One of a Kind

Popping in to share an easy Father's Day card today!

I cut a cardstock card base as well as a "wrap" of Dapper paper.   I stitched the two together then added the colored Found Relative card which is absolutely perfect for this card!  You can see how I tinted the photo below.

Tint Found Relative photo with Distress Markers by coloring with the brush end of the marker then rub away the excess ink with a paper towel or soft cloth.  The ink will look really dark when you color but it wipes away so a beautiful wash.

Some May Arts twill tape was used to add a list of good qualities.  All the words are from the Clippings Sticker sheet.

And the perfect Quote Chip was used along with some old lace that I cut up to get just the right part.  One box of Quote Chips has 58 short quote with three different fonts.  Something for every occasion!

I am off to Texas this week for classes at the Crafty Scrapper.  Looking forward to seeing my sister and all the Texas ladies! 
Now carry on,
paula

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Eclectic Elements Dapper Lampshade

The new Eclectic Elements Dapper Collection was released at Quilt Market this last weekend.  The booth at market looked absolutely spectacular with many beautiful projects and a stunning quilt all made from the new fabric.  

Today I thought I would share a quick tutorial on how I made the patchwork lampshade.

I started with the Oak Wood Tripod Floor Lamp from Target.  The lamp came with a generic white barrel shade.  Perfect for this project because the sides are straight up and down which makes the pieced shade so much easier to make!

I used 1/4" yard of each of the eight Dapper fabrics, along with a couple prints from the Correspondence fabric line: the red fabric seen here (Symmetrical) and another seen in the second picture (Royal Mail).
I measured the lampshade from the top to the bottom and added two inches for fold over to get the right height (circumference does not matter at this point).  Using a Rotary Cutter, self healing mat board and quilting ruler (clear plastic), I cut up random pieces of fabric.  I sewed the pieces together to create a patchwork of prints.  You can see here that I sewed some seams with wrong sides together so the raw edges would be on the right side of the fabric.

I think its best to work in sections (because the fabric can get really long by the end) then sew the sections together till you have enough to go all the way around the lampshade.  Once I tested the fabric to make sure it fit the shade snugly, I went back and added details like the red stitching with Tim Holtz Craft Thread and few bits of vintage lace.

The next step is to pull the fabric over the shade like you are putting on a skirt.

I always use binder clips to keep the shade in place at the top and bottom.  This way I can make sure my seams are straight as I adjust the fabric around the shade, left to right and top to bottom. 

Once you get one section straight, clip it and move on to the next section.

Now to secure the fabric to the shade,  I used my Surebonder Mini Detailed Glue Gun because it puts out a smaller bead of glue (and has an on/off switch).  I work in 5- 6" sections to secure the fabric to the shade (the glue dries fast so working in a small section at a time is best).

Run the glue along the metal edge of shade, press the fabric into the glue with out burning oneself and move to the next section, removing clips as you go.  Its just that easy.

When you get to a support arm just clip the fabric so the fabric will lay down around it.

The last step is to use Single Fold Bias Tape to cover the raw edges of fabric.  I used black here but you can use any color from beige to red for this step.  The glue gun works perfectly to secure the Bias Tape in place.  NOTE: One package should be enough to go around the the two edges of the shade. 

And there you go...one lampshade ready for it's debut!

Little details can make a difference.

Hope you like this simple tutorial.  It really is easy to create your own lampshade, whether on a new lamp or an old one. 

Remember, it's always easier to create this type of shade with one that does not slant at all (all barrel shades are not created equal).

If you don't have a local quilt shop that is carrying Tim Holtz Eclectic Elements fabric you can find the Dapper collection at these two online shops (and I am sure many more).

Hawthorne Threads

Fat Quarter Shop

Hawthorne Fabrics has a fat quart bundle too!

now carry on,
paula

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Summer Workshops

If you are looking for a little bit of fun and learning this summer - be sure to check out the workshops I'm teaching across the country.  Please call the store nearest you for class schedule and additional information.  If you have any questions you can always email me at paula@timholtz.com!

May 19-20th

Creative Escape

Los Gatos, California

(408) 402-3581

June 16-17th

The Crafty Scrapper

Waxahachie, Texas

 (972) 923-3151

June 23-24th

Whim So Doodle

St Petersburg, Florida

(727) 827-4911

 Pieces of Me 

What do you see when you look at a piece of art?  Do you ever wonder what choices the artist made in order to hide messages with the work? How they incorporate signs and symbols to cleverly camouflage personal devotions in plain sight? - You know, the kinds of things that make your work privately special to you.  In this workshop we will not only explore the new Tim Holtz Oxide Inks to create a colorful background for a 9 x 12” wood panel but each piece will be filled with personal devotions. It will reflect your feelings and emotions about the people you care about most and the joys they bring you.

Perfectly Happy

If you love vintage like I do, you will love this 12 x 6 x 1 1/4” wood panel.  Distress Paint, Memoranda Paper and new Stampers Anonymous Stencils will transform a simple wood box into a piece of art.  Add in layers of idea-ology products including the new Tim Holtz Foam Stamps (plus a little trick for perfect stamping) and you have the perfect gift for yourself or someone you love.

Vagabond Society

We’ve all saved them; that scrap of vintage ribbon, the random postcard, or found trinkets.  These are the treasures of our sentimental journey through life that qualify us as part of the “Vagabond Society.”  Join me in a paying homage to eclectic gathering in creating a 5 x 7” zig-zag book to showcase and celebrate the art of accumulation.  The ephemera inspired Memoranda paper, idea-ology metal trinkets as well as some vintage finds will transform the simple foundation into a layered book that unfolds to tell your story in a very unique way.  We will be working with Ranger Distress Grit-Paste, crayons, paints and inks.  Combined with Stampers Anonymous stamps and stencils for added details and we’ve got a vintage look you’ll love.  

now carry on,
paula

A Time of Wonder

Hi all!
Hope you have had a productive week!  It is still raining here in California (something we haven't said in a long time around here).  The hills are as green as they have ever been and our "drinking water" Lake Cachuma has risen from an all time low of 8% to 41.2% as of today.   Now I know this because my husband sends me (and a few other people who asked) a "lake totals" text every morning.  I admit it has been fun seeing the lake total go up this week!

(photo taken last week on Highway 166) 

Well on to today's Plexiglass project.  This one really is limitless in what you can do.  I ordered 2 pieces of 8 x 10" plexiglass (ebay) then sandwiched the paper ephemera between the plexi.  I slipped the plexiglass into an Adjustable Easel to make a great home decor piece!

You can see I used Memoranda Paper Stash for the background piece then layered other ephemera from the Collector pack (blue receipt), Paper Dolls (people), the Botanical pack (flowers + corsage).  The corsage was larger piece and I just clipped off two of the flowers to make it fit on her coat lapel.
Tinting was done with Distress Markers, Faded Jeans, Victorian Velvet, Aged Mahogany and tiny bit of Fossilized Amber.  I love this Paper Doll image because she is so fun to tint...that plaid coat and the hat are my favorite!

The Snippets pack (all tiny ephemera) included the 15 cents ephemera piece that I stapled to the top of the blue receipt (yes, I did add Crazing Medium).

Clippings were used to add the number 175 by the feet and the saying, "a time of wonders" at the top.  Because I could not add actual depth to the paper elements (like foam squares), I tried my best to give it 'visual depth' by folding the blue receipt card then sanding and inking the lines to make it look like an old folded piece of paper.  I also ripped and bent the edges and sanded the flat parts.
The Transparent Tile number five was added to represent the boys age. 

Once my design was complete, I added it to the Plexiglass.  I used a self healing mat board (that I work on everyday to protect my desktop) to make sure the the paper was straight on the plexi, then added the top piece to sandwich the artwork. 

Once they are together - hold on tight so it does not move!  Then add the Design Tape of choice around the edge of the two pieces (it might seem hard but it was quite easy).  After the two pieces were secure, I used the Blending Tool and Walnut Stain Distress Ink to age the tape.

Just a little side note on Design Tape...I got a few emails about how I store it.  I am currently using a plastic case I purchased at Michaels called a 'Divided Storage Bin' that has a flip-top lid. The case allows for removal of the plastic dividers which create the absolutely perfect space for each of the Design Tape sets (each set has 7 different tapes).  I also used a label maker to add the names so I could keep track of what I use the most.

 

Well I sure hope you take a chance with today's project.  Its an easy one and better yet, when you get tired of something you made, the tape can be easily removed and the artwork changed out.  The Adjustable Frame is perfect for display and making your artwork seem much more 'elevated' shall we say? (no pun intended, lol).

Now carry on,

paula 

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