31 Wishes, Canvas Corp and Giveaways!

Last week I headed down to Texas for a Spook-tac-ular Halloween Event called; "31 Wishes" hosted by AnnDenise Anderson.  For several years now AnnDenise has been hosting this festive event every October with new themes every year.  This time she opted for a favorite theme of mine, vintage circus. Now if you all know me, you know I love creating vintage styles, circus themed projects and Halloween magic.  When AnnDenise asked me to teach, I accepted within seconds and knew 31 Wishes was going to be over the top.

The new challenge, creating a fast and simple project that the attendees could make within 1-2 hours. A project they could mix in with their Halloween decor throughout the house, something with a vintage feel and worked into the events theme.  The supplies I used needed to have all these elements and had to excite the attendees. So without hesitation I knew the Canvas Corp Brand of companies would be the perfect choice. With 7 Gypsies and Tattered Angels, Canvas Corp helped me customize the perfect supplies for my project.

The result a Vintage Style Halloween Paper Cone filled with sparkling tinsel shards, layered with vintage images, labels and Halloween tags. Finished with tiny potion bottles, crepe paper fringe and ink. I used the orange and black striped paper as the cone base, then layered all my pieces inside. A very simple project to create with such a great impact. All the attendees each made paper cones that screamed vintage, screamed circus and screamed spook-tac-ular.

 

After my project, AnnDenise taught her gorgeous circus-y dolls. Everyone made a doll which fit their personality. Some were tattooed, some were glamorous and some theatrical, all with a touch of vintage flare. The whole process for each doll was amazing. So what kind of doll did I sit down and create? Any guesses? Give up? A tight rope circus performer who I named; "Tippy Cornwall, The Greatest Tightrope Ballerina of the Century".

There was way too much excitement at 31 Wishes from the food, to the supplies, the projects, the decorations, the ladies who attended and AnnDenise.  Everything was absolutely magical, that's why I had to bring back some magic for all of you and one lucky reader to win one of my 31 Wishes Kits and a surprise treat bag from the Canvas Corp Brands; 7 Gypsies and Tattered Angels.  There's just too much goodness I had to share.

So here's the scoop on how to enter:
Enter on the Rafflecopter Link below w/this info
1. Share your favorite Halloween movie with me.
2. Like the Canvas Corp Instagram and Facebook Page
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Giveaway starts 10/17/15 and ends 10/21/15 at Midnight.  The winner will be announced on the blog and contacted for their mailing information.  The package will be shipped as soon as the winner sends me their information.

Good Luck Everyone, stay tuned for more of the 31 Wishes Event recap w/project highlights, set up and Texas snapshots.
xo
Lisa

My Countdown to 31 Wishes

In just a few short days I will be heading southwest to Fort Worth, Texas for the fabulous 31 Wishes Event.  I'll be bringing some Halloween magic with me as I leave NJ courtesy of the Fabulous Canvas Corp Brands: Canvas Corp, 7 Gypsies and Tattered Angels. 

From magical project kits to spook-tac-ular goodie bags, all the attendees will be squealing in delight from all the Canvas Corp Brands products they will be receiving and creating with during my fun and fast project at 31 Wishes on Oct. 10, shhhhhh. its a surprise.

Every year AnnDenise Anderson puts together an over the top amazing Halloween spectacular.  Her attendees enjoy a full day of creative bliss with scrumptious treats, whimsical projects, treat bags, and social fun.  All of this is set in a world of magic allowing all who attend to escape into a realistic fantasy world.  I promise the spirits are friendly just like Casper and Wendy.

This year's Halloween theme is one of my favorites, a Vintage Circus.  Seriously? A Vintage Circus theme?  Once I heard this, I knew I had to create something special to share with all the attendees. It has to be spooky, spellbinding and magical, after all AnnDenise is all about the enchantment.

My project series this fall have all the elements of world travel focusing African Safari's, the Australian Outback, Egyptology and Old London. With hints of hidden magic, enchanted circuses and wizards.  I focused on lots of aged and rustic textures. Navy, leather, parchment and burnt cream color palettes,  Plus I never forget the shimmer, its important to add shimmer for a more magical feel.

