Tag: flowers

Nani ke Ola Blog Hop: Butterfly Kisses & Dandelion Wishes Album

Hello and welcome to the first ever Nani ke Ola blog hop! Today each blogger is focusing on the new 7 Dots Studio collections, Cotton Candy and Writer’s Block. I love 7 Dots Studio and was so excited for the new collections, particularly Cotton Candy. You should have arrived from Heather Thompson’s blog and started at the Nani ke Ola blog. There is a giveaway so make sure to visit each blog and leave some love for a chance to win a sweet prize!

I’ve been a member of the NKO Design Team for a little over a year, and in that time, I’ve had a chance to spread my wings, get messy, and be inspired by some of the most wonderful artists around. I know you will agree that these are some talented ladies, when you see all the creativity of this blog hop.

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As I said, I was over the moon when I saw the Cotton Candy collection. It is dreamy and whimsical and includes teal and salmon a favorite color combination of mine. It’s like it was tailor made for me. I knew I wanted to combine the lush papers, stickers, chipboard, and other elements with products from Prima Marketing’s Memory Hardware collection. There are wonderful mixed media elements in this collection and you can really create something beautiful combining the lush papers and elements from 7DS with the great products from Prima. If you like the Memory Hardware line, I encourage you to let Jennifer know. She stocks some Prima products and is always listening to what her customers are excited about. I used the square album, flowers, rhinestone chain, resin heart, sequins, lace trim, and domes in this project.

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I began by “dry” painting the album using some Vintage White Folk Art paint. The advantage of dry painting is that it dries quickly since you are using so little paint. It also creates a “shabby chic” / distressed base for the album. HINT: You only need to paint the edges since paper will be covering most of each page. I also began sketching out what papers would go on each page. I do this by cutting up the 12×12 papers into 6″ squares and also cutting smaller pieces (4×6, 3×6, and 2.5×4). Next, using Walnut Stain Distress ink and a round blending tool I inked the edges of all the papers. I cannot stress enough how elegant this simple step is. Visually, it adds so much dimension to the papers and ties each page together. Once the pages are cut and inked, I begin laying them out, moving things around and finally “locking” in the design of each page and 2-page spread.

Next, it’s time to begin gluing things down. I like to use a really strong tape runner (like 3L Scrapbook Adhesives My Stik permanent adhesive) or Scor-Tape. For this album I created photo pages, waterfall pages, and pocket pages. After the pages were done, I began thinking about embellishments for each page. For the chipboard I used some clear and copper embossing powders. To get embossing powder to stick to the chipboard, simply use VersaMark or another ink (like Delicata Black Shimmer ink), apply the powder and heat set. The 7DS collection kit comes with two sticker sheets, words and icons, one cardstock elements sheet, and one die cut tags sheet. The waterfall pages consist of 5, 4×6 panels. To create the glue tab, score each panel at a quarter inch and crease using a bone folder. Apply tape runner to the “tab” and beginning at the top, adhere each panel, placing the next panel tab right next to the one above. For the pockets, apply adhesive to the bottom, left, and right sides, leaving the top open to create the pocket.

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Once the inside of the book was complete, I began working on the cover. Using a new Memory Hardware acrylic dome, a resin heart, some moss, a few rhinestones, some sequins, and rosette trim I built the focal piece of the album. Anything heavy was glued down using hot glue to make sure it would remain in place once the dome was sealed. HINT: If you paint anything that is going inside the dome make sure to let it dry completely and also rub your anti-static powder tool over any painted surfaces. Also, seal the dome to the backing paper using clear or matte Glossy Accents in a very thin layer. Using too much medium will make it seep into the dome and your floating bits will get stuck to the medium that seeped inside.

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Up next, Kathleen Bement White. Make sure to visit and comment on all the blogs for a chance to win the giveaway!

