Category Archives: Quick and Easy

Authentique Bountiful Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring

Authentique Bountiful Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring

Hello, Friends!  Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday,  is on the horizon. It’s easy to spend a small fortune on home decor for that happy holiday.  But, you can make this Authentique Bountiful Home Decor Trio on a shoestring. Your home will look lovely, and you can use the extra cash to purchase more paper pretties!  See how I look after you?  Best of all, these projects are super easy to make in a day or less.

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 1

Count Your Blessings Altered Bottle: Bountiful Home Decor on a Shoestring Project #1

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 2

I have a thing for glass jars and bottles.  The Closet of Shame has a shelf dedicated to jars and bottles in interesting shapes and sizes. I use them to store supplies, of course. But they also make great home decor.

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 3This lovely altered bottle began its life as a maple syrup container.  After removing the label, I washed and dried it thoroughly.  Originally clear glass, I altered it with alcohol inks.  If you’ve not done this before, here’s how:

  • Begin with a clean, dry glass surface.
  • Gently squeeze your chosen colors of alcohol ink into a felt blending tool.  It doesn’t take much.  Just a few drops of each color. I worked with Red Pepper, Pesto, Terra Cotta, Caramel, Purple Twilight, Sunset Orange, and Butterscotch Inks.  You can add all these colors in a cluster on one blending tool
  • Now, tap the applicator all over the surface of the bottle.
  • To get in small crevices, I dripped drops of color directly onto the glass.
  • Tap Copper Mixative Alcohol ink directly over the raised edges of the glass.  Use a clean blending foam for this.

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 4

Let the ink dry thoroughly. Alcohol ink dries quickly.  So even though I had so many layers of ink on my bottle, it was completely dry in about an hour.  I simply matted the sentiment from the 6″ x 6″ bundle and glued it to the bottle front.

TIPS:

  • To avoid stained hands, wear gloves!
  • Work over a non-stick craft sheet or several layers of newsprint.
  • For easy clean up, try using hand sanitizer and paper towels.
  • Use in a well ventilated area.
  • Do not re-use the blending felt.  It’s flammable.
  • Do not dry with a heat tool! Alcohol ink is flammable!

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 5

Dress up the top of the bottle with ribbon, flowers, stickers and fussy cut images from the Bountiful Paper Collection.   The quote strip is from the Bountiful paper header.  I never throw these away.

Gather with Thankful Hearts Chunky Canvas: Bountiful Home Decor on a Shoestring Project #2

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 6

From time to time, Michael’s puts out bins of merchandise that have been ridiculously marked down.  I pulled this chunky little 4″ x 4″ linen canvas from one of these bins.  It cost me all of 70 cents!  Creating this project is a real time bargain, as it will take you under 30 minutes to complete.

  • Mat a 3.75″ square of Bountiful Seven paper on kraft, light blue and brown cardstock.
  • Run Scor-Tape along the back and attach to the center of the canvas.
  • Fussy cut the sentiment medallion from Bountiful Eight.
  • Ink the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Back with waste chipboard or foam tabs.  Glue to the leaf panel.
  • Sponge a chipboard flourish with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Sponge again with Versamark Embossing Ink.  Heat emboss with Wow Ultra High Copper Embossing Powder. Glue to the left of the sentiment medallion.
  • Glue a couple of burlap leaves on top of the flourish.
  • Paint some metal charms (these have been in my stash forever!) and glue over the leaves.
  • Top with a burlap string bow and button.
  • Add acorn stickers (also from the bargain bin!) to the corners.  If you don’t have acorn stickers, you can easily use buttons, metal corners or nothing at all.

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 7These rustic nail heads were already on the canvas.  But you could add thumbtacks for very little money.

Gather Shadow Box Frame: Bountiful Home Decor on a Shoestring Project #3

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 8While I was out walking last Saturday, I discovered that one of our neighbors was having a yard sale.  Yippee!  I snagged this 9″ x 11″ x 1.75″ shadow box frame for a dollar!  Happy day!  Now, it was a bit of an ugly duckling…dusty, dirty and chippy…but I was able to give it the swan treatment with a little paint, paper and fun elements from my stash.

