ImpressArt Metal Stamp Challenge

Let me begin just by saying this challenge was fun and I am so grateful that I was able to participate.  So much to share and so much to tell so let's begin...

I was unfamiliar with the products by ImpressArt and when the package came with the materials to be used for the challenge, I must admit I found it a real challenge...but I'm always up to the challenge and happy to try and learn something new.  I have had experience working with metal but embossed metal work, not stamping.  After playing a little with the materials sent I came up with four different projects.  The main project that you will see here is one where I use several items in the package received and tried to use them a little differently.

Catch A Dream
Materials
ImpressArt Alphabet Stamp Set, Newsprint
ImpressArt Design Stamp, Fun Star
ImpressArt Stamping Blanks
     Petal 2", Nickel Silver
     Chandelier with ring, Copper
     Feather with ring (1 1/16"), Brass
     Star with ring (7/8"), Brass
ImpressArt Metal Stamping Hammer
ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block
ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape
Mercart metal 3 or 4 prong scratch tool
Sizzix Big Shot
Sizzix Diamond #2 Die
The Warm Company Steam-a-Seam
Paper, colored
Fabric Scrap
Metal Scrap (or a Chipboard Scrap)
Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber, Copper
Ranger Crackle Accents
Ranger Distress Stain or Distress Ink Pad, Broken China
Ranger Adirondack Marker, Pitch Black
Natural Thin Jute Cord, May Arts
Beads
Paper Awl
Jump Rings
Jewelry Pliers
Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip

Metal Pieces:
1.  Begin with the Copper Chandelier shape; place on stamping block and with stamping hammer, hit piece repeatedly to give the piece a "hammered metal" look.
2.   Use two small pieces of the tape to hold the brass star w/ ring onto the stamping block.  Using the "fun star", hammer the design randomly on the surface of the entire star.  Rub the surface with the black Adirondack marker; then wipe the surface with a small soft cloth or paper towel to remove the surface ink.

3.  Tape the brass feather w/ring onto the stamping block. Use the "dash" from the alphabet set to stamp a line down the center of the feather shape.  Draw the scratch tool from the line out to the edge to texture a featherlike look to the piece.
4.  Attach the chandelier shape onto the silver petal shape with a small amount of Quick Grip before stamping the word "dream".  NOTE: Refer to photo of piece for placement.

5.   Tape the layered piece onto the stamping block to hold in place.  Apply a piece of tape along the petal piece just below the area the word will be stamped.  NOTE: Mark with a line as a guide for each letter.  Strike the metal stamp with medium pressure to make the impression for each letter. Color over with the marker and wipe before ink sets to make letters pop.
Diamond shape:
NOTE: I use a product called Steam-a-Seam to adhere fabric and paper to surfaces, but a glue could be used instead if desired.
6.   Crumble the paper scrap and then smooth.  Randomly wipe the surface with the copper paint.
7.   Iron the the Steam-a-Seam to the back of the paper and fabric scrap.
8.   Swipe the surface of the fabric scrap with the ink or stain.  If using the stain, after applying, wipe the surface with a paper towel to remove access stain.

9.   Die-cut a diamond shape from the paper, the fabric and metal scraps.
10.  Align the three layers and iron to adhere them together.
11.  Apply Crackle Accent to the paper side of the diamond and allow to dry and crack.

12   Glue the petal/chandelier piece onto the diamond shape using Quick Grip
13.  With paper awl, drill two holes (slowly) into the lower sides of the diamond to hang star & feather charms.

14.  Attach charms with jump rings and jewelry pliers.
15.  Place a jump ring into the ring on the chandelier piece.
16.  Thread four lengths of the thin jute through the jump ring.
17.  String on desired style and amount of beads.

***I chose to use a variety of metal tones and the turquoise color, jute and beads to give the piece a "dream catcher" look.

THE CONTEST
There is a Facebook contest running along with this hop. The contest will run from May 12th through midnight, May 21st.  The Grand Prize is valued up to $120.00 and contains:
1-ImpressArt Alphabet Set (Winner's Choice)
1 ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block, small
1-ImpressArt Metal Stamping Hammer
1-ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape roll
An Assortment of Metal Discs

To enter the contest, go to this link and follow directions to enter:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/ImpressArt/155664424487844?sk=app 194975693850063


Now hop on through the other blogs for more inspiration, using the blue "Designer Craft Connection" button at the top right or begin at Theresa Cifali page linked here.

