Birthday Celebration Wall Hanging

 Birthday Celebration Wall Hanging

CELEBRATION Wall Hanging ( gesso, rubber stamps, paint, ink)

I chose to make this wall hanging and ceramic plaque instead of a card.  I would have used the same techniques on a card anyways! lol.

I started with an 11x14, 140 lb piece of watercolour paper and stamped over the entire surface with  ColorBox™ Background Basics Stamps (Diamonds1 and Picnic1) using ColorBox™ Crafter's ink   in Sea Breeze and Blueberry.  You need to heat set the inks .  

Once dry, I covered most of the surface, using a putty knife, with a thin layer of gesso.

I then wrote words into the wet gesso: 'CELEBRATE', 'Happy birthday to you,..' etc. I used the tip of the knife to write but you can use any sharp object.  

Using the ColorBox™ Background Basics by Ann Butler ( Checks1), I stamped into the wet gesso. Let everything dry before proceeding.

Once dry, I used Earth Safe Finishes Iridescents  (rose), and the Blueberry, Ocean Breeze and Limelight inks to highlight the raised surfaces of the dried gesso.  Let everything dry.

I attached the pink DCWV Self-adhesive Frame Border and then adhered the ceramic medallion (that I previously made) to the centre. And voila! 

Painted and Stamped Sneakers

Painted and stamped sneakers! I have a great tutorial on the Ann Butler Designs Blog and you can read all about it by clicking HERE

White sneakers become colourful, pretty sneakers
with Iridescent powders and Crafters' ink! 

CHA PaperArts+ Show 2015 Workshops

What an adventure I had at the CHA PaperArts+Show 2015 in Schaumburg, Illinois.

I'd like to thank CHA for making my attendance possible; I'm a very lucky girl! 

This was my first CHA Show and I am happy to say that I loved every minute of it. Today I'm sharing with you pics from the 3 workshops I attended: 

I learned a lot about Therm O Web and all the great applications for Deco Foils™.  I really love the Deco Foil™ liquid adhesive!

John Petersen loves what he does -- and it shows! I loved the 2 workshops I took with him and learned a lot from him.  I can't wait to break out the pastes and inks and create beautiful DIY projects for my home.

tomorrow - Show Floor Happenings

DIY Decor with Deflecto Frames and Ann Butler Designs

Thank you for joining me today as I get to create with Deflecto® for the very first time. 

Deflecto® very generously sent us 2 lucite frames and we could do whatever we liked with them.  As a member of the Ann Butler Design's Creative Team, I also get to incorporate Ann's wonderful products into this project.

I sat with the blank frames for several weeks and couldn't decide what I should do, but I finally decided to use the frame and its sturdy build to become a stand-alone canvas for me.

What did I use:

• Deflecto® 8"x10" lucite stand up frame
• Ann Butler Designs Clearnsap® background stamps,  Picnic1 and Diamonds 1
• Castin'Craft® Easy Sculpt® Epoxy Modeling Clay
• DecoArt® media Liquid glass - clear
• Powertex sculpting colours: red, yellow, ivory, bronze, 
• Powertex® l plaster statuette
• Powertex® Colortrix pigments - turquoise, gold, yellow
• masking tape, paint brushes, dowels, disposable gloves
• pieces of fabric, t-shirt, gauze, embellishments, sticker sentiment

At first I thought I was just going to make a frame around the border and be done with it, But once I discovered how sturdy and durable the frame was, I decided to put it to a test and see how much of 'my abuse' it could withstand!

Look at the gorgeous patterns and texture that enhances the frame. I use Ann's stamps to get that fantastic look!

1. I taped off the entire front of the frame with masking tape, vertically.  I thought that at the very least it would create interesting texture under the paint.
2. I mixed the modeling clay and placed it in a few spots on the frame in a medium layer, in order to leave some 'give' when I pressed the background stamps into the clay. I didn't wait too long. I sprinkled some talcum powder on the clay surface before stamping, thus ensuring a clean impression and no clay residue left in the rubber.

3. I placed more clay down where I was planning to place the head, and stamped the entire surface.  Next I painted my plaster head and secured it into the still-moist clay.Let your piece dry for about 1/2 hour and then you may start added dabs of paints, and dry-brushing colours onto the clay.
4. Dip your cloth into Powertex and drape it around the goddess.
    Add gauze, paper decoration, lace .. to your taste.
5. Secure your sentiment with Liquid Glass and brush a coat of Liquid Glass over your words.  Liquid Glass can also enhance objects on your canvas, including buttons, facial features, words...

Finally, I have to say I am thrilled with the quality and sturdiness of the frame  -- I added a lot of weight to the surface - and will  it again as a 'very easy stand-alone canvas'!

And Here's the Hop List:

Ann Butler : http://annbutlerdesigns.com/2015/07/18/ann-butler-designs-and-deflecto-blog-hop/

Larissa Pittman: http://muffinsandlace.com/2015/07/18/ann-butler-designs-and-deflecto-blog-hop/

Einat Kessler: http://scrapinit.blogspot.com/2015/07/desk-organizer-ann-butler-deflecto.html

Zoey:http://scrapsaurus.blogspot.com/2015/07/clear-frame-blog-hop.html
Steph:  http://stephaniescraps.blogspot.com/2015/07/blog-hopping-with-ann-butler-designs.html

Irit: http://iritshalom.blogspot.com/2015/07/ann-butlers-and-deflecto-blog-hop.html

Roberta: http://decorablesart.blogspot.com/2015/07/diy-decor-with-deflecto-frames-and-ann.html

Vishu: http://fabnsassy.blogspot.com/2015/07/calender-with-ann-butler-designs-and.html

Paula:http://thecandogirl.com/2015/07/deflecto-frames-and-ann-butler-designs-blog-hop/

Beth: http://bwdesignstudio.blogspot.com/2015/07/ann-butler-designs-and-deflecto-craft.html

Happy Hopping,

CHA Changed My Life

THIS IS A TRUE STORY: how joining the CHA (Craft & Hobby Association) changed my life. 

Grab some popcorn and send the children out of the room...

AT the CHA retreat in June I was asked to speak at the end of the conference to 'share my story' and explain why I think belonging to CHA is so important.  Alas, we ran out of time, so here is (basically) what I was going to say:

1 1/2 years ago I was crafting away and wondering what I wanted for myself? I had few professional commitments and having a problem focusing on what I really wanted to do: what would make me happy?

*Roberta: BEFORE CHA. So Sad.

I decided to invest in myself and register for the first CHA retreat in Canada.  

It promised to be a weekend full of workshops and creativity. I didn't know what to expect, who I would meet, or if I would even 'belong' in that group.

In a nutshell, 1 1/2 years later, EVERYTHING I am doing now is because of my decision to become a CHA member and attend that first CHA retreat!

Not only did I participate, learn, grow and network, I milked every single last drop out of that opportunity. Let's face it: we have opportunities presented to us on a daily basis- it is what we do with those opportunities (if we even recognize them in the first place) that determines our path and defines who we are.

I decided to set myself a first goal: Become a Designer Member, start getting paid for my work, and attend my first CHA Mega Show in Anaheim, CA.

Today - I am happy and smiling and discovered I look good in tangerine :)

Ann Butler, who I knew from the industry and online, and I met in-person for the first time at that retreat. There was something about Ann that drew me towards her and I recognized this as my first opportunity: Ask her questions, get advice, and figure out how she might be able to help me and ask for that help.
Check, check, and check.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what am I doing today?

• I am on 3 design teams: I am leading one of them and overseeing the Blogs and SEO editing of the other 2
• I have had multiple projects published in magazines and books.
• Helping edit a magazine
• A contributing Blogger for ETI Resin
• Regular contributor to Prime Publishing: FaveCrafts and Cheap Eats & Thrifty Crafts
• Virtual Assistant to a Craft Publisher
• Plus, after being introduced to Powertex at that first retreat, by Brigitte Thompson, I am now:             An artist and Certified Instructor and Distributor of Powertex.

...and getting paid!
Not bad. Not bad at all.

...in 1 1/2 years...    

 Did I inspire you today? I hope so. I"d love to hear from you.

Brigitte introduced me to Powertex

MANY helpful and inspiring workshops

DecoArt has been helping me and supplying me with free product for years!

Ann Butler Designs

Sponsors of the CHA Events are BEYOND generous!

 

 

 

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*um...not really... that was from a Halloween Party at Blissdom one year :)