A half hour, some creativity and a few family members can be a recipe for a beautiful home décor project, and two area craft specialty businesses offer the supplies needed.
Beckie Cox owns Stampin’ Up in Crystal Lake, and she shares a couple of ideas for colorful, artistic additions a family can put together with ease.
RECYCLED WINDSOCK
“The Kids Recycled Windsock is great because it teaches kids about up-cycling,” Cox says. “It’s great to make as a gift, and it takes about 20 minutes, plus the drying time.”
Materials include some things that might already be found at home, like a large, empty coffee can.
Others tools needed are:
• A foam brush
• Can opener
• Glue gun
• Glue sticks
• Crop-A-Dial (available at Stampin’ Up)
• Scissors
• Mod Podge, an all-in-one glue, sealant and varnish
• Clear coat spray paint (optional)
• Flirtatious 12-by-12-inch designer paper (available at Stampin’ Up!)
• 14 20-inch long, 5/8-inch-wide ribbons in assorted colors
• Twine or yarn to hang your windsock, in the length of your choice
Here’s how to do it:
1. Remove the label and both ends of the coffee can with a safety can opener.
2. Clean and dry the can.
3. Measure the height of the can and cut the designer paper 1/4 of an inch smaller.
4. With a foam brush, place a thin coat of Mod Podge on the outside of the can.
5. Press the paper (pretty side facing out) onto the wet Mod Podge and wrap it around the can to seal it.
6. Brush a coat of Mod Podge on top of the paper to ensure it sticks and to start sealing it. Allow the can to dry well, which usually takes about one hour.
7. Use the Crop-a-Dial punch to make four holes near the top of the can.
8. Thread one piece of twine or yarn through each hole, knotting the twine on the inside of the can so it will not come out of the hole. Tie all four loose ends together.
9. With an adult, apply hot glue on the inside bottom rim of the can. Carefully press ribbon strands into the glue, positioning the ribbon to stream down from the can.
10. Hang the windsock from the twine inside the home, or cover with a clear coat of spray paint and display outside!
BUTTERFLY FRAME
Another favorite project Cox has is the Beautiful Butterflies Frame, a 45-minute project that takes an additional amount of drying time.
“This one is fun because any color variations can be used,” Cox says. “It allows wall color to peek through as an added bonus, and it’s also great for gifts.”
Again, the foam brush and glue gun will come in handy.
Crafters also will need:
• 8-by-10-inch decorative picture frame
• Mod Podge
• Dazzling Diamonds Glitter from Stampin’ Up!
• A Big Shot Die-Cut Machine
• Beautiful Wings Stampin’ Up! Embosslits Die
• 2011-2013 In Color Designer Papers in Calypso Coral, Island Indigo and Pool Party (available at Stampin’ Up!)
• Tombro Multi Purpose Liquid Glue (available at Stampin’ Up!)
Here’s how it’s done:
1. Remove the glass from the frame. With a foam brush, apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to one side of the glass.
2. While wet, cover the glass generously with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter. Tap off the excess glitter and set the glass aside to dry for about 30 minutes
3. Cut three sheets of designer paper into 3-by-3-inch squares.
4. Using the Beautiful Wings Die, run the die in each color twice.
5. Place two large butterflies atop each other, securing with multi-purpose glue placed just in the middle of the butterflies.
6. Allow it to dry for a minute or two, and then carefully fold up the top butterfly’s wings to create dimension.
7. Once the glass is dry, line the inside track of the frame with hot glue and carefully press glass, glitter side facing you, into the frame.
8. Arrange and adhere the butterflies on the outer surface of the glass with multi-purpose glue in any pattern.
9. Display as a wall mount, or even as a tabletop decorative piece or jewelry tray for the bedroom.
ADVANCED BUTTERFLY FRAME
A more advanced variation of butterfly wall décor is offered by Michaels craft store in Algonquin. With its “Off the Wall” three-dimensional, mixed-media butterfly project, serious crafters can create a keepsake in just a couple hours, putting those scissors and adhesives to good use once again.
Materials include:
• Scrapbook paper in 12-by-12-inch Chocolate French Script Handmade and Chalkboard
• Stretched canvas in 4-by-4-inch burlap
• Stretched canvas in 2-by-2-inch
• Butterfly and Swirl stamp
• Versafine™ Ink in Onyx Black
• Tsukineko® Brilliance
• Pearlescent Ink: Chocolate
• Tim Holtz0174 Distress Ink: Fired Brick, Black Soot, Peeled Paint & Vintage Photo
And, here’s how to make it:
1. Cut two strips of Chocolate French Script handmade paper about 3/4 of an inch by 4 inches with the words running horizontally.
2. Cut two strips of Chocolate French Script handmade paper about 3/4 of an inch by 4 inches with the words running vertically.
3. Ink those four strips with Fired Brick and Peeled Paint, applying each color in a random pattern. Ink all edges with Black Soot distress ink.
4. Miter every corner of the strips so they meet in the corners. Just fold each corner back and trim with scissors.
5. Stick all the paper strips to the back of the 4-by-4-inch stretched burlap frame, using adhesive.
6. Next, stamp the 2-by-2-inch stretched canvas with a black swirl stamp and Onyx Black Versafine™ ink.
7. Then, stamp a butterfly image on black chalkboard paper with Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate ink.
8. Almost done! Trim around the stamped image and stick it onto the mini canvas, using the adhesive.
9. And finally, adhere the mini canvas to the center of the stretched burlap frame.
All three projects are suited for a budget of $30 or less and can be completed with less or more complicated techniques.
For more ideas, visit www.beckiecox.stampinup.net or www.michaels.com. mc
