StencilGirl Earth Safe Finishes/Ann Butler Earth Day Blog Hop

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Thanks for participating in the

StencilGirl 

AND 

 Earth Safe Finishes®/Ann Butler Designs™ 

Earth Day Blog Hop

Those of you who follow me regularly know that I am big on reusing, re-purposing, and recycling.  The Hubster says my single Cherokee gene drives me to preserve nature. 
 That may be true, but on the other hand,  it just makes sense to take care of the place that supports your survival.

The frame was another great find by The Hubster.  He does most of my "picking" at the Goodwill Store.  He presented this to me with an unceremonious, 
"I suppose you can do something with this!"  

I kept the frame on one of my work tables for two months and, during that time, experimented with possible project uses.  Nothing really inspired until I saw the 

"Tribal Men" Stencil.  

I created two projects for the Hop!

 Project #1

"Out of Africa, Kings"

I reversed the canvas and stenciled the image.  Looks like a Shadow Box!  Although not visible in this shot, the inside edges are painted with Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up Licorice Paint.  Very dramatic.  I also use the Licorice chalk paint on the warriors.   I used the bottom of the stencil to create the design around the outer frame.

Project #2

"I Am The Strength of Africa"

Since the original picture was perfectly sized, I decided to use it as my canvas.  I applied two coats of Chalk It Up™ Snickerdoodle paint.  I allowed that to dry before adding a coat of Chalk It Up™Razzleberry, and finally, I used a toothbrush to swirl in Earth Safe Finishes ® Yellow Pigment and Chalk It Up® Avocado Pie.

I love how the colors of my "forest" provide the perfect material for  the warrior's garment.  The gold trim was in good shape, so I just cleaned it up and painted on a coat of Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents - Sunshine.  The Black layer is Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up™ Licorice.  The frame was painted with Avocado Pie and highlighted with gold and copper metallic wax.  The outside edges were painted with Ann Butler Design's Sunshine.  The interior molding was painted using Razzleberry.  

Products Used:

StencilGirl:  Tribal Men Stencil

Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up™ Paints:

Avocado Pie, Licorice, Razzeleberry, Snickerdoodle

Earth Safe Finishes Pigment Inks:  Yellow

Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents:  Sunshine

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A JAR OF EARTH SAFE FINISHES VOC FREE PAINT?

Just leave a comment below and at the end of the hop, I will select two winners.  Our paints are earth friendly and pretty kind to DIYers too! I know you will love them as much as I do!

The Earth Safe Finishes® Design Team Members

Chana Malkah Harris

Irit Shalom

Steph Ackerman

Martha Lucia Gomez

Larissa Pittman 

Vishu Reberholt
Jeanne Streiff

The StencilGirl Design Team Members

Mary Beth Shaw
Mary C. Nasser
Carol Baxter
Gwen Lafleur
Janet Joehlin

Just leave a comment below by Monday, April 25th at 11:59PM Central Time.
The more blogs you comment on in the blog hop, the more chances you have of winning!
Winner will be announced on StencilGirl's Facebook page on Wednesday, April 27th.

THANKS FOR VISITING!  HAPPY HOPPING!
HUGZ
CHANA MALKAH

Earth Safe Finishes - Artsy Chalkboard- DIY - Altered Clipboard Project

Hi, Crafty Folks!

Today I am here with a DIY project Using Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk Paints and Acrylic Pigments.  I love our products, not simply because I am on the Design Team, but also because they are environmentally friendly.  

I created this project to hang on the door of my studio and it not only looks fabulous, but also serves as a great reminder board!  

This design was inspired by Tammy Tutterow!

As a paper crafter and someone who has a chronic illness, what I eat and what I breathe are vitally important.  Our products are VOC free and that is no small thing.   Stop by our blog for fabulous DIY ideas and more information about our paints and other mediums!  

The Step-by-step Tutorial for this project can be found HERE

BEFORE

AFTER

Thanks for Stopping By!

Hugz,

Chana

Earth Safe Finishes - Up-Cycled, Repurposed, Salad Dressing Bottle

Hello, My Crafty Peeps!

I have been focusing on Earth Safe Finishes'® Licorice Chalk paint, and it worked beautifully for this project.  I am also using the Ann Butler® Iridescents™ and find them to be the perfect complements for my faux metal pieces.

My previous ESF project (The Traditional Chinese Tea House Bird House) and this one,  are efforts to highlight the use of our products on large areas of small projects.  With this bottle, I really wanted the Licorice and not the faux metal label to be the dominant visual, and I think I succeeded!  I have more bottles, so I will probably try other color combinations in future products.

FROM THIS

TO THIS

HOW THIS WAS DONE

THE TUTORIAL CAN BE FOUND HERE

REPURPOSED SALAD DRESSING BOTTLE

 I hope you will find fun and interesting ways to use our products to 

create new art from old stuff!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugz,

Chana Malkah

Starry Night Steampunk Clock Plate - Earth Safe Finishes

Hello, Crafty Peeps, today I am sharing 

"Starry Night" Steampunk Clock Plate.  

