Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Masculine Birthday Card

I am so excited about my new Multi-Mat from KellyCraft! It fits my Laser Square perfectly and I love that I can use it for stamping, cutting, measuring, etc. I couldn't wait to make a project using it! Since I live in a house with 5 guys and just 2 of us girls, it seems like I never have enough birthday cards for guys. So today I decided to make a masculine birthday card. This task proved to be challenging, since I tend to buy more "girlie" paper. I went with more neutral tones and I figured trees and wood grain were masculine. 




Supplies:  
Huntington Paperpack -  Close To My Heart 
Frosted Cardmaking WOTG, Huntington WOTG, & Say It In Style Stamp Sets - Close To My Heart
Cocoa & Champagne Cardstock - Close To My Heart 
Antique Copper Brads, Wooden Button, & Waxy Flax - Close To My Heart 
Cocoa Ink Pad -Close To My Heart 
Scotch ATG 
Glue Dots 
Pop Dots

1. First I gathered my supplies.




2. Next, I stamped all of my images on cardstock. Using the Laser Square with my acrylic blocks made it easy to get everything lined up perfectly.  




3. Then, I matted each of the stamped images using the Laser Square and the Multi-Mat to line up each of the mats.  




4. I started with a 6" x 6" card base and added several layers of cardstock and patterned papers in neutral tones.



5. Using my Laser Square and Multi-Mat, I began layering the stamped images.




6. I then added a stamped sentiment in the lower right hand corner of the card.


7. Finally, I added a few embellishments to give it a more finished look. 




I have loved how simple it is to line everything up using my KellyCraft Laser Square, and when you add in the Multi-Mat it makes it so easy to quickly make the perfect card everytime! 

Monday, December 30, 2013

Hope Springs Eternal

The Banners of Hope project will be displayed in traveling exhibitions such as hospitals and nursing homes.

The Craft and Hobby Convention and Tradeshow (CHA) is coming up really soon in Anaheim, California. All the best vendors will be there to show professional designers, instructors and store owners the latest and greatest in crafting supplies.

Unfortunately, I won't be attending, missing my first CHA event since I joined many years ago, but thanks to Charity Wings, I'll be able to participate in at least one part of the show. If you don't know about Charity Wings, click here and see one of the most amazing, selfless, charitable, giving group women I've ever met.

This year, Charity Wings is sponsoring Banners of Hope. The CHA Designer Members were invited to participate, providing  8" x 12" mixed media pieces which will be hung banner-fashion in the Charity Wings booth, so if you're attending, please be sure to stop by. You will be able to create your own banner on the spot, and these will become part of a mobile display, bringing art and hope to people who need it most.

The technique I chose to use is more of a fine art technique which I learned years ago from the extraordinary artist Louise Cadillac.

Part of my working background is being an electrical engineering draftsman for a utility company. I later became their graphic design artist, which reinforced the urge to keep things good and straight. That's why I was so happy when KellyCraft came out with the fabulous Get-It-Straight Laser Square and Docking Station. I didn't need a drafting table or t-square or straight edge clamped to a table anymore, plus it's portable and lightweight. It's one tool I can't do without. Now, back to the drawing board blog post.

Being able to keep my words straight with theGet-It-Straight Laser Square and docking station makes this a piece of cake to put together. I used it to not only keep the words straight, but also to form the folded edges of the banner fabric to the right size.

This technique can be used with photos, words, entire sentences, whatever you want to put on a canvas, paper or just about any other base. The catch: you can only use transparent acrylic paint. No craft paint, no "I'll-use-this-Ultramarine-Blue-because-I-already-have-it-and-it-looks-like-Pthalo-Blue" excuses. Transparent colors are the only way to do it, and I prefer Golden Acrylics. They may be a little more, but if you respect your work, you should use the best you can afford. You can use the small bottles of liquid or the larger tubes.

You can add as many layers as you like for this project. I have done paintings with as many as 40-50 layers. This piece was only made with about five layers.

