DESIGNER CRAFT CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER

CRAFTING FOR HALLOWEEN

I wanted to challenge myself this month to create a project without purchasing any new supplies, so I pulled out my Halloween craft bin and dug through its contents to get some inspiration.  Having seen quite a few feather wreaths on Pinterest recently, I selected black feather boas and some simple wooden shapes from my stash.

I started with a 12" Styrofoam Wreath form from Dow and wrapped four 6' long feather boas around the form, securing with Aleene's® Original Tacky Glue™.

I wanted a uniform look, so I painted all of the wooden shapes with Americana Paint from DecoArt in Canyon Orange.  For some extra sparkle I painted a Twinkle Sparkle Top Coat in Orange.

For the green glitter accents, I base coated some mini Styrofoam Balls with Aleene's Tacky Glue and rolled them in Bright Green Glitter.

Once all the shapes are dry, glue in place on the Wreath Form with Tacky Glue.  Cut a 20" length of orange fiber and secure one end to the back of the shape on the wreath and the other to the back of the spider shape.

The possibilities for this type of project are endless.  Use your imagination and the supplies around your home - or visit your local craft store and purchase these readily available craft supplies.


I hope you enjoyed my project today.  To view all of the other projects from the rest of the Designer Craft Connection group please use the HOP FORWARD and HOP BACK navigation in the DCC Icon in my right hand tool bar and ENJOY!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

DESIGNER CRAFT CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST

CRAFTING WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES

For the month of August our Designer Craft Connection challenge was to craft with school supplies.  This is very timely since the kids in Southwest Florida go back to school this Wednesday August 8th!  Open House was Saturday and after my Niece, Marlee, met her new Third Grade Teacher, she decided she wanted to make her something for the first day of school.  What better to give a teacher then a pencil holder for her desk - and what better to craft it out of then pencils!

Here's How I Made It:

• I already had a tall, square shaped container in my stash that was left over from some fancy Holiday candies, so we painted it inside and out with Golden Straw Yellow with Ameicana paints fom DecoArt to match the pencils and got to work. 
• Measure from the top to the bottom of your container with a ruler and mark each pencil at that length. 
• I cut all of the pencils with my pair of pruning shears from Fiskers - this worked perfectly and gave us nice, clean cuts (using sharp cutting tools is something that children should get help with from an adult). 
• Turn the container on its side and apply a generous coat of  Aleene’s® Original Tacky Glue™ from I Love To Create. 
• We used 11 pencils on 2 sides and 10 pencils on the other 2 sides. 
• Allow glue to dry and secure a ribbon around the center, tied in to a bow. 
• Marlee is going to add a tag with her teacher's name and some school themed stickers then fill the pencil holder with - you guessed it - brand new pencils!

We decided to have all of the erasers at the top, but you could have the erasers at the bottom, alternate top and bottom or create a personalized pattern of your own.  This project would also work well with rulers or even colored pencils for your Art Teacher.  Imagination and creativity are the keys when crafting with kids!

I hope you enjoyed my project today.  To view all of the other projects from the rest of the Designer Craft Connection group please use the HOP FORWARD and HOP BACK navigations in the DCC Icon in my right hand tool bar and ENJOY!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

Teacher Appreciation Week is this week in our schools and this past weekend my Niece and I made these cute, quick and easy Apple Pots for her teachers.

• Paint a terra cotta pot and saucer with Country Red Americana Paint from DecoArt and let dry. 
• Paint a wooden spool with Chocolate Brown, let dry. 
• Paint a large "squiggle" in Pistachio Mint, let dry - then paint stripes in Victorian Blue to create your "Worm". 
• Outline your Worm and draw in his/her face with a Black Sharpie Marker.
• Lightly letter your saying - Grade A Teacher - in pencil then fill in with the Black Sharpie Marker.
• Spray entire "Apple" - inside and out with Matte Spray Sealer from DecoArt, let dry.
• Glue a silk leaf and the painted spool to the top of your terra cotta saucer "lid" with Aleene's Original Tacky Glue from I Love To Create, let dry.

Fill with a sweet snack or maybe a gift card and say THANK YOU to your favorite Teacher this week!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN MAY

This month's DCC post is all about quick and easy jewelry projects which fits in great because Mother's Day is this coming Sunday May 13th!

I always like to make handmade gifts with my Nieces and Nephew, so they have something special to give to their family members on special occasions.

