Personalize a Step Stool and more!

Hi friends!  I am learning how to use adhesive vinyl sheets. Personalizing and decorating  multiple surfaces is fun!  

I am using the polished metal vinyl by Styletech Craft.  They have many exciting vinyls and a color for every kind of project!

Today I decided to personalize my studio step stool. This item has had a way of growing legs and walking away.  There won't be any doubts now about who it belongs to and where it should reside!  I could probably have stopped after applying the word "studio", but I wanted to do more!

Read on and I will tell you how I did it!

Materials I used:

Tape Technologies (Styletech Crafts) Vinyl:  Ruby #435HM; Silver #493HM

Step Stool:  Collapsible black step stool with white polka dots on top

Transfer Tape

Pick Tool: For weeding vinyl

Scissors

Die-cut Machine

Dies or download:  Fonts for alphabet letters

Rubbing alcohol

Cotton balls

Instructions:

1.  Gather the supplies.  Check the width and height of the area you are applying vinyl to.  Make sure your cut vinyl will fit in the chosen area.  Wipe the surface clean with rubbing alcohol using the cotton ball.  It doesn't hurt to pre-cut your letters on regular paper to make sure you are getting the correct size before cutting your vinyl.

2.  Cut a piece of transfer tape to fit over the top (right side) of the vinyl.  Smooth the transfer tape over the vinyl.  Use the Pick Tool to weed the release paper and vinyl away from the main design. There are many videos online if you have not done this step before.  After you weed the unwanted vinyl, you will place the sticky side down on the prepared surface and smooth it in place.  Remove any air bubbles and carefully remove the transfer paper. Your beautiful design should be revealed.

 I hope you got some inspiration here today.  This is what I would consider a beginners project.  This craft can be addictive so be warned!

BONUS!

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, here is another idea!  A bottle decorated with vinyl!

Make sure to take time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and;

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I have rec'd complimentary product in exchange

for sharing my creativity on this blog.

Carousel Storage For Every Season!

Deflecto has so many storage options for containing and storing a huge variety of supplies!  I have used my carousels for many different things.  This one I decorated for the space I am placing it in.  I love that I have so many options with all of the beautiful memory papers and embellishments that are available.  Read on and I will show you how I did it!

You will need:

Deflecto:  9-Bin Rotating Carousel Organizer, #3901CR

cardstock:  12" coordinating colors and prints, 6 

wood:  1-1/4" ball knobs; 6; dowels or chopsticks to use as a handle for painting

acrylic paint:  six colors to match patterned papers

paintbrush

paper trimmer

pencil

scissors

adhesives

water bucket

paper towel

Directions:

1.  Cut a 5-1/2" x 12" rectangle using the paper trimmer.  Insert in one 6" tall bin.  Adjust so that the short edges come together in the V of the bin.  Repeat for the other 6" tall bins.

2.  Cut one 2-3/4" x 12" rectangle. Insert in one 3" tall bin as for the 6" tall bin.  Cut a contrasting paper and repeat for another bin.  Repeat for each bin, inserting your chosen patterned paper.

3.  Choose the paints to pair with the patterned papers.  Insert a wooden dowel in one ball knob. I use wooden disposable chop sticks.  Use as a handle and paint the wooden knob.  Place upright to dry.  Repeat for each knob.

4.  Decorate the lid:  Lay one lid top down on the wrong side of cardstock.  Use the pencil to outline the shape.  Cut out inside the pencil lines and make it fit inside the lid edges. (About 1/4") Adhere to the lid.  Repeat for each of the lids as shown in the photo given below.

5.  Adhere the painted ball knobs to the tops of the bins as shown below.  I used a stronger glue for this step.  Tacky glue will work too.

Isn't this fun?  There are so many design options for decorating these bins.  I am using these for my small wood turnings and shapes.  Let your imagination be your guide!

Take the time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Etch a Man Cave Masterpiece!

Welcome to the blog today!  I have a fun idea to share!  I don't know about you, but I love shopping at thrift stores to find treasures that I can up-cycle.  For the project shown below; I found an antique mirror with a heavy wooden frame.  I thought it would be perfect for a rustic piece of home decor and came up with this etched project.  

