Tombow USA and Altenew Blog Hop!

Hello and Welcome to the Tombow USA and Altenew Blog Hop! We have a great day of inspiration ahead of us. Make sure you leave a comment on all the blogs for the chance to win one of 4 prizes!

I was blown away by the detail in the Beautiful Day stamp set from Altenew and just knew I wanted to do a Tombow Dual Brush Pen watercolor technique - so, on to my project!

I am always looking for inspiring ways to wrap a gift as I think the packaging should be as special as the gift inside.  I have several friends who have daughters graduating from high school this June and thought that these sewn book page "pillows" would be the perfect way to wrap such a milestone gift.

Altenew features high quality photopolymer stamps that produce a crisp and clean image, even on the thinnest of detailed lines within the image.  I started out by stamping each image four times on smooth white card stock with black archival ink.

I always start my coloring projects with a color chart.  This way I can make sure that I like all of my color combinations before I start coloring my images.  I have included my color chart in the photo above.  Then I begin coloring with the lightest colors first.  Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 761 and 993.

Next I accented with Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 703.

I finished the main Peony flower with the darkest pink Tombow Dual Brush Pen # 815. 



The leaves and greenery were colored with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 192 and 312.

And the berries with Tombow Dual Brush Pens # 553 and 533.

The next step is creating the watercolor effect, which is super easy since Tombow Dual Brush Pens are water based markers - you just add WATER!  Check out my Instagram video HERE to see the water color process!

Select your book pages.  Mine are vintage, so they are a bit heavier and approximately 8" by 10".  I gave the edges a fancy touch with my scallop pinking shears.  Place two book pages together and sew three edges.  Gently open and fill your "pillow" with your gift of choice.  I have included a gift card, some tissue paper and confetti.  Then sew the fourth side, closing the pillow.

Fussy cut your stamped and colored images, then arrange them on the top of the pillow with a lovely Altenew Antique Trim frame.  Attach with Tombow Xtreme Adhesive.  Wrap with stain ribbon and finish by tying on a tag created with one of the sentiments from the Beautiful Day stamp set - "Wish You the Most Beautiful Day".

I think that this makes such an elegant presentation for a simple item like a gift card.  This packing would be perfect for a Bridal Shower or even a Wedding Gift.  The possibilities are endless!



NOW on to the FUN STUFF - PRIZES!

Use the Rafflecopter and you could win one of these amazing prizes:

*One of two Altenew $30.00 Gift Certificates

*The NEW Tombow Irojiten Vivid

*A Tombow Adhesive Bundle

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Altenew has a special offer for our amazing readers and followers: Get 10 % off your entire order at www.altenew.com with code ALTENEWLOVESTOMBOW at check out. Offer ends on May 30th at midnight EST.

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

Preppy Wreath with Smoothfoam Ruled Wreath form

Trends for Summer continue to feature neon and preppy themes that were popular in the 80’s but have been completely re-imagined and refined for 2016!

I have always been preppy at heart, being a child of the 80’s, so I designed this wreath to feature the argyle pattern that I wore on sweaters and many pairs of socks!  I chose a neon color scheme to give it an updated and modern twist, but you can create a wreath with any color scheme or holiday color scheme you desire – BE CREATIVE!

Materials Needed:

• Smoothfoam 14" Ruled Wreath
• 1 yard cut by the yard Kunin™ Eco-fi Classicfelt™, Charcoal Grey
• 9” x 12” craft cuts Kunin™ Eco-Fi™ Rainbow Classicfelt™ Candy Pink (1) and Neon Green (1)
• Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue
• 3 yards Decorative Trimmings Strawberry & Lime Mini Polar Puff
• 6 yards Decorative Trimmings Lime ¼” Schlange Sequins
• 3 yards Decorative Trimmings Black 12mm Middy Rick Rack
• 1 yard Decorative Trimmings Pink 12mm Middy Rick Rack
• 1 yard Decorative Trimmings Limelite 12mm Middy Rick Rack
• Polyester Quilt Batting, Letter Stickers in Neon Pink, Scissors, Ruler, Marker, Pencil, Straight Pins.

Instructions:

1.) Measure and cut 4” wide strips of Polyester Quilt Batting.  Wrap around Smoothfoam Ruled Wreath, securing ends with Straight Pins.  Measure and cut 4” wide strips of cut by the yard Kunin™ Eco-fi Classicfelt™ in Charcoal Grey.  Wrap around wreath, securing ends with Straight Pins.

