Thursday, March 28, 2013

Friday Feature - fan card

Hello friends.  It's Melody with another Friday Feature for you.  Last week in my monthly technique class, one of the cards we made was a fan.  It might seem complicated, but it's really quite easy to make.  A note or a sentiment can be put on the back. 

The first thing you need is a pattern for your fan blades.  There is a free pattern available here, but I ended up making my own.  My blades are about 6" long, and 2-1/2" to 2-3/4" wide at the widest part of the blade, and taper to about 3/4" wide at the base.  If your blade is narrow, you will need more blades to make your fan.  If you have a wide blade, you will use fewer blades in your fan.  You want your fan to open to about a half circle. 

To make a pattern, fold a piece of paper in half, and then measure about 6" along the fold for the length.  On one end, measure out from the fold half the width you want, so if you are making a blade 2-1/2" wide, measure out 1-1/4" and mark it with a pencil.  Draw the shape of the top of your blade.  This can be straight across, a gentle rounded end (trace the edge of a plate), or a point at the center, or you can get creative and make it fancy.  The widest part of the blade will be where the top comes down and meets the side (see picture below).  Taper the blade from the widest point down to the bottom, at just under 1/2" from the fold.  Then cut it out and open the fold.  I trace the paper pattern onto cereal box chipboard, but you could also use clear packaging material, so you can see through your pattern.  This would be helpful if you are tracing the pattern onto pretty paper and want to capture a certain part of the print.  Here are three different blade patterns I made.  You can also vary the shape of the narrow end, as you can see in the picture. 


The first fan I made had six blades, but I like five better, because the uneven number is more pleasing to the eye.  Here is my first prototype that I made.  It's very simple and has all kinds of craziness on the back, since I was figuring out all the steps to put it together. The last time I had made a fan similar to this was about 7 years ago, so I needed to rethink a little bit. 

The next one is my sample for my class.  You will note that the blades are a different shape.  As explained above, it is very easy to change what shape you use for the blades. This one has more stamping and details.  I also added a tassel, which I made from embroidery floss.  I did a Google search for instructions, and found many.

Here is a closer look at the details with the fan closed. 


I wanted to make a new fan for this blog post, and to also include directions on how I stamped and colored the blades.

If you want your fan to have a consistency from one blade to another, then it is important to make each blade the same.  You want a heavy card stock, so your fan isn't flimsy.  Trace and cut as many blades as you need for your fan.  I used five.

I stamped Dylusions background love (flower stamp) just once on each blade, trying to stamp in the same position on each.  I used jet black stazon ink, so I could color the flowers with twinkling H2O's, again making each blade the same.

There was quite a bit of blank space on each fan blade, so I used the wood grain cover-a-card stamp from Impression Obsession to stamp over the complete blade with sepia archival ink.  After stamping, I immediately wiped over the flowers with a paper towel to remove some of the ink from that area before it dried.

I then lightly sponged tea dye distress ink over each blade and then applied vintage photo distress ink along all the edges.

Now that the blades were finished, it was time to put the fan together.  Stack all the blades together and use a crop-a-dile to punch a 1/8" hole about 1/4" from the end on the narrow part of the fan blades.  Insert a paper fastener (or a fancy brad if you prefer).

Spread out the fan blades to the position you want them to be when the fan is open.  Carefully turn the fan face down on the table.  Make any necessary adjustments in the position of the blades, and place a post it note across the blades to hold them in place.

You will note the arrow is pointing to the blade that is now on the top of the stack.  You will start to attach your string or ribbon at the opposite end of the fan.  You only attach your string on one edge of each blade.  (If you do it wrong, your fan will not close.)  On the final blade (on left), I attach the string on both edges, because I think it looks more complete.  I used score tape and copy paper for the little tabs that hold the string in place.  Be sure to press firmly to make sure your string doesn't slip.  Once your string is attached, trim the ends and remove the post it.  You should now be able to gently open and close your fan.

I wanted a little tab attached to make it easier to pull the fan open, so I used half of a small oval and just attached it to the back of one side of the fan.

I really like how the wood grain stamp makes this look like the blades are made from wood.  The tassel on this one is made from crochet cotton. 

If you compare the open fans, you can see that the last one opens differently than the others (the front blade is on the left instead of the right).  I liked the design better when it opened this way.  I don't think it really matters which way your fan opens, but this is where that little pull tab is helpful to open the fan correctly. 

