Birdhouse Table & Chicken Wire Bird - FaveCrafts® Best Blogger Craft 2015 Challenge!

It was an honor to attend the recent FaveCrafts® Blogger Event at CHA in January!   When my box of swag from some of the event sponsors arrived, it was like Christmas all over again!  I received fabulous products from MD® Hobby & Craft - which are EXACTLY my style - a great assortment from Plaid®, items from Simplicity®, Clover®, and Prima® Bead.  

When I found out about this awesome Best Blogger Craft 2015 challenge to use products from one of the sponsors to create a unique creative project and submit it FaveCrafts - my mind instantly began to turn and churn and I knew I wanted to create something unique, and functional!

I love birds and birdhouses, so this Birdhouse Table & Chicken Wire Bird were a natural choice.    The table could be a functioning birdhouse, but it also works as a great side accent table for a plant, or on a porch next to a comfortable chair to hold a cool beverage, etc.  The little chicken wire bird is a totally unique accent piece to set on the table, or in pot with a pretty plant indoors or outside on a porch. 

I built this birdhouse from scratch and have included measurements - but of course you could buy a large pre-made birdhouse, cut the top off flat and create something similar for an easier option!  

Voting in this challenge/contest begins on February 25th and runs through March 4th.  I encourage you to visit the FaveCrafts site and vote for your favorite project - there are sure to be many amazing creative projects to choose from!!!   Here's the link - http://www.favecrafts.com/contest/Blogger-Contest

Materials: (items in GREEN were included in my swag package from FaveCrafts!)

Plaid® FolkArt® Home Decor Chalk Paint- Seaside Villa 

Plaid® Martha Stewart Crafts™ Multi-Surface Satin Acryilc Paint - Sandcastle 

Plaid® Outdoor Mod Podge®

EKSuccess® Inkadinkado® Stamp Set - Flower Icons 

Wrights® 5/8” Black ric-rac from Simplicity

MD® Hobby & Craft Metal Working Gloves 

MD® Hobby & Craft Brass Rolled Metal 

MD® Hobby & Craft Chicken Wire 

MD® Hobby & Craft Hobby Shears 

KellyCraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square & Multi-Mat™

Westcott® Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors 

Craft Attitude™ Printable Craft Film 

Staz-On ink pad - Jet Black

Jax® Pewter Black 

Beacon® 527 Adhesive 

Repurposed wood 1/2” thick (I used old fence boards to create this birdhouse). 

Assorted carpentry tools - saw, staple gun, drill, safety glasses, large hammer, rag 

Paintbrushes 

Permanent glue stick

Instructions: 

Cut 4 pieces of repurposed wood (approximately 1/2” thick for all wood) 5” x 21”.  Nail

together to create center of birdhouse.  

Cut 2 pieces of repurposed wood 7” x 10”.

Cut 2 pieces of wood 4 1/2” x 5”.  

Cut 2 triangles 8” x 6 1/2” x 5.  Assemble  to create side portions of “roof”.  

Cut piece of wood 11” x 11”. 

Cut piece of brass metal 12” x 12” and 2 pieces 8” x 11”.

Place brass metal pieces on hard surface, hit with large hammer to distress.  

Apply Jax Pewter Black to all brass to add patina to age

distressed metal.   

Fold edges of each piece back 1/2” and use staple gun to mount to two slanted roof pieces. 

Mount 11” x 11” piece to top of birdhouse to create table top.  Fold edges of 12” x 12” metal piece back 1/2” and use staple gun to mount to flat 11” x 11” table top (staples on folded edge). 

Drill 3 evenly spaced 1 1/2” holes in center of birdhouse, and one in each slanted side roof piece. 

Drill 3/8” holes beneath each large hole.

Paint birdhouse with FolkArt® Home Decor Chalk paint.  Let dry. 

Paint 2 1/2” band of Sandcastle paint beneath each hole on

center of birdhouse.  Let dry.   

Ink birds on a branch stamp with permanent black ink.  Place Craft Attitude film onto Multi-Mat  and use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to help align separate rows of stamped bird images as shown.  