Here's the quick and easy version if this technique:

Supplies
  • Canvas or paper banner, approximately 12" x 18"
  • KellyCraft Get-It-Straight Laser Square and Docking Station
  • Golden Acrylics: Matte Gel Medium, Nickel Azo Yellow, Quinacridone Magenta and Pthalo Blue
  • Computer printout of phrase
  • Foam rubber stamp, leaf
  • Harlequin Stencil, Crafter's Workshop
  • Aleene's OK to Wash It and Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue
  • Workable Fixative or Krylon Triple Thick Glaze
  • Tools: scissors, sponges, brushes, pencil, white gesso

Tips: Be sure to allow all coats of paint to dry before adding another. This applies to the whole project. You can use a hair dryer to speed up the process, but it could dull your colors.


Note: Before I began painting, I folded all the edges of the canvas and made the 2" hanging pocket at the top of the banner.
I put the straightest canvas edge against the right side of the Laser Square to get started and set the laser line at 2" from the top. I drew the line with a pencil, then folded and pressed it into place.

For the second fold, I lined up the first fold along the right side of the Laser Square. I continued this for the remaining edges to perfectly line up my edges and I had my 8" x 12" banner.
Note that I did not make the folded edges the same width. Since my project was limited to 8" x 12", I made my measurements by making sure my surface was the proper size. I trimmed the excess canvas and glued the edges with Aleene's Flexible Stretchable Fabric Glue, making sure to leave the sides of the 2" pocket edge (shown being measured in this photo) open for hanging.

 

 Now to get down to the fun stuff!

I first coated the canvas with a 50/50 mixture of matte gel medium and water. After drying, I brushed on a coat of Nickel Azo Yellow, using a paper towel and bubble wrap to remove some of the paint and add texture. When that dried, I added Quinacridone Magenta to the right side and Pthalo Blue to the left, blending in the center, but allowing some of the Nickel Azo Yellow to show through. Once again, I applied bubble wrap and paper towels to remove some of the paint to allow more of the yellow base to come through.

After the paint dried, I applied turquoise acrylic to the stamp then stamped randomly to create more texture.
I used a stencil and sponged more turquoise paint over part of the background. Anything you can add to create texture will work. If your piece gets too dark, apply some elements with white gesso, then paint over them with acrylics to tone down the brightness.

Print the phrase and spray the front with either workable fixative or Krylon Triple Thick Glaze. This prevents the ink jet ink from bleeding when you add the adhesive. Trim out the letters of HOPE, leaving a 3/16" border and tear the remaining portions of the phrase to reveal a white edge. Line up where you want the word HOPE. Before you add it to the piece, be sure to coat the back of each letter and phrase with Aleene's OK to Wash It. This will be your adhesive to apply the letters and will keep the paper from buckling when you add paint. Once all papers are adhered, place a piece of wax paper over the banner and roll it with a brayer to make sure all the paper is smooth. Let this dry, then coat the front of the paper with Ok to Wash It as well. Allow to dry, then apply a finish coat of Nickel Azo Yellow to the entire piece.

This was so much fun to create, and I hope it brings a smile to some faces. What about you? What would you use the KellyCraft Get-It-Straight-Laser Square and docking station to create?

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas from KellyCraft

Everyone here at 
KellyCraft Innovations
wishes all of you a very

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 23, 2013

KellyCraft Bundle Offer plus FREE Shipping

Now is the time for Shopping at KellyCraft Innovations.com We have got a LIMITED TIME ONLY (thru December 31st)  - Laser Square / Multi-Mat Bundle $89.95 ! Use Coupon Code BUN2013. Plus FREE SHIPPING for purchases over $50!


You heard that right, get both:





The Get-It-Straight Laser Square and

Multi Mat
For the bundle price of $89.95 with FREE Shipping

Friday, December 20, 2013

JOY Banner with EZ-De's Flourish Alphabet Stamps

You still have time to create a quick and easy banner for the holidays using the EZ-De's 2" Flourish Alphabet Stamps.

"Joy Banner"

 Materials:
Ann Butler's EZ-De's Flourish 2" ABC's by KellyCraft Innovations
Ann Butler's EZ-De's 3" Tri Triangle Set A by KellyCraft Innovations
Ann Butler Crafters Ink by Clearsnap: Aquamarine & Limelight
Makin's Clay®, White
Ribbon: May Arts
Removable Picture Hangers: VELCRO® Brand
12" x 12" Decorative Paper: (2)
Floss
 
Tools:
Makin's Clay® Roller, Makin's Clay® Cutter, Westcott Brand Non Stick Scissors, Westcott Brand Paper Trimmer, Beacon Adhesives Tacky Glue, Acrylic block, Needle, Q-tips, Decorative Scissors.

