Shopping Our Stash #245 - Something for the Big or Biggest Boy

This week,at Shopping Our Stash, Alica is hosting and she wants us to create a masculine card.  I feel badly about presenting a work in progress, but I am still working on this card for my son's birthday.  I hope to have updated pictures later in the week.

My son is a Systems Engineer and sometimes has to come up with extremely "creative" solutions for his clients.  Tight budgets and grand expectations have to be balanced to create systems that are functional and cost effective.  Sometimes he has to think way outside the box!

 I used WRMK's Next Level Embossing folder to create the basket weave.  Then I rubbed Rub N' Buff Grecian and Autumn Gold across the front and buffed it to a shine.  I tried to get the "golden glitter" on camera but failed.  Maybe I can talk my photographer into taking pictures tomorrow.

Shopping Our Stash - Cuckoo For You: Use Clocks

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Good Morning, Good Afternoon, and Good Evening!
CRAFTY PEEPS!
I am hosting the challenge this week at Shopping Our Stash and the theme I chose was
Cuckoo For You - Use Clocks
You can use clocks, stickers, stamps, charms, etc.
The project I created was inspired by Suzna of My Butterfly Kisses.  I have saved three tuna cans since January 6th when I first saw her project.  We always buy the small cans, so I knew I would have to make some adjustments...but I like challenges.

I started the project, planning to follow the tutorial and fabricate the clock parts; however, once I began, it occurred to me that it might be fun to use the Tim Holtz Alterations™ Tick Tock Die.

I cut five shapes from corrugated cardboard to get the depth I wanted in my frame. 

I found these cute birds in my embellishment cup and decided to add them to the front.

The Rub 'n Buff® Ruby Red, Autumn Gold and Patina achieved the look I wanted.

I used Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up™Huckleberry Cobbler as the base color, and Americana Decor® Chalky Finish™ Serene on the back.

To achieve the rusted metal look desired, I applied:  Americana® Dazzling Metallics "Glorious Gold," "Splendid Gold," and "Festive Green."  I also used Rub 'n Buff® "Patina," "Ruby Red," "Grecian Gold," and "Autumn Gold."

There was really no rhyme or reason in how I applied these mediums.  I just kept working with them until I was pleased with the result.  I buffed my metallic wax layers, but if you want a more rustic look, do not buff.  The frame braces were created using two latch die cuts from the Alterations® Hardware Findings.  I used lightweight chipboard to cut the latches.

Deciding on the contents of my clock was a major decision.  I never CASE another designer' project exactly.  Usually, I will take the basic idea (Tuna Can) and then go off in a totally different direction.  (I actually have another tuna can project I'm working on that I think will be great fun.)  In this case, I wanted to stay with the clock theme, so I looked through my metal embellishments and came up with these clock pieces.  After that, I just grabbed flowers, berries, etc., and put them where ever they fit. 

I painted the inside of the can to match the oxidized metal appearance of the outside.

It was necessary to elevate my clock works since my acetate window would stop at the beads and washers that cover the part of the legs that extend inside the can.  I used a plastic bottle cap to do this.

I cut a piece of designer paper to serve as a background and adhered everything with Locktite® Super Glue™  I added a few gears, flowers berries and brads.

Once I decided on my clock face, I added some bling and a brad and then attached the acetate window.  I used super glue to hold everything down.

When I added the bottle cap to my clock, I also secured it by adding this metal wind up key and securing it with a nut from one of my nut and bolt sets.

The rear rest was made using a Tim Holtz Alterations® Game Piece

My teammies created some fabulous projects for your inspiration.  

Stop by and leave a little love!

CHRIS

BARBARA

JESSI

DEENA

LAUREN

DONNA

ALICA

Hugz,

Chana

DecoArt - A Place To Start - Challenge #10 - A Stationery Ensemble

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

This week, over at A PLACE TO START, I am featuring Stationery Ensembles.  A Place To Start is an information blog that I started, most to help new crafters.  Sometimes I will post new projects and tutorials, and other times, I post archival projects.  In both cases, the idea is to help crafters explore projects that take them outside Cards and Scrap Pages.

This project, allows me to kill three birds with one stone.  

The Step Out Tutorial and Supply List are found  HERE

1. Create a different kind of project for the Deco Art Blogger Outreach Program and to create Stationery which is my first love.  I got into crafting because I enjoyed creating social stationery for family and friends.  Wedding Cabs, Church Bulletins, Graduation Invitations, etc., were all grist for my crafting mill.  
2. Create A Step Out Tutorial for A Place To Start
3. Repurpose a Corrugated Cardboard Box, a Salad Dressing Bottle, and an Aluminum Cashew Nut Canister (Recycling, reusing and recovering paper products is another of my passions.  Save the environment)

THE PORTIA ENSEMBLE

My goal with the top of this box was to create a faux marble effect.  I used tissue paper to create the texture that I wanted.  I layered paint and varnish until I achieved the desired result.  IRL it looks more like marble.  This box started life as packaging for a TH Distress Ink™ Bundle (Amazon)

ALL BOTTLED UP!

The Graphic 45 Gilded Lilly Collection was perfect for this upcycled salad dressing bottle turned vase.  I embossed the belly band using one of the new WRMK Next Level Embossing Folders.

NUTS ABOUT YORK PEPPERMINT PATTIES

These cans are so easy to alter and can be used to store a variety of items.

Portia loves York Peppermint Patties so I just had to put a few in this tin.  

She can store whatever she likes in here when the candy is gone!

HUGZ!

