Haunted Forest Candle Weekend Project

I was very careful this year with my Halloween stamps buying.  I bought the new "Haunted Forest" stamp and I also picked up one stamp at Michael's and I'll be making a card with that one in a day or two.  I don't want to fill up my days till Halloween with Halloween cards, candles or other items.  I want to keep it at a nice variety of "stuff!" 

For this fun project you will need the following items:
A candle

Rubber stamp(s)

StazOn ink pad

Tissue Paper

Waxed Paper

Coloring medium (I used markers and colored pencils for the images 

    and sponging for the moon)

Heat embossing tool

I stamped my image on the tissue paper using the StazOn ink pad.  I find the ink does not bleed and it has a crisper look to it.

Next I colored the the image in.  First I used colored pencils and then I came back with markers.  After I was done coloring I sponged in the moon with Daffodil Delight, then More Mustard and then I added a touch of Pumpkin Pie.  

When you are done with the coloring you cut the image out within an 1/8" of the edges.  Set the image on the candle and place a piece of waxed paper over it.  Melt the image into the candle by running the heat tool over the area.  Go slow and keep the heat tool moving.  If you keep it in one spot too long you will get a dent in your candle and a lot of dripped wax.  It's best to hold the heat tool away from the image and let it melt the wax slowly.  Once you get better at it you can move the heat tool in closer and melt the images in faster.  You can see the image melt into the wax.  The waxed paper gets wet looking and the tissue paper looks like it's no longer white.  You will know what a melted area looks like as you go by with the heat tool.  Once you remove the waxed paper you may see some tissue paper still showing.  You can either cover the area with more waxed paper (a fresh piece) or you can heat the area directly (but be careful you don't hold the tool in one spot too long.  It's easy to do it when touching up, keep the tool moving). It's really not as bad as it sounds.  Get an inexpensive candle to practice with if you are not sure of yourself.  Try using a small votive candle or go to the Dollar Tree and get one there.  You can always use it for an emergency or for when you want to have a candle.  It won't go to waste and besides, it may just turn out and you will want to keep it!!! It could happen!!!

Click here for more stamped candle items. 

Have fun with these. I LOVE making these candles and I plan to make some Christmas ones for the craft boutique this fall.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Technique Page Time!

Have you ever stamped on a candle? Well, it's a very simple technique! Oh and it's even fun too!

First you stamp on a piece of tissue paper. Color in your image. Cut the image out and place it on your candle. Place a piece of waxed paper on it. Pull the waxed paper tight and heat it up. The important thing to always remember when doing these is keep the embossing tool moving. If you keep it in one spot too long you will melt a dip in the candle and it won't look good.

Once you think you have it all melted on, remove the waxed paper. If you see white spots of tissue paper still showing, just heat it up a little (without waxed paper) and you can see it melt and blend in.

As simple as all that!

The image I used here is from the Stampin' Up! "Gifts of Christmas" set. I didn't have to color mine. I just stamped it in Melon Mambo ink. I saw this on someone's blog a while back and I apologize but I don't know who to give credit to. I try to add a name and website with the images and I probably did but can't find it. So if you know who did this, please let me know and I will give them the credit they deserve on this FABULOUS candle!

These are a great Stamp Camp item, Christmas gifts, Hostess Appreciation Gifts, Customer Appreciation Gifts and a fun Craft Fair item.

This is #2 in the 4th set of technique pages. I still have some of set #3 available. They should be available in my web store soon. And you can always email me about them too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A New Ornament for the Tree

Here is an ornament I made using a flat ceramic bulb I got at Michael's. They are in the Christmas section along with the clear glass bulbs and holiday rub-ons.

Katie brought her stamp set with her on Friday night so I could play with it. Isn't she a sweetie???

Again I used the tissue paper technique. I stamped the image on the tissue paper using black Staz On. I colored it in with colored pencils.

I set the tissue paper on top of the bulb. I centered it and ran my finger around the edge to know where to trim it. After trimming it I spread a layer of Crystal Effects on the bulb and set the tissue paper in place. I then spread a little more Crystal Effects over the top of it and while it was wet I rolled the edges in the Dazzling Diamonds. After it dried I added a little more Crystal Effects to the star and sprinkled the area with more Dazzling Diamonds. When that dried I tied a ribbon on and added a bow. It's now ready for my Christmas tree.

