Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Flowers in Canvas


Spring time = Flowers!  Which I love to buy and plant, grow from seed and receive as a gift.

Hi, and happy spring everyone.  Welcome to my blog and have a look at this card I made in the spirit of Spring for the Linnie Blooms Design Blog.  I really enjoy working on canvas on a larger scale and it is so much fun to work with smaller pieces of plain canvas as well.  Here I used one of the Flowers from The Linnie Blooms collection, which by the way is coming out with a whole new line of Home Decor products. (check it out here)

Here is my card for today.







Products used:
Canvas Flower from Linnie Blooms
Shabby Trim in Green from Linnie Blooms
Cardstocks in Blue Glitter, and Brick Fat Plaid from The Robin's Nest
Shimmering Water Colour in "Poppy Red" from Colourarte
Stamp , VS4911 series 7 from Studio G
Ink from Ranger Archival in Jet Black
Dies "Hello Sunshine" from Sizzix
Button from Dollar Tree
Embroidery floss in Black from DMC


Thank you for stopping by.

Friday, April 24, 2015

Pocket Letter Passion

Pocket Letters!  Modern day pen pals who love snail mail and sharing creativity, that's pretty much how I summarize this new to me passion.

Hi, thanks for stopping by today as I share with you yet another creative endeavour of mine.  Well, I did not start this new movement of snail mail crafty peeps, that credit goes over to a lady named Janette who thought this might be a fun thing to do.  Wow, has this ever become popular!  When I first heard about Pocket Letters I was very curious, kinda like a cat would be!!  So, I researched it, signed up to a few groups on the internet and Facebook, and now I need to find another group!  One for crafty people with addictions!!!  Yes, people be warned if you too decide to try out this Pocket Letter Pal thing you too may become addicted.

My intention is to share some crafty ideas over here on my blog of how you too can make some amazing and well appreciated Pocket Letters for your new found friends.  Stay tuned also for some posts I am working on for other sites on this very topic.

In a nutshell Pocket Letters are a form of regular snail mail that you exchange with another person.  You get a nine pocket page protector (like the ones used to hold sports and trading cards)  available though Amazon (Box in right hand side bar)  Then you fill each pocket with something lovely, include some note, trinkets, treats etc.  then you send it off to your Pocket Letter Pal.

Here is a picture of some of the letters I am presently working on for my own Pals.  These are just the backgrounds.



Then here is a picture of a very lovely Pocket Letter I received from one of my new Pals.

This is how I organize my supplies for Pocket Letter making.


Thanks for stopping by, and comeback to see more tips, how to's and shares of beautiful Pocket Letters I will be receiving and making.


UPDATE:  Amazon.ca sells the ">Sizzix Movers and Shapers ATC card die and the base plate so you can cut out perfect cards for those pockets.
                   Amazon.ca sells the "> Page protectors too

Tip time

Creative Paperclay® as a paste?  It can be done.  Here is another way to use your air drying creative Paperclay® modelling material.  I have not tested this method on other air drying clays, but I assume the results may be similar.




Hi, today I have a quick tip to share with the viewers of the Creative Paperclay ®Modelling Material blog.  As a Designer on their Team I made a canvas a while back and I used the clay as a paste with a stencil to create some relief on my canvas.  It was a bit of a sticky situation!  However, the results were amazing.  I like how the piece I was working on came out feeling like a plaster but it is so light weight.  Anyways, I share projects and how to's along with other fellow Designers over at the Creative Paperclay® blog, just in case you are looking for ideas.

I just wanted to share with my viewers here the idea of looking at and using your own craft supplies in new ways.  It is fun, and economical.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Art from the Heart

A week full of inspiration!!  What fun!  AND, if you participate you will be entered into our random drawing for $50 in FREE Linnie Blooms product!!  That's a LOT of product!!  

So, mark your calender, set your phone reminder, do whatever it takes not to miss out!!

Hello, and welcome to MY first ever Linnie Blooms Design Team Blog Hop. Today is the first day!  I made this tag for the occasion which I will either use as a piece of home decor, a mini album or perhaps even a key chain.  I have yet to decide.  :)  I do love to work with canvas and I had so much fun designing and assembling this project.  It may be small but a lot of work went into making this.