What better brand to use in my projects this fall then the Canvas Corp Brands.  7 Gypsies creates one of the best series of vintage papers and haberdashery I've seen, they fit perfectly with my projects, as do all the products in the Canvas Corp line. I just can't wait to share them with my students.

Over the next week I will be blogging snippets of my journey to Texas, my time at the 31 Wishes Event, project diy and a series of giveaways that will get you really excited.  So hold on tight, the magic is just beginning.

xoxo
Lisa

Midsummer Fun, Exploration and Fairy Specimens!

Its late August and that can only mean one thing, Midsummer Season. You probably thought I was going to say Back to School, didn't have the heart to blurt it out. In NJ students go back to school after Labor Day which is September 7th this year.

Midsummer is such a magical time of year, sunflowers glowing in the warm light, fireflies flickering in the night, last minute vacations and explorations. There is just so much to do this time of year.

After a month's break from heavy creating, I found my creative muse and started making a ton of projects from jewelry to paper craft and everything in between. I have a huge parcel from the Canvas Corp Brand of families that I just couldn't wait to dig into. Everything in their brand speaks to me.

I have started a series of exploration projects reflecting on the 1920's Egyptology era, African adventures, specimens and wizard-ology.  Some seaside whimsy and storybook tales mixed in there some where. 

The first series of projects are the fairy specimens, The first one is labeled "FAE" no.1, she is a Fairy Queen discovered off the coast of South Africa by a Museum Archaeologist named Brady Winthrop who discovered an old map and legend in the museum's private library chamber. Professor Winthrop along with Blake Davis, Cooper Vanderhoff and Casey Mellon sailed off on an exploration to prove fairies do exist.  What they found was more then just fairies.......

The first in the series of 12 specimens is "FAE" no.1, who has been named Ciara and  carefully placed in a specimen box with branch samples from the site. Legend has it that these specimens are actually mummy casings which cannot be opened until the Fairy Life Rites Spell is said. This secret spell can be found in the Ancient Book of Fairy Rites and must be read on a blue moon....

For now I'd like to share the first series of specimens, "FAE" no.1-Ciara.

Materials:

• Clear 3 by 5 inch Plastic Hinged Box (craft and dollar stores have these)
• Serengetti 6 by 6 inch Paper Pack-7 Gypsies
• Maritime Mini Ephemera Pack-7 Gypsies
• Printer Tray Label Holders-7 Gypsies
• Pearl Glimmer Mist Spray-Tattered Angels
• Tattered Leather Glimmer Mist-Tattered Angels
• Flat Back Frozen Charlotte-Lisa Kettell Designs
• Rhinestone Strand-Simplicity 
• Glues/Tools: Hot Glue, Hot Glue Gun, Glue Stick, Scissors
• Other: Copper Tape, Thin Branches, Beige Lacy Floral Leaves, Glitter, Stamped Lettering

Directions:

1. Line the bottom of the plastic box with two types of paper from the Serengetti paper pack using a glue stick.
2. Hot glue thin branches to the right side of the base and side of the plastic box.
3. Age the frozen charlotte with walnut inks, rubbing off excess with a soft cloth or napkin until desired amount of aging is achieved.
4. Cut the leaves to form whispy wings, age with more walnut ink and hot glue to back of the frozen charlotte. 
5. Next hot glue the winged frozen charlotte to the box center. Spray the whole box contents with mist spray a  few times. Embellish the frozen charlotte with copper tape and rhinestones.
6. Attach the plate to outside of the front rim of the box and add lettering.
7. Finally add any extra pieces to the box.

Tips/Tricks:

• The frozen charlottes I use are from my line of products and are perfect for painting, aging w/inks and gluing in paper projects and assemblages.
• For a realistic porcelain frozen charlotte coat these frozen charlottes from my line with resin glaze or spray glaze.
• I used the wrappings from ground cherries as my wings. But you could cut open floral chinese lantern flower pods or use bark shards or shells.
• Try vintage images in place of the frozen charlotte.
• Make a faux map and add a metal tag for more fun. 

Stay tuned for the rest of the exploration projects including more specimens, the book of Fairy Rites, Professor Winthrop's Journals, Casey's Treasures and more.

