Craft Test Dummies featured review!

So many of us like the look of stitching on our paper crafts….but it can be tricky to get that look “right”- uneven stitches, problems piercing the paper, inability to make those cool designs. Now, though, there is a cool tool on the block from We R Memory Keepers- the Sew Easy Stitch Piercing Tool that make it tons easier to add that special touch.  Let’s give it the CraftTestDummies once-over and see how it really works!

To use the product successfully, you MUST have both the Paper Piercing Tool and the Pink Piercing Mat.  The tool itself is made of plastic and has 2 parts- the handle and the piercing roller. It comes with a straight line for creating french knots, a running stitch, or backstitch.

To use the tool, you position a piece of paper on top of the mat and apply pressure to the handle while rolling the tool forward or backward. The spines in the roller will pierce the paper and get it ready for you to sew with a needle and floss.

Steady pressure and not moving too quickly works best.

The big question in my mind was “What kind of papers will it work with?” First try with scrapbook-weight paper, and that was easy-peasy.

Nice, clean holes all the way through the scrapbook paper.

So I gave it a good work out on some other papers, as well:

Core'Dinations Cardstock also worked well.

A more complex pattern, on a card blank.

What I found is that thinner paper works best, especially with more complex patterns. Now, after I tested the tool, I actually got to do some stitching! I used the Sew Easy Needles and the Sew Easy Floss. Both were high-quality and easy to use- and certainly on par with other flosses I’ve used.

I really liked that there were diagrams on the package to show you the ways you can use the pierced holes to make a different stitching patters. Here’s how my stitching samples turned out:

From top: a card blank, scrapbook paper, Core'Dinations cardstock, foamies.

You may notice that I even tried the Sew Easy Paper Piercer on a sheet of Foamies! While it did NOT pierce the foam sheet all the way through, it left deep enough indents so that I could use a regular embroidery needle to follow the pattern.  Fun, right?

I used the Sew Easy Paper Piercer to embellish a simple thank you card.

I’m excited to play with it more and add cool stitching to my cards, tags, and scrapbook pages.

What ways could you use the Sew-Easy Paper Piercer?

I used a manual die-cutting machine for this because my kids, ages 6 and 10, know how to use it independently and frankly the results are great!

Supplies:

• Cuttlebug Manual Die Cutting Machine and Nestabilities Dies,  Labels 10
• Foamies sheets in 2 festive colors ( I like to use at least 1 glitter sheet)
• Foamie Glue (you DO need special glue for foamies, FYI)
• Queen & Co Bling Pearls in a coordinating color
• Bowdabra Wire for hanging
• Foamie Markers

First, have your kids cut bases using the third-largest die. You’ll find that foamies cut beautifully! Then, cut the “frame” portion by positioning the second SMALLEST die in the middle of a next largest one. Use a piece of painter’s tape to keep it from shifting around while you run it through the machine.

Use painter's tape to keep the dies from shifting.

Next, position the photo in the middle of the frame, and use a little bit of glue to hold it in place. Then affix a 6 inch loop of Bowdabra wire behind the frame.  Add more glue and glue it to the glittery side of the base.

Let this dry a bit, then add some stick-on pearls or rhinestones.

Lastly, add the child’s name and/or school year to the back using the Foamies Markers.

Use the cut-out from the frame and a few foamie stickers to decorate the back, too.

A keepsake to treasure year after year!

Ornaments make great keepsakes, hostess gifts, teacher presents, even a little “bonus” to adorn your presents. We’re so excited to share all of our ideas with you! To get you started, here are some of our best ornaments from “Christmas Past,” so to speak!

Foamie Activity Bucket Snowflake Ornament Kit

Ornament featuring Ranger Alcohol Inks

Wooden Snowflake Ornaments using Diamond Dust

Ceramic Glittered Ornaments

Make sure you join us on Facebook and share YOUR ornament creations!

To use the paint, you’ll need to shake the bottle  for 10 seconds or so to remix the mica particles that have settled to the bottom. The mica reintegrated easily into the paint, and when I poured it into my tray, the paint was smooth and creamy. It’s not as thick as some other mica-infused acrylics on the market, and I’d say the viscosity is somewhere between syrup and honey consistency.

I put my first layer of paint on my recycled box with a foam brush. I found that it went on easily, but because my surface had printing on it, it needed two coats for sure.  I even opted for a third, just using my finger to liberally spread around the paint. (Messy, but fun.) I found that applying the paint in this manner made it look almost like metal foil! The color was rich and vibrant.

Moving on to another “upcycled” craft, I used Precious Metal Colors in green to paint over a plain, glossy black frame. I did no prep to the surface, just brushed the paint on top. It covered the black frame beautifully, and again took 2 coats. Precious Metal Color has a great “grab” to it, and even thought I didn’t sand, it adhered well. You can see the first coat as pictured in the first photo on this post, and the final project is here:

I used the paint for the chipboard letters, too! LOVE!

The packaging says it’s good for non-porous surfaces, so next I literally poured some of the paint in an old votive glass. I swirled it around and then smoothed it out a bit just using my finger. (I use my fingers to paint a lot, as you can see.) Wow! This effect is impressive. The paint actually sticks to the glass, and gives the feeling of silvered glass. The mica flecks show through the glass as well, making it wonderfully glimmery!

To finish off my Precious Metal Colors playdate, I used some nice thick watercolor paper and just painted random swatches, occasionally blending with a water mister. Again, these colors are jam-packed with mica, and you could see them swirling around on the surface. Amazing. I could barely wait for the paint to dry so I could make a mixed-media art tag.

Photos can’t do this paint justice

Fast Facts from the manufacturer, Viva Decor:

• Metal-look water-based “varnish”
• 1-3 hours to dry,  depending on the surface and conditions
• Use a synthetic or foam brush to apply
• Water clean-up
• High opacity
• 28 fabulous colors

I know that you’ll really enjoy Precious Metals paints–and you can get them for a great price at ConsumerCrafts.com!

*Parts of this article were originally published on CraftTestDummies.com.

So what is a Smash Book, exactly? It’s a spiral-bound, chipboard-covered notebook that has printed papers inside, as well as an included pen that has a gluestick built right in! The idea is that you journal and scrapbook as you go- as part of your everyday life… in other words, just “Smash it in.”

Take a look at this video:

Now recently, I took a weekend trip with my husband for our anniversary- and rather than save all my goodies for a scrapbook “later” (which is code for keep in a box indefinitely,) I decided to take a Smash Book and chronicle the events as they happened.

There are different colors, each with a different theme.

The interior pages are printed- so you don't have to fuss with "backgrounds" or embellishments.

Here I'm adding clippings from the local newspaper, instant photos, journaling, and boarding passes.

I LOVE that you can take your SmashBook with you and scrapbook as you go, without worrying about whether or note it’s “perfect.” And with some of the fun accessories- like Smash Tape, Flags, and journaling prompts called “Smash pads” you can have a lot of fun. (Click this link to see the accessories.)

 I love my rotary cutter for cutting fabric. And I love my paper trimmer for cutting paper. If those two tools got together and had a love-child, it would be the Free Style Mouse by Purple Cow- and I would adopt it and take it home!

As you can see from the picture, it looks a little different from most of the other paper-trimmers and rotary cutters out there on the market. Why, it looks kind of like a computer mouse! (Hence the name!)

It only takes moderate pressure to engage the blade.

To use it, you place your hand over the top of the cutter, then press down to engage the blade, then slide away from you to cut paper, fabric, or even metal. The brilliance of this design is that while the FS “mouse” is sitting on your table, the blade is up & retracted into the housing. It’s only when you press down that the blade engages. I cannot tell you how brilliant this is! Even if my kids pick it up or drop it on the floor, that blade is away and safe. But when I want to use it, I don’t have to fuss with locks or blade guards- just press and go!

I also love the ease of changing blades. I have traditional rotary cutters, and I’ll be honest- changing blades sets my teeth on edge. (I have a minor fear of being cut.) However, these blades are permanently set into a plastic housing. To change blades, you twist the knob until it unlocks, pull out the unit (still while holding the knob) and place it in its little protective tray. NO TOUCHING BLADES! Hooray! Even the storage trays have a little “lock” on them so that if you drop the tray, the blades won’t spill out.

Blades have their own storage trays- convenient!

Now, let’s talk about all of the blades you can use. I’ve never seen so many for one tool before- there are TWELVE- and the kit includes: straight, perforated, short wave, deckle, long wave, pinking, scallop, squiggle, Victorian, colonial, scoring and stamp. Wow! And each blade is numbered- so you can place it back in its corresponding storage tray. Brilliant!

So now we’ve established that the design is brilliant…but how does it cut? Never fear, intrepid crafters, the FreeStyle Mouse lives up to its promise. I used it on Foamies ™ craft sheet, paper, cardstock, fabric, and fabric backed with fusible web (one layer of each.) On each surface it cut smoothly and cleanly, not leaving hanging bits or threads. (I used the straight blade, Victorian, and deckle when testing it out.) I was pleased with how nicely and cleanly it cut on all of the items I tried- even the Foamies!

If you are looking for a tool that is easy to use, versatile and economical, the FreeStyle Mouse is for you!

It’s a fun craft the kids can do while supper is cooking- and it would be super-cute on the kid’s tables, filled with little candies, or even used to hold their napkins. You could even write their names on the “feet” so they know whose is whose!

She’s got the template on her blog, but we thought we’d give you the supply list here:

• A small  pot (Vicki used clay, but we recommend Paper Mache)
• Acrylic paint for the pot in Raw Umber (optional)
• Tacky Glue
• Foam sheets in various colors
• 5mm wiggle eyes

Now get those kids crafting and have FUN!

Markers, markers, markers! Besides being all the rage in the craft industry, they are a staple in every artist’s workshop (and most households, too!)

Today I’m going to share with you Sanford Prismacolor Markers- an alcohol-based, dual-tipped marker that is arguably the most popular marker with professional artists and illustrators. But they are widely available so that that makes them a prime candidate for crafters, too!

Here’s how they are described:

Every artist can appreciate these double-ended art markers. The ink is formulated to give the richest color saturation with silky smooooooth coverage. The duality of the thick and skinny tips let you change it up whenever the mood strikes. One ink source ensures color consistency from either end. It’s an alcohol, dye-based ink that’s non toxic.

Here’s a close-up of the nibs:

Now, both caps are interchangeable, but they are color-coded.  Like most alcohol markers, they do have a mild odor- but they are labeled as non-toxic.

Since I think most crafters use alcohol-based markers for coloring stamped images, it was stamped using Memento black ink on matte cardstock:

Then I used another stamp on some glossy cardstock. You do get more “lines,” but they were able to be blended out somewhat by layering both the clear blending marker and the peach marker:

Now, to get creative! Since alcohol markers work on non-porous surfaces, you can have a lot of fun.

Here I colored a metal embellishment with a teal marker.

I spritzed some glossy cardstock with rubbing alcohol, then layered some color by scribbling with the Sanford Markers. I laid a sheet of bubble wrap on top to make the pattern. Now, won’t that make a cool background?

You can also color right on a rubber stamp (the inks will dry quickly, but don’t worry).  Spritz it with some rubbing alcohol (or blending solution) and then stamp your image. You’ll get a watercolor effect.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Sanford Markers work beautifully with Prismacolor pencils. Here is an example of a stamped image that I colored with markers…

….and then went over with pencils. I used the colorless blender to blend it all together. (I should also note that I LOVE the colorless blender. Love.)

Overall, these are really the “premier” art markers. They are not refillable, but you’d probably need to use them for hours daily to actually use them up.

Just as an aside, I called my friend who is a professional artist/illustrator. When I asked about different alcohol-based markers, he said (as an artist) that his choice was Prismacolor. Is that enough of an endorsement?

Disclosure: This article is an abridged version of a review posted on, CraftTestDummies.com. Used with permission.

Back-to-School Crafts: Silly Pencil Toppers

Using the Mini Bowdabra create silly pencil toppers perfect for back-to-school!  Add craft boa, feathers, and pipe cleaners for some crazy fun!  Kids will love sharing their unique homemade pencils with their friends at school.

Materials Needed:

• Mini Bowdabra
• Bowdabra Bow Wire
• Craft Boa
• Feathers
• Pipe Cleaners (Chenille Stems)
• Pencils

Instructions:

1. Begin by cutting an 18″ strand of Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Fold it in half and place it into the Mini Bowdabra.

2. Next, place craft boa and feathers into the Mini Bowdabra.

3. Fold pipe cleaners in half, swirl the ends, and place them into the Mini Bowdabra.

4. Add pencil to the Mini Bowdabra.  Place the end of the pencil near the eraser into the Mini Bowdabra.

5.  Add additional craft boa to cover the pencil.

6. Scrunch down with the Mini Bowdabra Wand.

7. While the pencil is still in the Mini Bowdabra, thread the two loose ends of the Mini Bowdabra Bow Wire through the loop at the other end.

8. Pull the Bowdabra Bow Wire tightly while the pencil and boa are still in the Mini Bowdabra.  Gently pull the pencil out of the Mini Bowdabra.

9. Separate the two loose ends of the Bowdabra Bow Wire and bring them around to the back of the boa and knot.

10. Trim away the Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Make several different colored silly pencil toppers.

You’ll need:

• Core’Dinations Cardstock- 8 1/2 X 11″ stack in “Elements”
• Core’Dinations Sand It Gadget
• Darice Falling Leaves Embossing Folder
• Cuttlebug
• Spellbinders Nestibilities dies “Label 4″
• Paper Trimmer
• Sew Easy Fancy Floss in Variegated Primary
• Glue Glider Pro
• Pop-Up Glue Dots
• Distress Stickles in Peeled Paint, Fired Brick, and Tarnished Brass.
• Label maker

First, cut your cardstock:

• 7″ X 10″ piece for the card base (I chose deep green). Fold in half lengthwise to create a 5″ X 7″ card.
• 4 3/4″ X 6 3/4″ piece of brown for the front

Then emboss your brown cardstock with your sanding tool to bring out the image. (I LOVE this folder, and have a bonus version for you at the end.)

Next, use the Distress Stickles to apply the three different colors in a random fashion on the leaves. Set it aside to try and cut the 2 sizes of the Nestabilities labels with the Cuttlebug. Using the Glue Glider, adhere one on top of the other, then create the “Thankful” label. (Alternatively, you could stamp it, use rub-ons, stickers, or even handwrite it.)

When the Stickles have dried, wind some of the floss around the bottom of the card. Use the Glue Glider to keep the ends from unwinding, then add enough adhesive to attach it to the card front.

Attach the “Thankful” embellishment to the card using 3-D Zots to help it stand off of the card front.

Add an additional, larger “label” die cut to the inside to hold your message, if you like.

I love that it’s masculine and has a lot of texture.

Now…remember that I told you I’d share a different version? Well, here you go. Same embossing folder, but this time I used Pearl Cardstock and just a few dots of Fired Brick Distress Stickles to make the winter berries.

Lovely, right? Perfect for a Solstice or Christmas card!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this card, and make some of your own!