On Newstands Now...Faux Cathedral Window Table-runner

I am so very excited about the fresh look Craft ideas has launched this year. New features new look more issues!! It looks and feels fabulous. Go grab a copy and curl up with it in your comfy reading spot it is soo worth the time. My first project in the newly reworked Craft ideas is this fun Faux Cathedral Window Table-runner, the fresh spring fabrics from Riley Blake and fabulous distressed linen from my favorite linen source. I can't wait to have it back home on my own table!

Look for this project on page 12 of the Spring Craft ideas magazine for full instructions.

scattered banners a

 

welcome to my leg of the May Arts/ Faber Castelle Blog hop. I know I have been inspired but the offerings by the talented designers I hope you feel the same. As a quick reminder don't forget to head over to May Arts and comment for your chance to win the fabulous prizes. The giveaway - $50 prize pack of FC goodies and 3 rolls of May Arts Ribbon! How amazingly fun is that!!

I just love the color and texture of the gelatos on the book pages especially because it doesn't cover up the words. I played with many different options...blending colors and adding more ribbon...but in the end the simplicity of this card made me smile.  I hadn't intended to use the negative banners when I started but I just couldn't resist once I punched the flags. The flexibility of the products will lead to more and more projects but for today... this makes me happy.

This is what I used....

May Arts

1/8 in silk ribbon, SK10 - BLACK

Faber Caster

Gelatos Designer Colors - Tropical (#770162)
Stamper's Big White Pen (#770013) 

Other supplies:

Card stock
banner punch
mask (for the dots)
sponge
old book pages

If you missed a step in the journey here is a map to help you find your way.

Monday

Emily Lanham

Gini Williams Cagle

Jen Shears

Tuesday

Jenifer Cowles

Tiffin Mills

Wednesday

Karen Baker

Lalo IK

Mallika Kejriwal

Thursday

Mary Brockway

Rhea Weigand

Friday

Jennifer Davey <<<<< you are here

Tracy McLennon

Karen Hanson

Love is in bloom

Sometimes I need an excuse to make something make something decorative for my house. I don't do alot of "selfish sewing" or crafting for that matter. I was asked to make center pieces for a church function...a gathering of ladies...I was sent several links to web picks with twigs and hanging hearts, since the theme was Valentines Day it seemed appropriate. Of course I had to change it up a little, make it my own. My intent when going to the fabric store was to find simple valentine holiday cottons with hearts but when I got there their clearance table was all marked down to $2.95 of lower! When I found this fabulous wool fabric normally $30+ dollars a yard I couldn't help myself and abandoned all notions of using novelty cottons.

Once I had the victories shopping trip complete it was time to get my hearts underway.

All you need is:

fabric

cotton batting

ribbon

thread (I used a heavier weight thread for impact)

 

 These hearts are as simple as 1, 2, 3.

1. cut the hearts from fabric and batting, 2 fabric pieces for each batting piece.

2. pin in ribbon loop.

3. sew around the edges about 1/8 in from the edge.

Then onto the jars.

I painted the canning jar with chalky paint, Micheal's has quite a few options in chalky paints, at least 3 brands and about a dozen or so colors. After the pant dried I hit the high points with a little sand paper and gave the jar a distressed look. I filled the jars with twigs and tied some of my favorite May Arts ribbons around the neck. Grossgrain Stripe, Velvet and Crochet lace.

They looked awesome on the tables at the event and now I have this cuteness at my house! 

win win win

What shall I hang from the branches next?

Etched Banner

A little glass etched banner swag trimming the top of a jar will be the perfect gift when filled with ooodles of heart shaped jellybeans.  I abandoned all my die cuts, punches and electric cutters for a wax pencil and an hobby knife! I know I know with such amazing tools at hand why on earth abandon them! But sometimes you just have to flex those crafting muscles and show the other tools that you got this you don't have to rely on them for every job, yes you still love them, but you got this! They will understand I'm sure.

This is what you need:

Etchall Creme

etchmask

etchall squeegee 

wax pencil

etchall stencil cut/pick knife or hobby knife

Glass container

&

about 20 minutes!

1. (this is not the normal start but works great when contouring to the shape of a roundish or odd shaped item) Adhere etchmask to cleaned glass container, draw design on mask with wax pencil. 

2. Cut design along drawn lines with wax pencil, a sharpie could work too but I liked the flexibility of the wax pencil that I could rub off and fix my design as I desired, remove areas of mask to be etched using etchall Detail Pick Tool. Smooth to make sure all edges of mask are tight to the glass.

3. Spread Etchall cream over design area liberally with etchall squeegee. Follow directions on the bottle to complete etched design. 

Don't forget to save the creme you can scrap off your project before you rinse...put it right back in the bottle!! You can use it again and again! Etchall is kinda a magic potion that turns your design to realitity...realistically it's science making art but I like the reveal...feels more like magic to me. ;)