Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

Earlier this week I posted about dimensional paint and thought I’d show off some great Halloween projects I found at Duncan’s Website.  Dimensional paint can be used to outline, add depth, add sparkle, and even adhere!  It’s a product that you should spend a little time practicing with before you start using it on your crafting surfaces, but it’s time well spent.  Feel free to share you dimensional paint projects and your Halloween crafts!

You can find the instructions for all these fun projects at Duncan’s Website!

Dimensional Paint is formulated to keep it’s thickness and shape providing a 3-D effect, rather than acting like a typical paint that is flat and follows the form of the surface, it is brushed or sprayed on or behaves like markers and pens.  You can draw, outline, write and embellish with dimensional paint.  Bottle tips do vary, but dimensional paint comes in a bottle that can be held like a pencil in your hand.

Step by Step With Dimensional Paint

1. Always practice on scrap paper or surface you are going to add the dimensional paint to, so you can get a feel of how the tip and surface work together.

2. Don’t shake the bottle.  You don’t want to add any air bubbles to the paint.  Tap paint down to tip gently.

3. Hold bottle upright with tip down just as you would a pen or pencil.  Allow tip to lightly touch the surface to be painted.  Gently squeeze and begin to draw or write onto the surface.

4. Lift tip away from surface before letting go of your hold.  If you stop squeezing, you may let air bubbles into the tip and bottle. You may want to wipe tip clean between drawing lines.

5. Paint should be allowed to dry for 12-24 hours to completely set. 

Did You Know?

Dimensional paint can be used as an adhesive.  Apply a dot of paint to adhere buttons, paper roses and other embellishments.

A fine metal tip is available to get a very fine line of paint.  The metal tip is placed onto the bottle’s plastic tip and pressed firmly onto it. 

Dimensional paints vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.  Some dimensional paints dry tacky while others dry hard.  Experiment to see which is best for your projects.

Dimensional paints bond to many surfaces including paper, fabric, and wood.  Always read packaging and labeling to see what the dimensional paint will bond to and if it needs to be heat set.

A wide variety of colors and effects are available.  Some paints are ultra glossy while others are metallic.  Check out the variety available.

Always securely cap your bottle of paint after each use and clean any additional tips you may have used.  If some paint does dry in the tip use a fine needle to unclog.

For thicker lines of paint, hold the bottle at a slight angle to the surface, this allows more paint to flow and the result is a thicker line.

A Friendly Plastic Challenge

We welcome guest blogger Helen Bradley who has news about a Friendly Plastic challenge and helpful information for working with Friendly Plastic.

Hello…

I’m pleased to announce that AMACO is celebrating its 90^th birthday in 2009 and it is having a Friendly Plastic Challenge to coincide with this.

All crafters are invited to join in the challenge and to make projects using the very wonderful Friendly Plastic Design Sticks. Friendly Plastic is an inexpensive, colorful and easy-to-use plastic material which can be molded into shapes and it softens in hot water so it’s a great crafting medium for kids.

The project categories for the challenge include a Best Focal Bead which must be made using one of the AMACO bead rollers, Best Valentine’s Jewelry Ensemble, Best Butterfly – the butterflies will be donated to the Holocaust Museum Houston and Best Bottle of Hope. There are specific requirements for each of these categories and the pieces will need to be submitted by the December 1 to AMACO. You can find more information about the Challenge by clicking on this link: Friendly Plastic Challenge. There is also an entry form that needs to be filled in and submitted with your challenge entry.

If you’ve never played with Friend Plastic before you are in for a treat. Here is a step by step for making a butterfly for the challenge and some quick tips for working with it:

Step 1

To get started with the Friendly Plastic, cut it into pieces or punch it with a robust hole punch. We find that the Tim Holtz micro serrated scissors made by Tonic work particularly well with Friendly Plastic. To create a marbleized effect for your butterfly, cut a series of long strips of Friendly Plastic.

Line up your cut pieces of Friendly Plastic.

Step 2

While you can soften the Friendly Plastic in hot water, an embossing Heat Gun works particularly well. Using the heat gun heat one of the cut strips of Friendly Plastic until you can see it starting to melt. Push the edge of the second strip into the softened edge of the melted strip and continue softening the plastic and pressing strips together. If you melt and press the pieces together you ensure you do not have spaces between the strips.

Step 3

To create the marbleized effect, take a marbling comb or something similar and starting beyond the edge of the molten plastic drag through the plastic across the stripes, all the from one side to the other.

Step 4

Ensuring that the plastic is still warm and very soft, start at the opposite side and place the marbling comb in between the drag lines you just made and this time drag back the other way. Make sure to start the movement with the comb well before you touch the Friendly Plastic and drag through the entire plastic layer, not just its surface.

Once cooled add dots of metallic paint.

Step 5

When the marbling is complete, allow the plastic to cool and then use the marbled pieces for your project.

To make our butterfly we punched out some small circles of Friendly Plastic and placed them on the marbled piece and heated it to melt the pieces together. To make the butterfly, take a butterfly shape cookie cutter and dip it into a bowl of warm water that has some cooking oil in it. Press it into the soft Friendly Plastic to cut out a butterfly shape – the oil will prevent the plastic from sticking to the cutter.

Butterfly

Tips for using rubber stamps

Friendly Plastic can be stamped using a rubber stamp. Take care to press the rubber stamp into the Friendly Plastic and leave it until the plastic cools and sets. If you remove the rubberstamp from the Friendly Plastic too quickly it will stick to the rubber stamp. Don’t use acrylic stamps with the Friendly Plastic.

Tips for working with art molds

Heat resistant art molds that have a built in release mechanism such as those from Krafty Lady Art Molds (www.kraftylady.com) work will with Friendly Plastic. Push pieces of the Friendly Plastic into the art mold and heat them to soften them. Continue to press Friendly Plastic into the mold taking care to heat the plastic enough that it softens and you can press it into the mold but not so much you burn yourself.

Tips for working with Bead Rollers

Coat the channel of the bead roller with some cooling oil (we use olive oil) so the Friendly plastic won’t stick. Soften the amount of Friendly Plastic required to fill the channel and roll the bead. To make a hole in the bead, heat a metal pin, coat it in olive oil and poke it through the bead. Leave it in place until the Friendly Plastic cools and then twist it and remove it.

My German Roots

Under the flap, you can read the German translated to English.

Create a family tree as the opening page of this special kind of scrapbook.  There are scrapbook papers designed for family trees, but you can also use genealogy forms as well. Themes to inspire: The Day You Were Born, Family Women, Weddings, Faces Of Our Family Tree, Grandparents, Cousins.

Family heritage color schemes are usually black, white, cream, brown, or green; however, don’t feel tied to the traditional colors.  There may be colors that are significant to your family and those are the colors you should consider.

Try to get journaling from members of the family to include in this type of scrapbook.  Handwriting is very important in a family heritage scrapbook and you should try to preserve every family member’s handwriting even if you must search out samples.

Heritage motifs include trees, leaves, monogram lettering, scrolling, and line art.  Usually embellishment is simple with a focus on photos and journaling.

Family documents are usually included in family heritage albums.  Try to include birth certificates, birth announcements, naturalization papers, wedding invitations or announcements, marriage certificates, death certificates, and any other significant document to your family.

Include a few This Day In History time lines to show how your family fits into the world’s history.  You can download free timelines from many web sites.  Include things like the price of bread, a gallon of milk, or a gallon of gas.

Try to get all branches of the family involved.  You may discover photos and documents you didn’t know still existed.  Plus the input of many family members will make journaling easier and more interesting.

Take a genealogy class or discover more about genealogy online.  There are so many resources to help you keep track of family members. 

Have each family member create their own special scrapbook page to be included in your family heritage album!

Every Family Has A Story…

Although I’ve scrapbooked most of my life, recently I’ve been focusing on family heritage albums and pages.  I found as I was sorting my older photos that I was very curious as to who all these strangers were in my photographs and just how I was related to each one! Genealogy helps us map all our family lines to create family trees.  Family trees make understanding our family connections a little easier. 

A family tree page can make things very straightforward for you.  The page has spaces for writing the names of members of your family tree including the family relationship (grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins). 

You can also use the Family Tree Guidebook, which is an easy to read, easy to understand handbook for helping you create a lush family tree.

I’d also like to recommend the following websites, all of which are filled with great genealogy information, resources, printable forms, and research tips. Cyndi’s List is world famous and very user friendly.  Resources For Family Historians provides endless help in many areas of family research.

My favorite family heritage story is also a little embarrassing.  I wrote a book called, Creating Your Family Heritage Scrapbook: From Ancestors to Grandchildren, Your Complete Resource and Idea Book for Creating a Treasured Heirloom, with an editor I’d been working with for years.  Once the book was published, my cousin Jeff, our family’s serious family historian called and asked me why I didn’t tell him I’d written the book with a relative.  Basically I told my dear cousin Jeff that was the craziest thing I’d ever heard in my life, I’d written the book with an editor who happened to be a friend, not a family member. 

I even called my editor to tell him just how crazy my cousin Jeff was!  Not fifteen minutes later the editor called back to say he’d checked with his aunt (his family historian who happened to be a genealogist) and it was indeed a fact that we were related.  Our great great grandfathers were brothers.  How wild was that!  I humbly called my very sane cousin Jeff to tell him what a brilliant family historian he was!  Families do have the most wonderful stories to tell, we all just need to be quiet and listen.

Do you have a family heritage story to tell?  Have you created a family history or heritage page or scrapbook?  Please share it with us. And if it turns out we are related? I promise not to call you crazy!

I often write about professional crafting including all aspects of selling your crafts, but sometimes it helps to see the work of a professional crafter to get a true understanding of the joys and creativity of selling your work.  Our guest blogger Jennifer from Peachy Pendants, is a professional selling her work to the public.  She’s quite gifted and her work is colorful!  She’s going to share how to make a scrabble tile pendant.  Enjoy.

 

Hi.  I’m Jennifer from Peachy Pendants.  I make handcrafted Scrabble Tile Pendants.  I love Scrabble Tile Pendants because they are unique and fun to make.  Today I’m going to share with you the fun and easy process so you can make your own!

Supplies Needed:                                 

Scrabble Tile                        

Silver Plated Bail                       

Decorative Paper                                   

Diamond Glaze

E6000 Jewelry Adhesive

Scissors

Pen or Pencil

Paint Brush (optional)

Step 1:

Select the paper you would like to use for your pendant.  You could use scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or even a greeting card.  Simply trace around one of the Scrabble tiles and cut out, making sure to cut the paper just slightly larger than the tile.

 

Step 2:

Next spread a small drop of Diamond Glaze adhesive onto the blank side of a Scrabble tile.  You can use a paint brush or just spread the glaze around with the tip of the bottle.  Then place your cut out paper onto the tile.  (Make sure the letter on the back isn’t upside down.)  Let it dry for 10 to 20 minutes.

Step 3:

Once the adhesive is dry, hold the Scrabble tile so the letter faces you and the paper is on the other side.  Use scissors to carefully trim the excess paper off so that the paper fits the tile exactly.

Step 4:

Next, apply a generous coat of Diamond Glaze to seal the paper and give your pendant a glossy glass like shine.  It’s best not to use a paint brush for this step but to just spread the glaze with the tip of the bottle.  If any bubbles form just pop them with the back of your paint brush or slide them off of the tile.  Now let it dry for at least 4 hours.

Step 5:

Apply a few drops of E6000 Jewelry Adhesive to the silver bail and attach it to the back (letter side) of your Scrabble tile.  Make sure that the bail is exactly centered.

Let the bail dry for a couple of hours and you are ready to enjoy your handmade Scrabble Tile Pendant!

Here are a few of my designs…

You can check out more of my pendants at www.peachypendants.etsy.com.  Peachy Pendants is also giving away a free pendant to one lucky Think Crafts reader.  To enter, simply leave a comment on this post by October 31, and one winner will be randomly selected and contacted via email.  The winner will get one free pendant of their choice from Peachy Pendant’s shop.

Calling this meeting to order… Welcome to the first meeting of the Think Crafts! Kit Club where we talk about kits we’ve enjoyed! And each month one lucky club member will win the kit of the month!  See below for details…

There is nothing better in life than a great crafting kit!  Because of my love of kits I’ve decided to hold a monthly club meeting just for us kit junkies.  Kits are a great way to learn a new craft or technique.  Kits can also be perfect for taking on a long car trip or vacation. And kits make great gifts for family and friends!

Please feel free to post a comment or tell us about a kit you’ve enjoyed.   I don’t have many photos for our first club meeting, but please keep coming back as I hope to be able to add more visuals and maybe even a video or two!

Colonial I Felt Creative Felt By Number Kit

When this kit arrived, I ripped it open and started immediately.  I’m a felt fanatic and I loved the wonderful colors of the roving.  The kit is very complete with roving, two felting needles, design transfers, and excellent instructions.  The Colonial Needle Co. was a real leader in bringing back this traditional craft in a hip and innovative way.

You are given the design transfers (left) and the actual size felt by number pattern to match.

You can make 4 different mini stocking: snowman and star, bell, poinsettia, and holly.  You transfer the pattern onto fabric (acrylic or wool fabrics are recommended) or onto a sweatshirt, hat, or even a guest towel!  The instruction booklet gives you plenty of ideas.  The felting instructions are easy to follow so no worries if you are a beginner.  I’ve been felting for almost 4 years now and I learned quite a few new things including how to get rid of needle marks on the finished design (a spritz of water to the back and a little ironing!).

I really liked that the kit included the felting needles.  I usually have some handy, but it’s nice to start a project with a fresh sharp felting needle.  A foam board is included to work on.  Another big bonus in using this kit is that I can use the transfer designs several times.

Kit includes all the roving shown, plus the foam board and 2 felting needles.

I highly recommend this kit to anyone who wants to give felting a try without investing in all the supplies needed separately (it can add up!).  I also recommend this kit to anyone who enjoys felting and wants a specific project to make.  It’s a real time saver. You can easily adapt the patterns to create ornaments, a pretty touch to a sweatshirt, or as a pin!

I give this kit a five glue gun salute!

 

 
Would you like to win this Felt By Numbers kit?
Be the first person to e-mail me at Maria@thinkcrafts.com and this Felt By Numbers kit will be yours.  I will reply back to the first e-mailer requesting a mailing address.  Please don’t post any personal information on Think Crafts!

This contest is closed, the winner has been shipped the kit. Thanks to everyone who e-mailed in!