Category: Uncategorized

Making corrugated ornies

On By lindaIn Crafty Stuff, Life with the Neff family, Uncategorized5 Comments

My sister, Brenda, came down recently to visit. We wanted to get together to figure out how to use our Cricut Makers. That was pretty funny because we discovered they’re super easy!

After cutting a few files on the Maker we were ready to play with something a little more fun. I remembered I had some corrugated stars cut so grabbed those, the gesso, glitter, paint, and some printed words.

Corrugated cardboard is easily die cut with the steel-rule dies from Sizzix. I cut several more, then we sat down to play and decorate.

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Star ornies made from corrugated cardboard.

They’re so easy to make. They can be spritzed with water to help distress the top layer of paper by peeling and rolling it back. Add some gesso then paint. Glitter can be added white the paint is wet and it actually sticks!

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We added some vintage buttons, small medallions, printed words and wire. Vintage lace and beads can also be added to the wire to dress some up a bit more. So find yourself an old box and cut it up and use it for die-cutting some shapes. Get out the paints and glitter and have some messy fun!

A little birdie told me

On By lindaIn Art Journal, Stamping, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My Art Journal sessions are broken up into four weeks. Each four-week session is themed. These cute little birds are from Art Journal-Fly Away where we worked with creatures that had wings.

These background pages started out with just a few stripes of acrylic paint colors and some water. Pretty darn boring! But we learned to work it into a beautiful background to display our winged birds on.

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DecoArt acrylic paints spritzed with water.

Combining other mixed–media products with stamps, stencils and more, we were able to create the most beautiful backgrounds.

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Die-but bird added to background.

It’s just so much fun and very relaxing to just sit and play with no end-game in sight. Your page may never be done or it can feel complete in a quick 10 minutes.

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Die-cut birds stacked atop each other create a colorful scene.

Art Journaling requires no art background, just a willingness to express yourself while playing with paper and paints.

Loving this art journal thing!

On By lindaIn Art Journal, Stamping, Uncategorized4 Comments

Teaching classes at the CoBACH center in Brighton came to an abrupt halt back in October when the center was closed for building maintenance. With no word on when it might reopen I decided to try the classes in my  home. I won’t lie, it’s been cozy but it’s also been fun and rewarding.

My most popular has been my Art Journal sessions. I never thought I could enjoy something as much as this form of free-form crafting. It’s a way to incorporate products you most likely already have and chances are haven’t used much.

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From Art Journal-Fly Away

My Art Journal classes are offered in four-week sessions. Each week I teach a different technique and the students play with that technique, experimenting to make it their own. They’re able to see how other products they may have at home or items found around the house can be worked into their art journal.

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It’s fun to watch the students grow each week and become a little more free in their interpretations of the projects.

We’ve had to limit class size for these but hopefully the CoBACH Center will reopen early next year and I’ll be able to accept additional students. The sessions have continually sold out.

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Heat guns, acrylic paints, tissue papers, glazing mediums and more!

In the meantime we just keep plugging along having a grand ol’ time right here in my living room where I set up extra tables, push the furniture back, put out the chocolates, and we all get nice and cozy to play and socialize.