MONSTER EYES

Why does it feel like some body's watching me?



I made these scary Monster Eyes out of inexpensive paper lanterns from Michael's. A quick and easy project to make with the kiddos!

Using Americana Paints by DecoArt, paint a large green circle with Pistachio Mint, a smaller circle with Lamp Black and top coat with Twinkles Lime Green. A Red Sharpie does the trick to make the eyes blood shot!

Create multiple sets in different colors and hang them from your trees and bushes in the front of your house for a scary Halloween night!

Thanks for stopping by! Beth

CAT IN THE HAT COSTUME WITH NORVAL THE FISH CANDY BUCKET

My niece, Lindsay, simply LOVES all of the Dr. Seuss books, so several years ago for Halloween she decided to be the Cat in the Hat. We we trying to figure out what she would carry as a candy bucket and while reading the book, she annouces "Aunt Beth, you need to make me a fishbowl with Norval inside!"

After looking at all of the fishbowls on the market and deciding that glass was not a good option, I noticed the black witches cauldron sitting on my kitchen counter and realized it had the same shape as a fishbowl.

I taped off the handle with blue painter's tape, then base coated the plastic cauldron with Krylon Fusion for Plastic® spray paint in Dover White and let it dry. I then hand sketched a water line and Norval the fish on the side of the now white "fishbowl". I used Americana Paints by DecoArt in Baby Blue for the water and Canyon Orange for Norval. After the paint was dry I inked in the lines with my trusty black Sharpie Marker and Norval just came to life!



Lindsay was so happy that every year I have to make a candy bucket that coordinates with her costume!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

RECYCLED LIGHT BULB JACK-O-LANTERNS

I have made these recycled light bulbs into snowmen and Easter rabbits in the past, but also thought they would be cute as Jack-o-Lanterns!

LOVE the way they turned out!

Start off with Americana paints by DecoArt and base coat the lightbulb with Jack-O-Lantern Orange and the screw top part with Mink Brown. Sponge on Canyon Orange to define the pumpkins ribs and Country Red for the cheeks, let dry. Draw on the face with a Sharpie marker and accent with dots of Titanium White using the blunt end of your paint brush. Paint a wooden star with Moon Yellow and write BOO! Glue lightbulb on small grapevine wreath. Knot the center of a piece of green checkered fabric, glue to "stem" and glue star on top. Set him on a shelf or give as a gift!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

SIZZIX FRESH VINTAGE BLOG HOP - SCOREBOARD BIRD

Welcome to the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop!

I am always so honored when Eileen Hull asks me to participate in her new release hops and this time around is probably the most exciting one to date! The new Fresh Vintage line is a fantastic series of dies - I honestly don't know how Eileen keeps coming up with these amazing ideas. Today's featured die is the Scoreboard Bird. It's a fun, trendy 3D bird that can be cut out and put togehter quickly from a great variety of surfaces!



I received a box full of product from Melissa Frances which inspired me to put a shabby chic spin on my design.



I carry a sketchbook around with me every where I go to jot down ideas, insiprations and sketches that eventually morph into more formal drawings and finished designs. Here is the sketch that inspired my project today.



Now on to my project!



Start with a 12" Styrofoam wreath form. Cut twelve 1" strips from Melissa Frances Simone, Alma, Esther and Anastasia papers, so you end up with 48 paper strips. Crumple the strips, straighten them out then sew all strips together (end to end) while folding the paper to create one long paper "ribbon".



Glue one end of the paper ribbon to the wreath and wrap completely until fully covered. Wrap sections of tulle, Melissa Frances ball fringe and crocheted lace randomly around the wreath.



Cover two 5 1/2" by 5 1/2" piece of ivory mat board from the Sizzix Little Sizzles Mat Board Pack with Mod Podge a layer of crocheted lace, let dry. Die cut bird twice, once with lace up and once with lace down using the Sizzix Big Shot machine, punch out pieces.



Cover a 3" Styrofoam ball with vintage atlas paper, let dry. Cut a 20" piece of heavy wire, slide through the Styrofoam ball, then glue bird bodies together with wire in the center. Use a button at the bottom of the Styrofoam ball, looping the wire back through the button hole to secure. Insert wire through the top and bottom of the wreath and bend back in a "U" to secure.



Create a "PEACE" pennant with Melissa Frances Attic Treasures sticker book and glue to back of bird by beak. Create a "ON EARTH" banner and glue to the front of the Earth. Die cut a Sizzix Originals Die - Mistletoe from silver glitter paper and color with green Copic Marker, then trim and glue to beak. Embellish with Melissa Frances Resin Crown and Pearls.



Would you like a chance to win the Fresh Vintage Flower Layer #9 die? All you have to do is head over to the Oh My Crafts! Blog and answer a question about today's blog hop to enter! It's that easy! To continue on the Fresh Vintage Blog Hop, please use the widget on my right sidebar and click Back or Forward - you will continue along through the other designers' blogs that are highlighting this fantastic Scoreboard Bird die. Join us every Tuesday and Thursday until November 3rd for tons of great ideas from a talented group of Designers. Thanks to the incredibly talented Eileen Hull for putting together such an inspiring hop!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

SPIDERWEBS WITH BUTTON SPIDERS

I have seen versions of these Spiderwebs all over the Internet recently and wanted to create a few, so I made a set!

I started out with three embroidery hoops and three crocheted lace pieces that I found at my local craft store. Here's where you can experiment with the size and shape of your lace. I wanted my circles to line up, so I pulled and stretched the lace from the back until it was taught. Tighten the screw at the top of the hoop with pliers. Trim the extra pieces from the back - I ended up with some perfect scalloped pieces that I plan on using in another project.



To create a more vintage, distressed feel, I used Krylon Indoor/Outdoor Primer in All-Purpose White to partially color the natural tone of the hoops and lace. Once dry, I applied Ranger Stickles in Frosted Lace to accent the spiderwebs.



I created three scary spiders from large buttons I found in my Buttons Galore and More Grandma's Grab Bag stash. Cut a 12" chenille stem in four equal pieces, fold each in half and glue two on each side of the back of the button to create eight legs. Attach colored rhinestone eyes - I used green, orange and purple on my spiders.



Glue each spider on to their web, or hang from a length of black ribbon. Hang your finished spiderwebs by looping a 24" length of black ribbon through each screw at the top of the embroidery hoop.



These spiderwebs with button spiders were really quick and easy to create in just a few hours and would make excellent and inexpensive gifts to give for Halloween.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

BUTTONS GALORE AND MORE - CANDY CORN TREAT CUPS!

I have a project up on the Buttons Galore and More Blog today! If you haven't been by the blog in a few days, please check it out - Vicki O'Dell has completed a re-design and it looks FABULOUS!

I used buttons and an inexpensive peat pot to create Candy Corn Treat Cups - great to fill with candy and give to co-workers or teachers for Halloween!

See the entire post here.

Thanks for stopping by -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN OCTOBER PROJECT

DUCT TAPE CURTAIN TIE BACK & TASSEL



This month the Designer Crafts Connection is participating in a manufacturer challenge. Sponsored by:



Each Designer received Westcott® Brand scissors and tools to work with. The thing I like best about these scissors is that I can cut paper and fabric with the same pair! Plus these scissors are non stick titanium bonded. This was important for this challenge because each Designer also received product from VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners and The Duck Brand® Patterned Duct Tape Rolls and sheets. Lots of sticky stuff to cut and no sticking which let's me consentrate on crafting!

Here's how I made the Duct Tape Curtain Tie Back & Tassel:



To begin, I cut four 10" strips of the pink and black zebra Duct Tape with the 8" Titanium Scissors, using the Westcott Cutting Mat. I layered the first two over my peate pot in a criss cross pattern, then notched and ripped the other two in half length-wise. I continued to criss cross the lengths of Duct Tape until the entire surface was covered. Tuck and secure all of the ends inside the pot.



I then cut a 20" length of black Duct Tape and folded the length up about two thirds on to itself. Using a gather and secure technique, I created a ruffle around the opening of the pot. Cut away any excess.



I then cut twenty lengths of hot pink Duct tape each 20" long and placed two lengths together, sticky side in. I notched each of my ten strips six times along the width with the 8" Titanium Scissors and ripped to create 70 smaller strips. I laid 69 of the strips out and used the last strip to secure the bundle in the center.



Fold the bundle of strips in half and secure to the inside of the pot with hot glue. I then painted a 1" wooden ball knob with Americana paint by DecoArt in Lamp Black and gave it some pop with Sparkle Top Coat. Secure to top of pot with hot glue.

Finally cut two 24" lengths of hot pink Duct Tape and place them sticky sides together to create one strip. Place the Velcro sticky back hook and loop tape on the ends and secure around your curtain. Attach the completed Tassel to the Tie Back with additional Velcro sticky back hook and loop tape.



This is the FANTASTIC giveaway for October (for US residents only please), provided by Westcott:



http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/2011/10/designer-crafts-connection-charitable.html

Click on the link above to enter to win and it will take you to the Westcott® blog where you can comment on your favorite projects from this challange. The winner will be announced November 1st. You can also get an extra chance to win by leaving a comment about the hop on the Westcott Facebook Fan Page.

Make sure to hop round the ring first to see what everyone else came up with by cliking on the HOP FORWARD or HOP BACKWARD link in the Designer Crafts Connection blinkie on my right sidebar!

Thanks for stapping by! -Beth

SIZZIX FRESH VINTAGE BLOG HOP

Starts tomorrow!



My Designer friend, Eileen Hull has created a new collection of 12 dies featuring three dimensional flowers and signature ScoreBoard dies, including a bird, butterfly, suitcase, album, vase and caddy. ScoreBoards are unique to Sizzix and specially designed to cut and score matboard and thicker materials. Fresh Vintage dies were created to be used with recycled and vintage materials, fabric, fleece, felt, packaging materials, old patterns, ledger sheets, tissue paper and coffee filters.

The excitment is building!

Hop around, starting tomorrow, and see what the Designers create each Tuesday and Thursday for the next SIX WEEKS!

See all the details here at Eileen's Blog and check in with all of the Designers here and see what they have been up to!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

BUTTONS GALORE AND MORE - START UPS

I have a project up on the Buttons Galore and More Blog today! We were using the Start Ups line of blank craft shapes and the possibilities are endless! I created three Mixed Media Necklaces - see the entire post here.

Thanks for stopping by -Beth

BLOG COUNTY FAIR

Being from Florida, we do not have traditional County Fairs like up North, so I am so excited to participate in the Blog County Fair! This is going to be so much fun!

Fellow designers Vicki O'Dell and Laura Bray decided to get a linky party going to show projects that you might see at a county fair. Click on the Blog County Fair blinkie in my sidebar for more information.

Since I have a black thumb instead of a green thumb, my entry is a Circular Saw Blade that I painted to look like a Sunflower.




Sand the used saw blade and then seal it with a coat of Krylon Triple Thick Crystal Clear Glaze, so the rust would not come through the painting.

I created dimension under my painting with Golden Molding Paste and a palette knife in long strokes from the center to the edges. The saw also had a large hole in the center, so I taped the back and filled it with molding paste as well. (TIP: Let the molding paste dry over night or up to 24 hours before you begin painting.)

Base coat the sunflower petals in a medium yellow tone (Marigold), then add highlights with a lighter shade of yellow (moon Yellow) and shading with a darker shade of yellow (Antique Gold). Repeat for the flower center with three shades of brown (Milk Chocolate, Light Cinnamon and Dark Chocolate) and a stiple or stencil brush to create the "fuzzy" texture. I created accent dots by dipping the wrong end of my paintbrush in the medium yellow paint and randomly dotting the center of the sunflower. I used Americana Paints by DecoArt.

I added additional depth to my sunflower by antiquing the entire piece with Light Cinnamon. Simply paint a sloppy, thick coat of medium brown paint over the entire flower, getting in all the nooks and crannies, then wipe off the excess with a paper towel. Seal with another coat of Kyrlon Triple Thick.

