How To Make a Colorful and Delightful Batmass Party

Today I want to show you how to make a colorful and delightful Batmass Party. If you follow me at all on Facebook you know that I am 100% Bat-Crazy! I think these winged, furry, fruit and insect eaters are amazing. When Gerda Steiner Designs came out with their Bats Clear Stamp Set I knew I HAD to have them. Aren't they too cute for words with their little Christmas hats and goofy smiles?

~ Merry Batmass ~

  Gerda Steiner Designs also has delightful Digi-stamps and printables. I downloaded the free Christmas Tree and a couple of cute little mice and of course the Christmas Hats. Stop by the Shop or Facebook page to see what is available today!

My tiny glass house looks like a cathedral with a soaring roof and arched windows. I decided to run with that theme and turned it into a battery operated candle holder. I also spelled my title with the church idea in mind. If you look closely you can see the glow behind the tree!

Directions:

Step 1:Prep vellum for printer.
I used the Perfect Crafting Pouch from ScraPerfect to dust the vellum so the ink would set without smears.

Step 2:Prep vellum for painting. 
After printing my digi stamps I dusted the back of the vellum to prep for watercolors.

Step 3:Paint printed design from the back.
 Painting the vellum from the back of the design mutes the colors and adds to the glow of the candle design. The watercolors left the vellum rather warped. I cut out the tree and wrapped it around a paper towel tube to reform.

 Step 4:Stamp and cut Batmass Angels.
My Batmass Angels were super easy to make. I used white pigment ink and Rinea Foiled Paper in Ebony Starstruck. The bats cut out perfectly with the matching Bat Dies from Gerda Steiner Designs.

Step 5:Clean glass house.
My tiny conservatory is a thrifted item and it was FILTHY!

 I used the Best Cleaner Ever from ScraPerfect to remove the sticker and tape residue marring the glass.

 Step 6:Polish glass house.
After I washed it up I cleaned the fingerprints and water spots using the Perfect Cleaning Cloth. My little glass house looked brand new!

 Step 7:Add presents and party guests.
I had printed out and colored or painted the advent calendar several times. I used my extras for these cuties in the back. I fussy cut them and used foam tape to adhere them to the glass. The cookie mouse and balloon mouse are thrilled to be in on the party!

 Step 8:Cut and attach title, bats, and hats.
I used Emerald Starstruck Foiled Paper from Rinea and a Gothic alphabet die for the title. The Christmas Hats are printed on white cardstock with a bit of  Ruby Starstruck Foiled Paper pieced in the middle.

 Step 9:Attach tree to battery candles, add bling.
The tree needed a bit of sparkle to it. I used Embellie Gellie to pick up tiny star shaped gems for my tree. This wheel of gems is a Hot Buy for a limited time at ScraPerfect.

 One dot of Best Glue Ever holds the bling to the tree.

The tree is taped around two battery operated candles that give the tree support and shape.

 Step 10:Turn candles on and position tree in center of glass house.
The Batmass Angels are so excited to have the kids over for a Christmas Party! I hope you have enjoyed this little piece of fantasy and will stop by the linked shops for crafting supplies.

Supplies:

Cardstock:Recollections
Vellum, Watercolors:CTMH

Digi and Clear Stamps:Gerda Steiner Designs

Foiled Paper:Rinea

Glue, Cleaner, and Accessories:ScraPerfect

Scrap On!

~charity~

How To Make A Spectacular Butterfly Magnet Gift

Here is a quick tutorial on how to make a spectacular butterfly magnet gift. Quick is good when making teacher gifts. With the multitude of events to attend at the end of the school year it is difficult to find time to craft a little appreciation gift. These butterflies are simple yet as dramatic as the papers you choose.

~ Butterfly Magnets ~
The first step in making these butterflies is to choose coordinating papers. My only concern was matching my papers, all from The Robin's Nest, with the Little Friends I used for the bodies. I put a dark layer at the center, stripes in the back, and florals up front. The top layer of butterflies are cut from Pink Roses Cardstock and Daisy Stripe Cardstock. The center layers are cut from Daughters Cardstock and Charity Cardstock. The last layer is the reverse of Spring Flower Cardstock and Star Glitter Cardstock .

With my Just Imagine Crafts Butterfly Die I cut two layers of paper at a time. I used Kreaxios 4-in-1 Punch #305 on the tips of the floral butterfly. I trimmed the tips of the center butterfly to match the top one.

I used Deco Art acrylic paint in Shimmering Silver to gild the edges of the blue butterfly and in Splendid Gold for the other.

 I cut the antennae from the center butterflies. I stacked the sets together and folded the wings up on either side.

 To hold the variety of materials together I only needed one adhesive, Best Glue Ever.
A thin strip of glue on the striped and center butterflies is sufficient to hold the paper together. A thicker strip of glue attaches the soft body of the Little Friend to the top butterfly.

A circular smear of the same glue attaches the butterfly to a magnet. Without my ScraPerfect products I would have had to use three types of glue. With BGE I am guaranteed a strong, flexible hold that dries quickly.

After the glue had dried I adjusted the wings of the butterfly so each layer is visible. Curl the tips of the wings around a pencil to mimic movement.

 Slip two or three of these butterflies in a gift bag and let your child enjoy making their teacher smile!

Supplies:
Paper, People:Robin's Nest
Butterfly Die:Just Imagine Crafts
Corner Punch:Kreaxions #305
Paint:Deco Art
Glue:ScraPerfect
Magnets:Stash

Scrap On!

~charity~

How To Make an Epic Rose Suspended in a Bell Jar

If you want to know how to make an epic rose suspended in a bell jar read on! Projects that WOW are where it's at. A simple candle hurricane? A scrap of red paper? A squeeze of glitter glue? No! This is no ordinary rose, this is an enchanted rose...made by YOU!

The idea for this bit of fantasy was sparked by seeing a hurricane glass, face down, on a dusty thrift store shelf. Suddenly I could see the characters from that well known animation...and a rose, glittering and wilting as the time past. Of course it came home with me! 

The rose is a multi step process and frankly there are hundreds of rose tutorials on line. If you can stand reading another one, I can stand writing it. This project was made using ScraPerfect products. Substituting with a different adhesive would change the outcome.
Step 1: Cut/Punch 3 scalloped circles, pierce the center. Mine are 2.5" in diameter.
Step 2: Cut each circle into 6 even sections, leaving a 1/2 inch center. Roll the petals around a pencil or other cylindrical tool. Place a mini brad through the center to hold all three circles/layers together.

Step 3: ( Top Layer) Add a dot of glue to the right, underside of one petal. Fold that petal towards the center and overlap the sides to form the center of the rose. 

Step 4: Fold the remaining 5 petals towards the rose center, adhering each one around the center with dots of glue on the petal edges. For a more symmetrical rose, choose the petal opposite for each fold.
Step 5:(Middle Layer) Add a dot of glue to the right, top edge of every other petal. Fold and adhere those petals toward the center. The rose will resemble a blender blade.
Step 6: Add a dot of glue to the left, top edge of the remaining petals. Fold and adhere those petals toward the center.

Step 7: Wrap a hair band around the center of the rose until the glue had had time to cure. I left mine till the next day.
Fold the lower layer of petals towards the center, then roll the rim to the underside. This layer of petals should also be worked every other one, 3 at a time.
Step 8: Cut a strip of paper 1/4" wide and 12" long. Wrap it around a pencil to create a spiral.

Step 9: Pierce the end of the spiral stem, attach it to the bottom of the rose with the brad that holds the rose layers together.

Now that the paper rose has properly bloomed, the time has come to suspend it in the glass. Really though, this is the easiest part of the project. A line of glue on the back of each spiral is all it takes. Use a pencil to press the stem to the glass. The spiral stem creates an optical illusion that convinces the mind the rose is hanging in mid air.

The magic is all in the glue. The Best Glue Ever by ScraPerfect to be exact. Because BGE is flexible yet SUPER strong it holds the stem to the glass without hardening and releasing. Leave the rose to cure over night, lay the hurricane on its side and place a heavy cylindrical object (mine was a drill bit) in the spiral to hold it in place.

Hurricane Decoration 

Step 1:Stamp a flourish design on thin paper.
Step 2: Roll balls of Embellie Gellie. Flatten them on the inside of the hurricane, overlapping the stamped paper. The Embellie Gellie will act like tape without leaving residue on the glass.

Step 3: Trace the lines of the flourish with glitter glue.
Step 4: Use BGE to place Dew Drops along the flourish. Leave each portion of the design to cure for an hour or 2 before moving on.
The Perfect Cleaning Cloth is a life saver for glass projects. With a bit of a rub it removes finger prints, dust, and residue. I used my PCC several times during this project.

The primary colors and simple design enhance the beauty of this project. Wow factor is through the roof and you have your own enchanted rose to give or to keep. Lucky for you, this one won't wilt!

Supplies:
Paper, Dew Drops:Robin's Nest
Glue, Paper Tack, Cleaner:ScraPerfect
Hurricane Glass:Thrift Store
Glitter Glue:Home Made
Punch:Punch Bunch
Die:Echo Park

Scrap On!
~charity~

How To Make a Nifty Gatsby Inspired Gift Set

With the right supplies it's so easy to make a nifty Gatsby Inspired gift set. I love the glitz and glamor of the Roaring Twenties. I ran across a vintage vanity bottle while out thrifting and visions of flapper girls with pin curls and beaded gowns danced through my head. Of course it came home with me, and here it is in all its altered glory.

 Although this bottle is probably a much later style, it still has the metal filigree reminiscent of the 1920's. With a new color scheme and sprinkling of gems this item looks ready to join the trinkets on Daisy Buchanan's vanity table.

 The tarnished metal cap and removable filigree base were carefully painted and left to dry. I used Deco Art Metallic Acrylic Paint, in Shimmering Silver. The cap was difficult as it is filigree over plastic and I didn't want gobs of paint to muck up the delicate style.

I glued lavender Diamond Dew Drops around the base in sets of three.
The base was uneven at the back, where the metal overlapped. 

I added dots of Scraperfect's Best Glue Ever and let them dry.
This provided an even surface so I could continue my pattern.

 The bottle received a good wash to remove finger prints and then

 a dab of the Best Cleaner Ever to remove the price sticker residue.

 To enhance the lavender and silver theme I decided a strip of Holographic Transfer Foil should go around the bottle. I used washi tape to block out a space then painted it with a VERY thin layer of the Best Glue Ever. I removed the tape and left the bottle to dry to a translucent finish.
I laid transfer foil over the glue, pressed it firmly onto the glue, then quickly removed the foil.
I quickly discovered all the places I had missed with the glue and foil and patched those spots.

 To define the edges of the foil I painted them with Shimmering Silver,
once again using the washi tape to ensure straight lines.

 Pearl toned Diamond and Mini Dew Drops complete the Art Deco design.

 The card is made from Robin's Nest Papers and Cards.
The base is a 4x6 piece of Snow Covered Trees Cardstock layered with Smoky Chevron Cardstock. The cards are from the Aristocratic Blues Collection and the Orange Crush Collection.

The black doily and corners are made using Kreaxions 4in1 Punch #305 on a 3in circle.

 I used Obsidian Diamond Dew Drops and Silver Bells Dew Drops to accent the card.

The dew drops are difficult to place exactly so I used the Embellie Gellie System
and a drop of the Best Glue Ever to secure them.
Stop by ScraPerfect for other products that will ease your crafting woes.

Together these Gatsby Inspired items make a luxurious gift set.

Since I enjoy making these pretties more than I enjoy keeping them,
I am on the lookout for someone to gift them to!

Supplies:

Paper, Dew Drops, Cards:Robin's Nest
Glue, Cleaner, Transfer Foils, Embellie Gellie:ScraPerfect

Embossing Powder:Wow Embossing Powder

Ink:Clear Snap
Stamp:Close To My Heart

Acrylic Paint:Deco Art
4 in 1 Punch:Kreaxions

Scrap On!

~charity~