Stencil Sale!!!

Hey, Peeps. I have a new sale in my shop. Use coupon code Stencilsale20 at checkout with a minimum purchase of $15 and you will receive 20% off of all stencils. 

I have a wide variety of stencils (over 150 designs), including tag stencils (perfect for A10 tags), masks (great for Gelli printing), and ATC stencils. 

Check it out at www.howsewears.etsy.com

Here are some new stencils just listed within the last few weeks:

So, have fun shopping! 

Fondly, Tami

Declare and Dash

Hey, Froggers. I'm putting myself on an actual schedule today! I really am! So, here's a Declare and Dash post. I have LOTS of new stencils in the shop, so feel free to check them out in my Etsy shop here.

This tag stencil is super for Bible journaling, midori journals, personal planners, and a variety of other mixed media projects.

This one is particularly fun with the Gelli® plate. I hope to have some samples to show you in the next few days.

This "Fanned" stencil comes in 6x6, 8x8, or 10x10 inches.

Sorry to say it, Froggers, but this is another one of my faves. You can all of it or just parts of this "Filigree Arrow" stencil in your journals, doodling, midori notebooks, Bible journals, etc. 

And I'll say it again, these tag stencils are PERFECT for traveling, like waiting in the Drs.' office, riding in the car, flying in a plane, or just pretending you're on an island in the tropics. Yeah, I like that last one.

And, here is my "Surround" tag stencil.

I'm having way too much fun.

That's it for today. 

And again, thanks for visiting! 

Now, on to keeping my schedule. Yups. I'm gonna do it! I swear!

Fondly, Tami

Leather Mini Gelli Journal

Hey, Froggers. Whoo-wee! It's been a busy time. 

I'm sorry for the delay for the Part II of "Clean Your Craft Mat With Skin Peelings." Part I can be found here, and I promise to try to get Part II written within the next few days. However, it did turn out really COOL!

I've been wanting to try my hand at sewing a simple binding on a journal, and I came up with this little Gelli Print journal. 

I had a leather sample that was the perfect size- about 5x7". 

I made a signature of 4 pieces of mixed media paper of Gelli prints that I had printed a few weeks ago.

Two pieces were smaller than the other two, but I was OK with that. I just put them in the center.

There was no rhyme or reason to my patterns. I mainly just used colors that I liked and my stencils that can be found in my Etsy shop here. If you haven't visited my shop, I encourage you to look at some of the very cool designs that I have created, especially the mask medallions that I made especially for the plate. Here's a sample:

I wanted to do a very simple stitch since this was my first stitched journal. The one I ended up doing is called a 5-hole pamphlet stitch. I found some instructions here. This is absolutely the simplest stitch. I didn't have linen thread, so I used waxed thread that I bought in the jewelry section of my local crack craft store.

Since the mixed media paper is quite sturdy, the book doesn't stay closed on its own, so I tucked a long piece of hand-dyed crinkle ribbon into one of the loops to secure it. That way, I can tie the book closed.

Because there was a big grommet in the front (after all, it WAS a sample), I covered it up with a die cut leather flower, added a vintage button, and swiped it with a little bit of white gesso. Of course, I just HAD to stamp it with a hand carved stamp. This one is my key logo for my shop. 

So, what would YOU put in this little journal? I'm thinking a few fave scriptures with a little bit of embellishing, drawing, or doodling, perhaps about God's promises, or things He is teaching me about myself. Hmmm?

Thanks again for stopping by!

Fondly, Tami

Gelli® Print Transfers! Cute, Cute Candles!

Hey, Peeps. I can't believe how life gets in the way of blogging! Sheesh!

The creative juices were flowing and I thought of this project, which is WAY too fun. 

You know how you have all of those fun Gelli® prints and you look for different ways to use them?

Well, here's a very fun, versatile, creative, and interesting way to use them once more.

Gelli® print transfers on candles.

Yups. Use your Gelli® prints in your home decor.

And, here's a tip for you, Peeps. You DO ALWAYS scan your prints into your computer before you cut them up, don't you? If not, YOU SHOULD! Especially if it's a print that you absolutely love. Then it will be immortalized FOREVER!

Here's a fun print. I painted on my plate, did some Gelli® printing, and embellished it with hand doodles and my hand carved stamps. I printed onto a copy of a deed from my Grandparents' farm from the 1800's. And, do you remember these skins? You may recognize them.

