Design Team, Author at Ann Butler Designs

April 29, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Stamped and Stacked: Flower Favor Boxes

Hi everyone! It’s Carmen and today I’m going to share with you a fun and easy way to take a plain jewelry box and make it a super festive favor box by adding a little bit of stamped cardboard. I love to craft with cardboard – you can get it for free and the plain kind comes in so many different color variations and thicknesses. And if you cut the cardboard into large shapes, the large area of the 3″ Ann Butler Background Basics Stamps work really well for stamping in one take which is a real timesaver if you’re making a lot of these for a party or event. Here’s how:

Materials:

Ann Butler’s ColorBox® Background Basics Stamps by Clearsnap – 3″ Basket 1, Checks 1, Picnic 1

Ann Butler Crafter’s Ink by Clearsnap: Deep Woods, Evergreen, Ocean Breeze, White, Berry, Canyon

Cardboard

Ribbon

Assorted buttons

Kraft paper jewelry boxes

Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive

Tools:

Sizzix die cutter & flower and circle dies, scissors

Instructions:

1. Use the die cutter machine and dies to cut the cardboard into various sized flower and circle shapes.

2. Stamp the cardboard shapes. I love how the Ann Butler inks look against the cardboard!

3. Cut a length of ribbon and around the box placing the box on the side. (I used a ribbon that I stamped a while back ago with Ann Butler stamps and inks.)

4. Build a little stack of shapes from large to small and adhere everything together with drops of Fabri-Tac Adhesive in between the layers. Glue buttons to the top of the cardboard shapes to finish.

How fun is that? Try making these in different color combinations for holidays, showers and weddings. And instead of cardboard try using white matte board for a totally different look. Happy stamping!

April 27, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Easy Ann Butler Shirt

This month we are featuring projects using fabric. I have used a shirt I bought at Christopher and Banks and just added some zing to the shirt. Let’s get started!

Materials: T-Shirt, Ann Butler Stamp fromClearsnap, Ann Butler Crafter’s Ink, Connie Crystal White Sheet & Beacon Fabric Glue!

I spread the shirt and laied it flat. I then inserted a protective paper inside the shirt to prevent bleeding of the ink.

I then picked the ink I wanted to use and the stamp. For this project I just used one stamp from the Ann Butler Collection from Clearsnap. ( I used Blueberry ink) The stamp is also from Clearsnap!

I’m not sure why some of the photos came ut different colors as they were all taken in the same spot with the same lighting. The final picture is very true to color taken outside!

Stamp the first image in the center of the shirt.

Next I stamped the image on each side of the center image.

I then set with heat. I used my iron on the back side of the image. Then I broke out the fabric glue from Beacon and the Connie Crystal Sheet!

And then we have the finished project!

Easy Shirt made with Ann Butler Designs Stamps by Kristi Parker

So fun and easy to make something old into something FAB!

Happy Creating!

Kristi

April 25, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Fabric TAG

Hello, Crafters. Zoey, here today with a fun Fabric TAG!

Products I used are:

– ColorBox Crafter’s by Ann Butler ( Canyon, Ocean Breeze, Aquamarine, Tangelo )

– ColorBox Art Screens by Ann Butler ( Waves )

– ColorBox Background Basics by Ann Butler ( Diamonds 2 )
I started with coloring a piece of white linen with a mix of Ocean Breeze and Aquamarine. To do so, I added the inks from the ink pad directly over my kraft sheet and I added a bit of water. I made a “puddle” and then I let the color soak into the piece of fabric!
I cut the fabric into pieces to create a sort of rose…

I used a mixture of Tangelo and Canyon to color another piece of fabric. I wasn’t paying attention to where the color was going to soak in since I wanted a very well mixed effect.
To help the rose blend into the background, I also added a bit of Ocean Breeze ink here and there…

With the help of the ColorBox Art Screens by Ann Butler Waves and a brush, I used the Canyon ColorBox Crafter’s by Ann Butler to add color through the stencil.

