Sakura Blog Hop

We are all smiles here on the Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team and glad you join us on our little hop.. We are doing Blog Candy!!!! The Blog Candy will be a bottle of Crystal Lacquer and a set of 6 color lacquers... How cool is that.
My name is Terri Sproul and am the Design team Leader and promoter for Sakura Hobby Crafts, I am honored and proud to start this amazing Blog Hop with the whole Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team...


Supplies:
Crystal Lacquer - Peals
sticker: sparkraftent.com
Stamp: Unity
Black Ink
Transparency - office supply store
Pink Cardstock





Directions:
1) Cut transparency to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" score in half and fold into card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/2"
2) Cut Pink Cardstock to 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
3) On cardstock stamp "Smile" quote using Black ink - set aside
4) on front of transparancy - adhere the flower stickers. Fill the outline Flower Sticker with 3-D Crystal Lacquer Pearls - use your favorite colors..
5) Once 3-D Crystal Lacquer is dry - adhere Pink cardstock with stamp quote on the inside of card and send...

Here is the complete Team Hop if you get lost - stop back by here to find your way to the next person on the hop.. YOUR NEXT STOP IS TERRI SPROUL BLOG.


1) Sakura Blog - You are here
2) Terri Sproul blog - Your Next Stop
3) Jenifer Blog
4) Karen blog
5) Chelsea Blog
6) Heather Blog
7) Carole Blog
8) Carol Berns Blog

To get the blog candy you must - become a follower of all the blogs including this one and leave a comment on all the blogs. I will being check to see if you did... It's that easy... I will pick a winner and post the winner on this blog on July 3rd... See ya back then.. GO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS HOP!

Colorful Glass Pendants

I really enjoy working with the glass tiles from Sakura Craft. For this project, I recycled some painted photo paper and applied flower stickers from Sparkraft Enterprise.

It is a little hard to tell, but I did fill the middle of each flower and petals with the colored 3D Crystal Color Lacquer from the Glitter primary line.

The photo paper was painted with Lumiere by Jacquard. The word "soul" in the third pendant had been printed on the photo paper using my Photosmart printer.

I was not very patient when I glued the paper to the glass with the 3D Crystal Lacquer and you can see that some air bubbles did form at the top. You want to make sure you apply even pressure to the glass as it is drying, to avoid air pockets.

The paper was initially larger than the glass piece. I glued the piece down and once it was dried, trimmed very close the the glass.

I used wasabi paper on the back of the glass pendant with a coat of 3D Crystal Lacquer. Thebails and chain are also from Sakura Craft. The bail attached with 3D Crystal Lacquer.

Keep on creating!

Heather Morrow
Creative Souls

Hurray for the Red, White and Blue!

Have you ever started a project and then WHAM...you got an idea that took you in a totally different direction? Well, that's exactly what happened to me with this week's project...I just love the creative process! What had originally started out as cupcake picks (yes, I was going to show off my baking abilities!), turned into this awesome banner! I know what you're thinking...."Darn, I would rather have had some cupcake pics!" Well, maybe next month!

I have a ton of pictures to share in this post, so I hope you enjoy them all!

Here's the loooong list of items I used:

3D Crystal Lacquer

Sakura Craft Gem Particles (Blue Flash and Peacock Green)

Sakura Black Rectangle Jewelry Finding

Chipboard

Idea-ology Seasonal Paper Stash (4th of July images)

AccuCut Pennant Die

Distress Ink in Vintage Photo, Old Paper, Faded Jeans and Barn Door

Stampers Anonymous Fabulous Flourishes RubberStamp

Crepe paper streamers in red, white & blue

Glimmer Mist - in various colors

Acrylic Paint - red

Accucut Scallop Circle Die

Tim Holtz Alterations Sizzix Decorative Strip Die - Paper Rosette

AccuCut Fringe Die

White and Red Cardstock

Blue Glitter Paper

Pearl topped hat pin ,a tiny price tag & 3 clear rhinestones

A strip of red rhinestones

2 Idea-ology Hinge Clips

2 skewers "borrowed" from my kitchen

Oh! and 2 stars from a box in the basement marked "Christmas decor"

Wow - that's a long list, but you know how it is when you start going on a project, you just keep adding things!

Ok, so here's how I made the "cupcake" picks. Very simple really, especially with the magical rosette die - if you don't have one yet, get one, it makes rosettes in a snap!

I printed out words using the My Underwood font onto plain printer paper. I used "God Bless America" and "Happy 4th of July" for my rosettes. I cut each word out, distressed the edges and glued them on the rosette center. Then I covered the center with Crystal Lacquer.

You can see in these photos that the edges are sparkly blue. This is the Gem Particles by Sakura and here is how I applied it. I made a puddle of Crystal Lacquer on a paper plate along with a mound of the Gem Particles. I dunked the edges of the rosette in first the crystal lacquer and then the Gem Particles, going around the entire edge and then set it aside to dry.

I glued the rosette onto a scallop circle, then glued a skewer behind the rosette, using Crystal Lacquer. Ta-DA!

This is where things kind of got fuzzy. I had my picks ready to go - (just go upstairs and make the cupcakes Karen)....but alas, I somehow got the idea to put these cute little numbers on a banner....a U S A banner...for the 4th of July....yeah! So, 2 days later....and a lot more doo dads, I finished it! Here's some more photos of the finished project.

For the firework-looking doo-dads, I just used my Accucut Fringe die. You could also, just cut fringe with your scissors, leaving a band uncut at the bottom, roll up the paper over a pencil, (to curl the fringe) then roll the bottom band around the bottom of a pencil to get the flower or fireworks shape. I layered 2 together and used a hot glue gun to attach to the banner. I glued a clear rhinestone in the center.

I used crepe paper streamers to make the large rosettes* under each letter.
This one was sprayed with glimmer mist and edged in red acrylic paint.

I outlined the "JULY 4th" with crystal lacquer to make it shiny.

Well, that's it for today. I hope you all enjoy your 4th of July holiday - hey, make a banner!

Our Design Team has a fun Blog Hop planned for June 30th. I hope you can join us for it!

Here's a link to get more information and to RSVP -

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=225213800830499

For more information of Crystal Lacquer products, visit www.sakuracraft.com

and please visit my blog and become a follower!! - www.katscrapstudio.blogspot.com

Until Next time...stay creative!

* Chelsea had shared how to make these easy-peasy crepe paper rosettes on the Sakura Blog, but if you'd like more info on how to make them, you can just email me at katscrapfever@sbcglobal.net .

Crystal Lacquer Wrist Cuff

I have to give credit for this project to my daughter-in-law Joanna Lassak. We were looking through some of my past projects when she suggested making a wrist cuff with Sakura Hobby Craft Crystal Lacquer.

To begin I poured a band of clear crystal lacquer on a Teflon craft mat.

Next I sprinkled the base of lacquer with three colors of ultrafine glitter. I covered a second base of crystal lacquer with microbeads.

The microbeads weren’t successful. They were too heavy and sank into the lacquer.

I set the bands aside to dry overnight. The microbead band was a total failure , but I was pleased with the glitter band. I used a craft knife and straight edge to trim the sides of the band.

Next, I stamped the band with black Staz-On ink.

I rounded each end of the band for a more finished look and pierced small hole in each end with a Crop-a-dile. Then I used the Crop-a-dile to set a rivet in each of the holes. I used a black velvet brad for the closure.

The finished wrist cuff is a glitzy addition to my jewelry collection. Check out the 3-D Crystal Lacquer blog for more project ideas.

Zentangle Happy Accident!!!

Hello fellow crafters,
Do you ever start out creating with a specific idea in mind then have something happen that takes you in a new direction? Welcome to the story for this blogpost. I started with a Dreamweaver stencil of a kimono and drew/traced the outline of the image with my micron pen. I then in true Zentangle fashion filled in the open area with some of my favorite Zentangle patterns.
I then started painting inside the lines with different Sakura Hobby Craft Colored Crystal Lacquers.

Well, while I was painting one of the lacquers 'spilled' all over my craft area and onto the card base part of the image. I quickly scooped as much of the spilled lacquer back into the tube for later use and then took a moment to look at my 'ruined' piece.


Keep in mind I had already spent about 30-40 minutes to draw all the tangle patterns in the Kimono and I really liked the results and didn't want the piece to go to waste. So I took a page from the teaching of Maria Thomas, co-founder of Zentangle and took the attitude that there are no mistakes....you just go in a new direction when something doesn't happen the way you envisioned. I took the brush I was using and painted (as quickly as possible) the blue glob all over the rest of the design. Then wiped it all with a wet paper towel to try and even it out as much as possible.
I added a few drops of other colors on top of the blue in different areas to give it more dimension and color. This time not caring if I went 'outside the lines'. Once the entire piece dried I cut out the kimono using detail scissors.

Then I used the clear Crystal Lacquer on the back as an adhesive using the toothpick to evenly spread the lacquer to all the edges. I flipped it over and put the piece on my yellow cardbase and voila! A finished card!

I hope you like the end result as much as I do!!! A couple of things you need to remember when working with the Crystal Lacquer...it dries quickly so make sure you are cleaning you paintbrush in between colors and right after you finish painting with them. Also, if you do get a blob of color and have to change what you are doing....decide quickly as this product does dry rather fast!

