All By Myself Tee

Tuesday, June 5, 2012
My young kids see me craft a lot and they like to get in on it as well.  However, I obviously can't let them do everything I'm doing.  "Yeah, grab that steaming glue gun.  Sure you can paint the walls like Mommy!  Want to try the sewing machine?"  It just doesn't work that way.

And sometimes it can even be hard to let go of my inner-control freak and let them do things the way they want to.  Anyone with me?  Yes?  Okay, so here's the perfect project to let little ones do with you or all by themselves.  Why?  Because you can't mess this t-shirt up.  It's meant to look messy.


Here's how it went down.  I cut a stencil of a large number 5 from freezer paper because that's how old my oldest is going to be next month.  (FYI: You don't need a cutting machine for this.  This would take less than 5 minutes to do this by hand.)

I ironed the paper on.  (Video tutorial for freezer paper stenciling HERE.) Then I got out my Tulip fabric paint and my big phat fabric markers.  I also got out some bubble wrap to use like a stamp.  


I let my son and his cute cousin go for it and I joined in too.  It was pretty fun.


We used these big phat markers like stamps to get a checkered pattern.  My nephew filled in the holes with red paint, which I thought ended up looking really cool.


Here's what it looked like when we were done painting it.


My favorite part is always removing the freezer paper stenciling.  You can see the bubble wrap stamping, the checkered pattern of stamping the markers, and a lot of random painting on the shirt.


So if your kids are out of school and looking for a project, cut a stencil and let them go for it.




iLoveToCreate: Retrofabulous Mini-Frame Pendants

Monday, June 4, 2012

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Mini-Frame Pendant 
Margot Potter 
"These are your grandmother's crafts, ya gotta problem with that?"

Making these miniature wearable paper artworks is easy peasy and a ton of fun.  Old book pages make great collage backgrounds and you can find images in Dover Books titles or do this with upcycled new magazine pages for a more modern look.  No matter how you do it, Aleene's Dry Adhesives and Jewelry Glue make this a breeze!


Materials
Miniature Frame (HHH Enterprises)
Tiny metal Tim Holtz idea-ology flower
4mm crystal AB SWAROVSKI ELEMENTS round
Old book page
Red construction paper
Artistic Wire mesh black
Aleene's Tacky Tape Runner
Aleene's Tacky Sticker Sheets
Aleene's Jewelry and Metal Glue
Chain
Clasp
Jump rings

Tools
Chain nose pliers
Small scissors
Pencil
Trace background paper to fit frame and cut with small paper scissors. 

Cut out and adhere tiny collage elements using Aleene's dry adhesives.

Use Aleene's Jewelry and Metal glue to attach flower and crystal.  (Be sparing, a little goes a long way!)

Cut a small section of mesh and tie a bow, pull mesh tubing on both sides to create bow shape.








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All About Dad - Cool2Craft TV

Friday, June 1, 2012

It's super cool! Cool2Craft TV June 4 , 2012: Father's Day! The Cool2Craft design team is sharing "all about Dad" craft ideas this week!  EcoHeidi Borchers is creating a Nuts & Bolts Racecar with Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue, Tiffany Windsor is making a "My Dad Rocks" applique with Aleene's Fabric Fusion Peel & Stick Tape, Savannah Starr is crafting Father's Day Themed Cupcake Toppers, Candace Jedrowicz is decorating a BBQ Rib Rub Jar and Linda Peterson is crafting a Memory Art Canvas.
 
Learn new techniques, chat with us while watching the show and ask questions about all your favorite Aleene's products!  It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Airing Monday June 4, 2012 9am Pacific/10am Mountain/11 am Central/ Noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and you'll see the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday! Can't make the live show? No problem, you can drop by anytime 24/7 to watch the show!

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