Think Crafts Blog – Craft Ideas and Projects – CreateForLess

By Guest Blogger Jenny, from the blog a bird in the hand.

I have a confession. I’m dreaming of writing a craft book. As much as I enjoy making finished products, I’m happiest when sitting at my craft table, dreaming up new projects. It must be the scientist in me but I just love experimenting. So I’m thinking of writing a book. Which means I am putting lots of extra time into craft experiments and tutorials. With that in mind, here is another one of my crafty experiments. Enjoy.

As you may know, I love playing with shrinky dink. I had so much fun dreaming up the woven shrinky dink bracelet. This time, I took it to the next level and incorporated another childhood favorite, Perler beads. To start, draw out the shape of an artist’s palette on white shrinky dink. You can freehand it if you feel confident, otherwise just print and trace.

Cut it out and then cut out the thumb hole. I used a hole punch and then scissors to enlarge the whole a bit. I also punched a whole to hang it from but later realized this was irrelevant; it melted away.

Bake your shrinky dink at 325 degrees F to shrink it.  Now take it out of the oven and crank the temperature up to 375 degrees F.  Arrange your Perler beads around the palette; these will be your paint blobs.

Okay. Now put it all back in the oven and be careful not to knock the Perler beads over. It took about 20min for my beads to melt into blobs. During this time, you will notice that your shrinky dink starts to melt around the edges. That’s fine. Shrinky dink can be cooked at a temperature of 450 degrees F to fuse the pieces together and that typically involves a little melting. [Note- I baked mine on parchment paper, but you may want to use a glass baking dish. According to the directions, shrinky dink needs to be fused on a glass dish. I noticed that my parchment paper baked into a nice tan color at 375 so I probably will try glass next time.]

Once melted, remove from oven and let cool. See what I mean about the small hole I punched melting away? That’s fine though because you can use your thumb hole to attach a chain with a jump ring.

That’s it!  All done.  Now put on your necklace and take some awkward modeling shots of yourself where your head is cut off.  Perfect.

By Cardmaking & Scrapbook Layout Contributor, Peg from the blog Peg’s Crafting Corner.

After a while we tend to start giving our layouts the same look or have the same sized pictures so they start looking like the ones we’ve done before. The same numbers of embellishments are on each one, everything is smooth on it or has only one layer to it and they become boring.  How do we change this? 

 I started thinking about the things I’ve learned and used it to create this layout.  One of the first things I was taught is it is more pleasing to the eye to have 6 to 7 items in a grouping.  If you notice in nature flowers most often have 5 or 6 of petals on them and that’s what makes them pleasing to the eye.  For the layout, I grouped 7 flowers using the Que Sera Sera Cardstock and Acetate Die Cuts by K & Co. together.  One thing to note is most packages of embellishments contain an even number of items so it is always best to buy 2 packages so you have that odd number in case you want it. 

Another way to give your layout its own personality, is to give it texture even if it’s on the paper you are using.  Here I was able to match the dots of the Watercolor Bouquet Paper Pad to the Wild Raspberry Flowers and Butterflies patterned paper (the backside of the paper is the one I used) for my layout.  I also added more texture by running my letters through the Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder which helped take away the smooth, plainness of the paper.  The background paper is already smooth so by creating a texture on the letters it will help tie it all together. 

Layering items and adding items of different sizes including pictures layered on other pieces of paper will add more of a visual effect to the layouts.  Something sticking up off the page always draws attention. A photo lifted off the paper or chipboard pieces such as the butterfly from the Abrianna Chipboard Chipbox by K & Co. are great things to use to add dimension.    

One of the most important elements to creating a scrapbook layout is color.  If the colors are inviting to the eye the more time that is spent looking it over and enjoying it.  Too many colors that don’t flow together can be too overwhelming.  A good rule to go by is to pull the colors from the photos.  There doesn’t need to be a lot of different colors in the photo, but even 2 colors that are utilized are a good starting point.  Remember that you can also choose just a couple of colors and do various hues of those colors to add interest like I did with this layout. 

Remembering these 4 simple things will help you in giving your layouts a personality of their own.

By Guest Blogger Jenny, from the blog a bird in the hand.

Here is a tutorial for creating and using your own fabric stamp. The fabric stamp I made was carved out of an eraser. The only supplies you’ll need are an eraser, craft knife and fabric paint. I used an owl charm to help create my design, you can use a stencil or free-hand a drawing to stamp.

Start with an eraser. I chose to cut the stamp in half since I was making a smaller stamp.

Sketch out your design with a pencil. I traced an owl charm on mine. I kept it fairly basic so that it would be easy to carve.

Using whatever knife or carving tools you have, start cutting away at the eraser. I found it easy to slice down around the design and then into the side of the eraser.

Continue working until you have cut out the whole design. Now start stamping! Do a few practice ones on paper to start. I chose to stamp on some fabric bags I had on hand but it was challenging to stamp on the uneven surface.

 You can leave it like that or do what I did next and trace around your design. I wanted to add details and let the whole piece pop a bit more.

By Craft Celebrity Mark Montano, from the blog Mark Montano’s Big Ass Blog.

This is probably one of my favorite projects to make since I’m always finding terrific glass dishes that need sprucing up a bit. A little lace, a little spray paint and you’ve got something amazing. Add some adhesive felt on the back if you’re going to hang plates as wall decor, or use it as a pretty patterned tray.