I love the Start-Ups line of embellish-able (is that a word?) charms from Buttons Galore and More, they make the perfect blank canvas.  We started with the Large Tags because I thought they were the perfect size for a necklace pendant.  We haven’t used Alcohol Inks in a while, so I pulled those out and we decided on Greens, Blues and Purples.  The Alcohol Inks dry instantly and the ink is heat set in just about a minute, so creating these charm necklaces is a quick and easy process with virtually no mess, which is important when crafting with kids!

The first background we created was a tie dye effect – the alcohol ink has a fluid movement on the Start Ups surface and the kids almost couldn’t stop layering the colors and watching them blend together! We added a chipboard butterfly from K & Company and Making Memories letter stickers to spell the word FLY because Grammy LOVES Butterflies!

For the next background, we dropped Alcohol Ink on the surface of the Start Ups, then blotted off with a paper towel to create a watercolor effect.  We stamped over the background with StazOn Jet Black Ink and set the ink with a Heat Tool.  We added a touch of Starlight Stickles on the dragonfly, the word sticker COURAGE, a flower with gem and a black gingham ribbon compete this necklace for their Mom, because she is starting a new job this week!

The third background was similar to the second, but we sanded the dry alcohol ink to distress the finish.  Then we stamped with musical notes and finished with a large monogram M that was painted black and topped with a thick coat of Glossy Accents for Grandmom because she loves music and her name is Matilda!

We inked around the edge of each of the Start Ups charms with black StazOn ink and then set it with a Heat Tool.  I ALWAYS have the kids print their initials and the date on the back of each of their projects, so they become a treasured keepsake.

Add a jump ring and some ball chain and our Mixed Media Charm Necklaces are ready to give as Mother's Day gifts!

Please use the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION navigation on the right sidebar to hop around to the other Designers on our web ring and view the creative projects that they have posted for May!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

RECYCLED EASTER BUNNY CANDY DISH

Back again today with more Easter crafts that are cute and quick!

I had a large terra cotta saucer left over from a pot that was broken and a smaller pot had a chip on the edge. They were sitting in my courtyard and I had stacked them on top of each other by the gate to recycle them into pot filler when I saw it - a candy dish!

It's like love a first sight when you have a Crafty Epiphany like that!



Wash the pot and saucer and let them dry. Base coat the outside of the pot plus the inside and outside of the saucer with Americana acrylic paints by DecoArt in Titainium White. Don't worry about being neat, just get a nice coat on the surface.

Cut two bunny ears from canvas or white craft foam. Sponge the pot and the ears with Light Buttermilk to get the "furry" texture effect. Paint the plaid on the pot rim with alternating vertical stripes of Hauser Light Green and Tangelo Orange. Paint alternating horizontal stripes of Country Blue and Moon Yellow. Paint a triangle with rounded sides in Gooseberry Pink for the nose. Paint large circles in Gooseberry Pink, diluted with water for the cheeks. Using a black Sharpie marker, draw the eyes, outline around the nose, mouth and whiskers. Hightlight the eyes with a dot of Titainium White paint, using the wooden end of your paint brush.

Paint the bottom of the saucer Moon Yellow. Base coat the middle ridge with Lilac and stripe with Tangelo Orange. Paint the top edge with Hauser Light Green.

Base coat four 2" wooden Doll Heads/Ball Knobs from Lara's Crafts with Country Blue. Add polka dots of Titainium White paint, using the wooden end of your paint brush.

Flip the saucer upside down and glue the flat edge of the wooden Doll Heads/Ball Knobs to the bottom with Aleene's Orginial Tacky Glue, let dry.

Top coat the pot and saucer with Americana Spray Sealer/Finisher in Matte. Insert the bunny ears in to the hole in the pot, place bunny on saucer, fill with candy and ENJOY!

NOTE: Make sure to only use wrapped candy in your dish, due to the spray finish not being non-toxic!

HAPPY EASTER!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN APRIL!

Today's DCC Hop is all about SPRING!

Love Spring and Easter, so I have decided to share this cute craft I did this weekend with my Niece, Marlee and my Nephew, Zach. They like to give crafts to their Mom, Great-Aunt, Grandmoms and Great-Grandmom for special holidays. I always make them sign and date the project on the bottom, which turns a simple kids craft in to a true keepsake!



