Glamorous Glitzy Birdhouses by Laura Fraedrich

Attract the classiest birds in town with these colorful, sparkly birdhouses! What bird could resist living in these fine accommodations?

These houses were especially fun to make because not only did I get to go crazy with my paints and glitters, but I also found new uses for some old scrapbook embellishments that never made it to my books!


Supplies Needed:
Small wooden birdhouses (I found mine at Joann’s)
Sandpaper
Acrylic paints
Paint brushes
Palette knife
Various scrapbook embellishments (Scrapbook.com has a good selection)
Thumbtacks
Weldbond glue (available at Michael’s or home improvement stores)
Designer Dries Clear adhesive from Art Glitter
Assorted glitter from Art Glitter (I used Ultrafine Transparent in Chrysalis and Ultrafine Opaque in Cornflower)


Directions:
Lightly sand your birdhouse if needed.

Apply one color of paint onto the birdhouse using a paintbrush and let dry. Add other colors until you are satisfied with the design. I used a palette knife to apply several colors at one time because I like the bold designs that get created this way. You can choose to do this, or follow the more traditional method of using a paintbrush for all colors. Let dry completely.

Add various scrapbooking embellishments to your birdhouses. You can either glue them on with Weldbond glue (I like this glue because it is super strong and you don’t have to worry about them falling off later), or use a thumbtack if the embellishment is meant to be fastened to paper with either a brad or an eyelet (like the flowers and the metal frames). They push into the wood relatively easily and add some extra color to the house.

Apply Designer Dries Clear adhesive to the ledges of the birdhouse. Sprinkle the glitter color of your choice on top of the adhesive and tap off the excess. Let dry.

This is the last project that you’ll see from me for the Art Glitter Institute, since my time as Guest Designer has come to an end. I have really enjoyed coming up with new and inventive ways to use one of my favorite art supplies…Glitter! I hope you will continue to visit me at my website and blog (www.thepeculiarpalette.com) where I will continue to post new projects. I look forward to seeing you there!

Have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Laura

Eye Catching Titles by Cheryl Waters

So often we want to make sure we get across the theme of a layout and this is why our title is so important. I love the way that glitter allows you to create a title that really pops and provides luscious color.


In the layout below . . . titled ‘Focus’ I simply brushed on Art Glitter Adhesive Dries Clear to the foam letters.


I then poured the newest line of Art Glitter . . . Dazzlers . . . I used Ariel. Then I brushed off the excess. I loved the way it turned out . . . the color and texture of the Art Glitter really draws your eye to the title (just what I was aiming for).


I also used Siren colored Dazzlers to provide a little color in and around the layout. So need a title that really stands out . . . Add Art Glitter to your title! Shout it out with dazzle and color!

Baseball Thanks by Emily Montenaro

My son’s first baseball season is wrapping up, so I needed to make a card for the coach. Her son is also on the team, so I know she’ll enjoy this photo of the kids. First I printed the photo and since it was wide, I decided to make a long card – which measures 4” x 9¼” and fits a #10 envelope.


Then I stamped the banner on a piece of white cardstock and filled each triangle one at a time with Dries Clear adhesive and glitter. Set that aside to dry and came back later to carefully trim it.


Their team is the Cardinals, so I was excited when I realized that I had a cardinal bird punch. Of course I had to give him some sparkle too, so I added black and red glitter to his feathers. For the inside, I have an additional sheet that I plan to have all the kids sign and then I’ll adhere to the main card (no risk of damage from fourteen six-year-olds this way - *wink*!)


I’ve had a fabulous time sharing my designs on the Art Glitter blog over the last three months. Big thanks to Art Glitter for the wonderful opportunity!

Supplies:
Art Glitter Ultrafine Opaque Glitter in Fire Engine and Black
Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent Glitter in Polar Bear
Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
A Muse Artstamps Happy Everything clear set and 2-4-6-8 rubber stamp
A Muse Artstamps Petite Gingham Blue cardstock
A Muse Artstamps Black Dye ink
Fiskars “Cardinal’s Song” squeeze punch

Sparkle Stamped Paper Clay Blocks by Laura Fraedrich

This is a technique I learned at a workshop with Leighanna Light that I built on it to create these glittery stamped paper clay blocks. You can use whichever rubber stamps you’d like to create the images, although simpler designs work better.


SUPPLIES NEEDED:
Designer Dries Clear adhesive by Art Glitter Institute with metal writing tip
Assorted Glitter by Art Institute Glitter
Wood blocks approximately 3x3 inches
PVA paper glue
Creative Paperclay modeling medium
Rubber stamps and dye ink pad (the stamps I used here are by Stampotique Originals)
Adirondack Re-inkers by Ranger (if you don’t have, watered down acrylic paint works too)
Paint Brush

DIRECTIONS:
Knead a 1 or 2 inch piece of paper clay with about a half inch dollop of PVA glue until it is soft, sticky and pliable. Cover the top and sides of the woodblock with the clay mixture. Repeat this step if necessary until the whole block is covered with a layer of clay that is approximately 1/8 inch thick. Make sure the clay is relatively smooth.

Ink a stamp with the dye ink pad and stamp the design into the wet clay on the wood block. Let the clay dry completely (this may take several hours).

Paint the areas outside of your stamped design with your desired color of Adirondack Re-Inkers or watered down acrylic paint. Let dry.

Use the Designer Dries Clear adhesive with the metal writing tip to coat a section in your stamped design. Pour your desired color of glitter on the glue and shake off excess. Let dry.

Repeat step 4 with different colors of glitter until you have the desired effect.

You can either glue a magnet on the back of these to hang on your fridge, or attach a small picture hanger and hang it on your wall.

Using Art Glitter With Paint and As a Background by Cheryl Waters

Using Art Glitter with paint is a fun technique providing a unique background for any layout or project. It’s a simple way to add subtle sparkle and color. The following are some photos of an altered readers digest book in which I used all different kinds of techniques and products. You can view a few photos of the book.


For the inside of the cover I chose to use Art Glitter with paint as well as on my foam letters. What I did to achieve this look is that I started by rolling some paint on the inside cover with a brayer. I then (while the paint was still wet) sprinkled some transparent Art Glitter . . . #273 Cornsilk and #306 Mystery Transparent colors to be exact and then I allowed it to dry.


I also used this same technique for my chipart pendant (can find out more at www.artysfindings.com) that hangs from the side of my book encouraging me to ‘fly’. You’ll notice a subtle shimmer embedded in the paint.


I also used Golden Glow Vintage Glass Glitter and Art Glitter Adhesive Dries Clear for the foam letters to make the word ‘fly’ stand out. I simply painted on some adhesive, covered the letters with the glass glitter and then removed the excess. I love, love the chunky look that glass glitter gives. Such goodness.


My book was all about encouraging things and blessings in my life. It was to remind me that I can achieve my goals, set myself up to succeed and that I have a loving family and friends to support me. So next time your paper needs some sprucing up . . . try this technique . . . adding Art Glitter to wet paint. I think you’ll find it will add some lovely color to your page.

Marisa Pawelko's Cake Box

Marisa Pawelko the Modern Surrealist shares with us another one of her Sizzix die cut designs. This one is absolutely delectable! I want to dig right in!


The Fantasy Film looks fantastic inside, what a great way to really dress up a gift! It's crinkly fun too! (That's a technical term I just made up - crinkly - feel free to use it).

Be sure to check out the other designs on this fun blog hop. Thanks again Marisa!

Cinco de Mayo Margarita by Emily Montenaro

Today I have a slushy, sparkly, BIG margarita for you in celebration of Cinco de Mayo! This 5” x 7” card is sized to fit an A7 envelope and I chose a beautiful white shimmer cardstock for the card base. I decided to go the old fashioned route and cut out the margarita glass shape manually (gasp!) I found an image online and printed it to make a template. Then I traced it onto colored cardstock (but you could skip this step and print it directly on the back of your cardstock) and carefully trimmed it. The inner portion of the glass is filled with Dries Clear adhesive and Key Lime glitter.

