Fall card - Red Rubber Designs

It is finally a little cooler today and we have FINALLY gotten a little rain.  Probably not enough to make a difference, but enough to give us some hope that there is an end in sight to this insanely hot weather!!  So with that thought, I've created a cheerful Fall card with Red Rubber Designs Stamps:  Being with You and Happy Leaf.

The paper is from Red Rubber Designs as well - the Miss Moxie Collection which just happens to be on sale right now!  I love the colors in this pack!!

The pumpkin was cut out of a yellow section from this paper stack and then I used Palette inks in Orangerie and Moulin Rouge to shade the edges.

I finished the card with a little bling along the edges of the yellow paper....just cuz I like bling!

Happy Fall everyone!  It will be here soon!!

Connie Crystal Pumpkin

I got to spend last week at the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Summer Show in Chicago.  There were lots of fun new products to check out and play with.  But one of the most dazzling booths was the Connie Crystal Booth.  Of course, I am distracted by everything that glitters and shines, so all that glittering crystal in one booth was right up my alley!  I was also very honored to have a few of my pieces on display there!

My Suncatcher on the left, and Christmas Ornament on the Right, with Kristi's  mixed media piece in the center

My Key with Bling, along with Connie's beautiful pieces

This Fall Pumpkin was also in the booth, but somehow I neglected to get a picture of it there.  I was probably distracted by all that shiny crystal :)

Here are the instructions for making the Copper and Crystal Pumpkin.

You will need:
Copper Wire in 16 and 20 gauge, thin copper sheet (like foil, but copper), brown card stock, Leaf Stamp (the one I used is from the Fabulous Fall stamp set from Red Rubber Designs), Black Stazon Ink, and a mix of 6 or 7 fall colored beads from Connie Crystal.

Cut 3 pieces of 16 gauge wire about 2' long.  Use round pliers to create a loop at one end.  Wrap the wire around a round rod.  I used the sharpening stick from my old knife set.  You could also use a mandrel if you have one, or wood dowel, or even a larger pencil or pen. 

Remove the wire from the rod and stretch it out so that it is still wavy.  

Thread the end of the wire through the beginning loop and close it with your round pliers to form a large loop of copper.

Repeat with the other pieces of copper

Lay the copper loops so that they overlap and form a pumpkin.  Bend and stretch the loops as needed until all three loops are approximately the same size and shape.

Using the 20 gauge wire and needle nose pliers, wrap small sections around the intersections of the wire loops to join all three loops together.

Take a smaller - around 10" - piece of 16 gauge and wrap it around the rod.  Then stretch it and bend it to form the "stem".  Wrap the ends around the wire at the top of the pumpkin to secure in place.

Stamp 4 leaves on the copper sheet

Cut the leaves out and trace onto brown card stock.  Take a piece of 20 gauge wire - about 8" long and bend the top about 1/2" down into a loop or "U".  This will help keep it in place.  Glue the wire between the copper sheet and brown card stock.  The card stock will help give the leaves some stability.

Thread 10" lengths of 20 gauge wire through the Crystal Beads and twist the wire to hold the bead in place.

Wire the leaves and beads in a random patterns around the top of the pumpkin.

Have you checked out the NEW Connie Crystal Website and Blog???  You'll find all of the Connie Crystal Products and lots of great projects and ideas!

Art Glitter Blog Hop - Want 2 Scrap, Graphics 45

Graphic 45, Art Glitter and Want2Scrap are teaming up this week to bring you tons of inspiration using our products!

After you check out the projects here on the Art Glitter blog, be sure to head on over to the Want2Scrap blog and Graphic 45 blogs to find out what the talented members of their Design Team have in store for you today! Art glitter will be giving away 4 prizes!  Just leave a comment on Art Glitter Blog by Sunday July 29th!

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This project was inspired by a cross I found a few years ago by Michal Negrin.  I was enchanted by the mix of roses, crystals and color and have always wanted to do a project using these elements.

