A little of this and a little of that.........

Today I have been reviewing some projects that I worked on a couple of years ago.  I have been working with paper a lot lately and thought I would share a few of these projects to spark an idea or inspire you to use some supplies you have been holding onto!  As you can see I used various items for the "base" of each project.  I had a small paint can, a small round paper mache' box, and a small metal canister.  All of these can easily be found at your local craft store.  These projects reminded me of summer and flowers and reasons to feel good!  I have a couple more photos that I will add here:

Small paper mache' box, adorned with memory papers and punched flowers.

A large bottle decoupaged with handmade papers and various scrapbooking elements.  This could be used to fill with goodies and give as a gift....or as I did and use it as a flower vase.....

As you can see in the photo given, I glued small paper rose blooms to the top of the cork lid to decorate it.  I love the paper flowers that can be found in the wedding section of most craft stores. 

Each of these projects make a sweet little gift for someone.  You can fill the can with bath supplies, chocolates, or maybe even a gift of a t-shirt!  The metal canister has a mini album of pictures inside.  *Just fold some papers accordion style with each pleat big enough to trace the shape of the canister on.  Then, cut out the pleated circles, cut and glue photos to fit....and adhere them to the inside bottom of the canister.  Easy...and a cute little surprise when you open the tin! 

I have taken a break today from CraZy TACKz, but I want to make sure to give you the link where you can find them!  They are so new that it will be a while before they will appear in all the stores.  For now you can purchase them retail at www.crazytackz.com.  They have new shapes and colors coming in the near future!  This will make them even more fun to hang things on!  A friend just wrote and told me that she couldn't believe how well they worked in sheetrock walls.  Most other push-pins and nails will work a big hole into the wall.  TACKz are perfect for this kind of wall.  Hope you got a little inspiration from the projects shown today!  Until next time, 

Happy Crafting!

Marilyn 

Use Push-Pins? Try CraZy TACKz! (The tack with a hook)

Hello Friends!                                                              


If you have been following this Blog, you will have noticed that most of my projects of late have been featuring CraZy TACKz as a key component in the designs.  The reason is......that they are so easy to stick into the wall, cork board, foamboard, etc.!  Anything you would use a push-pin for, CraZy TACKz work better, because they hold more weight and have a hook to hang things!  The TACKz work great when you push them directly into the wall.
You will notice that I have painted some of the CraZy TACKz and applied glitter to some others.  You can have fun decorating them, then just use them for hanging up whatever you had in mind.  I am taking it just a little bit further and putting them in a cork board & foamcore board surface and making some decorative wall hangings.  I will show some close-ups for each.  The first project is a small white frame (an abandoned item) and I fit 1/2" thick cork board to fit in it.  Then, I decoupaged some memory paper with sayings that I cut out around the edges.  I poked the decorated TACKz into the cork board and Voila!  Another decorative jewelry hanger for your room, or maybe a girly place to hang your keys, etc.  Here are some pictures:

The little Tack with a Hook!  They come 12 to a package and will hold up to 3 to 5 lbs.  www.crazytackz.com  and on Facebook look for CrazyTackz.  You can read about the Inventor, Gordie Murphy and how he came up with the idea.  It has a US Patent and is ready to go into the stores...across the globe and beyond!  Seriously, I have no doubt that you will be seeing it in it's bright orange package in stores in the very near future.  For now, they are letting some go for retail on the website and can probably tell you where tackz are available. Here is another design I just finished up......

Here is a close-up...

And a couple more views:

Again, I painted the TACKz.  I had fun painting some black with white dots, and some like little Lady Bugs.  If you would like to have more particulars on any design you see on here, I would be glad to share it with you.  Just send me a note!  The flowers are made using different sizes of paper Flower Punches...These pictured here, were made from a 1" flower to an almost 2" wide flower punch.  I layered them and poked the CraZy TACKz into the flower...then into the cork board.  Again, you can poke it directly into the wall!  Easy to patch and apartment friendly! 
Just one more tip to leave you with today!  I have many craft supplies around my home due to the nature of my business.  Knowing that many of you have things that you have held on to as well,  just look around at all of your supplies before you make a trip to the store.  Recycled frames, memory papers, glue and glitter from other projects were among my supplies.  I will be bringing some more ideas in the coming days.  If you notice that the posted wall hangings from past blogs are similar in size.....well, I have a confession to make.  Having several sheets of Styrofoam brand foam board that were the same size, I used those!  Make your wall hanging any size that you like.  Cover it with fabric, paper, or just let the cork show!  I do not recommend using the foam by itself, it is too porous to hold the Tackz. 
Well, that is it for today!  Join this Blog and don't miss any of the fun ideas that will be posted on here daily.  If you have a good idea for using CraZy TACKz, we would love to see it...and maybe even feature it on the Blog!
                                                         See you soon,
                                                              Marilyn
                                              www.marilyngossett.com

CraZy TACKz in the JARDIN?

