Frame Pin Cushion with Ann Butler Faux Quilting Stamps

What I love about Ann Butler's Faux Quilting stamps is that they work great on fabric as they do on paper. All you need is to use your heat tool to dry and set them. I'm not a sewer but I wanted to try creating a project with fabric so I'll be able to share their versatility.

I started with arranging 1" faux quilting stamps on my block and stamped a piece of cheesecloth. I used Ann Butler's Crafter's Ink by Clearsnap to stamp the fabric. I applied the ink randomly on the stamps so I'll get a blending colors effect.
After the ink was dry I cut a few pieces of filler to fit a small frame that I wanted to use. I placed the fabric with the pattern face down and pushed the filler through the frame, creating a raised cushion.

I added a few buttons and pins to finish the project. Now I will have a decent place for my pins, not that I have so many, but at least I won't have to stick them in the eraser...

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Have fun creating!

Maximize Your Supplies: How to Create a Star Mini Album from Three 8.5"x11" Papers?

When I go through my stash I sometimes find the most amazing things. When I started scrapbooking there was NOTHING here. No 12x12 papers, no embellishments and I had to create scrapbooks and mini albums from  8.5"x11" patterned papers, and there weren't many of those too. I found some of my old papers and decided to use them for a really cool and fast project: a Star Mini Album.

1. Fold the paper in half. Fold each side into half again. Open and fold in half in the other direction.

2. Cut the paper only on the center spreading on two of the horizontal squares.

3. Fold in half and the paper will open up on its own.

4. Close the paper to a + shape and glue the sides together. You can glue only the sides and create pockets.

5. Fold all the flaps to one direction to create a mini album.

6. Create two more mini albums. arrange them back to back and glue together. You can leave it as a closed mini album or present it in its open star shape!





This is a great idea for a kids craft in school or on a cold winter weekend. They can make it with or for their frinds. You can make it as little gifts or even use it as a brag book. The possibilities are endless! I was really happy I could use something old that I thought would be thrown away...

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Paper Napkin Holder with Ann Butler faux Quilting Stamps

This is the easiest fastest project ever and it can fit any holiday or occasion if you just change the colors. I made it green so it'll fit a christmas table, but it can easily be in any other color for an anniversary, New year's Eve or even Valentine's Day.

To create this napkin holder align a few 1" Faux Quilting stamps in a row and stamp a piece of white cardstock. You can also alternate colors and stamp each square with a different color. That look will be great for a New Year's Eve party for example. Then cut the strip of paper around the stamped area.

Punch two butterflies or any other shape you want or that fits your event. On the first butterfly, create a cut in the center of the butterfly going from the bottom only until the middle of the butterfly. On the other butterfly start the cut from the top going all the way to the middle of the butterfly's body.

Attach each butterfly to the edge of the strip. To close the napkin holder simply attach the butterflies together by inserting each butterfly to the other butterfly's slit.
This project is so easy and quick you can create an entire set for any dinner or party.

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How to Age Paper - 6 easy technique to make paper look old

If you want to give a pristine white paper a browned, unevenly-colored aged appearance and parchment-like texture you need to use an aging technique. I love using my own aged paper for my vintage and steampunk projects. It's also very cost effective because you only need a few ingredients to create this effect instead of buying lots of expensive paper.

There are a few techniques to age paper:

Coffee

I'm not a coffee drinker but this aroma filled powder can be much more than just a bevarage, it can be used to age paper and give it a brown antique look.There are two ways to acheive this effect:

Painting with coffee

Dipping in coffee

Tea

Tea staining will give you a lighter color and more suttle result than coffee. You can use the tea bag itself to stain the paper directly or dip the paper in the tea. You can dry the stained paper in the oven or in a sunny place.

Tea Staining

Spray and Ink

Use a blender and a combination of distress inks like wallnut and vintage photo and ink your paper to achieve an aged look. Another technique is to spray the paper with spray ink.

Spraying

Paint

To achieve an aged effect with paint you would need a few shades of brown and to work in stages.

Layers of paint

Here's a really cool technique with shoe polish.

So many fun techniques to try. I hope you'll try at least one, because the effectis worth it! Do you have other techniques or ideas to distressor age papers? Share in the comments!

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Ready, Get set, De-stash! Paper Embellishments Tutorial

As you probably already know my resolution for this year is to use my stash and try not to buy so much supplies. it's already the middle of the year and i don't think I've done that enough. So today we're DE-STASHING!
We all have scraps of paper that are cut, have holes in them, are either too big or too small. We don't throw them away because we are sure we're going to use them. Well...today is the day! Take out all your scraps and join me!

First pick out papers that are in the same style and/or colors. I wanted a steampunk look so I've used brown, dark colors with script and numbers patterns.

Cut or punch shapes like circles, squares, stars, hearts or any other shape you want. I limited myself to 2" to 3" size but you can cut larger shapes. Then cut or punch smaller shapes from the papers and even cut out patterns. i cut out a few keys from a pattern paper piece that I had in my stash. Create combinations with all your shapes. Start with the larger shapes as the base and then layer the smaller shapes on them and create clusters. Finally add words or letters, but only if you have a partialy used sticker sheet! We're de-stashing remember?

Now you have your own paper embellishments to use in your projects, cards, scrapbook layouts or canvases. if they are big enough you can use them as cards, placement cards or even add a magnet on the back and put on your fridge.

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One of a Kind Layout with Blue Fern Studios

So excited to share my first project with Blue Fern Studios! When I was asked to join their video education team I was so happy and honored that I could inspire so many of you with new video tutorials!

So my first project is a boy's layout (what else?) with papers from the Sanctuary line and cool chipboards. In my videos I'll focus on different techniques to alter and cover the chipboards as well as tips and tricks on more fun ways to use them.

In this layout I used the Printer's Bits chipboards both as embellishments and as stencils. It's an easy techniques that creates an amazing pattern on the paper while covering the chipboard at the same time!!

I also added flowers with matching colors and the title. The original title was "One of a Kind" but since my three guys are on the photos I altered the title to "One 2 3 of a Kind" by adding the numbers!

My second project is a small 4X4 canvas. I'm going to create a canvas wall in my studio that will be filled with 4X4 canvases all with empowering, encouraging and positive statements! So here's the first one.

It's basically chipboards on canvas. I used the Directions chipboards to create texture by blending them into the background with gesso and then sprayed everything. Then I wrote the sentence with a pen nib and black ink on top of the texture wrapping the texture around the letters.

Do you use chipboards in your projects?

Have fun creating!
Einat

Mixed Media Art Journal Page: Caterpillar

Sometimes I have an idea in my head and I know exactly how I want my art journal page to look. But sometimes I come across a sentence I really like and my head starts to sound like Waze...reconfiguring...I suddenly find myself with a new idea that I like even better! This is what happened to this art journal page. I knew exactly what I wanted. A page with a winter feel, dark colors and rain, but then I came across this sentence: " Just when the caterpillar thought her life was over she began to FLY" it's a paraphrase of a quote by Barbara Haines Howett and it really spoke to me. Suddenly I saw vibrant colors and butterflies...

This art journal page is a little different because there is only partial background and some of the page is blank. It enhances the flow of the page and the feeling that the butterflies are actually flying. I used a stencil and modeling paste to create the butterflies.

I added color sprays and used a water brush to spread it. I created borders for the butterflies with aquarelle pencils and artist's pen big brushes. Then I added dots and splatters for more texture and pattern. I wrote the sentence between the butterflies.

It's always fun and challenging to try something new and for me, who always cover the page with lots of paint and patterns, leaving some areas blank was not easy. But that's what art journaling is all about...trying new things, stretching the limits, going out of your comfort zone and finding new ways to express yourself!

For a full step by step tutorial, watch the video!Follow me on Facebook and YouTube for more crafty treats!


Have fun creating!
Einat

Steampunk Desk Organizer

Don't throw away empty food packages or tp rolls...use them to create something new and useful! I used mine to create a steampunk desk organizer for some new brushes, aquarelle pencils and other supplies.

I started with covering all the boxes and tp rolls with paper. I used several patterns that have a steampunk vintage look. The best way to cover something with paper is to use Mod Podge. Just use a brush to apply it. after everything was completely dry I painted the inside with black acrylic and added a nice washi tape border.

I assembled all the parts gluing them together to create the desk organizer. Then it was time to embellish! I added steampunk theme metal embellishments like gears, screws, cogwheels and more. I also added other embellishments that looked good with the general theme. I inked the exposed areas with brown and black inks for that industrial feel.

Now all I need to do is buy all that supply I need and put it in its new home!
Check out the video for a step by step tutorial and tips.
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Have fun creating!
Einat