Crayon Framed Art

Crayon Framed Art

by Wendy Switzer

Level of difficulty: Easy

Time to Create: 2-3 hours

Supplies

• Crayons
• Double sided tape
• Scissors
• Canvas fabric or canvas frame
• Photo Frame (if using canvas fabric)
• Blow dryer
• Craft knife

Instructions:

1. Use your craft knife to slice all the papers around the crayons.  Completely remove all paper from each crayon. 
2. Place a strip of double sided tape across the top of your canvas work space.
3. Begin to lay out your crayons in the desired pattern.  Make sure to use dark colors sparingly since they tend to dominate the finished product.
4. Place canvas onto a baking sheet and place in the oven for 15-25 minutes.  Prop up one end of the baking sheet or off set the oven rack.  This will create gravity for the melting crayons.  You can also set the canvas outside in the sun if it is hot enough. 
5. After the crayons have begun to melt, use a hair dryer to continue the melting process.  Use a high heat setting with a low or medium blowing setting.  You can use a high blowing setting, but this will tend to make the melted crayon blow or splatter in areas that you do not want it on.
6. Once you have the desired melted look, you can either continue to melt away the crayons until only the dye from the crayons is left behind, or you can leave the actual wax drips.  
7. If there are still small pieces of the crayons, you can carefully peel them off of your work surface.  Use the blow dryer to melt the remaining crayon residue to finish off the look.
8. You can also leave the crayons on the canvas for a unique look. 
9. Let the wax completely set up again before placing the canvas fabric into a picture frame. 

Tile Trivets & Decor

by Wendy Switzer

KUTV Channel 2

Level: Easy

Use Staz-On ink along the edges of the tiles, as well as stamp the design.

Supplies:

• Ceramic tile - any size
• Chipboard
• Felt or Fun Foam
• Glue Gun
• E6000
• Glitter
• Staz On Ink
• Rubber/Acrylic Stamps
• Clear Acrylic spray
• Easel
• Cutting mat
• Razor blade or craft knife
• Button magnets - STRONG magnets

There are a number of ways to create a beautiful trivet that can be, not only useful, but a piece of decorative art as well.  

Instructions:

GLITTERED TILES

1. Clean tile 
2. If you are using a mosaic tile, decide on the size for your project and cut the remaining tiles away.
3. Measure the full size of your tile(s) and use that measurement to cut a piece of chipboard and felt/fun foam that is 1/2" SMALLER than your tiles. 
4. Use glue gun or E6000 to secure the chipboard directly to the back of the tiles.  
5. Glue the felt/fun foam on top of the chipboard.  This will prevent your trivet from damaging or scratching your table or counter top.  
6. Use Staz-On solvent ink to stamp images onto your tile.  If you plan on adding glitter to your project, this it the time to apply it.  Shake off any excess and set aside to let dry.
7. Once your tile is dry, use a glue gun to apply glue into the spaces between the tiles.  While it is still hot/wet apply glitter again. 
8. Once the glue has hardened, carefully brush away any excess glitter.  
9. Spray with a clear acrylic.  Set aside and let dry.

You can also use cording, ribbon, yarn, etc. in the tile gap (as shown above)

STAMPED TILES

1.  Clean Tile
2. Prepare the back of the tile as you did above (steps 3-5).
3. Stamp images onto your tile.  Let Dry
4. Spray with an clear acrylic to seal your image(s).

Magnets

1. Cut small mosaic tiles apart using your craft knife and cutting mat.
2. Clean & dry tiles
3. Prepare the back of the tile as you did above (steps 3-5).
4. Stamp with desired images
5. When stamped images are dry, spray with a clear acrylic to seal design.
6. Use E6000 to secure a button magnet to the back of each tile. 

You can also use acrylics to paint your own design onto the tiles, as shown here.  Add magnets to the back.  

3-D Glass Art

March 30, 2011

Layered Photo & Shadow Box

by Wendy Switzer

Supply List:

·         2 Picture frames – with sections built into the frame (or with sectioned matting)

·         6-8 copies of a favorite photo

·         Foam mounting squares/dots

·         E-6000 glue

·         Adhesive Runner

·         Misc memorabilia

·         Scissors

Instructions:

1.     Remove glass from all frames and clean well.

2.     Set one photo aside, this will be your back/foreground photo.

3.     Next, begin to cut out elements of your photo starting with the furthest items in the photo

4.     Continue to cut elements out of the photos until you have cut out the “closest” items.

5.     Begin to layer them in order…furthest to closest.

6.     Use foam dots to secure them to the project and to give them the 3-D effect.

7.     Secure both pieces of the glass into each frame.

8.     You will be gluing the frames back-to-back, so place the frames onto your work surface with the glass facing UP.  One will be your bottom piece and the other the top. 

