Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Butterfly Shaker Clip with Clear Scraps~

Hi, Connie here with a fun project using the Butterfly Shaker by Clear Scraps.  My inspiration was using the shaker images in a different way that could double as a teacher's gift.  I came up with a clip, for all those papers they grade. Take a look~

Clear scraps_butterfly shaker1_c.mercer
The Clear Scraps store has over 25 shapes of shakers.  Rumor has it, more are on the way:)  I constructed the shaker with pattern paper on the inside and pattern paper on the outside frame.  I used Beacon 3-IN-1 to adhere the shaker together.

Clear scraps_butterfly shaker2_c.mercer
The inside has Glamour sequins by Clear Scraps.  They matched beautifully.  I was prepared to use the entire bag of sequins, but a little goes along way.  Once the sequins are put in the shaker the frame was adhered and then let it rest.  For about 30 minutes.  I had a few sequins stick to the side.  The object is to have them in the middle so they shake around.

Clear scraps_butterfly shaker3_sequins-c.mercer
The side was embellished with buttons and flowers.  Beacon Quick Grip worked great, to adhere the embellishments to the front of the shaker.

Clear scraps_butterfly shaker4_c.mercer
Last adhere a cloths pin to the back of the  Butterfly Shaker and then adhere a strong magnet to back of the cloths pin.  Great for refrigerator art !!!

Supply list:
Clear Scraps: Butterfly Shaker
Clear Scraps: Sequins/Glamour 
Other:
Beacon: Quick Grip and 1-IN-3 all purpose, pattern paper, embellishments.
Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/ DT Member

Friday, August 25, 2017

A Kid Craft ~ Slime!!

Hi guys!
I have had my grands with me for 3 weeks. One of the things we did
 was make "slime".  It seems to be all the rage~
I had no idea how to make it, but they did!!
Ingredients for Slime:

Instructions:
1. 1/2 cup of Elmer's glue ~pour in small dish.
2.  Add 1/2 tsp. of baking soda
3. Add  food coloring or acrylic paint, either will work, for color.  You can also add a pleasant scent with essential oils.  
4. Add 1/2 cup shaving foam optional (makes the slime fluffy)
5. Add 2 tbsp contact solution, to activate the glue.
6. Mixture will be stringy.  Keep stirring and then start working it with your hands. This takes a few minutes.  

  It will look like the above and below pictures when it is ready.

Here the grands are making and being silly with the slime they made.  The mess was minimal.  It doesn't stick. You can pick the slime up with slime. 


Thanks for stopping by~
(I'm traveling~be home soon.  Hopefully with some good junk)

Monday, August 21, 2017

School Awards day with Quick Quotes~

Hi, Connie here with a, school themed, scrapbook page using the Earth Wind Fire Collection by Quick Quotes.  Love celebrating, a good day at school, with my grandson.  Very simple design by layering pattern papers to create a mat for the photo. I'm a fan of EASY! 

The photo is printed out using the Canon iP8720.  Layer different patterns of paper, about 4" X 6" and make a mat for the photo to be adhered to.  Embellish with stamps ( my choice) or stickers and die cuts.
I asked my grandson to give me his thoughts, of the event and then added "his words" to the page. He has big goals for next school year.  

Product used:
Quick Quotes PowderPuff chalk inks: Navy, Barn Board, Midnight Confessions.

Other:
stamps, stickers, twine, buttons and punch

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member 



Friday, August 18, 2017

Faith wall hanging with Clear Scraps~

Hi, Connie here with a mixed media project using the "Faith " stencil by Clear Scraps.   Just using the supplies, I had on hand, it was fun to create this wall hanging,as a special reminder, to keep the "faith".
Clear scraps_mixed media_faith stencil_c. mercer
The background was created using a gel press and acrylic paints on a 6" X 12" piece of canvas.  After the background was good and dry. the stencil was placed over the background print and using StazOn ink the word "faith" was added.  Highlights were added, with acrylic paint, to each letter.   The canvas was attached to a stick (from the yard). Again just using what is available to me :) 

Clear scraps_mixed media_faith stencil1_c.mercer
Fancy trim and lace were glued to the bottom, of the canvas, along with a cluster of buttons.   A ribbon stringer was created, for the side, and tied to the top of the stick with hemp twine.  More buttons added also.  This would also look great hanging from a door knob or vintage cloths hanger.  Clear Scraps has twelve word stencils, that would make beautiful home decor projects.

