All Things Altered Spring Blog Hop

Scrapbook Flair

Hello everyone, and welcome to the All Things Altered Spring Blog Hop, brought to you by our very talented hostess, Pam Bray, of Scrapbook Flair, which is where you can start the hop.  Can you believe Spring is almost here?  The birds are chirping, the trees are blooming, and my allergies are kicking up again.  Yep, I believe Spring is just around the corner.  So, in honor of Spring, I used Graphic 45's new Secret Garden collection to make this altered canvas.

I began with a 5x7 back-stapled canvas.  

Die cut two pieces of chipboard using the On the Fence and Distress Doily dies.  Paint each piece on both sides with the Snow Cap paint dabber.  Distress each with a sanding block and apply Frayed Burlap distress ink.  Heat emboss each with Ranger Moss embossing powder.

Paint the inside edges of the canvas frame with the Malted Milk paint, but remove the dabber top  and use a paint brush instead.  I chose an image from the Springtime 12x12 sheet and glued it to the center of the opening.

I cut 1-1/4" strips of the April Showers 8x8 paper to cover the front of the frame, and 1/2" strips of the Coming Up Roses 8x8 paper to cover the sides.

Adhere the fence chipboard piece to the bottom of the frame, and the scalloped doily to the top of the frame, as shown.  Add the Secret Garden sticker to the center of the doily chipboard, and the fussy cut roses along the fence and doily pieces, as shown.  I also added the long rectangular sticker to the right side of the frame.

I fussy cut some of the roses from the Roses 8x8 paper.  To make them 3-D, I turned each one over to the reverse side and, with a large ball tip stylus, embossed each rose from the back.   

I then used Helmar 450 glue to attach the roses in a pleasing arrangement, allowing the glue to puddle and keep my roses dimensional.

Inside the frame, I added moss and parts of a flower pick with pretty gems attached.  I punched my butterfly from a scrap of vellum that I first colored with Seedless Preserves distress ink.

I used a white PVA glue to adhere the papers to the canvas, but I used Helmar 450 glue to adhere all of the chipboard and embellishment pieces.

Supplies used:
5x7 Artist's Loft canvas
Graphic 45 Secret Garden Collection papers
Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix on the edge die - On The Fence
Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix on the edge die - Distressed Doily
Adirondack Paint Dabber - Snow Cap
Jenni Bowlin Paint Dabber - Malted Milk
Thick chipboard
Distress Ink (Frayed Burlap)
White PVA glue
Helmar 450 glue

I have some blog candy to give away today, too.  All you need to do is become a follower of my blog please, and leave me a comment, which will also help me contact you if you are a winner.  This is what you could win.  I will announce my winner on Monday, 25 March, so be sure to check back then.

And Pam Bray is giving away a surprise basket of springtime goodies  for one lucky winner.  So please be sure to leave a nice comment and follow the other bloggers today.  It really makes us happy and ensures you a chance to win.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you are enjoying the hop and be sure to visit each one.  Below is a complete list of the blogs, in case you get lost.

1. Pam - http://pammejo-scrapbookflair.blogspot.com/

2. Pinky- http://www.blueyecicle.blogspot.com

3. Debbie- http://studiobeecreations.blogspot.com/

4. Betty-http://scrappybetty.blogspot.com/

5. Gloria - http://gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

6. Jess B. - http://thatzuneek.blogspot.com/

7. Angela Holt- http://www.angelaholtdesigns.com

8. Christine -www.scrapbookingtechnique.blogspot.com

9. Barbara - http://blackholeartstudio.blogspot.com/<-- You are here

10. Irit - http://iritshalom.blogspot.co.il/

11. Candice -http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/

12. Jennifer - http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com

Have a wonderful weekend and a very blessed Easter.

Barbara

Fall Magnetic Memo Board with The Robin's Nest

Hello again, and welcome back to my blog.