Just for fun, I have two more to show you.  These are tiny - less than 3" long and only 1-1/2" wide.

For my technique class, we always make a small sample of the technique for reference, and that's what these were for.

Some of the products used on my fans can be purchased from Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed the tutorial and will give it a try. 

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Monday, March 25, 2013

Cameo Frame Card Bases and Retreat Pictures


I had fun making these card bases! And I hope you enjoy the Retreat pictures.





You can find these products at Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium!

Tim Holtz Cameo Die
Our Daily Bread Stamps
Inks
Tim Holtz Distress Markers

These are some of the products used in my Retreat Classes:

Tim Holtz Alterations On the Edge Dies
Tim Holtz Word Play Die
Tim Holtz Grungeboard
Dylusions Inks
Tim Holtz Stamps


My Society of Decorative Painters' Chapter Retreat was this week and here are some pictures of one of the classes I taught.


 A Cheri Rol design that I painted in class with Cheri (above)
The following pictures are of my Peacock Garden design class I taught.


My Peacock Garden design (above)

 Kelly Hoernig with the Make it Take it she made. (above)


 Donna Harcourt's first layer. (above)



 My Make it Take it Project that I taught. (above)









My Mixed Collage class I taught (below)

Friday, March 22, 2013

Friday Feature - fabric flowers

Hi friends.  Today I have some fabric flowers that I made as my submission for Tim Holtz' tattered florals challenge

I pulled some fabric from my stash and die cut LOTS of flowers with the tattered florals die.  I used large flowers, which I folded into fourths.  I stitched across the folded corner to keep them from unfolding and then glued layers of four onto a fabric circle.  I put on three layers of the large flower and two layers of the small flower.  Then I added another layer of small flowers in between the two sizes to smooth the transition from large to small.  I added a pearl in the center.  This flower is actually quite heavy with all the layers and glue. 

I made a second flower, using the same folding technique, but stitching the pieces together instead of gluing.  There are only two layers on this one, with one small flower in the center underneath the button.  This one is not nearly as fluffy as the other one. 

The tattered florals die is available at Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium

Thanks so much for stopping by today. 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Easter tag

Sharing a tag I made with Tim's small bunny die and labels die along with other supplies from my stash. I've also used Tim's metal ideology flowers.

The grass from my Silhouette digital craft cutter.
Background was made with my homemade gelatin plate.


Sorry I didn't get a Technique Tuesday out this week. I've been away from home since last Saturday.
I used some of Tim's suggestions from his March tag you can his here: http://timholtz.com/12-tags-of-2013-march/

Monday, March 18, 2013

Media Mixage Jewelry


Some new toys to play with to make charms, or jewelry!






Here are some finished pictures! Be sure to click on the pics to see close up!




Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Die Cutting Foam

Technique Tuesday
by 
Judy Cantrell

Sunday afternoon, I made a stamp with inked tag just like the one you see here, when I got ready to take photos this evening, the only thing I found was the sequin waste ribbon. 
So,
I made another foam stamp and inked tag.  


Die Cutting Foam Tutorial 

Die cut tag using the lid portion of foam carryout box.


Photo #1:
Place the foam tag down on glass panel, tape sequin waste ribbon over tag, 



Photo #2:
Use light to medium pressure, draw around the circles to cover the entire tag. Don't punch thru foam. 


Photo #3:
Now, ink up the foam tag as if it was a real stamp and stamp on manila card stock. Ink around the edges with addition ink, see finished tag below. 

Finished tag

This is a quick tag made with bunny and grass die cuts from Silhouette digital die cutter.
 Palette Hybrid Burnt Umber ink pad was used to ink bunny.
Palette Hybrid Starry Night ink pad was used to color tag and seam binding. I was in a hurry taking photo and didn't notice until I was uploading this photo my stamped and cut out butterfly wasn't on my tag. So just imagine a cute butterfly on the tag to finish this tutorial.


Check Robyn's and Cindi's Club prices
for Starry Night ink pads, Tim's tag die :


http://ididitcreations.com/club/

Come back next week for another Technique Tuesday!

Monday, March 11, 2013

ATC Stenciling with Paint


I just love popping bright colors onto black backgrounds!





The company with the ATC stamp for the back is www.lost-coast-designs.com
Patty Rawlinson's website is www.creativeartslifestyle.com for the stencils.

Here is a photo of the finished ATCs:


At the Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium we offer all of the:
All at a great discounted price!

