Category Archives: Home Decor

Authentique October Desk Calendar Tutorial

Authentique October Desk Calendar Tutorial by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Authentique October Desk Calendar Tutorial: Bibbety Bobbity Boo!

Hello, Friends!  My calendar tells me it’s time to get our Authentique October Desk Calendar Tutorial published.  So “Bibbety, Bobbity, Boo!” here you go!  If you’re new to my blog, this has been a year long series using Authentique Paper’s Calendar Collection.  Each month we create a decorative desk calendar that also functions as a memory keeping system.  All the calendars measure 6″ x 6″ and feature an easel style design.  The interior houses mini folios and a hidden pull out folio.  Many of you have told me you are making these as Christmas gifts for family members.  Some of you are using the basic folio design with other paper collections and giving the finished product as a birthday present.  I think both ideas are fabulous!

The Spooktacular October Calendar Collection

Every month, I say, “This month is my favorite.”  That’s how you know this is a great collection, right?  But I really do love these “too cute to spook” October patterns, colors and images, don’t you?

I found some adorable owl buttons in my stash.  My sweet husband, who is always on the lookout for unique embellishments for me, picked these up for me some time ago.  They make the perfect embellishment for the pull out folio.

We change up the design of the pull out folio this month.  Add a pocket and some mini folios to create even more room for photos.  What do you think?

Then we have these adorable silhouette images.  And I found ribbon in my stash that makes me think of candy corn.  How fun is that?

So if you’re ready to get going on your October Desk Calendar, please join me in this YouTube video and we’ll create it together.

If you’d like to find the first 9 folio tutorials, please click HERE.  You’ll also find a linked supply list below this post.

Wow.  Ten months down and just 2 months left to go….and let me tell you…the best is yet to be!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Button Farm Club Masquerade Home Decor Kit Reveal

Button Farm Club Authentique Masquerade Printer's Tray Kit by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design PHoto 01

Button Farm Club Masquerade Home Decor Kit Reveal

Hello, Friends!  This Button Farm Club  Masquerade Home Decor Kit Reveal is going to spook you out in a very good way!  Halloween is right around the corner, so I thought to myself…why not create a project that doubles as home decor?  When Authentique paper released their frightfully fabulous Masquerade collection, I  knew just what to do!

Authentique Masquerade Altered Printer's Tray by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

So I created a 12×12 altered printer’s tray with a photo folio tucked inside.  Oh, yes, I did!  This kit is going to be so much fun to make it’s scary!

We’ve got mini pumpkins, people!  And spooky little poison bottles!  Can we just talk about the orange polka dot ribbon and ghostly grey flowers? Ghoulishly glorious!

But what about photos?  No worries!  This darling little photo folio tucks right inside one of the compartments in the tray.

It is loaded with room for photos and journaling to help you document all your Halloween capers.

I’m over the moon for these fabulous patterned papers from Authentique!  How about you?  And can you say “glitter brads?”

Of course, I’ve added my signature flips, flaps and fun inside the photo folio.

To see the project in action, please enjoy this YouTube Video tour.

 

Masquerade Home Decor Kit Details

Let me start off by telling you that this is a very limited edition kit.  We bought all the printer’s trays we could find.  Because of the epidemic, production has halted on this item.  So there are only 60 kits, and we expect them to sell out quickly.  You have been warned!  LOL

This kit is all treats and no tricks:

  • 12×12 Wooden Printer’s Tray with Brass Handle
  • 10 sheets of 12×12 Authentique Masquerade Collection
  • 12×12 Die Cut Cardstock Elements Sheet
  • 12×12 Spectrum Cardstock in Orange Blossom and Black Jack/2 of each color
  • 49 & Market Flowers
  • Polka Dot Halloween Ribbon
  • Black Burlap String
  • 2 Jack-o-Lantern silvertone Charms
  • 7 miniature apothecary bottles
  • 3 miniature pumpkins
  • Small bottle of black paint
  • PDF Written Guide
  • Link to Private Video Tutorials

Just add your favorite adhesives, foam tape and standard crafting tools.  Everything else comes in the kit.  The price for the kit is $63.99.

Order your kit from The Button Farm Club by clicking on THIS LINK.

Think Halloween is just for the kiddies?  Not so, my pretties! This devilishly delightful  home decor kit is just the ticket for the young at heart!

To find past Button Farm Club Kits, please click HERE.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket Simple Stories Vintage Garden District by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket with Simple Stories Vintage Garden District

Hello, Friends!  You can tell summer is coming because I have bees on the brain!  This Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket is such a unique design.  Dressed up with Simple Stories Vintage Garden District it feels just like a summer garden party!

The base is made with Reneabouquets Beautiful Board.  I am completely unabashedly addicted to this wonderful stuff!    And this Honey Bee Loaded Card, Tag or Frame Kit speaks to my honey-loving heart!    It assembles quickly and easily.  Beautiful Board takes all mixed media products like a champ.  The fact that the base is already white means that you don’t have to prime, and the colors are true.  Paint all your surfaces before you assemble.  Then just add a dries clear adhesive along the edges, snap the pieces together and you are ready to decorate.

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket: Two Sides to Every Story

Here’s a peek at the frame side of the kit.  Naturally, I turned the frame overlay that comes with the kit into a shaker box.  Here’s how:

  • Decoupage the frame with rice paper and Matte Medium.
  • First, paint the frame with Matte Media.
  • Next, cut a piece of rice paper slightly larger than the frame dimensions.
  • Now lay the rice paper over the frame and burnish gently.
  • Then cut an “x” in the rice paper from top left to bottom right corner inside the frame.  Ue a craft knife for this.  Repeat from top right to bottom left.
  • Now brush matte medium onto the back side of the frame and wrap the rice paper around it.  The rice paper will conform itself to the shape of the sides with a little gentle encouragement.  And you might need to brush a little matte medium onto the back of the rice paper, too.
  • Just keep working it until it looks the way you want it to look. Set aside to dry.  Then ink the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.
  • When everything is dry, you can adhere acetate to the back side of the frame, add your foam tape and create the shaker box just as you would on a card.
  • Decorate with flowers, ribbon , buttons and Spanish Moss.

Here’s the Queen Bee, adorned with roses in the center of the hive.

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket: The Pocket

Reneabouquets Bee Frame and Pocket Simple Stories Vintage Garden District by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

The pocket contains a little decorative burlap panel and some sweet treats fit for a queen.

Bees and birds and flowers make me ridiculously happy!

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  If so I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.  You’ll find a linked supply list at the bottom of this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Tell the Bees Altered Bottle and Hanger Card

Craft Consortium Tell the Bees Altered Bottle and Hanger Card Deep Roots Workshop Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Tell the Bees Altered Bottle and Hanger Card for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  I’m “buzzing” with excitement over this Altered Bottle and Hanger Card for today’s Throwback Thursday post!  It is a collaborative effort between our son Peter (Deep Roots Workshop) and Kathy by Design!  Peter turned this lovely apothecary bottle on his lathe, He was trying out some new carving tools and showed me the results.  The minute I laid eyes on this beauty, I saw a honey comb.  So I asked him if he would let me play around with it…and he trusted me!  Yay!

The Bee Bottle

Bee Bottle Deep Roots Workshop Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Peter creates his art pieces from reclaimed wood.  This poplar wood bottle was once part of a 100 year old barn here in North Carolina.  There’s nothing like starting a project that has weathered years of history!  After turning the wood on his lathe, Peter carved the little circles with carving tools.  Then he treated the bottle with his homemade Danish oil.  This is a mystery concoction of  his that really brings out the grain of the wood.  Then he handed the bottle over to the Kathy by Design Day Spa for a little face lift .

First, smoosh Speckled Egg Distress Oxide Ink onto a non-stick craft mat.  Spritz it with water until small droplets form.  Then pick up the ink with your fingertip (or a sponge if you don’t like inky fingers) and tap it along the edges of the bottle.  Then lightly dip the sides of the bottle into the inky puddle.  Let the ink run, and spray with more water to fade it out.

Next “pollinate” the honey comb design with some mica gel medium.  I used Stamperia Glamour Gel.

Making the Tag

Next I pulled out my Craft Consortium “Tell the Bees” paper collection.  I purchased this ages ago along with the matching linen ribbon, stamps and a shaker mix.   Here’s how I made the decorative tag.

  • First,  create the background. Swipe  a 4×4 panel of manila cardstock in a lovely puddle of Speckled Egg Distress Ink.  Create the puddle of ink by smooshing the ink pad onto a non stick craft mat and spritzing with water.
  • Now dry the tag.  Then go in for another dip.  This time just tap the panel lightly in the ink to add layers of color.  Heat dry again.
  • Then look for little beads of ink and lightly tap the card into them to pick them up.  This creates a gorgeous speckled effect on the background.  Heat dry.
  • Now sponge on a little Wild Honey Distress Ink in a random fashion.  Spritz the card lightly to blend the colors.  Spatter water droplets for an even more distressed look.  Heat dry.
  • Use bee themed stamps (mine came in the bundle I purchased way back when) and stamp the panel.  Archival Ink works best for this.  I used Coffee, Saffron and Black.
  • Finally, die cut the panel into small tags.
  • Tie a tag around the bottle neck with waxed linen thread.  Add embellishments.
Tell the Bees Hanger Card

Craft Consortium Tell the Bees Hanger Card by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Because I already had all the supplies out on my work table, I decided to go ahead and make another Hanger Card.   This one measures 5″ x 7″ and I love the way it turned out.  The burlap is stitched to a panel of cardstock.  Then I just layered up some scraps from Tell the Bees, stitched a pocket in place and embellished.

Several of you asked about these little metal hangers.  They were a closeout item on the Melissa Frances website.  There are a few left if you are wanting to add them to your stash.  This one has been painted with Speckled Egg Distress Paint.

Here’s a look at the  mixed media tag and a little note card I tucked into the pocket.

Creating this project reminded me that I actually do like to ink and stamp.  I think maybe I need to schedule a day every now and then to get inky!

Peter and I enjoyed this little project so much that we are already planning our next caper.  We want to shoot some video next time to show you the turning process and the altering process.  If you’d like to learn more about Peter’s artistry, you can check out his ETSY shop.   You can watch him salvage the wood used to make this apothecary bottle on his YouTube channel, He’s always posting something interesting on his Instagram account. And if you’d like to follow him on Facebook, you can keep up with his antics there.

I hope you enjoyed this slightly different take on Throwback Thursday.  It certainly was fun for me to share this crafty adventure with our son.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Authentique June Desk Calendar Tutorial

Authentique June Desk Calendar Tutorial by Kathy Clement Kathy by Design Photo 01

Authentique June Desk Calendar Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  Can it really be time to share my Authentique June Desk Calendar Tutorial with you?  It does not seem possible!  But the calendar says it is, so here we go!  This month’s Calendar collection feels just like the blue skies and sunny days of summer.  And, people…it’s got bees!  Hooray!

Like all the previous months in this series, this desk calendar measures a tidy 6″ x 6″.  But it has room inside for loads of photos, memory keeping, and list making.  The easel style allows it to stand upright for display and close neatly for storage.  You can pull these out year after year and add new memories and photos as the days roll by.

The inside has a blank calendar where you can write down special dates.  The pocket on the bottom holds photo mats, journal cards and two little wallet sized folios.  I’ve tucked a nice sized folio into the hidden pocket built into the folio base.

Authentique June Desk Calendar Tutorial on YouTube

This video tutorial will guide you step by step through the process of creating this lovely bit of home decor.  And if you’re new to this series, click HERE to see the January-May calendars.

 

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your next crafty adventure.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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