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Showing posts with label Dover Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dover Books. Show all posts

Tuesday, 15 March 2011

Day 3 Irish countdown, Barbies, Decoupage and Vintage song sheet graphics

Welcome!

Today I would like to share with you one of my passions -

Barbie, Barbie, Barbie!
Yes, it's true. I am an adult (so my age says) and I collect Barbies! I love the fancy dresses and costumes. The outrageous hair.  All the glitter and glam.
The fantasy of it all.
Here are a few examples of Irish Barbies that Mattel has produced:
"It's just a Barbie kind of world...."

Here are some great vintage song sheets, from Indiana's Music Libraries. See side bar for the link.


So, what can you do with these great images except just admire them?
DECOUPAGE!!
Decoupage is such an easy project to do, and the results can look so professional.
My favorite decoupage medium? The standard Mod Podge is still one of the best. I have tried several others, which all seem to work fine. I do really like Aleene's products. She has a reverse decoupage glue and a napkin decoupage glue among many others.

Simple decoupage project:
Pick out an item. Some ideas:
   a frame with glass (use Aleene's reverse decoupage glue)
   a side table
   a frame with a large border
   a mirror with a large border
   a trinket box
   a wood stool
   a plaque
really, just about anything you want.

Now, just follow the directions on the bottle! I'm not going to repeat them here, they are so simple.

Hint: before you start, remove all surface dirt with a good scrubbing if needed, or remove wood dust with a tack sheet.

To use the Irish song sheets, click on the image. Copy and manipulate to the size desired. Watch for the pixels. That means if you blow it up too much it will be very grainy, or 'pixeled'.  Print. Wrinkling the printed paper can help some to disguise the larger 'pixels'. Lightly swipe a dark brown ink pad over the wrinkles to age it even further.
For a very distressed aged look, tear the edges. Practice! Then sponge on some of that great dark brown ink you have.

Apply decoupage glue as directed on the jar/bottle.

Fun hint: At this "wet" stage you can sprinkle on glitter! Try a little green sparkle, or some irridescent glitter!

While these examples are not done using song sheets, it will give you some ideas on how a copied picture can look:
Garden Shrine by inkspired

Here is an example of how decoupage glue can be used to glue
recycled paper scrap - in this case catalog pictures of book covers and then heavily sprinkled with glitter:
Fairy Book Box with closeup of inside by inkspired
Share your completed projects!
Found any tips that will help the rest of us?
Write and let me know!

"May the good Lord take a liking to you...
but not too soon!"
- Irish proverb

inkspired


Monday, 7 March 2011

Cake, Quotes and Baking tips

Hello!
Swiss Alps town
"The atheist can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman."

Today is gray, foggy and a light scattering of snow looking out my window.

A perfect day for baking a cake!


The following is a cake recipe that my mother baked every Christmas morning.  It has a long baking time, so we would gather around our Christmas tree, and Dad would read the Christmas Story from Luke.  Then we would open our presents, one at a time so we saw what each of us received.

Then it was time for CAKE!!!!!

Neiman Marcus Cake
or
South St. Louis Ooey Gooey Cake
or
Gooey Butter Cake
(I have seen similar recipes with these different names.)
I will provide you with the recipe I grew up with:

1st Layer:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 stick melted oleo/margarine
2 eggs
> Combine these 3 ingredients with a mixer and spread into a greased 13"x9" pan.

2nd Layer:
1 box powdered sugar (3 3/4 Cup)
8 oz. cream cheese, soft
2 eggs
> Combine these with a mixer and pour over the first mixture. It's actually more like a glopping over the first layer!
> Bake at 275' for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
> Cake will become light brown and begin to fall in the center and will continue to fall as it cools.

How cool is that? A cake that is actually supposed to fall!!

Some recipes call for a sprinkling of powdered sugar over the top, but I find this unnecessary and just makes it messier.

courtesy of Dover Publications


ENJOY!
I am sure this will become a family favorite for you, just as it has in our family.

"Peace on earth will come to stay,
When we live Christmas every day."
- Helen Steiner Rice

No, I'm really not in a Christmas mind set, but I suppose writing out the recipe for a traditional Christmas morning cake, and it being a bit snowy outside, I kinda' go with the flow!