There are a few special supplies that you will need and they are listed below:

You will need: 

mirror with frame or something similar from thrift store  

etchall® Click on link here: etchall bee-ginner kit  

paper towels

access to water for rinsing

Instructions:

1.  If you are brand new to etching; I recommend you watch the how-to video by Barbee, the owner of etchall(R) here:  Instructional video by Barbee

2.  Clean the mirror and wipe clean.  Cut the design.  You will use the negative part of the stencil.

3. Apply the transfer paper to the vinyl.  Use the pick to weed the vinyl; taking out the part of the design that you won't need.  You will be weeding the parts that you want to etch; i.e. the mustache, letters and numbers.

4.  Line up the vinyl design on the glass; remove any air bubbles using the squeegee.  Remove the transfer paper once vinyl is smoothed onto the glass.

5.  Remove the lid from the etchall creme and pour over the stencil.  Gently smooth the creme over the entire design, it can be fairly thick.  Set the timer for 15 minutes.  When time is up; scoop the creme up and put it back into the jar.  It won't matter if the creme is turning shades of brown.  It is still good for another use!

6.  Carry the mirror to the sink and rinse off the excess creme.  Remove the vinyl and complete the cleaning.  Dry thoroughly.

7.  You now have a great piece of home decor!  I love the rustic quality of this piece and think it will go very nicely in a mountain cabin.  It is also a fun piece for the man cave!  Let your imagination guide you as you peruse the thrift stores. etchall(R) will turn any glass or mirrored surface into a masterpiece!  You can also etch on slate, china, and more!  Etching glass before painting also gives the paint something to grab onto!  

Hope you got some ideas here today and enjoy your own adventure with etchall(R).  There is a saying that I learned many years ago that I adhere to:  "Whatever the mind can conceive and perceive; it can achieve!!"  I love that!

Make sure to take the time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and;

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I receive a small stipend for sharing 

my creativity on this blog.

Vinyl Hippie Flower Coasters and Flower Pot

Decorate a terracotta pot with vinyl to make a container for summer celebrations!  Ceramic tiles make great coasters too!

You will need:

Fluorescent Craft Vinyl:  Pink F01, Yellow F03, Green F06, Blue F07

Click here to purchase:  On Amazon

Transfer Tape:  Clear

Terracotta Pot:  10" wide (rim) x 9" tall

4" Tiles:  4 white ceramic

Paints:  White gloss enamel (multi surface)

Paintbrush or sponge brush

Die-cut machine

Paper Punch: 1/4"

Scissors

Felt pads:  1"; 4 for each coaster

Rubbing Alcohol & cotton balls

Water bucket

Paper towels

Paper plate

Instructions:

1.  Clean the outside of the terracotta pot and ceramic coasters with rubbing alcohol using a cotton ball.  Allow to dry.

2.  Paint the pot with gloss enamel paint following the manufacturer's directions.

3.  Cut various sizes of hippie flowers using the die-cut machine.  The largest flower is 4" wide; the smallest is 1-1/2".  The centers of the flowers are circles which are also cut with the die-cut machine. The smallest circles are 1/4" wide.

4.  Apply the transfer paper to the top of the die-cut flowers following manufacturer's instructions. The transfer tape will allow you to pick the part of the design you don't need that you will discard.

Keep the transfer tape on the vinyl until it is applied to the surface you are decorating.  Firmly press down on the vinyl to get good adhesion; remove the transfer tape.  

5. Add the circles to the centers of the flowers.

6.  Cut words to adhere to the rim of the pot.  The size will be determined by the font you are using.  

The words that I used are Smiles, Celebrate, Blessed, Adventure.

7.  Coasters:  Place and adhere the flowers to the coasters as shown.  Overlap and trim the flower petals in several places.  Adhere the circles to the center of the flowers.

8.  Adhere the felt pads to the bottom of the coasters to prevent scratches.

I hope you got some inspiration here today.  Vinyl works great on many surfaces and this same idea could be applied for any holiday or occasion.

Take time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and,

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I receive complimentary product in

exchange for my creativity on this blog.

Deflecto for Greeting Card Storage

I love my Deflecto storage! I can decorate it to fit with my studio decor; or wherever I decide to put it.  In this case; I am using the 4 bin tilt bin by Deflecto for my greeting card storage.  I  make my cards ahead and because I make a LOT of them, I end up having to put them away where I can't see them.  Problem solved with this tilt bin storage that is made to fit with the other sizes of tilt bin containers. The 4-1/2" x 5-1/4" cards fit nicely in the tilt-out bins.

By adding decorative burlap; some cording trim and a few other things, I upgraded my storage into a piece of decor that I will enjoy looking at.  Check out the photos below to see how to cut the burlap.

You will need:

Deflecto:  4 bin Craft Tilt Bin #20403CR

Burlap with a fleur de lei print

Trim:  1/8" beige cording (several yards)

Embroidered letters:  1" black to spell CARD

Cardstock:  Black

Pen:  White Chalk

Scissors

Tacky glue

Gluegun

Directions:

Follow the steps below to measure and cut the burlap fabric to fit the storage.

Apply using tacky glue.

Adhere the cording to the edges of the burlap using the glue gun.

Cut a piece of black cardstock to fit the slot on one bin.  Write the type of card on the paper.  Insert into the slot.  Repeat for the other bins.

Make medallions from the cording.  Apply glue to a paper circle.  Starting in the center; press the cording into the glue, making a spiral.  Adhere to the front of one bin.  Repeat for the remaining bins.

Glue the letters to the cording medallions as shown.  Now fill up your bins with all of those beautiful greeting cards you have made!

Would you like to check out this blog post? Here is the link!

Upcycled Home Decor with etchall(R)

We all love a good thrift store find, right?  I recently went in search of some items that I could put together for a fun home dec project.  I love the look of shabby chic and that allows me a lot of wiggle room when working with second hand items just waiting to get an update.  Read on to see what I found and how I made the etched mirror in the photo shown below.

You will need:  

Link:  http://etchall.com/store/products/etchall-etching-creme/

etchall(R):  etching creme, etchmask(tm) Stencil ComboPak, Squeegee, Detail Pick Tool

wooden charger plate

8" round mirror

beige cording trim

chalk texture paint

paintbrushes

tacky glue

glue gun

die cut machine

water bucket

paper plates

paper towels

Link:  http://etchall.com/store/products/category/etchmask/

Instructions:

1.  Paint the plate.  Set aside to dry.

2.  Follow the manufacturer's instructions and use die-cut machine to cut out chosen pattern.  Make sure to test on regular paper to get the proper fit before cutting from the etchmask(R).

3.  Clean the mirror and allow to dry thoroughly.  Remove the release paper from the etchmask and apply to the mirror.  Use the squeegee to remove air bubbles and get a firm adhesion to the mirror.

4.  Pour the etchall(R) creme onto the mirror.  The etchall creme shown in my photo has been used a few       times.  The creme will turn a dark brown color over time; but this does not affect the product's               effectiveness.  Make sure to put the creme back in the bottle after this use for another one later!  No     waste allowed!

5.  Spread the etchall creme over the surface of the mirror.  Set the timer for 15 minutes and let it "cook".  

6.  When the time is up; remove the etchall creme and put it back in the jar.  Rinse the mirror under running water, removing the etchmask(R).  The pattern will be revealed and the mirror is ready for the next step.

7.  Apply tacky glue to the indented area of the platter.  Center the mirror and press into the glue.  Press the cording into the glue and wrap around the mirror, covering the remaining space in the indented space.         Refer to photograph to finish.

8.  Spiral some cording into a 1-1/2" circle, adhering to a piece of cardstock.  Cut out; center and adhere to the bottom of the mirror.

I hope you got some inspiration here today. 

 Make sure to take the time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and,

Life Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I receive complimentary product in exchange

for my creativity on this blog.