Three other ideas that I made using the ImpressArt blanks and stamps and various other materials:

"Sunny Smile"-hammered edges with stamping

"Mom's Love"-blank with stamped layer

"Feel Tagged"-different metal surface/inked

Designer Craft Connection - May Edition & More

Here we are the first Monday of the month, when DCC has another round of ideas to hop around to.  This month I will not be participating, but I will be promoting those that are, plus some other news.

This month's theme was "Quick & Easy Jewelry ideas".  You can start at this link - and then hop through the bolts of those participating for some inspiration.  Or click on the same logo that is located in the right sidebar of my blog to begin the hop.

Later this week I will be a part of a "challenge"using products by Impress Art.  These products are something new to me and I was excited to take part in this and try something slightly unfamiliar to me. There is a "GIVE AWAY" for this hop and this photo shows what the winner will receive.

This challenge takes place May 12th.  There are at least 20 designers who will be involved.  I myself can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.  I've been working on a few ideas and hope that it will help those reading the blogs to try something new.  More information on Saturday, May 12th, the date of this hop and challenge.

Though I'm not part of this months hop on Friday, our little quilting group went on our own hop of some of the quilt shops not too far from where we live.  There were eight shops involved, though we only visited two, plus a wonderful yarn shop and had a delightful lunch in historic downtown of Crystal Lake.

Williams Street, Crystal Lake

The first was "Quilt in Joy",  located in Huntley, Illinois.  It was packed with an amazing array of fabrics and ideas.

Vintage display

Waiting to check out

Then it was on to Crystal Lake, for lunch at Benedict's ( the second of only two very good unique eateries).  The second quilt shop was "Material Girl", located in a truly vintage storefront that shows it's old-fashioned charm.  The last stop was to "Sunflower Samplings" which sells unique gifts, but has an gorgeous selection of yarns that only a speciality shop like theirs sells.  I did purchase a ball of yarn to make myself a quick, airy light weight scarf for the summer.

We were on the hunt for fabric for an upcoming project that we will be sewing in June at our monthly get together.  Here are the fabric combinations I bought to make samples of the "sew easy table runner" that I will be instructing the group to make.  Will share what becomes of these here in June.

I'm a little late getting this post up since I was away for part of the week-end but have already had the chance to check out a few of the "quick & easy jewelry" ideas that other designers have posted on their blogs and WOW ... fun ideas!  So start hopping through and more coming soon!

Designer Craft Connection Monday - April Flowers

Flower blooms on the trees, flower blooms from the ground ... flowers appearing here and there and everywhere.

I'll be sharing a little "flowery" wearable that I created for myself to wear on Easter.  Of course when I think about an idea, I usually turn first to my Sizzix dies.  Second to all the scraps of fabrics and papers and other supplies I have around my workroom before heading out to a store. For the flowers I used Eileen Hull's Bow, Create-a-Flower die, along with her Leaves die.  Two very handy dies to own and use!

Fabrics used in this project are scraps on hand that were stiffened with Beacon Adhesives Stiffen Stuff™ or fused with Warm Company Steam a Seam sheets.  Both methods give the fabrics extra body. I used the  medium and small patterns for the flowers. Colored the edges of the petals with a touch of Distress Ink in a co-ordinating color.  To form the flowers I stitched them together, instead of using a paper brad.  Finished each flower off with a button.  Leaves were scraps of the papers I used for the flower garland banner from my earlier post.  The paper was crinkled before die-cutting and then inked with Ranger Tim Holtz Pine Needle Distress Ink.  To layer the finished flowers, I die-cut a heart shapes from green felt and canvas scraps,  using Heart #1 from the original red Sizzix die.  Glued the two pieces together, punched holes and re-enforced them with eyelets. Found enough beads to co-ordinate and threaded them on jewelry thread.  Finished the necklace with a green silk ribbon. The finished flowers and leaves are finally glued onto the heart background.  Finished project a simple flowery, Spring necklace.

So take some time to "Hop" through the blogs once again for creative ideas.  Follow the blue Designer Craft Connection button at the top right.

Spring Arrives

Wow what week we have had here weather wise!  It's officially Springtime by the calendar, but several days of 80+ weather brought us a very early arrival of buds bursting with green and other colors.  Call me crazy but I like a more gradual shift from spring to summer.  That shift seems to me happening much quicker these past several years.  I figured flowers outside would have to wait at least a few weeks so I would bring some flowers inside with a new project.  All my crocus' and dutch iris and daffodils are blooming like crazy! (Update: Tonight the temps drop again and expected high for Monday will be in the 40's.  When you live in the Midwest - wait a little while and the weather can shift.)

Anyway ... I completed a "blooming" banner for my mantle and would like to share it with you.  Out came the Sizzix Big Shot, DCWV papers, Eileen Hull dies,   other Sizzix dies and a couple of Sizzix embossing folders.

Once I decided on the words for the banner, I used the Sizzix die, Album, Scallop/Circle by Brenda Pinnick to cut a "circle" background base for each flower. One side of each base piece was painted with a green acrylic paint.

All the flower petals were cut from various shades of DCWV textured paper as well as the leaves. The flower petals were then embossed with a large dot embossing folder and the leaves embossed with a small dot folder.  My flowers used 8 large petals, 7 small petals and 2 large leaves. Another green paper was used to cut 12" x 1/2" strips for the stems.  Each is folded in half.  Circles for each flower are cut from the Original Circle die for the center of each flower from a handmade, textured brown paper.

NOTE:  I shaded the edges of all the petals and leaves with Antique Linen Ranger Distress Ink.  I didn't want the white inner core of the paper to show.  A darker ink could be used in place or a coordinating color.  It's your choice.


When all pieces are cut, embossed and inked the flowers can be assembled.  Glue the folded strip onto the background circle base at the bottom, opposite the little punched tab on this piece.  NOTE: Refer to photo.  Glue the two leaves onto the stem as shown in the photo. Use one of the center circles to mark the background bases center area as a guide for glueing.  Glue the eight large petals in place spacing them to your liking.  Layer on the smaller petals over the larger ones, again spacing them to your liking all around.  Glue the center brown circle in place.

I used leftover acrylic bubble letters from the Valentine banner I made last month, placing them onto the brown paper centers.  Just to add a little bit of glitz, Ranger Silver Ice, Ice Stickles was applied around each center.

Little clothespin clips hold the flowers onto a cord and a row of blooming flowers appear across the mantle for Spring!

Click on the "Sizzix Spring Linky" here to link to Eileen Hull's blog.  You are bound to find several wonder ideas for Spring and Eileen's dies from many talented people.   

http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Decorating For Spring

The calendar says March, our clocks "sprung ahead" this week-end, the tiny crocus' bulbs that poked through the earth, during a warm spell, weeks ago are now blooming.  (How can anyone not smile when you see these little blooms?)  I guess it's time to THINK SPRING!

Sharing a quick post of a new decoration I made the other day for this new Season.

I purchased a package of Creatology™ white butterflies at Michael's, using one of the coupons in their flyer, plus a forsythia garland that was also on sale.  To cover the butterflies, I used an iron-on material to back scraps of fabrics.  Ironed the fabrics onto the shapes and trimmed them.  Baby rick-rack was glued around the edges of each shape. Half of a gold tinsel stem was pushed through holes punched at the top of the butterfly and shaped into antenna. I made up a pattern for the body and head and cut them from felt scraps, then glued to the center of each butterfly. Using fabric paint, eyes are dotted on the head.  To add a little sparkle, I brushed each with a glitter glue.  The final step was to thread a clear monofilament at the top to hang the butterflies from the garland.  A very simple decoration to make and add some "springtime" to you house.

I will be heading outside for a little walk after this, to take in the sun and warmer weather that has arrived the past few days.  On returning, it's time to bring out the other spring decorations.  I also will be starting a new "banner" project for the mantle that I hope to share with everyone next week.

Hope there are signs of Spring where you live!

Designer Craft Connection - Springtime Crafting

The crafting has begun!  Several projects are on my agenda and look forward to sharing them.  Last week I spent the week working on two gift ideas for a baby shower that I attended this week-end.  I can share them now and announce that they were well received by the parents-to-be and other guests.

It seems that I must always try to include something handmade and not expected as a gift for showers.  This time I put together a collection of music for baby and parents to enjoy.  The lullabies can be used for sleepy time or just some quiet time.  The other music in the collection is easy to listen to and fun for the entire family.

Of course I like to find ways to reuse items in my projects.  So using some old empty CD cases, leftover mat board,  scraps of fabrics and papers and odds & ends I ended up with a unique and personal gift.  With the knowledge that the new arrival, several of the songs chosen are just for "daddy's little girl".  Music always makes a wonderful gift!

The second gift was made to fit the decor of the baby's room.  A hand painted tree was painted onto one of the wall in the room.  The bedding and accessories are from Pottery Barn for Kids with images of trees, leaves, owls and birds in an array of bright pastel colors.

