Tuesday, December 22, 2009

New Poll for 2010 - Collage & Altered Art Projects

I've added a new poll to the right ~ I've rec'd several requests for collage and altered art projects but no specifics. Collage and altered arts are generic terms and encompass a wide range of projects and techniques. To narrow the field a bit I thought I'd see what you were interested in. I've posted some of the major areas to touch on but if you've got other requests or ideas I'd love to hear about them and give them a try if I'm able.

I know many of you are thinking...oh no, another hobby to get into. Seriously if you already craft you've probably got more than enough to give collage and/or altered arts a try. Collage and Altered Arts are very "green" realms of art...they were recycling LOTS of "stuff" before it was politically correct to do so.

Collage and altered artists have embraced the saying ~ "One man's trash is another man's treasure" for a long LONG time ;)

I guess what I'm saying is please don't write it off until you see some of the projects :)

Please feel free to choose as many areas of interest as you'd like. I'm just trying to get an idea on what you'd like to see.

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments - #22 - Scallop Christmas Tree Ornament

This ornament is a fun and easy ornament that takes very little supplies to complete. It's great to work on with children since there are no tough cuts or intricate pieces needed.

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

#22 Scallop Christmas Tree Ornament


Scallop Tree Ornament 001


Supplies:

3-5 Graduated Scallop Circles (or plain circles work too)

Pony Beads

Wired Tinsel

Embellishments (optional) - Ribbon, Fiber, Glitter, Sequins, Beads, etc.

Double Stick Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut 3 to 5 scallop or plain circles in graduated sizes. You can cut the circles from pattern paper, plain cardstock, stamped cardstock, specialty paper, etc. Also you may vary the number of circles you use. I like to use 5 but you could use 3 or 4. I like odd numbers so I usually use 3 or 5.

2. Cut the circles in half. This will give you enough for two trees.

Scallop Tree Ornament 002


3. Take each half circle and form a tiny cone. Use glue or double stick tape to adhere the edge. I think Scotch double stick tape works great for this ornament since it's instant!

Scallop Tree Ornament 004


You'll end up with a little forest of cones...

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4. Cut the tips off each cone leaving a small hole to feed the tinsel through.

Scallop Tree Ornament 008


5. Secure a pony bead or jingle bell to one end of the wired tinsel. I like to use jingle bells for these but of course I couldn't find my stash. I haven't used them since I moved my room so I'm not sure where they went to :S

Scallop Tree Ornament 009


6. Alternately add the paper cones and beads working from largest to the smallest.

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7. Once you've added all of your cones, twist the left over tinsel to make a hanger and trim off excess.

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You can now decorate as desired. I just added a small bit of ribbon but you could use Stickles Glitter Glue, regular or glass glitter, sequins, buttons, charms, etc.

And you're little tree is ready for hanging!
Scallop Tree Ornament 012

Monday, December 21, 2009

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments - #21 - Felt Mitten Gift Card Holder

Hey Everyone!

Whew, been a wild few days so I'm a bit behind. I had planned on catching up a bit by adding 2 ornaments today BUT the 2nd set of pics all ended up yucky ~ lost the light this afternoon due to clouds and my flash washed it all out to nothing. :S Soooo, I'll try those again tomorrow and add an extra to get caught up again.

I hope you've all been having a great holiday season so far. We've got part of our Christmas finished and we're gearing up for the rest this weekend. I have finished up several hand made goodies for family the past few days and I have just a couple more left to go. Mostly hand made charms/jewelry ~ I hope they like!

Today's ornament is a mitten that I rec'd from a friend. Now it originally contained some chocolates inside but I think it would also make a great gift card holder to hang on the tree! It's very quick and oh so simple with just a few supplies you may already have in your stash!

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

#21 - Felt Mitten Gift Card Holder

Supplies:

Mitten Pattern (below)

Felt

Yarn

Large eye Needle

Wired Tinsel

Embellishments

mitten 003

Instructions:

1. Use the above pattern and cut two pieces from felt (color of your choice).

NOTE: One sheet of felt will yield about 3 mittens.

2. Using the needle and yarn, stitch the outside edges. This isn't a perfect science...uneven stitches just add character!