Tropical BoHo Necklace DIY

I recently received an amazing package filled with jewelry components from the Dazzle-It Tropical Punch line from the John Bead Corp. A variety of designers were sent a package from the John Bead Corp. Each package was filled with different items from the Tropical Punch Line. The challenge was to create a jewelry piece using these supplies and share it within the Tropical Punch Blog Hop.

My package was filled with so much summer goodness. With the BoHo trend still rising this summer, I decided to create a fun summer BoHo statement necklace. The only thing extra I added were the fun tassels I made using neon floss.

After making my necklace, I paired it up with a fun and flirty tank, mixed yellow summer cardigan and skinny jeans. Think a preppy boho Carmen Miranda. This is a fun and flirty line perfect for adding some sunshine to your designs.

Materials:

• 1 pack Tropical Punch Flower Maker, rhinestone gold
• 1 pack Tropical Punch Lucite Mix, Riviera
• 1 pack Tropical Punch Lucite Mix, Siena Wall
• 1 pack Tropical Punch Finding Kit, Gold Jump Rings
• 1 pack Tropical Punch Petal Curves, Shaded Purple
• 1 Pack Lucite Chain 16x30mm, Sugarloaf
• 3 Skeins Neon Yellow Light Effects Floss, E980 DMC
• Additional: gold jump rings, gold clasp and gold beading wire
• Tools: needle nose plier, flat nose plier, wire cutter

 

Directions:

1. Thread 5 tropical punch petal curved flower beads onto gold jewelry wire.  Then wrap the wire around the rhinestone gold tropical punch flower maker.   Wrap the extra wire around the flower maker center a few times, tighten and twist the ends together to close, cut extra wire.
2. Repeat the step above for the second flower.
3. Thread 7 beads from the tropical punch Lucite mixes onto gold jewelry wire.  Then wrap wire around the third rhinestone gold flower maker and pull tight, twist ends close.  Cut the remaining wire.
4. Cut the Lucite chain in half and attach each chain half to the purple flowers, using the extra large gold jump rings.  Attach the mixed bead flower to the center of the purple flowers using a few small gold jump rings.
5. Open the 3 skeins of neon yellow floss from their packaging.  Fold the skein in half, twist a thin strand around the center a few times and tie knot to secure to form a small tassel. Trim length till desired length is achieved.  Repeat for each tassel.
6. Insert a small gold jump ring to the top of each tassel and attach to the bottom of each beaded flower.
7. Finally attach 4 small gold jump rings to each Lucite chain end and add the clasp. 

Tips and Tricks:

• Make your tropical flowers larger using 6 leaves instead of 5. Try doubled flowers using 12 flower leaves.
• Make a layered flower necklace and add more tassels or fringe.
• Add more rhinestones to the necklace.

Hope you enjoyed my post and get inspired to make your own tropical boho pieces.

See you soon,

Lisa :-)

xoxo

Under the Boardwalk, Altered Book Project

Here is a great altered book project I created, perfect for using vintage ephemera. images, mixed with modern day papers, inks, found objects and recycled items.

Under the Boardwalk was inspired by the history of boardwalk communities by the shore. It was inspired by my adventures to the Jersey Shore particularly Ocean Grove, Asbury Park, Seaside, and LBI. Vintage beauty pageants, and Victorian Seaside Splendor. By 1950's amusements and confections, candy apples, calliope music and summer nights.

If you love to recycle and use recycled items in your works, this is a great way to do that.

To make your own follow these instructions below: 

Materials:

• Sails and Shells Paper Pack, Canvas Corp.
• Seashore style ephemera, and vintage images, Lisa Kettell Designs
• Vintage or modern bingo cards,and wood bingo tokens Lisa Kettell Designs
• Chipboard style card stock, Canvas Corp.
• Basic office folders
• Paper Straws, Recollections Line, Michaels Stores
• Vintage style embellishments, 7 Gypsies
• Inks, Tattered Angels
• Found Objects: broken glass bottles, wood shapes, branches, cake balloons.
• Other: crepe paper, German glass glitter, tiny star fish, shells, muslin fabric, ribbon.cocktail honey combs stirrers,color clothes pins
• Tools/Glue: hot glue, hot glue gun, glue stick scissors, small paper hole punch, white floral wire