For this project I used papers from Graphics 45:  Kraft Reflections and Steampunk Debutante,  Bling & chipboard from Want 2 Scrap: Nestaboard Labels Twenty Four, Nestabling Labels Twenty Four - Pearl, "Beautiful Bling Borders" - Fancy Waves, Sleek Strip Rhinestones, and from Art Glitter - Designer Dries Clear Adhesive (DDCA), Ultra Fine Opaque - #110-Taupe, and Ultra Fine Transparent - #359-Misty.
I also used a Paper Mache cross from Hobby Lobby, Acrylic paint and Decoupage Sealer

I began by decoupaging paper from the Kraft Reflections collection onto the paper mache cross.  Then I painted the middle section with Ceramcoat - Sandstone.  

I added a little color by floating acrylic paint (Cape Cod Blue) along the edges of each of the arms of the cross, and along the edge of the Sandstone paint line in Adobe Red.  To float paint, I used a 3/4" flat brush.  I put a little paint on a paper plate, and dipped my brush in clean water, dobbing once on my paper towel to removes excess water.  I dipped just one corner of the brush in the paint and then stroked the brush back an forth once or twice on the plate to blend the paint out a little.  Then I just followed the natural curve of the edge with the paint side of the brush along the outer edge.  This creates a graduated fading effect in the paint.  It's quick and easy.  Don't be afraid of paint.

I decoupaged roses from the Steampunk Debutante Collection to the center shaft of the cross and to a chipboard piece from the Nestaboard collection.  I also decoupaged more of the Kraft Reflections paper to the largest piece from the Nestaboard collection.  I added a subtle, all over glitter, but adding a little Misty Glitter to the decoupage sealer and putting a final coat on everything.  I glued the Nestaboard pieces in place using DDCA.

Then I went to town with the bling and more glitter!

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Be sure to check back every day this week for more project inspiration! We have Blog Candy to give away to 4  of our lucky commenters! Also, make sure you stop and visit us as well as our friends over at Want2Scrap and Graphic 45 each day this week, prizes and lots of wonderful inspiration coming your way! Also, make sure you stop by the Want2Scrap Facebook Page and Graphic 45 Facebook page this week and tell them Art Glitter sent you!

Tropical Paradise Collage

For the month of July, the Art Glitter design team has partnered with Graphics 45 and Want2Scrap.  These products work so well together for lots of fun and fabulous possibilities.

For this collage I've used:  Paper from the Topical Travelogue collection from Graphics 45, "Build Your Own Bling" from Want2Scrap, and Glitters from Art Glitter - Ultra Fine Pearlescent - #183-Blue Angel, and Ultra Fine Transparent - #86-Angel Dust.

Begin by cutting the page from Graphics 45.  Trim the borders off carefully, because you'll be using those later.  Then cut out these two sections.  Decoupage them to your chipboard.  Be sure to coat the back side of the chipboard with decoupage too to keep it from curling.  I used blue alcohol ink on a dobber to run a little blue around the border.

Trim the boarders so that you will have 6 pieces the length of the long side of the images, and 3 pieces to fill in blank spots at the top, middle and bottom of the page.  On half of these strips, you will coat them with a very thin coat of Designer Dries Clear Adhesive (DDCA) and sprinkle with Angel Dust Glitter.

Position the border strips along the sides of the images - alternating glittered and non-glittered - and a long the bottom and middle.  Glue in place with more DDCA.  Cut sections from the Graphics 45 page for "Travel Adventure", "Escape" and the round hibiscus flower.  Position them on the page and glue in place with DDCA.  Embellish the side with swirls from the BYOB from Want 2 Scrap.  There is a "C" shaped swirl that will fit on the swirl of the lady's bun.  You'll need to trim it a little bit.

Further embellish with glitter!  I ran dots of DDCA along the inside edges of the top and bottom border pieces and covered with Blue Angel Glitter.  I also ran dots along the round edge of the hibiscus piece at the top.  I used a white marker to draw "waves" along the outer edge of the "Waves" picture.  I then traced the waves with DDCA and covered with Angel Dust Glitter.