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Framed Art with Buttons Galore & More~

Hi, Connie here with Buttons Galore & More design team sharing a framed art piece using Victorian accents by Buttons Galore & More.  The themed button selections were the perfect accent for this framed art piece. The beautiful thing about these Victorian accent buttons you can change the color so easy.  Spray paint works great!


The frame was painted with acrylic paint and sanded for a vintage look and feel.  The inside piece is vintage dictionary paper stenciled with the word "create".   Black acrylic paint was used for the stenciling.  The flowers were wrapped with twine and adhered to the side of the frame with strong glue.

The Heirloom Keepsakes buttons were glued to the side of the flower cluster.  They come in several different colors.  I used the light green ones for this project.


The Victorian Rose buttons and the Gold Filigree corners were spray painted a pewter color and adhered to each inside corner of the frame.  The Filigree corner was attached first and then the Victorian Rose button next.  The shanks were clipped off, using wire snips, to give a flat surface to adhere.  The framed art was splattered with black and pewter paint.  That process was achieved  by spraying a puddle of paint, on a paper plate, and then using a toothbrush to splat the paint on the frame.  Old technique but still one of my favorites!

Supplies needed:
Buttons Galore & More: Victorian / Heirloom Keepsakes
Buttons Galore & More: Victorian / Victorian Rose
Buttons Galore & More: Gold Filigree corners
spray paint silver/pewter
vintage dictionary paper
word stencil
flower bunch
twine
DecoArt: green paint
sand paper, toothbrush, strong glue.

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Try It Tuesday~ more button brooches!!

Hi guys!
I have been super busy with four grands.  We have gone to
 the movies, made slime :), toured the caverns, went to a snake farm, made ice cream shakes,
 enjoyed swimming and marble game tournament (every night).  They also walked
 with me every night ~ great talks too!!!
Just letting you know why I haven't been around :)  it is coming to and end soon :(
***********
I created these brooches out of vintage muslin cloth.  Twist the fabric and tack with hot glue or a strong wet glue.  Add felt to the back (to keep the brooch together).  The leaves are vintage, about 1950's.  I found them on a junkin' trip.  The buttons are from Buttons Galore and More.

My mom wanted this one !

Sent this one to a very special lady :)  
I kept the top one :)
Supply list:
Muslin fabric cut in strips 24" long about 4" wide
twine
Vintage leaves or flowers
Buttons Galore & More will have gorgeous buttons!
felt
strong adhesive

Thanks for stopping by for

Friday, August 11, 2017

Mixing it up with Quick Quotes~

Hi, Connie here with a scrapbook page using two different paper collections by Quick Quotes.  I decided on the Serenade Collection and the Mulberry Collection.  Lovely purple tones in both collections.

The photo is a scanned copy of a vintage picture of my mother.  It is a little blurry from age but I was thrilled to get it.  I printed the photo from the Canon iP8720 in a 5" X 7" size and  the journal information also.  The photo is such a treasure to me.

Embellishments were added along with Die Cuts from Quick Quotes. The pattern papers were shaded with Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks.   The wooden girl head is also colored using PowderPuff Chalk ink (Clay) by Quick Quotes.

Products used:
Quick Quotes: Serenade Collection (coming soon)
Quick Quotes: Mulberry Collection
Quick Quotes: Mulberry Quotes & Phrases
Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks: Violet, Clay, Midnight Confessions.
Canon Printer iP8720

Other:
Embellishments

Thanks for stopping by~
Connie Mercer/DT Member

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Try It Tuesday~ a challenge with Darkroom Door!

Hi guys!
Did you know Darkroom Door stamps does a monthly challenge on their
 Facebook page? This is the card I created for the July Challenge~ The theme was flowers.

I ended up using several Darkroom Door stamps.  I love how you can mix the sets with
 each other to create cards. All different styles and themes seem to just,
really, work great together. 
You can't ask for anything more than that :) 

On the yellow daisies, I hit the stem and tips of the flower with black ink and then 
yellow~love the shading it created!  Just like it grew from the card, well almost :).

Supply List:
Darkroom Door stamps:  Brushed Sentiment, Vintage Office, Christmas Reindeer, Mail Art, Postage Stamp Frame stamp and Torn Text Background stamp.
Ink: Archival by Ranger
Twine: Divine Twine 
Buttons: Buttons Galore & More


Thanks for stopping by for 

Friday, August 4, 2017

Stencils and vellum with Clear Scraps ~

Hi, Connie here with some fun cards using stencils by Clear Scraps.  Creating cards with stencils is easy to do.  All you need is ink or paint to stencil in the image with. Let me show a couple of cards I created using five different 6" stencils by Clear Scraps.

