Mixed Media Background Card

Hello everyone! 

Here is a mixed media background card that can easily be used for many occasions.  Simply keep some greetings on hand to add as needed.  

The background is fun to make with E-Z Dots® Repositionable Refillable Dispenser and Distress Oxide sprays and Distress ink.  Once the paper is dry, simply rub off the repositionable adhesive.  Add more color as desired.

In the photo the adhesive has been removed and reveals the paper color underneath.  I added Uncharted Mariner ink over and misted with water for the final background.  

Find all the details with step out photos on Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Blog HERE

Thanks for visiting!

Judy

Supplies:

E-Z Dots® Repositionable Refillable Dispenser

E-Z Dots® Permanent Refillable Dispenser

E-Z Runner® Ultra Strong Refillable Dispense

• Thin 3D Foam Squares Black Mix

• Hero Arts (Sending Love Mail Stamp Set); Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko (Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad); Ranger (Clear Embossing Powder, Distress Oxide Sprays (Villainous Potion, Saltwater Taffy, Distress Ink Pad (Uncharted Mariner); Cardstock (White, Black)

Postal Retirement Ornament

Today was the last day of work for many of my fellow postmasters.  Due to changes in structure and size of small Post Offices, many postmasters were forced to find a larger office to manage or retire.  Many of us like our small town offices and don't want to work in a large office.  So many of my postmaster friends said "goodbye" to their postal careers.  I wish them well in their retirement! 

 

This is an ornament I made for one of them commemorating her 35 year career.

  

 

I added bits and pieces of postal memorabilia in a bezel and sealed it in Ice Resin.  Small red and blue beads dangle at the bottom, hidden by the bow in this photo.  I even made the tiny mail box out of craft aluminum.  Inside is a tiny envelope with retirement wishes on it! It was fun to make. She loved it!

Thanks for visiting!
Happy creating!

Judy

Mother's Day Box and Pendant on Spellbinders Blog

My gift box and pendant for Mother's Day are on Spellbinders Blog today. 

 

I recycled a brown grocery, a lighter Kraft shopping bag, a page from an old dictionary and a box from a specialty bar of soap for this project.  You can find all the directions and more photos by clicking this link:

View Blog Post | Spellbinders - Mother's Day Box and Pendant

Happy creating!
judy

Spellbinders Shape It Up Sneak Peek and Giveaway Day Two!

Hello blog friends!

Today, I’m excited to reveal some new Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ products: MB3-002 Oval Hatpin – Bronze and MT1-009 Keys texture plate. Yes, you read it right! Hatpins!!! You’ll also want to check out Ken Oliver’s blog as he’s also showcasing new Media Mixage products today!

Here's my project……



.....a Keys Hatpin and matching Keys Box.

 

Supply List for Hatpin and Box:

• Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer™
• Spellbinders® MB3-002 Oval Hatpin - Bronze
• Spellbinders® MT1-009 Keys Texture Plates
• Spellbinders® MD1-001 Ovals One
• Spellbinders® MMs-002 Foil Pack 2
• Spellbinders® S4-168 Large Labels
• Spellbinders® S4-130 Classic Rectangles SM
• ICE Resin®
• Susan Lenart Kazmer – Aqua Glass Glitter
• Elmer’s Painters – Black
• Tattered Angels – Chalkboard Mist - Concord, Strawberry Shortcake, Glimmer Glaze - Saffron
• Scor-Tape – ¼, ½, 2”
• Beacon Adhesives – Fabri-Tac™
• Beads – crystal, aqua, purple
• Bronze eye pins and head pins
• Bronze Jump Ring
• Micro Beads – turquoise/silver mix
• Craft Foam - Black
• Black Card Stock
• Wood Box
• Crystal Clear Satin spray
• Gold fabric
• Fiberfill

Let's get to the How-To for the Keys Hatpin!

I started with these products:

 

 

First,  I cut an oval of black self-adhesive craft foam with Spellbinders® MD1-001 Ovals One #2 die (#1 being the smallest)   I used the craft foam as filler to raise the embossed foil closer to the top.  It’s super easy to cut!

Next, I cut an oval of aqua craft foil with the same Ovals One #2 die.

 

 Now for the texture!  I placed the oval foil on the Spellbinders® MT1-009 Keys texture plate, aqua side up.  The texture plate is placed on the Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer™ base plate with the cutting plate on top.  I put it through the Artisan X-plorer.  The first pass flattened the foil to the keys and started the embossing.  Next, I removed the cutting plate and replaced it with the tan embossing mat and pink embossing plate.  I put it through the Artisan X-plorer.  Voila! Beautiful detailed texture!

 

I applied black paint over the foil and rubbed off the excess leaving a hint of black in the recessed areas and around the edges of the keys.  It gives it a more vintage look. 

