No more crafting or blogging for me!

APRIL FOOLS!!!

Sorry,  I just had to do it!

Are you kidding?  I'd go crazy if I could not play with paper, ink, markers, embossing folders, etc., etc., and as for blogging ... my day would not be complete without visiting all my friends out in blogland!!

SO ... since I'm not going anywhere and it is the 1st Monday of a new month ... that means it is time for another CRAFTY SECRETS LINKY PARTY and DT CHALLENGE!

The challenge theme for the design team this month is SEWING!  And with all the NEW, FABULOUS digital 'sewing' images available (in the store SOON), this was amazing fun!  I will have several crafty, sewing related projects to share with you over the next few weeks but today I'd like to show you the 1st thing I wanted to create with this new digital sewing line.

It is an 11 x 14 Canvas Wall Hanging

CLICK TO ENLARGE

Crafty Secrets items used:  Sewing Papers, Sewing Lady Sign, Sewing Notions, Bobbin Card Set, Creative Quote Signs, Sewing Stamps, Sewing Ephemera, Paper Floral Tags,
Other:  real buttons, Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress Ink, x-press foam tape, Crystal Effects, Bubble Wrap, Mauve Acrylic Paint, Glimmer Mist

Here is a MINI TUTORIAL showing you some of the steps I took in making this wall hanging:

Step 1:  Pick & print the papers, notions & ephemera you think you'd like to use.

 Step 2:  After inking or painting the canvas edges (optional) 

Tear various paper designs and layout your pattern

Use Mod Podge to adhere your design papers to your canvas front.

Step 3:  I like to 'grunge up' the paper just a little with either distress inks, Glimmer Mist or even by adding a little acrylic paint to a piece of bubble wrap and lightly pouncing it onto the paper here & there.  Be Creative!

Step 4:   I chose this lovely image (which is part of one of the papers) to be my main focus image.  Since I wanted to pop her up and make her the focus, I wanted her to have a little more 'substance'.  Here is how I did that ...

1.  fussy cut the image from the paper

2.  trace around onto cardboard/chipboard (I used an empty cereal box)

3.  fussy cut the traced image INSIDE the trace line a little

Glue the two together with your favorite glue or mod podge.

Step 5:  Cut out, distress and gather all the pieces you would like to include on your canvas and lay them out in different ways until you have things where you'd like them.

THEN WHAT I DO ... is take a quick picture ... print it out onto regular printer paper to use it as my basic guide.  As you can see by this photo and my end result (top of page) things got moved around a bit before I was all done but that's the fun of doing a collage type project like this ... there is NO WRONG WAY!!

 

And with all the BEAUTIFUL papers, notions, tags, stamps, quotes, etc., etc. that Crafty Secrets has to offer in so many different themes ... the possibilities are ENDLESS for a project such as this!

Sorry for such a long post but I hope you've enjoyed the information and found inspiration.  Remember our LINKY PARTY is going on throughout this week and you could win some FABULOUS Crafty Secrets products just for playing along!  You can use ANY Crafty Secrets/Heartwarming Vintage products for your creation/entry.  Also, please be sure to check out my team mates blogs for more amazing SEWING creations/inspiration.  Just click on the links below ...

• Vicki Chrisman Team Leader
• Michele Kovack
• Darlene Pavlick
• Melissa Bove
• Rebekah Faries

I'd like to also acknowledge and welcome the newest member to the Crafty Secrets Design Team ...  SHEILA RUMNEY

Blessed and Distressed

You'll want to pop over to Sheila's blog ... SO MUCH TO SEE!

Okay it's time for me to go now.  I'm leaving tomorrow to spend a couple of days with crafting buddies in Indiana and I don't have anything packed yet!  Yikes!  I dread the 5 hour drive but am so excited to see/craft with my friends again .. it seems like AGES since we've been together!

Thanks SO MUCH for your kindness & comments!

As always . . .