3. Embellish your mitten. My friend used a second piece of felt and a snowflake button. The possibilities are endless!

4. Attach wired tinsel to the back side of the mitten for hanging on the tree. You can either attach with glue or tuck each end into a stitch and bend the wire to secure.

You're mitten is ready to be filled, given and enjoyed!!!

mitten 001

Schmooze with Suze - Closing Webstore!

I got this a couple of days ago but what with finishing up some Christmas gifts and such I haven't had time to post it.

Not sure if you're familiar with Suze Weinberg or not but she's the person behind Rangers UTEE line of goods. She has up until now had an on-line webstore called Schmooze with Suze. She has decided to close the store. Here is her official announcement. Be sure to stop by and check out the discounts.

~ Schmooze with Suze Store Closing ~



It was not a difficult decision because I knew it was the right one & it felt 200% right to me.....I have decided to close my office. I am NOT - NOT - NOT retiring - repeat NOT. I am only retiring from selling online. So...now is a great opportunty to check each page at http://www.schmoozewithsuze.com/ for some great deals. The office will unload as much as possible with your help and then,with the target date of mid January, close.

I will still be teaching, demoing, traveling, developing product for Ranger, keeping my Yahoo Group, FaceBook, Twitter, my e-newsletter which goes thru the website as well as the Free Downloadable collages, my YOU TUBE videos, Ranger "U"...the whole 9 yards...everything else will stay the same.

Maintaining the office, staff, products, etc all got to be just too draining and I hate to have my energy sapped....I need lots of it ! So...fear not..I'll still be around, same email and all. And if & when we want NJ classes I'll simply rent the room from the landlord...no problem !

SOoooo...Jump on over to the website and help us unload some stock....we'll keep adding discounts daily....Check my blog which has specials that are NOT on the website. What'cha waitin' for.......GET BUSY...Xmas is coming !


SuzeWeinberg.typepad.com

Saturday, December 19, 2009

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments - #20 - Vintage Ruffled Ornament

Today's ornament is perfect when paired with vintage postcard images

and you all know how much I love my vintage postcards ;)

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

#20 - Vintage Ruffled Ornaments

vintage ruffled ornament 001

Supplies:

Sheet Music, Text, cardstock or pattern paper

Vintage Image (postcard, collage, etc.)

Glue Dots

Bone Folder

Wired Tinsel

Glass Glitter (optional)

Embellishments (optional)

Instructions:

1. Cut your paper down to approx 4" x 11" ~ this will make a 4" finished circle.

TIP: If you'd like your ornament to have fancy edges, trim the long sides (11" sides) with deco scissors, border punches or fancy rotary blades. You can also embellish your paper with Glimmer Mists, Distress Inks, Perfect Pearls, Color Wash, etc.

2. Score fold lines every 1/2" with a bone folder.

vintage ruffled ornament 002

This is what your paper should look like:

vintage ruffled ornament 003

3. Gather the folds and bend in half. Wrap the wired tinsel around the center and secure.

vintage ruffled ornament 005

4. Use Glue Dots or other favorite adhesive to secure ends to ends. You will notice I tucked the wired tinsel between the two edges of the top portion of the ornament. This will give you a great "hanger" when we finish it off.

vintage ruffled ornament 007

vintage ruffled ornament 008

5. Embellish the ruffled circle as desired. I added glass glitter to each of the "hills" (raised folds).

vintage ruffled ornament 009

6. Cut and mount your vintage image as desired. I cut the image and mounted it on a scalloped circle cut from copper cardstock.

7. Embellish as desired. I didn't add any additional embellishments ~ I didn't want to hamper your creativity. Ideas for additional embellishments ~ flowers, holly, snowflakes, charms (to hang from the ornament), glitter, micro beads, etc.

8. Twist the two ends of the wired tinsel to form a loop for hanging.

And here you go!

vintage ruffled ornament 010

This is a really fun ornament not only for the tree but it looks super on packages, on wreaths, or make several and add to an evergreen garland, strung on lace or ribbon, etc. The uses are endless!

ENJOY!!


Thursday, December 17, 2009

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments! #19 - Mistletoe!!