I base coated recycled round light bulbs with Krylon's Primer in All-Purpose White, this allows the acrylic paint to adhere better. We used Americana Acrylic Paints by DecoArt in Titainmum White to base coat Bunny and sponged Light Buttermilk over top to create the "furry" texture. Once dry we rubbed on some watered down Gooseberry Pink paint for the cheeks and painted on the nose. A great resource for crafting with kids are Sharpie markers - so easy to use for details like facial features! Cut Bunny ears from white felt and glue across the top of the light bulb with Aleene's Original Tacky Glue from ilovetocreate. Top with a miniature straw hat embellished with a strip of scrap fabric and a fuzzy little chick. Glue the light bulb Bunny to miniature grapevine wreath and ENJOY!

Please use the DCC navigation on the right sidebar to hop around to the other Designers on our web ring and view the creative projects that they have posted for March.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN MARCH

MARCH IS NATIONAL CRAFTS MONTH!

One of this month's themes is MIXED MEDIA! My first and one true love! You can use any materials you want, there are no rules and there is no right or wrong way to approach MIXED MEDIA ART!

This set of stacked boxes started out with the paper. Webster's Pages has such pretty, soft and elegant paper collections. This one sings Spring to me.



I adhered the various papers to the sides, top and band of both boxes with Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium Matte - I LOVE this stuff - it always bonds the paper to the base without bubbles, tears or smears. It is like MAGIC!

I embellished the boxes with watercolor pencils, markers, ribbon, vintage postcard art reproductions, pearls and rhinestones. I wanted a nest of eggs on top but could not find a nest large enough to fit the top of the box, so I made one out of a grapevine wreath. I painted the lid of the box Chocolate Brown with Americana Paints by DecoArt to match the nest. I painted plain wooden eggs to resemble Robin's eggs with a mixture of Spa Blue and Winter Blue, then speckled and distressed them with watered down Chocolate Brown and Raw Umber. Then glued them inside the wreath. The quote is a Webster's Pages Journaling Card that I embellished with Bloomer Ribbon, pearls and a bow.

Hope you have enjoyed my Spring Inspirated MIXED MEDIA ART!

Please use the DCC navigation on the right sidebar to hop around to the other Designers on our web ring and view the creative projects that they have posted for March.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN JANUARY

WELCOME TO 2012 AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For January our theme is journals! My niece, Lindsay loves journals of all kinds. She records her thoughts, draws, writes poetry and music - lots of talent!

The most recent journal that I have made for her is a faux leather journal made of masking tape and mists - looks difficult, but is actually very easy to create.



I bought a plain, hard cover journal at the office supply store. I tore off sections of plain masking tape and placed them on my Inksentials Non-Stick Craft Sheet by Ranger. Then I sprayed the masking tape with a variety of mists, layering the colors until I was pleased with the result, then let dry completely. Once dry I inked a few clear flower stamps by Hero Arts and created a random pattern. I created three or four different colors of my faux leather stripes, some I stamped and some I left plain.

I then started layering the strips of masking tape over the front and back covers as well as the spine until everything was covered. I measured and cut two pieces of plain black card stock to fit on the inside of the front and back journal covers to hide the raw edges of of the masking tape and give the journal a finished look.

I had alot of fun with this project exploring all of the different color combinations that I could create by mixing and matching the mists on the masking tape. This technique would work well on other desk accessories, lamp shades and even glass votives!

Please use the DCC navigation on the right sidebar to hop around to the other Designers on our web ring and view the creative journals that they have created.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 1

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE TO ALL!

I have been wanted to try out one of these silver trays I have seen all over the web and finally found the perfect tray!



This is a small oval silver plated tray that I found in a thrift store. The decorative papers are all from the Tinsel & Twig line from the Girl's Paperie. I have embellished with a large red glittered MERRY, red buttons, white pearls and green glittered leaves. I finished the tray off with a red hand dyed satin bow and some silver tinsel trim.

I hope you have enjoyed my count down to Christmas projects as much as I have enjoyed sharing them! I wish you and your the most joyous of Holiday Seasons - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 2

OK, WE ARE DOWN TO THE WIRE AT MY HOUSE.

PRESENTS WRAPPED - CHECK!

COOKIES BAKED - CHECK!

CRAFTS FINISHED - "OOPS" - NOT YET, BUT DON'T WORRY BECAUSE TODAY I HAVE TWO CLEVER ORNAMENTS - AND YOUR HUSBAND CAN PICK UP THE SUPPLIES AT THE HARDWARE STORE FOR YOU!





