"Woven" Background

Hello!  Kristie here today from

Kristie Kreates

with a tutorial for you.

It's been a while since I've done a tutorial for 

Mashed Potatoes and Crafts.

Sorry about that, life has a way of getting in the way 

of crafting and blogging sometimes.

But, I thought y'all might like this technique, so 

here I am.

I simply wound some string around an acrylic block.

I secured it on the side with some tape.

Next I chose a couple colors of ink.

I used Color Theory Ink from Studio Calico.

First I chose blue

I pressed the ink pad against the string.

making sure to get plenty of ink onto the string.

I then pressed the "stamp" onto some white card stock.

Because the strings were wider one way than they were

the other, I stamped them twice next to each other.

As you can see I stamped one way, turned the block

and stamped again at a 90 degree angle.

Above was my test piece, where I used all blue ink.

Then I did one with all the blue going one direction and 

chose a green to go the other.

This shows the basket weave much better.

I decided to give a try with a different "block"

I took a small square ink pad and wrapped that with 

string.  This gave a more square stamp.

I tried going all the same way too.  I like this but it

doesn't give the basket weave look, just a totally different 

pattern.

For this last one, I used 2 different colors of

Distress Inks (Vintage Photo and Tea Dye)

I wanted the stamp to be more square,

so I used the same small ink pad and 

covered the top with ATG tape,

you could use any kind of tape runner for this.

Adding the ATG tape was a game changer,

it held the string in place and I could place it all the way

to the edges of the block.

When I showed these backgrounds to my friends

they wanted to know how I got the darker spots in the 

'weave', the dark spots are where the string crosses over itself

so the string is doubled in those spots and it picks up a bit 

more ink.

I hope you'll give this a try, it makes a great background.

I did find I like the smaller block better, as it makes a much smaller

pattern which is more conducive to card-making.

If you'd like to see what I've done with one of these 

backgrounds, be sure to stop by my blog

Kristie Kreates

I'll have it posted there.

Thanks for stopping by today,

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial

and will try this technique.

It's always fun to use something unique

that you made yourself.

Leave a comment and let me know if you

have ever made your own backgrounds.

Until next time, make something fun!

Simple frame technique.

Kristie here from

Kristie Kreates

I can't believe December is already here!

But it's a new month, so here I am 

with another crafty tutorial for you.

Today, I have a simple framing technique to show you.

Here's all you need

A piece of white card stock, an acrylic block and some ink.
I am using Distress Ink, because I just happen to have it close 

at hand.

Any size acrylic block will work for this technique,

I like to use the small block to make gift enclosures.

Ink up all 4 sides of the block.

Press the block onto your white card stock.
Please excuse the messy pad under my paper.
I like to use an old mouse pad to give a little cushion

when I'm stamping.  As you can see

I use this old mouse pad a lot.

When you lift up the block you will have a frame.

Depending on the type of ink you use, you will get different

looks to your frame.  I love this mottled look.

Now what to do with that frame?

As you can see I stamped a small flower in the center

of the frame with Wild Honey Distress Ink.

I measured and cut another piece of card stock

a little bigger than the frame piece.

Using a sponge applicator, I sponged the edges with

Wild Honey Distress Ink to match the flower.

I adhered the framed flower to the inked piece 

of card stock and then added them to a white

card stock base.

This will make a nice little card to go with a gift.

It's easy to give a different look to your stamped pieces

by stamping a frame for your card.
I hope you have been inspired

in some way and that you'll try this technique.
You can also reink the block with another color and

stamp over the frame again to give a multi colored look.

Or try stamping onto colored card stock.

Play with the inks you have and see what you can come 

up with.

Thanks for stopping by today,

I hope you'll stop by my blog 

Kristie Kreates

and see what other things I've been up to.

You never know what you'll find on my blog.

I'd like to wish you all a very 

Merry Christmas

and a happy and healthy 

2015!

Until next month, have fun crafting!

Craft Tutorial, Using Up Some Scraps

Hi all!  

Kristie here from Kristie Kreates

If you're anything like me you have a ton of scraps hanging around your crafting space.

Today I'll show you how to use some of those scraps for a lovely card.

The first thing you need to do is find some coordinating scraps.

I have found some pretty patterned paper and some coordinating pink card stock.

If you like you can choose more than 2 papers.

I have a hexagon punch made by Creative Memories with 2 sizes of hexagons.

I don't even know if this is still available.  

I got it from a "used items sale" at a crop last year.

Once you have decided on papers, punch shapes from the papers.

Next layer and adhere the smaller pieces onto the larger pieces.

Then lay them out on the front of a card base.

As you can see, I didn't have pieces to cover the entire card front,

and that works just fine.

Just arrange them however you find pleasing and adhere to the card front.

I had the space in the center and the lower left open, so I stamped

the flowers onto white card stock with a coordinating ink color.

I then fussy cut the flowers and adhered them to the card with foam tape.

You could also stamp right onto the card base.

There was a little too much white space for my taste in the lower right corner, 

so I stamped the word "Beautiful" directly onto the card base

and that finished for my card.

The possibilities are endless with this kind of card.

Use a lot of different colors for a more whimsical look,

Fill the entire front of the card with punched pieces.

Add a sentiment stamped on a banner.

Just another fun way to use up some of those scraps.

I hope you'll try out this idea with some of your scraps too.

Just use your imagination and have fun.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I hope you've been inspired and will come again soon.

I'd love it if you'd leave a comment and let me know how you use your scraps.

Then visit my blog, Kristie Kreates, and see what else I've been working on.

Until next time, have fun crafting!

April Craft Tutorial

Hi all! 

Kristie here, from Kristie Kreates.

I've been absent the last couple months, but I'm back for this months craft tutorial.