I have a special Fall project I made, and I am very excited to show it to you.  I am always trying to remember things I need to do, especially during the holiday season.  I make lists only to lose or misplace them.  So, what better way to keep track of my "to do's" than to have a pretty memo board hanging where I can readily see it.   All of my notes are in one place and easily removed and replaced with a new note.  You could also use it to hang a few of your favorite holiday photos, too.  So, without further adieu, here is my Fall magnetic memo board using some of the Black Forest collection papers and embellishments.  They are so pretty and speak Fall to me with the dusty greens and the glittery copper accents.  I am afraid pictures simply do not show their true beauty.

Supply list:

Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock
German Edlewiess Paper

Getaway Glitter Stripe
Glitter Coffee Creme Swirl Paper
Family Rub-On
Travel Sticker sheet
Chipboard Shapes
Regency RN Paper Clips

Getaway Dew Drops
Fall Foliage Dew Drops
Large Clear Dew Drops
Victorian Clippies
Butterfly Clippies
metal sign or metal flashing
chain for hanging
glimmer glaze paint
3D crystal lacquer
Helmar 450 glue
Sheet magnet (TIP:  I used a magnetic business card I received in the mail)

I started with a metal sign board I got from my local craft store for 80% off.  You can usually find these with seasonal prints already painted on them.  It does not matter, though, because you are going to cover it with some beautiful Robin's Nest papers.

After removing the hanging chain, I covered the sign with the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock using my Helmar 450 glue.  I trimmed the excess paper, then sanded and inked the edges with a rust color ink.  Adding some copper glitter to the edges enhanced the tiny glitter elements in this gorgeous paper.  

I covered one of the oval Chipboard Shapes with Getaway Glitter Stripe paper, edged with rust ink and copper glitter, then adhered to the base with pop dots.  Black glitter alphabet stickers to spell "Memo" were centered on the oval shape, and Fall Foliage Dew Drops were placed decoratively along two sides.

I fussy cut the leaves from the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock, edged with gold pen, and painted with a glimmer glaze paint.  Because Robin's Nest papers are so sturdy and keep their shape, even after being painted, I was able to shape and manipulate the leaves to look more three-dimensional and adhere them beneath the "Memo" oval piece.  I love the way these leaves turned out.  They almost look like metal.

I also cut the border strips from the Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock , edged with gold pen and painted with a glimmer glaze paint.  I glued the strips down on the ends only, leaving the center free.  Then I removed the prongs and added decorative brads to each end of the strips with Helmar 450 glue.  I clipped the Regency RN Paper Clips to the strip so that more notes could be added at any time.  One of the fleur de lis was red, so I covered it with more of that copper glitter I had on hand.  I think it turned out pretty nicely.  I also made two additional magnets by simply gluing a strip of magnet to a Victorian Clippies, and another one to a Butterfly Clippies.

I had so much fun making these magnets to use on the board.  I am partial to rosettes, so I used the Glitter Coffee Creme Swirl Paper to make my rosette, and matched colors by spraying a caramel colored mist over the paper.  I was so pleased with the way it matched the prints in this beautiful paper. Then I added those beautiful dew drops to enhance the center.  Doesn't it look wonderful?  In the picture below, I used a sticker from the Travel Sticker sheet , adhered it to a piece of magnet, and glued a clear, slightly iridescent, flat marble from the craft store on top.

Below is an image I punched from the  German Edlewiess Paper, adhered to the center of a bottle cap, and attached a piece of magnet to the bottom.  I used 3D Crystal Lacquer to the surface.  I used a second circular sticker from the Travel Sticker sheet to make the next magnet shown, glued it to a magnet, and adhered clear teardrop dew drops around a Large Clear Dew Drops.

Here is another close-up of those magnets, and one more I made by punching an oval shape from a scrap of Family-Glitter Getaway Double-Sided Cardstock, adhered the fleur de lis rub-on image from the Family Rub-On sheet, and adhered it to another piece of magnet.  I also coated this piece with a thick layer of 3D Crystal Lacquer.