TIP:  Ruled Wreaths make design and layout simple.  Smoothfoam has molded lines and numbers into the foam to make creating easy.  Even numbers on one side and odd numbers on the other!  These brand new wreaths are round and will not break like traditional Styrofoam wreaths when shipped or dropped.  Proudly made in the USA!

2.) Cut 8 Diamonds from Kunin™ Eco-Fi™ Classicfelt™ Candy Pink.  Attach Mini Polar Puff to all four edges of each diamond with Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, let dry.  Attach diamonds to wreath starting at 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 9 o’clock.  Fill in the remaining four diamonds, centered in the empty spaces.

3.) Measure and CAREFULLY cut the Schlange Sequin in sixteen 8” lengths.  Secure all edges with a dot of Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, so the Sequins don’t unravel.  Attach two lengths of Sequins in an “X” pattern across the center of each diamond with Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, let dry.

4.) Measure and cut eight 8” lengths of Black Middy Rick Rack.  Attach to spaces between argyle patterns on Charcoal Grey Felt with Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, let dry.  Trace and cut five triangles from Kunin™ Eco-Fi™ Classicfelt™ Neon Green.  Attach to a 16” length of Black Middy Rick Rack, using Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue, let dry.  Attach Pink Canvas Letters spelling HELLO.  Attach banner to inside edge of wreath using Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue and Straight Pins, letting ends of trim dangle.  Attach remaining lengths of other trimmings with Tombow MONO Multi Liquid Glue and Straight Pins.

5.) Hang and Enjoy!

And be sure to check out the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION BLOG for the Link Up and FACEBOOK PAGE as well for tons more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

Notebook Paper Inspired Teacher Appreciation Book Bag

May is Teacher Appreciation Month, so I have created this cute book bag inspired by notebook paper for that special teacher!

Shout-out to Mrs. Hillary at Burns Middle School in Brandon, Florida!

Start with a plain canvas tote bag - mine is 16" square from Canvas Corp Brands.

Measure and draw horizontal lines across the width with a pencil - I started 3" from the top with the lines in 1" increments.



Mark two vertical margin lines at 1/4" apart, 2" in from the left side. To make the binder holes on the left, draw a small circle at the first line, a middle line and the last line.

Trace over all the pencil marks with fine-point permanent markers - red for the margin lines, blue for the writing lines, and black for the binder holes. 

Spell out your favorite teacher's name with Joy iron-on embroidered letters. Iron them on according to the package directions. I like to use a flat craft iron without steam holes for better adhesion.

Fill your Teacher Appreciation Book Bag with great BOOKS (of course) and give it to that special teacher!

Be sure to check out my Instagram for even more inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

Quick and Easy Mason Jar Crafts for Father's Day!

Happy Wednesday!

Today I will be sharing my Quick and Easy Mason Jar Crafts for Father's Day.

This project is part of Craft Lightning – Father’s Day. A whole week of 15-minute or less crafts that make great Father’s Day gifts! Carolina from 30 Minute Crafts is co-hosting this series with Angie from The Country Chic Cottage and Danielle from Busy Mom’s Helper. Check out ALL Father’s Day gift ideas by clicking on the Craft Lightning link at the bottom of my post.  There will be new projects posted each day this week from lots of crafty folks who are joining in!

Gather some Mason Jars and empty toilet paper tubes.  Squash the TP tubes and attach Tombow Xtreme Tabs to the bottom.  Insert in the Mason Jar, adhesive side down to secure.

Insert a Gift Card for Dad in the squashed TP tube.  The tubes are just wide and tall enough to accommodate a gift card.  And what a great way to recycle!

Fill the Mason Jars with Candy, Peanuts and Golf Tees.  You won't use quite so much candy with the TP tube filler AND Dad will have an extra surprise when he opens the Mason Jar!

Create cute Gift Tags with a variety of letter stickers from your stash.  We used some ink mists to color the tag, then used three different letter stickers to create an interesting look!  Tie the tag to the top of the Mason Jar with coordinating ribbon!  

Your Quick and Easy Mason Jar Crafts for Father's Day are ready to give.  This is a great craft to complete with the kiddos and only takes 15 minutes!  Let each kid pick the jar filling and craft up the gift tag for a personal touch.

Click the Craft Lightning link below to peruse the ton of crafty ideas that are being shared this week!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth