And Its That Time of the Year Again!

Its January, and winter.. or January and summer in some places.

This is the time of year when a lot of companies and design team members begin their annual migration to Anaheim, California.  And they arrive there from all over the world.

Here we go again.." titled one post from a favourite site I visit. But the responses were mostly excited questions and answers on a number of different companies, products and time frames. 

What is it?! I hear you ask.. and even if you didn't I'm here to let you know. Its C.H.A time! Craft Hobby Association, that is.

Check out my Pinterest - CHA Sneak Peek board for a full 2 pages of newly released product!

That is, the largest annual product launch in the craft industry, and for stampers, paper crafters and mixed media artists, this is THE time of the year to start pinning new product pictures and attending online CHA socials. If you are going, it will be one of the best times of your life, make and takes, seeing hundreds of booths, checking out new items and companies...

Festivities to last a year, well at least 6 months anyway. By the time all the products arrive in stores and eager customers have hoarded their last load, usually there isn't time to get bored, because then it will be CHA summer, in Chicago!

 However, getting ahead of myself.  The last few days, I've been pinning countless product lines on my CHA Sneak Peek board.  And I'm still going, and companies showcase their latest releases each day.



Here's a few of the latest. To see the rest, 2 pages full of the newest product (now arriving in stores), such as Two Peas In a Bucket (my sponsors),, or just click the little Pinterest icon on the right at the top of the page.

Happy Gazing!

Last Minute: Thanksgiving Napkin Rings

This project has been running around in my head for a few days.  Starting out, I had actually considered a full fabric project, but realizing that many of us are way too busy during the holiday to drag out a sewing machine, or hand sew, especially last minute, figured it wasn't likely to happen.  So this project, combines the best of both fabric, paper, and a little nature thrown in.

Use what you have on hand and in 10 minutes tops, and you'll have a self styled napkin ring. Give yourself about 20 minutes for 4-6 of these from start to completely done.

I used Burlap

an Autumn/fall sticker

distress paint in Vintage photo, its a little thicker and works well with burlap

distress ink in green, red and brown tones

a brayer, acorns I found in the park of our apartment complex

and 2 stamps, one background and one leaf.

Also a pop dot, twill tape and glue.

Burlap, because of its weave will not show up those little details, so best to stick with a bold print stamp for your background. 

Start by using a brayer or just a brush to spread out your distress paint onto the non stick mat or other surface. I used distress paint because it is slightly thicker than regular acrylic or fabric paint. Or you can use a combination of acrylic/fabric paint with a little medium to thicken.

You can completely skip this stamping step if you like, and cut your burlap piece to around 5.5" x 2.5"

Use the brayer or a brush to add paint to the stamp directly, or stamp into the paint on the surface.  I ended up stamping into the surface paint, as you want to have a good covering on your stamp. 

Stamp onto burlap, one image for each napkin ring.



While that is drying, grab your cardstock, and ink up your stamp and stamp your cardstock, one image for each place setting.

To create a multi colored leaf, use several different colors.  I used fired brick, peeled paint, and vintage photo.  Just stamp your different inks onto the surface. The great thing about distress ink is that is won't become muddy and the different inks won't effect your other stamp pads.

After you've inked up, spritz the stamp surface once or twice with your mini mister, about 10 or so inches away from the stamp. And stamp onto your cardstock. 

Once your burlap is dry, (it won't take long), cut your burlap pieces to 5.5-6" x 2.5-3".

Then add a pop dot to your autumn/fall sticker for a little dimension, and adhere to your stamped leaf.  Adding a pop dot will also make your embellishment cluster easier to adhere.

Then tie a bow to your stamped and stickered image. Using glue or even a glue dot or two, attach the ends of the twill tape to your acorns.

Arrange your cluster on your burlap prior to attaching, just to see exactly where you would like it.

Almost done!

Once you have your embellishment arranged, grab your burlap piece, and adhere the short, printed side ends together. Again, just used my tiny attacher. This will create your napkin ring. Turn your burlap right side out and stick the embellishments to your burlap. I used my tiny attacher, stapling it under the pop dotted flower.

You're done!!

Paris - Using Old and New Products...

I don't remember my Grandmother well, I was very young when she passed on, but stories needless to say, have been well and truely kept alive. Apparently she was quite a character , and become one of those older ladies with a slightly wicked sense of humor.

She was from England, just a jump across the channel from France, and she loved to visit Paris and areas in Italy.  The photo on this layout was one of those visits to Paris. 

I kept the photo the original size, simply because it had an authentic charm about it that a larger print just didn't seem to retain.  

This is pretty much a mix of old and new products. One thing that happens when you haven't seen your stash for over a year is that you rediscover a lot of 'new' things. With that usually comes the researgence of energy to use it.. much like the Wicked Witch in Wizard of Oz, 'come here my pretties...'

The paper is by Kaisercraft, an Australian company.  As soon as I saw it, I thought of this photo, so for once, I actually bought paper with something in mind.  There are 2 12x12 sheets of cardstock stickers that go with this line also.



So the list goes, as far as products:

OLD - Dating back to around 2000-2004. Letter stickers, K&Co, 'Lifes Journey'; Gold Flourish Rub On...these rubons are among my favorites.  I have no idea what I'll do when I run out of them. The small leaf next to the 1 in 1932 is from a very old line of stickers also by K&Co, Hydranges, I just cut one of the small leaves off. 

Slightly newer product - Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo for the edges of the paper, and white distress crackle paint (Picket Fence);  blue distress embossing powder (Broken China)

NEW - Very small doily bought from the cake decorating section of a craft store; Stamp is Spring Jubilee by Pink Paisley, colored with Tim Holtz Distress Markers Spun Sugar and Peeled Paint; Tag is by Jenni Bowlin; Butterfly and small flower are from one of the sticker sheets by Kaisercraft. Gesso

Tips -

I cut strips from the leftover white space sections of the sticker sheet to create journaling strips.  This is something I've done a few times in the past.  I wanted the background of these strips to match, so instead of letting the useable white space of the sheet go to waste...

The blue thing behind the doily behind the photo... I actually don't know what I'd call it, a blue flourish tag type thing - This was a background I'd cut out with my cricut Storybook cart about 2 years ago, and kept it.  I figured it would come in good for something.  I messed it up with gesso, distress ink  (tea stain); picket fence crackle paint, and rock candy clear crackle 'paint'..

...which I actually think is just gel medium with crackle medium in it

Let me also mention that Sam, the Kitten, the recluse, came out of hiding to assist with this post.  Not only is he all over the keyboard and desk, he likes to headbutt my chin. 

If you have the chance to try out Distress Markers, go with it, they are incredibly versatile, allowing you to get a really great aging effect or softer tones (as with the flowers) just using a tiny amount of water, much like watercolor pencils or markers. 

I bought the colors I use the most first, and will probably later get a couple more.

Will be up with another layout in about 2 or 3 days using more of my refound stash!

Catch ya later

Helen

Subway Art

Paris, the name holds a bit of mystique for quite a number of people, the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, the cafes, artists creating on the sidewalk..

Erin loves the idea of Paris.  We've never been there, but she loves the place.  Everything Paris is a must have, according to this girl.  So when the idea of subway art came up, course, it had to be Paris.  We spent the weekend working on this subway art sign, and for a first it turned out quite well.

Its fairly easy to create too, but there are two different ways of creating it, one with letter stickers, and the other with a stencil.  As I have an abundance of letter stickers, some dating back to about 2003 or a little before that, we have plenty of variety on hand.

It doesn't really matter what kind of stickers they are, paper, transparency, we've used a variety here.  But we did limit the lettering to mostly block style, with only one script and one 'other' lettering.  Too many different fonts can over power the look. 

Before we added the stickers, you can see on ours, we have a little texture and news print in the background, we painted over the whole canvas with white gesso, and wiped a little of the gesso off the printed area so it would show through a little on the finished project.

One thing we found was that too much texture can cause stickers to well, not stick very well, so we did have to keep pressing a few of the thinner script stickers down quite a bit.  The script stickers were on a clear background, so the finished product will have a wider font than appears in the photo.

After you've added the stickers, time to paint over the whole thing with your top coat.  We changed it up a little and have our lettering white, rather than black..

We used a black soy paint for this.  The consistancy of that paint is amazing! We'd never used it before, but at the time it was the only black available so we bought it, but I'm tempted now to only buy soy paint.

We began carefully peeling the stickers away as soon as the whole canvas was painted. Acrylic paint dries fast. If we'd waited for it to dry, there would be a good chance of it taking a little paint with it also from the edges of the lettering. 

So after a little touch up here and there, we painted the canvas edges...

You can see the texture fairly well here, just adds a little bit of interest.  But we also used an Eiffel Tower sticker and a crown in one corner.  Edges done and we had a finished project!

Catch ya later!

W&W

Glitter, Teens and Smart Phone Things

There is always a blank canvas somewhere... 

And when there is a teen girl around, you're likely to find it. 

Teen challenge, the background...

This charger had to be claimed. It had to scream without any doubt that it belonged, and was entirely dedicated, to Erin.

These boring white pieces of plastic you see, were just not happening. So in order to fix this problem, and add a little more bling to girls existence, Erin decided we needed glitter in our lives, and her charger was the perfect canvas. 

For The Parents...

This was an easy fix, mostly because the charger you see, unlike the actual phone, is not permanently attached to the teen, and so can be decorated at will.  

Whether its your will or not. 

Course, this could go in so many different directions, design wise. But the best glitter for this is an ultra fine or an art glitter and red backed tape. This ensures the glitter will not come off, creating some kind of near future glittery, Twilight moment.

This project really only has a couple of steps, but will give you peace AND entertain your child for at least the 5 minutes they are not on their phone, and its fast enough that they don't have time to dissapear leaving you entirely to it.

The Project...

• Roll of red backed tape - 1" wide

incidentally, this tape won't come off without force or go nasty a few months down the track, and is available at craft stores like Michael's, or Hobby Lobby, (or Spotlight in Australia), in sheets or rolls. A roll is a good choice for this type of project.

• Cut the tape to fit the device.  This is easier still as the tape is almost the right size for the smaller areas too. Start the tape in the middle of the surface. Wrap around,  and leave the backing on for a minute while you get the glitter ready.
• Repeat for each surface to be glittered.

• Fold a piece of regular printer paper in half and pour the glitter on, generously.  We want to make sure the tape only contacts the glitter, sticking to paper is not good.

Unless you want to use paper... or you can go a step further here and add gems etc prior to glittering.

• Peel off the tape backing
• roll your taped device in the glitter.  Pressing firmly will ensure the glitter coats the tape well.  Then tap off the excess.
• When glittering is complete, simply pour the glitter back into the bottle or container using the paper crease as a funnel of sorts. You might need to tap the paper a little to get all the glitter to return home.

You can also press on the glitter a little, while on the device to ensure proper contact. 

You're done!

Have fun!  

W&W