Hope you enjoyed my project for the Blog County Fair! Be sure to hop around to all of the other Blog County Fair entries - and add some of your own - Blue Ribbons handed out on Monday!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER PROJECT

CUPCAKES, CUPCAKES & MORE CUPCAKES!

My Niece Marlee just LOVES cupcakes, so her last birthday celebration was - you guessed it - a Cupcake Themed, fun-filled afternoon!

There was a giant cupecake shaped cake with smaller cupcakes surrounding it that all of the girls decorated in their own special way, a special rhinestone cupake t-shirt and cupcake crown for the birthday girl.

When thinking of a special gift, I sketched a Cupcake Gift Box and knew it would be the perfect container for this celebration.



I started with a basic 5" round paper mache box from the craft store topped with a 5" STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam Ball, which I cut in half, layered with Aleene's Tacky Glue and Glittered with Tourmaline (hot pink) glitter from the Martha Stewart collection at Michael's. The papers are from the October Afternoon Thrift Shop Collection - Near Mint (stripe), Collector's Item, (blue doily) and Still in Box (yellow damask). I used pastel jumbo brads for the "Candy Sprinkles", a white tinsel wrapped 1" STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam Ball for the "Cherry on Top" and custom dyed Satin Seam Binding Ribbon with Dusty Concord re-inker from the Tim Holtz Distress Ink line by Ranger. A green painted wooden skewer with paper flag, Melissa Frances celebrate rub-on and pearl accent, finishes off this special gift box.

Since Marlee is my crafty pal, I filled the Cupcake Gift Box with some craft supplies and a Michael's gift card, so we can go shopping together!

So, now it is time for the SEPTEMBER GIVEAWAY!

The Designer Crafts Connection has something special this month - a set of Scrapbook Soup, Series 100 DVDs! Scrapbook Soup is now airing on your local PBS TV channel featuring Julie McGuffee and Julie Fei-Fan Balzer. Check your local listings and if it isn't listed, call the station and request it! Program managers always like to hear what their viewers want to watch.

To enter to win, list the names of the Designer Crafts Connection blogs where you see the Scrapbook Soup logo back in the comments section of Julie McGuffee's blog Life in the Craft Lane. To see all the blogs, click on the "hop forward" button wherever you see the blue DCC logo in the sidebar. Keep on hopping and you will end up back at Julie McGuffee's blog where you can add your comment. The winner will be announced on Julie McGuffee's blog on September 15th!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

Designer Crafts Connection - First Monday in August Project

Monday has turned to Thursday in my neck of the woods, but I would still love to share my favorite craft technique with everyone for the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop, so here goes...Stamping on Mirrors is something I discovered several years ago and I just can't stop.



The trick is using a juicy embossing stamp pad like the Top Boss Embossing Ink Pad by ClearSnap and Top Boss Embossing Powder by ClearSnap. I love this doliy paper from the Restoration Collection by Crate Paper and thought that this Circle Doliy Cling Stamp from Hero Arts went together perfectly!

I positioned the mirror on my desk with Craft Glue Dots on a roll, so it would not move, then loaded the stamp with the embossing ink, press down and lifted up. I was generous with the embossing powder, moved the mirror to an aluminum foil covered piece of cardboard and gently heated the mirror until the entire image was embossed. I let it cure overnight, then gently colored the pearly lace doily with some blue chalk ink so that it matched my paper.



Above are some other examples of stamped mirrors that I have created. A wedding favor box that held mints, a mirror mosaic and a Valentine's gift box. I hope that I have inspired you to create some stamped mirrors of your own!

Please use the link on my left side bar to "HOP" along to the next Designer's blog and view their favorite technique.

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

Designer Crafts Connection - First Monday in June Project

Hello there, it's been a while since I have posted, so much going on with Graduations and Weddings that the time has slipped away from me. So, on with this month's project!

Our theme is month for the blog hop is - Patriotism!



I created this USA banner using the K & Company Americana Collection. I have to say that I LOVE this entire collection of papers and embellishments! Very vintage and very versitile!