Directions:

1. Cut 2 pieces of the chipboard style card stock to 8 by 10 inches for the cover. Then cut out 4 pieces of basic office folders and 4 pieces of chipboard style card stock about 5 by 7 inches, for the interior pages,
2. Begin layering the cut interior pages with scrapbook paper from the Sails and Shells paper pack, Glue in place with glue stick.
3. Assemble all the pages together and punch 1 hole into the pages with a hole punch about 2 inches in from the top and another hole 2 inches from the bottom. Make sure you punch the holes 1 inch from the side. ( the side I'm referring to is the area where the book pages will have its binding.)
4. Thread each whole with white floral wire and twist around 3 small branches. This is your binding.
5. Start decorating the top cover with bingo board, scrapbook embellishments, paper straws, found objects, images, additional scrapbook paper cutouts,
6. Cut various strips of scrapbook paper from the Sails and Shells paper pack and cut fringe into them, then hot glue to the cover sides and interior sides,
7. Age ribbon, scrapbook paper and objects with inks from Tattered Angels.
8. Finally add the remaining embellishments: honey comb stirrers, ribbons, clothes pins and bingo tokens.

Tips/Tricks:

• Use old book covers or bingo boards instead of basic office folders or chipboard paper.
• Layer the whole cover with paper straws.
• Create these books with your kids or family on a rainy summer day.
• Turn this book project into a family vacation heirloom.
• Make a theme book. Example: fairies and pixies, flowerland, candyland, wizards, Santa Claus, etc.

I Hope you enjoyed this project and have fun making one of your own. If you do please post pictures and share, so we can all see the magic.  Stay tuned for more fun projects.

Thanks So Much,
Lisa :-)

Crafting Ephemera

As we get into Mid Spring and warmer temperatures, this can only mean summer is near and that means, more exploring, and outdoor adventures. This leads to making memories and creative fun.

Here are some pieces of ephemera from my collection for you to use in your works.

 

I hope you enjoyed these fragments of history. Create something fun and share it with us, We would love to see what you make!

xoxo

Lisa

Infinity Forever!

Made with the threading.

Over the past few months I have been teaching a ton of Infinity Bracelet classes and I have to say, I am hooked. I created my first infinity bracelet a few years ago, over a 100 later, I'm still excited when I get a chance to make one and to teach it to others.

Recently I taught infinity bracelets at Michaels Stores using all bead landing supplies and beads via Halcraft USA.  I love the quality, styles and colors that Halcraft USA creates for the Bead Landing line at Michaels.  Their beading selection is fabulous and works in all my projects and workshops.

To make my version of the infinity bracelets you only need leather cording, thin wire, beads of choice and a clasp which is optional. I warn you, these bracelets are so easy to make and the results are so breathtaking, you will be hooked.  

Made with the threading.

I prefer using thin wire to wrap the beads instead of thin threading. I think the wire gives you more flexibility, more forgiving and looks nicer. Wire comes in so many colors and thickness today, as does leather cording. My students also prefer the wire and love the control they have with it opposed to threading.

Made with the thin wire.

In the next week I will post instructions on how to make your own using the leather cording, wire, and beads. This bracelet project could even become an anklet, belt or necklace cuff.

For now here are samples of the bracelets I made for the classes and some my students made using the technique they learned in my class.

xoxo Lisa

These are from a recent class. I love what Nicole
did to her bracelet. So soothing and peaceful.
Like sea glass at the beach. The Turquoise one
is inspired by Sedona.

Up close of Nicole's bracelet.

5 Minute Wood Necklaces

Wood laser cutouts are all over the place. From ornate scroll works, cute shapes and wording, wood has taken over. The variety of uses for these elements is endless. Every second an idea pops up. With the big emergence of the 80s and 90s again this year.

In the 80s some of my biggest memories were neon and bold colors, roller skating, leg warmers, strawberry shortcake, stickers and laser cut jewelry or accessories. For my sweet 16, my mom bought me an ornate laser cut mirrored album for my party pictures.

