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.
Follow me on Facebook and YouTube for more crafty treats!

Have fun creating!
Einat

Faux Leather TP Steampunk Mini Album

I love techniques. I love finding new ways of using old unwanted or unneeded things, namely recycling and reusing. I love mini albums. I wonder...if only I could come up with an idea that will combine all three....

Wait!! I found it...a faux leather mini album made from toilet paper rolls!

 

This fun project started one day as I realized how many TP rolls we throw away all the time. I really wanted to do something with them. I've seen TP mini albums before but I wanted to do something different and incorporate a little mixed media, techniques and messiness.

 

 

I transformed all TP rolls to pocket pages that look like leather and believe it or not kind of feel like leather too. I've used a special technique to make that look and you will not believe how easy it is! You only need water, Glycerin and a spritzer. You wet the rolls, crumple them a few times and then ink them and you have that leather look. I also embossed some of the pages for extra texture.

I made the cover from chipboard pieces and a simple binding mechanism to attach the pages. This tutorial was so much fun, however it turned out to be too long for one time so I divided it to two parts.

Make sure to watch the video for the step by step instructions on how to create the mini album.

Follow me on Facebook and YouTube for more crafty treats!
Have fun creating!
Einat

Mixed Media Altered Paintbrush

I've been wanting to alter a paintbrush for awhile but I just never found the right one. All the paintbrushes I could find always seemed to be too small. I wanted a big paintbrush so I can treat it like a canvas and so a mixed media creation on it. Well... I finally found one, or my husband did. A 6" paintbrush with a wooden handle (much easier to paint than plastic)...what a joy!

I wanted to create a colorful, happy scene with lots of flowers and give it a homey feeling by adding a white picket fence and a street light.

I started with covering the paintbrush with gesso and then stenciled the entire surface of the paintbrush including the bristles. Then I colored it with spray paints creating a multi colors textured background. I added the fence and the street light and embellished with layers of many bright colored flowers. I also added more textured with cheesecloth and lace I colored with the same sprays.

Altered projects are so much fun and it just goes to show you never throw anything away because you never know what your creative mind will come up with!
Do you have any fun ideas to reuse old unwanted things?

Make sure to check out the video tutorial for all the details, tips and techniques!

Follow me on Facebook and YouTube for more crafty treats!

Have fun creating!
Einat

There Is No Place Like Home - House Projects

"Storms make trees take deeper roots" Dolly Parton

This quote speaks to me so loudly. In the last four weeks this is exactly how I feel. Those out there who fire rockets and want us destroyed just make me more determined! This is my home, it's the only place we have in the world. It's my family's and my friends' homes and we are here to stay.
While thinking and pondering about this I realized I made a lot of house theme projects during the years probably because this subject is important to me. I wanted to share these projects with you because I know this subject speaks to you too.

This is a layout I created with a photo of my mom and aunt when they were little girls. I created a background with bright colors as a childlike scene with flowers and a house. Happy, fun and nostalgic page.

My first video tutorial more then a year ago. Time flies when you're having fun! It's a mixed media, technique packed canvas with the house as a central focal point. If you want to revisit the video tutorial here's the link: http://youtu.be/HI0SEIGuLRI?list=PL2hIgklxaiuXMAdlaEk0ZYJEbp7RAgOuo

This a DT project I created for Susan Weckesser Inc. It's a house in a capsule of flowers and love. Note that the love breaks through the wall to the outside...

Another DT project, this time a frame cluster for family photos with a house in the center. This is a great piece for a wall in your home or as a gift.

This project was created as a workshop called House of Memories. It was a really fun workshop that produced different houses because each participant made a different roof and added different photos.

My favorite house projects are the two recycled houses from milk cartons. Both houses are photo displays for family photos. One a vintage flowery garden display and the other a spooky house for Halloween. You can find a step by step video tutorials for the Spooky House here:  http://youtu.be/E2g0qu02Pf8?list=PL2hIgklxaiuVG-o5vzJZHF8RmuPMgjPid

Finally a3D shadow frame with the famous quote: "Home is where the heart is". This project has layers of flowers as background and many 3D items and embellishments like a little high stool, shelf with books and a small garden bed with grass. There are even two quilled 3D pots with plants on the top of the frame.

To close this homey collection, a snowy card with a house in the snow for the holidays.

There are more house projects I created, many more then I realized when I started writing this post, but I think these are the top ones. Do you have any house projects? Try and create one, it'll warm your heart for sure!

Have fun creating!
Einat

Memory Time Capsule

As some of you know I lost my grandmother early this week. She was an amazing brave woman who picked up the pieces of her life after the holocaust, built a family and a life. I wanted to create a little something to put on a shelf above my work table so I can be inspired by her and remember her. I got an idea while finishing a masking tape. The empty roll reminded me of a clock and the idea just popped into my head, I'll create a time capsule.

I first covered the roll with patterned paper from all sides and then added an embellished house and felt trees. I wanted to create a scene in time from many years ago so I used an old photo of my grandmother with her twins, my mom and aunt.

I added a picket fence and flowers to create a little garden. Then I added a bicycle and some chipboard birds to make it even more cheerful and happy.

It was sad and happy at the same time to create this time capsule but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Make sure to check the step by step video tutorial on how I created the time capsule.

Have fun creating!
Einat

Snowman mixed media canvas

Last weekend we had some crazy weather, lots of snow in not very high places, blackouts, hail storms and non stop rain. All that inspired me to go all wintery and create a snowy mixed media canvas with a happy little snowman.

I've reused one of my un needed 6" X 6" canvases and covered it with gesso. Then I added two large acrylic snowflake shapes and covered them with gesso as well. I added a little light blue color with a color spray and a baby wipe.

To create the snow I used two layers of cheese cloth that reminded me of the snow texture and whiteness. I added my stamped embossed snowman and a title. For more festive atmosphere I also added little snowflakes made from rhinestones and a little bling with stickles.

You can join me for a step by step video tutorial for all the details!

Have fun creating!
Einat

Altered Steampunk Tin Box

Today will get familiar with the term Steampunk. Steampunk is originally a literary genre that has developed into so much more since the 19th century when it was created. The term steampunk imade of two words: steam - because it has to include a steam based gadgetry or machine parts and punk - which represents the more rebellious, fantasy part of it. It was created in the era of queen Victoria of England. Today it's an artistic trend that includes metal embellishments, machine or industrial parts and colors such as black, brown, gold, copper, rust and all their metallic variations. A steampunk project will include cog wheels, chains, keys, screws, zippers, clock parts or other machinery parts etc.

So...I'm sharing my altered tin box that I designed in a steampunk style.

The texture on the box was created with an aluminum foil technique and covered with paint. Then I added all the metal embellishments after treating them with alcohol ink and embossing powder.

Have fun creating!
Einat

Maximize your supplies – leftovers card

Cards a great way to use your stash of leftovers! I don't know about you but I have a drawer full of paper leftovers and for some strange reason it keeps on growing no matter how much I use its content. So every now and then I create a few cards from different kinds of papers.

This is a fun and easy card that is made from scraps of 7 different papers. The point of making a leftover card is to use as many leftovers as possible. The best way to do that is to pick a subject for the card and take out all the papers that are suited to the subject you picked. My subject was summer so I took out papers that had summer colors and summer patterns like surf boards, kites and flowers.

Have fun creating!

Einat

Family Day Blog Hop

Today I take part in a special blog hop with eight talented Israeli designers in celebration of Family Day. The blog hop is sponsored by My Punch which is also giving all of you a chance to win a great prize. Each of the eight designers was given an element to include in her design. My element is: Key. I created an altered book titled: The key to happiness.

Other than being an object for opening locks and doors, the key has metaphorical meaning. It can open our hearts, our minds and our happiness. Each one has a different key to their happiness, my key is my children. Their smile opens my heart, their laughter unlocks my anger and their hugs melt my soul. They make me happy when I'm sad, they make me smile when I'm down and they bring me joy by simply being who they are.

The blog hop starts on Wed Feb 22^nd and ends on Tue Feb 28^th.

Here is what you have to do to have a chance to win a great prize:

·         Go to all eight blogs. Each blog has a link to the next one. Enjoy the beautiful creations and leave a comment in each blog. (Make sure you're leaving a comment in the blog hop post).
·         Each post has a special element, collect them and send a list of the eight elements to Alice at: info@mypunch.co.il.

After the blog hop will end a random winner will be picked from all those who left comment in each blog and sent the list of eight elements.  The prize: 150 Nis gift card for purchasingin My Punch.

Please keep on hopping to the next blog by Orli Shamir

Have fun creating!

Einat

12 days of December Blog Party – Day 1

Get the party started!

Today we start the fun, the inspiration and the festivities that are the 12 days of December Blog Party!

Here is how it will work:

Every day, for 12 days, I will post a holiday project/s to inspire you and to give you ideas for your holiday table, presents, cards and more!

Following the project you will get a mission, there will be a new different mission every day.

To participate in the blog party and be eligible for the daily giveaway you will have to:

1. Subscribe to my blog (if you are not already subscribed)

2. Post the mission in whatever on line media you want: blog, FB, twitter etc. with a link back to the Blog Party.

3. Go back to my blog and write a comment with a link to your post.

You can join us for some of the days or all of them. Each day I will randomly choose a winner for the daily giveaway and post it the next day.
Whoever takes part in minimum of 7 missions out of 12 will have a chance to win the grand prize, which will also be randomly selected. More details about the grand prize tomorrow!

Day 1 project: Gift box

I took an empty gum box and transformed it into an embellished gift box for a gift card, jewelry, money or any other small gift that will fit in it!

Day 1 mission: in order to warm things up and invite as many people as possible to this fun party your mission (if you choose to accept it) is to spread the word! Write about the Blog Party on your blog, on FB, on message boards, anywhere on line you want with a link to the Blog Party. Then go back to my blog and write a comment with a link to your post.

Day 1 giveaway: The Doodlin' Around stack by DCWV. 48 cardstock sheets, half of them with glitter. Creative pages for every season of the year! Find out tomorrow who will win it!

Have fun creating!

Einat

Recycled Crafts – FaveCraft Blog Hop

We're hopping again with all of our friends at FaveCraft! This time we're all sharing recycled projects! Great ideas and inspiration on how to create wonderful projects using everyday objects, leftover materials, things you don't need anymore and even things you want to throw away.


















My project is a printer's trey. But this is not your ordinary printer's trey, the one you buy at the craft store. My trey is made from an old tea box I didn't need. At first I wanted to throw it away, but then I saw its compartments and I had an idea: why not turn it into a printer's trey?!

I painted it and added photos. To make it interesting I gave each photo a little curve. Then I added a few handmade embellishments. I made it really simple and easy because as it turned out, I ended up teaching it in a few classes for girls and teenagers.

Have fun creating!

Einat