I had so much fun creating this album. I hope it inspires you in your creative pursuits. If you started here, please visit the other talented team members listed below and leave them some blog love! Until next time, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

  1. Thandar Aye Tabiando
  2. Lisa Collins
  3. Heather Thompson
  4. Christine Szekeres (you are here)
  5. Kathleen Bement White
  6. Jenn Mileli

———– THE GIVEAWAYS ———–

nko-giveaway2 To qualify for the giveaway, make sure to follow and comment on each of the blogs. You have until 12/01/2016 to comment. The winner will be announced on the Nani ke Ola blog on Monday, 12/05/16! Good luck everyone!
nko-giveaway For an additional giveaway, make sure to follow us (@nanik3ola, @beanie_me, @heifer21, and @lccrafts85) on Instagram and comment on the prize photo. You have until 12/01/16 to follow and comment. The winner will be announced on the @nanik3ola Instagram on 12/05/16! You can search Instagram using #NaniKeOlaBlogHop and when you receive your 7 Dots Studio goodies make sure to post pictures of your creations using this hashtag to join in the fun!


Supplies Used

Cotton Candy Collection Kit
Cotton Candy Chipboard
Cotton Candy Hex Stencil
Prima Marketing Memory Hardware Line

Domestic Goddess Mixed Media Canvas

Hello, friends! I hope 2016 is off to an amazing start full of creativity and adventure for each of you. For my first post of 2016 I would like to share an 8 x 10 mixed media canvas I created using the Domestic Goddess paper line from 7 Dots Studio. I really like all the lines from 7DS and this one is no exception. It is reminiscent of 40’s & 50’s domestic life and honestly cracks me up most of the time. I am not June Cleaver. Not even close. It’s a good thing the only other “person” I have to keep alive with regular food and water is my feline friend, Rainey.

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Growing up with a mom like June Cleaver, Donna Reed, or Marion Cunningham must have been amazing. I respect the women who run households. It’s a full time job and they do it well, but sometimes I wonder if Mom might have “other” dreams (in addition to taking care of her family). This is the inspiration for my project, “Domestic Goddess: She Did Because She Could”.

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My base is an 8 x 10 canvas I picked up at Michaels back during the summer. It is from a “denim” canvas line and is a burlap brown with these amazing antique brass studs on the edges. You could also use a natural canvas (raw, without gesso). I began by choosing a paper for the background. I decided to use White Apron because I liked the imagery and the neutral palette. I cut a rectangular piece roughly 8 x 10 and ripped it diagonally. Once I was satisfied with the angle and edge I inked all the edges using Distress inks in Fossilized Amber and Hickory Smoke.

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Next, I began gathering the elements I wanted include (ribbon, ephemera, stickers, chipboard, and flowers) and tried them out on the canvas. I almost always do this as I have no idea what configuration will look best when I start out. I also pull together way more items than end up on the final piece so I can try them all out. To me this is the fun part of creating a mixed media piece. Often I will create a mock up and walk away for a time, coming back to see how I like it, moving and swapping out different items until I’m satisfied. I take a picture so I don’t forget (mixed media for me often happens over a series of days) and it’s time to begin assembly.

A quick word about adhesives. I’m not a scrapbooker so I am not necessarily thinking about my work lasting (and being archival) for the next 100 years. Instead, I do my best to choose the best adhesive for the items I’m bonding together. One of my secret weapons is Beacon’s Fabri Tac, which is a liquid seam product used in sewing. It dries clear, bonds quickly, and works well for both porous and nonporous surfaces. The bond it creates is nothing short of miraculous.

For this canvas I used several things from the Stickers 12×12 sheet, a few things from the Collage Adverts sheet, and letters from the Alphas – Raspberry Muffin sheet. I also used two chipboard pieces, the wire cage dress form and a crown, both from UmWow Studios. Dimensional items included flowers, leaves, and some beads. I used several Prima flowers from my stash, however these flowers would work perfectly and these leaves are a staple of mine.