Hinges and Krylon Spray Saint make this one of the easiest ornament ideas EVER! Base coat the Snowman hinges with #8800 White Dual Paint + Primer and let dry. Base coat the Santa hinges with #8804 Burgundy Dual Paint + Primer and let dry.

Use Americana Paints from DecoArt to finish the features and a Krylon Leafing Pen in #9901 18 KT. Gold to accent the details. Seal with Krylon Matte Finish in #1311 Clear to protect your painted surface.

Loop a satin ribbon through the top hole of the hinge and hang on your tree!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 3

LAST MINUTE GIFT TOPPER IDEA!



I love to create personal gifts and treats for all of my family and friends. I had purchased these cute little mittens some time ago at a craft store because they were CUTE! I then turned them into Christmas pins to wear during the Holidays and have attached them to the ribbons on my gift packages this year!

The "head" is a wooden ice cream spoon that has been painted and topped with a fabric hat tied with a piece of embroidery floss. Santa has a fabric heart, button and satin bow on his mitten "body" and the Snowman has a fabric scarf and buttons on his mitten "body". The final step is to glue on a pin back.

The mittens can be found here at Wimpole Street Creations on the web.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 4

ANOTHER VINTAGE INSPIRED ORNAMENT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY!



This snowflake ornament started out as a simple wooden shape from the craft store. I covered it with vintage Dictionary paper and punched a 1" scalloped circle from the same paper and inked all of the edges with grey ink. I stamped "LET IT SNOW" in grey ink and attached it to the snowflake with several layers of dimensional foam adhesive squares. I glued on a silver tinsel pipe cleaner stem, small Mother of Pearl buttons and silver beads - to add sparkle. I then took my Crop-a-Dile and punched holes around the edges to create additional interest. I stamped 2011 on the back of the snowflake in grey ink.

I have made a whole bunch of these this year and will give them to family and friends this Holiday Season!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 5

A RECYCLED CHIPBOARD COASTER BECOMES AN ORNAMENT!



I covered a 2" wide coaster with vintage music and inked the edges with dark brown ink. I then stamped a circular row of light green holly leaves and dark green holly leaves. Using a cute typewriter font stamp set, I stamped "holly daze" in the center with dark brown ink and highlighted it with glitter glue. I finished the ornament with red rhinestones, a red satin ribbon bow and a hanger - now it happily lives on my Christmas tree!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 6

Cute, quick and easy - this is what I am all about this Holiday Season!

My project for today is a Super Glam Snowman ornament that is super easy to make!



I started out with three 2" Styrofoam Balls, painted them with Aleene's Original Tacky Glue and rolled them in a paper plate full of white glitter. Shake them off and let them dry, then just fold the paper plate in half and pour your glitter back into it's container! Cut a 24" length of white satin ribbon and tape the folded end to the blunt end of a wooden skewer. Thread on a bead or button (any kind because it won't show) and knot the loose ends of the ribbon. "Thread" the Styrofoam balls on to the ribbon, so they are touching, thread another bead or button on the top and secure with a dot of glue.

Using Inksentials Wonder Tape by Ranger in a 8" by 10" sheet, cut out six coal eye, three carrot nose and twelve coal mouth shapes. Peel one side from the three carrot nose shapes and push firmly into a paper plate of chunky orange glitter. Peel second side from carrot noses and place one on each Styrofoam ball. Peel one side from the six coal eye and twelve coal mouth pieces, push into a paper plate of black chunky glitter. Peel second side from coal eyes and place two coal eyes on each Styrofoam ball. Peel second side from coal mouth pieces and place four on each Styrofoam Ball.

Using Decorative Chalks or left over blush, give each snowman two rosy cheeks. Cut two 6" and two 4" white feather trim pieces. Glue two 4" pieces around the buttons at the top and bottom of the snowmen. Glue two 6" pieces between the snowmen.

Hang on tree for a Glam Holiday!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 7

Make your very own ELF ON A SHELF with an upcycled clay pot, wooden ball, some paint and scraps of fabric!



Just a quick share today - because I have to get the rest of the Holiday shopping completed then start on the Holiday baking!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 8

Just a super quick ornament idea to share today! These are easy to do with the kiddos, you just have to help them with the hot glue!

