Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Calypso Coral Sticky Note Holder

Can you say hooray for Calypso Coral!!
I'm so excited that with the recent Color
Refresh, Stampin' Up! has decided to
keep Calypso Coral and add it to the
Subtles family.  It would otherwise
have been retired, as it is one of the
2012-2013 In Colors.
 
 
This little book holds a long sticky
note pad.  It's Crumb Cake card stock
with a Chocolate Chip mat and Calypso
Coral polka dot Designer Series Paper mat.
 

The clasp is made with the Two Tags die (retiring,
so get it fast before they're all gone!) and some tiny
button magnets.
 
Super cute and easy and makes a great little
gift for a teacher or friend for Mother's Day.
I had one friend who's a 2nd grade teacher say
she was going to have her students make them
in class to give to their moms for Mother's Day.
What a sweet idea!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Wooden Board Picture Frame

Who would have ever thought a simple 2" X 8" X 8' piece
of wood could make 12 super cute picture frames?
 
 
 
Yep, that's right.  Go to your local home improvement
store and get one board measuring 2 inches by 8 inches
by 8 foot long, have them cut it into 12 equal pieces
of 8 inches.  Then you have 12 pieces of wood
that are 2 inches by 8 inches by 8 inches.
 

When you get them home, give them a rough sand
to remove any loose splinters and make the wood ready
to paint.  Spray each piece with your desired
color of spray paint.
 
 
Once painted and completely dry, give another rough
sand to give achieve a distressed look.


Now you'll need some Mod Podge (can be purchased at a craft store),
a sponge applicator, and some Designer Series Paper cut
to fit the front of the frame.  I cut mine at 6 5/8" by 7 1/4".

 
Apply a coat of Mod Podge directly onto the wood block.


 
Adhere your Designer Series Paper on top
of the coat of Mod Podge.  Press all over the
paper to make sure it's glued down well,
especially the edges.

 
Apply a top coat of Mod Podge.

 
Let it dry for about 15 minutes or so.  Or if you're
impatient like me, you can dry it with a hair dryer
or a craft heat tool, making sure not to hold the
dryer or heat tool in one place too long, but keep
it moving so you don't burn the Mod Podge or the
paper.

 
If you find that your paper is bubbling
up, you can run a brayer over it to flatten
it back out.  Most of the bubbles
will disappear as the Mod Podge dries,
but it also helps to use a brayer.

 
Make sure the Mod Podge is pretty dry
before using the brayer.

 
Apply up to 5 coats for a high-gloss finish,
waiting 15-20 minutes between coats to
allow for drying time.

Once all coats of Mod Podge are completely dry,
use a power drill to insert a wood screw
towards the top of your frame.  
 
 
Now you have something metal for a magnet to
cling to.  You can find cute magnets at an
office supply store or any big box department
store with an office supply section.
 
 
Here is what the completed frame will look like.
 


You can also embellish with a fabric flower.

 
Or you can leave off the Designer Series Paper and
embellish with a stamped sentiment and fabric flower.

 
On this frame, I turned the wood block so it's oriented to a
landscape size, with the cut edges to the left and right of the
frame rather than to the top and bottom of the frame.