Cut into strips.  

Use permanent glue stick to mount stamped Craft Attitude to Sandcastle sections.

Cut black ric-rac and mount to top and bottom of each painted strip.  

Cut twigs and use Beacon 527 to mount in 3/8” holes.   

Coat all wood surfaces with outdoor Mod Podge.  

I first saw a chicken wire bird on Pinterest.  When I received the chicken wire from MD® Hobby & Crafts I knew I had to try to create

one myself.  I used several photos for reference, then hand molded/formed the bird. 

Hard Liquor and a Hammer Oughta Fix That!

Hard Liquor and a Hammer oughta fix that!  Every girl should have her own tool box..... for so many reasons lol!   Created this card with another fun Jimbo Lojik™ verse and Makin's Clay®!  

Materials: 

KellyCraft™ - Jimbo Lojik™ Set E

            - Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square

                    - Multi-Mat™

Makin’s Clay® - White, Tools Push Mold 

DecoArt® - Dazzling Metallics™ Shimmering Silver, Crafter’s Acrylic™ - Raw Umber 

Tool patterned paper, white crackled paint patterned paper

Gray card stock

Beacon Adhesives® Tacky Glue 

Clearsnap® ColorBox® Crafter’s Ink - Night 

Foam tape 

Westcott® Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors, Trim-air Trimmer 

Instructions:

Open package of white Makin’s Clay®.   Press clay into tools push mold, remove and let dry.  Store unused clay in zip lock bag with damp paper towel or bay wipe.  When I am push molding pieces, I always make extra with remaining clay so I have a stash to go to for future projects…..

Paint hammer with Dazzling Metallics™ Shimmering Silver and Crafter’s Acrylic Raw Umber.  Let dry. 

Cut gray card stock to desired size and fold in half to form card. 

Cut piece of tool patterned paper and use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and mount to center of card front.

Ink Hard Liquor and a Hammer verse with black ink and use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and stamp onto white crackled paint patterned paper.  Trim around verse. 

Ink edges of verse with black ink. 

Cut grey card stock mat about 1/8” larger on all sides than verse.  Use Laser Square to mount to bottom front of card about 1/4” from bottom edge. 

Use Laser Square to align and mount verse centered onto mat.

Cut mat for clay hammer and mount hammer with Tacky Glue.  Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align and mount on top right front of card as shown.  

Duck Commander® & Makin's Clay® Ornaments

Have friends or family that love to watch Duck Dynasty® or just love the Robertson family values? 

Make them a fun set of holiday ornaments to trim their tree with Makin's Clay® and Duck Commander® stamps from KellyCraft™.

Materials:

KellyCraft™- 
Duck Commander® Wood - Faith, Family, Ducks
Duck Commander® Wood - Duckaholics Anonymous        
Duck Commander® Clear Polymer Set 1
KellyCraft™- Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square
                     - Multi-Mat™
Makin's Clay® - White
Makin's Professional® Ultimate Clay Machine®
DecoArt® Metallic Lustre™ - Gold
Black Staz-On Inkpad
Westcott® Titanium Bonded Non-Stick scissors
Jute twine, ribbons or dyed fabric strips

Instructions:

1. Remove white clay from packaging and use Ultimate Clay Machine® to roll to approximately 1/8" thick.  Place on Multi-Mat™ (the non-stick, self-healing Multi-Mat™ is the perfect surface for working with the clay!).

2. Ink stamps with black Staz-On ink and stamp onto clay.

3. Use star cutters to cut around stamped images.

4. Use duck cutter to cut shape.

5. Ink "Faith Family Ducks" stamp with black ink.  Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align stamping and cover surface of duck shape.

6. Use straw to make holes for hanging ornaments.

7. Use fingertip to apply gold Metallic Lustre around outside edges of stars, allowing some to overlap onto ornament front, and apply sparingly over surface of duck ornament over stamped text.

8. Add jute twine, coordinating ribbons or dyed fabric strips (I dyed white cotton sheet fabric with Rit Dye to create these strips - I often use excess dye used for other projects to dye extra fabric to use for ribbon in future projects).