Hope you enjoy - they are almost yummy enought to eat!!



Flaten the bottom of a satin covered ornament by pushing down and twisting on your work surface. Hot glue the bottom and then edge in a paper cupcake liner. Ice the cupcake with 3D Fabric Paint like the Tulip brand from ilove to create. Smooth with a palette knife or plastic knife. Sprinkle with glitter, shake off excess and set aside to dry. Drying may take up to 24 hours based upon how thick a layer of "icing" you use.

Once dry, tie a section of gold cord or ribbon for the hanger and hot glue two metallic pom poms to cover plastic hanger loop.

Hang on the tree and give as gifts. The bottom of the cupcake makes the perfect spot for your child's name and the date!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 9

Anyone hungry for some Christmas Cookies? These are the kind that you hang on the tree, not eat becasue they are made from Craft Foam and 3D Fabric Paint!

They do look good enough to eat, though!



Cut shapes from tan craft foam - I prefer the Foamies brand from Darice - or use a cookie cutter to trace your pattern. I started with a heart. Ink the edges of the "cookie" with Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink by ClearSnap to give that fresh baked look. Fill in the "icing" with Tulip 3D Fashion Paint in Slick Deep Red, outline and dot in Metallic White, then draw a squiggle circle in Slick Pistachio Green. To finish, place a Silver Metallic bead in the center to resemble a confectionary dragee and sprinkle with clear glitter. Once dry, glue a gold or silver cord to the back for hanging!



The candy cane is just as easy. Cut your candy cane cane shapre from the tan craft foam and ink the edges. Starting with Slick Deep Red, outline the stripes on the candy cane and fill in. Next outline and fill in the white stripes with Metallic White. Draw a line of Slick Pistachio Green in the center of each white stripe and place the silver metallic beads on the red stripes. Sprinkle with clear glitter. Once dry, glue a gold or silver cord to the back and hang on the tree.



These cookies make great gift tags as well - just write your TO and FROM on the back!

Delicious decorations and easy to bake, I mean create, too!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 10

Here we are - 10 days before Christmas - YIKES! No worries, though, because today I have a super easy project to share!



SNOWMAN TV - an altered Altoids tin makes the perfect Christmas Tree ornament AND Gift Card holder!

Create one for each member of your family featuring Frosty and all of his friends!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 11

ONLY 11 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND COUNTING! BUT DON'T WORRY, THERE IS STILL TIME TO CRAFT SOME GREAT PRESENTS & DECORATIONS!



Today I am sharing a Christmas Tree and Ornament made from empty ribbon spools and paper scraps - I never throw anything away!

Stack the spools in largest to smallest order, cover with decorative papers and embellish with buttons, stickers, rhinestones, glitter and pearls! Glue all of the spools together. Tie with red and green ribbon, then I made a paper rosette for the topper. I used a very graphic paper line from Making Memories from last year, but this project would look lovely with some of the vintage papers that are out this year.

Follow the same steps for the Ornament, but thread the ribbon through the center of the spools (once glued) string on a crystal and thread the ribbon back up to the top. Then tie in a bow and hang on the tree!

A quick and easy project that is great for clearing out your stash!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS - DAY 12

QUICK AND EASY CRAFTS TO COMPLETE IN THE 12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!



I have had this cute little basket laying around for a while, just waiting for a project, but I have seen similar baskets in the $1.00 section at Michael's.

I based coated the lid with Titanium White, the handle with Lamp Black and the Band in Hauser Dark Green. Using a detail brush, I painted the nose with Jack-O-Lantern Orange, the snowflake with Winter Blue, the coal eyes and mouth with Lamp Black. The plaid "scarf" was created with the same detail brush and stripes of Hauser Light Green, Country Red and Titanium White. I watered down some Lamp Black and painted the detail on the carrot nose. I always use Americana Acrylic Paints by DecoArt because they have the best coverage! The cheeks were tinted with Pebbles Decorative Chalks.

Using my Marvy Clever Lever Extra Jumbo Circle Punch (yellow) I punched out two 1 1/2" circles from red cardstock, glued the red feather trim to the cardstock with Aleens Tacky Glue by i love to create and then the cardstock to either side of the handle to create the snowman's "ear muffs". Glue 2 black buttons on the front of the basket. Last step is to glitter the snowflake with Ranger Stickles in Diamond.

Fill your snowman basket with a candy treat or gift card - Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth