Mother’s Day Corsage | Lisa Storms

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Ann-Marie Morris

Happy Saturday! Today we have a bonus project from Lisa Storms for all of you last-minute crafters (myself included!) who are looking for a beautiful handmade gift to present to Mom tomorrow.

Lisa: Have your mom feel extra special on Mother’s Day by crafting her a beautiful corsage to wear. This fabric flower is easy to make by taking advantage of BasicGrey’s fabric tape along with wire. Here’s how to make your own:

You’ll need fabric tape and vintage buttons, along with a hot glue gun, embroidery floss, thin wire, pinback, and scissors.

Cut eight 2-inch strips of fabric tape and four 1.75-inch sections of thin wire. Peel the backing off of one strip of fabric tape and lay one section of wire down the middle as shown. Top this with another piece of fabric tape to seal. Round off the corners with scissors to make a petal shape. This makes a group of four strips.

Repeat this with 2.5 and 3 inch groups of fabric strips using wire slightly shorter with each as above.

Stack each group (longest to shortest as shown). Thread a button with embroidery floss and tie around stack centered tightly. Beginning in the back, pull each petal out evenly spaced using the wired bodies to curl petals up.

Hot glue hand-cut leaves to a circle of cardstock and hot glue to the bottom of the flower for a finished back. Hot glue a pinback centered on back for wearing.

Happy Mother’s Day!

S U P P L I E S

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Altered Owl Mini Album | Lisa Storms

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Ann-Marie Morris

Hello everyone! So…I had a different post scheduled for today, but when I saw this ADORABLE owl mini album from Lisa Storms in my inbox, I knew it had to go live immediately! I mean, it’s way too cute not to share!

Lisa: Here is a super sweet little album featuring the new journaling binders. By altering the cover with a knothole, an adorable owl peeks through for a “punny” album title.

We will start with a journaling binder, patterned papers, chipboard letters, and stickers from the Knee Highs & Bow Ties collection. You will also need a craft knife and cutting mat, brown acrylic paint and foam brush, paper trimmer, scissors, adhesive, and a pencil.

Place the owl sticker onto scrap paper and cut around edges. Draw an organic knothole shape on scrap paper using the owl as a guide for size. Cut out shape and trace onto journal cover with pencil.

Place the journal cover onto a protected tabletop with the binder hanging off the edge. Use a craft knife to cut out knothole. The album cover is very thick, so this will take many passes.

Put brown paint onto a foam brush and brush it several times on a scrap until the brush is fairly dry. Very lightly drag the brush along the ridges in the wood texture on the cover. Once dry, add a strip of patterned cardstock, chipboard letters, and a printed title to the front of journal.

To create title page, adhere the owl sticker to the black text tab insert page, taking notice of where it will show through the knothole. I used foam adhesive dots to make him stand out. Hand-cut a branch to place under him. Punch or hand-cut a few stars to put into the “sky” being sure they will not show through the knothole.

Now fill the album with special photos and memories…

SUPPLIES

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And in the spirit of happy Fridays, let us know what crafty projects you currently have in the works and you will be entered to win all the supplies used to create Lisa’s darling album! Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway

BasicGrey Altered : Shamrock Pinwheel Toppers

Posted on March 6, 2013 by admin

Shamrock pinwheel toppers are an easy way to add a little festive cheer to a treat on St. Patrick’s Day. Here’s how to make your own.

You will need green chevron patterned paper from the ‘Facts and Fiction’ 12×12 paper pad. This pad is a must-have in my opinion. I am always grabbing for it! In addition, gather green mini brads, bamboo skewers, scissors, adhesive, computer printer, and optionally a 1/16 inch hole punch and craft knife.

The first thing to do is print out the pinwheel template. You can either crop the patterned paper to 8.5 x 11 inches and run through the printer being sure to print on the solid green side, or print it onto cardstock to cut out a template for tracing.

Download PDF here: Shamrock Pinwheel Template

Cut out printed or traced template being sure to stay inside the lines so they do not show.

Punch a 1/16 inch hole punch at the mark on each wing (optionally cut with craft knife or poke with pointed object, both on a protected surface) and a slit at the center with craft knife.

Gently bend each wing toward center and insert a brad through all layers plus the back and open prongs to secure.

Glue pinwheel onto cut bamboo skewer at desired height and insert into treat.

Another way to add a little fun to a treat is by adding words. LUCKY seemed appropriate for this holiday, and I found the perfect size and style lettering in the ‘Paper Cottage’ line. However, I wanted the color gold.

Problem solved when I remembered I recently purchased a metallic gold Sharpie marker. One layer of color was all it took. Since the letters are self-adhesive, I pressed a toothpick into the back of each for inserting into a cupcake.

Wishing you much luck in your crafting endeavors!

Lisa Storms signature

BasicGrey Altered : PB&J Paint Smock

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

I let my kids paint and make creative messes all the time. We just have a few guidelines. We always work at the table and we cover up clothes with smocks. I was inspired by PB&J to design this great Paint Smock to nurture those creative messes! The smock is shown here on my 3 year old but it can even fit my 10 year old so it’s made to last for awhile.

PB&J Paint Smock--Applique Detail | Amy Friend

The smock is fully lined, has the word “PAINT” appliquéd to the front, and three big pockets perfect for holding supplies.

The back off the smock is closed with Velcro.

Click here to download our BasicGrey PB&J Paint Smock Tutorial with complete instructions and photos.

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Category Archives: Altered

Mother’s Day Corsage | Lisa Storms

Altered Owl Mini Album | Lisa Storms

BasicGrey Altered : Shamrock Pinwheel Toppers

BasicGrey Altered : PB&J Paint Smock