  • Begin by washing and drying the shadowbox.  Of course, if yours is new, you can skip this step.
  • Next, paint all the wood surfaces with Folk Art Coffee Bean Paint.  Dry thoroughly.
  • Then, dry brush on some DecoArt Media Burnt Sienna Fluid Acrylic Paint.  I typically put a small puddle of paint on my craft sheet, pick up a small amount, brush it off on the craft sheet, then brush lightly over the paint.  I was going for a faux wood grain finish, not complete coverage.
  • Now, repeat this step using American Crafts Black Chalk Paint.  Again, use a light touch.  It takes a little practice, but if you make a mistake, just paint over it!  No stress!
  • Cut strips of Bountiful Five paper slightly smaller than the shadowbox frame face.  Ink the edges with Black Soot.  Miter the Corners.  Glue in place.
  • Finish by brushing all the wood with Tim Holtz Vintage Collage Medium.  This not only gives the paint a lovely aged appearance, it also protects it from moisture and dust.
The Inside Scoop

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 9

  • Brush a pile of acorns with Prima Copper Crackle Texture paste.  Again, just dry brush this on.  Set them aside to dry. These will fill the base of the shadow box.
  • Cover the mat with the acorn print from the Bountiful 12×12 Collection Kit.  Cut the center out with a craft knife.  Sand the edges lightly and ink with Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink.
  • Cover the open area with the paisley print from the reverse side of the acorn print.  To make it fit over the opening, mat it on cardstock.  Glue in place.
  • Add ribbon and copper brads.  These are both old…they’ve been in my stash forever.  But you can substitute from your own stash.
  • Die cut little banners from scraps and string across the top.

Authentique Home Decor Trio on a Shoestring by Kathy Clement Photo 10

  • Mat the “Grateful” sentiment on the same cardstock colors.  Back with waste cardboard or foam tabs and press in place.
  • Die cut Tim’s Tattered Leaves from Bountiful Scraps.  Distress. Glue in the corner.
  • Punch the “Gather” medallion from the 6″ x 6″ bundle.  Mat on brown cardstock that you’ve punched with a scallop punch.  Glue over the leaves.
  • Fill the base with the acorns.  I glued the bottom layer in place to help keep the acorns from shifting.  Just be sure to glue where it won’t show.

Authentique Bountiful Home Decor Trio: Closing thoughts

On a side note…do you know how hard it is to photograph through a glass frame?  If any of you have tips for doing this, it will be greatly appreciated!

Bountiful is a beautiful collection for fall.  You can create a lovely grouping with these three items.  I’m sure if you look around your home, you can find items that will help you create your own Bountiful Home Decor on a shoestring.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

 

Butterfly Kisses Valentine’s Day Banner Tutorial

Graphic 45 Nature Sketchbook: Butterfly Kisses Valentine’s Day Banner

Hello, Friends!  How do you spell love?  Today, I’m spelling it with a super cute Butterfly Kisses Valentine’s Day banner tutorial.

Isn’t it fun?  The best part about this banner is the fact that it uses very few materials and can be made in about an hour.

Supply List for Butterfly Kisses Valentine’s Day Banner

Snapguide Tutorial for Butterfly Kisses Valentine’s Day Banner

Check out How to Graphic 45 Butterfly Kisses Valentine Banner by Kathy Clement on Snapguide.

Why I love Butterflies on Valentine’s Day

I know butterflies are not a traditional image for Valentine’s Day.  Well, as you might suspect by  now, there’s a story behind this project.  Since it is nearly Valentine’s Day…and the story is super romantic, I’ll share it with you here.

My mom and dad were both working as bookkeepers at a trucking company in southern Vermont in 1939.   Mom worked the day shift.  Dad worked nights.  Mom must have caught his eye right away, because of all the available chairs in that office, Dad opted to use hers each night.  This meant that every day at shift change, he had to return her chair to her desk.  And of course, this gave him the opportunity to say good morning.

Dad was shy.  I mean super shy.  So he rarely said anything beyond good morning each day.  But, he started leaving little gifts for mom on her desk: a pack of her favorite chewing gum, a piece of candy…small tokens of friendship.  After almost a YEAR of this delicate courtship dance, Valentine’s Day rolled around.  Mom came into work that morning to find an envelope with her name on it.  Inside the envelope was a beautiful Valentine’s Day card with…you guessed it…butterflies!