With ColorBox Crafter’s by Ann Butler Ocean Breeze I stamped here and there ColorBox Background Basics by Ann Butler Diamonds 2.

I sewed the fabric and I put inside a tag cut out from the cardboard to make the tag stand still.

I glued the rose over a piece of small paper I colored with the same colors of the background and I added a piece of cheesecloth.

I also added a bit of black ink here and there….

I used stickers as the sentiment of the TAG…and then added two small roses under neat the big one…

And here’s the final project….! I loved using Ann Butler’s products on fabric, they work so perfectly!

I hope you had fun and got inspired as always for any question or suggestion leave a comment!
Stay happy, stay creative…till next time!
Ciao, Zoey

April 24, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Fabric Coil Coasters

Hi everyone!

I have a fun project to share today using stamps with plain fabrics. If you’re like me, coasters always seem to ‘disappear’ around my house. I love to be able to make projects that I can functionally use.

I’ll preface this saying that I have seen these done before, but folks have sewn them. Well, I confess that my children sew more than I do. For me, it’s just as easy and works as well to use a glue gun.

Supplies:
Plain white cotton fabric and off white canvas fabric (both types are not needed, but it gave a bit of different textures
Iridescents by Ann Butler in Berry, Sunshine and Tangelo
Crafter’s Ink by Ann Butler in Canyon, Berry and Tangelo
Cording (found this at a craft store in the yarn section- I used 9/32″ Cable Cord
Hot glue gun
Faux Quilting Stamps by Ann Butler 2″ Doily Picnic

Step 1:
Using Iridescents, I randomly painted portions of the two fabrics using a foam paint brush. Coverage was heavier in some areas than others.

Step 2:
Using Faux Quilting stamps, 2″ Doily Picnic, and Crafter’s Inks by Ann Butler in Canyon, Tangelo and Berry, I randomly stamped over the Iridescents.

Step 3:

Cut the fabric into strips approximately 1″ wide by 8″ long. Of course it will depend on the size you want your coaster, but my cord was approximately 48-50″ long. I ended up using about 15 strips of fabric.

Step 4:
Start by putting a dot of hot glue on the end of the cord and start wrapping, or binding a fabric strip very tightly around the end of the cord. You will start wrapping it on a diagonal. I find it easier to do, as well as make it much sturdier, to add a small strip of glue on the cord and then wrap the fabric. It will take a bit longer, but I think it just holds up better. Once that strip ends, you will overlap the previous by adding a bit more glue, then another strip. You’ll continue adding strips of fabric until you reach the end of the cord. Cut the cord at an angle once you reach the end, so when you cover it, it will lay flat. Put glue on the end of the cord and wrap the fabric over the edge, securing it in place.

Step 5:
Start coiling the covered cord, placing a strip of glue along the way. You want to wrap the coil as tight as possible and try keeping it flat along the way.

And that’s it. A cute coaster to sit on my desk for my coffee and tea.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great and crafty day!

Paula

April 20, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Shabby Chic Mixed Media Card

Hello, it’s Gracie and today I’m sharing a Shabby Chic Mixed Media Card using Ann Butler’s Aquamarine Crafter’s Ink and Lattice Art Screen.

To make this card I followed the next simple steps:
1. I roughly inked a piece of 2.5″ lace with ink. I sprayed it with water to make the ink blend nicely.

2. I created a little dress gathering the lace on the center and attached it to a die cut dress form.

3. I used the stencil to add a lattice pattern to the focal filigree label.

4. I altered the stenciled die cut cutting it’s sides and added ribbon to the center.

5. I inked an embossing folder to roughly faux letterpress a piece of white cardstock, which I also decorated with patterned paper and thread.

I hope you enjoyed seeing my card and tutorial. If you have any questions feel free to leave me a comment here or at my blog. Thanks so much for stopping by!

April 10, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Painting on Cloth with Iridescents

I think I have a new addiction: I really get a kick out of watching the Earth Safe Finishes Iridescents powders effervesce in water. It is the most beautiful sight — really! If powder could be happy, I’d say THIS powder is really happy when it is introduced to water. Today I am happy to share with you 3 of the 30 gift bags I beautified by painting on cloth with Iridescents powders.

