Craft Wars Inspired (Junk Drawer) Ocean Dreams Birdhouse
Avalon Potter for iLoveToCreate
"Teen crafted, Mom approved."

My mom is going to be on an upcoming episode of TLCs new show Craft Wars and she's making projects every week with other contestants from the show inspired by the theme of the week before.  Last week's Pop Craft challenge was to make a junk drawer themed birdhouse.  We had two of these old birdhouses sitting in our yard, so we decided to both decorate one.  I used her paint scraping technique in colors that fit my style and added some things from our 'junk drawer', some sea shells from our last trip to the beach, old buttons and a seahorse metal charm.  Layers of mixed acrylic paint colors from Crafty Chica, Scribbles and Tulip are all sealed under Aleene's Spray Sealer so this can go outside.  I can't wait for a bird to move in!

Materials
Old wooden birdhouse
Seashells
Old buttons in colors to match
Seahorse or ocean themed metal accent
Number tape (7 gypsies)
Blue, black, copper, white and brown paints (Crafty Chica, Tulip and Scribbles brands)
Aleene's Turbo Tacky Glue
Aleene's Spray Acrylic Sealer (matte)

Tools
Scissors
Butter knife or palette knife

If you are using an old birdhouse, clean off any debris and lightly sand.  If a new birdhouse, sand lightly.

 

Mix up paints to make several shades of blue, grey and tan.  Use a butter knife to scrape paint on house door, roof and sides in layers, starting with the darker colors and continuing until you're happy with how it looks.  try not to smash the colors together, layer them on top of each other instead.

 

Use Tacky Glue to glue shells around your door frame.

 

 Glue buttons around opening using more Tacky Glue. 

 

Glue Seahorse to Door with more Tacky Glue. Yay, Tacky Glue!

 

Run tape along edge of roof on front and sides.  Cut to fit.

 

Spray with sealer, apply several coats allow them to dry in between each layer.

ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts: Floral Stacked Bib Necklace

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Floral Stacked Bib Necklace Copyright 2011 Margot Potter

ILovetoCreate Teen Crafts

Floral Stacked Big Necklace

Margot Potter for Avalon Potter

“Mom crafted, teen approved.”



Avalon had a mountain of school work this weekend, so I agreed to step in and make this project and let her focus on her school work. This was really easy and fun to execute and came together quickly using some fabulous new ILovetoCreate products mixed with Grungeboard from Tim Holtz. The fabric paints went on easily in two quick coats and the grey background softened the neon colors just enough. I LOVE the new Aleene’s Fabric Fusion Tape, no more waiting for glue to dry! I am impatient, have I mentioned that? Adding texture with the super easy to use Beads and a Bottle brought it all together perfectly. I think I’ll be borrowing this necklace myself in the near future. Just because it’s teen friendly doesn’t mean Mom can’t sport it too. Avalon squealed when she saw this, so I'm thinking...we have a winner here folks!



Materials

Scribbles brush on fabric paint in blue, green and pink neon

Tulip Beads in a Bottle Semiprecious in sparkly pink, turquoise and bright green

Aleene’s Fabric Fusion Peel and Stick craft tape

Plain Grungeboard basics sheets or other thick substrate

2 7” segments gun metal chain

Gun metal toggle clasp



Tools

Die cutting machine

Stacked flower dies

Scissors

Hole punch

2 pairs chain nose pliers

Scribbles paint brush



1. Use die cutting machine to cut flower shapes out of Grungeboard or other substrate (you could use canvas or denim here if you stiffen it with Aleene’s fabric stiffener spray to give it stability.)







2. Layer flowers in segments of three and then on top of one another to create a bib using Aleene’s Fabric Fusion tape to adhere the layers together.





3. Use Beads in a Bottle to add texture to flowers following shapes of petals. Start with the bottom layers and work up, taking care not to crush any of the beads as they are drying. If you have any mishaps, use paint brush to gently remove bead and add a new one.





4. Let beads dry overnight.



5. Create two u-shaped tabs to attach to top of bib segment on each side using glue tape. Use hole punch to create a hole in each tab for attaching chain.



6. Open and close chain links with chain nose pliers, sliding the bottom link on each chain into the holes on the tabs. Attach clasp to open ends of chain using pliers. Make sure chain links are fully secured.





Margot Potter For:

Amazingly Cool Paint Creations by PJ Linden

We are constantly amazed by the work of PJ Linden! She creates amazing creations in Tulip® 3D Fashion Paint™ and Scribbles® Dimensional Fabric Paint! We just love the Rainbow fun in her 7D camera! Look at all the amazing sprinkles and detail! PJ says that she loves the endless possibilities with Scribbles and that it is her favorite medium of all time! Keep an eye on this one, one day you may just see her name on the gallery placards at MOMA!


Here's a closer look at the detail!


Her shoe creations are cool as well. It is so interesting how a basic substrate like shoes is totally transformed into something high end when the paint is applied!


You know you want to rock these heels!


An iPhone case has never looked so cool. Makes me want to break out the paint and dot away at my own iPhone case!


Forget paying for expensive custom frames, these spotted spectacles would make everyone do a double take!


This candy sprinkle bear backpack is so unique. It must have taken forever to complete with all this detail!


Here's a cool video of her process that she calls "future preservation technique". It's so cool that she's using our paints to make modern art!


Check out more of PJ's creations at her site Wonderpuss Octopus Ink. Thanks for sharing with us what you love to create!