Please visit the Art Glitter blog for more great glittering projects!  And come back next week for some Blog Hop fun with PRIZES!!

Craft Party 2012 - Updated!!! We have a location!!

I recently found out about a very exciting project from Etsy - Craft Party 2012.  Aug 24, 2012 has been designated as Craft Day and there are craft parties and meet-ups going on world wide.  This is an effort to bring people back to crafting; to connect teachers with people wanting to learn new crafts; to bring neighbors together to get to know each other; and most of all to spend some time doing something fun and creative.  Anyone can host a party.  For more information visit the Etsy Blog.  Or to find a party going on near you - go to Meetup Everywhere.

For my friends in the Jamestown/Jefferson City area - we will be hosting a party.  We will be at the Baymont in Jefferson City in the Wyatt Room.  The Baymont is just off Hwy 50, across from the Capital Plaza.

There will be a nominal fee ($10) to cover the cost of materials and venue, but if we get 25 people to come, Michael's will donate some supplies so that will help keep the cost on the low end.  Please RSVP to the link below and then pass this on to some friends that would like to join us!  The more the merrier!

We are still working out the details on what projects we will be doing, so we're open to suggestions.  I'm thinking a small mixed media projects, a holiday project and possibly a jewelry piece if time allows.

Have you seen Craft Wars on TLC??  We will also having a Craft Wars Crafting Challenge - with PRIZES!!

If you are in the area and would like to attend, we would love to have you!  Please do two things......leave a comment on this post that you are coming, and go to the Party Page and RSVP.  IMPORTANT!!!  The deadline for the the Michael's goody box is this Sunday (the 12th).  If you are coming, or think you may be coming, please RSVP!!!

Hope to see you all there!!!

KC

Red Rubber Designs - "Just Because" Challenge - JULY

Every 3rd Thursday of the month, Red Rubber Designs offers its "Just Because" Challenge, open to everyone.

The mission: To create a card, tag, scrapbook layout or any project using any stamp in the Red Rubber Designs store following the specific rules of each challenge. Participants will upload their project to the Red Rubber Designs Flickr Group. They will include a challenge specific tag (to be posted with each challenge) so that we can easily find their entry. Each challenge will end Sunday night.

Only those stamps currently in the Red Rubber Designs store can be used for the challenge project. Entries not using current stamps cannot be accepted.

A $10 Gift Certificate to the Red Rubber Designs store will be awarded to TWO randomly chosen participants!

For July - the Challenge is to use this sketch as inspiration to create a project.  

Here is a peak at the project I have created:

For full information on the challenge, visit Red Rubber Designs Blog!

Connie Crystal Key

I have mentioned before that I love to hit the clearance aisles in search of bargains that can be resurrected in some crafty way.  This week I was checking out the Hobby Lobby home decor clearance and found this large black wire key for $2.00!!!  I knew it would be so much fun to "bling" it up with Connie Crystals. This was one of those projects that I got totally wrapped up in (no pun intended).  With the first crystal that I added to the wire, it seemed to come alive.  You may or may not be able to find this key at your local store, but you can certainly use these techniques and ideas to add glamour and glitz to other found objects.

I used a mix of blue Connie Crystals in various shapes and sizes and a few crystal AB Octagons.  I used 24 gauge wire to attach the crystals to the key.

I started with the AB Octagons and brought wire thru one hole and  twisted it to secure the crystal at the end.

Then wrapped the wire around the wire key, holding the crystal in place until I had the wire tightly secured.

I continued wiring and wrapping crystals in strategic spots.  

And more crystals

Until I had filled all the smaller openings with Bling!

Have you checked out the NEW Connie Crystal Blog?!  Be sure to go meet the design team and see all the wonderful creations we are making with these awesome crystals!!  Jewelry, home decor, paper crafts....There is something for everyone!  And if you are going to CHA next week, look for Connie Crystals in booth 1943.

