Clips, Holders, Hooks, Tags and More - Create, Display, Enjoy - Oh My

Little bags of clips, tags, holders, hangers and more arrived at the beginning of the month.  Here we are on the very last day of the month and I would like to share a few projects that I created using some of the fun items we received from Deflect-o®.

First project was one I created as decoration for Halloween.  Making black bats from paper pulp, I needed a way to hang them.  Some neat little banner hangers were part of the package.  They have a double sided adhesive tab that comes with them for adhering to a surface.  I placed them above the wooden door frame and hung the bats using invisible thread from the holders.  A garland can be added to cover the white hangers from showing.  (Having these be clear would be even better.)

Taking the clear plastic Fexible Pouches, Icreated a reversible banner with some decorative papers and die-cut shapes and letters.  Add some ribbons or fabric strips to hang the pouches from a cord.  The plastic pouches make the banner something that could be used for an outdoor decoration too.
To hang inside, I used the  white banner hangers once again.

Using three of the frames from the very first package of product I received, here are three ideas using the frames for more than photos and also incorporating some of the clips, hooks, and more.

Fun magnets were made by adhering decorative papers to magnet sheets and then die-cut into flower shapes. 

Chalkboard designs are all the rage and they also are great to have around for reminders, notes, tags or decorative elements for the house, office or workspace.   Here are a few simple ideas to use the chalkboard sign tags and another sign holder, this one magnetic.  These boards can be used over and over.  Use specialty white chalk markers that are removable with water.

There are a few other items that I hope to work into other projects still to come.  What's fun is the opportuntiy to find new uses for items that many of us think only have one purpose.  

Arnold Grummer Papermaking - Fallen Leaves

Inspiration came from my favorite season and from the abundance of colorful leaves all around.

This card was made using several different layers of papers, with the main background piece being a handmade piece.

From the other sheet of handmade paper, I die-cut three maple leaf shapes to decorate a recycled candle glass.

Easy place setting decorations were made by using a die-cut leaf shape with a pinecone glued to the surface.  Names were computer generated and glued to a colored paper background and placed in a small holder and set on the paper leaves.

Using the pour method, I formed two sheets of paper embedded with colorful shards of fallen leaves.  After making the paper mix in a blender, add several torn leaves to the blender and pulse.  NOTE: Remove the middle stems from the leaves before adding to blender.

Try your hand at paper making - visit the Arnold Grummer Papermaking website for kits and other accessories.  Use this coupon code for a discount on your purchase.

Designer Craft Connection - Sullivan's Hebe Cord Blog Hop

Never having the opportunity to work with this product before, I did enjoy working with Hebe Cords by Sullivans USA,  and look forward to trying more crochet, knitting and knotting ideas with these cords.

Using the two colors I received from Sullivans USA, I created a knitted necklace embellished with crochet flowers. 

Use a French Knitter/SpoolKnitter and make a knitted tube approximately 24" long.  Leave several inches of cord at the beginning end and also at the finished end.  On one end, make 9 to 10 chain stitches with a crochet hook.  Attach this chain to the end by inserting the crochet hook into the end and pull through to knot.  Feed part of the leftover cord through the knitted tube to hide.  Thread the other end cord through a large eyed needle and thread through a bead (this will be the closure) and then through the end of the tube and knot.  Feed leftover cord through the tube as above to hide.

To make the flowers: Chain 5, join with a slip stitch.  Make 5 single crochets in the ring, join with a slip stitch.  Chain four, two treble crochet in one single crochet stitch, chain four (this creates one flour petal) into the same SC.  Make four more petals in the same fashion, end with a slip stitch in the bottom of the first flower petal.  Leave a length of cord for adding a bead for the flower center and to attach to the knitted tube.  Make two more flowers.

Pull the end of the cord to the front center of the flowers, thread the cord through a decorative bead.  Feed the cord to the back with a crochet hook or needle and tie the bead in place.  Feed the ends of the cords from the back of the flowers through the knitted tube and knot in place.  Feed the ends of the cords up through the tube to hide and cut.  To finish the flowers, cut three leaves from felt, for each flower, and glue to the backs.

Now take some time to hop through the other blogs for creative ideas made with Sullivans USA HEBE Cords.

Designer Craft Connection Manufacturer Challenge - Oly*Fun by Fairfield

Costume challenge using Oly*Fun Multi-purpose craft material - Oh my!!!  Just like the label reads: Easy to cut with scissors, craft knives or die-cutting machines that accept fabric.  Water resistant and easy to sew - and so much more!