Mom and Dad were finally married on Valentine’s Day 1941.  Each year when their anniversary rolled around, Dad gave her a box of chocolates, a packet of chewing gum and a card…and there was always a butterfly on it somewhere!

So now you know why I love butterflies for Valentine’s Day.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

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Last Minute Gift Ideas Blog Hop

The winner of this hop is Barbara Macrowen .  Please contact Einat Kessler to claim your $100 Visa Gift Card prize.  Congrats!

 Last Minute Gift Ideas Blog Hop

last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hopHello Friends! Are you ready for the holidays?  Do you need some last minute gift ideas?  Well, I’m here to invite you to join the Last Minute Gift Ideas Blog Hop.  My Graphic 45 teammate Einat Kessler has rounded up  a great group of talented designers.  We were each asked to create a quick and easy project and tutorial to share with you.  There are so many great ideas coming your way!

Along with all this crafty inspiration, you could also win a great prize!  Visit all the blogs participating in the hop, At the end of this post I’ll tell you how  you can be entered into a drawing for a $100 Visa Gift Card. No matter where you live, you are eligible to win the prize! Woo-hoo!  If you’re not a follower of my blog, I’d love for you to sign up, but it’s not required to win. Let’s get hopping!

Quick and Classy Pop Up Gift Card Holders Video Tutorial with Graphic 45 A Christmas Carol

last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hop-a-christmas-carol-pop-up-gift-card-holder-a-christmas-carol-by-kathy-clement-product-by-graphic-45-photo-1I don’t know about you, but no matter how much planning I do, I always end up with the need for a last minute gift.  And a last minute gift generally means a gift card.  These little pop up gift card holders can be made in about 15-20 minutes using basic supplies that you already have on hand.  In fact, I used scraps from Graphic 45’s A Christmas Carol paper collection.  I made two versions, one more masculine and one more feminine, but both are made the exact same way.

Here’s a peek at the finished Pop-Up Gift Card Holders.

last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hop-a-christmas-carol-pop-up-gift-card-holder-a-christmas-carol-by-kathy-clement-product-by-graphic-45-photo-2last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hop-a-christmas-carol-pop-up-gift-card-holder-a-christmas-carol-by-kathy-clement-product-by-graphic-45-photo-3See how fun these are?  The gift card fits in a small envelope that pops up when the holder is opened.  There’s also room to tuck in a small note card where you can add your own holiday greetings. A ribbon closure holds everything shut. Quick and classy and easy peasy to make!

last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hop-a-christmas-carol-pop-up-gift-card-holder-a-christmas-carol-by-kathy-clement-product-by-graphic-45-photo-4last-minute-gift-ideas-blog-hop-a-christmas-carol-pop-up-gift-card-holder-a-christmas-carol-by-kathy-clement-product-by-graphic-45-photo-5

YouTube Video Tutorial for Quick and Classy Pop Up Gift Card Holder

I’ve prepared a YouTube Video tutorial so you can learn how to make these yourself.  As a little Christmas gift, I did not edit out all my little “bloopers” so you’ll get to enjoy some gaffes and goofs in this video.  It’s good for you to know that there are no mistakes in crafting…just learning opportunities.  (That’s my line, and I’m sticking to it!)

Now, on with the show!

Hop Along in the Last Minute Gift Ideas Blog Hop and WIN

Here’s a list of the blogs in this hop:

OlaPatti ♥ Kathy (you are HERE) ♥ AlexandraSandyGloria PamEinatKeren

Terry Katelyn Einat KesslerSusanStephEileen Hull RitaMahe

Comment to win!

You have plenty of chances to enter the drawing for the $100 Visa gift card .  Hop now until midnight Saturday, December 24th.  You can enter on just ONE blog, but your chances will be better if you enter on each participating blog. Everyone is eligible win whether you are a US or International follower.

The winner of the $100 Visa gift card will be announced on einatkessler.com on Sunday, Dec 25th. 

In order to win, leave a comment answering this question: What is your favorite, “can’t live without it” craft supply or tool.