Yes, everyone will jump up for a kiss when you bring this ornament into the room!!

It's perfect to hang in a door way, add to a package or just carry around to use whenever you feel the need for a little sugar ;)

A bit about mistletoe ....

*Mistletoe was also used to welcome the new year and to ward off evil. Mistletoe was hung over a baby's cradle to prevent theft from fairies, and it was believed that mistletoe promoted dreams that unlocked the secrets of immortality.
*When hung in the home, mistletoe symbolized purity and strength and promoted happiness, romance and peace. In fact, custom called for enemies meeting beneath the mistletoe to throw down their weapons and embrace.

*When worn, mistletoe had the extraordinary powers of warding off demons and witches while protecting the wearer from fits, fever, tremors and poison.

*Mistletoe was thought to promote fertility!

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

#19 - Mistletoe

Mistletoe 001

Supplies:

10-12mm Pearl Beads or Pearl Flower Stamen

Wire

Green Crepe Paper

Adhesive

Floral Tape (optional)

Ribbon

Needle Nose Pliers

Instructions:

1. If you are using flower stamens wrap the wire around the stamen to form a loop at the bottom.

Mistletoe 002

or

If you are using beads, create a loop on one end of the wire. Slip two beads onto the piece of wire and create a loop on the other end of the wire as shown...

Mistletoe 003

Mistletoe 009

2. Fold the wire in half and twist creating a loop at the bottom of the wire as shown.

Mistletoe 010

Mistletoe 004

3. Create 4 of these little pearl & wire twists. Each twist will become one bundle of mistletoe.

4. Cut round end leaves from the crepe paper. You will need 3 leaves for each mistletoe bundle you make (I made 4 bundles + 1 extra set of leaves for later use).

5. Wrap and adhere 3 leaves on each of the pearl/wire twists to create a mistletoe bundle.

Mistletoe 006

Mistletoe 007

6. Now that you have 4 mistletoe bundles completed, cut a long piece of wire (10-12") and make a knot on one end and add a pearl bead. Wrap 3 leaves around this individual bead.

Mistletoe 011

7. Approximately 1" up from your last leaf on the long piece of wire create a knot and hang 2 of the mistletoe bundles.

Mistletoe 012

8. Up another inch make a second knot and hang the remaining two mistletoe bundles.

Mistletoe 013

9. (optional) If you'd like you can use the floral tape to hide the joints where the bundles meet the central piece of wire. I don't because once you add the ribbon it hides the wire pretty well. Totally up to you though ~ some people don't like the wire showing through.

10. Add the ribbon at the last joint where you added the final two bundles of mistletoe. Create a loop for hanging from the remaining wire. Hide the end of the wire by tucking it into the ribbon.

LET THE KISSING BEGIN!!!!!

Mistletoe 015

NOTE: If you'd like to create a little mistletoe to wear on your lapel, simply take two or three of the bundles, wrap them together and add a piece of ribbon and you're set to go :)

Now wasn't that simple?

And it looks great when you're finished...

it looks even better than most of the real mistletoe I've seen for sale in the stores!

This is so quick and easy there is no reason not to have a bit of kissing going on this holiday season!

Have a great day!!

#18 Decorated Cinnamon Ornaments

Here are the finished Cinnamon Ornaments from yesterday!

I decorated them using Liquid Pearls from Ranger in traditional holiday designs.

Cinnamon Ornaments

To add hangers simply use hot glue and add the hanger to the back.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments - #18 Cinnamon Ornaments

Mmmmmm here is an ornament that is pleasing to your sense of smell as well as sight! One of my favorites to make and oh so much easier than regular cookie ornaments! I so wish I had smell-o-vision so you could get a whiff of just how good these really smell.

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

Cinnamon Ornaments

Cinnamon Ornaments 001

Supplies:

Cinnamon

Apple Sauce

Mixing Bowl

Spoon

Measuring Cup

Rolling Pin (or Brayer in my case)

Cookie Cutter

Embellishments

Instructions:

1. Add equal parts apple sauce and cinnamon in a bowl. I used 1/2 cup of each making a pretty large batch of dough.

Cinnamon Ornaments 002

2. Mix well.

Cinnamon Ornaments 004

Your "dough" will look something like this ~ it's a light and fluffy dough and it will be pretty wet when it's ready to roll.

