Grapevine Star Canvas - July Off The Page with the Flying Unicorns

Flying Unicorns Off the Page Project for  July

Included in every "Main Kit" for the FlyingUnicorns is a cool extra item called the Off the Page Project.  It's a way to get you thinking about papercrafting as a dimensional hobby and a form of home decor as well as scrapping.   This month, Alda has included a grapevine star.  It's about 8"x8". 

I chose to make mine more Patriotic and rustic.  I love Patriotic decorations.  They hold a special place in my heart.   I also decided to mount mine on a burlap backed canvas.

I started with a 9x11 blank canvas and covered it with burlap.  Them I inked the edges and added light inking to the burlap.  I used Tim Holtz Distress ink in Vintage Photo and Aged Mahogany and dabs of Barn Door. 

Next I glued some trim on the canvas and added some microspheres from 13Arts.  I wanted to bring out a little gold accent,  

If you missed the kit this month and want to protect yourself in the future from such despair, Flying Unicorns offers a pre-order option available the 20th of every month.  Sneak previews are available at that time and you decide if you want to place an order.  This option is only available for 48 hours.  At which point, the offer vanishes and you risk having to fight the sell out shoppers.

Happy Crafting and thanks for stopping.

Flying Unicorn July Kit -Your Passion Your Art - OTP GrapevineWreath Star

Clearsnap Mixed Media Inx - Peaches

13Arts Microspheres - Gold

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Barn Door, Vintage Photo, Aged Mahogany

Prima Mini Alpha Stickers
Trimcraft Sweet Paris Collection- fan flowers

July Kit of the Month

Flying Unicorn continues to celebrate warm wonderful days of summer.  July's "Your Passion Your Art" feels like a dreamy summer from years gone by.  Romance and warmth abound.   Without further adieu we offer you our June - Your Passion. Your Art kit of the Month

July is the month of freedom.  The month where folks gather to honor the land of the free.  Included in each Main Kit, is always a fun and unique "off the Page " item.  We have the perfect "Off the Page" piece to help celebrate a symbol of beautiful freedom. 

From the beginner to the avid mixed media artist our Mixed Art add on kit will surely please you. Our Mixed Art kit will always come with a canvas and mixed media art supplies to advance your skills as an artist.

Flowers, vines,and embellishments oh my! Our Mixed Passion is a collection of everything pretty to add to the Main kit or the add on kits. The colors and embellishments will enhance your Kit of the Month creations or it can stand alone and you can create something magical on its own! So turn up the music, make some tea and lock your self away while you create some art!

Our Small Art Big Passion is all about the love of making cards, tags atc's and anything in between. From Stamps, flowers, paper, embellishments and pretty things in between! These yummy goodies will enhance any of the kits or stand alone .

We are thrilled to present great free tutorials, techniques, videos and Build a Page using our Kit of the Month to help you grow in the passion of your art. So stay tuned there is so much more to come in the next week!

Kits and Add On Kits are limited

so do not delay in getting yours!

Blitsy - Stenciled Star Cards - One Card - Three Looks

Stenciling with Heavy Gesso 

With July 4th just days away, it's time to kick the celebration into gear.  

I am on the Blitsy blog today demonstrating how easy it is to use heavy gesso with stencils. With the increased popularity of mixed media being combined with papercraft, it's time to show everyone how much fun heavy gesso can be. 

I know many of you are seasoned stenciling pros and have been using these molding paste mediums for some time now.  BUT I'll tell you why I prefer heavy gesso instead of molding paste.  Molding paste and I have sort of parted ways.  I have welcomed it's cousin, heavy gesso into my home.  

This card also easily transitions from flat to fat.  Many folks (including myself) love to be able to pop a card in the mail and have it fit comfortably in the envelope.   There are other times when I can hand deliver my card and do not mind it being thicker and more dimensional - embellished. 

There's a super short video on the Blisty blog that will take you through all the steps.  

So hop on over to the Blitsy blog for more detailed photos and the quick video.  

Turn Everyday items into Fun Fabulous Firecrackers

Fun Fabulous Festive Firecrackers - with Blitsy

See the instructions at Blitsy right here

How about taking some of those everyday household items  that find their way into the recycle bin and actually recycle them?   Create a fun centerpiece for your next party, picnic, or just  to get into the summer of summer.  This is a fun child friendly project as well. 

I have a step by step pictorial tutorial that you can see right here at Blisty as well as a whole bunch of photos.   

Decorate them anyway you want - I chose red, white and blue because fireworks goes with the 4th of July like chickens go with eggs, peanut butter goes with jelly, sand goes with the beach.  You git it.  They are a perfect fit.  

I created these from household items and canisters.  Oatmeal  and chip cans, cardboard towel and toilet paper tubes.  If you don't use items with canisters, ask someone to save them for you.  Or better yet, whip up a batch of oatmeal cookies for someone special.  How sweet is that?  They will never know you needed the  cannister - but they will know you are a true thoughtful gem. Everyone turns out to be a winner. 

Here are the easy instructions

1.

Assemble your recycled packaging to transform. The items used in the tutorial are an oatmeal canister, a chip canister, a paper towel roll and two toilet paper rolls.

 

2.  It's best to try and strip the labels from the packaging if possible. You will have better results when painting the canisters without labels , however it is not always easy to tear off the packaging. No worries. That's why step two is important. Paint the packaging with white gesso. The gesso is a primer and will help make the paint adhere better to your project.

3. Paint the firecrackers as desired. I used traditional patriotic colors but any color will work.

4.  For two toned firecrackers or to add stripes to your firecracker, use re-positionable tape (painters tape, Washi Tape and floral tape all are wonderful options) and tape off the sections where you want to add striping.

5.  Start adding embellishments and decorations. Mix up the project a bit by adding a variety of Washi Tape. This tall firecracker also has strips of glitter paper.

6.  Die cut various star sizes and glue them here and there. Spellbinders makes a wonderful nesting type star die with sizing options.

Here are some other embellishment ideas:

sequin stars, hemp twine, bakers twine, glitter paper, Stickles, Liquid Pearls, gold twine, punches.

7.  Time to cover the tops of the firecrackers. Cut a circle from cardboard. Glue a die cut star to it.

8.  Mark off the center of the star, and punch a hole in the star. The hole will need to be big enough for your "fuse". I used the We R Memory Keepers - Big Bite Crop-A-Dile to help punch the hole.

Ideas for fuses? Hemp cording, decorative cupcake toppers, toothpick decorations, gold and silver cording - fraying the cording looks cool too.

Special Tip

To avoid fraying the cording fuse when adding it to the tops or your projects, dab some glue to the ends of the cording and twist with your fingertips. This will keep the cording perfect.

9.  Finishing canisters with plastic lids - Option 1: The oatmeal canister - The oatmeal top is plastic and acrylic paint does not adhere well to plastic. You may want to think about turning the canister upside down and decorating with the bottom facing up. You can easily punch a hole in the cardboard bottom to thread the firecracker "fuse".

You can see in the photo below that the can has been turned upside down. It actually looks very cool this way.

10.  Finishing canisters with plastic lids - Option 2: The chip can - The chip can top is plastic and acrylic paint does not adhere well to plastic. However you cannot flip this over and use the bottom because the bottom is metal - difficult to punch a hole for the fuse. So you may want to cover the plastic with some paper. You'll need a strong glue to secure the paper. You can also add trim around the edges of the lid to decorate and cover the plastic.

Next , punch a hole in the center of the lid and put fuse in the lid.

More Close Ups

Products:

Gold Glitter Washi Tape

Ranger Non-Stick craft Mat
Cardstock - red, white, blue
We R Memory Keepers - Big Bite Crop -o -dile
Spellbinders  Stars S4-092 
Washi Tape - Blue Stars
Glitter Paper
Gesso
Gold cording
Martha Stewart Decorative Cupcake toppers - July 4th
Acrylic Paint -  Blue
Acrylic Paint - Red
Beacons 3 in 1 Glue