Easter is coming quickly and today I'm going to show you how to make a cute Easter basket.

 As you can see in the picture above, these baskets can be made in any size.

When deciding on a size, it would be easiest to choose a size paper that is easily divided by 3

You will need a square piece of paper, the large one I used was 9"x9"
The tiny basket is made with a 3"x3" piece.

Divide the paper into 3 equal parts and score horizontally and vertically.

On the 9"x9" sheet, you would score at 3" and 6" on one side,

 then rotate the paper 90 degrees and score again at 3" and 6"

Using a bone folder, fold on all score lines.

Cut from edge to the score line at 1", 2", 3" 6", 7" and 8"

as shown in the picture above.

Now measure 1/2" as shown above and trim off this 1/2" piece on both sides.

Now it should look like this.

Fold up the center piece and begin bringing up the side pieces

to the center of the large center piece as shown above.

Once you have gathered them all up to the center, it should look like this.

I use a binder clip to hold them all in place, while I prepare the handle.

Cut a 1" x 9" strip of paper for the handle.

Place the handle inside the basket and pierce all layers with a paper piercing tool.

If you don't have a paper piercer, you can use a large needle.

Use brads to hold the basket and the handle together.

You now have an adorable basket to fill with Easter goodies.

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and been inspired to make some 

little baskets of your own.

They are great for the Bunny to hide, use as centerpieces, candy 'dishes' or maybe for favors for a party.

Leave a comment and let me know how you would use these little baskets.

And stop over to my blog

Kristie Kreates

to see what else I've been having fun with.

Until next month, have fun creating!

Scent-sational Gift

It's time for a tutorial!
Kristie here from Kristie Kreates.

Have you ever been in a store and seen something like this?

These soaps are lovely and make great gifts,

but sometimes you want a smaller gift

and splitting up the box into 3 gifts is a great idea.

My friend needed to have about 45 gifts,

so we went about creating a box for each bar of soap.

First we cut the card stock to size.

Next we scored the card stock to the size of the soap plus 1/8"



Fold on all score lines.

On the long sides, cut on the folds to the score lines as shown below.

On one end, cut the corners as shown.

Apply adhesive to the small flaps.



Fold in flaps and fold up the sides.



Now you have a little box.

The soap fits perfectly.



And the box closes nice and snug.

The last thing is to make a belly band to go

around the box.
Cut a strip of paper that will fit around the box

and overlap with enough space for the adhesive.



Fold the band around the box.





Apply adhesive and secure.

 

Band can be slipped off and replaced as needed.



Here I just tied a ribbon around it to finish it off,

you could decorate it any way you please.



These really are quite simple and make lovely gifts.

My friend was using them for the nursing staff on one

of the units at her local hospital.
She attached a tag that said
"You are Scent-sational"

I would have given measurements,

but if you have something of a different size,

that would do you no good at all.

If you have any questions

 or need help figuring out sizes and

where to score etc. feel free to ask. 

 I'd be glad to help you figure out

what size you need for your little boxes.

If you check out my blog

Kristie Kreates,

you will find a link to e-mail me.

I'd be glad to have you come over

and see what else I've been working on.

Leave me a comment and let you know you've visited.

 

Thanks for stopping by today.

I hope I've inspired you to think about different

ways to "package" things.

Little gifts like this are great for

shower gifts,

gifts for co-workers,

thanks you gifts for staff at a hospital or nursing home,

teacher gifts.

 

I'll be back next month with another crafty tutorial.

Until next month, have fun creating!

 

Stamping is not just for cardmaking

Hello blog fans!

Kristie here today from

Kristie Kreates

I love to stamp and I wanted to tell you that

stamping isn't just for cardmaking.

Today I'm going to show you a different way to use stamps.

Stamping on fabrics is a lot of fun and easier than you might think.

There are only a few things you need

a stamp

an ink pad

something to stamp on

paints and brushes

and you are good to go.

Depending on what you are painting will determine what kind of

ink and paint you will use.
Today I'm stamping on a place mat

I am using VersaFine Ink and a mix of acrylic and fabric paints.

Just be sure if you are making something that will be going through the laundry, that you use products that are safe to wash.

First step I inked up the stamp.

Next I stamped the image onto the place mat.

Try to get as clear and crisp an image as possible.
The center of this image could have been a bit better,

but no worries, it will be just fine.

Next, using fabric and acrylic paints that I had in my crafting stash,

I began to paint the image.

You can find small bottles of acrylic paint at most general craft stores.

They are not very expensive and can be used for lots of different projects.

Here you can see that I have the leaves painted,

the black ink of the stamp still shows through,

as I have not used a great deal of paint.
You want to put the paint on with a light hand,

making sure not to put it on too thick.

You want the "outline" from the stamp to show.

Check your paint, but most paints can be thinned

 a bit with water if needed,

just be sure not to make them too thin.

Test this all on a scrap of fabric. 

The place mats I use are very inexpensive

and I bought one that I use just for testing paints and inks.

 

Here you can see that I have been working on the red areas.

I will be adding more red and silver to the ornament

to finish it.
I haven't finished this particular place mat yet,

but here is another to see what the finished one might look like.

The stamps I used for this place mat are
"Christmas Ball with Ribbon" (#12702) and

"Merry Christmas Script (#3206) both from

Eureka! Stamps and
"Icicle Ornament" (#83406) and
"Round Ornament" (#83405) both from

Biblical Impressions Stamps

Thanks for stopping by today. 

Leave a comment if you will.

I hope I have inspired you in some way

 and that you will try using your stamps on some fabric projects.

Why not pop on over to my blog

Kristie Kreates

and see what else I've been creating.

If you have any questions, there is an e-mail link on my blog.

Feel free to e-mail me and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

 

Until next month, have fun creating.