Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Open Your Eyes To The Beauty Around You
It's there. Right in front of you. Right inside of you. Beauty. All we need to do is be open to it. Be willing to see it. Be willing to share it with others. In this art journal page I explored defining beauty. This page was created for Paper Crafter's Library. For full step-by-step videos for how I created the page and for a full supply list, head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking on the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and consider becoming a member!
Washi Tape is an affordable product that we love to have, look at, and hold, but do you use yours? With this tutorial, you’ll use Washi Tape to decorate a generously-sized twist container and a handmade home decor item— mini wooden pallet—that could be used to embellish a gift bag or box or hang on a door knob or hook. The two most exciting things about this tutorial are (1) learning how to add text (a custom sentiment/message) to your tape without using stamps and (2) making a 3D flower with vertical bunches of curly petals! There are a lot of little surprises in this tutorial! Intrigued? Get the full step-by-step instructions by heading over to Craft Project Central and subscribing to the month of the July!
This is you. Full of unlimited potential. On the verge of bursting through. About to show the world your full and true colors. You are precious, complete, perfect in your existence. Be brave! Be courageous! Honor what is true. Let yourself bloom!
Make this super sweet Summer Garden Tote Bag as a Thank You to that special friend. The coordinating Covered Notepad and Pen are simple but functional gifts that fit neatly inside the Tote. And, of course, the Thank You Card is a must to top off a perfect gift! In this tutorial you’ll also learn an essential tip - the perfect ‘stay put knot/bow’ – you’ll never tie a knot or bow any differently after learning it! Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of July for full step-by-step instructions!
Bohemian Stationary Desktop Organizer by Amanda Corbet
This bright and bold desk organizer is complete with 10 note cards, 10 envelopes, 12 gift card holders, and 12 gift tags. The organizer keeps it all nice and neat and ready for the next occasion that you need to send a little note. The drawer in the organizer is the perfect place to keep the twine for the gift tags and thread for the gift card holders. Not to mention stamps or other items. There is just enough room in the organizer to hold all these goodies and leave a space perfect for a pen. Put together this lovely desk organizer for yourself or give it as a gift to someone who could use a note card or gift tag in a hurry!
Bonus projects can be obtained by subscribing to two or more months in a row, putting the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or by referring a friend and when they subscribe, letting Craft Project Central know. Head on over to Craft Project Central for more details!
This complete birthday party set is bound to make your lil’ guests feel entertained! It includes an interactive place setting that will keep the kids busy while you are serving lunch. A personalized mason jar keepsake. Mini gift bags that are perfect for goodies or snacks. A birthday banner that coordinates with the party supplies. Finally, cupcake toppers are the perfect touch to tie the party together. This is a one of a kind party. It is perfect for your lil’ boy! Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June for full step-by-step instructions!
Summertime is here, and flowers are everywhere! This card box set would make a perfect gift, and the four cards are perfect for any summer greeting. The card box is covered with a decorated sleeve that can be slid off and on. The set features the Flower Patch Stamp Set and the coordinating Flower Fair Framelits Dies. Three of the new 2015-2017 In Colors and the new Banner Triple Punch are used, too! This would also make a great card class. Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June for full step-by-step instructions!
This is my June project for Craft Project Central! Do you have Designer Series Paper that you wish you could turn into fabric? Now is your chance! This Paper Cloth Bird Sculpture and Card will show you how you can make a sewable, pliable fabric from your Typeset Designer Series Paper. What a fun way to turn your paper into a 3-dimensional home décor item! Create a gorgeous coordinating card in case you decide to gift your sculpture to a lucky friend! You might even let your friends or children join in the fun of creating fabric of their very own to turn into all types of wonderful creations!!! Want to find out more? Head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: It Doesn't Take A Lot To Show How Much You Care
A simple card made with love with your own hands. Sometimes I want to make a card and I don't feel like I have the time or energy to really make one that I will be proud of or that will be perfect enough for the person I am sending it to. That's when I need to stop myself and realize that it doesn't take a lot to show someone how much I care. My card doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't have to be perfect. And, it doesn't need to take a lot of time or energy. I can use the time and energy that I have and work with that! I arrived home late Thursday night after a substantial work trip and we wanted to get a Father's Day card in the mail early Friday so that it could make it in time for Father's Day. I needed to do my best given what time and energy I had and I found washi tape was a great and simple way to decorate this card in a flash! I die cut Basic Gray cardstock with the Hello You thinlits dies. I then stamped the "Father's Day" with Basic Gray ink and the Crazy For You stamp set. These were both adhered to a Mint Macaron card stock panel. Next came the Everyday Chic designer washi tape and some silver sequin stars. Quick, simple, and made with a ton of love!!!!
Summer Fun Craft Party! by Buffy Cooper It’s summer! The kids are out of school and looking for something fun to do, so how about throwing a craft party? Send a cute “Summer Funday” invitation to your children’s friends, create a craft pack with basic supplies for each attendee, and let their imaginations take over. The cut whirly ladybugs are fun and simple to create, and preparation is a snap with the Big Shot and Circles Collection Framelits. The invitation uses simple marker techniques to customize photopolymer stamps. This would also make a fun Kids’ Stamp Camp or class. Subscribe to the month of June over at Craft Project Central for full step-by-step instructions!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Think Beyond The Texture Of The Material
I love paper! And, sometimes I am looking for something a bit more lasting and enduring. Making paper cloth is a great way to turn your paper into a new material that you can sew and get creative with! I had some leftover paper cloth that I had made using the Typeset Specialty Designer Series Paper and I decided to turn it into a stuffed heart ornament for an incredibly special friend! How can you think beyond the texture of the material you are given?
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Always Have Something With You To Create With!
My travel schedule can get a bit nuts sometimes and I can find myself away from the craft room and the over abundance of art supplies that live there. So I now travel with a kit of random supplies...just in case the urge to create comes over me and I am in a hotel room, an airport, or some other place far far away. Lately I've added some cotton thread to the travel craft kit and I have been enjoying sewing into watercolor paper. This collage began when I was inspired by the sleeve on my drink from Caribou Coffee. The quote spoke to me and I began by adhering it to the center of the watercolor paper. Next I added some random painted papers and tapes that were in my kit. The sewing was the last addition. Lots of little meditative stitches in a combination of black and purple. Sometimes I take the kit with me and it never gets open. Other times it is the respite in my travels. Either way, it is always with me in case the urge to create strikes!
It’s time to welcome summer, and you’re going to need the right packaging for treats and gifts. With this tutorial, you will make a trio of boxes, learn a quick and easy way to decorate push pop containers that won’t interfere with whatever you choose to fill them, and create a beautiful open-top box with the capacity to hold a lot of treats. It’s so decorative that you (or whomever you give it to) will want to keep it on display. Go to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June for full step-by-step instructions!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Put Your Scraps To Good Use!
I don't like going over to a friend or neighbor's house empty handed. A few weeks ago our neighbors invited us over for dinner and I didn't have much time to figure out what to bring. So I walked into the craft room and saw some scrap pieces of fabric and ribbon staring back at me! So I did a bit of stamping on the fabric and then walked over to the sewing machine. A quick fabric scrap ornament, perfect for a doorknob, kitchen cabinet knob or holiday tree! How can you put your scraps to good use?
Summer Camp Stationery Set! – Yapha Mason This Summer Camp Stationery Set is perfect to send to sleep away camp with your teen or tween. Featuring the Epic Alphabet Stamp Set and the bright and fun Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Stack and matching Washi Tape, this set contains six single-sided notecards (for short notes home) and six square cards (for longer letters), as well as two pens and two pencils. It all fits nicely in the decorated plastic case to keep it safe from the elements. This would make an excellent gift as well as a class or club project. Get the full step-by-step instructions by subscribing to the month of June over at Craft Project Central!
Make this patriotic and masculine gift set, containing a thank you card, a picture frame and a mini scrap album. It is the perfect gift for a soldier, a vet, or perhaps someone who has a loved one in the military. Honor them with a hand-made gift for risking their lives for our freedom. Learn different techniques, like stenciling and heat embossing. Learn how to add a distressed look to your project. Make handmade 3-D stars and add dimensions with sponging and die-cutting. Great for a stamp camp, or as a class project. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: Keep Moving Through The Process
I am amazed at how difficult it can be to begin a piece of art - whether it is an art journal page, a canvas, a mixed media creation, a card. It doesn't seem to matter. Showing up and beginning takes courage. The courage to face that inner critic that invariably joins you on the journey. I also find that I often want to abandon ship early in the creative process. I start judging and criticizing what I am doing almost as soon as I begin doing it! And, what I am continually learning, is that I need to just keep moving the process. Just keep going even when the judgement is there. Even when the criticism is there. Because if I'm not creating art, I'm not learning about creating art. It doesn't matter if I love, hate, or feel apathetic about the end result. What matters is that I am learning. I am doing. I am putting it out there and growing each time I have the courage to just create. The only true way to learn is to find the courage to create and going for it!
Today I am sharing another Art Journal Experiment. I like calling these videos "experiments" since it takes the pressure off of me a bit. It also lets you know that what you are watching is me trying to find my way with materials and techniques - so hopefully you are learning on the journey with me. Today I decided to play with wax paper, pan pastels...and a few other things! I hope you enjoy the video :)
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: There Is Very Little Difference Between Burying And Planting
We dig up the ground. We place the seed, object, casket in the ground. We cover it again with soil. How perfect that the actions we take when we bury something are the same actions we take for planting something! Can this apply to other aspects of my life as well? That if I let something go it will actually give seed to something else? That if I grow something new, I can put something else to rest? Yes, there is very little difference between burying and planting.
Today I am sharing an art journal page that I created for Paper Crafter's Library. I used a monoprinting technique with reinkers and I had a ton of fun! If you are interested in the supply list and full step-by-step video for how I created the page, head on over to Paper Crafter's Library by clicking the badge in the upper right-hand corner of my blog and consider becoming a member!
Today's Lesson From The Craft Room: What matters is not the time it takes to make art but the art itself. -Mario Rivoli
I fall into this trap - paying attention to how much time it is taking me to get something done. The question that people often ask when they see a piece of art that was created..."How much time did that take?" I wonder why we are so focused on time - especially when it comes to making art. I wonder if we are getting in our own way when we start to view making art as punching a time clock? Does the time it takes really matter? What if we just took whatever time we had - whatever moments we might otherwise be spending in ways that do not nurture our souls - and instead take those moments and gift them to our art making? Keeping track of those moments is not required. All you need to do is make the art.
Today I am sharing an Art Journal Experiment with you. It began with the thought "What would happen if I tried to monoprint with freezer paper and gelatos?" and then it went from there. Come along on this journey with me as I explore the answer to that question and also learn how to seal the gelatos; stencil with the gelatos and blend the gelatos along the way. I hope you enjoy the journey with me!
Fry Box Gift Packaging Trio! – Christy Fulk
If you’re in need of some new packaging ideas, then these projects are for you! There are three different gift packaging ideas in this tutorial, and all three are made with the Fry Box Bigz L Die. The new Bohemian Designer Series Paper is also used. This would make a great product-based class, too. For full step-by-step instructions, head on over to Craft Project Central and subscribe to the month of June!