Say THANKS to a Friend with a Laugh

This month's Designer Craft Connection blog hop theme is Thank You cards & Gifts.   This card, created with Graphic 45 papers, The Buckle Boutique bling, and a humorous saying stamp from KellyCraft's® Jimbo Lojik™ stamp line is a fun way to say thanks to a friend for having your back during tough times!

Be sure to click on the the Designer Craft Connection icon in the column on the right to see what other creative ways the Designers have found to say THANKS!



Materials: 

KellyCraft™ Innovations Jimbo Lojik Stamps - Set A
KellyCraft™ Innovations Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square & Multi-Mat™
Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess collection
Clearsnap® Crafter's Ink - Stone
The Buckle Boutique Gold Rectangle Dazzling Diamond self-adhesive rhinestone sheet
Westcott® Titanium Bonded Scissors & Self-Healing Mat
AdTech dot runner
Black, rust card stock
Gold photo corners

Instructions: 

1. Cut black yardstick to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" and fold in half to form card.

2. Cut piece of rust patterned paper approximately 4 x 5 1/4".   Use Get-it-Straight™ laser square to mount centered on front of card.

3. Cut woman dressing image from paper, ink edges with Stone ink pad.  Add gold photo corners.

4. Cut mat from rust card stock slightly larger than image. Use Get-it-Straight™ laser square to mount image centered on mat.

5. Cut strip of Dazzling Diamonds about 1 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Use  Get-it-Straight™ laser square to align and then mount onto front of card.

6. Use Get-it-Straight™ laser square to align and mount woman image on left front of card as shown.

7. Ink "Put your BIG Girl Panties on and DEAL with it!" stamp with Stone ink.  Stamp onto tan parchment card stock.  Trim around verse.  Ink edges of verse.   

. 

8.  Cut mat for verse from rust card stock.  Mont verse to mat, use  Get-it-Straight™ laser square to mount verse  onto center of card slightly overlapping woman image.  

"Cow Country" Table Runner with Kunin® Group, Buttons Galore & More & Beacon Adhesives

I was happy to have the chance to be a part of the Kunin™ Group, Buttons Galore & More and Beacon® Adhesives Designer Craft Connection blog hop!   My felt package arrived and I couldn’t have been happier - our kitchen & dining room has a “farm animal” theme with cows, chickens and more as accents.  The cow patterned felt was a perfect fit!  Paired with BurlapFabric.com fabric, I was able to create a table runner for our table that fits right in with our country decor.  Be sure to follow the DCC link in the right column to see what other creative projects our designers are sharing.  

Don't forget to enter here for a chance at a great give-a-way package too!

Materials: 

Kunin™ Group:  Fancifelt™ - Cowpoke, Embossed Felt - Black Alligator, Creatology™ felt - Antique White  

Buttons Galore & More - assorted blue buttons 

Beacon® Fabri-Tac Adhesive 

KellyCraft™ Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square

Westcott® Handheld Titanium Bonded Paper Cutter with Safety Shield 

Westcott® Stainless Steel Ruler 

Westcott® Craft Self-Healing Cutting Mat 

Blue embroidery floss, needle

Instructions: 

Step 1:  Use Westcott® self-healing mat, ruler and handheld cutter to measure and cut six 4” x 4” squares from Cowpoke, Black  Alligator and Antique White Kunin™ felt. 

Step 2:  Cut BurlapFabric.com burlap to 18” x 30”.   Remove some threads from all edges to create frayed edge. 

Step 3:  Use Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square to align felt squares, centered on burlap, and adhere with Beacon® Fabri-Tac adhesive.  

Step 4:  Stitch blue Buttons Galore & More buttons to all corners of squares with embroidery floss.  

Lost in the Moment Valentine Spinner Card

You can find instructions on how to create this Valentine spinner card in this week's Cindi's Simple Solutions at When Creativity Knocks.   Featuring TaDa Creative Studios papers, Blumenthal Lansing buttons, Clearsnap inks, and KellyCraft Jimbo Lojik stamps.

New Projects and More Chaos!