  
The foil oval is applied to the adhesive on the craft foam oval. 

Before I glued it into the hatpin, I cut 2 tiny slits near one end for the jump ring that holds the bead dangles.  It fits under the foil and foam.  Once the ICE Resin sets up, it holds it in place.  I placed the jump ring so the opening is just above the rim of the hatpin.  It can be open at this point ready for the beads.  Or left closed and opened after the ICE Resin is cured.  

I glued the foil with foam and jump ring into the hatpin. 

Next step, mix the ICE Resin!   Follow the directions on the ICE Resin package to mix it.  It’s very important to mix for 2 minutes and let it set for 5 minutes!  

I poured resin into the hatpin until it was almost to the rim.  Then I added glass glitter around the jump ring.  It hides the slits in the foil!  I also added micro beads around the edges of the hatpin bezel.  I added more ICE Resin to fill the bezel.  Then I waited for it to cure!  That’s the hardest part for me!!!  I usually pour any ICE Resin pieces in the evening so they can cure overnight.

In the meantime, I put together the bead dangles.  There are 5 separate wrapped bead pieces.  I’ve used 3 head pins and 2 eye pins.  The eye pins have a small jump ring with seed beads as a dangle.  I made a loop at the top of each one and wire wrapped the end.

 When the ICE Resin was cured, I opened the jump ring, added the bead sections, and closed it.  Finished! 

I love the vintage look of it, especially the colors!  It would be very pretty on the lapel of a coat!

This pretty hatpin needed an elegant place to rest!  I decorated a wood box to coordinate with the hatpin.  

Here are the directions for the box:

I started with a recycled wood box.  It came from some specialty candy.  Any craft box that fits the pin will work.  Mine is 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ x 1 ½”.

I painted it black and then over sprayed it with Tattered Angles Concord and Strawberry Shortcake Chalkboard mists.  When the mists were totally dry, I sprayed a clear satin sealer over the box.

For the top, I cut a rectangle of aqua craft foil using Spellbinders® S4-130 Classic Rectangles SM #7.  I textured it with the Keys same as for the hatpin, adding black paint as well.  I snipped off each corner diagonally so it wouldn’t show beyond the gold frame. 

When I poured the ICE Resin in the hatpin, I also poured ICE Resin on this foil piece.  I spread it rather thin.  I sprinkled some of the silver and aqua micro beads over it and worked them into the ICE Resin.  I left it to cure overnight.

I cut/embossed 2 frames of black card stock using Spellbinders S4-168 Large Labels #4 and 5 nested together.  I glued them together for thickness.   I painted on Tattered Angels Saffron Glimmer Glaze.  When it was dry, I sprayed it with clear satin sealer.

To assemble the pieces, I applied Scor-Tape to the back of the foil and the frame.  I fastened both to the box lid.

To create the cushion inside the box, I started with a piece of card board cut to fit inside.  I cut batting/fiberfill to fit the cardboard and glued it to it.  I wrapped a piece of gold lining fabric over it and glued the edges to the bottom side of the cardboard. It’s glued into the box with craft glue.  A nice pin cushion for the hatpin!

Have I inspired you to try texturing craft foil?  Or even paper as shown in my second project below?  How about trying this same design as a pendant?  There are oval bezels the same size in the Media Mixage collection.   Have you tried ICE Resin?  I remember being afraid to try it at first.  It’s really quite easy!  The look is so amazing!  On my hatpin, I actually had to carve a bit of the ICE Resin off around the jump ring. A little mishap!   I poured another layer over it and it doesn’t even show!

For a little more inspiration, I have a second project with a totally different look!  I’ve used the small Spellbinders MB3-001 Circles Hatpin-Bronze and MT1-009 Keys texture plate to create this mini canvas…….

 

Can you see a circle hatpin?  It’s the flower center and stem. The "pot" is embossed with keys touched with copper Gilders Paste.  That makes the keys pop!   I’ll share more details on my blog sometime later.

For contest rules click HERE
 

To enter giveaway click HERE
 

Be sure to check out Ken’s project today!  He’s showcasing more new Media Mixage products.  I’m sure he’ll have an awesome project to get you even more inspired!  Click here for his blog!

Questions? calexander@spellbinders.us No entries will be accepted at this email address.

Americana Bird

Happy Independence Day!

I'm enjoying a relaxing day at home!  It's wonderful!  And I took some time to play!  It's been a very long time since I created something purely for fun! 

In observance of the 4th of July, I put together this little Americana bird.......

I used Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ Birds One dies and Artisan X-plorer® to cut 2 birds from worn denim. Well worn denim that's thin-medium weight cuts quite well in the Artisan X-plorer.    I glued the edges together except for the tail, leaving about 3./4" opening near the bottom.  I stuffed it with a tiny bit of fiberfill and glued it closed. I cut 2 wings from some navy fabric with stars on it and 2 wings from red vinyl that I drew stripes on with a white Painters marker. I had to improvise because I couldn't find any red/white stripe fabric in my stash!  I glued the star wing over the stripe wing offset so the stripes would show. The wings are glued to each side of the bird with Fabri-Tac glue. Next, I cut some red and white string and glued it in the tail.  The eye is a dot of black paint added with a Painters marker.

The base is 2 layers of self-adhesive craft foam, 1 of cardboard and 1 of navy paper cut with Spellbinders Stars Five #2 (#1 being the smallest), .  The foam stars are adhered together and then the paper star is glued to the top. I punched a tiny hole in the center for the twisted wire.  I splayed the wire ends for support. The cardboard star is glued to the bottom over the wire ends.  To put the other end of  the wire in the bird, I used a needle tool to separate the seam a tiny bit and pushed the wire in.  Then I glued the tiny opening shut again.
The bird holds 3 stars dangling from strings.  The stars are cut using Spellbinders Stars Five #1. I cut 2 of each: red vinyl, natural canvas, worn denim.  I glued each set of stars together back to back with string between.  The strings are glued into the birds beak. I didn't think ahead to leave the beak unglued!  It was pretty easy to separate the fabric as the glue wasn't fully set and tuck the strings in place.  

I hope you've had a great 4th of July!!! 

Happy creating!
-judy


Supplies:
Spellbinders® MMM-001 Artisan X-plorer®
Spellbinders® MD2-011 Birds One
Spellbinders® S4-092 Stars Five
Worn Denim
Navy Star Fabric
Red Vinyl
Natural Canvas
String - red, white
Elmer's Painters Markers - White, Black
Beadalon Artistic Wire - 20 gauge Bronze
Black Craft Foam
Cardboard
Beacon Adhesives - Fabri-Tac™
Fiberfill

My Blue Green Goddess

No more Splendid Circles today!!!  Hope you enjoyed the different ways to use them!

I have a totally different project to share today!!!!  I've been waiting to share this project!

I created this goddess for CHA using Julianna Hudgins' Jewel Goddess die template by Spellbinders. This was a work of joy!  Totally fun for me to work with fabric and Spellbinders die templates!!!

I cut this goddess on the diagonal from natural canvas. Cutting it on the diagonal helps the shape be more curvy!  If it was cut on the straight grain, it would be more flat even when stuffed.
I coated the canvas with white Gesso.  That stiffened the fabric and made a good base for my color.  It also prevents the edges from fraying.

The color is many layers of Cosmic Shimmer watercolors (Lavender Shine, Holly Leaf) painted on plus Bronze Blush Shimmer Mist. The swirls were created with Cosmic Shimmer drawing ink. I sprayed it all with a clear sealer when I was happy with color.  Because all the colors are water based, any moisture could make them run if they weren't sealed! 
Love this color combination!  Believe me I had no intention of addinng the green netting when I started.  That is not a favorite color of mine.  It just turned out that I had that color netting!  It worked!

I added the ribbon loops and netting to the front and back before I put the goddess together. I gathered the netting and sewed it on top of the goddess.  The ribbon is one continuous piece that I looped and sewed in place over the netting.  Oh, I colored the silk ribbon (from Creative Impressions), too!!! It matches that way!

I added the gold trim after the goddess was completely together. All pieces were cut from Spellbinders Precious Metals Premium Craft Foil.  The two anchor pieces at the top edges of the skirt are the corner piece in Persian Accents.  I trimmed off one of the elements on each edge.  Those little pieces are what's along the ribbon. (I cut many more, of course!)  I slid each one under the netting edge, glued in place with Beacon Quick Grip.  The back does not have them!

For the top, I twisted 2 pieces of 24 gauge gold Artistic Wire together.  I shaped it with a loop at the top and curved it to match the goddess top.  The ends (hidden inside) have a loop shape to keep them from pulling out.  After the goddess was completely together, I tied a strip of netting and a piece of ribbon around the loop.  The little gem hanging from the ribbon was cut from gold craft foil, too.  It's a shape from Jewel Goddess.  I added a gold gem to it!  Perfect for a necklace!!!

My next step was to sew her together. I marked the wire placement and stitched just the very top edge together. Then I put the wire in place, adding some Quick Grip glue to the ends to keep them in place. I stitched below the wire to the top of the skirt on each side.  I did not stitch over the wire.  If you look closely you can see a tiny gap in the stitching.

I added all the gems once the assembly was done.  Most are Imaginisce Heat Set Crystals applied with the I-Rock tool.  I filled in with a few other crystals from my stash.  I colored a few of the clear ones with blue and green Copic markers. 

I even made the stand!  Yes, a little obsessed!!!!  It certainly would have been easier to use a wood base but I couldn't find one in any store near me.  This base is made of several layers of foam core cut into circles and glued together.  I filled the edges with light weight spackle.  I painted it with Gesso and colored it Cosmic Shimmer watercolors. It's sprayed with a clear sealer, too.  The post is 2 strips of a twisted wood trim that I had in my stash.  I discovered if I glued it together back to back it created a nice spiral dowel!  I wrapped more of the gold wire from end to end fitting it into the grooves. 

The goddess is stuffed with fiberfill.  She basically just sets on the post.  I added Beacon Fabri-Tac to the post to keep her from coming apart easily.

I hope enjoyed this goddess project!  I sure enjoyed making it!  May it inspire you to try cutting fabric or felt with you Spellbinders!!!!



Happy creating!
-judy

Supplies:

S4-363 Jewel Fantasies
S5-078 Persian Accents
S5-079 Persian Motifs
LF-013 Jewel Goddess
LF-114 Grand Circles
F-012 Precious Metals Premium Craft Foils Assortment
Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur® Machine
Imaginisce, Green, Clear Heat Set Crystals, I-Rock Tool
Cosmic Shimmer, Lavender Shine, Holly Leaf Pearlescent Watercolors, Bronze Blush Shimmer Mist
Creative Impressions, ½" White Silk Ribbon
Artistic Wire, Gold 24 Gauge Wire
Beacon Adhesives, Quick Grip, Fabri-Tac Glue
White Canvas
Blue, Brown Markers
Green Nylon Net
White Fiberfill
White Light Weight Spackle
Clear Matte Sealer
White Foam Core Board
Spiral Wood Trim

Paper Bouquet with Spellbinders Flowers

Today, I have a paper bouquet to share!  This was one of my Spellbinders projects from last winter.  A fun project to put together!

I had pretty much forgotten about it until Teri, a fellow paper crafter discovered it in the Spellbinders Gallery and emailed me with a question.  She asked how to make the “flower pot”.  It’s really quite easy.  So here’s some photos with a few directions!  If you have questions, feel free to email me!
Thanks for asking Teri! 

The flower pot was cut with Spellbinders LF-124 Grand Scalloped Circles #6 out of cardstock.  I then centered Spellbinders S4-116 Standard Circles #4 on my scalloped circle and taped it in place.  I embossed it only.  That’s the bottom of my pot.  Then I placed it on my Scor-it Board.  Any scoring board will work or even a ruler and score tool.  I scored from a notch between scallops to the circle, then from the circle to the notch on the opposite side of the circle, notches directly across from each other.  Does that make sense?  I continued to make score lines between every notch to the center circle.  

Then I made valley folds on every other score line and mountain folds between, folding just to the circle score line.   

As the folds are made the pot takes shape!   In order for the pot to hold it’s shape,  I punched a hole in every inner fold.  Then I threaded seam binding through the holes and snugged the pot to the size I wanted and tied a knot on the inside.  For my flower pot, I sprayed it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist Sugar Maple and Suede.  I sprayed it after it was shaped so the ribbon took on the same color as the pot.  

Hopefully, you can imagine it as I don’t have a photo of just the pot and ribbon. You can see a little of it in the above photo.

I used a piece of florist foam in the pot to hold all the flowers.
The flowers were cut with various sizes of Spellbinders S5-049 Carnation Creations and S5-050 Rose Creations.  I used Spellbinders S54-321 Nested Leaves and S4-328 Foliage for leaves plus the Carnation Creations leaves.  All the flowers and leaves were cut out of Kraft card stock .

I was able to cuts lots of pieces at one time with the Grand Calibur machine.

I used these Tattered Angels Glimmer Mists to color the flowers and leaves:
Jingle Bells, Dreamsicle, Pomegranate, Sapphire, Olive Vine,  Golden Terra Cotta

These are the pieces for one of the flowers.  I used different combinations for my flowers.  You can see them in the bouquet.
Each flower has a florist wire stem attached to a white button except for the blue flowers.  I wrapped the wire around some of the eyelash yarn without a button for those.

I threaded yellow eyelash yarn through the button holes and knotted it on back with a dab of craft glue. 

I think the yarn adds so much to the flowers!
To assemble the bouquet, I trimmed the florist wire stems and poked them into the florist foam.  Some of the leaves have florist wire glued to them so I could poke them into the foam.  Others are just glued  in place.
I used Spellbinders S4-322 Grommet Tags cut from white card stock  for my greeting pick. I inked each tag while it was still in the die template to create the white border.  I cut two  and fastened them together around a piece of florist wire that I coiled at the top.

I hope I’ve inspired you in some way!  Just imagine filling a little pot like this with flowers cut from designer papers for a totally different look!  Or try the new Spellbinders S5-055 Layered Poinsettia!  Wouldn’t that make a pretty holiday centerpiece!

Happy creating!
-judy