Creepy Amore with Rit & ICE Resin!

I've got a new project up on the Rit Dye website featuring Rit and ICE Resin - faux blood and ghostly flowers - check out the instructions for a little creepy amore here:  http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/fake-blood-ghostly-flowers-create-creepy-amore

I "Tricked My Pumpkin" For Plaid!

Plaid has extended the deadline for entering the Trick Your Pumpkin contest until Sunday - Join the fun!  I Tricked my Pumpkin using Plaid Mod Podge & Extreme Glitter, Rit Liquid Dye, burlap, vintage Halloween images, plastic grocery bags, a plastic flowerpot, paper plate and paper towel tube.   A unique treat bucket for giving out goodies on Halloween is the result!

http://www.plaidonline.com/CommunityProject.aspx?projectID=266&categoryID=0

Treats that can't be beat!

Treats that can't be beat are easy to share with Rit Liquid Dye, Eileen Hull's Sizzix 3-D Vase Scoreboards die, Blumenthal Lansing buttons, Judikins stamps, colorful twine from The Twinery, and Plaid Extreme Glitter!   I am pleased to announce another of my projects has been published on the Rit Dye home page.   This whimsical set was designed to coordinate with the Halloween pennant banner I shared here a few weeks ago.  Find out how these fun treat cups and coordinating invitation were made here.  

http://www.ritdye.com/blogs/posts/halloween-treat-cups-trick-or-treat-party-invitation

Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop - Eileen Hull's ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D

I am excited to be a part of the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop!  It’s time for me to share the projects I’ve created with the die I received -  Eileen Hull’s Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D.   Eileen’s ScoreBoards dies are great - they cut and score making them perfect for working with matboard, chipboard, or other denser materials.  But, in my usual style of trying to think out of the box, I had to experiment with another material.

The result is this clear votive holder, with a shimmering stained glass image, accented with opalescent ribbon, colorful fibers and an opalescent glass butterfly.     Easily adaptable for any occasion with different stamped images,  colored with alcohol inks, or try layering decorative tissue papers onto the plastic with a single coat of the glitter paint for more transulucent color that lets the light shine through. 


I also created some fun Halloween party treat cups using this die which will be posted this week on the Rit Dye website with instructions.  

Materials:

• Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die - Vase, 3-D
• Sizzix Big Shot 
• 2 liter plastic soda bottle
• Elmer’s Glue Spots 
• Judikin’s “Tropical” stained glass stamp #2349H 
• Tsukineko Jet Black Staz-On inkpad 
• Tsukineko Fabrico markers #158 Sky Mist, #161 Burgundy,  #165 Pine 
• Plaid Martha Stewart Crafts Sugar Cube Glitter Acrylic Craft Paint 
• Fibers, ribbons, glass butterfly, paint brush 
• Votive/tea light 
• X-Acto Scissors 

Instructions: 

          

1. Wash 2 liter soda bottle, let dry thoroughly.   Use scissors to cut out the middle/flat portion of the bottle.   Cut to fit over vase die.  
2. Following product instructions, create sandwich using die, plastic and 2 clear plates, cut vase and bottom of vase from plastic using Sizzix Big Shot.  (*Some of the scored areas may cut through the plastic, but this only happened in 2 small sections on my piece - so the finished product was not affected.) 
3. Ink stamp with black Staz-On and stamp onto center of outside of vase. 
4. Flip over.  On reverse side (inside) color image with markers.  Let dry. 
5. Apply two coats of glitter paint, allowing to dry between coats.  
6. 
7. Assemble vase according to directions, using clear Elmer’s glue spots as adhesive. 
8. Wrap fibers/ribbons around cup and tie in place.  Mount clear butterfly to one piece of fiber  as shown.  
9. Insert votive or tea light and enjoy the glow. 

Be sure to click on the Sizzix Fresh Vintage Blog Hop link to the right to see what other amazing creations designers have made with Fresh Vintage dies!  Each week, a new die is shared for endless inspiration.  And visit Oh My Crafts Blog for a chance to WIN one of these amazing dies!

Westcott Brand® Designer Connection Blog Hop! It's Time!!!