I am still picking up the pieces from my major MacBook Pro crash..... and I recently started working at Michaels Arts & Crafts which is also keeping me quite busy!   I wanted so share a couple of links to some new projects I've created this month for some of the manufacturers I work with.   

The first is a Back to School layout created with the KellyCraft Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square - you can find the instructions here on the KellyCraft blog. 

Next is a small jar candle given a seaside makeover with the help of Connie Crystal's new sea glass beads.  I absolutely love the soft frosty colors of these beads and am looking forward to creating more designs with them.  The instructions for this project are here on the Connie Crystal blog. 

I shared my technique for texturing Smoothfoam™

in a recent episode of Behind These Eyes on WCK and Smoothfoam™ shared the video here on their blog!  

I've also been busily working on some projects we'll be taping in California in early October for the When Creativity Knocks All-Star Designer Holiday Series with Mark Montano, Jonathan Fong, and Judi Watanabe.  It's been a frenzy of Spellbinders, Rit, Blumenthal Lansing, Beacon Adhesives, Makin's Clay, Etchall, Smoothfoam, and Clearsnap creativity!  

Stay tuned for more soon... - Cindi 

Cindi’s Adventures with Etchall

Etchall® Etching Cream is an amazing product with a long history of use on glass, mirrors, and ceramic glazes.  It's easy to use, and the product is re-usable so there is very little waste.   Be sure to visit http://www.Etchall.com to learn more about their variety of products, for a project gallery, and for how-to videos.   And, of course be sure to follow the Designer Craft Blog Connection post on the left to see what the other participating designers have created with Etchall®!

Those of you who follow my creative work know I tend to be a bit of a mad scientist sometimes when crafting.   When I received my Etchall® for this Designer Craft Blog Connection Hop, I immediately began scheming and dreaming up new things I wanted to try with it. First, I'm going to share my finished project, then I'll share my experiments.....

The Plaid® Martha Stewart stencils I used for these glasses are made of sturdy plastic and therefore would not bend well to mold to the shape of the wine glass.  So I traced the stencil onto Etchall® Etchmask, and used a sharp craft knife to cut out the open areas. 

The finished sticker stencil was mounted to the glass and I followed the manufacturer’s instructions for applying the Etchall® - and it worked wonderfully - I was able to easily create four seaside themed wine glasses.  (*Note... I found when etching a curved surface like this, it was better to apply the cream to small areas at a time, rather than the entire image to eliminate the issue of the cream running off the curved edge on to the area of the glass you don't want etched...)

And even though the different designs would make it easy for those using the to determine which glass was there, I like to be optimistic and think that several sets might be in use at a fabulous beachside party.... causing confusion as to whose glass was whose.    My answer - quick and easy wine glass charms made from gold hoop earrings, 4 different colored Connie Crystal pearls, and some sparkling Connie Crystal accents. 

And now... cue the bubbling vials and beakers of steaming green and brown goo in the laboratory....

First Experiment: 

Polished marble door stop......  I am lucky to have access to some great assorted chunks of gorgeous marble and have been wanting to create something unique with a piece for a while.  

I whipped out my KellyCraft Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square and lined up some Plaid® Martha Stewart alphabet stencils to spell out a favorite verse.   Applied the Etchall® and waited not so patiently for the required time.  When I removed the Etchall®, then the stencils, I discovered...... nothing.   Apparently, the manufacturers are correct in not claiming their product works on polished marble - lol......

Second Experiment: 

(Yes, the inner “Beaker” in me... anybody remember him from The Muppet Show?..... persevered and had to keep on pushing the limits beyond the product’s recommended uses...)

Etched luggage tag......... I love the clear acrylic Mod Podge Acrylic shapes, especially the tags, from Plaid®.   Out came my Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square again and those same Plaid® Martha Stewart stencils..... I spelled out my name and was planning to add my phone number too and a pretty little flower design.  

Guess what?  Apparently, the manufacturer was also correct in not claiming the product would etch plastic.  

Was there a third experiment?  Well of course there was.   I took a sheet of rolled, dried Makin’s Clay®, added a stencil and added some Etchall® just to see what would happen.  I bet you can guess what the result was.

