Thursday, August 28, 2014

it's a barbeque Invitation

It's a Barbeque. Kinda. It's actually a barbeque invitation kind of day. 

The set I used is one of the new items over at the Globecraft and Piccolo shop. 




Here's the rundown on the items I used. 

-Pure Platinum Embossing Powder (the utensils and the grill rack area) 
Honey Mustard 3D Gel (flames)
- Deep Red 3D Gel (flames)
Orange 3D Gel  (flames)
- A tiny Paint Brush
- medium Green stamp pad (This one from SweetStamps is similar in shade)
- a blue Stamp Pad (this one is very similar) 
- an Invitation Stamp
- Card Stock


I used a paint brush to make grass shaped lines with the Embossing Powder Adhesive and embossed the grass using the Mossy Glen Powder. Then I used my favorite tool (my finger) and smeared the green in to fill in the grassy area. Using a torn sponge, light tap a blue toned background for the sky. 

Emboss the utensils and the grill rack area with the platinum - I painted these in with the paintbrush and the Embossing Powder Adhesive. 

Add "handles" to the utensils with the Deep Red 3D Gel. and set aside to dry. 

Emboss your words from the Set with the Deep Blue Sky Embossing Powder. Stamp the You're Invited Image at an angle on the card. Align and glue the wording below the stamp.

Now the grill itself - I used three layers of the MicroBlack Embossing powder. It gives a nice texture to the grill parts. 

The flame was done by dotting the Honey Mustard and Orange 3D Gel and running a toothpick through it to mix the colors. 

Adhere everything down using Glastique - I used gloss, but it also comes in a Matte Finish. 

Add the details inside - Mail and enjoy the great food and great company of friends. 



Tuesday, August 26, 2014

September is coming ......


For the past several years, I have observed what has come to be called SIMPLY SIMPLE SEPTEMBER. I spend the 30 days of September focusing on simple moments - simple activity - simple creating - simplifying.

I would love to invite each of you to join me. No prompts - no pressure - just a focus on simplicity.

I'll be posting my pictures - commentary - etc. on my Facebook, my Instagram  (using hashtag #simplysimpleseptember, and here.

If you would like to take a moment or two each day focusing on the beautiful - simple things with me, I would love to have you join me.


Thursday, August 21, 2014

a tutorial for altering clipboards.

notice - this is a repost from 2009 - i am trying to keep the tutorial active, but the spam bots have suddenly found this post and are steady targeting it. I have moved it and retitled it - and will be deleting the orginal post. some 100 spam email notices have been tied to the original post.


Happy Tuesday ---

I ran two laps last night without slowing to catch my breath - a definite improvement. I had a goal to lose 10 more pounds by the end of the year, but I think the holidays are gonna get in the way of that goal. Oh well.

Now for the tutorial. Notice this looks a lot more difficult than it is. Just take your time. I only covered the fronts of my clipboards, but you can do both sides. I found these clipboards at a thrift store and they were in pretty good shape. A couple had writing on them, but that was not a problem since I was going to cover them anyway. You can also find new ones very reasonably at the Dollar Stores or office supply stores

MATERIALS
clipboard
twine or zip ties
MODPODGE or any decoupage medium
xacto knife (make sure your blade is sharp)
Scrapbook paper (giftwrap or vintage paper works just as well)
Foam brush
cheap emory boards
embellishments (optional)

HERE WE GO

Pick your papers and gather up your supplies. In this case, I actually followed those directions and laid all my papers on the clipboards to start with.


Decide your layouts. See my finished boards at the end of the post for more ideas.

The next picture is the only really challenging part of the process.

Tie or zip tie your clip open.

Decide where your paper is going to intersect the plate that attaches the clip to the board. Most have a curved shoulder at that point. Cut a slit in your paper to accomodate the part that sticks up (how's that for a technical description). Press the flap down to mark the curved shoulder area.

Remove the paper and cut out the shoulder area. (see below)

Another view of the fitted paper (below). Also shows the clip tied open. Do not worry if your paper extends beyond the edge of the clipboard. We'll deal with that later.