Thanks for taking the time to check out my project. Other ideas can be seen on my blog here.
Watch for the Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team bloghop on June 30th! Blog Candy will be available!!!

Jennifer
The Stamp Addict

Father's Day Card

A play I have been doing since April (I Never Sang for My Father) is closing this Sunday, Father's Day.  I have had a great time doing this play, it's a wonderfully talented cast, and we have a great time together.  The play is about family relationships, loss and connecting with our fathers in particular.  So, I thought my cards to the cast would also make a great Father's Day Card!  The specific touches I used for the play, can simply be changed for the things the Father in your life likes!

What I used:

• 3D Crystal Lacquer
• Metallic Color Lacquer
• Blank Greeting Cards
• Patterned Paper
• Cardstock with Poster Clip Art printed on my printer
• Cricut Sentimentals Cartridge, Chair
• Tim Holtz sheet music Texture Fade
• Distress Ink Pumice Stone, and Honey
• Rubber Stamps 

As I said, I used images that are from the play.  The Father's Chair is present on stage the whole time, and I think it's a great symbol of Dad, like his throne.  Can't think of a man I know who doesn't love his recliner, spot on the sofa or special gaming chair.  Dubonnet is also referenced in the play, but you could take Dad's favorite hobby, beer, soda, what have you and find a great vintage poster image like I did!  Trains, golf sports team, make it special and all about him.

I was mass producing these, if you have multiple Dads in your life you may want to do the same.

First I cut up my little Vintage posters, and die cut all my chairs and cushions.

I also cut some 3.5"x5" pieces of white cardstock and embossed them with the sheet music texture fade.  You could use any texture fade but I chose music, again, specific to the play...

Next I inked all the sheet music with Pumice Stone and an ink blender and went over again with the ink directly, to make the notes really stand out. 

I inked the seat cushions with the Honey ink, the chair in our play is kind of a mustard color, the paper I had matched but wasn't quite yellow enough, and I also wanted to give the cushions more dimension like a real cushion.

I used 3D Clear Crystal Lacquer on the bottle and glass of Dubonnet, to make it look like glass, and I added some copper accents of Metallic Color Lacquer to the edges of the image.  This really gives an image and extra quality, and polish that I love!  It's such a great way to keep it from looking like something you just printed on your printer.  It gives it that special touch.

I adhered the cushions to the chairs, and let everything dry for a bit. 

Finally I Stamped the word "Congrats" on the side of the card, and used 3D Crystal Lacquer to glue everything in place.  I like the Lacquer as an adhesive, it sets things in place in seconds, and I know pieces aren't going to fall off, even going in and out of an envelope and being handled, like with some adhesives.  I also added some dots of more copper Color Lacquer to the "Congrats" to give the whole thing a uniformity.  And TADA!!  This photo doesn't do it justice, but the Crystal Lacquer really gives it finish and pizzaz!  I love the effect it creates, and I always love the "wait, you made that?" aspect that Crystal Lacquer gives.

I can't wait to hear what Father's Day slants you put to personalize yours, feel free to share!  Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful Dads in your lives!  I have other fun ideas and adventures I like to share on my blog, Whimsykins.  Have a great weekend!  Merci.

~Chelsea

UNDER THE SEA KEY RING for SAKURA

     Sakura's Crystal Lacquer is my new best friend and I have been running around the house looking for items to put it on.  It's amazing just how many items can use a little enhancing.  After exploring all avenues I settled on creating a Key Ring for my husband since Father's Day is just around the corner.  

     Let me share the procedure with you and trust me, the most difficult part of this project is waiting for it to dry (overnight works well).  This is what you'll need:

Sakura's: 1 Square Blass 1-1/2x1-5/8

                1 Bail

                Crystal Lacquer Pastel Transparent Blue

                3-D Crystal Lacquer (clear)

Other Supplies:

                3 Charms with a Beach Theme

                Gold Micro Beads, Split Ring and 1 large Double Ring

                A Smile and loads of Enthusiasm.

1.  Place a very small amount of 3-D Crystal Lacquer inside Square Blass.

2.  Position 3 Charms.

3.  Carefully sprinkle small amount of Micro Beads on the inside bottom of Blass (to simulate sand).

4.  Apply Transparent Blue Pastel Crystal Lacquer around charms, careful not to get on micro beads.

5.  Wait a couple of hours for it to dry, then apply 3-D Crystal Lacquer over entire inside of Blass.

      Wait for it to dry, overnight works well.

6.  Attach Ring,

     That's it, you're done.  Simple right?  Before you wrap it apply his favorite keys and watch his

expression, especially when he hears that you made it.  Have fun, I know I did.  Keep those creative juices flowing by trying different themed charms and different colors of Transparent and Opaque Crystal Lacquer.  

