Ready for a Weekend Getaway... DIY Bloghop with Expo International Trims

 

Hello Friends! Are you ready for a weekend getaway?! I know I am! Today I am proud and grateful to be participating in a special DIY Spring Bloghop with Expo International Trims. I have a couple makes using Expo International trims: a pencil case turned Chic clutch and a wintery felt phone holder.

With some scissors, double-sided adhesive and Fabri-Tac ~
making a seasonal quick change is quick and EASY.

Expo International sent me this selection of items to create with. Keep an eye out here on Cinco de Mayo as to what becomes of the festive fringe and red trims. TRIMS USED in this project: Shell Beaded Denim Trim - Black Multi; AnnaLie Jute Trim {natural burlap background with cotton lace overlay}; Evelyn Black Lace; and striking Flower Brooch.



I shopped my closet and gathered some canvas, white, black and khaki - my travel go-tos and grabbed some items that need some travel ready flair.

 

First up - my not so girly yet functional fishing hat. I removed the leather straps and measured a section of the lacy jute trim and lined with double-sided adhesive. Remove the backing, wrap around and VOILA ~ instant transformation!



My canvas tote has a stain that won't wash out. What's a girl to do?! Camouflage it by adding some Expo International Trims of course!



Adding lace trim is quick and easy with Fabric-Tac.


 
I love to double layer contrasting trims... 
and it makes the trim look like it's all-in-one.

How did I get these great boho roses?!

 
 
I made them out of Expo International Trims!



I had a small section leftover of the lacey jute trim. It's not going to waste. I gently peeled back the lace to expose the threads and gently cut apart.



Now I have two separate pieces! I wrapped these wonkily into a rose shape, added a pearl to the center, and secured with Fabri-Tac.



I cut the burlap into strips, added a strip of double-sided adhesive tape, then backed onto this beautiful distressed denim trim with shells and wound it up into another boho rose.



Again - secured with strategically placed dollops of Fabri-Tac.



I added a broken clip-on earring to the center of this one.
A little more Fabri-Tac adheres them to the jute trim band.



An easy-peasy transformation from stuff I had around the house. AND I can easily remove and re-attach my leather strap for the pop-up fishing excursion.

But there's one more....

This natural woven purse is beautiful as it is... but it needs a little something.

After the addition of Expo International Black Lace trim and this gorgeous Adornments Clip-on Brooch!!! 

Instant STYLE!

What would you transform
for your travel getaway with
Expo International Trims?

CLICK HERE to POP over to the Expo International BLOG for other projects in this special Spring Bloghop with Expo International! For more information on Expo International and products to dress up anything please visit website HERE.

Visit Expo International on FB www.facebook.com/expointl to enter for this great giveaway of trims.

For more inspiration on creating with Expo International please visit www.expointl.com/blog/. Share your creations #expotrims #diyhomedecor #embellishwithexpo 

Thanks so much for visiting! Sb :)

** This is a paid sponsored post. Expo International has provided trims for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.

From Spicy Salsa to Jar of #Cre8time Eyes... DIY Halloween Decor with Etchall®

Hello friends!! Halloween is right around the corner and my Cre8time is in full SpOoKtacular gear. I have a brand new Halloween project to share today - one that I am so excited about!

On Tuesdays it's recycling day and I am always inspired as to what I may find in my recycling bin to make things out of. Today's I am sharing an amazing jar transformation using Etchall® Etching Creme and a few things from my crafty stash... a salsa jar transformed to a spooky jar containing "Eyes of Newt"!

I begin by soaking the label off of the bottle and using some rubbing alcohol to clear off any residual glue and stamped information on the glass. This was from some delicious spicy salsa.

For this project, everything I need to etch glass is from the Etchall® Glass Etching BEE-Ginner Kit. It has everything you need to get started... and in minutes you will be hooked on etching!

Supplies needed:

• Etchall® Glass Etching BEE-Ginner Kit
• Amazing Clear Cast Resin, Alumilite Green Dye and Alumilite Phosphorescent Powder 
• scissors 
• recycled plastic knife 
• Recycled Jar {mine was from Salsa} 
• wire wrapped beads and misc jewelry findings 
• silver wire 
• cast resin pieces, spooky tchotckies, found objects or misc. ephemera 
• Cricut Expression Air and Cricut Design Space 
• blue painter's tape 

Etchall® is a REUSABLE, easy to use etching créme that creates permanent etched designs on large or small areas of glass, mirror, ceramic, porcelain, marble and slate. No curing, or drying required... it just takes 15 minutes! CLICK HERE to read more about this fantastic ACMI Certified product.

