Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Cuttlebug Challenge Altered Desk set (with Cosmo Cricket!)

This project made me feel like a kid, at school cutting & pasting again. (Only I didn't eat any of that paste from the jar with the brush this time around, ynuk ynuk.)



The Cuttlebug Challenge blog is celebrating the season by having a
back to school challenge for this "Be Inspired Wednesday."
Here's a desk set for the occasion....

As usual, you can click any of the pics for a close up look...


We got to play with some incredibly yummy things from Cosmo Cricket. I got my paws on the Everafter kit & it's accoutrements. The Kit is generally themed for engagement and/or weddings, but I was amazed at how adaptable it is.

Couldn't resist adding some sweet bunnies
from Mo's Digital Pencil to the set as well...



These bunnies are from Mo's "First Day of School" image

Here's the Cosmo Everafter pencil box...



It went together so quickly. I don't often use pre-matched things, so it was a rare treat. I do buy pieces of Cosmo paper (who can resist!?) but I've never ever played with a whole kit!

Whoever designs this stuff is brilliant. Even the packaging is scrumptious. This round Everafter cardstock sticker (with school children) is matched by the little square in the frontispiece of the kit...



(the packaging turned into the book in the bunny's hand)
That Cosmo stuff is good to the last scrap! hehehe.



1...Cuttlebug Challenge "Be Inspired Wednesday:" Back to School
2...Cosmo Cricket Desk set (altered crate box)
3...Altered pencil box
4...Acrylic paint textured cardstock & Embossing a digital image on acrylic & Copic refill painting

-1-
Be Inspired Wednesday # 46 (Back to School sets)

You won't believe the incredible projects that the Cuttlebug Challenge Blog team has made. There are some honour roll crafters at work there, for certain! A+ grades all around! ;-D



-2-

...alter a crate box for a
Cosmo Cricket desk set



Happily, all this stuff is covered in a whole lot of "Everafter:"
(from Cosmo Cricket!)

Stuff to alter:
1)
A wooden box
2) a cardboard box (blue diamond almond snack-packs)
3)
A chipboard book (SU)

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Everafter collection-Everafter Kit specifically: Something True, Something Blue, Something Special & Elements (and even the packaging)
Dark gray & white Core'dinations cardstock mats from Roy G. Biv Super Assortment

Embellishments:
Cosmo Cricket Everafter Rub Ons
Cosmo Cricket Everafter Ribbon
Cosmo Cricket Everafter Ready-Set-Chip
Cosmo Cricket Everafter Cardstock Stickers

Miscellaneous:
Double-sided tape, paper piercer, needle & thread. Clear Seed beads; Provocraft embossing folder Textile Texture & Cuttlebug machine; Copic markers.

Hardware:
Drawer pulls for feet-screw driver & drill to affix them.

Altering a wooden crate box:



Step 1)
Add drawer-pull feet to the wooden box, if you like.



Step 2) Cut pieces of Cosmo Cricket Everafter collection 12x12 paper to fit the wooden box inside & out. Cuttlebug emboss the front panel if you like. (I paper pierced along the edges & added some dark grey cardstock to the Cosmo paper for strength since I knew I was going to stitch it a lot.)



Step 3) Embellish the front panel with matching Everafter accessories:

A) Stitch around the outside (turquoise embroidery thread), and add Everafter ribbon to the front panel.

B) Cut a scallop, add it to the bottom of the front panel

Embellish the Cosmo label
& add the Mo bunny:




Step 4) Make the LABEL:

A) Add cardstock mats to the fancy label piece (from the Everafter label Elements) These are dark gray & white Core'dinations cardstock mats from Roy G. Biv Super Assortment.)

B)
Pierce around the fancy label & stitch seed beads around it.



Step 5) Adhere the embellished label to the front panel.



Step 6) Make the BUNNY: Print, heat emboss, colour, and cut out the digital bunny & add him to the label on the box front. (This bunny is cut from Mo's "First Day of School" image. More details on how he was made are listed below.)