Products needed:

Linnie Blooms Canvas Arrow-House
Linnie Blooms Luggage Tag
Linnie Blooms Shabby trim (Pink & Green)
Linnie Blooms Flutter Stencil and Mask

Micron Black Pen (Sakura)
Brown Craft Paint (Dollarama)
White Gesso  (Daler Rowney)
Vintage book page (My collection)
Gold seed bead (Multi-Crafts)
Glue (Tombow)
Glue (Aleene's)
Creative Medium in Iridescent Green (Imagine Crafts)
Label Maker and Labels (Dymo)
Permanent Green Ink Marker (Sharpie)
Scraps of printed paper from my stash
Pink Glitter Glue (Elmers)


Here's the list of participating designers and their direct links:

Ann Strecko Koeman (You are Here)
(Next stop)Karen Sessions
Don’t forget to leave a comment on each blog so you can be entered into our giveaway! Please share some love by Liking our Facebooks, sharing, pinning, etc....


Remember to visit each one, leave a comment and get entered for a chance to win win win!  Thanks for hopping along.


Sunday, April 19, 2015

Handmade Paper Victorian Style Cone

Hello, as a Designer over at the Arnold Grummer Paper Making Blog I made this cone:




These are intended to be used as home decor items or as party favours in our time.  You can make something similar very easily by turning any sheet of paper into a cone.  The idea is that you can fill the cone with small gifts and treats for its recipient.

I made this cone with a sheet of my very own handmade paper and some recycled vintage trims and doodads.  I stuffed the cone with filler made from shredding vintage music sheets and some left over basket stuffing cellophane shreds.

For a coupon code and links to the Arnold Grummer store click here.  Thank you for stopping by.

Saturday, April 18, 2015

Thermometer for the Garden

Hi, today I want to show you how you too can take a simple wooden outdoor thermometer from the Dollar store and slightly alter it to fir your decor.  I made this with products from the Robin's Nest and I share how I put it together over at The Robin's Nest Blog.


So all you need is a wooden thermometer (I got mine at Dollarama)
Some white felt flowers (These ones were given to me by the Robin's Nest they are from Gina's Designs, I believe)
Kreinik Metallic Thread 6255 (also gift from The Robin's Nest)
Permanent ink markers in pink, yellow and blue.  (I  used Sharpies I had bought at Staples)
E-6000 glue (Michael's)

and of course beautiful Dew Drops and Mini Die-Cut Shapes from The Robin's Nest
Butterfly Dew Drops (available here)
Cherry Chocolate Dew Drops (available here)
Christmas Dew Drops (available here)
Azure Mini Die-Cut Shapes (available here)


Remember to work in a well ventilated area when using the adhesive mentioned or any similar product.

Thank you  for stopping by, and keep on crafting.


Thursday, April 16, 2015

Haul from Michaels part 3: Value Village by Annmakes

Haul video time!  Last week after I shopped at Michael's I popped into the neighbouring thrift store: Value Village.  I scored some pretty neat deals.  Not only am I saving money on my crafting but I also share some money saving tips with you.  So enjoy.





Remember to subscribe to my channel, follow my blog, give me positive comments on my blog and my youtube channel, and a thumbs up on my Youtube channel really helps.  Doing all these little things helps me continue to bring you all this FREE crafty content.  Thank you. :)

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Haul From Michaels by AnnMakes

Haul time!  Hi there.  Welcome to my first Michael's video haul!  I was told that viewers are curious about where crafty people, and people in general shop and what they buy.  I thought that was unusual, but hey I gotta shop just like everyone else, so why not share that too.  After all it is about being crafty!  So here goes.... Oh, and don't forget it is REALLY important that if you like this or any of my videos that you click on the upwards pointing thumb down below the video,  AND please subscribe to my channel where it says subscribe.  This is important cause without your support I can't keep sharing my craftiness for free!


The thumbs up if you like this video should be around here VVVVVVV


Thanks for stopping by.  Now go make something! :)


Monday, April 13, 2015

Special Birthday Card

Hi, today I have a sweet card that you too can make for a special lady in your life.  I designed this card for the Linnie Blooms Design team and company.



Over at Linnie Blooms I explain the steps involved in making this, which include stencilling, masking, and embossing.