Materials:

Ann Butler Iridescent Powders by Earth Safe Finishes: Pearl, Onyx, Bronze, Leaf, Sunshine, Rose
ColorBox® Crafter’s™ ink by Ann Butler: Ocean Breeze, Lilac
cloth gift bags
sentiment stamp
water
bling
brushes

Instructions:

: Striped – using all the powder colors

: Ombre – using leaf and sunshine

: Modernist – using leaf, sunshine and rose

Striped Bag –

I painted a thin line of each of the powders by dipping my brush into water and then picking up a bit of powder on the tip of the brush and blending it on a pie plate. In order from right to left: sunshine, rose, pearl, (sunshine/rose), bronze, leaf, onyx.
I painted the drawstring with a mixture of onyx and bronze.
Add a row of bling

Ombre Bag

Starting in the bottom right corner I painted pure leaf
I added a little sunshine, dipped my brush in water, and painted another small area in the direction of the top left corner.
Add a little more water and paint some more
Keep doing step #3 until you reach top left corner.
Paint drawstring
Using ocean breeze, stamp your sentiment and then gently daub some of the ink onto the surface of the cloth rose. Add a small amount of lilac ink. Dip your brush in water and spread the ink onto exposed fabric, creating several tones of the color.
Using bronze powder, water, and a thin brush, add some definition in-between the folds of the flower and then add some highlights with pearl and water.

Modernist Bag

Using combinations of leaf, sunshine and rose, paint random squares/rectangles on the surface of the bag
Paint the flower with a combination of rose and pearl.
Paint the drawstring with sunshine and rose
Attach flower

: fabric flowers: before and after

: mixing rose and pearl

Thank you for stopping by today. Please visit me on my blog, DecorablesArt, for more inspiration.

March 23, 2015 By Design Team 8 Comments

Watercolor Easter Bunny Card

Gracie here today, sharing a Watercolor Easter Bunny Card project using Ann Butler’s Crafter’s Inks by Clearsnap. Since the last set of cards I shared on the blog (here) I’ve been experimenting different watercolor techniques using these awesome inks, and today I’m sharing a card and a little treat bag both embellished with watercolored bunny die cuts (very fitting for Easter). Here are the simple steps I followed to create this easter set.

1. Use a sponge dauber to apply different colors of Crafter’s Inks to a piece of white cardstock.

2. Spritz a little water to the cardstock immediately after applying the colors, to allow the colors to blend with a watercolor effect.

3. Die cut any desired shape various times from the watercolored cardstock.

4. Adhere die cuts to a white card mat and adhere the white mat on a card base.

I saved one of the watercolored bunnies to add it to a treat bag with some gold cording. I finished the card with a sentiment heat embossed on vellum and some black pearls. I think this is a fun and easy idea for Easter, and I invite you to try it out… I know you’ll love it! Ann Butler’s Crafter’s Inks are perfect for this technique and you can see how the different colors blended and created other different hues when they combined.

If you’d like to check out the inks I used for this technique, I added a list below. Thanks so much for visiting today! See you next time.

Aquamarine Crafter’s Ink by AB	Lilac Crafter’s Ink by AB	Berry Crafter’s Ink by AB	Tangelo Crafter’s Ink
Limelight Crafter’s Ink by AB	Sunshine Crafter’s Ink by AB

InLinkz.com

March 20, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Stamped and Stenciled Watercolor Card

Hey, crafty friends! Einat Kessler here with an easy, fast and fun idea for a Stamped and Stenciled Watercolor Card.

I needed to make about 20 cards and needed them fast. So I came up with a really fast idea with a colorful fun effect.

I started with putting some of Ann Butler’s Crafter’s Inks on my craft sheet and sprayed it with water. This created a kind of a watercolor consistency to the ink and was perfect for the next step.

I took a card and pressed it against that colorful watery surface. The card was covered with a colorful background that looks exactly like a really pretty water coloring. Then a repeated the process with a white piece of cardstock.