WESTCOTT BRAND® Cutting Tools is sponsoring the October Designer Craft Connection blog hop!  You can find more info about the challenge here:  http://tinyurl.com/64tkxsg

Westcott sent all participating designers an amazing assortment of cutting tools - all in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month!  The Duck Brand® also sent us a fun assortment of pink and gold tapes and adhesive sheets, and Velcro Brand® Fasteners contributed fasteners for our creations!    Our Designer Challenge packages included the following products:

• Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non Stick Scissors
• Westcott Brand® 12” Titanium Bonded Trimmer
• The Duck Brand® Duct Tape Sheets
• The Duck Brand® Patterned Duct Tape Rolls
• VELCRO® Brand Hook and Loop Fasteners
• VELCRO® Brand Sticky Back Hook and Loop Fasteners

I really expanded my creative horizons on this one - being a mom of 2 boys, PINK is not a color I commonly create with - so I went a little pink crazy and created many projects to share!   I have to say that these non-stick titanium scissors are amazing.  Anyone who works in a classroom should have a pair for sure - as we cut Velcro about ten zillion times a week.   They cut cleanly and crisply through paper, chipboard, fabric, ribbons, Velcro and duct tape - without sticking - an amazing accomplishment!  To view all the amazing creations by participating designers, follow the Designer Craft Connection link on the right side of my blog!

Flamingos!  The bright pink Duck Brand tape immediately reminded me of those pink plastic flamingos so popular in some yards.  Our family has an ongoing joke about them, so I decided to create a fun 3-dimensional flamingo for a layout to document our feelings about these funky birds!   Two pieces of pink tape were placed sticky sides together, then individual feathers were cut and mounted to form the bird.  His beak is made from black glass beads adhered with Judikins Diamond Glaze.  His legs are made from bamboo skewers.  I also used an alphabet stencil from Plaid to cut a “F” from the pink duct tape sheet for the title.  A photo mat was also cut from the pink duct tape sheet.   All that’s missing is the photo of the yard we often laugh about - and that will be added soon!

Repurposed Pizazz Bracelet - a round plastic piece from the center of a large spool of Velcro Brand fastener used in our classroom at school was transformed into a funky dimensional bracelet using pink & black zebra striped tape and gold tape.  Faux gemstone accents add to the bling factor. 

Girl in Flight Mobile - A mobile for a little girls room which starts with  a wire framework wrapped in bright pink tape, then wrapped in goldtone wire.  Hello Kitty duct tape and gold duct tape butterflies, hand cut with Westcott scissors hand from golden threads.  The secret to this mobile is that the butterfly bodies are made from black Velcro, and the butterflies are interchangeable with funky black and pink zebra tape and gold tape butterflies - when the little girl takes flight into the world of pre-teen girls - her mobile can grow up a bit with her!

PINK stands boldly in the Garden of Hope -  In keeping with the Westcott Brand tradition of giving back to the community, they are once again be teaming up with CharityWings.org in an online auction of the designer’s creations with the proceeds going to raise funds for breast cancer awareness. This mixed-media canvas was created to be donated to the Charity Wings auction.   A canvas was first painted with shades of blue Plaid Martha Stewart paints in Satin, Pearl, and Glitter.   Floral patterned paper from the BFF Collection by TaDa Creative Studios was cut with Westcott cutting tools and mounted to the bottom portion of the canvas.  The title lettering was cut with from pink tape and mounted to a gold tape border.  The “P” was wrapped with Hello Kitty, pink Zebra and solid pink tape.   A Clover Kansashi Flower maker and Clover Frilled Flower maker were used to create the 3 large dimensional flowers, all made with patterned Duck Brand duct tapes embellished with   Blumenthal Lansing buttons.  Additional Blumenthal Lansing buttons, a Creative Charms butterfly, floral gemstone brads, paper and fabric are finishing accents.    All items adhered with Elmer’s Craft Bond Adhesives. 

Here's a link to the auction:   http://charitywingsnews.blogspot.com/2011/10/westcott-brand-and-friends-auction-for.html 

More about Westcott Brand® products:

·         Westcott Brand® Scissors are the WORLD’S FAVORITE SCISSORS™ meaning Westcott sells more scissors than any other manufacturer in the world!

·         Westcott Brand® Titanium Bonded Non Stick Scissors are the BEST Non Stick Scissors on the market that never get stuck and can easily cut through Sticky Back VELCRO®, Duck Tape and multiple layers of fabric and other materials!

·         Titanium bonded blades are 3 times harder than stainless steel and never need sharpening!

·         Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools have the best performance! The 3” scissors can even cut through 5 layers of fabric!

·         Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools are ergonomic and come in several different color options!

Westcott is also offering an amazing giveaway of Deluxe Assortment of Westcott Brand® Cutting Tools for a reader!   To learn more visit  http://www.facebook.com/WestcottBrand or  http://westcottbrand.blogspot.com/ to find out how YOU could win!   Random giveaway winner to be announced by Westcott on November 1^st!  Prize must be shipped to US address.