Cut paper 2" x 12" so you have 6 of them.
Use paper trimmer with scoring blade and score every 1/2", fold.
Glue two ends together, pierce with needle about 1/4" from one bottom edge,
run needle and thread through.

Pull thread together tightly to form circles, glue ends together,
repeat to make three, set aside.

Stamp three triangles with Aquamarine onto 2nd sheet of paper.
Use decorative scissor to trim around stamped images,
leaving about a 1/4" around, set aside.

Roll out clay to about 1/8" thick.

Ink up your letters with limelight, use q-tip to remove
excess ink if it gets onto the acrylic block....because you are making 
an impression into the clay you want this clean.
Stamp out all of your letters

and cut them out.
Assemble and glue the pieces together, let dry.

Glue ribbon to the back sides of your letters.
Make two bows and glue onto the ends of the ribbon.

 Use VELCRO® removable hangers to attach to the wall.

This is something that can be created for any words
creating a banner for any occassion!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Wrapped & Ready Holiday Card




Designed by Cindi Bisson - Behind These Eyes™

This holiday card comes together quickly with the help of the KellyCraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square, making it a great option for a last minute card for someone special.

Materials: 

KellyCraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square
EZ-De's™ Stamps - Star Set A
Multi-Mat™
Green and red card stock
Plaid patterned paper 
1/4" green organza ribbon
Dark green ink pad
Blumenthal Lansing Favorite Findings Gift Buttons
Beacon Adhesives Zip-Dry Paper Glue
Foam squares 
Scissors, paper trimmer

Instructions: 

Cut green cardstock to create 6 3/4” x 4” card. 
Ink triangle EZ-De’s stamp with dark green ink, stamp on to each of four corners of front of card.  



Cut red cardstock to 3 1/2” x 6”.

Cut plaid patterned paper to 5 1/2” x 3 1/4”.

Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align red cardstock and plaid paper and mount to center of card. 




Remove shanks from 3 Blumenthal Lansing gift buttons.  

Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align buttons in center of front, mount with foam squares. 



Cut 2 strips of ribbon 4 1/2” and 2 strips 6 1/2”.  


Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to ensure each piece is straight and mount to surround gifts as shown.  


Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Pocket Full of Snowflakes

Created by Lisa Rojas, Stampin' Queen Creations
Give The Queen A Call!

Before the holiday season is over I wanted to share one more quick and easy card.  This card may look difficult but it really is easy to create.  You'll see in my photos that not only did I use the Get-it-Straight Laser Square but I also used the new Multi Mat from KellyCraft Innovations.

The Multi Mat works hand in hand with the Get-it-Straight Laser Square.  It will take your projects to a whole new level and making all of your layering and adding embellishments an absolute breeze!

Pocket Full of Snowflakes
Finished Card- 6" x 6"

Materials

Cardstock- Aqua, Blue
Pattern Papers- Striped, Snowflake
Various Snowflake Stickers
Word Stickers
Pearl Stickers
White Doily
Light Blue Fibers
Snowflake Brad

Instructions
Gather all of your supplies
Cut aqua cardstock 6" x 12" and fold in half.  This
is the base card.  Cut blue cardstock and both
pattern papers 5 3/4" x 5 3/4".

Place pattern paper on the Multi Mat and using
the Get-it-Straight Laser Square align pattern paper
onto the base card and glue together.
Glue blue cardstock to snowflake pattern paper.
Using the Distrezz-it-all machine, distress the
edges of the papers.

Fold the left corner of the snowflake paper down
and attach the blue brad.  Glue the snowflake papers
to base card leaving a small pocket.  Glue the doily
and blue fibers into the pocket.

Adhere the snowflake stickers to the card.
Use the Get-it-Straight Laser Square, adhere
the Winter Wonderland sticker to card.

Next, adhere the pearl stickers.

Adhere the small snowflake stickers to upper right
side of the card.
And add the other two snowflake stickers to the
left side of the card.

Close up of the snowflake pocket.