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Changing Water to Wine

No this isn't a Sermon and it's not about Changing Water to Wine either. It's about changing a steel rule die into a Stamp and creating a Flower out of Tissue Paper.. but I got your interest didn't I? LOL

I entered Tim Holtz's Challenge to use his Tattered Floral Die.. It didn't matter how you used it you just had to use it in something.. Some people added it to gift bags, some made tags, some even made ornaments for the hair.. 




I decided to make a Stamp out of the die.. I got some Fun Foam and it was way too thin so I used my tape dispenser and taped about 4 pieces together. Then I used the die and cut out the flowers. My Vagabond cut them like butter. Once cut I attached them each to a piece of real stiff plastic. I got this off of what Tim Holtz puts his stamps on when you buy them. I cut each piece of plastic about a quarter inch around bigger then my foam stamp.




I found this wonderful little book I had in my stash for years.. It had a place to put a picture.. I put my Saying their.

I first put some Claudine Hellmuth Sticky Back Canvas onto the whole little book.. Front and insides. Then I put a layer of Gesso on it. Once dried I set out to stamp with my new stamps.. I don't have the new Paint from Tim Holtz so I tried to match up his colors by mixing my own. That's my next purchase. LOL

After I stamped on the inside I then did the outside.. I planned to paint a little painting on the inside but didn't know what to do on the front..... Then I got out some tissue paper and once again used the Tattered Floral Die and made some tissue flowers. Three of them.. I added 2 to the front and one inside..




The brads for the flowers I had fun with by putting some Liquid Scrap Dots on them and then dipping the head of the brad into Glitter. Cool Brads!!




I then did my little painting of the two Owls and printed out my saying "Owl Always Luv You"..

What a fun time I had doing this project. 




Tim Holtz's dies can be bought at


The book like I said I had in my stash..

Just think now of all the possibilities of what stamps can be made from dies.. wooohooo!!
Robyn



Friday, March 8, 2013

Friday Feature - live in the moment

Hello friends.  Melody here with another Friday Feature. 

This is a 4"x6" page for a book I'm putting together.  I started with my base (made previously) of cereal box chipboard, covered with reused coffee filters and coated with gesso.  Then I tore some newspaper and glued it on with matte Mod Podge.  When that was dry, I brushed some gesso over it. 

Being impatient, I used my heat gun to dry each layer. 

Next I used some distress ink sprays, made with reinkers and water, and sprayed my page.  I used mustard seed, barn door, and faded jeans.  Some I blotted away with paper towel. 

Next I did some stamping with Nature's Moments (Tim Holtz/Stamper's Anonymous).  Flowers were colored with distress markers and stains, and the bird and sentiment were stamped with jet black archival. 

I added some washi/tissue tape from Tim Holtz & 7 Gypsies, as well as some that I made myself.  A couple of them were brighter than I wanted, so I rubbed some gesso wash (watered down gesso) over them with my finger. 

Finally, I added a couple of black mini flourishes (Sizzix), but I again decided there was too much contrast, so I blotted some more gesso wash over the flourishes with a cotton ball. I like how that gave a mottled look to the flourishes. 

Many of the products used can be purchased from Outlaw Women Scrapbook Emporium

Thanks so much for stopping by. 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Envelope Book

 Technique Tuesday

Created by Judy Cantrell

I was inspired this week to start an envelope book and share with you these simple instructions.




This idea came to me on the 4th of March, yes, this article will be up tomorrow. So, I'm just sharing what I've done so far and a little bit of stuff I'll add to these six envelopes. I see right now I need a few more envelope books to house all of my papers, stamped images, ephemera, clip art, vintage photos, inkjet and lazer family photos.

This is a simple book to make; 
To make one book, select six envelopes the same size.
Place two envelopes down on table with the envelopes together flat of table with both flaps on opposite sides. Take your roll of wash tape and start tape at top and roll the tape down the center of the two envelopes, (my tape was raised up and down until I got an even amount of tape on both sides of envelopes,) when you get to the end of the envelope turn both envelopes over and run the washi tape down the other side of envelopes, trim and smooth tape. Do the same to the other two pairs of envelopes.

Stack these three pairs of envelopes one to top of the other. Wrap binders twine around center stack of envelopes and tie the pages together. (See photo)

Center fold

Oh, I forgot, finish each envelope before tying them up, or un-tie and finish later. 

I'm working on my front, this is what I've made so far.

The cover was made with the stamped image, papers and handmade paper from this stash.

Supplies in club:
Created by
Judy Cantrell