August 16th, 2014
Inside: what to do with an old dry paint brush and how to easily recycle it to a beautiful art project The one thing I’m very bad at in regards to crafting is cleaning! I never clean my stencils and I usually forget to clean my brushes. That means I have a lot of old dry paint brushes in my craft room. Even though they are dry and most probably beyond salvage I still can’t throw them away so I come up with ways to recycle them! HOW TO CLEAN OLD DRY PAINT BRUSH I you are like me and have old dry paintbrushes there might still be a way to save them: For oil-based paints, varnishes, lacquers – follow the manufacturer’s instructions to select the proper cleaning solvent (mineral spirits or paint thinner for paint and varnish, denatured alcohol for shellac, etc.). Pour the solvent into a container and dip the paint brush into …
August 9th, 2014
Inside: how to craft your paper scraps and make a clever and fast junk journal I’m not a hoarder! But I’ll admit I hate throwing away paper scraps, even the small ones. I feel like I’m throwing away an important resource and it just makes me so uncomfortable I simply don’t throw any paper scraps. That created another problem of piles of craft paper piles that need using… WHAT ARE PAPER SCRAPS This might sounds like a stupid question but the definition of scraps is a subjective definition. Some will consider a small 2 inches piece like a paper scrap and others will consider it as trash and throw it away. So the first thing you need to do when crafting your paper scraps is to decide how big is your pile and sort through it. Once you do that using your scraps will be much easier! HOW TO CRAFT YOUR PAPER SCRAPS …
June 29th, 2014
I decided to change my wall art a little, so I created a canvases set. A set is basically one piece of art that spreads on more than one canvas. In my case two 6″ X 6″ canvases. When you create a set you work on the canvases as if they were one. So the theme, color scheme and embellishments will be the same across the board. The divided yet cohesive look to a canvas set gives it a unique look and draws the eyes to move from one section to the other and by doing so capturing the entire piece. I started the set with adding modeling paste texture to the background and pieces of tissue paper for layering effect. Then I added distress stains in different colors and blended them together. My focal point is a leaf ribbon that spreads from top to bottom and is embellished with flowers that were colored with the same distress stains. I …
December 14th, 2013
Inside: how to cover a binder with fabric and give it a new look Since I was young I had trouble accepting things as they are. I always tried to change them and it didn’t matter if it was something big or small. I think that is part of why I love altered art so much. It gives me the opportunity to change things and make them my own. ALTER A BINDER Binders can be very boring and ordinary. This office item is useful for filing many things and it can be very handy even in the craft room. You can store pattern papers, stamps, die cuts, cut outs and much more. But if you are a creative person like me you wouldn’t want to leave the binder in it’s original look. Here are some ideas how to alter a binder: Cover it with pattern paper Prime it with gesso and then paint …
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 …
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