Designer Craft Connection Product Challenge - Rowlux Illusion Film

Another opportunity was presented, when designer Marisa Pawlko offered the the group the chance to work with Rowlux® Illusion Film.  It is an interesting material that looks like it could rightly have many creative applications.  I received a very nice selection of sheets of lovely colors and cool patterns.

Here are my contributions to ideas using Rowlux® Illusion Film.  I immediately went to my Sizzix dies and cutting system to see how the sheets would cut.  The frame was made using a Scoreboard die and cut from a yellow gold sheet of film.  I also cut a corresponding frame from a yellow piece of card stock to back the front opening and to hold a photo.  Embellishments for the frame were also die cut using other colors and patterns of the film. I was able to fold and shape the film pieces. The frame was held together using a thin strip of redline double-sided tape.  The same tape was used to hold the "rick-rack" strips to the front by placing small pieces only on the ends.  I found that I could take short clips of Therm O Web Zips™ Clear Adhesive Lines and roll them to form a tight circle to connect the layers of the die-cut shapes of film together.

Back of pendant to attach a cord 

Another piece was made once again using dies and cutting flower layers and leaves to form a pendant to fashion into a necklace.  Again I was able to fold and shape the flower layers to make them dimensional.

This is an interesting material to work with.  I will be experimenting more with the remaining sheets, various adhesives, techniques of cutting and layering and manipulating the film pieces.

This blog hop has over 20 participants and I'm truly looking forward to seeing all the varied ideas from each designer.  There is a giveaway where you can enter to win a 6 pack of Rowlux® Illusion Film of your choice. Go to: BLOG.MODERNSURREALIST.COM - click on "Rafflecopter giveaway to enter.  So let's all get hopping!

To see colors check out this link: Rowlux Design Center
Use this link at Amazon to purchase: Amazon

Here is information about Rowlux Illusion Film:

This revolutionary material has been utilized in award winning point of purchase displays, packaging, signage, artwork, footwear, lighting, interior design, retail display fixtures and beyond. Our new frontier is the craft industry! There's absolutely nothing like it on the market, and I personally believe without a doubt that Rowlux® Illusion Film is THE future of crafts! 

Rowlux® Illusion Film is made in the USA and comes in a diverse range of spectacular eye-catching colors and patterns.  These durable, translucent, 12" x 12" polycarbonate sheets add instant pizzazz to craft projects, seasonal accents, party decorations, scrapbooks, greeting cards, jewelry, furniture, frames, gifts, favors, accessories, art and DIY home decor projects. Easily cut with scissors, Rowlux® is also the perfect material for scoring, folding, embossing and die cutting. The creative possibilities are endless. This innovative and inspiring new craft material manipulates light to create dazzling visual effects. The illusion of depth and motion is the result of thousands of tiny parabolic lenses that are molded into the surface of both sides of the material. These lenses create a pattern of light reflection and refraction resulting in stunningly brilliant optical effects. 

To instantly add "POP" and "WOW" to your projects, just add Rowlux®!

For special promotions, giveaways and to keep up to date on the exciting Rowlux® Illusion Film craft revolution, be sure to:

Follow Rowlux® on Twitter

LIKE Rowlux® on Facebook

Follow Rowlux® on Pinterest

Designer Craft Connection July - Celebrations

Celebrations are a time when you can joyously gather with family and friends to mark an event or occasion. Births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirements and holidays are such moments.

This week we celebrate as a country, from "sea to shining sea our country's Independence Day.  So with that in mind I will give a shout out in this months post for the "red, white & blue"!

I'm taking a little twist on this and not posting a handmade project but homemade food goodies. Later this week I will be attending the annual 4th of July party at my youngest son's house.  To help out I will be making two recipes that have become summer favorites for such celebrations.  (NOTE: since I cannot really made these too far in advance I will be sharing the recipes and adding photos to this post either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.)  My plan is to incorporate some handmade touches for decorations and presentation of the two recipes.  

Both  of these recipes are tried and approved by many, so with a few days to go before  the 4th, you may want to make one for your celebration.  

Mock Crab Spread

(How this recipe got its name I'm not really sure. It has absolutely NO crabmeat in it.  I think it's because of the texture that it got the name. Though it can be made for any occasion, for some reason it just tastes great in the summer.)

8 ounce block Swiss cheese

2 tablespoons of finely diced green pepper

2 tablespoons of thinly sliced green onion

2 tablespoons of finely chopped green olives

1 tablespoon of finely snipped chives

1 Roma tomato, seeded and chopped into

1/3 cup of mayonnaise

Several dashes of Tabasco or Cholula sauce

Grate the cheese with a coarse grater. Add the next five ingredients and mix. Add in the mayo and dashes of sauce and blend well.  Chill well so flavors can combine.  Serve with crackers of choice.

(NOTE: We prefer Town House crackers with this spread. Also this recipe can be doubled. It will not hurt if you add more of any of the ingredients.  More or less mayo can be used if desired.)

The next recipe is another "oldie" and I'm sure many have seen or had this one.  My faded, stained recipe card just states - 

"Chocolate Cake"

Step #1-Bring to a boil, 2 sticks of margarine, 1 cup of water and 4 tablespoons of cocoa.

             Set aside to cool. 

Step #2-Mix in a large bowl, 2 cups of sugar, 2 cups of sifted flour, 2 eggs, 1 teaspoon of baking soda,

             1/2 cup of sour cream.  Set aside.

When the ingredients from step#1 are cool, add to the dry ingredients and mix well.

Grease a cookie sheet with sides (Use a jelly roll pan, approximately 15" x 10")

Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Icing:

Bring to a boil, 1 stick of margarine, 6 tablespoons of milk, 4 tablespoons of cocoa.  Remove from heat and add a teaspoon of vanilla and 1 box of confectioners sugar (sifted).  Blend well.  Ice cake while hot.  (NOTE: Sometimes the frosting can run over the edge so place on a large sheet of parchment paper. This is a great sheet cake for outdoor parties or picnics.  Never a crumb left with this one!)

My decorated sheet cake for the 4th

No matter how or where you may be celebrating the "4th" add some handmade or homemade goodness to the day and enjoy the holiday.  After the fireworks on Thursday, I'll be watching the "Capitol Fourth" that I already have set to record and "Yankee Doodle Dandy" before calling it a day.

Here are a few photos of decorations I have made for the house to celebrate summer and the summer holidays:

Torn fabric scraps, tied onto a wire wreath form.

A simple flag banner made from purchased flags, glued onto a string.

Simple banner made from papers and ribbon.

Just FYI: There will be another blog hop coming on July 15th with several designers participating.

Projects will feature an interesting product - Rowlux Illusion Film.  It really is an interesting product and can't wait to see what develops in the way of ideas with this one!