With all of that shared, I want to reiterate that the Etchall® cream was very easy to use, and I had good results, when I followed the manufacturer's instructions and used it for it's intended use!  I'm glad I got a chance to discover this product and I already have ideas on ways to use it for future projects! - Cindi

Friends Are The Family We Choose for Ourselves - Mixed-Media Frame

My latest project for KellyCraft uses their amazing Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square and some of my other favorite crafting products - Craft Attitude (follow the link in the right column and get FREE SHIPPING on Craft Attitude products!) , Smoothfoam, Connie Crystal, and Graphic 45 papers!  Find the full instructions here on the KellyCraft blog: 

http://www.kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/friends-are-family-mixed-media-frame.html

Getting It Straight & Catching Memories

 

http://www.kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/scoring-made-easy-with-kellycraft-laser.html

I have a couple of new projects to share today - the first is a new KellyCraft Innovations video showing how the KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square makes scoring paper and cardstock super simple.

The second is this simple project featuring Connie Crystal & Craft Attitude - what I call "Memory Catchers" - instructions are featured here on the Connie Crystal Blog.

Cre8time to get crafty today! - Cindi

Valentine Card with the Get-It-Straight Laser Square

Here's a new project on the KellyCraft blog!    Find out the many ways which I used the Get-It-Straight Laser Square for this "U" Make Me Happy Valentine card! - Cindi

A Winter's Day - Get-it-Straight with KellyCraft!

The KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser Square made creating this mixed-media canvas simpler!   Find the full instructions on the KellyCraft blog - http://kellycraftblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/a-winters-day-mixed-media-canvas-with.html

And, today's the day for the December Designer Craft Connection blog hop - so take the time to hop through the participating designer's blogs to see what they are sharing this month by clicking on the  DCC link in the left column.   - Happy Crafting! Cindi

Thanksgiving Napkins with KellyCraft and Connie Crystal

Create unique napkins for your Thanksgiving table!  The KellyCraft Get-it-Straight Laser square makes it easy to combine stamping, ribbon, and a bit of bling with Connie Crystal!   Find the tutorial here on KellyCraft's blog! 

Go ahead and get crafty and make something unique for your holiday table this year - Cindi

Tin Type Tyle Coaster with KellyCraft's Get-it-Straight Laser Square

I have been having fun experimenting with my Get-it-Straight™Laser Square!  This time I combined products from ICE Resin®, Industrial Chic, ImpressArt® and Westcott®.
My latest project was featured on October 8th at their blog - You can find the complete instructions here.

The Get-it-Straight™Laser Square really makes it so much easier to align your crafts - no matter what medium you work with - give it a try!  - Cindi

“Onward to 6th” with Kellycraft™’s Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square

Onward to 6th - Aligning all the funky Duck Tape elements on this layout was simple thanks to  Kellycraft™’s Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square!  Find a tutorial for this project, and other fun projects from the KellyCraft Design Team, at the KellyCraft blog. - Cindi

Adding Sparkle & Getting it Straight!

I've got two announcements to share that I'm very excited about - I've recently joined two new Design Teams.  I'm always looking for new materials and tools to experiment with in my art, and with these two new manufacturers I'll be getting things a lot straighter when necessary, and adding a bit of bling!

KellyCraft is the manufacturer of the amazing Get-it-Straight™ Laser Square  - this tool makes it so simple to align things when creating - whether it's paper crafting, sewing & quilting, or other types of crafts.   I really didn't realize how much this tool could simplify things until I had a chance to work with it on my first project for the team which will be shared on their blog soon!  

 

Connie Crystal's booth has always been an eye catcher at CHA - I've shared pictures from the show of their booth in past post-show reports.  The sparkle from the products, and from Connie herself just draws you in.   The first time I met her, she gav me this beautiful necklace she had created just because it matched the blouse I was wearing perfectly! 

I just received my first box of bling from Connie Crystal and am excited to share a variety of mixed-media projects featuring her products in the coming months.  

I hope you take some time to be creative today - and remember to always "dare to be different!" - Cindi