I painted three star shaped plaques that I purchased at the craft store ivory, then antiqued them and added a paper base, securing with Continuous Glue Lines from Glue Dots. I then made three rosettes and mounted each one with the chipboard letters U-S-A with Pop Up Glue Dots for dimension. I trimmed everything out in some tinsel, then strung it all together with wire, beads, covered spools and ribbon bits.

Here are some close up shots:







Hope you have nejoyed my post. Now you can "HOP" along to the next designer and get some more patriotic inspiration by clicking the Designer Crafts Connection link on the left side of my blog.

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

DESIGNERS CRAFTS CONNECTION - FIRST MONDAY PROJECT

Our theme this month for the Blog Hop is of course - Mother's Day!

With next Sunday being the day that we celebrate Mom, I have created a grouping of picture frame flower plaques. My Niece Marlee and I got to work on turning these inexpensive wooden plaques from a craft store into flowers featuring - you guessed it - HER!



We used three different photos and color copied them. Then cut them out and decoupaged them to the plaques with Mod Podge Matte from Plaid and let dry while we selected our decorative papers from October Afternoon's Fly a Kite and Thrift Shop collections. We cut scallops, circles, petals and leaves then adhered them to the dimensional edges of the plaques with Aleene's Tacky Glue from i Love to Create. Next came trims, ribbons and lace tucked into the paper layers with Aleene's Fabric Fusion from i Love to Create. Finally we created a tissue paper flower, beaded petals and attached a bumble bee from the craft store to each frame along with a cute hanger using Craft Glue Dots.

Now Marlee has a great gift for her Mommy, her Gandmom and her Grammy for Mother's Day - and it only took a few hours on Sunday afternoon. I love crafting with my Nieces and Nephews!

Use the Designer Crafts Connection link on the left sidebar to "hop" forward or backward to the next blog and ENJOY!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Thanks for stopping by -Beth

BUTTONS GALORE & MORE DESIGN TEAM AND A GIVEAWAY!

Excited to be able to share the new Design Team I am a part of - Buttons Galore & More! Please read about the Design Team (also known as the Button Bevy!) by following this link to their Buttons Galore & More blog! Visit the blog often to see wonderfully creative and inspirational ideas for how to craft with buttons!

The Buttons Galore & More Blog give away today is for Amy Barickman’s Vintage Notions. You can read a review of Vintage Notions on Vicki O’Dell’s The Creative Goddess Blog PLUS win a package of Botanical buttons so that you can create something of your own. Visit the blog for your chance to win!



Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

INSPIRATION & AN ACCIDENT!

I was surfing the Martha Stewart craft website one day and saw these beautiful monogramed coasters and I loved the font. I went out and found the font and downloaded it then printed the lowercase "b" and "w" but I wasn't sure what to do with them, so I pinned them to my inspiration board in my studio. Several weeks later I dumped an entire package of black buttons on the floor and as I was cleaning them up the pile that formed looked like a lowercase "b" - an idea was formed - a button monogram throw pillow! I searched for the right black and white damask fabric and could not find one I like in the right scale, so I stamped the white fabric I purchased with this Classic Fabric Design cling stamp from Hero Arts and Lamp Black Americana acrylic paint from Decoart. I enlarged my "w", cut it out and traced around the outline with a special fabric pen that disappears. Then I went to sewing on my buttons. It didn't take as long as I thought it would and I got caught up on some TV shows that I had saved on my DVR!




I was very pleased with the end result of a project that started out with some lovely typography and a happy accident!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

DESIGNER CRAFTS CONNECTION - WEDDINGS

Spring is in the air and the Wedding season will be here before you know it, so all of the Designers in the Designer Crafts Connection web ring have decided to post some Wedding inspiration! Visit all of the Designer's blogs by clicking on the FORWARD or BACK link in the Designer Crafts Connection navigation box on the left-hand side of my blog.

My Wedding Inspiration for today actually took place over 50 years ago when my parents got married - October 8, 1960. They celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past October with a vow renewal and fancy dinner. I created this special canvas for them.



