Friday, November 27, 2009

Glittered Toy Blocks, Storybook Toy Dolls and Bottle Brush Trees by Lisa Kettell


How many times have you walked into a store, saw colorful holiday trees for every occasion and in every color, some are pink, aqua and tinsel silver, others are extra enhanced with chunks of mica flakes, snow and glass glitter. Well I have found many ways to change the look of plain green trees from bottle brush to floral and wire Christmas trees, all you need is a tree, some bleach and Art Glitter.

Materials:
Art Glitter
-Art Glitter: Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
-Art Glitter: Variety of Ultrafine Transparent Glitter

-Art Glitter: Variety of Ultrafine Opaque Glitter
-Art Glitter: Variety of Fine Glass Glitters (For various effects)

Paints/Dyes
Acrylic paints: variety of bright, pastel and metallic colors
Flocking: variety of colors

Other
Hand sculpted clay figurine or store bought plastic or paper figurine
Small-medium sized bleached bottle brush trees (refer to tree bleaching and dye instructions)
Container of water
Tools: paintbrush, scissors, hot glue and hot glue sticks
Other: crepe paper, paper, tinsel garland, tinsel chenille stems, small bulbs, millinery flowers, tiny pompoms, sequins, tiny pearl strands, flocking


Directions for Glittering Toy Blocks
1. Coat the lettered rim part of a toy block with Dries Clear Adhesive.
2. Sprinkle wet adhesive with glitter of choice, let dry then slightly tap off excess.


Directions for Toy Block Dolls
1. Attach figurine of choice to toy wooden block using hot glue, let set a minute.
2. Begin decorating your figurine w/ flocking, texture glitter or glitter of choice. Adhere these textures using Art Glitter Dries Clear adhesive, let dry and tap off the excess.
3. Decorate your toy top with a small bottle brush glittered tree, glittered crown, glittered hat or mini bell, berries, millinery, crepe paper and tinsel.
4. Coat the toy block base using a variety of Art Glitter products.

Tips:
-Use basic wooden square shapes, instead of toy blocks and coat w/glitter.
-Use cupcake/sugar craft figurines and picks instead of sculpted ones.
-Hot glue toy blocks to a floral wreath, add a holiday word banner and coat the blocks in various coordinating glitter colors.
-Spell out your favorite holiday word using toy blocks and glitter.


Glittering and Bleaching Trees

Materials:
Art Glitter
Art Glitter: Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter: Designer Dries White Adhesive
Art Glitter: Faux Snow
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #611 Antique Silver
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #613 Diamond Dust
Art Glitter: Variety of Fine Glass Glitters (For various effects)

Paints/Dyes
Acrylic paints: variety of bright, pastel and metallic colors
Ink, Koolaid
Spray paint base coat
Spray paint or hair color spray paint: variety of bright, pastel and metallic colors
Bleach

Other
Small-large sized trees (bottle brush or holiday Christmas trees)
Large plastic storage container (for big trees)
Small plastic or foil pan (for small-medium trees-bottle brush)
Painters ventilation mask(for spray paint)
Newspaper
Recycled box (for spray paint)
Container of water
Tools: paintbrush, old salad tongs, scissors, hot glue and hot glue sticks
Other: tinsel garland, tinsel chenille stems, small bulbs, millinery flowers, tiny pompoms, sequins, tiny pearl strands, flocking


Directions for Bleached and Glittered Bottle Brush Trees:
Use in ventilated area, I recommend outside or in garage
1. Place bottlebrush trees in a large pan, cover with bleach, turning trees with tongs every 5-10 minutes or so until completely bleached and no green color remains. Smaller trees will bleach faster, larger ones longer.
2. Let dry for 24 hours on a stack of newspapers or disposable plastic plate.
3. Once trees have dried, begin painting or dying them. To spray paint color on them, place in a recycled box and spray paint with the color or your choice. To dye them follow the drink mix recipe below, once dyed, let dry.
4. Once your trees have been colored and dried, apply designer dries clear adhesive to them. With a paintbrush paint the adhesive onto all the edges.
5. Next sprinkle some #611 Antique Silver Glass Glitter or # 613 Diamond Dust onto the pinecone, let dry, shake off excess. For snowy trees apply the Dries White adhesive followed by Faux Snow.


Directions for Bleached and Glittered Large Christmas Trees:
Use in well ventilated area, I recommend outside your house
1. Place medium to large trees in a recycled box or on a bed of newspapers, place tree onto this area, put on ventilation mask, and spray paint with the spray paint base coat, let dry 10 minutes, repeat.
2. Now spray paint with color of choice, the more coats you spray the brighter your trees. Always follow spray paint manufacturer instructions.
3. Once trees have been spray-painted and dried, apply Designer Dries Clear adhesive to them. With a paintbrush paint the adhesive onto all the edges.
4. Next sprinkle some #611 Antique Silver Glass Glitter or # 613 Diamond Dust onto the pinecone, let dry, shake off excess. For snowy trees apply the Dries White adhesive followed by Faux Snow.
5. Decorate with tinsel, tinsel garland, bulbs, millinery and glittered ornaments.


Koolaid Drink Mix Dye Recipe
In medium sized bowl mix the Koolaid powder with 1/4 to 1/3 cup white vinegar. For brighter colors use less water and more powder. For softer colors use more water. If Koolaid is not available replace with food coloring or inks.

Pour Koolaid dye over your trees and turn w/tong until completely dyed, repeat until desired color is achieved, let set and dry 24 hours.

Tips:
-Try glittering your trees with a variety of glass glitter colors
-Paint stripes onto your bottlebrush trees.
-Turn the trees into dolls using clay or foam heads, and other embellishments
-Glitter Christmas tree stems each with a different color or with two favorite colors, how about pink glass glitter on one stem and silver glass glitter on another stem.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Santa Snowglobe by Jan Hennings


Supplies:
Snowglobe (Hobby Lobby), Stamp (Crafty Secrets), Ink Colorbox), Ultrafine Opaque Aqua Marine Glitter (Art Glitter), Designer Dries Clear Adhesive (Art Glitter) Fine Tip Tool (Art Glitter, Cardstock (Worldwin), Rub-ons (K & Co.)
Directions:
1.) Stamp Santa image on white cardstock.
2.) Using the fine tip writing tool, apply glitter to parts of Santa.
3.) Let dry.
4.) Insert into snowglobe.
5.) Apply rub-ons and glitter to the outside of the snowglobe.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Christmas Crow Ornament by Violette Clark

Can you imagine a Christmas tree bedecked with fun glittery crow ornaments? Now that would be something to crow about! This whimsical magical crow has just flown in to help your tree sparkle and shine! The crow ornament is an easy project that even kids can get involved in creating! You can use your ornament as a present topper or hang all year round in a special spot.

(Be sure to scroll down to bottom and take a quick look at a video Violette did a couple of years ago with her friends demonstrating this technique before she discovered Fantasy Film and Fiber. It will certainly get you in the holiday mood!)

Supplies:

#724 No Moon Transparent Microfine Glitter
#263 Bright Gold Ultrafine Opaque Glitter
#742 Rock Moss Transparent Microfine Glitter
Fantasy Fiber Snowflake
Fantasy Film – Blue Nile
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Sticky Strips
• cardboard
• acrylic paints – assorted
• metallic paint - copper
• feather
• glue gun, glue stick
• glittery string
• masking tape
• tissue paper


Directions:
1. Create a pattern of a crow head – draw 2 (as shown), draw 2 circles for the halo. Draw an eye shape for the bottom of the crow head. The crow head is 4”h x3”w (without the halo).


2. Cut pattern out and tape together using masking tape. Leave opening at the bottom to stuff the head. Stuff head with tissue and tape the bottom up.


3. Brush Designers Dries Clear adhesive onto the crow head and add bits of torn tissue paper to completely cover the head. Tape the halo together and cover with tissue the same as you did for the head.

4. With your glue gun add radiating lines on the halo.
5. Paint crow head and halo black.


7. Add a strip of sticky tape to the bottom of the crow head. Remove red coating and then sprinkle on no moon transparent microfine glitter.


8. Apply Designer Dries Clear adhesive to halo and beak and sprinkle on glitter – Bright Gold Ultrafine Glitter to the halo and Rock Moss Transparent Microfine Glitter to the beak. Add a bit of sparkle to the eye if you like! Sprinkle excess off.


9. Cut Blue Nile Fantasy Film into thin strips approximately 15” x 1/2” long. Gather in the center and tie with string. Add a bit of Snowflake Fantasy Fiber to the center and tie on with the string.
10. Poke a hole in the bottom of the crow head with an awl and stuff the bundle of Fantasy Film/Fiber (folded in half) into the hole. You can hot glue it to secure.

11. Poke a hole in the top of the crow head and stuff a feather in – add a dab of hot glue or Designer Dries Clear adhesive to secure.
12. Hot glue halo to head. Poke a hole at the top of the halo and thread a piece of sparkly string through. Voila! Your ornament is complete. Enjoy!



Thursday, November 19, 2009

Jan's Ornaments in a Votive by Emily M. Miller

Jan's last project couldn't have come at a better time. My son's 5th grade teacher has these votive jars she wanted me to make a project with. So here's my take:


I started with a bed of Faux Snow applied with Designer Dries Clear along with some dots on the walls and along the top. Then I did the same technique with running the transparency paper through a Xyron machine and applying #47 Vine Opaque Ultrafine Glitter. Only I made two trees and slit one half way down the middle from the top and the other half way up from the bottom. Then you slide them together after gluing sequins on. Oh yes, I also left a stand at the bottom that I bent up and attached the two trees together with sticky tape. Then hotglue the stand to bottom inside of votive and added more Faux Snow.


Quite cute! I'll let you know how the class goes!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Art Glitter Tree Ornaments by Jan Hennings


Supplies:
Cricut, Holiday Cheer Cartridge (Provo Craft)
Xyron
Clear Glass Balls (Hobby Lobby)
Transparency (Art Glitter)
Aqua Marine Ultra Fine Opaque Glitter (Art Glitter)
Faux Snow (Art Glitter)


Directions:
1.) Drop in a spoonful or more of Faux Snow into ornament with a paper funnel.
2.) Using acetate, cut tree shapes.
3.) Run through Xyron to apply adhesive to one side.
4.) Sprinkle with glitter. Shake off excess.
5.) Punch a tiny hole through the top of the tree and tie some clear beading thread through the hole.
6.) Roll tree shape around a pencil and insert into ball.
7.) Feed the two ends up through the two holes in the top of the ornament and tie in A KNOT.


Be sure to visit Jan's blog for more Christmas ideas! Papercraft Pleasures

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Autumn Cards by Jan Hennings and Glue Stamping Discussion

Autumn Card
Stamp the image of the flowers onto cardstock using a designer glue/water mixture. Sprinkle with Copper Canyon Ultrafine Opaque Glitter and let dry. Tap off the excess glitter.
I used a 3-D embellishment by K & Co. and added some glitter to it.
SUPPLIES: Cardstock (Papertrey Ink and Worldwin), Ribbon (Papertrey Ink), Sticky Strips (Art Glitter), Copper Canyon Ultrafine Opaque Glitter (Art Glitter), Designer Dries Clear Adhesive (Art Glitter), Rubber stamp (Penny Black), Grand Adhesions (K & Co)Lace and Glitter CardThank you Jan. When I saw how great this project turned out with Jan’s glue/stamping technique I was so excited. Here at Art Glitter we have tried this several times without any success so I called Jan right away to get the scoop. What we finally decided is that Jan had extraordinary results in this instance, however, she did noticed that the glitter was starting to come off.

I couldn’t decide whether to post this but then I came to the realization that we need to have a discussion about it because the question comes up all the time.

Here is what we’ve tried with a variety of stamps (some fine detailed, some thick):
• Making a mixture of Designer Dries Clear, (DDC), about a 2.5” dollop, and barely one drop of water then stamping in it. Next ‘blot’ the stamp onto scrap paper first before touching quickly onto cardstock. Then get the glitter on immediately.
• Painting the same mixture onto the stamp, may still need to ‘blot’ before stamping onto cardstock.
• Painting the glue on straight from the bottle. This actually worked best for me. Paint from the inside of the image to the outside, trying not to get into the recessed areas.

Problems:
• It is difficult to avoid stamp ‘slippage’ (I’m making up words today! I can do that on Friday the 13th!!!), making a smeared image.
• After blotting, the whole image doesn’t always stamp.
• Thickness of glue varies, making image light and dark in areas.
• After drying (even overnight) you can wipe away a lot of the glitter.
• Your stamp needs to be SCRUBBED immediately.

So as you can see you do not get consistant or even lasting results. It just doesn’t work. I would not recommend it. You’ll just get frustrated.

So now I know what you are thinking, what about the adhesive stamp pads? We have tried several, ones that require heat and ones that don’t. About the best one out there is The Essential Glue Pad by Tsukineko. No heat required. But we find that the glitter easily wipes away, even after sitting over night. We have had fellow crafters tell us that they don’t experience that kind of glitter loss. But in my experiences, when I rub my finger over my examples, a fair amount rubs away. If you don’t think it will get rubbed up against, then don’t worry about it! We do use it for metal leaf all the time, it is PERFECT for stamping a design and embellishing with metal leaf. It is a good product to have on hand.

Okay, okay I know the next question! What about a spray fixative on top? We have used an inexpensive acrylic clear coating or a matte finish from time to time. I can’t even remember when or why now, it’s been so long. But you need to spray from at least 9”-10” away and use only a light coating otherwise it will dull the glitter. Some say any amount will dull the glitter. And quite frankly, a light coat will still not give you the protection you need. It will still smear off some.

SO for great lasting results, stamp in ink or emboss your image then highlight with DDC and Art Glitter! If it’s worth glitter, it’s worth doing it right! And if you use DDC, apply the glitter while the glue is wet, white and shiny you will NEVER (yes, I said the ‘N’ word) have to use a spray on top. The glitter is there for good! And that’s my 2 cents -glitteremm

Here’s another wonderful card from Jan.
After seeing a lace card on Art Glitter website I knew I wanted to give this technique a try! The coverage with the fabric glue is amazing! I chose to add a few dollar store flowers to the card and a thin strip of a stamped flower to place the flowers on. I used a border punch at the top and bottom of the strip.
SUPPLIES:
Cardstock (Worldwin)
Lace (Wright's)
Ultra Fine Opaque Glitter: Copper Canyon
Flowers (Dollar Store)
Raffia (Wraphia)
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Fabric Dries Clear Adhesive

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Pine Cone Tinsel Ballerina's by Lisa Kettell

This is a great eco friendly/green project, recycling pinecones from outside or pinecones from older Christmas/Fall projects. Then glitter them, or turn into dolls and ornaments.

Materials:
Art Glitter: Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #611 Antique Silver
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #607 Cobalt Blue
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #608 Red Damask
Art Glitter: Vintage Fine Glass Glitter #613 Diamond Dust
Small-medium sized pinecones
Small Styrofoam balls
Crepe paper streamers: aqua, light green and pink
Tinsel garland: old fashioned silver
Tinsel chenille stems: silver
Lettered wording
Acrylic paints: Flesh color
Gel pens: black and red
Hot glue and hot glue sticks
Glue Stick
Scissors
Other: paint brush, cup, water, shiny card stock, millinery flowers, tiny pompoms, sequins, tiny pearl strands

Directions for Glittered Tinsel Pine Cones:
1. Apply designer dries clear adhesive to the pinecone, then with a paint brush paint the adhesive onto all the edges.
2. Next sprinkle some #611 antique silver glass glitter or # 613 diamond dust onto the pinecone, let dry, shake off excess.

Directions for Pinecone Tinsel Ballerinas:
1. Apply designer dries clear adhesive to the pinecone. Then with a paintbrush, paint the adhesive onto all the edges.
2. Next sprinkle some #611 antique silver glass glitter or # 613 diamond dust onto the pinecone, let dry, shake off excess and set aside.
3. Paint Styrofoam balls w/flesh paint, let dry. Then draw a face onto them using gel pens, glue to top of pinecone.
4. Cut 2 pieces of tinsel chenille stem measuring 4 inches each. Wrap one piece around pinecone, hot glue in place. Arch the next tinsel chenille stem and hot glue to the bottom of the pinecone.

5.Begin embellishing your ballerinas with crepe paper, party hats, crowns, tinsel garland and tiny pompoms. For the hats and crowns, use cardstock, coated in either #607 cobalt blue or #608 red damask glass glitter.


Tips:
-Try glittering your pinecones with other glass glitter colors
-Make a glittered pinecone wreath using Styrofoam wreath, fill in with pinecones, securing in place with hot glue, coat pinecones with glitter, fill in vacant spots with velvet leaves or floral berries coated in glitter.
-Hang glittered pinecones from a window using pretty ribbons, place battery candle on windowsill to see the glittered pinecones glow.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Harvest Treasures featuring Fantasy Film by Marisa Pawelko

Marisa Pawelko (the Modern Surrealist) is a good friend of ours and we love her stuff! So please take a look at what she came up with using our Ultrafine Glitter and Fantasy Film with recycled bags. Make sure you click on the photos to see them up close!

Materials:
Dried pressed leaves
Fantasy Film
Art Glitter Chunky Opaque Hologram Glitter
Paper shopping bags
Designer dries clear Adhesive
Hot glue

Craft Items to embellish:
Scrapbook pages, Gift Bags, Paper Bags for Lanterns, Thanksgiving table place markers, etc.



Fantasy Leaves Technique: The leaves have 3 layers. Craft paper (brown paper bags) then the leaf then Fantasy Film on top. Use glue between the layers, ironing on top with parchment to protect and iron on medium for 3 seconds. Cut around border of leaf.

Embellish plain leaves using Designer Dries Clear Adhesive with Metal Tip Precision Application tool along the veins. Now that you’ve made your leaves, you can apply them to any number of items to embellish. You can also use the precision tip to enhance your scrapbook text with Art Glitter! Makes a beautiful gift in the fall, and can also be done in the spring with dried flowers!

Project Design by Marisa Pawelko founder of Modern Surrealist LLC www.modernsurrealist.com

http://blog.modernsurrealist.com/

Monday, November 2, 2009

Personalized Votives by Violette Clark

Do you sometimes feel stumped when it comes to giving a hostess gift or when you want to give a little something to a friend to show them you care but don't know what? Fear not! You are a lean mean crafting machine and that means you'll be able to whip up these delightful personalized votive candle holders in no time at all. All you need is a picture of your friend/s – I printed mine in photoshop and altered the mode to grayscale but you can do the same at a photocopy shop if you like. You also might have to shrink the image down to size to fit nicely on your votive holder.

Supplies:

#724 No moon transparent microfine glitter
#740 Raspberry transparent microfine glitter
#263 Bright Gold Ultrafine opaque glitter
Sticky paper
Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
• book text, computer text
• tiny black feather
• votive candle holders
• photocopy or computer generated prints
• pencil

Directions:

1. Choose a photo of your friend and alter it in photoshop making it into a grayscale image. You could also bring your photo to the photocopy center and print it out in black and white. Print your image and cut out.


2. Cut a rectangle of sticky paper. For “music man” you will also be cutting out a crown shape and heart. For “2 creative chicks” you will be cutting out a heart and thin strip for a headband.
3. Print out text for your votive creations. I chose “music man” and “2 creative chicks”. I could have chosen to print out the names or nicknames of the recipients. Clip and outline in pencil.
4. Tear a piece of book text for each holder.


5. For the “2 Creative chicks” I removed the paper backing of the sticky paper and laid down the book text and image. I adhered the words “2 creative chicks”. I then dipped the sticky back paper and image into the bright gold ultrafine opaque glitter. I then removed the backing from the headband and dipped it in No Moon transparent microfine glitter. I glued the tiny black feather down and then adhered the headband on top. I cut out a heart shape from the sticky paper and dipped it in raspberry transparent microfine glitter. I then adhered it to the image.
6. For “Music Man” I removed the paper backing of the sticky paper and laid down the book text and image. I adhered the words “Music man”. I then dipped the sticky back paper and image into the bright gold ultrafine opaque glitter. I then removed the backing from the crown and dipped it in No Moon transparent microfine glitter and adhered it. I cut out a heart shape from the sticky paper and dipped it in raspberry transparent microfine glitter. I then adhered it to the image.
7. I adhered both images to the votive candle holders with Designer Dries clear adhesive.



Add a candle and a glittery gift tag and VOILA! You have a fabulous personalized gift for that special friend.