Showing posts with label Fiskars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fiskars. Show all posts

3 Things I Don't Punch Everyday and Some Projects With Them

by Kim


This was a challenge to myself to use three materials that are not in my everyday range. They might be in yours, in which case, I would love to see what you make with them! 

I have been very punch inspired lately, going in all directions. It started with decorating artist canvases and moved onto lighted wall art. Then I was inspired to see where else punches could go.

Paper punches are designed to punch paper and for the most part, we use them on scrapbook paper and cardstock. I used the same scalloped round punch for each of my challenge projects. Scallop punch in hand, I walked through my studio, house, and garage, sticking things in the punch to see what might work.

These are the first three materials that jumped out at me, and the simple projects I did with them. 

I offer quick instructions. Maybe they will entice you to try them... or take your own paper punch around the house testing.....

1.
A textbook nobody would buy back.


 Punch 8 textbook flowers and one white cardstock flower.


 Fold each textbook flower in half and in half again.


 Put a dab of hot glue in the center of the cardstock flower. Place 4 folded pieces with points in the glue. Repeat with remaining four flowers, offset from the first layer.


 Glue a button or gem in the center. Glue a pinback or magnet to backside. These are practically free to make! 




 2.
Window Screen

 Punch out 4 or 5 flowers of screen and one of red cardstock.


 Stitch all layers together with a button in the center. Bend up some of the screen flower edges. Excellent texture!


 Use for any decoration. I like it dressing up this small gift box. 



3. 
Freezer Paper

 Punch out five freezer paper flowers. Iron them (shiny side down) to the leg of a pair of jeans. Place duct tape (mine is white), around them forming a box of denim with 5 paper flowers inside.


 Cover the exposed denim with bleach from a Clorox Bleach Pen. I used the widest tip on the pen, and brushed from the paper onto the denim to keep the edges crisp.


 It takes awhile for bleach to work on denim. I let mine sit overnight before I removed the tape and the freezer paper flowers.



 Squiggle around them with dimensional fabric paint. I used white, but a color would be interesting too.

As a crafter/designer, I am required to use both right and left brain to complete a job. A good project needs clear instructions (left brain), but a creative, innovative project (right brain) starts the process. When I get deep into the left brain activities of writing, invoicing, mailing, etc, I find a challenge a good way to keep the right brain exercised. Even a simple challenge is a terrific way to stay fresh.


Have you challenged yourself lately?
Use your Vitamin C!
Skip To My LouTip Junkie handmade projectsHookingupwithHoH

Posted by Kim at 3:56 PM 4 creative thoughts
Labels: , ,

Super Trimmers and Dress Forms

by Kim

 While I have never been super girlie, I am having a crush on dress forms. They seem to be available everywhere. Very trendy. I got this one at Michaels with a 50% discount, making it twice as much fun.


I love tools, don't you? For this project, I built my own tool. I wanted fringe cut with different paper edgers, but did not want the long process of using three pair of scissors. I hooked them all together so I could make three cuts at once.




To build my tool, you need:
  • 3 pair of Paper Edgers, your choice
  • duct tape
  • craft wire
  • 4  6mm beads of any kind
  • wire cutters

Try this:
1. wrap a piece of duct tape around scissors to hold them together.


 2. Cut a 12" length of wire, fold in half. Place the fold at one outside edge of handles. Twist two wires together twice. String one bead. Twist wires twice again. Sandwich second handle between wires and repeat twisting and bead stringing between second and third pair. Sandwich last handle between wires and twist together on outside of handle. Trim wires.


Repeat on bottom handles. Remove tape.


Awesome. Super trimmer!



To dress the form, you need:
  • your super trimmer
  • scrapbookpaper: 3-4  12" x 12" pieces that coordinate
  • wire dress form
  • hot glue gun and glue
  • ruler
  • pencil
  • straight scissors 

 Try this:
1. Stack two pieces of paper together. Measure and cut strips 3 1/2" wide. Cut in from one edge with super trimmer, across the entire edge,  as far in as paper edgers will reach. 