Cinnamon Ornaments 008

3. Dust your surface with cinnamon and roll the dough out just as you would if it were for cookies. I use quite a bit of cinnamon for the first "roll-out" since the dough is so wet. The more cinnamon you use to dust your surface with, the easier it is to pick up and transfer the cut-outs.

Cinnamon Ornaments 006

4. Cut the ornaments out...in this case I'm using ginger bread boys and girls. I like to place them on a sheet of cardstock since it absorbs some of the moisture from the dough.

Cinnamon Ornaments 007

5. Once you have cut the ornaments from the first bit of dough you can wad the remains up in a ball and start over until you've use up all the dough.

6. Let your ornaments dry overnight or you may speed up the drying process by placing in a very low heat oven for several hours.

Cinnamon Ornaments 011

I'll share the finished, decorated ornaments with you tomorrow ;)

I'll also have a fun ornament that will make people jump for a bit more than joy!

Can you guess what it might be?!?!?!?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments - #17 Wood Block Ornaments

Well, let me tell you when I came up with this idea I had no idea how expensive wood blocks had become. Whew ~ I got a real surprise when I started looking around for some for this project. I thought I'd pick some up for a couple dollars....Wrong-O!!! Those puppies are anywhere from 10.00 -50.00!!!! I about fainted...checked out ebay but the shipping kills you on those so I rethought it and decided to use some circular wood blocks my dad had given me. Now you might not have the same type of blocks but the general directions would be the same. I say use whatever you have...if you don't have wood blocks, try chipboard cubes, foam/styrofoam cubes, etc. It doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg to create.

25 Days of Hand Made Ornaments

#17 Wood Block Ornaments

NOTE: The wood blocks I happen to use had holes already drilled through the center. If you are using traditional wood blocks you'll need to drill a hole through the center of each block before you begin.

Wood Block Ornaments 001

Supplies:

Blocks

Adhesive

Vintage Text

Distress Ink

Ink Blending Tool

Letters (either dimensional or stickers work)

Wired Tinsel

Beads

Embellishments (ribbon, flowers, charms, etc.)

Instructions:

1. Glue pieces of vintage text to one side of the block.

Wood Block Ornaments 003

2. Trim off the excess paper. This is just a rough cut, our next step will take care of the ragged edges.

Wood Block Ornaments 004

3. With a rough grit sand paper, remove any rough edges.

Wood Block Ornaments 005

4. Repeat steps 1-3 on the second side. If you're using square blocks, you may choose to leave existing images on the 2 other sides or cover with paper. Totally up to you.

5. Ink up the paper using desired color of Distress Ink and Ink Blending Tool. I used Fired Brick, Pine Needles and Walnut Stain.

Wood Block Ornaments 006

6. Attach letters to both sides of the blocks. I used "NOEL" on one side and for the flip side I added a vintage Santa collage image on the first block then "JOY" on the remaining blocks. Set aside and let the blocks dry.

Wood Block Ornaments 007

7. To start the ornament, string on one bead then add a dangle - in this case I used a small brass bell. Other ideas might include: snowflake, small charm, mini ornament (like we made yesterday), etc. Pull about 1" extra through the dangle and feed it back up through the bead and secure with a dab of glue.

Wood Block Ornaments 008

Wood Block Ornaments 009

8. Begin adding blocks and beads ~ I used one bead in between each block. It just depends on the size of your beads and the look you're going for.

Wood Block Ornaments 010

9. Finish off the ornament by creating a loop with the excess wired tinsel and wrapping it back around it's self and secure.

Wood Block Ornaments 012

10. Embellish as desired!

And here you go...

Side #1

Wood Block Ornaments 022

Side #2

Wood Block Ornaments 018

If you're working with cubes, you could potentially create a 4 sided ornament if you would like.

So there you go...

another ornament day down

and

only 8 more to go!

Tomorrow's ornament will delight not only the eyes but another sense as well...

can you guess what it is????

Till then friends ~ Ink on!!