Aileen's Musings

First 12 Month's Project Done!

2012-01-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

I finished my first project for the 12 Month's of Christmas Project.This month's theme was white. I used a blank wood frame and painted it white then used 3D Crystal Lacquer to adhere the white buttons to the frame.

Queen of 17 Steampunk Card

2012-01-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

Queen of 17

Here's a Steampunk themed necklace holder/birthday card for a friend whose turning 17. Believe it or not I created it from embossed cardstock torso, wings and a cardstock base house. To color them I used a combination of Molten Metal Color Mists and a gold leafing pen to highlight the embossed areas. and then applied a layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer to seal the entire piece.

Washi Craft Tape Specials!

2012-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun new products

over at Outside The Margins

with fabulous introductory

specials!

33 Washi Craft Tape Pack

click HERE to read more about it.

And...

the 10 Roll Metallic Tape Pack

Click HERE to check it out.

Washi craft tapes are wonderful to use in your art journals, card making, altered books, ATCs, decos and decorating!
You can check out more of OTM's specialsHERE

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

2012-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi has a cross over link so you can enter to win a kumihimo starter kit!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there are tutorials on how to spin extreme tail style yarn, make ATC's from magazine pages and punches, an ironic heart frame from unusual images, and a recipe for laminated parsley pasta.

Crafty Princess
Interested in knitting or crocheting for charity? Tammy invites you to join a new group of charity yarn crafters.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen's happy to be back in her niche. Have you found yours yet?

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi plays around with inkjet printer silk!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make an origami bunny Easter garland

Amazing Bleached & Colored Pine Cones!

2012-01-21T07:51:00.000-08:00

You've got to check out Christy Grant's amazing bleached and colored pine cones. When she first told me about them I was so excited at the idea, and all colored possibilities using my Color Mists on them! Then when I saw the pictures I was excited all over again and inspired!! Stop by her blog and check out her process HERE

Easy Peasy Felt Flowers

2012-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

I just felt flowers.

Here's my easy peasy felt flower tutorial.

One of the reasons I wanted a die cutting machine was

so I could cut things out of felt. I started with my Sizzix

BIGKick machine and used stiffened felt and a Sizzix

flower die. Stiff felt or regular felt the Sizzix dies, and
the spellbinder dies cut through the felt like butter.

Here they are cut out

I layered them using tacky glue you can also use

Fabric-Tac which is actually my preference but

I used what I had on hand.

Next add buttons (some I layered).

Click HERE to see my felt banner I made
a few years ago...sure wish I had the
BIGKick then!

Re purposing an Invitation

2012-01-19T16:22:00.000-08:00

I came across my daughter in laws baby shower invitation the other day, anddecided to turn it into a card out of it to send to them as a surprise. I used my BIGKick, a Spellbinder label, and Sizzix flower die to cut out the shapes.

Sign the Petition!

2012-01-18T08:16:00.000-08:00

I'm Joining Wikipedia and Google in their stance against Congress!

Support the freedom and creativity of the internet. Don't let huge media companies control the web. All of us nationwide that have small indie communities or websites will be effected...on the surface it sounds like a good thing, but it is not. Sign this petition urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.
https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/

Art Saves

2012-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

Art Saves
Click HERE to see how I created this altered torso lamp.
Don't forget if your going to CHA to stop by booth #844 to
get an up close look at this and other projects of mine.

Fun Die Cut Packs!

2012-01-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

Fun new Die Cut Packs on sale over

at www.OutsideTheMargins.com

Choose from 4 different themes with

36 pieces per pack. They are the prefect

size to use on your ATCs, ATBs, and cards.

VALENTINES	EASTER PARADE
KITSCHY	ELEGANCE

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

2012-01-15T04:12:00.000-08:00

About Family Crafts
Play along with the current craft challenge. Make a craft or two using CD cases and submit them!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a bit of Valentine inspiration, tutorials on how to face paint dragon and hydrangea masks, ideas and inspiration from Manga artist Melanie Schober and a recipe for coconut veggie muffins.

Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess shows what she has in the works on her hooks and needles.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Eileen shows how to make a lovely flowered bolster pillow to dress up a room.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi's marbled fabric quilt is hurtling towards completion!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a recycled sheer curtain flower fascinator.

Sparkling event in Arizona!

2012-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

Join Swarovski Ambassador and Designing Diva Margot Potter on January 31st at the Create Your Style Design Challenge and Event. It's an 8 hour intensive design challenge, class and contest with fabulous prizes, sensational swag, sparkling inspiration all leading to a champagne reception and award ceremony! Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and show us what you've got? Visit http://www.create-your-style.com/Content.Node/additional/Tucson-Show-Guide-20... to find out more about the show and the event!

Getting a BIG Kick out of my new toy!

2012-01-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

I recently took the plunge into the world of die cuts and bought a Sizzix BIGKick, and man am I getting a big KICK out of using it :-)

I had been wondered about the various die cutting machines for awhile now, but it all seemed so overwhelming. I pondered over which one was best, and which one did what, as they came out with new ones. I kept waiting and wondering afraid I would make the wrong decision and regret it. Then I found a comparison chart that really helped me to decide (click HERE if you are as curious & confused as I was). I had already decided that I didn't want an electric one that could have things possibly go wrong (or break), nor did I want one that was going to cost an arm an a leg. I also, didn't want one that I had to think real hard about how to use it, at this point in my life, I just wanted to be able to take it out of the box and create (in the past I would have embraced the challenge of learning something new...I'm beyond that thrill now). What I really love about the BIGKick is that it can take all different dies and impression plates from various companies and with really very little effort you can crank it through.

I re-purposed a cardboard 6 pack bottle carrier that I had saved from Thanksgiving (it had such great graphics on it), and created a autumn themed card using my BIGKick. I first chose one of the dies from my Spellbinder's Nestabilities (Label Eight Set) and cut out the basic shape then used a flower die from Sizzix to cut out the flower. I also put the orange bottle cap through the BIGKick to squish it and it went through like buttah!

And it went from that to...

THIS
Yep, I'm am loving my new toy, the recycling won't be safe now!

2012-01-07T00:00:00.000-08:00

Your Grandmother's Crafts
These ARE your grandmother's crafts. Ya gotta problem with that? I didn't think so.
Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi starts off her year by experimenting with nylon wire mesh...a medium really new to her!
Craft. You.
Meet the man behind TV host and mid-century modern lifestyle expert Brini Maxwell
Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is fun idea for using a pretty teacup as a doll dress from the new book Creative Pilgrimage, tutorials on how to embroider a backstitch chain and a cable chain, fitting info on different types of pants and a recipe for raw ice box chocolate chip cookies.
Crafty Princess Diaries
The Crafty Princess shows you how to get cozy with your favorite cup of tea.
Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Add beautiful kaleidoscope effects to your hand made cards with iris folded designs.
Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Make some Retrofabulous Pulp Fiction Thank You Cards!
Mixed Media Artist
The plans for Cyndi's new marbled fabric quilt are coming together!
Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make an old pair of shoes glitter-tastic!

Steampunk Fly Away Necklace

2012-01-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

Fly Away

Steampunk Necklace

I'm very excited about Sakura's new products. What I really love about this new product is that I was able to achieve a patinaed copper look on paper without having to use smelly chemicals! Although, it is truly hard to see in my pictures it really does look realistic enough that it fooled my husband who works in metals!

Definitely stop by booth #844 at CHA to see the new

product line at Sakura, and to see this necklace up close!

Click HERE to see my tutorial

on how I created this

Steampunk Necklace.

Taking the Challenge!

2012-01-02T06:46:00.000-08:00

I'm taking the challenge....the 12 months of Christmas challenge...how about you?
Click the image aboveto check it out

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

2012-01-01T10:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year Crafty Peeps!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Now that Christmas has passed, the Crafty Princess can finally show off some of the gifts she made.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Learn how to make cute little patterned rosettes to embellish your paper crafts, including where to download some pretty patterned papers which can also be used for tea bag tile folding.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge shows you how to whip up a New Year's Retrofabulous Festive Fascinator in this fun filled video tutorial.

The Secret to Creativity!

2011-12-29T06:34:00.000-08:00

(Artist unknown)

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Gifts Visit

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Shopping!

Crafty Blogger Blurbs

2011-12-24T06:32:00.000-08:00

Carmi's Art/Life World
This week I have a great rubber stamped project - that can be showcased as an ornament!

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy reports on a crochet (and knit) friendly local yarn store in Florida.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
Make these cute clothespin Christmas ornaments. Eileen shows a skier, but you could also do a nutcracker or skinny Santa.

Mixed Media Artist
Cyndi has decided to play around with marbling fabrics...come and find out how it went!

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Gifts Visit

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Shopping!

Last Min. Christmas Inspiration!

2011-12-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

Looking for some last min Christmas inspiration

check out my collection of Christmas inspirations

on Pinterest HERE

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Shopping!

Mr Kevin with Santa

2011-12-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Mr Kevin with Santa

I can't believe he's already almost 8 months old!

Time seems to fly even faster with a grandchild!

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Stained Glass Tropical Ornaments

2011-12-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

Find out how I created these stained glass

ornaments and bring a bit of the beach home.

Click HERE to view my

Stained Glass ornament tutorial

**Please leave a comment over on the Sakura blog
and let me know what you think of this tutorial
Thanks for looking!

Winter Dreams

2011-12-19T23:30:00.001-08:00

Winter Dreams

Awhile back I posted about these Camel Snus tins my husband brings me home from work (one of his co-workers gives them to him). I'm always looking for a new challenge on how to use them. Above is a piece that I finally finished up which I had started this past summer. It was one of those pieces where you start on it, but then get stuck because your not sure what to do next. When that happens I've learned to set it aside knowing that eventually something will come to me, and it did this past week. The middle base is a Camel Snus tin turned upside down and the back of it is a lid from a Camel Snus tin.

And the mini tree is one of my bleached trees (click HERE to view my tutorial) that I colored using watered down paint. I wanted the tree to match the aqua paint I had used on the tin.

Click HERE to view my previous

posts using Camel Snus tins.

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Crafty Blogger Blurbs

2011-12-18T05:18:00.000-08:00

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi enters the Friendship Bracelet world and learns a thing or two.

Craft Buds
Turn that old wool sweater into a personalized keepsake. Learn how to make a monogram sweater ornament, embellished with jingle bells.

Craft. You.
Meet Jenny Barnett-Rohrs of Craft Test Dummies this week on Craft. You.!

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at our crafty world
This week at Craftside there is a double giveaway featuring books and Styrofoam shapes along with tutorials and patterns for Christmas painting and knitting along with a recipe for vegan nut butter dip and some adorable photos of our newest Amineko.

Crafty Princess Diaries
Tammy is able to spill the beans about a new jewelry business adventure she is exploring.

Eileen - The Artful Crafter
"Santa Claus is coming to town." Are you ready for The Artful Crafter's annual Christmas Parade of Crafts?

Lindsay Sews
With the holiday ornament swap complete, you can check out photos of the lovely handmade ornaments--including bacon!

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Madge turns some styrofoam and sparkly things into a Retrofabulous Suzy Snowflake Snowlady!

Mixed Media Artist
Crochet a really nifty gift in just about two hours!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
How to make a yarn ball and dpn Christmas tree.

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And The Winner Is....

2011-12-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

I had my son pull a name from a bowl and the

Winner of the trio of trees and gem particles is....

Sharon Bennett

Click HERE to view my

Crystal Lacquer tree tutorial

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Gifts Visit

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Shopping!