Products used:
Linnie Blooms:  "Stitched Doodles" stamp
Linnie Blooms:  "Angel" Stencils/Mask
Stampendous:  "Birthday Wish"Clear Stamps
Ranger:  "Holographic" Embossing Powder
Ranger:  "Peacock Feathers" Distress Ink
Ranger:  "Jet Black" Archival Ink
Stampin' Up!: "VersaMark" Watermark Stamp Pad
Sakura:  Micron pens 05, #21, #36, and #117
MegaBrands:  "RoseArt- Blast Effects" Dual Action Spray Writers
Crayola: "Pink" colouring pencil
Laurentien: "Cream" Colouring pencil
Michaels:  "Recollections" Card
Multi-Crafts (Dollar Tree): sequins
Tombow: "Mono" adhesive

I enjoyed looking at some of my older supplies in a new light and incorporating them with some brand new to the market products.  Please, subscribe to my Youtube channel and follow me around on social media by clicking on the links in the side bars.

Thanks for stopping by.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Rose Mixed Media Mini Canvas

Roses are one of my favourite flowers.  I look forward to seeing them bloom in my garden each year, I got a head start this year despite the snow that is still here and made my very own rose on a canvas.

I made this for myself and as a Design Team project for the Creative Paperclay® blog.


This month the Designers got to work with some other cool products and tools and I know I enjoyed working with them.

I really like having these new to me "Sandits".  They are great tools that are sturdy sticks with sand paper tips, and are wonderful to use when working with detailed work like the Creative Paperclay®.


I have a love affair for Luminescent watercolour paints so I was pleased to add to my collection of Twinkling H2O's some new colours from "Colurarte".  These made the dry Creative Paperclay® so pretty.

Here is a list of the products I used to make this small Mixed Media Canvas:

Creative Paperclay® air dry modelling material http://www.paperclay.com
Canvas
Acrylic Paint (Americana) in Sky Blue
Gel Medium matte (Omer DeSerres)
Ink Distres (Ranger) in Peacock Blue, Yellow Mustard, and Spun Sugar
Sandits (sanding sticks) http://shop.sandits.com
Water colors, Twinkling H2O's by Colourarte  www.colourarte.com
in: Pretty Peridot, Wild Vine, Coral Berry, Poppy Red, Sunset Glow, and Peppermint Taffy.
Sketch and Wash charcoal pencil Generals

Thank you to Sandits, Colouarte, and Creative Paperclay® for their gifts of products.

Thank YOU for stopping by and come back soon. :)


Monday, April 6, 2015

Handmade Paper Tags

Tags are so useful and easy to make.  As a Designer for the Arnold Grummer Papermaking Design Team I can make my very own paper and paper products.  I use the method developed by Arnold Grummer himself and I am always pleased with the results.

Here are some tags I made and used on some Easter Gift baskets yesterday.  These can easily be adapted to suit any occasion.


I explain in detail how I made these tags over at the Arnold Grummer blog.

If you would like to purchase some great paper making tools and get a 20 percent discount, then here is this month's exclusive code: 20Four. (to be used at the AG store)

Thank you for stopping by and please leave a comment.  You may also subscribe to my channels and more in the side bars.



Saturday, April 4, 2015

Altered Bird House

Birdhouse for rent!  Beautiful and cheerful little cottage decorated by AnnMakes for The Robin's Nest.

Hello, thanks for coming to my open house to check out this one room beauty that I altered with some pretty products from the Robin's Nest.

I used the Plaid® "Outdoor Mod Podge" to make sure the papers would stick and stay stuck outdoors!  I also used "Quick Grip" adhesive by Beacon which is a super duper glue that withstands the rigours of the outdoors. I do intend on hanging this beautiful bird house in a relatively sheltered area outside, perhaps under the roof's over hang of our house.  Close enough to a window so we can see if we get renters!  And also to entertain our indoor cat. :)

The instructions are fairly simple and involve some basic painting, cutting and pasting.  I list the steps  and the links to the papers and  Dew Drops over at the Robin's Nest blog.



Here are a few more pictures of different angles of the project.






Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave a comment, subscribe to my blog, Youtube channel and follow me around on Twitter!  Nothing creepy though. Have fun crafting this Spring.

Thanks also to Robin's Nest, Beacon, and Plaid® for their contributions.