     Here's another suggestion.  Attach a Lobster Claw instead of large Ring and attach to your favorite Chain or strand of Pearls as in the following photo:

     Enjoy the journey and don't limit yourself to the possibilities that await you.  Keep smiling, Carol

http://www.sakuracraft.com

http://www.terrisproul.com

http://www.carolberns.blogspot.com

Mary Queen of Scots (Pendant)

This month from Sakura Craft, we got to play with these cool deep dish pendants. It's about 1/4" deep. I couldn't wait to layer "found objects" in . . .

This image, that reminded me of Mary Queen of Scots in her younger years - standing on the cliffs of Scotland, is from the ART-C Vintage Ladies collection. My mom had sent me these random charms. So, I played around with crowning my queen.

Cutting to fit the image in the pendant was a bit of a challenge, I ended up taking a bit too much off the top; however, you really cannot tell in the final result After using Crystal Lacquer to glue the image down, I covered it with a layer of additional lacquer.

After drying 24 hours, I put in the fleur de lis and the crown and poured in more crystal lacquer to cover the fleur de lis and leave the crown exposed.

When I was removing the crown charm from the original chain, the piece on top broke off, so it felt a bit incomplete. The star on the top is actually a bail, upside down. Again, I used morecrystal lacquer to keep it in place.

The funky legs in the original plan didn't get included; I felt they really weren't necessary to complete the piece. It was then put onto a ball-and-chain necklace.

Have fun creating!

Heather Morrow

P.S. "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the live you've imagined." -Thoreau

Father's Day Message Box

I love cruising around the Internet, reading different creative blogs and learning new techniques. I am a follower of The Graphics Fairy blog because of her awesome vintage images that she posts just about daily that are free to download (I love people who share!). I found this fun Father's Day Message Box from a link on her blog, and am now following Just Something I Made, which you should check out too!

Materials Used:

Message Box download (click here )

Craft Knife & Cutting Mat

3D Crystal Lacquer

Crystal Color Lacquer (blue)

Black coated Jewelry Finding

Distressing Tool

Distressing Ink in Tea Dye

Crop a dile & dark brown grommets

Brown bakers twine

assorted goodies to fill the box

I downloaded the image and printed it on white cardstock. I used my craft knife to cut the images out (on a craft mat) and used my Martha Stewart scoring board (which I love!) to score on the dotted lines.

Now, there are instructions you can follow on the Just Something I Made blog, but I just went ahead and folded the scored lines and the box just kind of fell together really easily. I did refer to the instructions after I had folded and glued the top portion....I guess I just wanted to make sure I did it right. I used the Crystal Lacquer to glue this puppy together...just a few dabs here and there...it doesn't take much & it sticks together really well. The images on the box are really nice, so there wasn't much decoration that needed to be done at this point. Also, there are a few tags and labels on the sheet to cut out and use.

I used my Crop-o-dile to punch holes in the center of the circles printed on the front of the box & used a brown grommet in each to reinforce. I used Crystal Lacquer and Crystal Color Lacquer (in blue) to add dimension on some of the water on the front of the box, and on some of the boulders on the back. I also used it to some of the images on the tags.

I made a little charm (charm isn't very manly, but I thought it would add a little bit to the front of the box, so we'll just call it an embellishment) using a Black coated jewelry finding from Sakura. I just googled "vintage fishing postcard" to find something I liked for the charm, I mean embellishment! I printed it on white cardstock, cut it out, glued it into the finding and covered the image with crystal lacquer. While this dried, I went ahead and started on my fillers for the box. I distressed some of the edges, added more vintage images I had downloaded and printed, along with some pictures.

Now this is where you can be as creative as ever - adding messages, photos, giftcards, tickets or whatever you want! I'm going to add a little gift certificate for a fishing license for Robert (my hubby and lucky recipient of this little number for Father's Day!).

Here's a picture of what I used to close the box. Brown bakers twine, one of the tags and the "embellishment". This was a quick project - but it looks oh so creative!

Until next time - stay creative!

Check out Sakura's Blog, www.crystallacquer.blogspot.com

and their website, www.sakuracraft.com for more information, inspiration and products!

**********************

We are so excited to announce that the Sakura Hobby Craft Design Team is having a blog hop on June 30th with Blog Candy... Here is your chance to join in a fun hop with a great group of blogs. The best part is that the Blog Candy entry is super easy! You just need to become or already a follower of each of the blogs on the hop and leave a comment on each of the blogs.. See, how easy is that. We will announce the winner of the blog candy on the Sakura Blog on July 3rd, so make sure you go check out each of the blogs and leave them some love....

You will start this hop at the Sakura Blog then just continue to hop.