From Goodwill to My Kitchen

I took a recent Goodwill find and turned it into this adorable hook to hold my pot holders in my kitchen.

This is what the hook originally looked like. I knew it would be easy to make it into something I love …

I started by painting the entire plaque with white acrylic paint.

Then I used Wendy Vecchi’s faux graniteware technique on the hook. The little medallion I coated in Wendy’s embossing powder. But, it seemed a little bright (I didn’t want it to look like McDonald’s) so I added a bit of her Potting Soil Archival Ink to soften the yellow.

Then I covered the plaque in Graphic 45’s Home Sweet Home papers. I love this collection!

Here it is hanging on the wall in my kitchen. Cute??

Share the Love

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away so I decided to show you how easy it is to make a “Love” charm. This one takes just a few minutes and is so easy.

I started with a bookboard charm from Globecraft & Piccolo and enameled it with Vintage Silver Embossing Powder. Because this could be a piece of jewelry, you want to do both sides. I do the front side, then use tweezers to do the back and then do a second layer on the front.

Then I add a thick layer of Glastique Gloss and let it dry it overnight.

 

Finally, I added a Silver Bail and it is ready to be attached to a necklace, bracelet, card or whatever you wish. See, super simple!

I made another necklace using Globecraft & Piccolo charms for their blog today. Click here to see how to do it …

Down by the lake

Just because it is the middle of winter doesn’t mean we have to surround ourselves with it.

Instead, I chose to remember summer by creating this elegant lighthouse ornament.

For this ornament, I left the backside plain so it can hang on the wall in my living room.

I started by painting the lighthouse black. Then I added a bit of 24K Gold Embossing Powder to the rails and roof.

Once that was done, I coated the entire thing with Glastique Gloss to give it a rich, shiny finish.

Turning my attention to the ring, I embossed it with the Tim Holtz Brick Texture Fade and then colored it with Distress Ink.
When the lighthouse was dry, I traced around it on a photo of a sunset on Lake Michigan, cut it out and then glued it onto the back of the lighthouse.

I put the globe in place and then glued the ring onto the lighthouse. I use clips to hold it tight until it sticks.

Then I enameled a couple of Piccolos with Vintage Gold Embossing Powder and added them to the outside of the ornament. I added a bit of twine to replicate rope, and it is done and ready to hang on my wall!

Visit the Globecraft & Piccolo blog today to see another project I created with a globe … an altered cigar box.

 

 

 

Ornaments: Not just for holidays

Christmas may be over, but the fun of making ornaments doesn’t have to be.

My niece and nephew each had an amazing hunting season this year. My niece shot her first turkey and my nephew was able to score two deer on opening day — his first time deer hunting.

I thought giving them each a handmade ornament would be a great way to remember their special days. Even though I gave them to them on Christmas Day, they could certainly be hung all year long, if they desire.

I have to apologize for the quality of the photos … I still haven’t gotten my lights fixed and in all of the Christmas rush, these were the best I could do! Click on the images for a larger look …I started with DIY Ornament Kits from Globecraft & Piccolo, but I left off the back globe so they can hang flat on the wall. I wrote the date and a few words about their special hunting trips on the back of the photos. Wallet-sized photos fit perfectly in these ornaments.

I added a few Piccolos and used a combination of paint, embossing powder and 3D Enamel Gels to cover the ornaments.

Then, I added a few brads from Eyelet Outlet (I just cut the backs off and glued them on).

When all was finished, I applied a thick coat of Glastique to the entire ornament (except the globe) to help seal on the tiny guns and no hunting sign and protect the finishes.

They turned out pretty cute, don’t you think!?

I have another Globecraft & Piccolo project — a cuckoo clock — on their blog today … click here to check it out!

Technique Thursday: Embossing

There are so many amazing rubber stamps on the market these days, I cannot imagine not stamping. I use stamps all of the time in many of my projects and I love them.

A few weeks ago, one of the customers at Capture A Memory in Flint Township asked me about embossing. So, in her honor, we are going to emboss this week for Technique Thursday.

You can use any type of stamp to emboss with. You can also use a variety of inks — an embossing pad, Distress Ink Embossing Pad, Versamark or any pigment ink pad. As long as the ink stays wet long enough to sprinkle powder and heat it, you can use it.

First, you need a heat-resistant surface to work on. You can use your Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet or you can make a surface by covering a clipboard with aluminum foil. This works well because you can clip the corner of your art to the board and protect your fingers from the heat.

Step 1: (optional) Wipe the paper you intend to work on with a dryer sheet or anti-static pad. This helps prevent stray embossing powder from clinging to the paper around your image.

Step 2: Tap the stamp lightly onto the ink pad until the entire image is covered and then press straight down onto your paper. Apply a bit of pressure and then lift straight up. I used Ranger’s embossing pad, which is nice because it is tinted so you can see the image. Notice the light teal image stamped on the right side of the paper below. (click on the image for a larger view)

Step 3: Sprinkle the image with embossing powder. I like to use a tiny metal spoon (it cuts down on the static). I also put the image on top of a coffee filter to collect the excess so I can dump it back into my container. Coffee filters do not hold on to static, so they are great with glitter and embossing powder. Once the image is covered, gently tap off the excess. Do not flick the paper like you do with glitter or you will take too much off.

Step 4: If you have embossing powder outside of where you want it, like I do in the image below, use a small paintbrush to get rid of the excess.