Thank you for stopping by,

Wanda

Everything Old is New Again!!

Believe it or not I have had this little toothpick holder for years and years and years. I do not remember where I got it from I only know that I've had it forever. The picture on the front is made of paper and stuck on with the paste that is used on envelopes. Ok, here's the really sad pathetic thing about this toothpick holder. We actually used it. This thing sat on the Lazy Susan and sort of got lost among the pepper grinder, napkin holder, salt and pepper shakers and the matches for the grill that didn't self-ignite anymore!!

The other day I picked up this little toothpick holder and thought it needed a face lift!!! SO I soaked it in water and the paper design came right off. A BIG improvement to the toothpick holder right there!!! I dried it off and set it aside for a few days. I picked it up today and knew what I wanted to do with it.

I stamped the snowman image on tissue paper. I colored it in with colored pencils and used Crystal Effects to affix it to the holder. I did put Crystal Effects on the holder first, laid the tissue paper in place and added a little more Crystal Effects.

After it dried I thought it needed something so I took this bottle of pretty icy blue Stickles and went around the center edges with it. A big YUCK on that one!!! I scraped it off and wiped it clean. Thought about it for a bit longer and decided I'd use the micro mini beads on it. I think it gave it an icy look. Makes me chilly looking at it!!! I am still not 100% happy with the way it turned out and I may take the beads off and put a light blue edge around it first, then add the Crystal Effects and sprinkle the beads on again. I think it needs just a touch of color around the edges there. But as is I like it a lot more than the original form. I can't believe I kept that design on there all these years. Maybe I never really noticed it because I usually had the design side turned away from me!!!!

There's LOTS of old "stuff" around the house that you can take and make into something a little prettier and a little more useful!! See, I now have a holiday toothpick holder. I know it's going to be the finishing touch on our holiday dinner!!! Do I sound like Martha? LOL

Check on the right side of my blog in the Labels area. There are several other items I've made using the "Tissue Paper" technique.

Thank you for stopping by,

Wanda

A Touch of Chirstmas!

Here's another ornament I got at JoAnn's. Aren't they just adorable? This one measures 2-3/4" x 3-1/4". I painted it with white acrylic paints and then added the red when that dried. While that was drying I stamped my image on tissue paper and colored it in with colored pencils. I cut close to the edges. I sponged the edges of the top part of the mitten using the Soft Sky ink pad. Then I added a layer of Crystal Effects and set the tissue paper on top. I got a bit more CE on my brush and brushed it over the top of the tissue paper. I set it aside to dry. Once dry I added the glitter and the hanging cord. I did use CE over the entire ornament, not just the tissue paper part. It gave it a nice glossy shine. It is now ready to hang on my tree (when it goes up) or to give as gifts. This would make a very fun and useful Stamp Camp item too! These would make a wonderful accent to gift packages as well. Serves as a tag and an ornament all in one!!! Such a deal!!! LOL

There are SO many mediums you can stamp on and using the tissue paper method opens up all kinds of doors for you. Doors? Yes, you probably could stamp on a door using this method!!! I find more uses for it all the time. Like this week with the plaster ornaments!!! I am really happy with the way this snowman turned out on the mitten. I plan on making several of these for gifts and craft fairs.

The cuff of the mitten would be a good place to add a name to personalize the ornament or you could add your holiday sentiment!


Thank you for stopping by,
Wanda

Something For The Tree! & Directions Too!

It's amazing the things you can find to stamp on. I found this adorable snowflake at JoAnn's. It's 2 - 3/8" in diameter and made of plaster. I put a couple layers of white acrylic over the top of it and then proceeded to do my stamping. Isn't it just the cutest snowflake? They're back by the ornaments! I also bought a mitten one and will be showing you what I did with that too! But not tonight.

Here is what you need:
Snowflake ornament
Soft Sky ink pad
Sponge
White Acrylic paint
Paint brush
Cold Play Stamp Set
Yo Yo Yellow card stock
Whisper White card stock
Staz on Black ink pad
Pumpkin Pie ink pad
Gold cord
3/4" round punch
1 clear gem
Glitter pen, glitter or Stickles
Tacky glue
Crystal Effects

I removed the gold cord that came with the ornament. You could untie it and reuse it, that is up to you. Like I said I painted the snowflake with white acrylic paint, both sides. It absorbed VERY fast and was dry in no time. I have several of them to do and if I were to paint them all at one sitting, by the time I got done with the last one the first one would be ready to handle.

I sponged the edges with the Soft Sky ink pad. It had more of a wintry look than the Bashful Blue. I set it aside. On white card stock I stamped the face part of the snowman, the smallest one in the set, using the black Staz On. Then I stamped the nose on the white using the Pumpkin Pie ink pad. Now I thought the nose was a bit too long for this little face so I trimmed it down a bit. I took the 3/4" punch and lined up the smile close to the edge of the punch (looking at it from the back of the punch) and I punched it out. I sponged it with the Soft Sky ink and set it aside.

Add your glitter to the edges of the snowflake and allow it to dry. Click on the photo to see a closer view, you will be able to see my glitter. I used a Gelly Roll Glitter pen. It writes like an ink pen.

While that is drying take the yellow piece of card stock, the hat stamp and the black Staz On and stamp the hat image. Cut it out. Don't worry about getting the flower exact, I hid mine with a clear gem. You will be adding that on after you assemble the snowman on the snowflake.

Back to the snowman head. Glue the nose in place. I used regular Tacky glue for that. Place a dot of the glue on the back of the circle and set it in place in the center of the snowflake. Turn the head just a little so you can add the hat on at an angle to give the snowman a bit of an attitude!! Add the hat using the Tacky glue. I used the Crystal Effects to adhere the gem. I'm not sure if Tacky glue will stick as well or as long as Crystal Effects will.

Put the hanger back on and your ornament is ready to hang on the tree, use for gifts or sell at craft fairs. It's also a wonderful gift for your customers or hostess!

Thank you for stopping by,
Wanda

Stamping on a Pumpkin Tutorial

Yes, you can stamp on a pumpkin. Sort of. I suppose you could stamp directly on the pumpkin using Staz-on but you're limited as to what you can do. I like using the tissue paper method. It's quick and simple and your image turns out wonderful each time.

Here is what you need to Stamp on a Pumpkin:

A softball size pumpkin, size really depends on the size of your rubber stamp

Colored pencils

Tissue paper

Crystal Effects

Craft paint brush (disposable is best)

Black Staz-on ink pad

Using the Black Staz-on, stamp your image on tissue paper. Color it in with colored pencils. You can use markers but you do have a chance of them bleeding in the adhering process. If there is an area that is to be white make sure you color it with a white colored pencil. Just because the tissue is white doesn't mean it will stay white on the surface you're attaching it to. Actually you don't want it to be white, then your edges would show. Once you are done coloring cut the image out. Make sure you cut very close to the edges. The more edge that shows the more it may show on your finished product.

Take your Crystal Effects and brush some on the pumpkin in the area you want your image to go. Make sure you cover the area a little past the size you really need. There is no need to cover the whole pumpkin. Set your stamped and colored tissue paper piece in place. Dip your brush in the Crystal Effects and lightly brush over the image. Don't use a lot of pressure or it will tear the tissue paper. Should this happen take a wet paper towel and wipe everything off the pumpkin and start over. This happened to me once and it was because I thought I could go over the tissue paper a second time without it being completely dry. It was late and I just left it dry on the pumpkin. In the morning I was able to just peel it off. The pumpkin no longer had it's "natural" shine there but that was ok, I was going to cover it again anyway. Is it really a "natural" shine or is it something the seller rubs on to give them a little bit of a shine, like some type of an edible oil you know like the stuff they use on cucumbers?


Ok, once you have a coat of Crystal Effects on the tissue paper you should begin to see the paper slowly absorb it and the edges blend into the pumpkin. The edges will show a little but you really have to look. On the pumpkin with the cat you can see the edges because I didn't cut as close to the edges as I did with the ghost one. I also didn't use brighter colors. The ghost one shows up much better.

This would be a great project for kids to do and for those of us who really don't like to reach in and dig out that "stuff" inside a pumpkin. EWWWWW! LOL

Have fun with this project. Care to share? Just email me with your finished products and I'll post them on here for you!

Thanks SO much for stopping by,
Wanda