The actual etching cream is very quick and easy the most of the work I did was in preparing the resin pieces and decorating and embellishing the lid of the jar the etching was the fun part and the easiest part.

But before I prepare some artwork to cut vinyl with my Cricut Explore Air -- I mix up some Alumilite Amazing Clear Cast Resin with some Fluorescent Green Dye and Phosphorescent Powder, then pour a little in the bottom of the jar and set aside to let that cure. This needs to set overnight to cure.

I create the words on my computer in Adobe Illustrator, then I convert that to a format that can be imported into the Cricut Design Studio. I scale it to size and cut it on a piece of the vinyl provided in the Etchall® Glass Etching BEE-Ginner Kit.

 

With the vinyl cut out I remove the letters and separated them from the backing/border so that I can place it on the jar. I'm actually going to etch the letters so I actually need the what would normally be the waste section around the vinyl lettering. I pick up the section of vinyl with a piece of contact paper to transfer to jar.

Being fairly new to vinyl cutting I didn't know what I was thinking and I cut away all of the excess not realizing that I really needed it... so I used some blue painters tape to fill in around the vinyl and protect the glass. In hindsight, when I do this next time, I will make sure to cover even MORE area around the vinyl on the glass because I found that I was a bit sloppy in applying the Etchall® Etching Créme. I use the squeegee tool to burnish down everything real good to ensure the etching creme doesn't seep under the edges. 

Using a recycled plastic knife to reach down into the bottle, I scoop out and apply a nice slather of the Etchall® Etching Créme to the exposed area, then I let it sit for 15 minutes. 

While I wait for the Etchall® Etching Créme to do it's magic, I quickly add a patina finish to the jar lid and resin pieces with Ranger Adirondack alcohol inks {gold and pitch black}, then rubbing the high points with a gold paste wax.

After I'm done painting my embellishments, I return to remove the Etchall®. Using the squeegee tool, I Gently scrape away and drop the Etchall® Etching Creme right back into the container! I love that this product is recyclable!!! This one little bottle of créme can be used over and over again.

Once all of the Etchall® Etching Creme is removed, I wash the remaining residue completely from the glass with just plain water, then pat dry with a soft cloth. 

Using the detail pick tool, I gently peeled off the vinyl and the blue tape, then gave it another rinse and let dry. I removed any sticky residue from vinyl/tape with rubbing alcohol.

The ETCHING and the Green Glowing Resin look so creepy... but let's CREEP it up a BIT more!

**BEWARE** Now I'm going to let you in on a little tip on how I made the "eyes of newt". This is a food product BUT THE WAY I HAVE DONE THIS IS NOT TO EAT -- FOR DISPLAY ONLY. You are going to want to only prepare/use this when you're going to have this on display for a party. You don't want to leave this in there all the time because it will mold... it gets real gross, pretty fast! I soaked Chia seeds in water. When Chia seeds are soaked in liquid they swell up sort of like a tapioca, but not so large and they have little black thingy in the middle that looks like an eye. I have these to put in smoothies because they're supposed to be very high in omega-3 vitamins and I happen to have some on hand! PERFECT! I added a bit of my fluorescent Green Alumilite resin die and Alumilite Phosphorescent powder with some rubbing alcohol to this to add additional spooky glow. You could use green food coloring too.

Now for the top of the lid -- I have embellished with handmolded and cast resin pieces from some found objects: one being a broken faucet handle; a bleached piece of bone {cast 4 times}; and also a recycled mini perfume bottle {which also has a bit of glowing resin inside}. I used some wire to wrap the ends of each resin bone together with a wire wrapped bead between and twisted wire snugly to secure around edge of jar lid. The top of the jar is layered with the recycled perfume bottle atop of the resin cast faucet handle. 

 

The completed jar is just so SpOoKy cool!!

The best part... this whole project is created with stuff I have around the house {crafty stuff included}. This looks great by itself, but I have a few other oddities to pair up with this gruesome collection of eyes. In a day or so I will discard the "eyes" and rise out the jar... but the FOOD SAFE glowing green resin goodness in the bottom will remain.

How would you transform a jar with Etchall®?

Wishing you a Happy ETCH-O-WEEN!! Stay tuned for more ideas on transforming items with Etchall®! :) Sb

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** This is a sponsored post. Etchall® has provided products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.

It's a #Cre8time Date... SRM Stickers Challenge with Designer Crafts Connection

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Bloghop with the creatives at Designer Crafts Connection... and our newest challenge featuring the new planner and journaling stamps from SRM Stickers and Stamps!!! 

Planners and Bible Journaling are quite popular trends right now... and who doesn't love stickers and stamps??! SRM Stickers and Stamps has a wide range of products for making cards, scrapbooks, party favors, planners - you name it!

SRM Stickers and Stamps provided each of the Designer Craft Connection designers with products to use in our creations - I received a set of planner stamps called "Today, Tomorrow, To Do" that have everything you need to turn any notebook or journal into a planner. To pop over to the beginning of the hop CLICK HERE to see all the stops on the hop!

I gathered up an promo notebook that I've monoprinted the cover to cover up the car images that used to be there along with the SRM Planner Stamps, black Dye ink, a ruler, colored InkJoy pens, an acrylic stamp block, washi tape and some misc. scraps of paper and ephemera from my stash.

I don't know about you, but anything with blank paper is a potential art journal or planner. This book has pictures smattered throughout but is mostly blank grid paper... perfect for transforming into a purse-sized planner!

I'm going to turn this book into a 2018 artsy planner that I can embellish as I fill it up. This spread is going to be for July. I'm starting here as it was easier to keep pages open/flat by starting in the center of the book. 

First I referred to my phone to look ahead to get the dates for next year. Then using a ruler and blue pen, I drew in squares to make my calendar. Five rows down and eight squares across for the days of the week. The grid paper made it easy to divide out the squares without need for measuring. I'm having fun already!!

Now with my squares in place... it's time to get inky. I selected "SUNDAY" from the SRM stamp set, placed onto an acrylic block, tapped gently into black dye ink and pressed into position. The clear stamps are see-through and make stamp placement a breeze.

I repeated with the other days of the week, then set off with the task of numbering each square. The stamp set has multiples of each number so you can set up many on your stamp block at a time. Keep in mind that you might need a smaller acrylic block when you need to stamp close to center of book. I was using a medium sized block, so I just adjusted stamp placement when stamping in the crease.

There are also about a dozen little doodles that you can use to make note of occasions. I added a couple of these as well.

One thing I want to point out about these SRM Stamps... I love that they have the image printed on the clear backing sheet so it makes finding/seeing the word you want easy. I have a lot of clear stamps and I only have a handful of stamps that are this way. This is something that stampers appreciate as I have spent a lot of time wasted looking for something I can't see, or I couldn't remember what set it came from to put it back. 

Here's my July calendar all stamped out! I repeated the month along the top of the pages, made a TO DO list using the leftover column, and stamped a month tab onto yellow cardstock affixed to page with washi tape. 

Once I broke out the washi tape... it was a washi party! I added bits and borders here and there to add a patriotic stars/stripes color scheme.

Now it's time for coloring! I have this stash of InkJoy pens that I carry around in my bag every day, though they don't get much use... UNTIL TODAY!! 

Maybe I will become a planner nerd yet! I'm more of a list maker and doodler - this sort of planner might be just what I need to keep my thoughts in one place. I've got loads of traditional day-timer calendars that get toted about, yet rarely written in and now all reside in the "for collage/arting" bin.

With the addition of colored pens... my calendar has come to life!

There's an annual family picnic for 4th of July... so I had fun making note of this occasion. I marked a place to write birthday's in unused squares at the bottom. 

It's a Cre8time Date!

How fun is this??! Now that I have the calendars blocked out, I'm six months ahead of things! This will be an ongoing project as I add info, doodling and ephemera... now all that's left is the artful planning! This project could be done with the kids and would be great in a blank composition journal too!

CLICK HERE to jump over to the beginning of the "Planners and Bible Journaling with SRM Stickers and Stamps" Bloghop at the Designer Crafts Connection blog and find more inspiration using SRM Stickers and Stamps!

You can find more info and ideas
at the SRM Stickers and Stamps website

www.srmstore.com

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Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you are inspired to turn a notebook into something pretty and a little FUNctional! Sb :)

** This is a sponsored post. SRM Stickers and Stamps has provided products for use in this project in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions. My ideas and opinions are my own.