CHA 2014 - Recoup then Recap

Finally feeling better after bringing back the #CHAFLU from California.

Always lots to look at and take in while at the CHA tradeshow in Anaheim.  Love seeing all my crafty friends and catching up with what everyone is up to!  I also love to see the new products and how they work!

Here are some highlights:

The Banners of Hope Designer Display was spearheaded by Lorine Mason and gave CHA Designer Members and CHA Attendees an opportunity to create a banner with the theme of HOPE.  The banners were then taken to the Charity Wings Art Center to be the centerpiece of a 24 hour Hope-A-Thon and will then travel around the country - Cool!

I organized and participated in my 9th Designer Showcase Event.  This show floor event is a vehicle for the CHA Designer Members to create and display a 3D portfolio on a pedestal.  There were 28 Designers who participated this year and the different displays were absolutely spectacular!  I was truly amazed and inspired!

Work always plays just as big a role at the show as does play.  I did demos and make and takes at the Makin's Clay and Smoothfoam booths.  I love meeting new people who enjoy learning and creating with new products.  And sometimes, I learn a thing or to as well!

Prime Media holds a crafty Blogger Event where manufacturers all come together to meet and network with the bloggers to preview new products and make mutually beneficial connections to spread crafting to the masses!  This year's event had great companies like Fiskars, Design Master, Krylon, Plaid, Sizzix, Coats & Clark and Leisure Arts - just to name a few!  I met online friends like Angela Daniels from Rit Dye, previewed new products like Mac & Cheese Duck Tape and created some new working relationships with some fabulous companies!  These companies sent each craftere home with four large bags of swag, so we could play, create and blog when we got home - WOW!

A big THANK YOU to Simone Collins and everyone at Prime Media aka Fave Crafts!

I Love To Create had a Creative Refresh where all my crafty friends - Jonathan Fong, Lorine Mason, Ann Butler and Cindi Bisson - and I came together to get massages, eat gourmet popcorn and have mini make overs complete with headshots!  Alyson Dias and the folks at I Love To Create sent each crafter home with a bag of swag!  Another generous company!

I had a Snowman project on display at the Sizzix booth with Eileen Hull's new Cherished Collection.

My starburst mirror at the Sticky Sticks booth.

The Smoothfoam booth featured six of my blog projects.

My favorite booths included:

I Love To Create - yes those are beach balls decorated with Tulip 3D Fasion Paint!  Along with crafty friends Eileen Hull and Pattie Wilkinson.

Lion Brand Yarns - the 7 wonders of the world created with yarn!

Red Heart - gigantic balls of yarn and scarves!

I also had the opportunity to be a classroom assistant to Eileen Hull and Amy Bowerman at their Artist On the Block workshop!

Check out some other blog posts about CHA 2014:

Smoothfoam Make & Takes

CHA Mega Show - Hot New Products

CHA Mega Show - Overview by Julie McGuffee

CHA 2014 Mega Show highlights by Julie Fei-Fan Balzer

CHA 2014 Highlights by Anita Houston, the Artful Maven
CHA 2014 Recap by Amy Bowerman of Plucking Daisies

It was a fabulous trip and I am already looking forward to CHA 2015!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

FAUX LEATHER MASKING TAPE JOURNALS

Thanks for stopping by for the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION January Blog Hop!  This month's theme is new techniques.



I worked with these Gelatos from the Faber Castell Design*Memory*Craft line at the CHA Summer Show and then I picked some up in several different color families at Michael's to play with them.  I was looking around my studio for a surface and saw four rolls of masking tape that I had on hand from another project and thought that the tape would make a versatile surface.  I also had some small blank books on hand, so decided to create some colorful journals.

Here's how I made it:

• Lay out several lengths of masking tape on a workable surface.  I used my Inksentials Craft Sheet from Ranger.

• Next, just start scribbling - what fun!  I mixed and matched colors, then misted the maksing tape with water and blended with the paint brush included in the Gelatos Mix & Match set.

• Keep layering and blending until you get the effect you are looking for. This was actually extremely fun and relaxing! Crafting as therapy - LOVE IT!  I blotted some strips with a paper towel and others with my paint brush, but I think that they all look like faux leather!

• Once all of the masking tape strips are colored and dry, measure your book cover (or surface of your choice) and cut to length.

• I used the widest strip of masking tape on the spine of the book, so I had enough to wrap around the front and back covers.  Cut a small "V" at the folds of the book and wrap the edges of the masking tape in on inside of the front and back covers.

• Lay out different colors and widths of the colored masking tape until the front and back covers are completely covered.  Make the final piece of masking tape wide enough to wrap around the inside edge of the book.  Cut the tape at an angle, so the finished edge is as neat as possible.  Then burnish all surfaces with a bone folder (or old credit card) to smooth out and bubbles and create a good adhesion to the surface of the book. 

• Using the Stamper's Big Brush Pen in Black I inked the clear stamps that came with the Gelatos Mix & Match set and stamped the Damask and Flower pattern on the front cover of my journal books.  I found that the stamping worked better on the masking tape if I lightly misted the stamp after I inked it with the Big Brush Pen.
• The last step is to measure, cut and adhere a coordinating paper to the inside front and back covers to hide all of the tape edges and finish the Journal.

I am going to be giving out these mini Journals out this New Year to family and friends!  They are the perfect size to carry in your purse for important notes and ideas!


Now you can HOP AROUND and see what other new techniques the rest of the Designers are sharing with everyone today.  Just click on the HOP FORWARD and HOP BACK buttons in the DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION icon on the right hand side task bar.  HAPPY HOPPING!



Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

Cre8time this Christmas for Crafting with the Kids!

 Crafting at the holidays is always fun for me, but crafting with my Niece is even better!

Take time to CRE8TIME with your family this Holiday Season!

Crafting a flowered messenger bag from and American Girl kit!

 

Knitting a scarf with Gandmom!

 

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

The 12 Ornaments of Christmas Past, Present and Future!

It's the first Monday in December, so that means that it is time for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop!  This month's theme is Holiday Decorations! and Holiday Ornaments are kind of my "THING".  I am known for creating unique ornaments each year for my close circle of family and friends.  So, I wanted to share some of my recent creations as well as some oldies but goodies! 

Happy Crafting - I hope you enjoy!

 Simple paint brushed embellished with paint, decorative yarn and ribbon

Metal containers with clear lids filled with stickers and faux snow

Altered Altoids tin painted like a vintage television with wire and bead antennae

 Wooden spools covered with decorative scrapbook paper, stacked and topped with a gold star

 



Tan craft foam cut into cookie shapes and decorated with 3D Fabric Paint "icing"

 Simple satin ornaments from the Dollar Store glued into cupcake papers with 3D Fabric Paint "icing" and pom pom toppers

 

Wooden Gingerbread Man cut out embellished with stain and paint

Chipboard coaster stamped with a repeating Holly Leaf and embellished with rhinestones and ribbon

Miniature mittens filled with wooden ice cream spoon Snowman and Santa faces, embellished with buttons, ribbon and fabric

Wooden Sugar Plum Fairy cut out embellished with paint and glitter

Metal hinge upcycled with paint and gold marker

Metal hinge upcycled with paint and faux snow



 

Now you can HOP around to see what the other Designers have created with a Holiday Decorations theme in mind - I can't wait to see the creativity!  Just click the HOP BACK and HOP FORWARD buttons in the DCC icon on the right hand side of my toolbar!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

Make a Christmas Ornament with Smoothfoam and The Robin's Nest

I am excited to be taking part in this Holiday Ornament Blog Hop sponsored by Smoothfoam and the Robin's Nest!

There are quite a few Designers participating, so be sure to hop on over to the Robin's Nest Blog for a complete list of projects and links!

My project today was inspired by my Gran, my maternal Grandmother, who was extremely crafty!

 

I started out by covering a Smoothfoam Ball 3" with Ranger Ink's Glue & Seal (this product was great for this project because the container has a small brush built in to the lid, so I was able to work in small areas) then sprinkled iridescent white glitter all over and let dry.  When working with Smoothfoam Balls I will insert a pencil or stylus into the small opening in the center of the ball to use as a handle.

 

I laid out several patterns of the Dew Drops from the Robin's Nest, which are small plastic gems that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, on a piece of white paper before I attached them to the ball.

 

Working in small areas, I kept attaching the Dew Drops to the Ball and then the patterns just starting flowing and soon my entire Ball was covered - in less than an hour!

 



My Pick N Place Pencil from KOOL TAK was perfect tool for this project.  It looks like an ordinary white pencil, but when you sharpen it the point is sticky.  This stickiness aids in picking up small items like the Dew Drops, so you can get accurate placement on your project.  I finished by tying a loop and a bow in some red organza ribbon and gluing it inside the small opening in the center of the ball.


 

Above are a few of the vintage ornaments that my Gran made in the 60's and 70's with foam shapes, straight pins, beads, sequins and trims.  They have always been amazing works of art to me and I treasure them dearly.  She was definitely one crafty lady!

 

Leave a comment here on my blog to be entered for a chance to win a great prize package of crafty goodies from Smoothfoam and The Robin's Nest and enter on each blog you visit in the hop!

 

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth

 



Cre8Time to make a Fall Banner

I enjoy year round beautiful weather, living in SW Florida, but the one season that I truly miss is FALL!  The crisp air, the apple cider and especially the leaves changing color!

I found these giant Fall Leaves at Michael's and thought they would make a great base for a banner.  While messing around working through the creative process, I noticed a chipboard letter laying on top of one of the leaves and I thought - silhouette!  So, I simply traced each of my chipboard letters on to the silk leaf and cut it out with my craft knife.  I then tied a seam binding ribbon dyed a burnt orange color around each of the stems.

 

 

This entire project only took about 8 minutes to complete, so what can you CRE8TE in 8 MINUTES?  Visit the Cre8Time Movement on Facebook or on the Web and reclaim your Cre8tivity!  I DID!

 

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth



Thankful Turkey Mason Jar Craft

Welcome to the Designer Crafts Connection first Monday in November blog hop!

This month's theme is thank you gifts. 

My Mom loves Thanksgiving and gathers all of the family and friends around.  Our tradition is that right before dinner everyone shares what he or she is most thankful for, so I have created a Thankful Turkey Mason Jar Craft.  Now everyone can also write down their thankful memories and Mom can keep them from year to year.



Materials:
Mason Jar
3" Smoothfoam Ball
Echo Park collection kit & decorative brads - Fall Reflections by Lori Whitlock
Americana paint by DecoArt - Dark Chocolate
Xyron Mega Runner - 1/2" by 100'
Aleene's Original Tacky Glue from I Love to Create
Scissors, pencil, serrated knife, paint brush, plain paper, black self adhesive half pearls, metallic pens and Ribbon - 1" wide gold organza 20" long.

Here's how I made it:

1.  Insert pencil in the Smoothfoam ball and paint with dark chocolate, then set aside to dry.  Draw a feather shape on plain paper, cut out and trace on each paper in collection pack.  Cut out, fold in half and cut slits down the outside edge.  Trace and cut out a 6" circle from brown decorative paper.

2.  Cut 1/2" from Smoothfoam ball and glue flat surface to lid of mason jar, set aside to dry.  Attach feathers to circle in a fan pattern with Xyron Mega Runner.  Cut triangle for beak from mustard decorative paper and waddle from burgundy decorative paper, then attach with Xyron Mega Runner. Attach black pearls as eyes.

3.  Decorate jar, back and front of feathers with stickers from the Echo Park collection kit.  Tie ribbon around lid of mason jar and attach decorative brad with Aleene's Tacky Glue.  attach feathers to back of mason jar with Aleene's Tacky Glue, lay down on flat surface and allow to dry overnight.

4.  Cut 1" wide strips of paper from the ivory decorative papers.  Write thankful thoughts on papers with names and dates, then place in mason jar.

This is a quick and easy craft that you can make with your children to start a Thanksgiving tradition of thankfulness that will become keepsake for years to come!



Now you can HOP around to see what the other Designers have created with a THANKFUL theme in mind - I can't wait to see the creativity!  Just click the HOP BACK and HOP FORWARD buttons in the DCC icon on the right hand side of my toolbar!



You can also check out the HANDMADE HOLIDAYS BLOG HOP hosted by Jennifer Priest of Hydrangea Hippo that happened this past weekend!  Great Holiday crafting inspiration and ideas from a few of my crafty Friends as well as some great crafty Businesses - like SMOOTHFOAM!

Thanks for stopping by!  -Beth