So, I loved this print and wanted to use in something other than my art journal. 

I took some tissue paper and secured it to a piece of printer paper.

I used my glue glider on the edges and folded the tissue paper over to the back. It's important to make sure the glue is covered totally with the tissue paper, or the paper could stick in your printer and jam it. I hate it when that happens. 

The most important area to secure is the part that first feeds into your printer. Everything else should just follow after that.

Make sure you know how your paper feeds through your printer so that you're printing on the correct side. 

I have a scanner as well, so I can put my Gelli® print on the scanner and just copy it from there. 

This is how it looked when it came out. There are some wrinkles, but that's OK since they'll work themselves out.

I use this technique on battery operated candles, only. I'm a little weird about putting paper on a candle with an open flame. I know that the battery operated candles will be safe. That's just how I roll.

Remove the tissue paper from the printer paper. Since it was secured in the back, I cut the tissue off the printer paper around the edges.

I rolled the candle onto the tissue paper to do a rough measurement.

When I encircled the candle, I folded the edge back to establish a cut line. You don't want this to overlap. 

 I cut off the excess.

 Then I pinned the edges securely.

This next step is facilitated better with a heat gun, although you can use a hair dryer if you'd like. A heat gun is more efficient and will take less time. 

So, you know how if you hold a heat source to a candle, it burns and melts until there's nothing left. Well, let's just say you don't want to do that. Remember that wax is FLAMMABLE (which is kind of the point when you light one), but in this case, you don't want your candle to melt to nothingness.

Take your heat tool and start in the center of the candle (on the opposite side of the seam).

 Start in one spot. Keep the heat tool a few inches from the candle, making sure that you're not heating your fingers. When you see the candle start to glisten and the tissue paper melting into the wax, move along to the next spot, working your way around to the back seam. If you develop bumpy areas, just smooth them out with your fingers (but make sure the wax isn't HOT). When you get to the seam, go back to the center and work your way around the other side. 

If you have an edge on the top, just trim it with scissors and heat it into the wax. 

And, VOILA! You have a super cute candle that's a one-of-a-kind (OOAK- I just found that out) piece of home decor. Think of the possibilities! Christmas, Fall, Halloween, Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, WEDDINGS!!! The possibilities are endless!

And, for some super extra cuteness, I tied it with a piece of twine.

And, if you particularly like this Gelli® print, it's available as a digital image in my Etsy shop here. 

And, if you enjoyed this tute, please let me know. 

And, just for fun, check out my Stencil Giveaway here to enter!

Have a Super Gelli® Day!

Fondly, Tami

I'm linking to Unruly Paper Arts

A Few More Original Stencil Designs

This is just a quick post to show you creative peeps some of my new stencil listings in my Etsy shop. These are tag designs- perfectly sized for your smaller projects, including tags and cards, but they're also great for use with the small Gelli Plate. I hope to have a post in the near future with some layered looks. Stay tuned, Peeps! And again, thanks so much for your support. My stencils have been flying off the shelves! 

Fondly, Tami

More Gelli Plate® Fun

Hey, Froggers! I've had a little bit of time to play lately, and I mean a little. My back problems keep me from sitting for an extended period of time, so I'm eeking in what I can. I've had loads of fun designing more stencils, and hopefully in the near future, I'll be selling them on Etsy.

This is my key stencil that I just cut out on a manila folder. I love the way it turned out. These keys are my original designs, and when I created them, it was the first time I felt like an "artist".
And, this stencil design (made of durable stencil plastic and not manila folders!) is available in my Etsy shop here.

Here's the first print. Again, I used a manila folder from a stack that I was going to throw out, until I realized that that would be a big mistake!

When I used the stencil on the Gelli Plate for the first time, it stuck a little too much to the plate, so after I took it off, I covered it with clear gesso. I haven't used it since, so I'll let you know how the next printing fares.

Here's the second print. I had covered the original black on the plate with white paint, and this is what I got. I think I put on a little too much white paint, but that's the fun of Gelli printing. You just don't really know what you're going to get.

And here's the last print, or "ghost print". As usual, this is my favorite print.

And, here are some stencils I plan on playing with in the future.

Stay tuned! Fondly, Tami