COOKING TIP:
Do you have trouble getting your gravy to thicken? Does it always seem to turn out lumpy? Here's an easy, simple solution:
Gold Medal Wondra quick-mixing flour. It comes in a cylinder canister; easy to spot with its' bright blue label. You just sprinkle it into the hot liquid and it always works great.
Remember, when thickening anything, it will get more and more thicker after it sits for a bit. So stop trying to thicken just short of your desired consistency.
(oh, that's terrible grammar, but it says what I want it too!)
Go grab that cup of tea, and give yourself a few minutes of quiet.
Then eat cake.


inkspired
http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/
dominoes@myinkspired.com




Wednesday, 2 March 2011

Finishing Details, Kirigmi, Spray Box Beauties, Scrapbook & Rubber Stamping tips

Hello!
vintage ad for Sunkist
Today I would like to tidy up some loose ends, and encourage you to continue to play with many of the ideas I have mentioned in previous posts.

FINISH your project!
PUT AWAY all your creative messes!
LABEL your containers/boxes/whatever you use!
TAKE A PICTURE as a lasting memory!
SHARE with someone what you have created!

Of course, you understand that
                I have an extremely difficult time doing most of those!
:-)

               This lil' darlin' is from a shop in etsy.
http://www.etsy.com/
shop: caracarmina
ALTERED DOLL TIPS:
If you are super unsure about adding an embellishment, and it is preventing you from going any further - there's help for all you perfectionists!
There are a couple of tack-it-over, temporary fixatives that you should be able to find easily.
Aleene's Tack-It-Over Glue
repositional tape runner
repositional glue

Most of these you should be able to find in any stamping/scrapbooking store. At least one or more of these you should be able to find at large craft stores, including WalMart's craft section, and even perhaps your local Walgreen's.

A good tip to remember, even though it may say "can reposition any time" keep in mind that these are meant to be temporary. If you decide temporary may mean months or even years from now - don't! It may be impossible to remove an item safely without damage, or the temporary adhesive may leave a permanent stain or residue.
This doll sold on ebay. I don't have the creator's name.

More Altered Art Paper Doll embellishments to excite your creativity:
google eyes, in many sizes
pipe cleaners
baby blocks
address labels
fun flocking
pine needles
canceled postage stamps
rub ons
random beads you find on the floor
Barbie accessories like shoes, handbags, etc.

KIRIGAMI TIPS:
When using kirigami with the Spray Box:
Instead of newspaper placed inside the Spray Box, lay down a top layer of plain white paper/card stock/wrapping paper (we will call this scratch paper).
Now place on top the desired 'scratch paper' with the kirigami placed on top of that. Follow spray instructions in previous posts.
When you are ready to change Glimmer Mist colors, or desired card stock, move the bottom 'scratch' paper around.
By the end of your spraying session, you should have quite a nice pile of 'scratch' paper that is ready to use as is, as backgrounds for scrapbooking pages, layers for card making, the ideas are limitless.
This is a two-in-one activity that works wonderfully!
                             Glimmer Mists:  http://www.mytatteredangels.com/

                 Here is another kirigami leaf pattern from
KIRIGAMI TIP #2:
Are you having problems with your kirigami or paper blowing around when you are spraying them with diluted colors/Glimmer Mists? You can use small dabs of repositional tape runner or glue, or...
Try chopsticks!
I also like wooden skewers that you get at the grocery store for kabobs.
Pay attention that your chopstick or skewer is not interfering with your spray results. For example, that you leave a line across a lacy part.

You do have to use both hands however, which can be a challenge for some of us, especially on no-coffee days.  :0)
from Dover Publications

TIP: You can also use very small rolled up bits of scotch tape to hold a pattern in place. Try to tape only in large areas so the tape does not show through.

TIP ON A TIP:
To use scotch tape as a cheap alternative to double sided repositional tape, you cut off a small square or so. Roll it up so the sticky sticks to the sticky!
NOW pat the rolled up scotch tape onto your t-shirt or jeans. This will collect enough lint to decrease the stickiness. I use this all the time to hold in place a pattern when I do my papercutting/scherensnitte. I want to be able to remove the tape afterwards with no damage to my paper. This works!

CRAFTING TIP:
This idea is from my friend Shelly. She takes old CDs and puts a blob of glue on it. She then uses the glue by dipping a toothpick into the glue blob, and using this tiny amount of glue to place in small, exactly-where-she-wants-it areas.
She does amazingly detailed work, using this glue method.