This project is a take on 80's style with a sweet modern update and takes only minutes to actually make. All you need are some wood word cut outs, paint, jump rings, chains and jewelry tools. With a few quick steps, you'll be skating away with your new name necklace.

Materials:

• Laser cut wood name ( I used "sugar" and 'sweet"), Michaels Stores
• Ready made 18 inch jewelry chains w/clasp, Bead Landing Michaels Stores
• Jump rings, 6mm, Darice
• Acrylic paint (I used cream, peach and aqua)
• Jewelry drill puncher, 0.9 and 0.6 holes, Advantus Corp
• Tools: needle nose pliers, paint brush, pencil

Directions:

1. Flip the laser cut wood name over so the wording is in reverse. With a pencil mark a hole on each end of the laser cut wood name.
2. Insert the laser cut wood name into the jewelry drill punch, line up with the marked holes and twist using the 0.9 drill punch. 
3. Paint your laser cut wood names with colors of choice, let dry a few minutes. 
4. Open up the ready made chain at the center using needle nose pliers, Attach the open chain to the laser cut wood names using jump rings.
5. Your necklace is ready to wear.  
    

Tips/Tricks:

• The jewelry drill press is light, small and easy to use. Many companies offer them and can be found at most craft stores in the jewelry or tool section of the stores and range in price from     $8.00-$17.00 and drill through most light woods, and metals. Advantus corp/Tim Holtz line has one available as well.
• Coat your wood cutouts with glitter and nail polish clear sealer.
• Cover your wood cutouts with rhinestones or sequins,
• Wrap your wood cutouts with embroidery floss.
• Gold foil, chalkboard paint, or wood stain markers give some fun to your piece.
• Make your own chain or thread with beads.
• Try cutesy animal shapes, crowns and mustaches.
• Use flocking on your wood cutout.
• Spray paint works well too.
• Try rub on transfers or rubber stamps to add more detail to your wood cutout. 

I hope you enjoyed this project and get inspired to make your own. 

More projects coming this week.

xoxo

Lisa

Recycled Denim Journal Project

Recycling is what I do best. Here is a great project which can give a journal or drawing book new life, and a great way to recycle old, ripped or discarded jeans.

The first recorded use of indigo as a color name in the English language was in the year 1289. There is something so magical about the color of indigo which has a mix of blues and violets embracing it. Indigo is a color which has many facades. It can be romantic, mysterious, and mystical. It can call on fairies, goths and bohemians. Its vintage and modern all wrapped in one.


Materials:

-Jean/Denim pocket and scraps
-Discarded hard cover book, journal or drawing pad
-Ribbon
-Large metal safety pins, Michaels Crafts Line
-Adhesive page flags, Michaels Crafts Line
-Paper stickers, Flora and Fauna, Brenda Walton for K & Company
-Acrylic paint, ink spot color, Folk Art Paint
-Glues: hot glue, sturdy craft glue
-Tools: scissors, hot glue gun
-Other: metal tags, metal flowers, tiny metal cabochons, rhinestone bow, rhinestone pieces, jewelry findings

Directions:

1. Using the jean pocket scrap I covered my book's front cover and spine. hot glued in place. It fit perfectly around the front. I then folded the uneven edges over the cover and onto the other side.

2. For the back cover I added left over jean scraps from my scrap bag and hot glued in place. I layered a cut piece of muslin fabric to the inside covers to finish it off.

3. Now add decorative page tabs to the inside pages.

4. Tie a large ribbon around the center of the book, attach metal number tags to the ends. These are the book marks.

5. Embellish the cover of the book with large metal safety pins, paper stickers, tiny metal cabochons, rhinestone bow, rhinestones and metal flowers.

6. Enhance the book pages with ink spot color paint, ephemera, images and your fave mementos.






Tips/Tricks:

-Cover a blank journal or drawing pad and carry on your travels. Fill it with your adventures.
-Dye your jean scraps for more color choices.
-If you don't have jeans cover your book with fabric and make your own pockets.









This journal I created represents, friendship, love, and the magic of life. It will be filled with mementos that I acquire along my journey in creating a wonderful life.

I hope you enjoyed this project and come back for another visit.

xoxo

Lisa