Hobby Baby Design Team

Hello friends!  Not long ago, I saw a Design Team call for "Hobby Baby".  I hopped over to check out their products to see if it might be a good fit for my personal style...and, it sure seems to be!  They have some awesome products and I'd like to get my little hands on several of them :)  You can check out the blog to read the Design Team details.
One of the requirements is to post a project with a tutorial.  I've decided to show you how to make flowers out of foam packaging sheets.  One of the Companies I design for uses these foam sheets in the monthly shipment of product. You know me, I couldn't throw them away!  LOL!
So here's how to make the foam flowers.

Start with foam sheets.

Using Tattered Florals die and Accucut, diecut several flowers.

Using Alcohol Ink (Kuretake) and a paint brush, brush the ink on the foam flowers.

The more ink you add, the darker the color.

Stack and layer the flowers and insert a brad in the center.

After the brad has been added to secure the flower, add drops of alcohol ink to random areas of the flower.

Using a heat embossing tool, heat the petals of the flower.  The foam will curl and melt when heat is applied.

WOW! Metal Flowers

Hello friends! Today I wanted  to share a "Metal Flower" technique that is also posted on the WOW! blog today.   They're actually aluminum as they are made using Pepsi cans.  YES!  If you have Sizzix or Accucut flower dies, it works like a dream.  I don't know how this would work with other dies or diecut systems.  I've used Tattered Florals, Sizzix Die and Accucut Diecut System. and WOW!  Rich Gold Pale Embossing Powder.

The two flowers near the top have one coat of embossing powder.  Notice on the bottom flower, I used 2 coats and it caused the embossing powder to crack.  I like the look of both but if you don't like the cracked look, one coat will suffice.

Another close up.

Use caution as these are aluminum and the edges may be sharp.

Here's how to make your own.

Start with an aluminum can.  I used wire cutters to cut through where the drink hole was.  Scissors work well for the rest of the cutting on the can.

Cut the top and bottom off the can.  You'll end up with a rectangular piece that is ready to diecut.

Diecut flowers.

Using VersaMark Pigment Pad rub the entire surface of the flower, sprinkle with embossing powder and heat emboss.

Repeat these steps for each flower.

Using a paint brush handle, curl the petals.

Use Helmar 450 Quick dry in between the layers of the flower.

Add a bead or pearl to the center, if desired.

Easy Peasy, huh?  Now you can make your own metal flowers!  The best part is, it's eco-friendly and costs very little :)  Let me know if you give it a try...I'd love to see :)

A Fun Technique That's Eco Friendly

Hello friends :)  This morning I was looking around my craft room and spotted my Glue Arts Design team box that came in the mail yesterday.  The pad the contents with sheets of thin foam.  I've always kept these sheets because I knew that one day I would find a great use for them.  I used my Accucut and Tattered Florals die and cut some foam flowers.  I wasn't really sure if the Kuretake Alcohol ink would take to the foam but it DID!  EDITED:  This is my idea and technique.  Please feel free to use it, but please give credit to me <3.

Don't these look cool with the all that texture?  I heat embossed over them lightly and that added more dimension!  Don't heat too much because they will melt.  This is made using Kuretake Brown Alcohol Ink.

Here's one that was actually done with Kuretakes, Deep Pink Alcohol Ink...because the flower is saturated with ink, it turns out a deep purple.  (Mom would love this one :)

These are so fun to make, eco friendly and costs almost nothing :)

Here's what I did.

Start with  your foam sheet.

Using Accucut and Tattered Florals die, diecut.

Using a paint brush and brown alcohol ink, brush the foam flower.

Push a brad through the center of the flowers.

Saturate the flower with Brown Alcohol ink

Lightly heat emboss.

Snowflake Tutorial And Flower Frenzy

Hello friends!  I’m back to share the snowflake tutorial.  Here’s the  snowflakes I made.  These are SO EASY and have loads of dimension.  You can make them any size you’d like.  For my tutorial, I’ve used 6”x6” squares.
Start by cutting four squares.

Fold the first square in half to make a triangle.

Fold again to make a smaller triangle.

Hold the triangle piece with the two folds in your left hand.

Make 2 equal cuts just up to the fold, being careful not to cut through the fold.


Unfold.

Join the ends of the center piece and glue or tape.

Turn the square over and adhere the second piece.  Two of the pieces face the front, one faces the back.

Turn over and adhere the last two pieces.

Repeat this for the other four squares. 

Assemble the snowflake by taping 2 ends together.  Turn and attach the other two ends.

And it’s been a flower frenzy here at my house.  I have been making flowers like crazy..LOL!  Here’s some I have finished.

Paper Bag Mini With Really Reasonable Ribbon

Hello friends! Here's a mini that's just in time for quick and easy holiday gift giving.  It's always fun to have a little brag book in your purse and share it with others.  These sweet little Middy Bitty bags are from Really Reasonable Ribbon, one is the polka dot kraft and the other is the stripes kraft.  Perfect size for a mini since they're 5"x7.5".  I've also used the natural jute string for my bows.  The papers are by Simple Stories.  Hop on over to Really Reasonable Ribbon Ramblings for a tutorial!

Crafty Secrets New Product Show Offs!

To all my vintage lovers, you are going to be in hoggy heaven!  I'll choose 1 lucky winner today and they'll receive the new Mini Vintage Creative Scraps and a "Creating with Vintage Patterns" CD!  Tomorrow I'll
announce a winner.
 


I decided to show you how to Print on Fabric using "Creating with Vintage Patterns CD"!  The first is a Vintage Collar and the second is a Bangle Cuff.

I've used crocheted flowers and crocheted pieces I found at an antique shoppe.

At your own risk, here's how to make your own. (Not all printers will feed the fabric).   I used my HP Photosmart printer and it works well.

Step 1

Gather muslin or light cotton fabric, freezer paper, iron, printer and Creating with Vintage Patterns CD.

Step 2

Iron the shiny side of the freezer paper to the "wrong" or back side of the fabric.

Step 3

Cut the ironed fabric piece to measure 8.5 x 11".

Step 4

Place fabric sheet in the printer (Know how your printer feeds your paper.)

Step 5

Using "Creating with Vintage Patterns" CD, print the desired pattern.

Step 6

Remove the freezer paper from the fabric.

Step 7

Cut off the top portion of the printed pattern. Pin to the pre-measured crocheted strip.

Step 8

Sew the fabric pattern to the crocheted strip.

Step 9

Hand sew a crocheted flower and button in the center frame of the pattern.

 For the Bangle Cuff, you'll use the same technique.


Great news from Splitcoast Stampers, General Stamping Talk Forum.  The card I posted yesterday was selected as a FAVORITE!  
Here's the link if you'd like to check it out.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/general-stamping-talk-f17/favorites-week-ending-july-17-2011-a-t533128.html
The paper used on the card are from the new CD!  Post number 21 and I'm papercre8r on Splitcoast :)

Be sure to visit the Crafty Secrets blog, Design Team blogs and the shop will have all the newest releases!   There will be lots of fun techniques!

Vicki Chrisman (Design Team Leader)

Pam Hooten

Heidi Blankenship

Linda Duke

Michele Kovach

Julie Campbell

Amy Teets

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Fauve van Maanen

Gini Cagle

Jan Hennings

Tammy Roberts

Victoria Warren Mears

Viola Mahr

Crafty Secrets Summer Releases

CD - Creating with Vintage Patterns

Mini Vintage Creative Scraps

Stamp Sets

Large Stamp Sets

SL 41 Born To Fly

SL42 Let's Hang Out

SL44 Play Ball

Medium Stamp Sets

SM39 Birds of Happiness

SM43 Golf Time

Small Stamp Sets

SS23 Vintage Silhouettes

SS26 Take it Easy summer