After everything was thoroughly dried I cut five different size hearts from the white cardstock. The beautiful thing about these hearts is that they all got the same colors but they all different because they were cut from different parts of the paper.

I stamped them randomly with Ann Butler’s 1″ Stripes.Dots.Hearts stamp set and the Berry ink. I also stenciled the hearts with the Ann Butler’s Wave Art Screen and black ink. Then I attached the hearts to the card and added Love You on the bottom.

You can personalize the card by cutting a different shape like circles, stars or even letters and add a different sentiment.

Have Fun Creating!

Einat

March 18, 2015 By Design Team 2 Comments

Create Faux Quilting on Canvas

Kristi, here and today I am sharing how easy it is to Create Faux Quilting on Canvas. I wanted to make a “quilt” that was not a quilt.

So I stamped a combination of Unity Stamps by Ann Butler and the larger Ann Butler Stamps by Clearsnap on paper. All images were stamped using Ann Bulter Crafters Ink! I wanted uniform squares so I used a punch to make the squares! This is what I created.

I could not use needle and thread to do the seams so I used Connie Crystal Sheets to do my “quilting”. I added some buttons for fun and used ETI Lite to cover the buttons. I MAY end up covering the entire project with ETI but have not decided if I want the piece to be that heavy. The finished piece is 16 X 20. Here are some closer looks!

This has a wider piece of crystal to make it a bit more interesting.

I love the wonderful colors of ink offered by Clearsnap in the Ann Butler Line!

I also love the different patterns in the stamps. The possibilities are endless!

Again, here is the finished piece!

Happy Creating!

March 11, 2015 By Design Team 3 Comments

How to Create a Cork Canvas with Colorbox Crafter’s Ink

Welcome to Ann Butler Designs! Today I am going to share with you a mixed media canvas I created using cork, Ann Butler Crafter’s Ink, and Earth Safe Finishes Ann Butler Iridescent Powders.

First of all, I am thrilled to see how painting on the cork closely mimics the look of stone! All the crags and crevices in the cork really work with the paint to give a dimensional effect.

Materials:

Round cork trivet, 8″ diameter
Image printed on paper from laser printer
Earth Safe Finishes Ann Butler Iridescents: Sunshine, Leaf, Sky
ColorBox Crafter’s® ink: Blueberry, Limelight, Aquamarine, Ocean Breeze, Bark
Americana® DECOR™ Light Satin Varnish
DecoArt® Elegant Finish™ Metallic Paint, silver sage
DecoArt® MagiKote
Powertex Powerprint (image transfer medium)
ZipDry™
Water
Sentiment
Button

Tools: brushes

Directions:

Apply 2 coats of MagiKote as per manufacturer’s instructions, to surface of cork. I know this is made for sealing Styrofoam™ but I figured cork had to be similar, so what the heck! I mean, it can’t hurt, right?
To create the colorful background you will swipe the blueberry, aquamarine, ocean breeze, and limelight ink pads across the canvas, and allow it to dry. You may use a hair blower to quicken the drying process.
Apply the image transfer medium to the canvas and place your image, face down, into the wet medium. You may use a brayer to help smooth the paper and burnish it to the surface. Allow 12 hours for this to dry completely.
To reveal your transferred image: wet the surface of the paper with a sponge, let it sit for 20 seconds, and then gently rub off all the excess paper. For further information regarding image transfers you can check Google.
Meanwhile, brush your paper flowers with a wash of water and (separately) the sunshine, leaf and sky powders, and let it dry.
With the bark ink, dip a brush into the ink pad and add shading and definition to the flowers, and let dry.
On dry petals, add highlights with sunshine powder by dipping the tips of the bristles of a slightly wet brush directly into the pot of powder, and brushing it where you like. You may then glue on the buttons.
Adhere your sentiment.
Add three layers of varnish to the canvas to seal your surface. You could stop at this point and have a lovely, decorated, and protected trivet.
Glue on your flower.

I LOVE how the ink colors just burst right through the transferred image. They are gorgeous!

I hope you enjoyed my project today.