Here’s the prize drawing widget:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for hopping by! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each of you!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Mini Notebook Snapguide Tutorial

Be Someone’s Sunshine Mini Notebook Snapguide Tutorial

Hello, Ribbon Lovers!  Hope you are having a fabby day today!  A few weeks ago I shared a little bee themed notebook/card gift ensemble and so many of you asked me to create a tutorial that I worked up another sample and a Mini Notebook Snapguide tutorial to share with you here today.  This time, I’ve used the cheery pink and purple ribbons in the Really Reasonable Ribbon July Ribbon Club assortment.  This notebook is as perky as a pot of blooming pink and purple petunias!

Be Someone's Sunshine Notebook by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Simple Stories Sunshine and Happiness and Petaloo Photo 1I’ve used Simple Stories Sunshine & Happiness papers along with Geranium Pink Taffeta and Geranium Pink Printed Lattice Satin from the Ribbon Club Collection.  Add  a pretty pink Petaloo posy, and we’re in business!

Be Someone's Sunshine Notebook by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Product by Simple Stories Sunshine and Happiness and Petaloo Photo 2And here’s the inside of the 4″ x 6″ memo pad.

Now, without further ado, Here’s the Mini Notebook Snapguide tutorial you all requested.  Enjoy!

Check out How to Make a Decorative Notebook With Chipboard by Kathy Clement on Snapguide.

That’s all for me today, folks!  Why not be somebody’s sunshine today, and make them a cutie pie mini notebook?  You’ll be glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Masculine Pocket Card with Graphic 45 Good Old Sport

RRRChallengeBadge
Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge: Masculine Pocket Card with Graphic 45 Good Old Sport

Hello, Friends!  How can it already be June?  But here we are, the first Friday in June and that means it’s time for a fabby new challenge at Really Reasonable Ribbon.  Bonnie has dared us to create a masculine card with ribbon or trim.  So I dug into my Graphic 45 Good Old Sport and Typography papers to put together this masculine pocket card.

Graphic45 Good Old Sport Masculine Pocket Card by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine Challenge 01These clean simple lines and bold colors are perfect for this challenge.  I created a belly band on my striped background paper by layering antique gold netting with some of the border stickers from the collection.

Graphic45 Good Old Sport Masculine Pocket Card by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine Challenge 02Next, I fussy cut images from the 12 x 12 Good Old Sport papers and used foam dimensionals to place them on top of  a journal card from the Typography collection.

Graphic45 Good Old Sport Masculine Pocket Card by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine Challenge 03 This chipboard piece fit right in between my golfer and rugby player, which is a great way to lead the eye from one image to the next.  I topped the tag  with a bit of Red Canvas Color Band Ribbon and some Natural Burlap String for a pop of color and added texture. I also used the burlap string to attach my sentiment charm to that sparkly red clothespin.

Graphic45 Good Old Sport Masculine Pocket Card by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine Challenge 04The party really gets started once you open this masculine pocket card because it has not ONE but TWO great pockets on the inside!  (Go big or go home, right?)  The pocket on the left contains a tag that I made with the 8×8 papers, a sticker and some little banner pieces.  The pocket on the right contains postcards from the 12×12 collection. I love the little baseball/ribbon embellie that I hung from a red paper clip. ( I scrap lifted this idea from my BOLB Ginny Nemchak.  She’s a clever girl, that one!)

Graphic45 Good Old Sport Masculine Pocket Card by Kathy Clement for Really Reasonable Ribbon Masculine Challenge 05I left this masculine pocket card sort of sentiment neutral.  It could be used for Father’s Day, graduation, birthdays, a congrats card or even a card to cheer on a fella who is going through a rough patch.  There’s plenty of room to write a personal sentiment or mount photos on the postcards.  The tag can be used as a bookmark or decoration in a work cubicle or desk space.  And, there’s plenty of room to tuck a gift card or small treat into either pocket of this masculine pocket card.

Now it’s your turn!  Start out by visiting the Really Reasonable Ribbon BLOG so you can get all inspired by the other designer projects there.  Then work up your own masculine project using ribbon or trim and link it up.  You’ll find all the details on the RRR Blog.  I’ll be popping by to take a peek at your fabby projects soon.  I can’t wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy