Izbzee

a little bit of JOY

Hi all.  Hoping you're all getting in the mood for some fun holiday crafting.  I chose a fun wood project for today featuring Dixie Belle Paint, our sponsor for the month.  The Chalk paint is creamy and a delight to work with.

 

You'll need
Wood letters, candle cuts  (ThoughtsinVinyl.com)
Dixie Bell Paint (Mint Julep)
Sealer
Embossing folder
Cut-n-boss
Foil, cardstock (Foiled paper - see the basic technique here)
eBrush (with siphon adapter)
Acrylic paint (off white, white, yellow, light orange, deep orange)
Small paint brush
brayer (see the technique I used here)
Xyron Creative Station (with permanent adhesive)
Glue (I used a hot glue gun, but you could use a good quality wood glue as well. 
Glossy effects

Rather than make this post extremely image heavy, I'll refer you back to the posts on my blog  Monday and Tuesday to review the process of the foiled paper and "painting" the letters J and Y.

Prep your wood pieces.  Sand, use a tack cloth to remove any residual sawdust or dirt if necessary.  You want a smooth, clean surface to work with. 

Using the eBrush and white/off-white paint with the siphon adapter, spray all of the pieces of the wood (front and sides).  I got really good coverage and didn't use a whole lot of paint either.  Let dry.  If you want, you can put a second coat on, but my pieces didn't require a second base coat.

Switch out colors. Stir the Dixie Belle Paint before adding to your siphon cup or bottle.  Dilute slightly -- it less than a 1 -1 mixture (paint- (less water))  Spray the candle pieces as desired.  I wanted just the edges of the candles to show color.  The melted wax pieces were colored, leaving the flames still showing their base coat. Don't put the eBrush away yet!!!!

Prepare your foiled paper -- review the basic technique here -- I chose to use the Cut n Boss to emboss the foil and eBrush to spray on the color on the version used in the project -- wiping away some of the excess color with a paper towel.  Sorry, no eBrush photos of this step, but the color was so much nicer than the one done with the foam brush! 

Once the paint was dry, apply the foiled paper -- that had previously been cut to the appropriate size and put through the xyron for edge to edge coverage of adhesive.  Center the foiled paper on the candle base and lightly burnish into place.  Paint the flames.  Once the flames have dried thoroughly, spray a light coat of sealer on each of the pieces.  I did front and sides.  (I chose not to finish the back of this project as my ultimate goal is to mount the piece in a shadow box. 

I wanted a little more gloss, so I lightly sanded the flame (to add a little tooth and remove the sealer) and added some glossy effects to the flames and set that aside to dry for a couple of hours.  The glossy effects added a little more dimension too. 

When all of the pieces are completely dry, assemble the melted wax to the candle bases. 

I chose to use the technique from this post to apply paint to the J and Y for the remaining parts of the project.  So much fun! and easy too. 






Once the paint has dried on your wood, if desired, add a little more color along the edges.  You can use the eBrush and the siphon and more Dixie Belle Paint.  Sign your project! Don't forget to clean that embossing folder! 




I really like how it looks!  Thanks for stopping by today and please, drop by next week for another fun holiday home decor project featuring Dixie Belle Paint and the eBrush!   Happy Crafting! 

 

brayer it on

Hi again!  Just wanted to share another fun technique using Dixie Belle paint - our featured sponsor for December!

You'll need:
paint (Dixie Belle)
brayer (plain rubber)
paintable surface (I used a wood cut for this project)
Embossing Folder
Sealer
Wood letters ( Joy Letters with Candles - ThoughtsinVinyl.com)

As always when using paint, protect your work surface.  Pour a small amount of paint on your craft mat or a paper plate,  load up the brayer and "paint" one side of your embossing folder. 

 

Carefully lay the surface of your project into the paint and lightly press into the paint -- do not move the project piece while pressing to avoid smearing the design. 





Carefully, lift the piece up and with the painted surface facing up, set aside and repeat the steps if necessary for additional pieces. 

Let the paint dry thoroughly.  Wash your embossing folder immediately with warm soapy water and let dry. 


You can add additional paint, ink to the edges if desired.  Seal using a spray sealer according to manufacturer's directions. 

Be sure to check back tomorrow for more details and a look at the finished project! 

Foiled!

Hi everyone.  Hoping your fall days are creative ones....

While thumbing through the pages of an old paper-crafting techniques book I have, I ran across this one and thought I'd give it a try -

 

You'll need:

cardstock

kitchen foil

Xyron machine with permanent adhesive

brayer

bone folder

embossing folder

embossing machine (Big Shot)

foam brush, 1 inch wide

paint (I used Dixie Belle Mint Julep Chalk Paint)

Craft knife

 Click on the photos for a larger image!

Cut the cardstock to the desired size.  You may want to give yourself a little bit of cushion if you don't get clean edges on the foil after application.

 

 

 

Run the cardstock through the Xyron machine. 

Lay the foil on your work surface with the dull side facing you.  Lay the cardstock with the adhesive facing the foil.  Turn over and using the brayer, smooth the foil completely and to make sure that the foil is adhering to the cardstock.

 

 

 

Trim the foil.  Place the cardstock in the embossing folder and emboss according to the directions for your machine.  Remove from the folder.  If desired, you can add additional score lines to imitate tiles. 

 

 

 

If necessary, stir the paint, apply a coat to the "tin tile."  Using some paper toweling, wipe the excess paint from the tile, leaving some in the crevices of the embossed image.  Let dry. 

 

 

 

 

These "tiles" can be used on cards, scrapbook layouts or cut with dies as embellishments in your projects. 

 

 

 

This technique can also be done with stamping inks.  Test your ink first to make sure it will be permanent on the surface of the foil.  Some inks will not "stick,"  Check back on Wednesday to see how I used and adapted this technique for the eBrush in a holiday project!  

Snow season just ahead.....

We were so excited to see some "flakes" this last week, that we just had to get a start on some winter decorating!  I'd seen something similar on Pinterest and wanted to create one of my own.... Even T was excited to see this project come together! 

This is so quick and easy.  Grab a few markers, your eBrush, some vinyl and your electronic cutting machine. 

Using your designing software, and favorite font (K26ScribbleScrawl).  Cut the stencil and apply to your prepped* wood piece.  We're still finding a few shelves from some old bookshelves that were damaged in our move --- so I used one of those.  

*Clean, sand and wipe any sawdust away before applying the vinyl or spraying with markers.  This project would also work well using acrylic paint in the siphon adapter for the eBrush. 

Once your vinyl has been weeded and you've applied it to your surface, begin the spraying process with the eBrush.  It's quick and easy.  I layered on the color -- 2 coats of color. 

Once the marker has dried, carefully remove the stencil -- We're adding some extra snow to the bottom of this piece to cover up some of the damage on the shelf with some acrylic paint and adding some "snow texture."  -- And since this piece will be outside and exposed to some weather, we'll apply some clear acrylic sealer to add a little protection.  Two light coats should do it for the covered porch area. 

Hoping your weekend has some creative time built in! 

eBrush Whimsey

Last week's post featured pumpkins.... I regret to inform you that today's post features more pumpkins!  I hope you'll bear with. I didn't want anything too formal looking, but not quite prim either.  Maybe this leans a bit more on the whimsical side... so here goes!

We've been shredding a bunch of old paperwork the past several months.  This last batch of shreds didn't make it out for the latest pick-up -- so we decided to put it to good use.

You'll need:
shredded paper (or crumpled paper would work too)
garbage and grocery bags
twine
masking tape
eBrush and siphon adaptor
Createx Airbrush paint
Hammered copper paint (spray can)
Patience ( you have to wait for the paint to dry)

Partially fill the garbage bag and two small grocery bags  (our local markets are still using plastic) with shreds.  loosely shape into a circle and tie the tops into a knot.  The largest and middle bag knots should lie pretty flat. 

Using the twine, shape the pumpkin by wrapping the twine over and under the bag.  Tie off .  Repeat for each "pumpkin." 

Make sure your work space is protected -- I worked in the garage and have lots of cardboard to protect surrounding surfaces from any overspray.  If you're sensitive to fumes and choose to use the copper spray, make sure the area is well ventilated.  TIP:  Allow at least 2 to 3 days for all your paint to dry on the plastic surface of the bags.

Wrap some masking tape around the knot of the smallest pumpkin to create a stem.  Using the eBrush with the siphon adapter, spray the stem and the area where the twine is wrapped.  Just to add a little depth to the colors you'll be spraying on top.  Your paint may pool a bit and will not dry immediately.  This is where the patience comes in.  LET IT DRY completely before going to the next step.