Step 5: Now you are ready to heat it. Place it on a heat-resistant surface and heat it with a heat gun (Ranger’s is my favorite. It’s quiet, it doesn’t blow much and it is hot.) DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS WITH A HAIR DRYER. It will just blow your powder all over. Hold the heat gun in one place until you see the powder change. In most cases, it will become shiny. Notice the chicks on the right of this sample … they are finished. The ones on the left are still waiting to be heated.

That’s it! It is really rather simple, once you know how to do it.

Now, for a few more tips …

If you do not want to buy lots of colors of embossing powder, buy clear and use the ink colors you already have. It will give you the same effect.

You can also use your embossing powders to change the colors of brads, frames or even shrink plastic. Just cover the area you want to emboss in embossing ink, sprinkle on some powder and heat.

Not all embossing powders give you a shiny smooth finish. Some are more transparent. Some have glitter. Some have more of a matte finish. I love these by JudiKins because they are a mix of colors. I used Granite on the flamingos.

Some embossing powders retain their bumpy feel even after heating.

This jar was embossed with Ranger’s Antiquities embossing powder in cement. It stays rough even after heating.

Now it is time for you to try your hand at embossing. Stop by Capture A Memory in Flint Township from 2-6 p.m. today and give it a try. I’ll see you there!

 

What can you do with Glue Dots®?

Mini Glue Dots® were used on this to fix edges that didn't get adhered properly and to hold tags in place.

When I was asked this question, my first response was, “what can’t you do with Glue Dots®!”

I have been a huge fan of Mini Glue Dots® since the day I discovered them some 10 or 12 years ago. I first used them to attach decorative buttons. Then, when metal charms and accents were all the rage, I used them for that.

Eventually, I developed my own techniques.

For instance, I never learned to sew. I understand the concept, but the whole knotting thing is just too much for me. So, when I want to “sew” a button onto a scrapbook page, I run embroidery floss through one of the button holes. Then, at the back, I attach Mini Glue Dots® so it holds the floss in place. Next, I run the floss through the rest of the button holes and then add another Mini Glue Dots® to hold it all in place. I trim the edges and adhere it to my page.

The Mini Glue Dots® on the perforated sheets are my favorites — so much so that I special order them from my favorite scrapbook store (they carry both the value pack rolls and the Dot N’ Go Glue Dots®. But, I love using the perforated sheets when I teach classes.

They also come in handy when working on altered art. It never fails that no matter how much adhesive I apply, I always seem to miss a corner of the paper here and there. With the perforated sheets, you can slip the Mini Glue Dots® under the paper, press down and yank the sheet back out, leaving behind a perfectly adhered corner.

I also like the Removable Glue Dots®. I use them to adhere small pieces of chipboard to my Non-Stick Craft Sheet when painting or inking. They are also helpful in keeping ribbon wrapped up on its spool.

The only adhesive used on this frame were Glue Dots®.

But, in response to the question I was asked, I decided to experiment and see what you really could do with Glue Dots®.

As it turns out, you can use them to hold embossing powder in place while you heat it (see the blue lines in the frame above). You can also use them as an adhesive for glitter, flock or Sparkly Fluff. And, they can hold just about anything, as shown in the travel frame I made to celebrate a train ride my husband and I took.

Incidentally, my husband took one of my Mini Glue Dots® and used it to fix his camera the other day. While I wouldn’t recommend that, he’s happy and in the end, that’s all that really matters!

Here are step-by-step directions for making the Travel Frame:

1. Sand frame by KaiserCraft.

2. Paint with Ranger Paint Dabbers — I used Black and Silver. Since the tape is transparent, the different colors underneath create a bit of depth and interest.

3. Once dry, place a photo in place and assemble the frame using Glue Dots®.

4. Cover the front of the frame with Tissue Tape by Tim Holtz.

5. Apply two strips of Continuous Glue Lines® and sprinkle with JudiKins Embossing Powder in Lapis Lazul. Heat to melt.

6. Using Sizzix Dies by Tim Holtz, cut out Tickets on plain white cardstock and flowers using paper by Tim Holtz.

7. Stamp desired tickets with Ranger Archival Ink using Tim Holtz stamps by Stampers Anonymous. Color with Tim Holtz Distress Ink. Journal. Crinkle and bend as desired and staple on each side using the Tiny Attacher. Add mini paper clips by Tim Holtz.

8. Bend flower dies as desired. Pierce hole in each and connect with Hitch by Tim Holtz.

9. Attach lace, buttons (My Mind’s Eye), and pin (Tim Holtz) with Mini Glue Dots®.

10. Thread chain (Tim Holtz) through key (Tim Holtz). Place Mini Glue Dots® on the bottom of the key and Pop Up Glue Dots® on the top of the key and attach to the frame. Drape the chain over the frame corner and attach in the back with Mini Glue Dots®.

11. Attach flower with Mini Glue Dots®.

12. Attach a Game Spinner to a Clock Face using a brad (all by Tim Holtz) and use Glue Dots® to adhere.

13. Place a Mini Glue Dots® on top of Gear (Tim Holtz) and attach a Dew Drop (Robin’s Nest).

14. Using jump rings (Tim Holtz), attach charm (Maya Road) to gear. Then place another Glue Dots® on the back of the gear and adhere it to the frame. Push it into the Continuous Glue Lines® for extra security. Be sure your charm hangs freely in front of the photo. Enjoy!

“I wrote this blog post while participating on the Glue Dots design team.”