This little pumpkin costume  and "trick or treat" bag, I created for my four year old granddaughter was made using Oly*Fun material in Orange Crush, Clover, Pine and Hot Fudge.  The body of the pumpkin began two pieces of the Orange Crush fabric that measured  28" x 20 1/2 ".   I used a large piece of paper with the same measurements to create a pumpkin shaped pattern.  The pattern was traced onto the Oly*Fun with a white fabric marking crayon.  Then two pieces of Fairfield Poly-fil Low Loft batting were cut using the same pattern, only adding about 3/4" to 1" extra all around the pattern.  From white muslin, two of the pumpkin patterns are cut the same size as the Poly-fil batting. The three layers are layered together and pinned along the edges to hold the three layers together.  Lines are drawn onto the pumpkin shape to replicate the natural grooves in a pumpkin.

Use a decorative stitch on a sewing machine to stitch over all of the lines.  Sew the two pieces together  straight across, at the shoulder area.  NOTE: Use 1/4" seam.  Use the same decorative stitch to sew around the entire shape, removing pins as you sew.   NOTE: When sewing the decorative stitch around the front and back shape, stitch about 1/2" in from the edge.  Trim around evenly with pinking shears through all three layers.

Cut down the center back from neck to bottom edge.  Finish the two cut edges with the same decorative stitch and trim with pinking shears in the same manner.  Sew Velcro tape to the edges of the back as a closure.  Use wide bias tape to finish the neck area.  Cut four strips from the Clover, measuring 1" x 24" for s ties.  Sew them to the inside of the front and back on each side of the pumpkin.  NOTE:  Fit the costume on the child and find the best placement and pin before hand sewing.

Cut a square approxiamately 12" x 12 from Orange Crush, Hot Fudge and the low loft poly-fil.  Layer the three together and pin at the edges.  Draw lines onto  the shape to make a circle to fit the piece.  Add lines for decorative stitching as the body.  Finish by adding the decorative stitch around to form a circle top.  Cut edge with pinking shears.   Cut and sew a  triangular piece of Hot Fudge to create a stem.  NOTE: Approximate measurement is 8" long, with the finished top measuring 3", bottom 6". Make the piece long enough so the narrow top can be bent over slightly and glued.  Cut 1" slits into the bottom edge of the brown stem.  Cut a hole into the center of the circle.  The stem is fitted into the  hole and the slits are glued around the cut opening.  Stuff the bottom part of the stem with batting.   Cut a strip from Pine, measuring 1 1/2" x 45" for a tie. Find center of strip and glue  Cover the opening and part of the strip, by gluing a 4" circle of Hot Fudge Oly*Fun fabric over this area.

Layer a piece of Clover and Pine together and die-cut leaf shapes.  Add simple straight stitch veins onto the layered leaves.  To create tendrils - cut two strips from Clover, 1/2" x 20".  Carefully stitch a piece of floral wire onto the strips using a zig-zag stitch.  NOTE: widen and lengthen the stitch for tis step and go slowly.  Wrap the strip around a 1/2" dowel rod to create a spiral.  Pull to lengthen and shape the long tendril for the pumpkin body.  For the hat, fold the strip unevenly and shape tendril.  Glue tendrils into place.  Add leaves, by gluing,  as desired or refer to placement on photo.  Pumpkin blossoms are made from yellow strips of fabric, 4" w x 7" l.  Fold fabric width in half.  Use a running stitch along the raw edge and gather the piece to form a blossom, knotting to hold shape.  Glue blossoms in place.

Why not make an easy "trick or treat" bag too!  Cut a piece measuring 30" x 12" for the body of the bag and 2 pieces for handles, measuring 2 1/2" x 20" from Hot Fudge Oly*Fun.  Turn the two short edges of the fabric (top edges of bag) over about 1".  Sew down hems with a decorative stitch.  Place right sides together, sew each side with a straight stitch, forming a 1/4" seam.  Turn bag right side out.  Make two handles from strips by folding long edges in, handles will be about 1" wide.  NOTE: Press if necessary, using a low setting on iron and press cloth.  Sew the handles onto bag.  Add leaves for embellishment.