(sorry, the pics for this step and the next did not turn out) 

I wanted a bit of metallic - so I sprayed with some hammered copy spray paint -- since I didn't have any acrylic or enamel metallics for use in the eBrush on hand...  LET IT DRY completely.  We were experiencing some heat and humidity the days I was working on this, so the pumpkins had to sit for a couple of days.....  can you see me pacing and checking to see if the paint was dry yet? 

Once the metallic paint is fully dry, get your eBrush ready with some orange paint and spray to give the copper paint a hint or orange.  Spray more in some areas and lightly in others.  This adds to the look. 

Use some E6000 to secure the pumpkins in a stack.  You can spray with 2 coats of sealer for a little more weather proofing if your pumpkin stack will be directly exposed to the elements and not protected.  Add some foliage, raffia or ribbons to finish.  



If you try this, and put your own spin on it, I would love to see the pictures!  In the meantime, I hope you'll build in some creative time this week and every week!  Nurture your creative soul! 

Don't forget that the rest of the Craftwell team will be blogging for the next two weeks this month.  Don't miss out on any of their creative projects. 

 

Make an eBrush Carrier Using a Generic Shopping Bag by Debi Tullier - Craftwell Blog

via blog.craftwellusa.com

Check out Debi's cool eBrush Tote bag -- love this idea and think you will too.

Pumpkin Thanks

We've put all the jack o lanterns, mummies, ghosts and trappings of Halloween away -- Turning the calendar to November still brings lots of fond memories of crisp leaves, pumpkins, apple cider and most importantly, family gatherings.  Pumpkin puree for pies, bread, cookies and soups and roasted seeds for late afternoon and evening snacking. Our focus word for November this year is Gratitude.  This year, I wanted to share something a little different than what what we have done in the past.  

A fun project for a simple gift to special friends is this 3-d paper pumpkin.  I love how it turned out with dry embossing and additional addition of color using the eBrush and siphon adapter. 

You'll need:
Paper (AC paper - textured burnt orange, textured dark brown and smooth white)
Electronic die cutting machine and software
SVG file (SVGCuts' Pick a Pumpkin SVG Kit)Cut-n-boss, embossing folder and appropriate plate for the folder you're using
eBrush and siphon kit
Marker and adpator (Tombow)
Createx Airbrush Paint (orange, green)
adhesive
Hot glue gun and glue stick

Using the electronic cutting machine, cut the paper using the orange for the pumpkin and the panels, white paper for the leaf, flower and centers, brown for the stems.  Set the white paper pieces aside for right now.

Emboss the orange panels for the pumpkin in the folder you desire.  Let the Cut-n-Boss do the work.  Remove from the folder.

Using the eBrush and the siphon, spray the edges of each panel lightly with orange.  The Createx paint is pretty close in color to the AC paper. 

Change the color on the siphon (You  may also want to clean the straw so you have no orange bleed through with your green)  Using the green paint, spray on the fold lines of the pumpkin base. 

This adds just a bit more depth to the pumpkin, you could choose brown or create a burnt orange that was a little deeper -- even a red.  Most importantly, have fun. 

Once you have the pumpkin and panels sprayed (and cleaned your siphon), switch to the marker adaptor.  I used a couple of yellow markers, a deep brown and a dark yellow green to color the remaining white pieces for the flower and leaf.  Here's the leaf --




Glue the pumpkin, leaf and flower together as directed in this video. 

Display or gift as you desire.  As part of our gifting this year, we're including a personalize thought and card of gratitude for each person receiving one of these from our "Pumpkin Patch."

Hope you're enjoying the week of blogging by Craftwell's Creative Design Team!  There's plenty more to see this month!  You won't want to miss a single day. 

 

Office Bliss by Claire Campanella - Craftwell Blog

I mostly used double sided tape to attach the paper to the cans. I used the glue stick for the edges that weren’t laying perfectly flat. I also used an X-acto knife around the rim of the can to even out the edges of the paper if they weren’t perfectly aligned with the edge of the can. 

My office can get a little crazy and my supplies end up everywhere, especially after finishing a project. I wanted to create some simple storage containers that I could leave out on my bureau or desk and not be visually assaulted by another cluttered mess. 

via blog.craftwellusa.com

Check out Claire's post today! She's clearing the clutter in the craft room!