Oh my goodness, I had so much fun making this project.  The magnet pieces are so addictive, and I just love this paper collection.  And here is a little tip from me:  Each one of these magnets can also be used as embellishments for any of your other projects, i.e., cards, mini albums, page layouts, altered books, etc.  Just glue them to a piece of chipboard for stability and dimension, and you have tons of beautiful little bits of art to add to your projects.

I hope you will stop by The Robin's Nest and check out their collections, and see what is new in the shop.  And beginning today through November 26, you can get 25% off of your purchases during their Black Friday Special this week.  I also hope you have been inspired to make your own memo board with lots of magnets and/or embellishments for other projects.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and I want to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Barbara 

A Robin's Nest Red Flowers Birthday Card

Hello everyone, and welcome back.  I hope you got a chance to visit the ROBIN'S NEST/HELMAR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS BLOG HOP this weekend, and just in case you did not, CLICK HERE to start hopping.  There is lots of inspiration, lots of prizes being given from each blog, and there is still time to enter to win.  Prize winners will be announced on 11 November.

Now, for my first Design Team Project this month, I want to share this really cute card I made using The Robin's Nest papers and embellishments.  I needed a birthday card for a friend, and I was so thrilled when I came up with this one.  

First, cut black card stock to 4-1/4" x 11" and fold it in half to make a card measuring 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  Trim Robin's Nest Glitter Letters paper to 3-3/4" x 5" and punch two long sides with a corner and edger punch set.  I sponged Red Brick Distress Ink around the edges, then made a small slit in the paper, inside the letter "h",  before adhering to black card.  

A happy accident occurred when I used the portion of the Glitter Letters paper that contained a large "h", and since I wanted to make a "happy birthday" card, I used the "h" that was preprinted on the paper as the first letter of the sentiment.   I computer generated the rest of the words "appy birthday" onto another scrap of Robin's Nest Glitter Numbers paper, die cut the words using a small label die, and inserted the label into the tiny slit I made previously, just inside the "h", to finish off the sentiment.  How clever is that?  Sometimes I surprise myself.

I cut the top off of the apple die cut to make a vase.  I used my fingers to curve the apple to give it some dimension before adhering it to the card with foam dots.  

I die cut a branch from a scrap of the black card stock.  I made the red flowers by cutting the scalloped circles in half.  Next, fold the half circle in half, and in half again.  Pinch the bottom very tightly, giving it a bit of a twist,  and add a tacky or quick grab glue, like Helmar 450, and adhere to three of the branches.  These branches are very thin, so I left the piece on a craft mat until it dried.

When dry, I was able to trim up any excess red flower stems that extended past the black branches.  Now I was able to adhere the entire flower branch to the card, inside the vase, adding glue at various points along the flower stem.

Now, don't forget to finish off the inside, too.  To tie it all together, I like to use some of my paper scraps that I usually have left over to use inside the card.  Here, I used the coordinating Red Fat Plaid  paper for the inside.  It matches the Glitter Letters card stock perfectly, but is smooth and has no lettering. This trick is especially helpful when you have a black or very dark card stock as a base.  Whether you are stamping or handwriting your sentiment inside your card, adding lighter colored paper, even if it is printed, will make your task a lot easier.  I like to leave the inside blank until I know what sentiment I want to put inside, which always depends on the recipient.

(NOTE:  For this particular card, I used the section of paper containing the "h", to use for my "happy birthday" sentiment.  Choose various sections of this paper with particular letters to suit your theme.  It's fun and can be addictive while using the letters to come up with some great sayings.  For instance, I see a "b" for birthday, "a" for autumn, "g" for give thanks, "c" for Christmas, "f" for family or fun, "e" for expecting, "d" for daughter or dog, etc.  I could go on and on.  See what I mean, it's addictive.)

Can you see this as a Christmas card?  Just change the base card color and branches to a dark green, and those pretty little red flowers will look like Christmas roses.  Add some dew drops, and you will be all set.


Robin's Nest products used:

Glitter Letters card stock

Glitter Numbers card stock

Red Flowers

Apple die cuts

Thanks so much for stopping by, and  I hope you enjoyed my card project this week.  I will be back with another project right here on Monday, the 19th of November.  In the meantime, I hope you will check out The Robin's Nest online store to see what's new and exciting, and please visit the Chattering Robin's blog regularly for a constant source of inspiration. 

Have a very happy week!

Barbara

The Robin's Nest/Helmar Home for the Holidays Blog Hop

Hello everyone, and welcome to this special Home for the Holidays blog hop featuring The Robin's Nest and Helmar products.   I am so excited to be a part of this wonderful group of designers from both design teams, and I hope you find lots of inspiration here for your holiday crafting.  Be sure to visit each blog, leave a comment, become a follower, and you will automatically be entered to win a prize from each blog, as well as from  The Robin's Nest blog, The Chattering Robins, and Helmar.   So get some coffee, pull up a chair, and enjoy the hop.

When I think of going home for the holidays, I think of warm gatherings with my family, steamy windows, great home cooking, and lots of love.  So, in keeping with this theme, I found this paper mache box that I wanted to turn into a box with a hinged lid.

So, I first had to remove the excess paper mache from around the bottom piece.  I made some hash marks along the piece I wanted to remove.   See picture below.

Then, I covered the bottom of the boxwith Winter Retreat Glitter Swirl with Snowflakes Cardstock  and Calamity Jane Diagonal Glittered Cardstock for the roof.  This paper is absolutely gorgeous, and it reminds me of aged copper that has that beautiful blue green patina.  Here is what the finished box looks like.

If you look closely, you can see Santa in front of the fireplace.

I corrugated the Winter Retreat Glitter Swirl with Snowflakes Cardstock and used the reverse side to cover the chimney and the front eave.  I used the Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive to glue the corrugated paper so that it would not flatten the corrugations.   This is a fantastic glue that sets and dries quickly.  It holds strongly and also dries clear and is acid free.  I also used the Helmar Gem Adhesive to apply the dew drops.  This was also a fantastic glue for this purpose.

Front Roof, Corrugated Chimney, German Scrap & Dew Drops

I used some resin window pieces, but had to make my own door using part of one of my window resin pieces.  I added German scrap along the roof line, and I painted not only the windows, but also the German scrap with acrylic paints.

This little box could be used as a recipe card holder, but I chose to make a mini album to keep inside.  

Here are a few pictures of the book and some of the inside pages.

Front Cover

Inside cover and Vellum Envelope with snowflake embossing

Page 1 with punched strip to hold tag

Dymo Labels painted to look like copper

Inside Back Cover, wooden tree ornament

 Here are a couple of tags I made to insert into the vellum envelopes.  I used Robins Egg Blue Glitter paper and folded it in half.  You can then write notes, recipes, traditions to remember, funny or memorable things, pictures, you name it.  In the picture below, I used one of the gold journal tags, cut it out, folded it in half around the tag, and only glued the ends so that I could insert these tiny little tags beneath the journal tags.  Just more room to keep memorabilia.

Vellum envelope tag with tags.

 This tag is also folded in half and I used a snowflake rubon in the corner.  It is waiting for more memorable things to be saved on it.

Folded tag with snowflake rubon

Robin's Nest Products Used:

Calamity Jane Diagonal Glittered Cardstock

Winter Retreat Glitter Swirl with Snowflakes Cardstock

Glitter Reindeer Stripe

Robin's Egg Blue Glitter Cardstock

Snowflake Rub On 

Hillside Mini Dew Drops 

Cherry Chocolate Dew Drops

I hope you are enjoying the blog hop.  Don't forget to leave comment and become a follower to be entered to win one of the fantastic prizes.  And be sure to visit The Robin's Nest online store for more fabulous products.  Thanks so much for visiting today, and enjoy your weekend.

Barbara