You’ll need:

• Krylon Fusion Spray Paint (It’s the best for this project!)
• Newspaper for your workspace
• Lace in different patterns
• Spray Adhesive (love the stuff!)
• Krylon Clear Coat
• Sticky felt to protect the back if it’s just decorative.

Here’s How:

Step 1.  Cut a piece of lace larger than your plate so that it covers all the edges of the plate.

Step 2. Spray your lace with the Spray Adhesive and stick it to the back of the glass plate so that all of the lace is sticking to the plate.

Step 3. Lightly spray paint over the entire plate. Gently remove the lace after the paint is dry.

Step 4. Spray the entire back of the plate with another color of spray paint. Choose contrasting colors for the most impact.

Step 5. Spray several coats of clear coat on the BACK of the plate to protect the spray paint.  Wait 10 minutes in between each coat.

By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.

Most of the time, light switch plates are fairly boring and come in only solid colors or metallic. One way to spice them up and tailor them to the room is to decorate them yourself. You’ll only need a few materials to make them look exactly the way you wish.

What you’ll need:

• Light switch plates
• Mod Podge
• Patterned paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Box cutter

Step 1. Choose the light switch plate you need, then pick out the patterned paper you want covering it. I opted for a vintage map from Washington.

Step 2. Flip the light switch plate face down, then trace the edges including the spaces in the center onto the back of the patterned paper.

Step 3. Cut the piece out with scissors, then use a box cutter to cut out the inside shapes so it’s easier to make an accurate cut.

Step 4. Cover the face of the switch plate with Mod Podge, then attach your piece on top smoothing it down as you go along. Give it ample time to dry.

Step 5. Cover the surface with another coat of Mod Podge, but move quickly so it doesn’t start to dry as you’re going along.

Step 6. Using Mod Podge on your finger, go along the edge to smooth down the paper.

Step 7. Give it at least a day to dry before you use it.

By Guest Blogger Diane, from the blog Charmingly Creative.

 Here is a quick and easy Punch Art Bunny to make for Easter. I made this hippity hoppity bunny for an Easter card using various sizes of heart and oval paper punches. I have included an example of a card where I used the Bunny as the focal point.

What you’ll need:

• Martha Stewart Confetti Heart punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers 1″ Scallop Circle punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers ¾” X 1½” Oval punch
• EK Success Paper Shapers 1.25″ x 2″ Oval punch
• Fiskars XL Heart punch
• EK Paper Shapers Punch Medium Circle 3/4″
• Fiskars ¼” Circle punch
• Pink, Dark Brown and Tan cardstock
• Darice 10mm Wiggly eyes
• Scissors
• Self-healing cutting mat
• Art Institute clear Glitter glue and/or Glue Dots

Instructions:

Punch the following from:

Dark Brown Cardstock

• Four ¾” X 1½” Oval
• Two Hearts
• One 1″ Scallop Circle

Pink Cardstock

• Two ¾” X 1½” Oval
• Two 1.25″ x 2″ Oval
• Six ¼” Circles
• One Confetti Heart (use larger heart)

 Tan Cardstock

• Two ¾” Circles

To assembly glue Pink ¾” X 1½” Ovals slightly below brown ones for ears. Glue small Pink ovals to bottom of each foot and then glue three ¼” Circles to top of each foot. To create the Bunny head flip Heart upside down so the pointy end is facing the top and then glue Tan circles slightly overlapping each other on lower part of Heart and glue small Pink Heart in center for nose then attach eyes. Glue ears behind head.

To create body take second Heart right side up and glue head on top. Then trim 1″ Scallop Circle in half placing halves together and rounding the cut edge with scissors trimming off a little of the scallop to create two small hands, glue to body near bottom of head. To complete Bunny attach feet on either side.

I have included an example of a card where I used the Bunny as the focal point.

By Craft Celebrity Mark Montano, from the blog Mark Montano’s Big Ass Blog.

My friend Peter has a huge clock in his kitchen with a collage of his friends. It was my inspiration for this very large wall clock. Sending special thanks to all of my friends for their endless inspiration today.

YOU’LL NEED:

• Plastic box frame that is 18″x24″
• Image that is enlarged to 18″x24″
• Florescent orange Krylon spray paint
• Contact paper
• Scissors *FISKARS make the best scissors (and their Teflon blade is perfect for cutting sticky stuff!)
• Craft knife
• Clock that you can take apart
• Drill and 3/8″ drill bit
• Spray adhesive
• Clear packing tape

HERE’S HOW:

1. Enlarge your image to 18×24. Staples can do this easily for a few bucks. *This image is from a Dover book with mortised images that are perfect for clocks.

2. Place your image inside the frame to decide where you want your clock to be placed.

3. Drill a hole in the frame for your clock parts.

 4. With your image inside the frame cut out your oval in contact paper to use as your stencil for the florescent paint. *I cut out leaves and clovers and added them to the oval so that it would have some interest.  I placed one on the lower right corner and randomly.

5. Peel and stick your oval and your flourishes to the frame.

6. Spray paint the frame with the Krylon florescent paint and let dry for 5 minutes and carefully remove the contact paper. If you’re having a hard time getting it off, take the tip of your craft knife to lift an edge.

7. Place the cardboard inset inside your frame and cut out a hole in the area where your clock parts will fit.  My clock was square so I traced it and cut out the exact size.

 8. Spray mount your image to the cardboard inset and put it inside of the box frame.

 11. Tape your clock in place with packing tape.

12. Put on your clock hands and you’re done just in time.