The Silver Gears Frame by Alan Scott

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I am lucky enough to have an electronic die cutting machine in my crafting arsenal. Out there, there are lots of projects that can be made for the house, like this project I'm able to cut out and then construct a one off frame to use.

There is one thing to cut, glue and then display proudly or give away as a present to someone. However why do you have to just accept that what you have constructed has to end there? This is why I did this project, as I wanted to show that by using a stamp and a few embellishments ,you're able to upgrade that project to something else.

To embellish this frame, I used a large figure stamp from what is slowly becoming a firm favourite from Lynne Perrella by PaperArtsy. This stamp set is called LPC006 and the coin is from LPC009.  
 

MATERIALS USED:

Frame and Stand downloaded from an electronic die cutting firm
Adirondack Pitch Black Ink Pad
Selection of FlexMarkers
Mod Podge Glossy and Brush
Glitter Pen
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad
Super Fine Embossing Powder
A5 White Stamping Card
1" Circle Punch
A6 Silver Card
Ranger Emboss It Dabber
Clear Ultra Thick Embossing Powder
3 Bottle Tops Silver
Strong Clear Glue
Heat Mat
Heat Gun
Sharp Tipped Craft Knife
Sharp Tipped Scissors
5x7 inch Piece of Clear Plastic (lighter than glass)
Woodware Clip It Tool (a new must have when embossing items)

 

LETS EMBELLISH A FRAME!

The frame was constructed out of 3 sheets of 12"x12" card stock. If you want further information about this, then please send me a message and I will do my best to help you.

Now then, we have constructed the frame and it's sitting there ready for what we are about to do.

 

 

 

The first thing we need to do is to select the image that we are going to use to embellish this newly made frame. I felt that this image would fit in perfectly with the materials used to make the frame. 

 

  

 

I have not really explored what the FlexMarkers do. The FlexMarker is more like using a 'brush tip' and once I got the feel of the pen, I found them to be easy to use and they add the colour to the page very easily.

 

 

 

 

After the stamp had been coloured, the next step is something I tend to do with all the stamped and then coloured in images, use a blue-grey Pen. Using the pen, I edged the image and removed out the white surrounding area. By colouring the white, it then helps blend the stamped image into the project you're working on. White stands out and it will just look like you have cut it out and glued it onto the project and not look as if it's part of the project. So I recommend that the blue grey pens are a MUST HAVE in your crafting box. Remember though, always pick the right ink pad when using alcohol pens.

After the stamped image had been coloured and cut out, I wanted to give some extra highlights. So armed with just a glitter pen, I followed the edges of the frill. Not all of the frill, just the outer line. 

 

 

 

I wanted to make the image highly glossy as this protects the stamped image from being scuffed and marked - it also gives the image strength to stand up to being picked up and handled. 

 

 

 

The photo above shows you what happens to an image when it's embossed. As you can see, it has darkened. By showing you this, it will give you the understanding and your choice of colours when you're going to do this kind of crafting. 

 

 

I took the coin stamp from the stamp set and stamped it out 3 times onto some silver card stock. iIhave done 3 as the golden rule of 3 will always apply when it comes to crafting, as well as other decorative arts. 

Using a 1 inch circle punch, I punched out the coins from the silver card stock. 

 

 

 

Using the dabber, this time I put a layer of embossing liquid onto the coin, then dipped them into the Ultra Thick Embossing Powder. I used thick as I was going to 'flood' the bottle tops with embossing powder. if I had used ultra fine, it would have taken me a very, very long time. Ultra thick allows you to flood an area very quickly.

  

 

 

As the frame was constructed using card stock, by putting on several coats of Mod Podge, I'm able to give the frame some strength. It's also a lot easier than having to emboss the complete frame! 

There you have it! By dipping our stamp collections, you can make something plain very special. Now then, you don't just have to use a project constructed out of card. I'm sure there are lots of us out there who enjoy digging around for that bargain in Charity Shops or Car Boot sSles. You can embellish a wooden frame or even a plastic frame can be up-cycled to fit into anything you want it to. 

So don't think that this project is just for a frame constructed from card. I just wanted to show you that anything can be embellished and also encourage all those electronic die cutters out there, that projects can be embellished using what you already have in your crafting tool box.

 

Alan

Bling Altered Notebook by Mandy C

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Mini Notebook (I used one from Wilkinsons)

An Old Book Page

Selection of Chalk Inks, Prima  and VersaMagic

Beaded Trimming

Double Sided Tape

Red Double Sided Tape

Black Archival Ink

Watercolour Pencils

Die Cut Tim Holtz Pediment

Crafty Individuals Stamp CI264

White Card

Tim Holtz Stamp Set - Mini Ornates

 

·       Cover your book with the old book page (with double sided tape). On this particular notebook, there is a black cm at the top which I did not cover. Ideal line for your pediment gluing later on.

·       Stamp your main image (CI264) with Archival ink onto your stamping card. Leave to dry and then colour with watercolour pencils.

·       Adhere to book cover once dry.

·       Edge the image with a selection of watercolours then use the chalk ink to build up darker edges.

·       I stamped one of the ornate stamps from the Tim Holtz set using Prima Chalk Ink Knotted Wood onto the sides of the book cover but away from the main stamped image.

·       The pediment die cut was inked up with a selection of co-ordinating chalk inks, finally edged in VersaMagic Night Sky.

·       I used the same ornate stamp and ink to add some interest to the pediment before I glued it onto the top of the notebook.

·       Using red double sided tape, adhere some beaded trim to your book. The red tape is super strong so your trimming won’t fall off!

 

 

Mandy

Love Nest Hanging by Deborah

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Frame:

Eco Green Paints: Pistachio, Waterfall
Fresco Finish Crackle Glaze
Fresco Finish Paint: South Pacific
Raw Umber Acrylic Paint (alternatively use Fresco Finish: Chocolate Pudding
or Eco Green: Mulch)
Distress Stain: Walnut Stain
Creative Expressions Gilding Wax: Golden Light

Eggs:

Stampendous Perfectly Clear: Nest Egg
Versafine Onyx Black
Distress Ink: Mustard Seed, Festive Berries
Hero Arts Neon Blue
Black ProMarker

Gel Medium
Foam Pads or Tape
Heat Gun

Wooden Heart Frame
Paper Covered Florists Wire
Model Makers Greenery
Sandpaper
 

From a discount shop I bought a cheap wooden photo hanger made up of three unpainted heart shaped frames joined together by thick white rope - and pulled it apart.
 

First I painted it all over with some raw umber acrylic paint I had in my stash (don’t worry about brush marks) then dried it with a heat gun. Using an old store card, I scraped a thin layer of the crackle glaze over the top – you can also dry this with a heat gun. I added a top coat of pistachio and waited for the cracks.
 

Now I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t use Fresco Finish paints, or that I got in a bit too close and fierce with the heat gun, but the crackle didn’t seem to happen. I’ve used it before so am not blaming the crackle. I suspect it may be because I painted the green with a brush that had been sitting in water so it was too watery to crack. Anyway, undaunted, I simply sanded quite forcefully over the paint and ended up with a finish I really like. I added just a smidge of gilding wax round the aperture for a little extra definition.
 

I painted the little wooded square that holds the photo and glass in place with the Waterfall, crackle glaze and Fresco Finish South Pacific (one of the more transparent colours). This time I definitely went in too close with the heat gun but I just sanded this too.
 

I stamped the largest egg from the Stampendous set on some off-white packaging. The egg comes in two parts: the solid base and the speckles so I chose three colours plus Versafine Onyx Black. Once I had cut them out, I coloured the white edges with the chisel end of a black ProMarker.
 

For the nest itself, I used gel medium to stick down the greenery. I found it in an art shop years ago and I think it’s used by model train enthusiasts when they are making the landscapes for the trains to go through. Shredded paper might work, or even tiny twigs, or string....
 

Once it was in place, I attached the eggs with some double sided foam tape for dimension.
 

To finish, I coloured some paper covered florists wire (try The Works, if there’s one near you) with Walnut Stain Distress Stain, wound it round a pencil and threaded it through the heavy duty staples on the back of the frame that had held the rope firm.
 

I toyed with adding something else to the frame but decided to quit while I was ahead.

 

Deborah

Le Jardin - A Mini Hanging by Lynne Moncrieff

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This little hanging is an alternative to sending a card to a friend. I incorporated a piece of driftwood as it was originally gifted to me from a lovely friend who collected it from the seashore near her home in Denmark but you could easily use a piece of doweling or suchlike.

Once again I have made use of PaperArtsy Crunchy Tissue Paper. It is a wonderful stamping surface, adding those extra  little bits here and there.

 

SUPPLIES

Oxford Impressions Le Jardin
Speedball Brayer
Archival Ink Jet Black
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Vintage Lace
PaperArtsy Crunchy Tissue Paper
Gesso 
Glossy Cardstock
Silicone Glue
Extras:- lace, x 2 buttons, driftwood, re-cycled corrugated cardboard.

 

INSTRUCTIONS

·       Firstly apply PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Vintage Lace to re-cycled corrugated cardboard. Also apply to PaperArtsy Crunchy Tissue Paper. Next apply a wash of Gesso to vintage French book text.

 

·       Ink up Speedball Brayer with Archival Jet Black ink and stamp the woman from Oxford Impressions’ Le Jardin stamp plate onto glossy cardstock.

 

 

·       Now stamp text stamps onto the painted Crunchy Tissue Paper. Tear out.

 

·       Layer all the prepared pieces along with a torn panel of fabric onto the painted re-cycled corrugated cardboard.

 

·       Next have fun embellishing the panel with lace and a paper flower.

 

 

·       Finally tear fabric into two equal lengths. Stitch two buttons for decorative purposes and then wrap the two pieces of fabric around either end of the driftwood and attach with silicone glue. 

 

Until next week.

Lynne x

Cosmic Shimmer UT Embossing Crystals

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We have lots of the Cosmic Shimmer UT Embossing Crystals

now available in 100mls pots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Song Bird By Fliss Goodwin

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Hello there, I have a little, very textured canvas board for you this week on my favourite nature type theme and have been playing with not only Distress Stains but some gilding wax and fabulous chunky embossing powder.

 

Here’s What You Need

PaperArtsy Hot Pick HP1005 Stamp Set
Spellbinders M-Bossabilities Embossing Folder Set – Flora
Distress Stains – Shabby Shutters, Bundled Sage
Distress Ink – Crushed Olive
Archival Ink - Coffee
Cosmic Shimmer Vintage UT Embossing Crystals – Tarnished Gold
Cosmic Shimmer Lustre Embossing Powder – Lapis Sapphire
Creative Expressions Gilding Wax – Cast Bronze
Clear Embossing Powder
Canvas Board – 7x5
Ranger Emboss It Dabber
Thick Kraft Card
Smooth White or Cream Card
Pink and Blue Chalk Inks
Bird Cage and Bird Dies (mine are Tim Holtz as I’m sure you know!)
White Paper Flowers
Flat Back Pearls
Small Cosmetic Sponge  
 

Here’s How To: 

·       Cut a piece of white or cream card slightly larger than the canvas board and emboss with the leafy side of the embossing folder. Sponge with first the Shabby Shutters Distress Stain, then add patches of the Bundled Sage at random. 

·       Ink up any lighter patches plus the edges with the Crushed Olive Distress Ink and allow to dry. Apply strong double sided tape (or tape and glue as I did) to the reverse of the embossed panel and then stick the canvas board face down on it. Weight down for a while to ensure it sticks well and then trim off the excess with a craft knife.

 

·       Die cut the birdcage and bird from the kraft card and then cover the cage with embossing ink. Heat emboss with the Tarnished Gold Embossing Crystals. You may need a second coat for good coverage. Rub on some bronze gilding wax with your finger.

 

·       Cover the bird with embossing ink and then heat emboss just the bird with the Lapis Sapphire Lustre powder. Heat emboss the bird’s wing and the legs and branch portion with the clear powder, then rub bronze gilding wax on to the wing and round the edges of the bird.

 

·       Stamp the song bird text from the set on to cream card with the coffee ink, cut it out and rub the edges with blue ink. Rub the edges of the petals of 3 flowers with pink and blue ink and add pearls to the centres.

 

 

 

·       Rub gilding wax on the canvas around the edges and at random then buff with a paper towel to bring out the sheen. Assemble the canvas as shown in the photo.

 

Have a great weekend.

Fliss x

Shabby Chic Shimmer Mist Frame by Carol Fox

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I have altered a chipboard frame today using gesso and sprays.

 

·       Lay the stencil onto the frame and using a pallet knife cover the whole lid with texture paste.

 

·       Carefully remove the stencil and let the texture paste dry thoroughly.

 

·       Using a strong glue position the flowers and glue in place, let dry.

 

·       Paint the whole frame including the flowers with white gesso, the bookplate and the metal butterfly, and let them dry thoroughly.

 

·       Use various shades of Cosmic Shimmer mist sprays, spritz your box and bookplate lightly. Use the colours in turn, drying each layer with your heat gun before adding the next to avoid the colours mixing together while wet.

 

·       I now sprayed my frame and bookplate with a clear finish to seal the colours.

 

·       Finally I used Creative Expressions Gilding Wax to add interest and to highlight areas on the box.

 

·       I added a stamped word to the bookplate before attaching it.

 

 I used 

Frame or similar item

Texture Paste

Gesso

Stencil

Cosmic Shimmer Mists

Strong Glue

Creative Expressions Gilding Wax 

Metal Butterfly (mine was a fridge magnet and I removed the magnet from it)

 

Carol x