9.     On the BOTTOM piece begin to place all of your elements (photo and memorabilia) facing up and secure them into place once you have them laid out as desired. NOTE: you can add a special message, saying, newspaper clipping, vinyl lettering, etc.

10.  Place second frame on top and make sure everything shows through as desired.

11.  Glue frames together and your project is ready to hang.  

3-D Glass Art

March 30, 2011

Layered Glass Art

by Wendy Switzer

Supply List:

·         5 Pictures frames (any size)

·         Foam mounting squares/dots

·         E-6000 glue

·         Adhesive Runner

·         Layering elements - Stickers, Photos, Die-cuts, etc.

·         Dry erase marker

Instructions:

1.     Remove glass from all frames and clean well.

2.     Number the glass pieces, 1-5.

3.     Stack them in numerical order…1 being on top.

4.     Select an element to use as your art.

5.     The bottom piece of glass with be where you will begin placing your art elements.

6.     Place all of your foreground pieces on the bottom piece of glass (#5)

7.     Place #4 on top and begin to add next layer of art pieces.

8.     Continue with each layer until all glass pieces and layers have been created

9.     Make sure all layers of glass and art pieces are in the places you desire and line up, when you place all of the glass on top of each other. 

10.  Next, separate all the glass pieces and on the TOPS of each glass piece, place foam dots in each corner of the glass.  Remove the top adhesive protectors and adhere each glass piece to the one below.

11.  Add adhesive to the inside edge of the frame so you are able to securely keep your glass art in place.

12.  Place your glass into the frame and press into place.  Let dry.

13.  Place another frame (same style as top frame) onto the back and glue into place as you did with the top frame. 

Jewelry Box Wall Art

 January 12, 2011

by Wendy Switzer

Supplies:

·         Shadow box frames “Timeless” – 2, unpainted 16X20

·         Spray paint – with added texture/flecking

·         Cricut Machine – mats, spatula, etc.

·         Cricut Cartridges – “Pagoda” & a font cartridge of your choice

·         Vinyl – 2 colors, your choice

·         Transfer tape

·         Acrylic paint – to coordinate with spray paint and vinyl colors

·         Paint brush

·         Hinges - 3

·         Screwdriver

·         Magnetic closure

·         Upholstery tacks – 20-30

·         E6000 glue

·         Wall hanging kit

Instructions:

1)     Start by removing backing from frames, removing glass and anything else that is in the frame.  You want the bare frame. You will be using ALL of the shadow box frame contents, so do not throw anything away at this point.

2)     Spray paint entire surfaces of the 2 frames and set aside to completely dry.  While your frame is drying you can prepare the remaining portions of the project. 

3)     Using your Cricut machine and “Pagoda” cartridge, cut out 3 -   on your vinyl.  1 at 14” and 2 at 11”.  The location on your keypad for this design is THIRD ROW DOWN, THIRD KEY FROM THE LEFT.  The size of your design will vary depending upon the size of your frames.  If you are using the 16X20 size frames, then the size indicated will work for your project.

4)     Next cut, from vinyl, will be 5 - . Cut 1 at 14” and 4 at 6”.  The location on your keypad for this design is THIRD ROW DOWN, NINTH KEY FROM THE LEFT + SHIFT KEY. 

5)     Weed out your vinyl, press transfer tape onto all designs, burnish with bone folder, peel back and apply LARGEST shapes to right lower corner of your FRAME GLASS.  Burnish and carefully peel back the transfer tape.  NOTE: Apply your branch designs before you apply your flower design.  

6)     Cut out a thought or words of inspiration and add them to the glass where desired.

7)     There is a large chipboard backing that comes with each frame.  Use the acrylic paint and paint brush to paint one of them.  You do not need to cover it completely.  You can abstractly paint it for a “white-washed” look, as we did in the picture.  Set aside to dry.

8)     Once the spray paint has dried on your frames, secure them together using 3 decorative hinges. NOTE: You want to join the frames together so that BOTH of the front sides are UP.  So in other words you are joining the frames in the same order you would find them stacked on a shelf in a store.  You may want to spray paint these if the color of the hinge does not blend well.

9)     Add your magnetic closure to the right, insides of the frames.

10)  Add glass back into the top frame.  Place your painted chipboard in next…painted side visible from the front.  Next place one of the cardboard shadow box forms inside.  Now, you will bend the frame tabs in and over the form to secure everything in place.  You can touch up any areas that need to have a little paint added.

11)  In the bottom frame place the cardboard shadow box form and then the chipboard behind.  Secure in place with provided tabs.

12)  Add smaller vinyl branches and flowers to one corner of each cardboard form (insides of frames).

13)  Decide where you want your jewelry hooks to be and how many.  Measure out and mark lightly with a pencil. 

14)  One by one, dip each tip of the upholstery nail into the E6000 and poke into the cardboard form.  DO NOT push all the way in.  Leave a good size space between the head of the nail and the form.  Let dry over night.