Deflecto Design Team - Hearts & Flowers

Three lovely frames all on there own - can take on a new look with various crafting supplies and techniques.

The easiest way to transform a simple clear acrylic frame is with a sheet of stickers.  A sticker sheet, with a variety of hearts that are placed around the outside edges of the frame is so simple that this could be used as a party favor, as a give away or a group project.  Add a decorative paper if desired  or just add a wallet size photo to the frame.  Tie on a cord or ribbon also, if desired. (NOTE: Any themed stickers could be used for this project.  Make at a birthday party or sleepover.)

This is my favorite frame to embellish. I absolutely love the look of frames like this with only a photograph inside, but it sure lends itself to many ways to add some special touches.  Continuing with the "heart" theme - a simple washi tape design was placed onto the back panel of the frame.  Add a trimmed photo.  After the frame is placed back together a ribbon and bow was added, along with some stick-on red jeweled hearts. (NOTE: Any look can be achieved with this frame.)

The final acrylic frame comes with a colored border that a narrow strip of ribbon outlines.  A photo mat was cut to fit the frame from a textured paper before adding a photo.  A variety of paper flowers were created from various types of papers, then placed to adorn the corners of the frame.  (NOTE: All the flowers and leaves are made using die-cuts.)

Check out the Deflecto Crafts Facebook page for ideas and information!

Designer Craft Connection Manufacturer Challenge - Offray Ribbon

Participating in manufacturer challenges are always fun and surprising.  This challenge, using a variety of Offray® ribbons was not any different.

Of the five different ribbon bolts that I was sent, the wired, printed bolt was where I felt I should draw my inspiration.  The color combination that I received made me think of the beach and outside entertaining.

Picture this tablesetting on a porch or patio or even a beach blanket.  The placemat was woven using the 1 1/2" wide wire edged printed ribbon, along with both the natural and white 3/8" grograin ribbons.

The ribbons along the four sides are held in place with Beacon® Fabri Tac™ glue,  then machine sewn around the edge.  Trim neatly and the ends folded to the back and glued with Fabri Tac™.

A simple and no-sew napking ring was formed from a piece of thick white canvas, cut 1 1/2" wide and 7" long.  A piece of the same ribbon is glued to one side of the canvas.  Form the ribbon covered strip into a circle and glue to ends to together, overlapping about 1/2".  Embellish the napkin ring with a starfish.

To add to the tablescape I repurposed an empty candle jar into a vase.  Lengths of the natural 3/8" grograin ribbon was cut into strips long enough to fit on the candle jar from the top, down around the bottom, and up to the top of the jar (plus adding an additional 2").  Use Beacon® 3-in-1 glue to add the ribbon strips to the outside of the candle jar.  Cut two circles from felt for the bottom of the jar.  Cut  a small circle from the center of each.  Glue the two layers to the bottom.  Trim the ribbons at the top evenly and then glue to the inside edge.  To finish the vase, glue a length of the same ribbon near the top and a starfish for embellishment.

Each of these projects could be made with other colors and widths of other Offray™ ribbons for any desired theme or look.  There was one more project that is not quite completed, using the other ribbons that I received. Once finished I will add it to this post.  NOTE:  This will be a longer table runner, made with the two grograin ribbons and the 1 1/2" white and natural  organza ribbons that I received.  It will be woven like the placemat and finished in the same way.  Once completed, I may sew the printed ribbon as a binding around the edges.  A table runner made using sheer ribbons, mixed with a sturdier grosgrain, would add to any tablescape.  White for weddings, colors to suit any holiday.

Uncomplete, woven table runner using sheers and grosgrain ribbons.

Photos of woven runner before and after binding of the wired and printed ribbon was added:

Ribbon is for much more than bows - the manufacturer challenge should prove that point.  Enjoy the many ideas and designs you fill find in the participating blogs.  Thank you OFFRAY™ for this opportunity!

http://www.offray.com/

Arnold Grummer Papermaking - Love Is In The Air

The holidays came and went in an instant, January found me traveling to Califonia to a Craft & Hobby Industry trade show and then off to visit family,and there went January!  It's been a while since the last post I shared on paper making.  Now that February has arrived I still felt the need to spread a little LOVE!

Being fond of banners of all type, I once again created this one using the "bordering technique" on each handmade paper sheet made using the  pour method to create the panels of the banner.  For an excellent source for adding color by bordering, and so many other techniques, I would recommend a copy of "trash-to-treasure paper making" by Arnold Grummer.

Some hearts are made using the triple heart template and red paper pulp.

                                     

After each sheet was complete embellishing began.  Red burlap is used to off-set the digital die-cut letters from black card stock.  Using fabric with small white hearts, I ironed on a fusible webbing to the scrap of fabric.  The top strips were then cut using a Sizzix Big Shot and a border die.  From red card stock rosettes are cut and formed.  The white centers of the flowers are die-cut from a white glitter craft foam, finished with a small green button.  Three leaves for each flower rosette are cut from a solid green paper.  Iron on the fusible backed border and glue all the other elements onto each paper panel using Beacon™ 3-in-1 glue.  Attach each finished panel to jute cording with small binder clips.

Visit the Arnold Grummer website for products, videos and more.  If making a purchase this month use the coupon code - Two20 - when ordering for a 20% discount.

Materials needed:
Pour Mold
Triple Heart Template
Blender
Baster
White paper scraps
Red paper scraps
Red burlap
Black cardstock
Red cardstock
Green cardstock
White glitter craft foam
Small round buttons
Beacon 3-in-1 glue
Jute cording
Small binder clips
Heart fabric scraps
Iron-on fusible

Designer Craft Connection - I LOVE This Tool!

February's blog theme was to choose a technique or tool that I LOVE.  For me that's a tough choice!

If I am not making a quilt or clothing, I can honestly say that my "go to" tool seems to always be my Sizzix Big Shot™ and dies.  Whether designing a project for a gift, shared ideas or myself, I normally find some way to include the use of these items.  No matter what type of materials I could be working with, it's still the most used tool in my workroom.  Cutting fabric, felt, metal, thin plastics and wood, cork, chalkboard and magnetic sheets, I LOVE this little machine.

Make simple decorations or more intricate ones with the wide variety of shapes available from Sizzix.

Use nested heart thinlit dies (6) and two sizes of red jeweled hearts at bottom of string

I made this simple "String of Hearts" in a couple hours yesterday with scraps of red papers and a set of Sizzix Heart Thinlits™ nesting dies and the Big Shot™.

Simply cut four hearts from different papers for each various sized hearts.  Fold each of the heart shapes in half.  Glue the hearts together.  Before gluing the last fold of the fourth heart, insert bakers twine along the middle fold of the hearts.  Space each different sized heart on the twine, spacing evenly.  Form a loop at the top of the string for hanging.  (NOTE: I began the heart placements at the bottom of the twine by placing two small jeweled red hearts at the very end of the twine, followed by two larger jeweled hearts.  Then continue with the sets of paper  hearts - smallest to largest - up the twine to the hanging loop.)

I just made the one string, but I could see making a few more to hang along the arched area above the fireplace for decoration.  These hearts could be made from white papers and used for a wedding theme decoration, or switch out the shapes and use snowflakes, holly leaves, fall leaves, egg shapes, just to name a few, for other holiday decorations.  These were made from paper scraps, but consider using fused fabric, felt or fun-foam for a start.