A branch was trimmed from an outside tree; scraps of fabrics, mat board, trims and felt from my stash and those favorite stand by tools from Sizzix, were combined to create a mobile for the room.  Each of the birds were made using Sizzix die by Eileen Hull.  The birds main shape are die cut from mat board, four for each bird, one each for the wings. Note: two body shapes were glued together - using two doubled shapes for each bird. Fabric pieces were applied to Therm-o-web PeelnStick  adhesive sheets.  The birds shapes were then applied to the the backed fabric pieces and cut out with 1/4" to 1/2" extra around the shapes.  Note: Good idea to use teflon coated scissors for this cutting.  Wrap the fabric around the edges of the bodies and wings.  Snipping and trimming fabric if necessary.  When all shapes are covered, glue the two covered bodies together.  String clear monofilament through a hole in the top edge of each bird and knot.  Glue mini white rick-rack around the edges of the birds body shape. Glue the wings onto each side of the birds.  A small purchased nest is wired onto the branch.  Snips of shredded paper was glued into the nest and then a bird.  Tie clear monofilament onto the branch in any way to make the branch hang evenly.  Form an loop at the top for hanging.  Tie each of the birds onto the branch spacing as desired and different levels. Optional: Each bird was painted with a matching glaze, using a Ranger Adirondack Acrylic and water for a slight gleamer.

Please use the button at the top right to continue hopping through the other blogs for more and more ideas.

Now onto the next project - will share it with you all as soon as complete!

UPDATE ADDED:
I received the OK to post a photo of the tree that the daddy-to-be painted on the bedroom wall.  It is just too darn cute!  Beautifully done Jim!

National Craft Month

Happy Leap Year - one extra day to prepare for -

The month of March it is time to celebrate crafts.  Google crafts and the search will be endless. To get started I thought I would share some sites to check out for some information and inspiration.  Get crafting - get some friends or kids together to try something new or stick to what you like - but have some fun! Think about trying to push yourself to the next level. Think and work "outside the box".

If you were not aware of the industry that supports crafts, check out the site of CHA.  Twice a year there is a trade show to showcase the newest products and ideas with retailers.

Other sites that you may like to check out are from retailers and see what's on sale or download coupons for your craft purchases during this month long celebration of crafts. Use those coupons they offer to purchase some supplies to help celebrate this month long event.
Archivers

Michaels

Hobby Lobby

                                   

JoAnn Fabrics

Hancock Fabrics

Searching for ideas try these sites first for help for many:
 Favecrafts
 Crash Test Dummies
 Craftzine

If you spend anytime online, there are oodles and oodles of blogs to follow on any subject.  They can be specific to one area of crafting or many that share a variety of subjects.  Check out a few then visit other blog links that are listed as favorites.

Several manufactures of crafting materials also have blogs related to their products, with ideas galore.  Check them out!

On the Home Shopping Network this month there will me many chances to see crafting products for sale and ideas on how to use them.  Brenda Pinnick, who designs fabric, stamps and dies, will be featured on HSN, March 6th.

A new online site for taking craft classes is called Craftsy.  A new idea you just might like.

Unless you have been living under a rock, I'm sure you have heard of Pinterest. If you can't draw inspiration or the urge to get creative after looking at pinboards here - well, I just don't know what to say!  It has inspired in me ideas for crafting of course, but also decorating, sewing, writing, and cooking.

Coming Next Week

Monday, March 5th, is the posting day to the Designer Craft Connection blog. The theme this month is - what else - all about Spring!  Come hop through the blogs to see what the designers have come up with this time to interpret their ideas of Spring.  I'm working on several things. I'll share them with you through out this crafting month. March brings us the beginning of a new season.  This month starts the parade of family birthdays that continues on through April.  There are showers to attend and some "wearing of the green" to take place and the celebration of Easter. The days will bring us longer periods of daylight, plants will be popping through the earth and buds will be swelling with new life. Seeing green sprouts, crocus', daffodils and primrose are a lovely sight.  It's the time to open up and clean out - the season of renewing

Happy HEART Day!

"There's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger and your whispers softly echo.  It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me."
     -Gretchen Kemp

It's February 14th, the day that "Love" is celebrated each year.  I will be without my special love this year, the first time in 46 years.  I do miss you Michael.  There hasn't been a day that I haven't said your name or thought about you.  My heart may be sad but it still holds you very, very close.  I think about years past and when we were young and how our lives together continued to change and grow.  Life was not always simple and easy, but we faced it together.  Made me think of a old song by the Beatles, but this version is sung by Emmylou Harris and it reminds me of you - "Here, There & Everywhere"

Hearts, hearts ... I love hearts!  I thought it would be a good time to share with you one of my Pinterest pinboards.  It is titled "Heartful" and it shows my favorite shape in many, many forms.

Heartful pinboard

"The life and love we create is the life and love we live."

      - Leo Buscaglia