going to be just beautiful.

For the cross, the technique is basically the same, except I had to trace the cross onto the metal first. I purchased my wooden cross at one of the larger craft stores for next to nothing. I decided to use the silver side of the metal sheet so that I could then wash the entire piece with black paint and wipe off the excess to give it that Santa Fe look.

Place the metal wrong side up on a foam mat. Place your cross on top and lightly trace around the cross using a stylus with a rounded end. You don't want anything too sharp so as not to puncture the metal. Then I embossed what was going to be the right side of the metal with very many different embossing mats. I then measured how much metal should be left around the embossed design because I wanted to wrap the metal to the back of the cross. Measure twice, cut once... I used E600 to attach the metal to the cross. Once it was securely adhered, I wiped the piece with some black craft ink on a paper towel. Basically, that's it. But as always, there is a bit of fiddling to make sure everything got covered. I've got some more ideas in mind and will share them with you as I get them finished.

Sorry for the delay in posting, but we had life happening this week. Granddaughter #1 tried out for the mutton busting in the rodeo and placed, then we went to the rodeo, had work stuff, hung curtains, bought groceries and before I new it, another week had spun by.

Be Creative!

Mother Nature's rampage...

Mother Nature can be so cruel. Those beautiful tulips and narcissus were my friends whose smiling faces greeted me every afternoon after another day of work. I would peak at them in the mornings so to make sure they had rested well during the night and check on their needs while I would be away during the day. Little did I know when I planted them (yes with help from husband) that they would become so near and dear to me. They were bright spots in the yard.

The wisteria is now weeping. Once they were beautiful purple hued chandeliers suspended from life sustaining vines. Now, they are droopy blobs of purple clinging to those vines for dear life . Will they survive, restore themselves to their former beauty? Probably not. One day I will come home to find their little bodies lying on the ground only a mere shadow of their once greatness.

So I ventured outside armed with a pair of scissors. I was determined to save what I could. All those little beauties who once stood upright and were now lying on the ground. Before more harm could come to the, I snipped them from their green cloaks and brought them inside. I was rewarded with a glorious bouquet of smiling faces. And now I wonder did I do the right thing? Some green cloaked buds have restored themselves and are now standing upright again. Should I have left them with their brothers?

As I rounded into the kitchen with my bounty and looked out the kitchen window I was greeted with another sad sight. Perched in a tree ripe with new green leaves sat a very cold looking blue jay. Huddled into himself, trying to beat the fierce winds and stay on the branch. I quickly reached for my camera to capture his splendor. Would he find a shelter for the night? Will he miss the smiling faces that once stood at attention as he flitted through the yard to the bird bath? Certainly order will be restored. And just maybe this year, hunting Easter eggs won't require coats, mitten and gloves.

It's almost April, so it's calendar time...

Can you believe that next week will be April already? The days keep flying by. However, spring has finally arrived. Will we be getting our annual Easter freeze this year? Surely not, but mother nature has her own sense of humor.

The April calendar is really very simple. Not a lot of tools and supplies. You will need: QuicKutz circles and squares nesting cookie cutter dies, QuicKutz bunny, 3 stamps or really good handwriting, black Versafine ink, pink chalk ink, beige ink, a really fine (005) black marker, an April calendar, some cardstock, glue dots and a ribbon.

The saying of the month is: The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year. Mark Twain. I print this on cardstock and then cut to size of the CD holder, or by this time, the same size of your other calendar pages. Die cut 3 circle "rings" and one square "ring". Die cut the QuicKutz bunny from appropriately colored card stock. Layer and adhere all pieces as shown. If you click on the picture it will enlarge and you can see where the pen was used for the detail of the bunny's eyes and how the pink chalk in was used to highlight the ears and cheeks. Be sure to edge the bunny with the beige ink. Curl the ears, so don't glue dot them down all the way, glue dot a bow to the larger circle. Stamp were desired. Enjoy...

Be Creative!!!

Spring Heartfelt Swap

Wow, this was fun. Talk about stress though!! There were nine of us who committed to creating an ornament for each person in the group. It was truly a diversely talented group. There were Stacy and Marlis from Lubbock; Hope and Cherie from Bloomington, Indiana; Lonnie and Michelle from Oregon; Julie from Roswell, New Mexico; Amanda from Lincoln, Nebraska; and Natalie from Lodi, California. We only had one rule, there had to be felt on the project somewhere. So I sweated and fretted and then I just "did it". Because my blog was so new, I was able to post my project when I finished it. Click here and you can see that submission.

I was excited with each and every ornament that was to grace my spring tree. Each one was "sew" charming and "sew" perfect. I had branches pulled from the yard for a bouquet, but they just didn't work. So I took my 40% off coupon to the big craft store that doesn't open on Sunday and purchased a new, white feather tree. I might still be able to find one of vintage quality at a reasonable price, but this one is okay. And the granddaughters love it and think it's "great" (to quote granddaughter #1 who is just 4).

We live in this great house built in the 60's. It has a hallway, a real hallway that runs along the front of the house that is nothing but windows and built in cabinets. Love it, love it, love it. The cabinets are up to window height so there is a long expanse just waiting for decorating. It just makes me smile each time I walk by. Thank you gals, your ornaments are wonderful!

You still have time to create one of your very own - So Be Creative!

Tongue in Cheek

Many of you know that I am not a native Texan. I sound like one, sometimes think like one, drive like one for sure. But I was raised in Europe, born in Germany and lived in France for 13 years. Specifically in Orleans, south of Paris. I have two half-brothers that still live there, one in Poitiers and one in Digne, north of Nice in the Provence area.
It seems that as I age, I am drawn to things that spark memories from my youth. I guess losing my mother has made mortality a real thing. Losing our nephew in January has really made me wistful for days when life seemed easier.
So I found this really great blog. Tongue in Cheek. I am so enamored with her writings, musings, pictures, and recipes that I truly cannot wait to get up each and everyday to visit France through her eyes. So if you are a Francophile and need a daily fix.. check Corey out. I think you'll love her photography and her tongue in cheek approach to life in France.

QuicKutz club project 3/21/2009

Wow, the project is finished and the supply list turned in. Sorry it's so hard to see the page, but clear acrylic is a bit of a test to either scan or photograph. (If you look closely, you'll see me in as a reflection!).

Front side says spring but of course you could use anything. I used the QuicKutz Gazebo font. Ran it through the X-box to adhere it. I used one of my favorite edge punches, creamy beige Color Box chalk cat's eye ink pad, and tiny glue dots. There is a clear flower to the top right, but don't have your heart set on another like this... we are tearing into a delightful My Mind's Eye kit. You can also see the charming QuicKutz pinwheels in action.

On the reverse side, I've added more pinwheels. In class the papers and colors will vary however they are all fun and go together well. I'll be showing you how to plan your page and hide your adhesive! Once that is mastered, you are on your way to another creative option.

I'll be demoing both the Sizzix and Spellbinders dies this time so don't miss out on the fun. You'll also be the first to see a new class I put together for you. It's "clearly" fun. See you Saturday at 10 and check your email for a supply list!

That little box is just a prop. It was needed to prop up the scallop edge of the page so you wouldn't have to tilt your head while viewing.