Guest Michael Strong demonstrates how to make clever crafts out of "trash."
Eggshell Card
Materials:
coarsely crushed eggshells
recycled cardboard (cut from any flattened product box)
metallic silver pigment ink pad
silver or pewter embossing powder
one sheet each black, white, silver card stock
paper cutter
craft knife
cutting mat
Crystal Lacquer, Diamond Glaze or similar finishing medium
glue stick
glue gun and glue sticks
heat gun
Steps:
1. From the sheet of white card stock, make a 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" folded card.
2. Cut a 3-1/4-inch square from the silver card stock and a three-inch square from the black.
3. Center the black square on the silver square and glue with a glue stick. Attach those two to the center of the card with glue stick and set aside.
4. From the recycled cardboard, cut four stars in various sizes ranging from two inches across to 1/2 inch across (figure A).
5. Coat one side of the stars with a thin layer of Crystal Lacquer, Diamond Glaze or a similar product.
6. Lay crushed eggshells over the lacquered stars in a loose mosaic pattern. Allow the shell pieces to overlap the edges of the stars (figure B). Set the stars aside about 20 minutes to dry.
7. After the stars have dried and the eggshells have adhered to the surface, trim off any overhanging shell with scissors or a craft knife (figure C).
8. Stamp the shell-side of the stars with the pigment ink, completely covering the surface with ink.
9. Pour embossing powder over the inked stars and shake off the excess. Process with the heat gun until the surface is shiny.
10. Arrange the stars on the black square of the card, overlapping some of them as you like. Once you're happy with the arrangement, affix them with hot glue.
Potato Chip Bag Mirror
Materials:
recycled potato chip bag
Wonder Tape, Red Liner Tape or similar adhesive sheet
picture frame rubber stamp
scrap piece of black mat board (larger than the stamp)
scrap piece of silver or gold card stock (larger than the stamp)
scrap piece of card stock (any color, size to fit inside the stamp frame)
window cleaner, paper towel or rag
scissors
craft knife
cutting mat
glue stick or double-sided tape
silver or gold pigment ink
embossing powder in silver or gold
heat gun
Steps:
1. Cut open and lay flat a potato chip bag. Clean the inside thoroughly with window cleaner and a paper towel. Allow to dry (figure D).
2. Cut up the potato chip bag into useable pieces, discarding the seams.
3. Cover the scrap of card stock with sheet adhesive, and then attach a piece of the bag (silver side up) to it. Smooth out any bumps or wrinkles with a tissue. This is your 'mirror.'
4. Using silver or gold pigment ink, stamp the frame image onto the silver or gold card stock (figure E). Cover with silver or gold embossing powder, shake off the excess, and then heat with the heat gun until the surface is shiny. Then cut out the frame.
5. Cut the 'mirror' to fit in the frame and attach it with a glue stick.
6. Mount the frame and mirror onto the mat board with glue stick or double-sided tape.
Window Screening Card
Materials:
recycled vinyl window screening
light olive green, textured burgundy and black card stock
silver or pewter decorative button
paper cutter
Wonder Tape, Red Liner Tape or similar adhesive sheet
glue stick
pigment inkpad (any color )
pewter embossing powder
glue gun and glue sticks
Steps:
1. Cut a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" piece of window screening. Set it on a scrap of paper and dab the top with the inkpad, covering the surface completely.
2. Pour on the pewter embossing powder and shake off any excess. Using the heat gun, process the embossed screen until shiny. Don't overheat or the vinyl screening will buckle.
3. Using the adhesive tape, mount the screen on a 3" x 3" piece of light olive card stock. Trim off the excess paper to make a 2-1/2" x 2-1/2" piece. Glue the screen piece to the center of a 2-3/4" x 2-3/4" piece of black card stock. Mount that to a 3" x 3" piece of textured burgundy colored card stock.
4. Fold olive colored card stock into a 4" x 4" card. Mount the screen piece on the card and top it with a decorative button glued to the center with hot glue.
Dryer Sheet Card
Materials:
used dryer sheet cut to 6-1/2" x 4" (use a cool iron to press flat)
8-1/2" x 11" piece of matte white card stock
8-1/2" x 11" piece of shiny white card stock
rubber stamp
multicolored dye ink pad
black dye ink pad
rubber brayer
3-1/2" x 4-3/4" card stock (any color)
glue stick
3M Super 77 spray glue
paper cutter
Steps:
1. From the white matte-finish card stock, cut a 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece and fold in half to make a 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" card.
2. Using the glue stick, mount the 3-1/2" x 4-3/4" piece of card stock onto the white card. Set aside.
3. Using the black dye ink pad, stamp the shiny card stock with a large-image rubber stamp to cover an area approximately 5-1/2" x 4-1/2". If you don't have a suitable large stamp, you may use a small image repeated many times to cover the same size area. Allow the ink to dry thoroughly.
4. Using the multicolored ink pad, ink the rubber brayer and roll it over the stamped image.
5. Spray the entire stamped and colored image with a thin layer of Super 77 spray glue. Then lay the dryer sheet over the sprayed image (figure F).
6. Cut the image up into six 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" pieces. Using the glue stick, mount the six squares onto the card, taking care to leave an even border around and between all the pieces.
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