I used Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Multi-Medium Matte from Ranger to transfer the photo copied image on to the canvas, decorated with antique buttons and lace from my Grandmother's stash and other vintage embellishments to finish this keepsake.

I hope I have inspired you to create something wonderful!

Thanks for stopping by -Beth

CUTE CRITTERS FOR SPRING!

I have the pleasure of having two of my designs featured in the April 2011 issue of Crafts'n Things Magazine. This magazine is jam packed full of great projects in a wide variety of mediums to please all types of crafters - LOVE my Crafts 'n Things magazine when it arrives in my mailbox!



Both of these projects are great to do with the kiddos!

First, is the Spring Critter Treat Cups - party cups, Americana Paints by DecoArt, craft foam and some embellishments are all that are needed to complete a whole forest full of these cute critters!



Second, are cute Bunny & Chick Placecard Holders. I used STYROFOAM Brand Foam Cones, great textured yarn, some wiggle eyes, ribbon and wire. Use them for placecard holders or insert a photo for a fun gift!



If you don't subscribe to Crafts 'n Things, pick up the April 2011 issue today and be INSPIRED for SPRING!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

MIXED MEDIA CHUNKIES

In my last post I spoke about the Flora and Fauna collection by Brenda Walton for K & Company being a trend setter by featuring nature themes. I recently acqired some paper and embellishments from this line and created these "Chunkies". Made from chunks of scrap 2 x 4 lumber I found in my brother's garage.



A coat of Americana Paint by DecoArt in Hauser Light Green and Winter Blue, with the Flora and Fauna Papers and Ephemera Pack, random clock parts, buttons and sewing items from my stash - all attached to the chunky blocks with Continuous Glue Lines and Ultra Thin Glue Dots. I topped one with a crumpled paper flower and the other with a "finial" made from an old bobbin and a wooden bird's egg.

WELCOME TO AN EARLY SPRING!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth

Designer Crafts Connection - Trend Spotting at the CHA Winter Show 2011

Today launches the first Designer Crafts Connection blog hop! You can click on the "forward" and "back" links in the icon to the left to see what all of the designers are up to.

Our overall theme for the month of March is Weddings and we will all be posting inspirational projects on the 13th.

There is also a great giveaway - a Cricut Expression! As you hop around, watch for the green Cricut logo on nine of the Designer's blogs. Write the blog names down, then go to Julie McGuffey's blog www.juliemcguffee.blogspot.com and leave a comment with the list of blogs where you saw the logo. You'll be entered to win the Cricut Expression! The winner will be announced on Julie's blog on March 14th.

Recently I attended the CHA Winter Trade Show in Los Angeles California. This is an exciting week of creativity, inspiration and innovation for me. I will share a few of the trends that I observed.

NATURE
Birds, nests, eggs, cages, butterflies and the like continue to be a strong theme in our industry. From paper to stamps to chipboard to home decor items.

The Flora & Fauna Collection by Brenda Walton for K & Company

ZIPPERS
Zippers are showing up everywhere and not just as flowers anymore. I love how this designer, Jennifer Beason, outlined her letters in this album with zippers - FUN!

Zipper Trims by Maya Road

CAMEOS
A very vintage item making a very large comeback. Not just the traditional female profile, but horses, flowers and ballerinas, too! Look for Cameos to show up in home decor, on scrapbook pages and cards as well as jewelry.

Cameo Silhouettes by Webster's Pages

BANNERS & PENNANTS
Large special occasion banners to small stamped pennants are showing up everywhere. The styles are as diverse as the designers who have created them. I love how this card features stamped pennant images with decorative paper banners.

The Soiree Collection by Pink Paislee

BOLD VINTAGE
Shabby Chic this trend is not! Fun colors and iconic images can be found in papers, embellishments and even stamps. Nostalgia is the key word in this continuing trend.

Crate Paper, Hero Arts, October Afternoon & Jenni Bowlin

Hope you have enjoyed my trendy share. Hop around to the other designers to see what other trends were spotted at the CHA Winter 2011 Trade Show!

Thanks for stopping by! - Beth