Sunday, April 29, 2012

Recycled paint chip origami mini box—of love




With Mother's Day right around the corner, what do you get the mom who has everything?  Everyone knows that material things from a store don’t mean as much as a gift from the heart…or in this case a box with a heart. This project utilizes larger sized paint chip samples and a simple origami box that most kids already know how to create.  The paint chips are a little thicker than the usual origami paper but if you use a bone folder or ruler you can crease the folds easily.

You will need:

2 Larger sized paint chip samples lighter colors work best

Bone folder or wooden ruler

Tacky glue

Small heart shaped motif, you can use a rhinestone heart, wooden, paper punched, or like in my case a puffy heart.

Tiny gift bow

Ruler, pencil, scissors


1.     Measure and cut a paint chip sample 3 ½” x 3 ½”.  Cut the other paint chip sample 3 ¼” x 3 ¼”.


2.     Using the larger paint chip (top) fold in half, turn and fold in half again. Open to non-colored side.





3.     Fold the corner up to center line.  Repeat for remaining three corners. 



4.     Turn and fold up bottom straight edge.  Turn and do the same to the other side.



5.     Open and turn sideways.  Turn up bottom to meet the point. (See photo)  So the same to the opposite side.





6.     Turn piece long ways and turn upper corner in to meet the lower fold line. (See photo)  Repeat on the other side.  Do the same thing to the opposite end corners.



7.     Open.  This is the only tricky part, although it does sort of fold itself.  Tuck the points in and down on one side first, then do the same thing on the opposite side.  All four points will meet inside the box top.  (See photo)





8.     Repeat steps 2-7 for the smaller paint chip sample. (Bottom)


9.     Stick a mini bow on the top.




10. Glue a mini heart inside the bottom box.



Thursday, April 26, 2012

Decorated Hairpins--with paint chip samples




Don’t throw away those paint chip samples from your home painting projects. Recycle them to create these cute decorated hairpins for anyone, any time, any season!

You will need:

Pack of Hairpins with bezel

Clear dimensional glaze (I used Dimensional Magic by Mod Podge available in craft stores and online)

Various color paint chip samples

Tacky craft glue

Tweezers

Small paper punches in any motif

Piece of cardboard, a cereal box is great for this use.

Ruler, scissors, pencil


1.     Measure the inside of the bezel and cut out a background color to fit.  Trim if necessary.  Dab a tiny bit of tacky glue on the inside of the bezel and place the background piece inside.




2.     From another coordinating color paint chip sample, punch out a motif in a size that will fit inside the bezel.


3.     Dab a tiny bit of glue in the bezel center and using the tweezers place the motif inside. 




4.     Attach the pins to a piece of thin cardboard so that they will remain level.


5.     Do not shake the dimensional glaze, as it will cause bubbles to form. Fill each pin to the top edge.  If any bubbles appear pop with a pin. The glaze will look cloudy but dries clear and shiny.


6.     Place aside and let the pin dry for several hours till dry.  Drying times will vary according to humidity and temperature, 24 hours drying time is best.




Monday, April 23, 2012

Recycled CD Mosaic Photo Frame




Surprise!  Today it’s a two-fer.  Two craft tutorials using a similar technique. We all have those CD’s still lying around.  They may be the ones that ISP’s used to send out by the boatload, or maybe some old playlists from our pre-iPod days.  It’s hard to toss them so why not use them for crafting?  And seriously now, old Cd’s are craft supply perfection.  They are free, and they are flashy. 

You will need:

An old CD, if your frame width is wide you may need two CDs

Scissors or tin snips (I used an old pair of scissors)

Tacky glue (I used Turbo Tacky glue)

Paper Mache frame available at craft stores or online, but any flat front frame will work just as well

Black slick dimensional fabric paint

Tweezers

Scrap piece of thin cardboard, a piece of cereal box works well

(It’s a good idea to wear eye protection while cutting the CD in case any of the pieces fly up)


1.     Cut the CD up into pieces.  Vary the sizes and the shapes. Working in small sections squeeze some glue on the front of the frame and spread it out with a scrap piece of thin cardboard.  Use the tweezers to pick up the CD pieces one at a time and place in the glue.  Keep applying CD pieces in this way making sure you leave some space between each piece. Continue working all around until the entire face of the frame is covered with the CD pieces.  Let dry.




Spread the glue





2.     Squeeze some dimensional fabric paint onto a scrap of paper to make sure that there are no bubbles and it comes out even.  Fill in the areas between the glued on CD bits with the fabric glue. Try and keep your lines even.  As you work around filling in the open areas be careful not to smear your previous lines.  When you have filled in all the open areas, let dry.






Recycled CD Mosaic Flower Brooch




We all have those CD’s still lying around.  They may be the ones that ISP’s used to send out by the boatload, or maybe some old playlists from our pre-iPod days.  It’s hard to toss them so why not use them for crafting?  And seriously now, old Cd’s are craft supply perfection.  They are free, and they are flashy. 

You will need:

An old CD

Scissors or tin snips (I used an old pair of scissors)

Tacky glue (I used Turbo Tacky glue)

Woodsies, wood shapes (small teardrop and a medium sized round)

One imitation pearl bead

Silver or gold sparkle dimensional fabric paint

Pin back

Tweezers

(It’s a good idea to wear eye protection while cutting the CD in case any of the pieces fly up)

1.     Find the center of the round woodsie, add a dab of tacky glue and attach the pearl bead. Let dry for a few seconds to set.  Spread some glue on the back of a teardrop woodsie and glue onto the round woodsie with the point touching the bead.  Repeat with all the woodsie’s around.  Let dry.



2.     Cut the CD up into tiny pieces.  Working on one teardrop shape at a time, spread some glue onto a teardrop.  Use the tweezers to pick up the CD pieces one at a time and drop in the glue.  Keep applying CD pieces in this way making sure you leave some space between each piece.  When you have applied CD pieces to all the teardrops let dry completely.






3.     Squeeze some dimensional fabric paint onto a scrap of paper to make sure that there are no bubbles and it comes out even.  Fill in the areas between the CD bits with the fabric glue. Make small even lines. When you have filled in all the open areas, let dry.





4.     Attach a pin back to the back with some tacky glue.



(One CD will make several pins. This is a perfect Mother's Day gift for any crafty child. Come back to Make it easy crafts often so see other mosaic projects with CD’s.)