Clear scraps_stencil_vellum1-c.mercer

Clear scraps_cards_vellum2-c.mercer
Instructions:

  • Create a card by folding cardstock in half (this is about a 4" X 4").

  • Stencil background by using a 6" stencil by Clear Scraps.  Archival ink was used in my examples.

  • Set your card aside and on a piece of white cardstock stencil some larger, stand alone images, using different color inks.  

  • Stencil about 4 different images and cut them out.

  • Add a piece of vellum over the background you created with the stencils.

  • Layer the cutouts at the bottom of the card.  Use dimensional adhesive (popping several up) to adhere to the bottom of the card.

  • Add sentiment over large stenciled images.

  • Add twine to the top of the card.

  • Speckle with ink spray or paint splats.
  • The next card was created in the same way, just using different stencils.


    I loved the 6" Mustaches stencil by Clear Scraps.  It makes a really cute background for a card. On this card I used some of the mustaches for the larger images.  The word "Gentle" is on the 6" Fruit of the Spirit" stencil and was perfect for this card.  Follow the same steps, as listed above, to create this card.

    Clear scraps_vellum_stencils-c.mercer
    This is an easy technique for creating fun and unique cards with stencils.  Using the vellum to tone it all down and then bring it back with the images at the bottom of the card.

    Supply list:
    Clear Scraps: 6" Beach Fun, 6" Anchor & Helm, 6" Ocean Friends, 6" Mustaches and 6" Fruit of the Spirit.
    Other:
    vellum, cardstock, stickers, twine, ink spray, stamp set .

    Thanks for stopping by~
    Connie Mercer/DT Member

    Wednesday, August 2, 2017

    Button Brooch with Buttons Galore & More

    Hi, Connie here with Buttons Galore & More design team.  Today I will be sharing an idea using Toasted Graham Embellishment Bottle by 28 Lilac Lane.  The contents of the bottle remind me of graham crackers, rich in brown tones along with seed bead and sequins.  Taking beautiful embellishments and adding them to clothing, to accessorize, is a favorite of mine.  Making a brooch, to add to a denim shirt or straw hat, is where I started.



    Taking a small piece of burlap and twisting it, made it easy to create a rose flower for the base of the brooch.   Tag the ends with a strong glue and back the burlap flower with felt, so the flower will not unravel.

    Now the fun part.  Pour the contents of the Embellishment bottle on a dish (so you can see all of the pretties) and start selecting the buttons for the center of the burlap rose flower.


    Using a strong glue, start gluing down buttons, sequins, pearls and beads.  Overlapping the buttons and tucking in the sequins under the buttons gives for a beautiful looking brooch. Add felt leaves and twine to finish off the brooch.   Glue a pin, on the back of the brooch, making it easy to attach to a shirt or hat.

    Love how the "create" brooch looks on the straw hat.  Just attach to the hat, using the pin that was glued to the back of the brooch.


    Here is the"inspire" brooch on the denim shirt.  Love the look!!!
    Hope you give the Embellishment Bottles a try and create something to add to those hats, sweaters and shirts. Supply list here.

    Thanks for stopping by~
    Connie Mercer/DT Member


    Tuesday, August 1, 2017

    Fun Photo Strip scrapbook page with Quick Quotes and Canon~

    Hi, Connie here with a scrapbook page using the Earth Wind Fire Collection by Quick Quotes.  I wanted to create a fun photo strip to go under the focal photo and the Canon iP8720 helped out with that. Take a look~

    Instructions for the photo strip:

    Using the Garden Image program from Canon I created a collage, using the same two photographs twice.  Once the collage was created and ready to print out I changed the setting to grey scale.

    Once the photo is printed  cut it length ways to get the photo strip look. Adhere to white cardstock and then a darker color cardstock. I went with solid green in the Earth Wind Fire Collection. The focal photo was printed in color.

    These are so fun to make and look great on a scrapbook page. Once those elements are created the page is ready to complete with embellishments. The accent papers are shaded with Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks. Die cuts are added from the Earth Wind Fire Collection also.

    Supplies used:
    Quick Quotes: Earth Fire Wind Collection
    Quick Quotes: Earth Fire Wind Die Cuts
    Quick Quotes PowderPuff Chalk inks: Midnight Confessions, Seafoam, Evergreen, Light Moss, Feather Gray 
    Canon Printer iP8720
    Other:
    Buttons Galore & More
    Beacon Quick Grip
    Petaloo flowers
    stickers

    Thanks for stopping by~
    Connie Mercer/DT Member