Quick & Easy Buttons!

I love buttons, all sorts, mostly I seem to collect them (well, they do look so pretty in glass jars on my shelf!) but sometimes I actually use them too! The ones I use the most are actually the ones I have made myself, that way you can get a perfect match to your layout, and it's very easy and cheap to do. I have included a couple of examples here to help inspire you, I really hope you have a go because it is a great way to use up scraps and a nice little crafty thing to make up on one of those evenings when you don't have much time to spare but still want to get creative.

In this layout I made buttons to perfectly co-ordinate with the patterned paper using clear page pebbles. I bought a few packets of these when I started scrapping years ago but never used them, then I realised they could be used to make fake epoxy buttons! Just stick your page pebble directly on to your patterned paper, burnish the back of the paper with a rub-on stick to make sure it is stuck down properly and then carefully cut out the pebble.

To mark the holes it is easiest to draw round your shape on a piece of scrap paper and cut that out, then fold that template into quarters to give you some guidelines. If you then punch circles out of the template you can check if you like their position and go ahead and mark them onto the back of your button.

You can punch the holes with a cropadile or a normal eyelet punch, it's much easier than you think! I made this pile of buttons in less than half an hour, they are now all ready for me to start scrapping! I bought a pack of Basic Grey papers ready to scrap last years Christmas photos, and it came with a sheet of tags which knew I wouldn't use, so I cut up the tags and covered some Bazzill chips with them to make co-ordinating buttons. You could just as easily cut your own shapes out of cardboard, or use one of the larger die-cut machines like a Big Shot. To finish them off I sanded the edges which went well with the vintage papers, but inking them also looks really effective. You can also set eyelets into the button holes for a really clean look.

In this layout I used Bazzill chips again but painted them with acrylic to give a perfect match to the cardstock I used and then drew on some simple detail using a white marker pen.

I really hope you have a go at this, a great way to add some fun to your layouts and use up those scraps :)

Charlotte x

Need Inspiration?

The girls at It's A Creative World are so thrilled by the number of entries into our 'Scrap your Boobs' challenge and all the donations to our Just Giving Page. It's not too late to contribute to either, you have until the end of October.

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Cardmaking but lacking in inspiration?

Sometimes we all need a push in the right direction and challenge blogs might be just the thing to get you motivated and raring to go. I checked out 3 blogs this week and had a fab time joining in the challenges.

Daring Card Makers:

The current challenge is a sketch to base your card on.

I've had a new set of mini Cuttlebug embossing folders sitting on my desk for three weeks whilst I work out what to do with them and as soon as I saw this sketch I new exactly how to use them! I used some shiny silver mirror card that I've had for a few years and never use and the embossing folders worked a treat.

CPS:

I love the sketches you get from CPS as they are so adaptable.

I changed the sketch slightly by increasing the size of my card but basically kept everything else in.

Sketch This (cards):

The challenge was another sketch, really simple and multi-use, it could be used for every possible occasion that you can think of.

I had loads of fun punching circles and then inking and gluing and managed to squeeze four different patterned papers from Craftwork Cards and chipboard letters from Scenic Route onto my card.

So, I challenge you to pick a challenge blog and join in with the fun and of course link us to your creations so we can see what you've all been up to :)

Happy Crafting love Andrea xx

Making Embellishments from Fun Foam.

Hi there, it’s Angela here with another altered art type project. It is handy to be able to make your own embellishments, especially when it is from a cheap material. For this you will need: A heat gun 1 A5 sheet of Fun Foam rubber stamp shimmery paints (eg Twinkling H2O’s, Stewart Gill paints, Daler-Rowney’s Irridescent Mediums) Paint brush Metallic rub-on wax Cut your piece of foam slightly bigger than the stamp that you want to use to make your embellishment. Place this on a heat resistant surface, and heat with the heat gun until the edges of the foam start to curl up (this should only take a few seconds). Stamp your rubber stamp on top of the foam, pushing down firmly for a few seconds. When you lift up your stamp you should see an impression of the stamp on the foam. Now to make this stand out, I painted it, using a dry brush and some Irridescent medium, sweeping the brush over the image, not being too careful about it. This gives it a more rustic look. I then highlighted some areas with gold irridescent medium, and used some metallic wax to make the image stand out more. I then cut around the image, but you can leave it as it is. Here is another example: Fun foam can be sewn on or attached using your regular choice of adhesive. There are many different things you can do with this, making an impression with random textured things that are around your house. Have fun experimenting!!! ~angela~

And a BIG Woo Hoo for our prize winner "queenofstash (Debra) ". If you could email to us your address your prize wil be on its way to you! (acreativeworld@hotmail.co.uk) .

Debra won a pair of gorgeous earrings kindly donated by Jaq at A String of Beads

Working from a sketch

Welcome to another Octobers Tuesday LO class!

Today we are going to be looking as scrapping from a sketch.

Sketches are very versatile because you can use as much, or as little, of the elements on your page, or turn it any which way you want.

The IT place to find sketches is Pencil Lines. An inspirational blog run by a FAB group of ladies who create the most awesome work every week to inspire their readers.

And here at It's a Creative World we are very honoured to have been given an exclusive sketch for our class by the lovely Anna!!

Hi , my name is Anna Bowkis, I live in a small village in Cambridgeshire with my hubby and two girls. I have a very fond love for sketches and a year ago I came up with the concept of Pencil Lines, the sketch challenge blog. Every week we have a new sketch for our readers and a guest designer. Our readers gallery is very popular, and one lucky reader each month recives a RAK form one of our sponsers. This month is our first anniversary, and we have lots of sketches, prizes and RAK’s to give away. I have made this sketch especially for “It’s a creative world” readers and hope you enjoy creating. Thanks for having me as a guest this week, its been such fun! Hugs Anna x

And this is what we have done with it.........

Charlotte!

Andrea!

Angela! Caz!

And here are a few more examples of LOs using PL sketches from the lovely Joy!

And of course it wouldn't be IACW without a great prize giveaway! Today we are offering you a gift from the amazing collection over at A String Of Beads. All you have to do is leave us a comment before midnight tonight and we will do the prize draw tomorrow :)

haPPy creATing!!

Caz

xx

Thanks for visiting!!

WOO HOO, we have reached our fundraising target!!!!! You ladies are just awesome and the support you have shown for a great cause is just amazing. Keep those donations coming in and get you BOOBIES SCRAPPED!!!!!!

There are still loads of prizes to be won this month so visit often :)

In the Doldrums ???

Hi again from Di with another idea to get the creative juices going.

I have been through a real “mojo less” period, and sometimes I just want to play. Because I am retired, I am on a pension, and therefore a BUDGET. Like you I have stash that I have actually FORGOTTEN about. So this is also an oopportunity to "Use Your Stash". Cheap and Cheerful Décor: Sometimes I just want to sit down and play, with no expectations of what I am creating. That’s when I create stuff to adorn my “studio”. So get some old cardboard, patterned paper, as many embellishments as you feel like and play. My Studio Just some patterned paper, paint, chipboard letters brads and ribbon.

About me:

And more just about me!!! And finally a little "welcome" I treat these as ’throwaways”. If they adorn “My space”for a few months, that’s fine. But they are in my face reminding me of who and what I am. They contain some positive thoughts that I can focus on whilst working. I used some paper that I have loved for a long time but have probably “over scrapped” LOL. You will find that you are not inhibited by the colours of photographs. (If you decide to include a few photographs, print them in black and white, sepia or antique.) This works for me. We would love to hear how YOU approach kindling your inspiration (We hope you come to IACW!!!! LOL.) a BIG Thanks for your very generous donations to our breast cancer awareness campaign. A special thanks to the folks who accepted my little challenge and donated this weekend. You will see that we have almost reached our target!!! And a reminder to get your "Scrap your Boobs" layouts in before the 31st October. Please email them to us at acreativeworld@hotmail.co.uk THANKS!!! Thanks for visiting and love from Di XXX

Christmas Ornaments

Making your own Christmas ornaments gives a personal touch to your tree, and it is something you can do with children, too.

Here are just a few samples of ornaments from the IACW team:

Andrea

A fabric and felt gingerbread man that requires no sewing.

Ingredients:

Brown felt, gingerbread coloured fabric, bondaweb or similar, thin ribbon, dimension paint, sharp scissors and very fine black and brown pens, makeup blusher.

Cut a two squares of fabric and iron bondaweb onto the back following the manufacturers instructions. Make a template of a gingerbread man shape on thin card and draw around it onto the reverse of the fabric, directly onto the bondaweb

Cut the two shapes out using sharp scissors to keep the edges sharp and neat

Place one of the shapes bondaweb side down onto the felt and iron to adhere, when you iron his head sandwich the ends of a loop of ribbon between the fabric and felt

Cut out the gingerbread man shape leaving a border of a couple of millimetres

Turn the gingerbread man over so the felt is uppermost and iron on the second fabric shape

Use dimensional white fabric paint to 'ice' wiggly stripes onto his hands and feet and also to add his buttons onto his tummy

Use the very thin black pen to draw a smile and two eyes and the brown pen to dot his freckles. Make rosy cheeks by dabbing a cotton bud into your blusher makeup and then dabbing lightly onto his cheeks

Hey presto you have a sweet little gingerbread man to hang in your home over the festive period, he takes next to no time to make and he's even low fat and oh so healthy :)

Joy

Seaglass ornament

I drilled the sea glass (barely under water) to make a neat hold in the glass. I then stamped it with a Green Pepper Press stamp. I put in in the melting pot, and I sprinkled UTEE on it to make the image pop. I then outlined it with a gold Krylon pen.

Ranger glass slides I took a pictures of my son stamping and colouring. I then cut the artwork to fit in the slides, and I added his photograph of him making the picture. I put a wire loop in between the pictures. I added gold tape around the edges (a Ranger technique and also demonstrated to me at Magpie Crafts).

Shrink plastic ornament

I stamped onto shrink plastic, puched a hole at the top, and coloured the bear and stars. (The plastic is actually clear, and the bear is coloured white, but it is difficult to tell in the image.) I shrunk it (with a heat gun) and added a white ribbon. This is a great project to do with kids. Angela

UTEE and Cookie Cutter Ornaments

These Ornaments were made using Christmas themed Cookie cutters and some UTEE. First of all I heated Clear UTEE in a melting pot, then added some Opals Embossing Enamels (an Australian made version of UTEE) in various colours, and a tiny amount of UTEE flex. Once this was all melted, I poured it out onto a non-stick craft sheet and set the cookie cutter into the UTEE .The cookie cutter should be inked with some versamark or other release agent to remove it from the utee when it has set. Leave the utee to cool. Be very Careful! This stuff really burns! I left mine for around 10 minutes and then very carefully pressed out the shape. If you are very careful you can have the positive and negative shapes, the negative would make a nice frame. Now it is ready to be stamped on using Stazon ink, I then doodled around the stamped images using Sakura Souffle pens to make them stand out more.

Love from us at IACW XXX

And Just a reminder from Di!!!

For every 1 pound that you donate to IACW Just Giving page I will donate 1 pound. This challenge is open until Sunday midnight 21st October!!! So come on girls just 1 pound from each of you! And why would I do this? Because cancer took my mum. Here she is....

Because of her I have a mother,I am a daughter, and I am blessed.

Love from Di