March 17, 2014 By Beth Watson 2 Comments

Faux Quilted Picture Frame

I love taking something traditional like quilting and putting a contemporary twist on it with a modern color palette. I also love creating home decor items, so I created this frame to coordinate with the Faux Quilted Box that I posted in February.

Here’s how I made it!

MATERIALS & SUPPLIES:

Ann Butler Designs {Faux Quliting} Stamp sets – 1″ Diamonds & Plaids, 1″ Doily Picnic and 1″ Leaves All Over.
EZ De’s Ann Butler Stamps – Flourish 2″ ABC’s
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.
Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection by Core’dinations
Wooden Picture frame – craft store.
Design Master Colortool Spray – Walnut Wood Tone.
Beacon Adhesives – Fast Finish Decoupage and Premium Tacky Glue
Alterations Sizzix Bigz Die – Tattered Florals
Sizzix Big Shot Pro Die Cutting Machine.
Scissors, Clear Acrylic Stamping Blocks, bright green tissue paper, 3D foam adhesive, craft knife, newspapers and a Brad.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.) In a well ventilated area, spread out newspapers and spray several light coats of Design Master Walnut Wood Tone on frame, let dry completely.

2.) Stamp a variety of the patterns on coordinating card stock colors and cut out with scissors. Dry fit on frame until you are happy with the pattern and color arrangement. Attach to frame with Fast Finish Decoupage, let dry.

NOTE: Now this is where you do what I SAY instead of what I DO. As you are attaching your Faux Quilt pieces to your frame, work one piece from the right and one piece from the left until you reach the center. This will allow you to space all pieces evenly. I DID NOT DO THIS, so I ended up with a large space at the right side of the frame. This is where a redesign comes in to play!

3.) Die cut bright green tissue paper with the Tattered Florals die, concentrating on the largest flower. Separate layers, lay out on newspapers and lightly mist with Design Master Walnut Wood Tone, let dry. Stack flowers, cut a small slit in center with craft knife and insert brad through all layers. Spread prongs, flatten and attach to frame with Premium Tacky Glue. Crinkle petals for texture.

4.) stamp initial of choice on card stock of choice. Fussy cut with scissors. Stack 5 layers of 3D foam adhesive to back of initial and attach to center of flower. Fill frame with favor family photo and display for all to enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by! -Beth

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!

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

May 31, 2011 By Ann Butler Leave a Comment

DIY: Studio Curtains with Velcro® Brand

I finally have curtains up in my studio…nearly 2 years after I got my studio moved and set up I found what I was looking for to make curtains!

I had looked everywhere for curtains but just could not find any that would fit the windows (or that I liked), so I knew I would have to make them…I came across a bolt of fabric at JoAnn’s on clearance for $12, it had 16 yards of fabric on it and was just what I was looking for! Something light and airy not to cover the windows but to dress them up!

Here is what they looked like before!

This is after!

Just a little Window Dressing but I love how they turned out! They are like window scarfs….

I used Velcro Brand White Tak Putty….

To attach them to the top of the window frame and keep them in place….

I put bows in the corners but also wanted these to be changeable…as I want to make some flowers for the corners also.

The easiest way to make them changeable is to use Velcro Brand Adhesives….for these I decided to try the Snag Free Sew-On which has hook and loop in one.

It is so cool because it is a one-piece design that resists snagging and lint buildup. Which is perfect for this delicate fabric and since they are in my studio having something that will prevent lint buildup….is a great idea!

I just cut 2 pieces the same size and sewed one to the bow and one onto the curtain…now when I want to make the flowers I can just cut another piece the same size and sew to the flowers…and not worry about if I need the hook or loop side since the Snag Free has both!