SCRAPBOOK/RUBBER STAMP PUNCH TIP:
Are your paper punches getting sticky? Not punching all the way around? Leaving little torn edges?
Time for a day at the punch spa!
Translation: time to give your punches some tender loving care.
Tear off a piece of wax paper. Fold it in half. Now fold it in half again.
Punch folded wax paper several times with your tired punch.
Pick out bits of wax paper with a pin.
Tear off a piece of aluminum foil. Fold it in half. Now fold it in half again.
Punch folded foil several times with the same tired punch.
Doing these two things can really help to perk up your punches to punch their best.
Here is one of my favorite punching books on paper punched flowers:
very addictive.

Well, hopefully that clarifies a few things for you, and gives you a few tips to make your crafting time as fun as possible!

For recycled projects in the future, continue to save your gum wrappers, old CDs, printed plastic bags with logos but not grocery plastic bags, and now a new one:
plastic lids from deli items, margarine containers, etc. We will be needing both white or clear, and any color, but a larger size.
"Nothing you do for children is ever wasted.
They seem not to notice us,
hovering, averting our eyes,
and they seldom offer thanks,
but what we do for them
in never wasted."
- Garrison Keillor

Have a good day. And I mean that, not just saying it.
inkspired

Saturday, 26 February 2011

Scrapbooking, kirigami and St. Patrick's Day

Howdy!
Today will be a fun day of tips and quotes, and hopefully you'll start feeling a little "green"!
"For each petal on the shamrock
This brings a wish your way,
Good health, good luck and happiness
for today and everyday."

TIP: Time to check the closet and make sure you have some green to wear on Mar. 15th. If it needs cleaning or mending, do it now!

Scrapbooking and Kirigami really complement each other.
After cutting a few different designs in differing colors, spread them out on your work table/counter.
Set out a few pages of the scrapbook in progress that you have.

Get out some photos you want to scrapbook. Kirigami looks fab as photo frames! Ad one to make a big splash on your page. Use several pieces that overlap the edges and cut off the overhang. Save for later uses.

Play with color combinations. Do at least ONE that is way out of your comfort range. You might end up really liking it!
DESIGN IDEA:  Use your glimmer mists and kirigami stencils in your spray box onto sheets of 12x12 or whatever size your scrapbook is. After drying, take the shadow images sheet to your work table. Use the same cut of kirigami to layer over, slightly off center, the glimmer mist shadow image on your paper.

An example of colors: off white paper, gold and walnut glimmer mists, scrap kirigami to spray over, brown vintage look kirigami to layer. You are well on your way to completing a scrapbook page with vintage photos or memorabilia.


    Here is an original papercutting          Here is the sprayed paper
Note how the image is reversed. These 2 pictures are not my own. Unfortunately I have lost the info on who it belongs to. If you know, send me the info so I can give credit where credit is due.

Here is a  St. Patrick kirigami design for you to cut and play with:
This kirigami uses the quarter page fold. You take one square piece of paper. Fold it in half. Crease well. Fold in half again. Crease well. Print out the above shamrock design (copyrights by http://www.scissorcraft.com/). Fold using the directions above. Now you have a 1/4 pattern that can easily be cut, or transferred to your desired paper. Spread open flat and admire  your work!
HINT: make sure that your shamrocks are overlapping, and that you don't cut between them. You need the connections to keep your kirigami in one piece.
TIP: You can always iron your kirigami to make it flatter. Use a dry iron with no steam.

Wouldn't these kirigami shamrocks look pretty with a spray of Glimmer Mist over the top?

These two designs are copyrighted from DOVER PUBLICATIONS. They are found in the Stained Glass Book section. I would highly recommend that you subscribe to Dover's free downloads weekly club.
.
Here is an addy that I think will get you to the right place:

This is a heart design from the discontinued Back Street Studio line of books. It is definitely okay to use for your own personal use. I'm not sure where they stand on multiple uses, but the general rule is you can make 10 items using their designs for "pin money", but you can't reproduce it and say it is mine.

This next card is a stamp from Peddler's Pack line of rubber stamping. Excellent line! I have stamped it onto the back side of a piece of acrylic. I'll give directions on how to do this with glitter tomorrow.



"A friend's eye is a good mirror."