Home Decor with Deflecto - Frame and Drawer Set

CREATE.  DISPLAY.  ENJOY....  

Deflecto products are perfect for event signage, storage, and home decor!  I consider each product a surface for creating something personal and unique!  There are so many possibilities!  I used a frame and a two drawer cube to make a fun set perfect for mom or for yourself!  I like to keep my nail polishes, hand creams, etc. next to my recliner where I relax and watch TV.  The two drawer cube is perfect for keeping small items nearby and at hand when I need them!  I also enjoy seeing the happy faces of my lovely daughter and son-in-law!

You will need:

Deflecto:  2-Drawer Cube #35010CR; Frame 8" x 10" #597901CR

Memory Papers:  12 x 12" coordinating papers from 48 sheet pad

Washi Tape:  1" wide white with gold polka dots

Adhesives

Glue Dots 

Paper Trimmer

Paper Punch:  1-1/2" round scallop

Scissors

Instructions:

1.  2-Drawer Cube:  Cut four 6" x 6" pieces from one sheet of memory paper.  Trim papers so that they fit the sides and top of the cube.  Use the Washi tape to connect the 6" squares to the cube storage.  Leave the bottom plain.

2.  Drawers:  Cut two 2-1/2" x 5-1/2" rectangles from contrasting papers to decorate the front of each drawer.  Place one rectangle on inside edge of the front of one drawer with the design facing out.  Apply a small piece of adhesive to (the right side) of each side and the bottom of the paper; then adhere the paper to the inside of the drawer.  Repeat for the second drawer.

3.  Cut two 5-1/4" x 5-3/4" pieces from a 3rd contrasting paper.  Place one piece in the bottom of one drawer; right side facing up.  Repeat for the second drawer.

4.  Embellish:  1" Paper Roses:   Choose a contrasting paper to make two spiral roses.  Cut a 4" circle from chosen paper.  Cut into a spiral.  Roll into a flower and adhere the top of the flower to the base.  It is an option to purchase paper flowers from the craft store.  I punched out a 1-1/2" scalloped circle from green cardstock and glued one to the bottom of one rose.  Repeat for the second rose.  Adhere one rose to each drawer as shown.  I used glue dots for this step in case I want to change the flowers.

5.  8" x 10" Frame:  Choose 3 contrasting papers from the paper pad.  Cut one 8" x 10", one 6-1/2" x 8-1/2", one 6" x 8".  Center and layer the papers from large to small.  Center a 5" x 7" photo and adhere to the top layer.  Place the papers between the panels of the frame.

6.  Finish:  Apply Washi tape to the top and bottom corners of the frame as shown.  Enjoy!

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  I hope you got some inspiration here today!

Take time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and,

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I receive complementary product in

exchange for my creativity on this blog.

Rinea Foil Paper - Spring Garland

Spring has sprung!  The green is making a comeback and this is my favorite time of year!  Rinea Foil Paper has many uses.  I chose to use the brilliant colored foil paper on some wood shapes to embellish my Spring garland.  I will be using this for Easter decorating and beyond!

You will need:

Rinea Foil Paper:  Teal, Gold, Pink, Silver, Purple
Wood:  Spring shapes (7)
Cardstock:  purple, green, light green, teal
Ink Pads:  green, pink, purple, teal
Applicator:  wedge sponges or other
Ribbon:  1/4" black with white polka dots (6 yards)
Adhesives:  Dimensional Magic medium; Glue Dots
Hangers:  sign and banner hangers (deflecto)
Electronic die cut machine
Dies:  pennant, flower
Scissors


Each pennant is about 5" x 7".  I framed each green pennant with a purple pennant making a 1/2" border around the green.  I cut a lighter colored green flower for each pennant.  The layers are adhered together and finished with a foiled wooden shape on top of the flower.
I used the electronic die cut machine to cut out the teal flowers and the word Bloom.

Click on the links given below for some more projects!

http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2017/04/i-love-rinea-foil-paper-for-altering.html

http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2017/04/interchangeable-seasonal-signage-first.html

I receive complimentary product

in exchange for sharing my creativity on

this blog.