I will admit this was the first time I have worked with this product.  Loved everything about it!  Next will  I would like to  experiment with paints and more.  It is important to mention again to use a low setting and a press cloth when ironing.  Oly*Fun is available from Hancock Fabric, Fabric.com and through http://shop.fairfieldworld.com/c/oly-fun.

There will be a "Giveaway" for Oly*Fun fabric - Please enter using this link: Rafflecopter

For Fairfield Social Media sites here are links:

https://www.facebook.com/FairfieldWorld

http://fairfieldworld.com/blog

http://www.pinterest.com/fairfieldworld/

http://instagram.com/fairfieldworld

Arnold Grummer Papermaking - Flying Bats

October is here and signs of Autumn are all around.  With October comes thoughts of "all hallows eve".    That brings visions of witch's and spiders and ghosts ... Oh my! ... bu how about throwing in some flying bats too.

The flying bat's will hang above the doorway of the den and will be visable as people enter the house. They actually move and spin slightly while hanging and add a fun look!

I had a large amount of black card stock remnants from a previous project.  The pieces were too irregular to keep for future projects.  Instead of tossing them I chose to recycle into black paper pulp.
First, the scraps were shredded and then soaked in water before processing in a blender.  At first the plan was to make as many sheets of black paper from the pulp.  While going through my stash of cookie cutters, I came across one in the shape of a bat and had what is called an ... "Ah Hah" moment.

The pulp was placed in a squeeze bottle, a basting tube can also be used.  NOTE: Place the wooden frame onto a baking pan with sides, layering the white plastic grid next, with the blue screen on top.  Place the cookie cutter shape onto the blue screen.  Fill the shape with the pulp to the the top edge.  If needed push the pulp to the inner edges.  While holding the cutter in place, to keep it from lifting, begin to press the edges of the sponge into the pulp to remove water.  Remove as much water as possible from the shape before lifting the cookie cutter away.  NOTE: If needed, use a end of a small, rounded tip of a knife to push the pulp from the edges of the cutter.

Place the gray screen over the image and press with sponge to remove more water.  Remove the screen and cover with a couch sheet, flip over and press through the blue screen.  Remove the blue screen.

Here is where I made a fun, somewhat unexpected discovery!  I purposely did not remove all of the water from the shapes.  Enough water was removed to make it so I could remove the image from the couch sheets to a parchment covered baking pan.  Set the oven to 275 degrees or no higher then 300.
Place the  shapes into the oven and watch them carefully.  As the shapes dry in this process, they will begin to destort themselves somewhat.  Each of the bat shapes came out a little different, some had more distortion then others.  The edges of the shapes will have an organic look to them.  NOTE: My original plan was to retrace the shape of the bat over the pressed pulp and trim to make nice even edges.  I actualy liked the look of the rougher edges!

I gave the bats two dots of white iridescent Scribbles 3D paint for eyes and draw lines with black glossy Scribbles paint onto the wings for some definition of the wings.

To hang the bat's - punch 1" circles from black card stock.  Cut a very small slit on top and bottom of the circles.  Wrap clear monofilement thread around the circles, into the slits, and knot.   Glue to the back of the bats. Leave enough thread for hanging.  Attach to a doorway for some spooky decorations!

Use this coupon code when purchasing kits or supplies from the Arnold Grummer website:

Designer Craft Connection - Witchy Halloween

Work some crafty magic by combining interesting elements to create a "bewitching Halloween decoration.

Begin by painting a Smoothfoam baby head with white gesso, then give the head two coats of a flesh colored acrylic paint.  Gold star brads are used for the eyes.  Paint red lips on the face.  Strips of of thick variegated yarn is glued to the head for hair.

Cut a round piece from black felt for the brim of hat.  Form a cone shape from another piece of black felt for the top part of the hat.  Cut slits around the lower edge and glue this part to the brim.  Add any decorative additions to the witch's hat as desired.

Using Eileen Hull's box die, cut the shape from mat board.  Paint the inside with acrylic paint of choice.  Cover the outside of the two pieces with fabric, using heat n' bond iron on fusible.  Form the box by glue it together.  NOTE: cut one flap away and push the side into the inside of the box to have one side of the box open.

Old keys are wired to the sides of the box for arms.  A small, old doily is places on the top of the box.  Place several interesting items into the open area of the box.      

Attach the box to some type of base.  In this case an old wooden candle holder was used as a base using a strong glue.  Glue the head to the box using a strong glue.

Other views of my "Witchy Woman":