Step 7) Adhere the Everafter ready-set-chip (self adhesive flower chipboard) to the ribbon center. The chipboard has a great self stick back, but since this involves sticking to fabric (notoriously tricksy) it might need a little heavier adhesive.



Step 8) Make the bunny's BOOK: Cut the tiny school children image from the Cosmo Cricket Everafter Kit packaging & fold it over some white paper to make a wee little book. Add it to the front of the box.

Step 9) Stick the front panel to the box:




-3-

(convert a cardboard snack box
into a pencil box)



Don't Ya just love making something outta nothing at all?
(the cardboard box version not the 80's song.) ;o)

Making the pencil box:

A) Cut Cosmo Cricket Everafter paper to fit the cardboard box of your choice. (This is a Blue Diamond Almond box-it was the perfect size for wrapping with 12 x 12 papers with a little bit left over & it fit 60 pencils nicely.)

B) Cuttlebug emboss the Cosmo paper & add a scallop at the top. Adhere the paper to the box



C) Stick the round school children sticker (from the Everafter Cardstock stickers) to some scalloped cardstock layers.

D) Pierce around it & add seed beads & stitching.

E) Adhere the decorated sticker over top a strip of Everafter ribbon with a bow & a piece of the matching Ready set chip.

-4-

...create texturized Acrylic paint paper
(for heat embossing digital images)



Digital Texture: This is a speedy way to add a lot of texture to digital images two ways: both with Heat embossing and with a kind of fabric like resist look. Acrylic paint lets you texturize the paper & lets printer ink stay wet long enough to hold embossing powder in a lovely way.

Don't do digital images? (What a pity, ;o) but no problem...) This paper would be really fun for stamping too (the acrylic needs copics or the like though since it's fairly non-porous.)

Obviously, all the steps are open to interpretation & will vary based on your supplies & the humidity in your area. I find it really fun to experiment with & I hope you have fun if you try it.


  • Image from Mo's Digital Pencil "First Day of School,"
  • Cardstock
  • White acrylic paint & water
  • Paisley stamp from Above the Mark
  • Clear embossing powder & heat gun
  • Versamark ink (or other clear embossing ink)
  • Copic Markers & refills
  • Paint brushes (one for acrylic paint & one for Copic refill)




A) Get stamp sticky with versamark
B) Print onto cardstock (or use a prexisting pattern or none)
C) Paint cardstock with slightly watered down white acrylic paint
D) Use a stamp to pull up some of the paint
E) Let dry completely
F) Run texturized paper through your printer to print an image
G) Quickly emboss your image with clear embossing powder





Step 1) Prepare background stamp by inking with versamark & let dry until it's a little sticky (This is optional, I just liked the way the stickiness helped pull up the paint & it makes the stamp easier to clean up-You may want to clean that stamp while it's still wet.)

Step 2) Print ledger paper (PDF here or JPG here) on any cardstock (or watercolour paper) This is Stampin' Up's Very Vanilla cardstock--not sure how this works with other papers...I'll play around & let you know. ;o)

Step 3) Paint with thick wash of acrylic paint & water (I love Kroma brand) & press in a stamp to pull up some of the acrylic paint.

Step 4) Repeat painting with wash & pressing in the rubber stamp to pull up some of the acrylic paint until you like the look.

Step 5) Let dry thoroughly, rub the paper to remove any loose bits

If you click on this photo below, hopefully it will give you an idea
of the texture this gives you. It's a lot like fabric, actually...



it embosses digis like a dream....



Run through an ink jet printer or stamp it & emboss the ink (This is a digital image: Back to School from Mo's Pencil embossed in clear embossing powder.

I wish I could guarantee that this would be okay for any printer, but alas I cannot. I've had no problems with mine at all, but I got a Canon 240 all in one for $50.00 Canadian so I could be reckless with it. Hope you can find a cheap or free printer to play if you want to. :o)



Colour: Acrylic paint works best with Copic colouring/refill painting, since the paint resist regular water-based markers, but you could also use other alcohol markers, alcohol inks, acrylic paints... or anything that will stay put on Acylic paint. ;o)

Please note: I'm not sure if the acrylic leaves any residue on Copics; I use the broad/chisel tip for experimenting, so I don't have to worry about it.

