March 10, 2014 By Design Team 3 Comments

Monogrammed Cork Trivet

Hi Everyone! This is Carmen posting today and I’m going to share with you a fun way to personalize cork trivets using Ann Butler’s EZ-De’s letter stamps and Crafters Ink stamp pads. I must warn you though, once you start stamping on cork you will be hooked! It is really fun and you end up with a very useful trivet which you can enjoy all the time. Plus if you stamp the back side, you can have one trivet with two completely different looks ready to match your decor or your mood! Here’s how:

Materials:

Ann Butler’s EZ-De’s Stamp Sets

Ann Butler’s Faux Quilting Stamps by Unity Stamp Company – 2” Dolly Picnic

Ann Butler Crafters Ink by Clearsnap: Tangelo, Berry

Tulip® Fabric Markers™ Fine Writer Tip Pack: black, pink, orange

Cork trivets – 6”

Tools:

Westcott Brand Non Stick Scissors, heat embossing tool, adhesive vinyl shelf paper, acrylic block

Instructions:

1. Cut a 4” circle from the adhesive vinyl shelf paper. Peel off the paper release sheet and adhere it to the center of a cork trivet.

2. Attach the weave patterned Faux Quilting triangle stamp to the acrylic block and stamp triangles around the outside edge of the vinyl circle with the Tangelo stamp pad. Stamp each triangle twice so that you get a bright colorful image. Remove the vinyl circle from the cork trivet being careful not to smudge any ink from the vinyl onto the cork.

3. Stamp your favorite EZ-De’s letter with the Berry ink pad in the center of the cork trivet.

4. Outline the stamped triangles with the pink and orange Tulip Fabric Markers.

5. Add color to the cork trivet’s edge by tapping it with the Tangelo ink pad.

6. Add detailing with the black Tulip Fabric Marker.

7. Set the inks by heating with the heat embossing tool for a few seconds.

You can find cork trivets at craft and dollar stores and they are very inexpensive. They make quick easy gifts that are easy to personalize with different colors and patterns. You can also try this same technique with smaller cork coasters and wrap them up in sets to give away. But watch out – everyone will want to be on your gift list!

March 8, 2014 By Design Team 2 Comments

Life is good – Embossed Faux Quilting Squares

Hello, my dear crafty friends! Irit is here with my very first post made with Ann Butler’s delicious products.

A few months ago we bought a new TV set and as it is LG one the first thing you see when you turn it on is this huge LIFE ‘S GOOD title. So these words were ringing in my head for a long time and I decided to make an artistic card with this “Life is good” title.

I made it with Ann Butler’s products, a lot of them and made a small tutorial to show you my fancy way to use a lot of stamps and 3 close to primary ink colors. As I made my finished project first, the tutorial is just a sample of all techniques used to make this fancy card and not a finished project sample.

So here we go:

1. Stamp images over white cardstock with clear embossing ink

2. Heat emboss your stamped images with black fine embossing powder,

3. Punch the embossed images with 1” punch (you sure can hand cut them, but if you have the proper punch it makes it so fast and easy.Arrange your punched images over double sided tacky tape. Do not connect the images as we want a bit of space between the pieces, but try to keep the space around 1/8” mostly.

4. Sprinkle fine pink glitter over the tacky piece, don’t worry about the images as you can just wipe them in a second layer.

5. This is a step where we usually use 3 primary ink colors to make a whole rainbow of colors (red, blue and yellow). But I decided to step out of the box and to use colors that are close to primary from Ann’s collection, so I used Sunshine, Aquamarine and Berry. Use a simple cheap make- up sponge or your fancy inking tool, your choice.

This is an end of my sample technique tutorial and now for my finished project.

I used three Ann Butler cling stamp sets from Unity:

1”Diamonds and Plaid

1” Stripes, dots and hearts

1” Doily Picnic

The chipboard window and the title were heat embossed with black embossing powder and the chipboard frame was painted with Ann Butler’s Lipgloss Iridescents`paint

Here you can see all layers and it’s still very flat card.

I added some pearls and my card was done. Hope I inspired you to try my techniques and to make some similar projects with Ann Butler’s delicious products.

Supply list

Ann Butler stamps: 1” Diamonds and plaids; 1” Stripes, dots and hearts; 1” Doily Picnic

Ann Butler inks: Aquamarine, Sunshine, Berry

Ann Butler Iridescents: Lipgloss

Cardstock: American Crafts

Chipboards: Creative Embellishments

Pearls: Flourish with a Bling

Embossing powders: WOW! Embossing Powders

March 7, 2014 By Design Team 3 Comments

Mixed Media Home Decor with EZ-De’s

The Finished Product

Today I am sharing a fun and easy project to help SPRING happen, at least in my home! I used a variety of products and feature the fabulous ink and stamps from Ann Butler Designs! I am IN LOVE with these products and enjoy creating with them. I used three different sets. I used two of Ann’s designs from the EZ-De’s Stamp line & the other is from Unity Stamps.

Other products Used:

SmoothFoam/Craft Attitude: Scrapbook Attitude/Kaiser Crafts/Connie Crystal/John Bead Dazzle-its/Golden Paint/Prima Flowers/Beacon Adhesives/Dreamweaver Stencils/Worldwin Paper/Xyron Sticker Maker

1. To create your own master piece you start by painting the substrate, ie, foam board. Pain the hexagon shapes from Kaiser crafts at the same time.

2. While this was drying the photo was printed Craft Attitude Film. Being in the SPRING mode, the Dreamweaver Tulip card was chosen to make larger. Before printing the image was flipped so when attached to the substrate it would be facing preferred direction.

3. The letters for S P R I N G were stamped in Orange and cut out. They were then run through the sticker maker.

4. Braid the Love Knots from John Bead. Helpful Hint: coat the ends with an adhesive so when they are cut to length they stay braided. (Beacon Zip Dry was used on this project.

5. Add a punch of color to the flowers with some of Ann’s Ink. Make a water color of sorts with a small amount of water adding ink color from the pad with a brush. Apply directly to the flowers and let dry.

6. Using a spray adhesive apply the Craft Attitude Film to the substrate. Press firmly then peel the back from the film.

7. Stamp the now dry hexagons with the matching shape stamp. This was done using three colors. The clear stamps and clear handle make it EZ to align. Each piece was then edged with the same color of ink to make the image POP!

8. It is difficult to see but there are stamped squares from Doily Picnic down the left side in yellow ink.

9. Go around the entire piece with the green ink and just lightly go over the foam edge.

10. Attach the Hexagon Pieces to the left of the tulip photo.

11. Attach the Crystal Sheet from Connie Crystal towards the bottom of the piece. The pointed part was created by cutting sections/pieces of the Crystal Sheet and filling in. (see above)

12. Frame out the rest of the photo with the Lovely Knots braid. One corner was tied to add more interest and to make the braid go around the corner. The Braid was also just touched with the green ink to add the color.

13. Add the small flowers to the left of the hexagons.

14. Add the single line of Crystal Sheet over the yellow stamped images on the left.

15. Attach the letters to the right side and add Crystal Sheet pieces to fill in the P/R.

16. Add the final flower on the bottom right after tapping it on the orange ink pad.

17. Place the piece in your home or give as a gift!

The Finished Product

Happy Spring! Kristi Kristi Parker Designs

March 3, 2014 By Design Team 3 Comments

Stamped Card: Thinking of You

Happy Monday, all! I know, we don’t like Mondays. Hopefully my fun card will cheer you up! I am very excited to share this cool heart background card with you today. With Ann’s Ez-De’s 2″ Checkered Woven Hearts Stamp Set, you can create all sorts of different looking projects as the stamp set offers you lots of versatility!

I had so much fun playing with the heart patterned stamp set to give a detailed background for the card. And it was SUPER easy to line it up to give a continuous look! I wanted to create a spring-feeling card so I chose the Aquamarine ColorBox Crafter’s Inkpad. I love how juicy the colors are and you can either let it dry on its own, or add an embossing power to give more dimensions.

To finish off the card with some cute touch, I added a gold baker’s twine and few sequins. I hope you enjoyed my card I shared here, thank you so much for spending your time with me. Have an awesome Monday!!

Love, Nicole

February 27, 2014 By Design Team 16 Comments

Up-cycled Home Decor Gift Idea

Hello Everybody! This is Roberta and today I would like to show you how easy it is to create an up-cycled home decor gift working with Ann Butler Designs stamps and inks.

First Impressions are very important!

Yes, I suppose the pun is intended, but I would like to start by sharing my own first impression of the products. Like so many of you, I have used TONS of different inks and stamps over the years. Many of them are interchangeable and really don’t stand out.

Ann’s inks pads, Crafter’s Ink by Ann Butler Designs can be described in one word,’ JUICY!’ They are super juicy and such a pleasure to use. There is no struggling or tapping the pad to your stamp numerous times because once is quite often enough.

The stamps are also excellent quality; super clingy and they really grip your inks resulting in rich, crisp images every time.

And now on to the show!

What did I use?

4 wooden blocks, 2” square
Acrylic paint, Wedgewood Blue
2” stamps
Paint brush
Textured shelf liner
EZ-De’s Easy Design Elements for Stamping Alphabet stamps
Ann Butler Earth Safe Finishes Iridescents in Lipgloss
Unity Stamp Company 1″ faux quilting stamps ( Leaves all Over, Stripes.Dots.Hearts. and Diamonds & Plaid)
InkadinkaClings
Wet wipes

I grabbed these wonderful 2” wooden blocks for $2! They are solid and have a nice weight to them. They have been sealed which means I couldn’t stamp directly onto the blocks and instead of sanding them (yuck – messy) I chose to paint them with DecoArt acrylic paint first which covers the surface beautifully and dries very quickly. With my blocks freshly painted I can start decorating them.

Instead of spelling out a word or just stamping random images I decided to ‘break up the set’ and create 4 individual gifts. I chose 4 friends and for each one I am making them an alpha block with the first letter of their name.

: Paint the Earth Safe Finishes paint (AQUAMARINE) directly onto patterned shelf liner

: …then press it on the block

: Earth Safe Finishes – LIPGLOSS

: Sometimes you can’t find an acrylic block

: These lids make great ‘acryclic blocks’

: Love the 1″ faux quilting stamps!

: Look at the beatiful impression

: cut up this bag and the possibilities are many. I used this one little bag to complete 6 projects!

: Use Beacon’s Tacky Glue to adhere to block

: The Iridescents leaves a beautiful texture and sheen

: Love my blocks! I hope my friends do too!

Decorate to your taste. Add embellishments. Go crazy! It’s always fun to recycle and up-cycle.

Thanks for stopping by today!

February 26, 2014 By Larissa Pittman 11 Comments

Spring Burlap Banner

Good morning everyone! How are Y’all today? I’m Larissa and I am here with my very first post as an Ann Butler Design Team member. I am so excited to be able to sit down and create with these gorgeous stamps and ink.

I have been wanting something to hang on my window for decoration. I had been scrolling Pinterest over and over and over looking for that perfect something.

Well I created my perfect something. I cut up some burlap pieces I had and grabbed some lace and flowers from my stash. I figured out what I wanted it to say and began stamping.

I stamped one letter on each banner piece.

After stamping each letter I attached the lace at the top and a flower on the bottom corner.

So here is the finished banner.

This was so easy and Ann’s ink pads worked fabulously.

I used:

Thanks for stopping by and looking at my project. Don’t forget to come back tomorrow and see what another Design Team member has done. You won’t be disappointed I promise.

Have a great day Y’all.

February 25, 2014 By Design Team 16 Comments

Faux Quilting Distressed Card

Hi Everyone, Happy Tuesday, Paula here with my first post for Ann Butler Designs a Faux Quilted Distressed Card!

I love doing simple, but like to add “just enough” to make them look like it’s more. Ann’s stamps are SO simple to work with, yet have such an elegant look!

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Start with a basic 5.5″ x 8.5″ piece of cardstock, folded in half (finished size 4.25″ 5.5″).
2. Use the Big Shot to emboss the base of the card.
3. Using Ann Butler Designs Faux Quilting 2″ Stripes.Dots.Hearts stamp set, and Colorbox Crafter’s Ink by Ann Butler in Aquamarine, I stamped an assortment of the patterns in one large rectangle shape.
4. Use TopNote Die to cut out shape from the stamped images.
5. I then used another floral die to cut out additional shapes. I ran these through the Big Shot again, to emboss with the same design of the base card. Since I love a distressed look, I bent/folded/crumbled and used a file on these flowers. Afterwards, I inked the edges. I adhere the layers together and top with a decorative brad.
6. Now that the pieces are all created, I just layer and adhere them together. I did use two pieces of ribbon – one is across the width of the card base, while the second (the lace ribbon) is wrapped around the note die.
7. As you probably noticed as well – I love inking edges. It just doesn’t seem finished until I do!

And that’s it! See, I told you it looks “more” difficult than it is!
Have a great day!

February 24, 2014 By Design Team 6 Comments

Faux Quilted and Stamped Heart Apron

Hi everyone, this is Carmen, I’m so excited to be sharing a Stamped Heart Apron using Ann Butler’s lovely line of inks and stamps. They are perfect for decorating a blank white apron which I found at the craft store in the embroidery aisle.

You see, I am one messy crafter and if I don’t use an apron, all my clothes would be covered in paint and ink. (Yes, technically my wardrobe would all eventually color-coordinate but head-to-toe paint spatters and ink streaks would be too matchy-matchy, wouldn’t it? ) Here’s how to make your own cheerful stamped heart apron.

Materials:
Ann Butler’s EZ-De’s Stamp Sets
Ann Butler Crafters Ink by Clearsnap: Aquamarine, Tangelo, Limelight
Tulip® Fabric Markers™ Fine Writer Tip Pack: black
Plain white apron

Tools:
Westcott Brand Non Stick Scissors, masking tape, stencil brush, thin plastic or vinyl sheet, acrylic block, ruler, permanent marker, piece of thin craft foam, paper towel

Instructions:

1. Wash and iron your apron. To make the large blue stripes, use the masking tape and ruler to mask off five big rectangles. Tap the brush onto the Aquamarine ink pad to load it up with color and then use a pouncing movement to apply the ink to the first rectangle. Do this on three of the five rectangles so that you end up with alternating stripes of plain white and Aquamarine.

2. Remove the tape between the rectangles. Mask off one 2″ wide stripe lengthwise across the apron along the tops of the rectangles. Mask off another 2″ stripe about 4 1/2″ higher. (The taped off areas will later become the green stripes). Make a stencil by drawing a 4″ heart on the sheet of plastic with permanent marker then cut it out with scissors. (**Tip – Old plastic file folders work great for making stencils.)

3. Starting with the center heart, align the stencil so that the heart is centered in the blank area above the middle Aquamarine rectangle. Tape the stencil in place with masking tape. Attach your desired EZ-De’s Stamps to the acrylic block and stamp the open heart area using the Limelight stamp pad. (**Tip – slip the piece of thin craft foam under the apron and it will help when stamping with the stencil.) Remove the stencil and wipe any ink from it with a paper towel. Repeat to stamp the remaining hearts alternating them in Limelight and Tangelo.

4. Remove and realign the masking tape so that the areas for the green stripes are now exposed. (You’ll be covering up the bottom of the hearts and tops of the rectangle stripes to mask off the area for the lower green stripe and similarly to make the upper green stripe.) Use the brush to apply Limelight ink in the blank areas between the tape. Now you’ve got two green stripes! Remove the tape.

5. Stamp along the neck strap and the top border of the apron.

6. Outline all the hearts and stripes with the Tulip Fabric Marker.

7. As a final detail, cut a smaller heart stencil and stamp an Aquamarine heart at the top of the apron. To heat set the inks, pop the apron into the dryer and run it on high heat for twenty minutes.

I had so much fun using the juicy Ann Butler Crafters Ink pads! And who needs a sewing machine when you can just stamp your patchwork design? You can easily personalize this apron to your liking using different colors and stencil shapes. Although with such a cute apron, you might want to make two – one for the spatters and one for wearing when guests come over. Wink. Enjoy!

February 23, 2014 By Vishu Reberholt 7 Comments

Inked and Stamped Card Holder

Hello everybody, Vishu here today with my very first post an Inked and Stamped Card Holder. Now, before I begin let me tell you I am in love with these stamps so many possibilities and saying “your mind is the only limitation” holds so true for them.

My fellow team members have got my creative juices flowing and I hope my project can do the same. I have not done detailed tutorial before so I am wishing myself some luck 🙂

I made this card box to fit 4 X 5.5″ card.

First I cut 2 pieces of 8 X 7.5″ white cardstock, inked them with Ann Butler Designs Crafter’s ink

Then I stamped them with Ann Butler Designs faux quilt stamps and I have to confess, creating a custom background with these stamps is a piece of cake because of their no edge design I did not need any guide to place the design next to each other.

Now comes the scoring part, so score both the pieces as shown

Cut and remove the portions shaded green.

Round the corners shaded in pink.

Attach the two pieces together by overlapping one flap with the other. Don’t skimp on adhesive, you want the spine to hold together.

Apply adhesive along the shorter sides of the longer flap. I like to use a runner adhesive, because it’s less messy. Fold in the flaps, pressing the adhesive into place.

Then I added the velcro mini dots to hold the two sides together.

Decorated the top of my box with some spellbinder dies and Ann Butler Designs EZ-De’s stamps I just love these alphabet stamps their size and the flourish detail. Finally no project is complete without some bling.

These card boxes are a great gift to pass on some handmade goodness.

I filled my box with four cards and matching envelopes, here is a sneak peak.

That’s it for me today and hope you enjoyed the post, don’t forget to stop by tomorrow for some more creative fun.

February 22, 2014 By Beth Watson 6 Comments

Faux Quilted Keepsake Box

These Faux Quilted stamps are fun and easy to work with because they are sized in 1″ squares, 2″ squares and matching triangles, so everything coordinates and fits together perfectly.

I definitely love quilting, but do not have the patience or skill to actually make one, but with these stamp sets you can create a “quilt” on any project you can imagine!

Now, on to my project!

MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

Ann Butler Designs {Faux Quliting} Stamp sets – 1″ Diamonds & Plaids, 1″ Doily Picnic and 1″ Leaves All Over.
Colorbox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler – full size ink pads in Aquamarine, Sunshine, Lilac and Limelight.
Colorbox Crafter’s® – full size ink pads in Snow and Bark.
Tim Holtz Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection by Core’dinations
Wooden Cigar Box, labels removed
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Products – Key Hole, Word Key, Word Tag and Toggle Clasp.
Americana Paints by DecoArt in Chocolate Brown, Uniform Blue, Sea Glass Green, Yellow Ochre and Light Foliage.
Beacon Adhesives – Fast Finish Decoupage and Premium Tacky Glue
Paint brushes, Scissors, Clear Acrylic Stamping Blocks, Wooden Wheels (8) and Seam Binding Crinkle Ribbon – golden yellow.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) Stamp a variety of the patterns on coordinating card stock colors and cut out with scissors. Dry fit on lid of cigar box until you are happy with the pattern and color arrangement. Attach to box lid and box sides with Multi-Medium Matte, let dry.

2.) Paint wheels in Chocolate Brown, let dry. Paint a distressed top coat with Light Foliage, let dry. Adhere two wheels together then attach with Tacky Glue to bottom of cigar box.

3.) Distress Word Tag with Sea Glass Green, attach to Key Hole using Toggle Clasp. Distress Key Hole with Uniform Blue and attach to front of cigar box with Tacky Glue. Distress Word Key with Yellow Ochre, tie on seam binding ribbon in a bow and attach to top inside edge with tacky glue.

I hope that you have enjoyed my project today, because I have enjoyed creating it!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth