July 6, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Faux Quilted Baby Card

Hey, crafty friends, Einat Kessler here with a new project! I’ve been wanting to do a Faux Quilted Baby Card for a long time!

So I started with creating a pattern with an assortment of 1″ Faux Quilting stamps. I used Colorbox Crafter’s ®Ink in Aquamarine which is a perfect light blue color. I stamped a white paper and created a 4″ x 5″ square.

Design Star Einat shows you how to make a beautiful baby card using Faux quilting stamps #annbutlerdesigns, #babycards #fauxquiltingstamps

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I cut it out and added faux black stitches with a black pen to create a blanket look and make it softer and more compatible with the baby theme.

I added a fee buttons in coordinating colors and the word Baby with chipboard letters.

You can easily create the same card for a girl by using Ann Butler Designs Colorbox Crafter’s Ink® in Berry.
Of course, you can be totally untraditional and use other colors too 🙂

Thanks for stopping by and have fun creating!

Einat

July 3, 2015 By Steph Ackerman 1 Comment

Iridescent Bangle Bracelet

Hi everyone, Steph Ackerman here today using Ann Butler Designs Iridescents from Earth Safe Finishes to create a beautiful Iridescent Bangle Bracelet. I love the rich colors.

design star steph shows you how to create a beautiful iridescent bangle bracelet #annbutlerdesigns #earthsafefinishes #amethystiridescents /diyjewelry

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First, paint a wooden bangle bracelet with Amethyst Iridescents. Then allow to dry thoroughly.

Using Molding Paste and ColorBox Art Screens by Ann Butler – Stars Art Screen – add stars randomly about the bracelet.

While still wet, sprinkle Pearl Iridescent Powder over the Molding Paste.

Allow to dry completely before removing the excess powder. Once dry, use a small paint brush to brush away the excess powder.

There you have it – a beautiful wood bangle bracelet that anyone would love to wear.

Thanks for stopping by today.

My blog.

June 26, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Blend Iridescents and Inks to Create Unique Background

Hi, everyone! Today, I’m showing you how to blend Iridescents and Inks to create unique backgrounds.

Blend Iridescents and Inks to Create Unique Background with Design Star Paula #DIY, #mixedmediacard, #AnnButlerDesigns

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To do this particular one, I used the following:
Earth Safe Finishes Iridescents by Ann Butler in Tangelo
Colorbox Crafter’s Inks by Ann Butler in Sunshine and Berry
Other items needed for this card: Cardstock, embossing folder, stamp of choice, sentiment stamp, ribbon

To start the background, I mixed a bit of the Tangelo Iridescent with water. Brush this across your entire base of the cardstock. I love the Iridescent for this because you will see that slight shimmer at different angles. After this dried, I took a cotton ball, dipped in water and slightly brushed across the card.
I then added drops of reinkers in Berry and Sunshine randomly across the cardstock. Again, I used a cotton ball dipped in water to blend the colors. Let it dry. That’s it. That easy! and creates a different look each time.

After this dries, I continue assembling my card. Using an embossing folder, I added Colorbox Ink by Ann Butler in Berry to the entire inside of folder. Place your cardstock inside the folder, then run it through the embossing machine. Only a part of the embossed image was used as a mat. I stamped a floral image in lighter ink on the background image, then added ribbon and a sentiment.

That’s it! Have a great day!

Paula

June 24, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Up-Cycled Stamped Can

Hello, everyone! Kristi here today and I wanted a fun pencil holder with style so I repurposed a noodle can for the perfect addition to my table! So I’m doing step by step on this one! I start with my container and remove the label!

The label is my “pattern” so I cut my ivory paper to size and now the fun begins! I used stamps from Ann’s Line from Clearsnap and the wonderful Colorbox Crafter’s Ink® in Blueberry!

I stamp the primary design then come in with the secondary design and layer the designs and the ink color. Sunshine is the second color added. I did heat emboss the entire image.

I hope you can see the shine from the sparkle embossing powder I used on the entire project! And yes, I have to add the bling.

Next I attached the paper to the can and added my bling. I then used Makin’s Clay to make some heart embellishments. I did dry them on the can so they would have the slight curve.

I painted all of my heart pieces with Earthsafe Finishes™ in Ann’s Colors! The hearts were then attached with Tombow Mono Multi Adhesive.

Now I have a really fun and functional pencil/pen holder and upcycled my noodle can! It also has bling appeal.

What can you repurpose/upcycle??

Kristi

June 22, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Art Journal page with ColorBox Crafter’s ® ink

Hello, Crafters, Zoey here today to show you a quick art journal page with Colorbox Crafter’s ink that I made.

Lately I am working more and more on my old book art journal, basically what I did was buying a very old book from the thrift store and started decorating the pages to give the book a new life.
I know that there are a lot of people that do not like when others “mess up” with old books, but I think it as giving it a new purpose because otherwise, they were just going to be trash material!

Design Star Zoey creates an Art Journal for Ann Butler Designs #annbutlerdesigns, #colorboxink, #colorboxartscreens, #clearsnapinc. @mixedmedia

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To create this Art Journal Page I used:

ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler ( Acquamarine, Blueberry, Ocean Breeze, Lilac, Sunshine )
ColorBox® Art Screens – By Ann Butler ( Stars )
ColorBox® Background Basics by Ann Butler ( Basket 1 )
Earth Safe Finishes™ Iridescents by Ann Butler Designs

I started my background by adding Earth Safe Finishes™ Iridescents by Ann Butler Designs with a flat brush. I let it completely dry and added few other strokes with ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler Blueberry.

When I have to stamp backgrounds and the stamp I am using is thick and not easily foldable , like my favorite ColorBox® Background Basics by Ann Butler Basket 1 , my trick is to cover the entire stamp with ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler Acquamarine and then with a baby wipes I remove here and there the ink. Then I gently stamp, this will make the stamped image “not fully” stamped.

With a finger dauber I added some more ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler Acquamarine through ColorBox® Art Screens – By Ann Butler Stars and then slighlty moving off set the stencil I added some modeling paste to add some texture. I let it dry.

I absolute love the fact that I can turn ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler into watercolors, here in the picture I am adding Blueberry to the background and making some drips.

I usually use the ink pad as my palette, I smudge a bit of color on the plastic cover, add some water and use it as my palette (this because my room is so messy that I usually never find a clear acrylic block…lol!)

I wrote the “message” with an old calligraphy pen and india ink. I added a chipboard I had on my stash and then with the same calligraphy pen I added a border around the page to frame my art journal.

As you can see in the photo, I also added some ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler sunshine to the street lamp chipboard and here and there in the background.

I love how the Earth Safe Finishes™ Iridescents by Ann Butler Designs still are able to shine through all the other colors I added above!

This is my personal vision of Art Journaling. For each of us it has its own meaning, some makes them beautifully colored, other they make them black and white… I just sketch my random thoughts. Simple as it is. I love the fact that I can use ColorBox Crafter’s ® ink in my Art Journal pages!

I hope you had fun reading this post and I hope to see you next time!
Stay Happy Stay Creative!

Ciao, Zoey

June 19, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Flower Canvas using Reinkers and Alcohol

Hi everyone,

I will preface this post by saying that I am ‘not’ a painter. However, I love to play around with techniques. Today, I created a canvas using Colorbox Crafter’s by Ann Butler inkpads and reinkers, and isopropyl alcohol.

Materials:

8×10 Canvas
Colorbox Crafter’s Ink ® reinkers by Ann Butler Designs
Earth Safe Finishes™ Iridescents by Ann Butler Designs
Isopropyl Alcohol -rubbing alcohol- and make sure it is the 90%
Water
Cotton balls and toothpicks

As you see, I used no stamps, no paint brushes – only basics: ink pads, reinkers, cotton balls, water, and alcohol.

I started by putting a little Iridescents in Tangelo in a small cup and adding some water, mixed well. I used a cotton ball to brush it on one corner of the canvas. Note: I only used the Iridescents to see what type of affect the alcohol drops would have. I didn’t use more than this little bit mentioned as I liked just the reinker drops, water, and alcohol look better. Including it as a step because you see it on the canvas.

I next placed drops of reinker colors (sunshine, berry, tangelo, aquamarine, limelight, lilac) randomly on the canvas. I dip the cotton ball in water and blend the colors.

Now, it’s the fun part. I just keep adding layers. To create the flowers, add a drop of reinker, then add a drop of water on top of that, then a drop of alcohol. I love watching the effect when you drop the alcohol. Please note that the reaction differs with the amount of water you use. If you drop it directly on the reinker, nothing will happen – you must have it mixed with water. As mentioned, I keep adding layers until I get the desired look. To add to flowers, I would add another reinker drop in the center, then either use a cotton ball to blend or a toothpick to expand the color. See the quick video clip:

Alcohol Ink clip

You can probably tell this took a bit of time, but I loved the fact that you can keep adding until you like the look. If you don’t like a specific area, you can always add more ink over it. There’s no such thing as a mistake!

After I finished all the flowers, I dipped by cotton ball onto an ink, in Deep Woods and blended color across the bottom. I used a toothpick to simulate stems for some flowers, as well as accent the edge of some flowers. I did dip the toothpick in some white acrylic paint to add to a couple flowers for dimension.

I think that’s it. Hope you enjoy. Would love to see what you can create with some ink pads and reinkers!
Have a great day.

Paula

June 17, 2015 By Larissa Pittman 2 Comments

Stars and Stripes Forever Card with Art Screens

Hello, friends, today I made a Stars and Stripes Forever Card with Art Screens.

Who doesn’t like to make or receive a handmade card? The 4th of July is no exception. I think you could also make this for in a frame to set on a bar or mantel for some DIY decoration.

Stars and Stripes Card using Art Screens by Ann Butler #DIY, #4thofJuly, #handmadecards, #annbutlerdesigns

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You will need:

ColorBox® Art Screens – By Ann Butler Waves and Stars
Modeling Paste
Earth Safe Finishes Iridescent Powders by Ann Butler in Rose and Sky
Palette knife to mix paste
Cardstock
Painters Tape

What did I do:

I took a little modeling paste and mixed the Rose color Iridescent Powder together using the back of the palette knife.
I taped town the Waves Art Screen to the white cardstock with painters tape leaving a square in the corner covered.
I smoothed a thin layer of the modeling paste over the Art Screen.
I did the same steps again with the Sky Iridescent Powder and the Stars Art Screen.
Once dry I adhered it to a piece of navy cardstock and added a sentiment.
I also added a few little-colored pearls to the sentiment to finish it off and give it a little bling.

Make sure it is completely dry between each step or you can mash the modeling paste. It took about 20 minutes.

Hope you enjoyed my post today and were inspired to make your own 4th of July card. We would love to see what you do. Tag us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter when you post it. You may be featured on our Fan Page. Don’t forget to visit us on Social Media to be more inspired with creations from our Design Stars.

Have a wonderful day, friends.
Larissa

June 12, 2015 By Beth Watson 2 Comments

Background Basics Faux Quilted Party Containers

Summer is party season and I love to entertain! These Faux Quilted Party Containers will brighten up any Pool Party or Bunco Night with the Girls AND they are quick and easy to make from recycled deli containers!

Here’s what you Need:

Ann Butler Crafter’s® Ink by Clearsnap – Limelight, Aquamarine and Berry
Colorbox® Background Basics Stamps by Ann Butler – Checks, Diamond, Basket and Picnic
Tissue Paper – Fuchsia, Turquoise and Lime Green; Plastic Recycled Deli Containers (3); Decoupage Medium; Paint Brush; Scissors.

