Art Declassified

Easy and Inexpensive Giftwrap...

When I was a teenager I worked at a Hallmark store. I couldn't wait to buy the Hallmark wrapping paper, bags, ribbon, etc. to wrap birthday gifts and Christmas gifts. It was also at the Hallmark store that I learned how to use things in ways they weren't intended. I learned how to take a roll of wrapping paper, crinkle it and create beautiful bows and garlands around the diplays. I learned how to use out of the ordinary items for merchandising. There are many times I refer back to my "Matawan Card & Gift" (name of the store) days and I thank the owners for all that I learned - craft wise, business wise, customer service....so, John & Maryann..if you are out there: THANK YOU! :)  Now onto my frugal giftwrapping...no more Hallmark paper here!

Take regular lunch bags and stamp them! We found a package of 50 brown bags and a package of white bags for $1.75. That comes to 3.5 CENTS EACH! You can customize the bags to the item inside. You can fold down the top portion of the bag, add two holes to the bag and feed a piece of ribbon through it to close up the gift. If you would rather have an open bag, cut the bag down using a pair of deco scissors and fill with tissue! You can even roll the top of the bag down and stamp some white tissue to match!

Do you just need a flat bag? No need to worry, cut off the bottom of the bag and fold the bottom of the bag and adhere it to the back. You now have a flat bag - great for gift certificates!

I know, it is still a lunch bag - but you have to look past that! :)

Another inexpensive wrapping that I do...brown kraft paper (can be found in the office aisle along with shipping materials). You can stamp the paper, paint the paper, etc. I use my imagination and stamp/scrap stash and I go wild!

Stamps Used:

Apple Spice, Fete Days, Kewel Vine (All from Beautiful Bisous Collection)

Invoice, Check Please, Stich (from Pinch It set) and PYD Holidays TWO (All from the Componenets Collection)

French Script, Wire Tap (All from Background Checks Collection)

Ruth (Alias Collection)

Have a wonderful week!

~Karen

P.S. Check out Carol's project featuring Childhood and Lizabeth! Carol, THANK YOU for sharing!

Sharing your art....

I love getting mail. I love getting email. Everyday there is always something in my inbox/mailbox that catches my attention. Sometimes there are bills, but lately there have been cards and projects from YOU! It is so fun to see what YOU all have created from our stamps!Please keep the pictures and cards coming...we love to see them and maybe you will be featured on our blog!

This card was sent to us by Beth K. She bought her USUSAL SUSPECTS image at Articus Studio in Stoutsville, OH. Beth, thank you so much for sharing your card with us! We love this image and we are so happy you are enjoying it!

Robin Willis from the Worldwin Papers Design Team sent this card to me. It features DEVAN and images from the DING DONG set. Check out Robin's gallery...she creates BEAUTIFUL cards. You can also find more of her work on her Blog. THANK YOU ROBIN!

If you would like to send us your creation, please include the store in which you bought it at so we can give a shout out to our local stores and webstores!

Have a wonderful week! ~Karen

P.S. If you signed up for a newsletter and you havn't received one...it is because one hasn't been sent in a while! Starting April 1st a monthly newsletter will be sent out to customers and retailers. We hope you enjoy it!

Project: Gum Slider (Our CHA M&T)

This is by no means a new idea or technique, but it is a fun quick project that can be used as a store make and take, party giveaways, teacher gifts, etc. It can also be reconfigured to use candy bars, emergency sewing kit/card or anything that can be contained in a box like structure.

Materials:

Pack of Slider Gum

16 Inch Ribbon

Cardstock

Glossy panel cardstock (not pictured)

Stamps (stamps used here: Alice, Color Me Sync, Pay Your Dues Holidays TWO)

Ink (StazOn: Black Cherry, Ultramarine, Jet Black)

Hole Punch

Paper Cutter/Scissors

Scoring Tool (we used a Scor-It board)

The easiest thing to do when creating a gum slider is to take apart the original sleeve and trace the size of the sleeve and mark the areas that need scoring onto a piece of cardstock. **Not all gum packs are the same size...so keep that in mind if you make mulitiple gum packs!

Trim out the cardstock along the traced lines.

Using a scoring tool, score the areas that need to have a fold.

Now you are ready to stamp! With bigger sized stamps, I like to use the ink pad and stamp the ink pad onto the rubber image. This helps me get the best, most even ink coverage.

Stamp "Color Me Sync" on one half of the scored cardstock. This will be the front of the slider. Stamp "Alice" on a piece of glossy cardstock. (Photopaper can be used as well). The combination of glossy cardstock/photo paper and a solvent ink like Staz On creates a photo-like images when using one of our photographic stamp images. Also, ink and stamp a sentiment ("Just Because").

Trim out "Alice" and "Just Because". Set aside.

Fold cardstock along scored lines. Run adhesive along the unstamped portion of cardstock (between the far right score and the outer edge). Complete the the construction of the sleeve by adhering the two ends of the cardstock together.

Attached stamped image and sentiment. Pinch top of sleeve together and punch a hole through both the front and back of the sleeve. Run ribbon through the two holes, keeping an even amount of ribbon on both the front and back of the sleeve.

Slide gum into the sleeve and tie a bow along the top.

Gently pull on the bow ribbon to pull out the gum!

Have fun and enjoy this easy and quick project!

Have a great day!

~Karen

Art Declassified - In Class!

There is a wonderful local store, My Craft Room, that I have been visiting since they opened for business 5 years ago. I'll always remember how old they are because I was very pregnant with my son when they first opened and I couldn't wait to get in there after my son was born. It is hard to believe it has been 5 years since I spent my first dollar there! I've met many talented local designers and artists through this store. One of them, Vicky Martindale, has been a local lifesaver for me! She has helped us out with Make and Takes at The Great Lakes Mega Meet and has done numerous make and takes and classes using Art Declassified Stamps at My Craft Room. Last week she did a class using Kewel Vine from The Beautiful Bisous line of stamps. These are the three cards she created. She also used Hero Mail One in the third card. The butterfly in the first card is another stamp and I have no idea which company produces it. It is very beautiful...if anyone knows who makes this stamp..let me know so I can give them credit!

I've seen the Kewel Vine stamp used in so many different ways and it is amazing how versatile it can be.

Thank you Vicky for all your beautiful work and thank you for all that attended the class. It was great meeting all of you and enjoy your new Art Declassified stamp!

This is the first of weekly updates. I will be trying to update every Monday/Tuesday with a little project or idea. Some entries will include instructions or step out pictures...others like this one will just be sharing some projects that have been made by stores and customers using Art Declassified stamps. If you have a project you would like featured, please contact me! ~Karen

P.S. The Store Locator is now update to date! Please visit your local scrap, stamp and craft stores! If you don't see your store listed and you carry Art Declassified products, please let me know. Stores with open orders (or orders not yet out for delivery) are not listed yet and will be updated upon processing.