In the end, you have digis with a tad more texture than
your average bear (oops, make that your average bunny!) ;o)



I'm working on a full pictorial for this technique, so hopefully Y'all
don't think I'm too crazy & somebody wants to try it-maybe. LoL

This little guy was made the same way, just cut out...


and here it is all together again...



Hope you can play along with
the Cuttlebug Challenge!


24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very cute project, and very well executed! It reminds me of Beatrix Potter's "Peter Rabbit" story.

Your "cheap tricks" are my favorite part of your blog. You have some really good ideas for getting the same results as the expensive tools, without having to buy them.

Swedie

Anonymous said...

Hi Mel, your creativity is bunntyful,love Lady

Christy Farneth-Kerr said...

Wow Super Job Mel!!
I love the bunnies :)

The Wired Angel said...

Mel.. this is absolutely darling... I love it! Have you sent a pic to Mo? Please do as I know she would love to see it.
Hugs, PeggyM

Anonymous said...

Hi Mel, this desk set is sooo cute.
I love Cosmo Cricket's paperline
the bunny stamps are so sweet.
Wonderful job, great detail went
into this. Thanks again for sharing your incredible talent with us!!!!! :D

csroyal said...

Awesome, awesome, awesome, Mel!

Anonymous said...

Absolutly `Gorgeous` Mel ...I love your project TFS
I absolutly love that paper line!!I just gotta have it..lol
Enjoy the rest of your week:)

Dawn♥ said...

Oh my goodness Mel what lovely projects. Lovely job. ♥Dawn♥

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! Mel, you've made another fabulous project here!! Great colors and lovely details!!! Hope you are doing well!!
smiles,Deena

Whimsical Wendy said...

Loving it as usual Mel! The embossed CC paper looks almost like fabric...really love this effect.

Thanks for your lovely comments on my blog too, you're a sweetie ;0)

CFLanger said...

Oh my goodness - I am just BLOWN AWAY by your creativity! This is gorgeous - absolutely gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Another gorgeous project with a totally amazing tutorial! I love the sweet images you used and that fabulous coloring technique!

(-: Heidi

Anonymous said...

I am just amazed at all the details you put into your GORGEOUS creations!! This is certainly no exception. I love the look of your digital images!! Awesome projects! Thanks so much for sharing all your hard work. hugz, Mary

Charlene said...

these are so beautiful! I have the Everafter paper, chipboard and stickers so I just might have to play along...if I can find the dern time! heehee I happened upon your site while looking for a 6" x 6" envelope template which I still cannot find :( But I'm very happy I found your site!!!

Sue from Oregon said...

Okay...I can't even imagine being as talented as you are...this project is just amazing!

Janet said...

What a cute set!

Dawn said...

OMWord! this is just too ADORABLE! again...genius work kiddo! love all the tricks

Anonymous said...

Just wonderful! Thanks for such detail in your explanation.

Kathlene said...

Just amazing. I love so many things about this project I don't know where to start from the great texturized/embossing technique to the adorable bunny images to the scallops and beaded stitching. Wonderful job.

Dawn said...

thanks again for the ledger paper! used it today=)
blog/scs

~T~ said...

WOW!!! That's detailed. Great job.

Michelle said...

hi mel.this is an absolutely fantastic project... I love the embossed print paper..and the images are beyond adorable!...

and your coloring??
well..it's nothing less than OFF THE WALL AWESOME!!!
hugs
michelle

Kim Etherington said...

Such a cute back to school image. Love what you've done with it. All your attention to detail is amazing and fabulous. Did you get your new folders yet? I hope they found your missing package!!

Erum Tasneem said...

love how the texture came out on the orange paper! Looks so cool!
This is a great project mel... i love and admire ur art and the way you add those lil somethings in your cards and projects.. u are the queen of creativity!