August 17, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Inchies Magnets Faux Quilting Stamps

Hey Crafty Friends, Einat Kessler here with a new project!
It’s summer, it’s hot and I find myself making frequent trips to the fridge in hopes of finding some ice-cream or a cold soda. One day I was looking at my fridge and decide it was too boring and needed some color. So I decided to create a colorful and useful creation to put on my fridge. I created a series of inchies magnets!

Inchies are a 1″ x 1″ creation that can include anything you want. There is also a version with 2″ that is called twinchies. I started with an old fridge magnet the ones you get as an advertisement and are annoying 🙂 I covered it with white paper and started stamping.

I wanted my magnets to have an interesting look so I used all the corners in the Ann Butler Faux Quilting Stamp sets. I arranged two corners on an acrylic block facing each other creating a 1″ x 1″ square and stamped the white paper. I loaded each corner with a different Ann Butler’s Crafter’s Ink by Clearsnap so it’ll be even more colorful. I repeated this process, creating a different corners combination each time and changing the color of the ink pads.

After the square was all stamped I cut it into 1″ squares to create my inchies magnets. Now my fridge is colorful and I have something to hold mu notes with!

Have fun creating!

Einat

August 14, 2015 By Beth Watson 1 Comment

Background Basics Stamped American Girl Doll Outfit

I have been doing a lot of crafting this Summer with my Niece. She has an American Girl Doll named Sage and we recently found a plain t-shirt and jeans outfit at Michael’s that I thought would be perfect to stamp on.

Here’s what you will need:

Ann Butler Crafter’s® Ink by Clearsnap – Lilac and Berry
Colorbox® Background Basics Stamps by Ann Butler – Diamond and Picnic
18″ Doll Outfit; Lavender Rhinestones; Gem Adhesive and Baby Wipes

Here’s how to make it:

1.) Load the Colorbox® Background Basics Stamps by Ann Butler – Diamond with Ann Butler Crafter’s® Ink by Clearsnap – Lilac mist with water and stamp a square in the center on front of shirt. Re-ink and stamp rectangles on both sleeve cuffs. Clean stamp with Baby Wipe.

2.) Load the Colorbox® Background Basics Stamps by Ann Butler – Picnic with Ann Butler Crafter’s® Ink by Clearsnap – Berry mist with water and stamp a diamond in the center on front of shirt. Re-ink and stamp triangles on both sleeve cuffs. Clean stamp with Baby Wipe.

3.) Attach lavender rhinestones on sleeves and at neckline, securing with Gem Glue.

Sage just loves her new, casual and crafty outfit that we made for her (and so does my Niece) SCORE!

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to like Ann Butler Designs on Facebook for even more inspiration!

August 10, 2015 By Larissa Pittman 1 Comment

Iridescents Sheer Bronze Note Holder

Hello friends. Larissa here with you today with my Sheer Bronze Note Holder using Ann Butler Designs Sheer Bronze Iridescent paint. I am in love with this color. It is so pretty.

Is that not the prettiest color you have every seen? It almost reminds me of a smooth silky chocolate. 🙂
So here is what I used from my Sheer Bronze Note Holder:

Large wooden clothespin
Ann Butler Designs Earth Safe Finishes™ Sheer Bronze Iridescents
Ann Butler Designs Colorbox® Lattice Art Screen from Clearsnap™
White Texture Paste
Palette Knife
Rhinestones

I painted two coats, allowing each to dry, of the Sheer Bronze Iridescent on the large wooden clothespin. Once the entire clothes pin was painted I laid the Art Screen on top. I then took white texture paste and spread it out evenly over the Art Screen.Once it dried I flipped it over and did the same thing to the other side.

Once the texture paste was dry I added clear rhinestones all around. I really love the way this came out and even though the paint is Sheer Bronze it almost looks gold in certain lights. I plan on keeping it on my desk to hold my important notes.

I think this would make an awesome teacher’s gift don’t you? I think I need to find more big clothespins and make some gifts. Hope you enjoyed my project today. Have a wonderful day friends.

Larissa

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!

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

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.

February 21, 2015 By Beth Watson 2 Comments

3D Stamped Pinecone Tutorial

Winter is a great time to decorate with pinecones and I thought that the Picnic Stamp from the Faux Quilting Doily Picnic set would make a great pattern. After a few mishaps, I finally figured out how to make the paper pinecone look almost real! I LOVE it when a crafty plan comes together!

Here’s how I made it!

Materials:

Ann Butler Designs 1″ Doily Picnic Stamp

ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler in Bark

Kraft Cardstock (2), Foam Egg, Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks, 1″ Circle Punch, Acrylic Stamp Block and pine branches..

NOTE: I show straight pins in my materials shot below, but when I starting attaching the circles to the foam egg, they did not hold, so I switched to a low temp glue gun. The low temp is important, so as not to melt the foam egg.

Instructions:

1.) Stamp the entire surface of two sheets of kraft cardstock with Picnic Stamp and Bark Ink.

2.) Punch out 1″ circles from both sheets of cardstock.

3.) Starting at tip of foam egg, attach first circle.

4.) Attach circles in a spiral pattern, overlapping approximately 1/3 over the previous layer and adjacent circles. Make sure as you approach the end of the pinecone that the bottom edge of the circles are glued down completely. You might have to fold and bend them to make them fit.

5.) Glue one small pine branch to end of pinecone, then attach one last circle over the pine branch. Embellish with a few more pine branches as an accent.

Make several to fill a decorative bowl or lay out in a grouping with more pine branches to create a wintery centerpiece!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

January 16, 2015 By Ann Butler 1 Comment

Faux Quilted Memo Board

While ate the CHA Mega Show last week I had the opportunity to teach How to Create a Faux Quilted Memo Board in the Clearsnap Booth using my new line of Background Basics Stamps and My Crafter’s Inks….

The project I created was memo board as I was able to use all 8 of my new Background Basics Stamps and every color of my inks…plus it was a functional item that could be hung on a wall with VELCRO® Removable Picture Hangers.

Materials and Supplies:

Ann Butler’s Crafter’s™ Ink: Lilac, Sunshine, Berry, Limelight, Aquamarine, Tangelo, Sand, Canyon, Blueberry, Deep Woods, Ocean Breeze and Evergreen

Ann Butler’s ColorBox® Background Basics Stamps: 3” Square – Double Diamonds, Picnic, Squares and Basket

Ann Butler’s ColorBox® Background Basics Stamps: 3” Triangle – Double Diamonds, Picnic, Squares and Basket

Art Canvas Board: 9” x 12”

Crystal Mesh; Connie Crystal: 2” x 2”

Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac™

Trim, white: 4 yards

Velcro® Picture Hangers, 4

Tools:

Westcott Brand Scissors, baby wipes, ruler, heat gun, pencil, push pins, paper towels

Instructions:

Find the center at the bottom of board and stamp one square in color of choice, with a point of the square at the bottom edge.
Stamp a second square above the first in color of choice, see photo.
Stamp the third and fourth square on either side of the first two squares in colors of choice. You will now have a large 6” square in the center of the board.
Align and stamp two more squares in colors of choice on either side on 6” square, see photo.
Stamp around the edges with the triangle stamps in colors of choice.
Glue trim on the back of the art board, bring across lines to cover where stamped patterns meet and glue onto the back side of the art board. Trim and repeat until all lines are covered.
Measure and cut 4 lengths of the trim adding two inches to each piece so that you will be able to glue the ends of the trim onto the back of the art board with each piece.
Add a small amount of glue to the bottom piece of trim where trim pieces cross.
Cut 6 pieces of crystal mesh two crystals by two crystals and glue on the top of the trim where the trim pieces cross, see photo.
Apply Velcro® Picture Hangers to the back of the art board according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Tips:

Heat set as needed.
Use baby wipes to clean off stamps before going into another color.