I purposely was a little messy with the adhesive to give it a slushy look – so fun! Of course, the glass needed to be rimmed, so I used Dries White adhesive with neutral glitter to make it look salty. For the lime, I stamped a Spiral Daisy in green ink and punched it out with a circle punch. I wanted the peel of the lime slice to be a darker green, so I outlined the edge of the circle with a Copic marker and followed with more Key Lime glitter. Here is the link to the public domain image that I used for the Margarita Glass: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margarita_Glass_(Welled).svg Happy Cinco de Mayo!


Supplies:
Art Glitter Ultrafine Transparent Glitter in Key Lime and Angel Dust
Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive
Art Glitter Designer Dries White Adhesive
Art Glitter black stamp pad (must heat-set on shimmer paper)
A Muse Artstamps Make Margaritas and Spiral Daisy rubber stamps
A Muse Artstamps Shimmer Couture cardstock in white
A Muse Artstamps 4-bar notecards in Lime and Sky Blue
Clearsnap Fluid Chalk ink in Lime Pastel
Copic original marker in Lettuce Green
1 ¼” Circle Punch
Foam tape
Scissors

Glittery Can Tab Gal by Laura Fraedrich

I have been using a lot of recycled materials in my artwork lately and found that nothing works better to shine up something old or used like glitter does. The following project does just that! All you have to do is start stealing all of your friend’s can tabs and you too can make this beautiful Glittery Can Tab Gal.

Materials needed:
1 stretched canvas (this one was 16x20 inches but you can use whatever size you want)
Modeling paste
Sand paper (optional)
Assorted acrylic, fabric (in a squeeze bottle) and/or Lumiere paints
Paintbrushes
Can tabs
2 doilies (I got mine at the dollar store)
Plastic cup with water
Muslin fabric (1/4 yard will do)
Extra fine black Sharpie and assorted colors of ink markers
Matte gel medium
Weldbond glue
Large eye needle and funky yarn (optional)
Feathers
Art Glitter Ultrafine Glitter
Art Glitter Clear Glass Beads
Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear Adhesive

Instructions:
Coat canvas with modeling paste and let dry. Applying it roughly will add texture to your final piece. When satisfied with your application, let dry completely. Sand texture down if desired.
Apply acrylic paints over the modeling paste in the colors and designs you choose. I applied a layer of Lumiere paints over the acrylic in certain areas (above her wings) to add extra sparkle. Let dry.

Meanwhile, you can start designing your ‘gal’. For the skirt, cut out a skirt shape that is appropriate for your canvas size out of the muslin. Using the needle and yarn, sew the can tabs onto the muslin like they are in the picture. There is no right or wrong way to do this as long as you attach both sides of the can tab hole to the fabric so they lay flat and you overlap the rows slightly. Alternate Method: if you aren’t much of a hand sewer, you can simply attach the can tabs with glue directly to the canvas. I would recommend using a strong adhesive such as Weldbond for this so that the tabs don’t come off.

Cut out head and shirt shapes from the muslin. Use an extra fine tip sharpie to draw the face and color the features in with ink markers. Paint the shirt with the acrylic and/or Lumiere paints of your choice.

Adhere the skirt, face, and shirt using matte gel medium. Use a paintbrush to apply an even coat of medium on the areas on the canvas where you want to attach the fabric pieces. Lay the pieces over the medium and press down lightly.

Add a small amount of acrylic paint to your plastic cup and water. Stir so it dissolves into a dye. Submerge your doilies into the dye and let dry. Cut them into wing shapes similar to the picture and adhere with gel medium. Let dry.

Embellish your ‘gal’ with feathers, fabric paint (used here for the hair) and glitter! I used clear Glass Beads and Ultrafine Opaque Purple Shadow for her sleeves and Vintage Glass Glitter in Thistle for the rest of her shirt.