 2. Glue small folds or tucks, about an inch apart along straight edge of papers (still holding them together). This curves your strip slightly.


 3. Glue paper fringe around dress form, lower than waist. This will be the bottom layer of three. It took two 12" lengths to go around my dress form.


 4. Repeat steps 1-3, glueing each layer a little higher on the dress form. The third layer should be at the waist.


 5. Fluff out the layers.


 The different cuts gives your skirt fabulous visual texture. So cute!


 6. Use two bracelets you already own, or take this excuse to string two new bracelets. 


 Place them around the waist of the dress form. They provide bling and a place to store a couple bracelets!


If your dress form has additional hooks at the top, use it to hold additional jewelry. I added another bracelet, also made of paper.


Adjust the process according to the design of your dress form, and the colors you like.


My super trimmer is still intact. Who knows when I might need it again?? 


Use your Vitamin C!
Skip To My LouTip Junkie handmade projects

Posted by Kim at 10:47 AM 2 creative thoughts
Labels: , , , ,

Light Up Wall Art

by Kim

 When I was small, my parents had a trendy piece of wall art that lit up. It was a kind of light box with a photo over the front. When it was dark and it was lit, it made a neat glow in the room. 


Here is my own version of light up wall art. It also makes a neat glow in the dark. It looks good in the daylight too.


Here is what you need to make one (of course, change colors and design to make it your own):











  • a framed artist canvas 15" x 30"
  • fabric: white, black, floral (1/2 yard each will do the trick)
  • white posterboard 20" x 30"
  • Fiskars Everywhere Punch: square
  • staple gun
  • scissors
  • yardstick
  • pencil
  • white craft glue
  • duct tape
  • string of white lights (mine had 50 lights)



Try this:

1. I recycled a canvas that I didn't like. If you have one to recycle, take the canvas off the frame. Also remove the center bar. If you have a new canvas, use as is with the canvas clean and white. You probably still want to remove the center bar.

2. Measure and cut the posterboard 15" x 30". Measure and draw lines 4" apart across posterboard. Use the square punch to punch squares in the second and fourth sections.

 Make a pattern or punch randomly like I did.

 3. Glue posterboard to front of frame or front of canvas.


 Design Tip: I did not think ahead, and punched too close to the edges. The frame shows through. It does not look horrible when finished, but if you are a perfectionist, you will want to start in farther when you punch. This would not have been a problem had I been working with a white canvas instead of just the frame.


 4. Lay white fabric on work surface. Lay frame on top of fabric. Trim fabric about 1 1/2" wider than frame on all sides.

 5. Wrap the edges of fabric up around the frame. Staple in place. Stretch fabric a bit as you staple.



6. Measure and cut four 4" x 18"  strips of black fabric. Wrap around frame, 4" apart and staple to back of frame. Don't cover up the punches you made.

Design Tip: If you can find striped fabric, it will cut out one step and one expense. I bought some this summer at IKEA. Look there.

7. Cut flowers out of floral fabric. I considered applying a solid piece of fabric and just cutting out the flowers on the left side, but I did not like the brown background with my black stripes.

 8. Glue to side of canvas that does not have the punches. Think about spraying with Scotchguard to make it easier to dust later on.





 9. Fill the back of the canvas with string of lights. Tape them to the frame to hold them in place.


Design Tip: If you use a thicker framed canvas, the lights will fit better, and the canvas will hang flatter against the wall.



Daytime.  A nice contemporary piece of art.


Nighttime. Glowy! The square punchouts add a layer of visual texture, and are kind of a surprise when the lights come on.

Use your glowy Vitamin C!



Skip To My Lou
Unveil Your Genius Link Party

Posted by Kim at 5:52 PM 6 creative thoughts
Labels: , , ,

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Visitors

Contact Me:

kballor@aol.com