January 7, 2015 By Design Team Leave a Comment

Stamped Zipper Charger Pouch

Happy New Year everyone! It’s Carmen here today and I wanted to share with you a cute little zipper pouch that I made to hold my phone charger neatly in my purse. I made my own patterned fabric by stamping Ann Butler’s lovely stamps onto smooth white Roc-Lon fabric. Lucky me I just happened to have a polka dotted zipper in my stash – I knew I’d find the perfect project for it one day! This little pouch is super quick to make especially since I didn’t inset the zipper but instead just stitched it right on top with all the extra bits which you’d normally hide still showing.

Here’s how:

Materials:

Ann Butler’s Faux Quilting Stamps – 2″ Dots

Ann Butler’s Colorbox Background Basics Stamps by Clearsnap – 3″ Diamonds

Clearsnap Colorbox Crafter’s ® Ink Pad – Night

Roc-lon® Multi-Purpose Cloth™ – 12″ x 6″ piece

Coats & Clark Fashion Zipper – 7″ polka dot

Tools:

Acrylic stamping block, iron, sewing machine, thread, pins, Westcott Brand Scissors, paper towels

Instructions:

1. Use the 3″ diamonds stamp black ink on one side of the fabric. Stamp one row with the 2″ polka dots on each short end of the back of the fabric.

2. To heat set the ink, put a clean paper towel on the stamped fabric and iron the fabric using a high heat setting. Repeat for the back of the fabric. Place the fabric with the diamond pattern face up and fold over 1″ of each short end and press to flatten.

3. Fold over the short ends towards the center of the fabric rectangle leaving a 1/4″ gap. Pin in place. Stitch 1/4″ seam down each short end.

4. Trim the corners and turn the pouch inside out so that the diamond print is on the outside.

5. Pin the zipper onto the front of the pouch, aligning the teeth so that thye fall within the 1/4″ gap of the pouch.

6. Wrap the zipper around the back of the pouch and pin. Stitch the zipper in place. (This will be a little tricky but take your time and it’s ok to stop and adjust the fabric so that you can stitch all around the zipper.)

That’s it! Try making these with other Ann Butler inks and stamps for totally different looks. I’m already thinking one using Ann Butler Limelight and Berry inks. These also make cute little gift card holders! Enjoy!

April 11, 2014 By Larissa Pittman 3 Comments

Home Decor Canvas: We are Anchored!

Good Friday morning everyone! How are Y’all today?
Larissa here to show you what I recently created using
Ann Butler Designs products.

I started out hand drawing this anchor.
I stamped a little of Ann Butlers Sunshine ink pad
on my glass mat and sprayed some water on it.
I then took a paint brush and filled in the anchor.
I took the Aquamarine ink pad and did the same
but added more water to it. I brushed over the entire
background. Sort of washed it out a little.

I used Ann Butlers EZ-De’s Flourish 2″ ABC’s
and with the Aquamarine Ink Pad stamped the words WE ARE.

I wrote out the word Anchored and joined all the
letters together. I also filled them in with the Aquamarine
ink using the same technique of putting some ink
down on the glass mat and spraying it with water.
I wanted it just as dark as the words I stamped
at the top so I didn’t add much water.

I also used Ann Butlers 1″ Dolly Picnic and again the
Aquamarine ink pad and went around the entire edge
of the piece.

I added a a few white dots on the yellow anchor and
the letters.

It does look simple but a little time
consuming.

Hope you enjoyed my post today.

I will be back soon with a new project.
Until then be sure to check back daily to
see what the other Design Team girls
have created. You won’t be sorry.

Have a great Friday!!

ColorBox Crafter’sÂ® by Ann Butler Sunshine	ColorBox Crafter’sÂ® by Ann Butler Aquamarine	Ann Butler 1â�³ Doily Picnic	EZ-De’s Flourish 2″ ABC’s
*SSS White WATERCOLOR PAPER 6 x 9

InLinkz.com