Fun storage for pens and things

One can never have too many places to store all the fabulous goodies that we collect or that we 'need' to craft - wouldn't you agree?

I just love decorating these pen and ink cases.  I have decorated several already with the gorgeous metallic and opaque fabric paints from Colourcraft. My favourite are the metallic colours as they suit my colour pallette but they are also available in a range of primary colours and pastels as well.

This technique will work well on aprons, costmetic purses, bags and tee-shirts as well as many other items of apparel. Once the paint is dry it can be heat set with an iron which will preserve the colours and the paint.

And it is so very easy. Let's go!

I like to use a piece of 'cut 'n dry' sponge to apply the paint as it provides a good solid base but a stencil brush would work just as well.

The most important thing to remember is  NOT apply too much paint on at once otherwise it will 'leak' out through the stencil. The paint dries very quickly so if you want it darker, it is simply a matter of re applying the paint as many times as you like. Little and often is better in this instance.  

So firstly I secure the stencil with some stencil tape and then put a small amount of paint on my mat.  I ensure that I only have a small amount on my sponge and lightly sponge it through the stencil. I use a different sponge (or different side of the sponge) for each colour.  Because this particular fabric is relatively porous the paint dries even more quickly and the different colours can be applied straight after each other.

In the case where I wanted the image to look as though it was 'dribbling' into each other, I just mixed a little of the paint colours on my sponge and then applied the different colours quickly to achieve this look.

I let the paint dry once I had completed my stencilling and then I ironed it the whole case, taking care to use a non-stick sheet between my case and the iron. 

And hey presto! a pen and ink case for use very quickly.

Aztec eco metallic paint starter paint

Easter bags of fun

If you are anything like me, I get carried away at Easter time and buy too much chocolate :)  So this year I have decided to make individual bags for the children and pop  mini eggs into them.

This idea can just as easily be used for birthday treats or for Christmas gift bags.



Firstly, I got out my brushos - ooh - look I found these fabulous stickers for them - one for each colour. I also stick a push pin in the top as this enables me to control the amount of powder that I sprinkle out at a time. For this project, I used lemon and lime green coloured brusho powder.

Firstly I placed a stencil over a plain piece of white card and then sprinkled a tiny bit of each colour on top of the stencil.  I used a fine spray bottle - the Colourcraft one works brilliantly - to spritz a tiny bit of water which activated the brusho crystals. I removed the stencil and dried the card with a heat gun.

These tiny bags I found quite inexpensively in my local craft store and I cut the card to fit the front panel. Before adhering the card to the bag,  I stamped some images with black ink.

I then took a 60cm piece of tissutex and sprinkled some lemon brusho crystals onto it. I spritzed them with water and this created a lovely all over colour.  I dried this with a heat gun. 

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I popped the dry tissuetex into the bag with some excess showing for decoration. 

Voila - all ready for Easter eggs when the time is right.

Tissuetex

Brusho Crystals

Clear Spray Bottle

An upcycled brusho bangle

I use a lot of stencil tape in my craft room and the last time that I emptied a tape roll, I wondered how I could utilise it. Voila - an idea popped into my head. A bangle using one of my fav products of the moment - brushos.

Firstly, I sprinkled some lemon, turquoise and leaf green brushos onto a large piece of tissuetex.  Tissuetex is fabulous as it is more robust so it can be torn and 'stretched' a little more easily than standard tissue paper. I spritzed some water onto the brusho powder.  This gave me the mottled effect.  In some places, I spritzed it with more water than others to give variety in the effect.

I then painted my empty tape roll with two coats of white acrylic paint - inside and out.

I tore the tissuetex into random but large pieces and I used modge podge to adhere these pieces to the painted roll.  In some parts, I taped over others to ensure that the roll was well covered and that the effect was how I wanted it. I was sure to cover it evenly and over the edges as well.

Finally, I gave a coat of modge podge all over to ensure that all pieces were well stuck and coated to seal it completely.  A bangle - ready for Spring and the fabulous colours that I wear then :)

Acrylic Paint

Brusho 24 Colour Boxed Set

Clear Spray Bottle

mod podge glossy

Tissuetex

A cheery touch of Spring

A fun and cheery card using a technique that you could easily use in a journal or on a canvas. The background has depth and texture.

Firstly I took a piece of 300gsm cardstock and sprayed it generously with Spray Starch.  I then sprinkled a few grains of lemon and orange brushos over the starch and card. When I open a new pot of brushos I poke a small hole in the top and keep a pushpin in it.  In this way, only a few grains of brusho powder (which is all that is needed) come out at a time.

I took a piece of clingfilm and scrunched it up and placed it over the damp brusho and starch mixture.    It is important to ensure that the clingfilm and the wrinkles within it are pressed down firmly as this is what will create the texture in the finished piece.

Leave it to dry for around 30 mins.

Remove the clingfilm and note the texture created.  I also created a couple of samples using turquoise and yellow brusho powder.  I often create several samples at once, given the time they take to dry.

I then took a stencil and some eco acrylic paint in yellow deep hue and, using a sponge, dabbed it through the flower stencil.  It is important not to use too much paint otherwise it will bleed through the stencil and create splodges.

Using a fan brush, I then created black splatters over the card. When splattering, I mix water with the paint to give a smooth flowing mixture.

I used the word create because I often think of Spring time as a time for new creations and a time to birth new ideas.

Happy days!

Acrylic Paint

Brusho 24 Colour Boxed Set

Gelli Print flowers with Love

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I have made this little card with some gel plate pages and die cuts.

Firstly, I  placed a few blobs of magenta eco-acrylic onto the gelli plate brayered it over the whole plate to ensure and even coverage.  I then laid a stencil over it.  I chose a stencil with an overall pattern with hearts and flowers on it.

I used a piece of copy paper to pull my print.  I used copy paper instead of my usual thicker card because I didn't want the final flowers to be delicate.

I repeated the process several times with varying shades of magenta and white (which I mixed together) until I had a selection of prints.  For some prints, I used the 'negative' and for others I used the 'positive' part of the print.

I then selected a fabulous flower die and die cut several 'layers' of petals from the different prints.

I layered them on top of each other and poked a hole through the middle and secured the flowers with a brad.  For one of the flowers, I used glue and sprinkled a number of beads in the centre.

I created a double frame for mounting using co-ordinating coloured card.

Finally, I added a Happy Birthday sentiment stamp onto one of the pieces of gelli printed paper.  Simple, feminine and an easy card.

Gel plate

Eco Acrylic Paint