Friday, July 31, 2015

Living the sweet life - Repurpose rubber canning seals into a handmade stamp



Happy Friday!!  I wanted to share with y'all a great way to create your very own canning seal stamp.  It's a great way to repurpose something that has lost it's original purpose.  Last month while treasure hunting, I came across these Good Luck rubber jar seals from years past... I would not trust these when I am canning my homemade jams and jellies. But I would totally trust these with my papers and inks....IT's soooo easy to create your own stamp....but if you haven't the Good Luck in finding these at your flea market, I'll have these up on my etsy store in the coming week.  For those of you that would like to make your own, the technique is below....

Create your one of a kind sealing label stamps

What a great use of these old seals!


Gather

2 rubber seals
1 wood block
Adhesive such as Ultimate
Wood stirrer or toothpick to spread the adhesive
Inks, Paper for project


Make

1.  Take one rubber seal and spread adhesive on the back side (each side is virtually the same, so you choose..)

2.  Place onto the center of the block and press into place. 

3.  Spread adhesive on the second seal and place on top (evenly) of the first seal.

4.  Allow to dry!!

Now, you're ready to send a sweet message, create your own labels or even use on fabric!!

There will be a limited supply of these stamps (8-10), so if you know you would like one before they go up on my etsy shop, email me  here and reserve your stamp today. 


Until next time, I hope you are having a fantastic Friday and Good Luck with your treasure hunting!!

Thursday, July 23, 2015

September Saturday in the Studio- Collage Art Jewelry with ICE RESIN



Join  me for a creative-filled afternoon where we will create a one of a kind collage art piece of jewelry while learning and using the incredible ICE Resin. Our collage art bezels will be filled with vintage and decorative papers while learning  a paste paper technique.  Afternoon delights will be served along with an Iced Coffee and Iced Tea Bar. 



Date: Saturday, September 12, 2015
Time:  1:30-4:30
Place:  My Art Studio
            2505 Westlake Drive, Rowlett, TX 75088
Cost: $45 includes Collage art jewelry kit with ICE Resin plunger 

Registration open until September 5th

To register, please email me at chantal515@verizon.net  




The first Saturday in the Studio was a success!!



We had such a wonderful creative afternoon.  8 lovely women joined me for our first Saturday in the Studio.  While we may have been in Texas, our creativity took us to the oceanside where we worked with hand picked shells, pearls and vintage buttons as we created a one of a kind hand knotted wrap bracelet complete with ICED Enameled button closure and button and bead dangles.  Each bracelet reflected the personality of it's creator.  We had fun playing with ICED Enamels and various found metal objects, learning new techniques of wire wrapping and hand knotting.  My daughters were great co-coordinators of this event.  One photographed while one entertained the youngest attendee   (a grand daughter of one of the lovely ladies who came).  Take a photography walk as we stroll along the beach inspired afternoon. 






The beginnings of our table

Sweet treats for the afternoon

Even the utensils were beach inpired 
showing wire wrapping and beading

In the midst of creating

A wall in my studio - feathers from my hens

Love the sentiment on the Coke Can and Donna in the background

pearls, shells and button dangles with ICE RESIN® charms

My mom's hands- One of her favorite sayings is "Hands to work, Hearts to God."  She is my teacher, my friend and my rock!

I hope you'll make plans to join me for our next Saturday in the Studio on September 12th.  Details to follow.  We will be working with ICE Resin® and creating Collage Art Jewelry with metal bezels, papers, and ICED Enamels.  

Until next time - Blessings to you!!


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Banner By the Sea featuring May Arts Ribbons

   "Each new day, a gift to be opened, sunrise slowly unties its            ribbon of hope."
BANNER BY THE SEA





































Ribbons- yellow ribbons of hope, blue ribbons of courage, red ribbons of love.   Ribbons.    Whether to tie a ribbon around the old oak tree or to winning the 1st prize ribbon to adorning a package, Ribbon in it's simplest form - lovely.  I must confess, I have a love affair with ribbon!  In my studio, I have a ribbon wall and ribbon drawers.  In my sewing room, I have ribbons sorted by size, color, purpose  ......but I also have baskets of snippets of ribbon that are just waiting for that ever so small need of a dash of lovely on an artistic endeavor. 