Learn to make faux quilted party containers with Ann Butler Designs #diy, #partyfavors, #AnnButlerDesigns, #fauxquilting

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Here’s how to make it:

1.) Thoroughly wash and dry deli containers. Randomly stamp Ann Butler Background Basics Stamps on tissue paper with coordinating Ann Butler Crafters® Ink. Let dry completely.

2.) Paint decoupage medium on stamped surface of tissue paper, then wrap around outside of recycled plastic container. Smooth out tissue paper with your fingers as you go. Miter the corners of the tissue paper, then overlap the corners to create a finished look. Let dry completely.

3.) Once dry, carefully trim the ragged edge of the tissue paper with scissors.

4.) Fill with your favorite “dry” party foods, serve and ENJOY!

NOTE: Since these containers cannot be submerged in water to be washed, use “dry” party foods such as nuts and hard shell candies. Wipe inside of containers clean with a damp paper towel.

GIFT IDEA: Thoroughly wash and dry the lid as well and decorate in the same fashion. Fill with your favorite candy or baked goods and give as a gift to a special friend or someone who just needs a smile!

Like the Ann Butler Designs FB Page for even more inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

June 11, 2015 By Ann Butler 1 Comment

Ann Butler Designs/Clearsnap Blog Hop with DCC

Welcome to the

Ann Butler Designs – Clearsnap Blog Hop

with the Designer Crafts Connections!

I am excited to announce that this blog hop is featuring my

Crafter’s Inks and Background Basics Stamps from Clearsnap

Background Basics Stamps are geometric shapes that are perfect for creating backgrounds and faux quilting!!

The pillow above was stamped with Crafter’s Ink on muslin in the following colors:Blueberry, Ocean Breeze, Sunshine, Tangelo, Lilac, Berry, Limelight, Aqua Marine, Ever Green, Deep Woods, Sand and Canyon…with all of the Background Basics Squares and Triangles. They, ironed to heat set. I added batting and quilted between the squares and triangles, then quilted diagonally. I added a backing and stitched around the edges, leaving an opening to turn. Then stuffed with fiber-fil and stitched the opening closed. I added a button to the center for an accent.

The above hot pad was stamped with Crafter’s Ink in Blueberry and Ocean Breeze on unbleached muslin. Then, ironed to heat set. Batting and a backing was added, then I sawed between the blocks…and a binding was sewn on. Quick and Easy! Now check out the rest of the Blog Hop to see what the fabulous designers from the Designer Craft Connection have come up with….

Designer Craft Connection

[ Hop back ] [ Hop forward ]

By simply clicking on the links above!! Enjoy!!

June 8, 2015 By Design Team 1 Comment

Stamped Monogram Favor Boxes

Hi everyone! It’s Carmen and today I’m going to share with you how to make these little stamped boxes which would make fun favors for weddings, birthdays and all sorts of special occasions. I had some plain slide top metal tins which needed a little perking up so I glued on a thin cork sheet and decorated them with a variety of Ann Butler stamps and inks. I love how the bright Ann Butler inks look against the matte textured cork. Now I have a stack of personalized gift tins ready to fill with gift cards, candies or other small presents!

Here’s how:

Materials:

Tools:

Acrylic stamping blocks, Westcott brand kraft knife, Westcott Brand Non-Stick Scissors, AdTech Glue Runner Crafter’s Tape

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of cork just a little bit larger than the box lid. Apply glue to the lid and press the cork piece onto the top. Smooth down. Use the kraft knife to trim the excess cork from around the edges of the lid.

2. Stamp the cork with the large Basketweave stamp and the Ocean Breeze ink. Repeat for all the box lids.

3. Stamp each lid with the Diamonds stamp and Evergreen ink. Personalize each lid with a letter stamp and Deep Woods ink.

That’s it! Easy, huh? And so pretty! Make a whole bunch of these to have on hand for quick gifts and surprise guests. See you next time!