I am thoroughly enjoying my time on the Earth Safe Finishes ® DT!  This week, I focus on Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents "Lagoon."  This Lagoon color is rich and elegant.  I am already looking for new ways to use it.  The pearls on this plate were originally bright white but a light coat of Iridescents "Sheer Gold" helps them blend into the palette.

Once again, my hubster was my hero!  During dinner, I mentioned that I wanted to attempt to create a steampunk clock.  He went to the Goodwill, came back with this plate and asked: "Well, can you use this to make a clock?"  It's nice to know that he actually listens to all my craft blab! I have also included two of those fabulous glass beads he picked up for me a few weeks ago. .

SUPPLIES USED:

Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents:  Lagoon and Sheer Gold

Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up™: Licorice, English Tea Cake

Earth Safe Finishes® Gesso

Earth Safe Finishes® Pigments: Organic Yellow, Permanent Red

Embellishments:  Pearls, Flowers, metal clocks, gears (From my stash)

Die Cuts:  Tim Holtz® Alterations "Weathered Clock" and Marianne Design® Craftable Die "Clock Work"

HOW I DID THIS

STEP ONE:

Bore hubster to death at dinner talking about your project.  Maybe he will visit the local Goodwill Store and come back with a great idea. The plate cost $.39 at the Goodwill (5 min drive from my house.)
Cover plate with two coats of Gesso.

:

STEP 2:  

Select the Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents color (I used Lagoon.) I did two coats, drying between each coat.  After the paint dried, I used Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk It Up™ to trim the outer and inner edges of the plate lip.  I added my "stars" using a Sharpie Fine Point Marker.  Note: This is the water based poster marker.  You can use a flicker brush, but you have better design control using the marker.  Gesso on the tip of a cotton swab also works.

  

STEP 3:

Add your contrasting "Moon Color" around the inside edges.  Here I mixed Organic Yellow, Permanent Red and White.  I smeared/blotted the paint with a moist paper towel.  Determine the best focal arrangement, adhere to plate and spray entire project with sealant( 2-3 applications.)

STEP FOUR:  DISPLAY

So now, this plate joins my collection on the fireplace mantel

Thanks for Stopping by!
Please visit our store Earth Safe Finishes®

Earth Safe Finishes - Reverse Canvas Mixed Media Shadow Box Project

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

Wow!  It is so nice to be back in my studio! 

Today,  I am sharing my DT project for Earth Safe Finishes.  If you are not familiar with this company, please visit our site and find out who we are.  

For those of us with compromised immune systems, VOC*** free products are a crafting godsend.   

A ROMANTIC THANKS TO MY HUBBY!

You can find a brief tutorial here: ESF Artists Blog

This is my first Reverse Canvas Shadow Box Design project!   I wanted to showcase the Ann Butler™ Iridescent line and a shadow box frame seemed the ideal vehicle. 

Hubby was at the Goodwill store, again!  He came home with a bag full of these wonderful glass beads.  He was so excited to once again assume his role as my chief enabler, I simply had to build a project around his latest purchase.  Hubby even brought in a small branch from the back yard!  What A man!

BEFORE

DURING

DONE

 I love the lighting on this shot, it shows the beauty of the Ann Butler™Iridescent paints and powders.  Iridescents enhance projects and surfaces, are versatile and easy to use. Use one color or several colors for an interesting shimmer effect. 

Paints/Glazes:  Ann Butler Designs™ Iridescents

Earth Safe Finishes® Chalk it Up™ - Blood Orange Sorbet (used on sentiment)
Dies:  Sizzix Thinlits™ 4 Pc Mixed Media,  Memory Box® "Thanks"
Stencils: Prima Marketing®
Embossing Folder:  Tim Holtz® Texture Fades™ Post Card and Sheet Music Set
Ephemera: Tim Holtz® Idea-ology™ Thrift Shop

~ ~ ~ ~

***VOCs are solvents that are released into the air as paint dries. Known as offgassing, this process may continue for months or even years after the liquid products have dried.  VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound. VOC’s are present in many home products including:  paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; hobby supplies; mineral spirits, alcohol, nail polish and more. 

(excerpt from the ESF web page)

Thanks for Stopping by!

Earth Safe Finishes - Notecard Folder

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

One of my favorite gifts to give my friends are these wonderful Notecard Folders!  The inside can be configured for so many uses.  I have used them to create coupon holders, business card holders, and of course, post it notes and memo pads.

This project was created for my DT posting this week at Earth Safe Finishes.   The complete supply list and brief instructions for creating the folder can be found at the Earth Safe Finishes Artists Blog.
All ESF Products are VOC free and made right here in the U.S.A.

The Ann Butler Sheer Silver Iridescents is my new favorite medium!  I used a toothbrush (thanks, Tammy Tutterow) to spread it over the base coat of Chalk It Up Blood Orange Sorbert.  The shimmer on the folder is absolutely gorgeous and I wish it had photographed better.  You can see the shimmer on the stenciled design.

This folder is my attempt to break out of my usuals color palettes (greens, blues...earth tones) and use some brighter colors.

To find out more about Earth Safe Finishes Paints, visit us here!