July 31st, 2015
Inside: how to make your own washi tape Have you ever been in the middle of making a craft project and you needed a specific supply and didn’t have it? It is the most frustrating situations because it can put the entire project on hold and if you’re like me you have zero patience when it comes to finishing a project. What’s the answer? Make your own! This is what happened when I needed some washi tape for a project I was working on and didn’t have the right color and pattern. So I made my own!! WHAT IS WASHI TAPE Washi tape is a decorative adhesive tape made from traditional Japanese paper that’s great for craft or journaling. The name washi can be translated to “Japanese paper” simply meaning wa (Japanese) and shi (paper). Unlike western paper which is made from tree pulp, it’s made from Japanese shrubs so its benefits are many: No …
September 27th, 2014
Inside: how to make altered matchboxes and easily recycle them into a drawer vanity. I don’t like to throw things away. I’m not a hoarder but when I throw some things away, especially boxes of all types it always seems like a waste. I always think to myself there must be something to do with them instead of throwing them away. Usually I end up throwing them into the recycling bin, but every now and then I get a really creative idea – altered matchboxes! This time I took all my empty matchboxes and made them into a miniature drawer vanity. WHAT IS ALTERED ART Altered art is the transformation or alteration of ordinary, everyday objects into decorative pieces using a wide variety of different techniques and materials, for example, rubber stamps, fabric, paper, paint and fibres. It’s a broad term that includes many artistic styles or genres, but at its most basic describes …
November 30th, 2013
Inside: how to make a Christmas advent calendar to countdown the days until Christmas! Since I was a kid whenever I had an important event coming up I always made a table with the number of days I had to wait and I crossed off each day counting down the days remaining. It was such a thrill to see fewer and fewer days that needed to be crossed off and that whatever I was waiting for almost here. With the holidays and Christmas fast approaching I imagine many such tables or advent calendars are popping around your homes. WHAT IS AN ADVENT CALENDAR Advent is an important part of the Christian calendar. It means ‘coming’ and it’s the period before Christmas, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. It is all about preparing for Christmas Day. An Advent calendar is a special calendar used to count the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Since the date of …
November 9th, 2013
Inside: how to transfer a photo to paper I cherish all the photos I take but making scrapbooks and mini albums can sometimes be boring. So I try to find new ways to make craft projects with photos or combine them with what I create. HOW TO TRANSFER A PHOTO Photo transfers were once a complicated, sometimes hazardous process. Then, technology made it possible for anyone to scan, copy, and print photos from the comfort of their home or studio. Images printed on inkjet printers are much safer to use and easier to transfer. There are many image transfer methods and they differ depending on the surface you’re transferring the image to. TRANSFER A PHOTO TO PAPER METHODS There are two methods to transfer an image to paper: LASER PRINTED PHOTO TRIM THE PHOTO – you can cut around the photo in a rectangle or square shape or you can fussy …
October 26th, 2013
Inside: how to make a mixed media canvas with found objects that create amazing texture I thought a lot about what to give my sister for her birthday. Ironically, in the past I used to buy her gifts, never thinking of making her one myself. This year I decided to change the tradition and create her gift myself! I wanted it to be really special and beautiful so I created a collage mixed media canvas with a photo of us when we were kids. This is her favorite photo of us so I was sure she will like it. MIXED MEDIA COLLAGE CANVAS MATERIALS A lot of people ask me where I get the materials to make such type of canvases and how they can get them too. The main principle you need to know is that every object you use on this canvas should have texture. It means that flat objects are less recommended …
October 19th, 2013
Inside: how to make a steampunk shadow box with a romantic style to it I think shadow boxes are just magical. They combine two things I love, the first is boxes. I love them, I collect them, I buy them even if I don’t need them. You can put all your treasures, memories and secrets in a box. The second thing is touching. One of the reasons I love traditional scrapbooking and not digital is you can feel the page. You can touch it, go over all the elements with your hand and bond with them. Bond with the story. Shadow boxes are the same because you can touch everything in the box and feel the story. WHAT MAKES A STEAMPUNK SHADOW BOX UNIQUE There are many styles of shadow box you can make like you would scrapbook pages, cards or mixed meia canvases. A steampunk shadow box has an industrial mechanical look that is …
September 21st, 2013
Inside: how to make a glamorous recycled paper chest of drawers Everyone has a collection. Some like to collect stamps, others have stamps collection or even movie memorabilia. I love boxes. I have many of them, even though I don’t have many things to put in them. During the years I bought a few, but I also really love making them. It always amazes me how little you need to build a box and how easy it is. BUILDING A PAPER BOX Building a paper box is a simple process that usually requires folding and gluing You can make a box in any shape and although it will not hold very heavy items it can be useful and not just decorative. WHAT TO PUT INSIDE A PAPER BOX As long as the items are dry and relatively small you can put almost anything inside a paper box. Here are some ideas: Beads …
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