Once everthing is fitted and arranged like you want. Glue it all down. I use a brayer/roller (wallpaper seam roller) to make sure the air bubbles are gone and the paper is smooth. Get the decoupage glue all the way to and over the edges. THIS IS IMPORTANT -- YOU WANT A GOOD SEAL AT THE EDGES OF THE CLIPBOARD.

Set them aside to dry completely.


Once they are dry, use your xacto knife to trim the paper close to the edge of the clip board.




Add any additional flat paper embellishments or layers you choose. Glue these down. Again make sure you glue all the way to the edge of these layered pieces. Let these dry again.

Now for the really messy part. I used cheap emory board packs from the dollar store. Sand the edges of the paper back against the edge of the board. You want to be able to rub against the paper in reverse without peeling the paper off the board. This is dusty and tedious, but not difficult.

Wipe off carfully. Then apply a coat of the decoupage medium to the entire paper surface. In this case my only instructions are to read the instructions on the label.


Here is a shot of my pile during one of the early drying phases. I spread and stack and prop on every available surface. That habit was one of the things that ultimately pushed the Man at My Address to adapt the barn into my studio. At least now he doesn't have to move 4 drying clipboards off the table to be able to eat.


Once your finish coat(s) have dried add any 3D embellishments at the top. Consider the use of the clipboard carefully when you do this. I only add them to the very top. (Next 3 pictures)







Now for my finished boards.

I stamped on the one to left above.


This is my favorite. Sorry about the glare. The postcard was cut from a scrapbook paper.


The train/ship was a big hit with Lannae's son - William.



The color on this is off in this picture. The photo color is better in the in process shot earlier in this post.

Really crappy picture - but I like the colors a lot.


Those are real pressed flowers and that lace edge paper is absolutely amazing. It was made with a Martha Stewart edge punch.


If you would like to purchase one of these - they are 12.00 each. I can ship, but will have to determine shipping at time of order. (Note to self -- get that ETSY shop going).


Again - I hope you make something for yourself or someone else this Christmas.


Have a wonderful day.








calm

Happy Thursday. Teresa here again with a wonderful altered pendant. I love the way the enamels adhere to practically everything, giving us a ton of options for surface embellishing. 

Then adding the UV cure resin to seal it all gives us even more options. 



I actually made two of these - one to send to GlobeCraft and Piccolo and one that is hanging on a large lighthouse in my home.

Here is the shopping list.

real rust enamel powder
Enamel Adhesive
Instant UV Resin
Glastique Gloss 

There is full tutorial of the process for enameling the metals here and here. All it takes is time and patience for this process.

Another really great item is a toaster oven. Line the sheet with foil to protect the cooking surface and place the items under the broiler.

The Real Rust Powder is my current favorite - using the toaster oven allowed me to watch it carefully and stop the process of the melt with a lot of texture left so that the metal keeps a rust color AND texture. This powder mixes are amazing especially if you are covering a fairly large and smooth surface. This pendant has three layers of the powders on it.

While the pendant is cooling, make your accent. This one features an image from a lighthouse themed postage stamp. I took a clear glass flat backed marble (floral marble) and traced the shape on the image, then cut it out. The marble magnifies the image a bit.

I then used the Glastique to adhere the image to the marble and let it dry. Glastique is a wonderful paper adhesive. There is no wrinkling of the paper at all and it dries completely clear. Perfect for adhering images behind glass.

After the image dried, I again used the Glastique as an adhesive, attaching the image and the words (cut from a magazine article) to the pendant. I allowed all of this to cure overnight.

After everything cured overnight, coat everything but the marble with a thin layer of the Instant UV Resin and cure that in the sun or under a UV lamp. Adding the UV Resin to the pendant both seals and adds even more security to the image under the stone.

Hang your ornament with pride.

here are some more ideas for using the Glastique to mount images behind glass.
- pendant bezels
- photo frames
- magnets
- memory jars.
- Christmas Ornaments

Have a wonderful afternoon.