Red Rubber Designs - Autumn Wonder Card

Red Rubber Designs continues to celebrate fall with the New Release Stamps for July.  I have combined a couple of these stamps for this Autumn card.  I used the "Every Leaf" stamp on thin copper sheet for the shiny leaves a the top.  I used the "Autumn Swirls" stamp for a background on the yellow section of card stock from the Amelia Pattern Cardstock.  I also used the Autumn Swirl stamp for the "Autumn Wonder" section.


I am loving working on these fall projects!  Check back again for more projects from the featured Fall themed stamps!

Art Glitter, Graphics 45 and Want 2 Scrap...Oh My!!!

What an awesome month it is going to be on the Art Glitter blog!!  For the month of July, Art Glitter is teaming up with Graphics 45 and Want2Scrap.  What fun!!!!


PLUS....Art Glitter has a fabulous sale going on....

CELEBRATE USA • FREE SHIPPING IN JULY! We are celebrating our great country's birthday all July with FREE SHIPPING on any standard retail shipping order of $50 or more*
ULTRAFINE 1 OZ JARS STILL ONLY $5.98
BY POPULAR DEMAND THROUGH JULY 31 • Reg. $7.32
*Get Coupon here... • Wholesalers Details here...

Here is a sneak peak of my project that is on the Art Glitter blog today:

Please visit the AG blog to see the full project! 

Every Leaf Wine Glass Candle Cover - Red Rubber Designs First Thursday Blog Hop

Welcome to RRD's First Thursday Blog Hop!

Today, each of the design team members are presenting a project made with the July Spotlight Stamp Set - "Every Leaf".  I am so glad to be working on a fall project!  It is my favorite time of the year, and since we are in a record spell of consecutive triple digit temps, I am REALLY looking forward to cool, crisp Autumn days!!

I have made a wine glass "shade" for a votive candle, using vellum paper and the Every Leaf stamp set.  I began by printing the pattern below on white paper.  Then I laid a piece of vellum over it so that I could use it as a guide for stamping.  I stamped the leaves in embossing ink and covered with gold embossing powder and then heat set it.  I love embossing on vellum.  Since the embossing ink doesn't absorb into the vellum like it does on paper or card stock, you get nice coverage and a thicker, raised design.  You do lose some of your detail in your stamps, but since I was going for a gilded leaf effect, that was OK.  I then used multiple shades of brown and a little orange Copic Marker to color in the leaves on the back of the vellum.  

Once this was dry, I placed the vellum back on the shade pattern and penciled in the rest of the pattern so that I could cut it out - cutting around the leaf edges that extended beyond the pattern piece.  I used some shape scissors to create a scalloped edge at the bottom and then went around the top and bottom edges with brown Copic marker.  Then I simply connected the two edges by running a line of double stick tape (made for vellum) down one side and over lapping the second edge onto the tape.  Two things to note:  1.  You may have to adjust the size of the pattern depending on the size of your wine glass and 2.  Since heat can sometime have unpredictable effects on pigments and adhesives, I recommend using a battery operated votive candle instead of an actual flame.

Shade pattern - print full size on 8 1/2 x 11

Here's the rules for this hop:

Each blog on the hop (except the Red Rubber Designs Blog) has one word that will complete a phrase somewhere in their blog hop post. Once you find all six words (that's a hint!) put them together to form a phrase. You may have to rearrange them a little bit!

Note: The word you need from each blog will be obvious if you read carefully.... it looks just a little different from the rest of the letters!

Once you figure it out, email the phrase to contest@RedRubberDesigns.com and be sure to putyour name and email address in the email with the phrase. Every correct answer will be entered into a drawing for the featured stamp set - "Every Leaf" - and one winner will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Contest ends Sunday, July 8th at Midnight (US-CDT).

Red Rubber Designs http://blog.red-rubber-designs.com/ (There will be a post with contest details)
Sarah
Paula-Kay
Louise
KC (you are here)
Kate
Diana