Today,  I want to share my Banner by the Sea featuring May Arts Ribbon.  This little Banner was inspired by our recent trip to Florida where we spent quite a bit of time walking on the beach, reading to the sound of the waves and soaking in the sun.  The Colors of this project are reminiscent of the shells, sand and water.  The Ribbons echo these colors while the stenciled shell mirror the colors of the actual shells we picked up on our many walks along the water's edge.  The Ribbon Bow Banner at the top of our canvas piece is a wonderful (simple) technique of ribbon manipulation. (see video for tutorial).  The Ribbon streamers at the base of our burlap are filled with shells, charms, buttons and even canvas stamped tags that are backed with ICE RESIN® paper.  This project  can be changed to fit a particular holiday - Can you just see Old Glory in the center with beautiful May Art Ribbons of Red, white and blue?  Or perhaps February 14th is what you see in the center with a Heart full of LOVE with pink, red, and white streamers of  (May Arts) Ribbon?  Ok, before I get to inspired....Let's get to gathering and then making this Beribboned Banner by the Sea.


Gather
wire edged burlap or base fabric
Covered wire for hanger
Canvas paper
batting for underneath canvas paper
Lumiere paints-metallic gold, metallic bronze, pearl white and pearl turqouise
Shell Stencil 
Stencil brushes
canvas tags - either pre -made or made with dies and canvas paper
Sentiment Stamps
Stazon ink pad
small piece of manilla folder or heavy card stock
10 eyelets
Crop-o-dile or eyelet setter.
Shells, charms, embellishments of your choice
paper bead wired charm
May Arts Ribbon- 
*1.5 inch wide wrinkled edge ribbon - antique brass
*silky crush ribbon - teal, rust
*ivory jute
*1/4 inch silk ribbon - teal, gold, ivory
* ombre ribbon in antique gold/ivory 

Sewing machine, matching thread
needle and thread 
or fabric adhesive such as fabric fusion or e6000 fabric fuse

Paints, stencils, Ribbons, shells

May Arts Ribbons - LOVELY!
Let's get started

1.  Using three shades of lumiere paints (gold, bronze and pearl white), stencil shell on canvas paper, starting with the lighter shades at the base and adding bronze at the end.   Make sure to use a less paint as you stencil.  You can always go back and add more.

To stamp the sentiment, By the Sea- use the lumiere paints and add the teal paint to mirror the ribbon.  

Use painter's tape to secure the stencil.  Lay canvas paper and stencil
on a pad or piece of foam for cushion

2.  Once the paint is dry, layer you canvas and the stamped sentiment onto the batting and then onto the burlap (leaving enough at the top and bottom to fold over for the eyelets), using a straight stitch, stick along the edges of the canvas.  Trim threads.
Ribbon Bow Banner pinned and ready to be attached - see video.


3. Using the ombre ribbon, create a bow, with long tails.  Using straight pins, pin the folds to create a natural flow of the ribbon.  Once pinned, using either needle and thread or a fabric adhesive, attach bow to the canvas. 

4.  Fold over top edge of burlap and place a small piece of manilla folder/heavy cardstock in the folded area to give strength and stability for the eylets.  Sew a straight stitch or glue across the base of the fold.  Using the crop--o-dile or eyelet setter, set 2 eyelets at the top of the banner and 6 at the base of the banner.  
eyelets set, ribbon around the base of stenciled piece.

close-up of ombre ribbon & shell 

eyelets at the base

larger eyelet at the top corner

5.  For the top, cut a long piece of covered wire and thread through one eyelet, wrapping the end of the wire.  Create curls in the handle by wrapping the wire around a dowel or pencil.  Slip the other end through the other eyelet and wrap the tail around the top part of the  wire handle. 

6.  Using a wider width ribbon, tie a simple bow around wire and  add dangles to the center of the bow. 

7.  Set the 6 eyelets at the base of the banner. with the same directions as in step 4.   

8. Using  varying lengths of ribbon, thread the ribbon through the eyelets.  tie simple overhand knots near the top of the ribbons. 

9.  Wrap the ivory jute around 2 of the wider ribbons instead of tying knots to add variety.  Secure the jute with a double knot.  Add bead charms onto the jute.

10.  To add interest and weight to the ribbon streamers, add shells, charms and buttons.  

11.  To create stamped canvas tags, stamp sentiment onto canvas tags.  Stitch (or using adhesive) the ICE RESIN® paper to the back of the tag.  Set an eyelet in each tag and tie to the ribbon streamers.



Close up of top of the banner
Full view of banner 


The ribbon streamers- love the effect of the sheer ribbons


shells adorn the ribbons 


Here is the Tutorial - Enjoy!


Thank you for taking the time to read about my Ribbon Love and also how to create the  Banner by the Sea.  I hope you fill inspired to create your own Banner with plenty of Ribbon and those things that bring a dash of lovely into your art and your home next time, 

Chantal