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Using “sticky” embossing powder, I applied foil to the crown. I love sticky embossing powder (my favorite is manufactured by Ranger) and it does just what the name implies, makes the surface sticky when heated. Once you have this sticky surface you can apply foil, flocking, flower soft, or glitter to the surface and it stays put! Amazing, no? I also embossed the dress form using Delicata gold ink and clear embossing powder. I tinted the ribbon using Ken Oliver’s Color Burst in merlot, yellow ochre, and sepia. I also used Marion Smith’s Color Lab kit in merlot, 24k, and caramel on a different ribbon. I wanted to compare these two products. At the end of the day I love both. Ken’s product is more widely available, which makes it better for many of us, but Marion Smith’s has this great recipe card for mixing and getting amazing results. I also applied Bo Bunny Gold Glitter Paste through the Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil to add some dimension to the canvas. When the paste was dry I went over it gently with Fossilized Amber and Hickory Smoke inks using a round blending tool.

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I used Mod Podge (matte), Aleene’s Quick Dry tacky glue, Fabri Tac, and black foam mounting tape. TIP: I prefer black foam tape (versus white) because it doesn’t show as easily when looking at the front and blends in perfectly when viewed from the side.

7DS is a Polish-based company so all the adverts are in Polish. On a whim I decided to translate the one I used: “Od piegow krem Hannol Niezawody Parf D’orient Warszawa”. Roughly translated it is an advertisement for “reliable freckle cream” imported to Warsaw from the Orient. Too funny. Finally, and because Mom has a rapier wit, I included the mysterious quote, “She did because she could.”

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I hope this piece inspires you to “do because you can” and create something uniquely you! Until then, remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used
Domestic Goddess paper line
UmWow Studio: wire cage dress form & crown
Prima flowers & leaves
Marion Smith’s Color Lab kit or Ken Oliver’s Color Burst
Snug Hug Seam Binding White
BoBunny Gold Glitter Paste & Tim Holtz Burlap Stencil
Distress ink Fossilized Amber & Hickory Smoke
Round Blending Tool
Delicata gold ink & Clear embossing powder
Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder
8×10 Canvas
Adhesive (Mod Podge, tacky, black foam tape)

Giving the Gift of Fashion: Custom Barrettes

Hello, friends! Beanie here again sharing another gift idea for all the ladies in your life: hair barrettes. Sounds simple, right? Well, it truly is but it makes a wonderful gift. Customizable for any style, color, or occasion, these fashion accessories make wonderful gifts.

Requiring minimal supplies, these barrettes come together so quickly and easily you will be astounded at how many you can create in an evening.

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For the ones shown here, I used Lindy’s Stamp Gang Autumn Leaves Sidekick and Prima’s Pearl White Color Bloom sprays to give a shimmer to the flowers. TIP: Did you know that you can refill Color Bloom sprays with filtered or bottled water two times? That’s right, when the bottle is nearly empty, simply refill it with filtered or bottled water, shake it up, and you’re ready to go again. The Color Blooms may seem expensive, but when you factor in three bottles out of one, they are actually one of the more inexpensive sprays on the market.

I made card backs (a piece of 3″ x 3″ cardstock) to hold the finished barrettes using 7 Dots Studio’s Cold Country paper line (choose paper that compliments the barrettes). You can find your barrette base online at Amazon (I used the 2″ type for these), at your local beauty supply, or Target. I used many different types of flowers and centers (micro beads and other self-adhesive gems). Fabri-Tac is my favorite adhesive for this sort of creation because it sets up so quickly.

Attach the base flowers to the barrette using Fabri-Tac (it dries quickly so you won’t have to wait long to move forward). Before attaching your focal flower, add anything to the center (beads, sequins, gems, etc) using Fabri-Tac or other dries clear adhesive and let that set up. Once it’s set, you can attach it to the barrette using Fabri-Tac.

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The most difficult part of this project: choosing flowers. There are literally thousands of combinations and the sky is the limit for customization including beads, self-adhesive gems, sequins, sprays, die cuts, mini bells, and on and on! Be sure to stop by the store for all of your paper crafting needs. Some wonderful new goodies are being added for the holidays!

I hope this idea inspires you to step outside the box in terms of gift-giving. Remember, creativity and imperfection live together in all we do. “Grace is the face love wears when it meets imperfection.”

~xoxo
Beanie

Supplies Used
7 Dots Studio Cold Country
LSG: Autumn Leaves Sidekick
Prima Pearl White Color Bloom
Flowers & Barrettes
Self-Adhesive Gems, Buttons, & Brads