CHANA

Earth Safe Finishes - Altered Primitive Lap Desk

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

I am so excited to share my monthly project for Earth Safe Finishes™!  It seems as though time has flown by and I can't believe that the 2015 Team year will end in May.  The products are wonderful to work with and they are VOC free.  The range of colors and selection of products is diverse and the price points are reasonable and comparable with the marketplace.

I remain in the throes of my love affair with ESF Chalk It Up™ Licorice and Blood Orange Sorbet

Last month, I created the "Artsy" Chalkboard.  This month, I finally worked up the nerve to paint my Primitive Lap Desk.  I have held on to this desk for over six years until my artistic ego overruled my sense of preservation.  The Hubster loves it and that makes everything just perfect

Hope you like it as well.

Information on the supplies used in this project can be found at:

EARTH SAFE FINISHES ARTISTS BLOG

I can use this as a chalkboard

Or, I can use it as a writing table by just slipping in my reversible blotter!

IN THE BEGINNING

 This is the primitive desk in it's original wood finish!

I even painted pencils to match!

Hope you like the transformation.  By the way, you can see the complete line of Ann Butler Designs™Iridescent Paints at Earth Safe Finishes.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shopping Our Stash - Challenge #243 - Oh Me Lucky Stars

Hello, Crafty Leprechauns!

Chris is hosting the challenge this week at Shopping Our Stash 

 She has challenged us to:

MAKE A ST. PATRICK'S DAY PROJECT

OR

Use A Charm(s), or Use The Color Green Predominately

  I did not have a single four leaf clover charm and I did not have any St. Patrick's Day themed paper.  So I decided to go with charms and green paper.

I am having a love affair with acetate right now (actually, I am just trying to get rid of some of the acetate packaging I've saved up,) so I decided to create a window and frame my hearts.  I used distress ink to create a watercolor background for my TCW  stenciled hearts, and then used yellow and green chalk on the background. 

The embossing folder is WRMK's Next Level Set: QUILTED

Placing all those beads around the hearts is one of those ideas that seems like a good idea and ends up...well, I just calmed down so I won't go there!

I know we are going to see some fabulous entries.  I hope yours will be in the MIX!

JOIN US HERE

Make sure you stop by and leave a little love for my teammates!

CHRIS

BARBARA

JESSI

DEENA

LAUREN

DONNA

ALICA

Hugz,

Chana

A Place To Start - Challenge # 9 - Alter a Food Container

Hello, Crafty Peeps,

Today I am sharing a project I created as a member of 

  DECOART'® Blogger Outreach Program.

I used this project as my Inspiration post for

A PLACE TO START BLOG,

The Challenge is: 

  Alter a Quaker Oats Box or Some Other Food Container.  

Lighting the Shabbos Candles was my first Mitzvot observance.  

I created this project to hold the tea light candles that I use to welcome the Shabbos Angel.

When a Jewish woman lights her candles and welcomes Shabbos into her home, she ignites the spiritual light that will guide her family, not only through Shabbos, but also through the ensuing week.

The silhouette represents the Jewish woman who safeguards the spiritual integrity of her family.

The clock represents Ecclesiastes 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

The matchbox fulfills the Mitzvos to use beautiful things to honor HaShem and the beauty of the Shabbos Commandment given to the Jewish people.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN QUAKER OATS ALTERED BOX

Cover both the box and lid with your base paint coat.  If you are using DecoArt® Chalky Finish™ Paint, or other chalk paints, you will not need a primer (gesso, etc.)

I applied a coat of wax

I painted 1/3 of the inside and sealed the interior with Decou-Page™.

To create the gold stripe, I located the natural seam on the box and framed it with painter's tape and applied Americana® Metallic Rich Expresso.  If you plan to use this idea, you must do this step after your base coat has dried and before you add the wax.

I placed the Decou-Page® Sheets inside, covered with parchment paper and pressed the papers with a hot iron.  This warms up the Decoupage sealer.  Another coat of Decou-Page™ Sealant was applied.

I used my craft iron and my quilting iron to reach all the areas of the interior.

I used screws to attach the plastic lid from a cashew nut can to the bottom of my canister.

Three large plastic beverage caps were placed inside to cover the screws.  The caps were covered with this circle of corrugated cardboard.  This step is not necessary if you are not adding a base to your project.  I wanted my project framed in black, so the bottom was needed,

I pulled my embellishments and applied varnish to the non metal pieces. 

I created the handle using 3 game pieces and 1 Trinket

Idea-ology Game Pieces

Prima Vintage Trinkets

Additional pieces I  plan to add to my ensemble

 Bencher

The Hubster designed this cover for our Chupa Benchers we gave as gifts to our guests.

The date on the cover is the date of our Jewish wedding.  We have been married for 46 years.

I want to update this to match my Candle Storage Box.

These candlesticks are another great fine by "the Hubster" at our local Goodwill Stores.

The Hubster in in 5th Heaven because they just opened a new store very near us and on the way to my daughter's house.  When he disappears for hours I know where he has gone.  His new venture is finding DVD versions of all our old VHS movies and any films we liked, but did not own, and loading them digitally onto our NAS (Server).  This is really cool, even though we have all the streaming services and we are Amazon Prime members, I really love how he has the NAS setup.

Thanks for stopping by!  I would love to see your Food Container Creations.

  You can enter them into the challenge at 

A PLACE TO START

Hugz, Chana

DECOART PRODUCTS USED:

American Decor® - Chalky Finish™ Vintage, Americana® Metallic - Rich Expresso, and
Ebony Acrylic , Decou-Page™ Sealant and Americana® DuraClean™ Matte Varnish

The Decou-page sheets are from the Victorian Romance Set