Hello and welcome to my Jardin! 

 As you have seen in my recent posts, I have been coming up with ways to use handy little CraZy TACKz  (a tack with a hook) in a few Home Dec projects.  Of course you can always just put them directly into the wall!  The tack leaves a tiny hole that can be easily made invisible with a little wall spackle or white toothpaste.  THIS PROJECT is made up of several elements easily found at your local craft store.  I found my paper elements at my favorite Ben Franklin Crafts store in Springfield, Oregon.  I had a very difficult time deciding what to buy...they have a plethora of beautiful paper supplies!  It is absolutely worth the drive if you haven't shopped their store. It is in the Gateway Mall in Springfield for all of you people that live within an hour or two away. 

I started this project by painting the CraZy TACKz with Acrylic paint.  For safety and tackz security, I recommend keeping them steady in a piece of Styrofoam brand foam.  This works beautifully for securing them while you are painting them and letting them dry.  Paint them to match your project or with your favorite colors.

The following is a list of the supplies I used for this project. 

*package of CraZy TACKz (12 tacks per package)

*12" x 5" x 1-1/4" deep rectangle of Styrofoam brand product.

*3" wide strips of beige Burlap fabric, *Corkboard (1/4" deep) cut to fit the Styrofoam board, *K & Company Garden Die-cuts by Susan Winget, *Die-cut letters to spell JARDIN, *Modge Podge medium, *Distress Ink - vintage photo by Ranger, *a wedge sponge (beauty product kind), *low melt glue gun and glue sticks, *scissors, *water bucket, *old paint brush, *paper towels......I think that is about it! Oh!  *a rectangle of muslin fabric to finish off the back of the project. A n d ........a push-in picture hanger!  Here are a couple of side views so you can see the burlap on the sides and the TACKz hooks for hanging your stuff.

INSTRUCTIONS:  First, I cut enough burlap strips to fit over the edges of the Styrofoam brand rectangle and adhered it front and back using my low melt glue gun. 

2.  Next, I placed and glued the corkboard to the front of the foam board.  Then, cut the corners to round them off a little.

3.  Next comes the fun part!  You get to play with the Die-cut pieces and design the front of your board.  I suggest not over-filling it with images..unless you are a Multi-Media Master.  If you are one, you will knock it out of the ballpark, I am sure!  I would love to see one designed by a Multi-Media artist.

4.  Adhere the images to the corkboard using the Modge Podge medium.  I recommend letting it dry completely before you put a coat on the front of the die cuts.  Once they are dry and securely on the corkboard; seal the corkboard and die-cuts with the Modge Podge using your paint brush.  Refer to the picture if that helps.

Let it dry completely. Glue the muslin fabric to the back to finish it. We don't want any of the (behind the scenes) mechanics to be showing. Then, using the sponge, sparingly apply a little ink around the edges if you like the more primitive look.

5.  Place and poke the painted TACKz into the wall hanging as shown. For a permanent fixture, adhere with a dab of glue and let dry.  Fix the hanger on the back of the project to hang it.

Here is the finished wall hanging.  I found a few little doo-dads to hang on the TACKz.  Keys, Notepad (as shown) a pen, a ring (maybe while you are doing dishes, etc....) basically anything you like to have handy.  I think this would be a good place to hang my reading glasses.  I am always losing them!

Of course, that is a "personal problem".  At least I can find my keys most of the time! Unlike some people I know...Lol.

If you are just starting to read this Blog, you may wonder about the CraZy TACKz I keep using in my projects.  Well, the Inventor/CEO is a friend of mine and I got excited about showing all of the uses the TACKz have with some craft projects.  I will show you some very SIMPLE SIMPLE ways to decorate them and just use them directly on the wall.  That will be coming soon.  So, you-all come back, there is lots more fun to come.....

CraZy TACKz will be coming to all of your big box and local stores...but they are SO NEW I am giving the website where they can be located.

It is www.crazytackz.com.  Also can be found on Facebook.  Read about my friend, Gordie Murphy, and how he came up with the idea.  He is an awesome Dude.

That is about it for today.  I will be bringing you some more projects in the next day or two.  Stay tuned.

Happy Crafting!

Marilyn

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Hello!

It is a sunny day in my neighborhood and that always lifts the spirits....unless like some people I know, who live in the drought lands of Texas, don't get to see Fireworks because of it!  We have a huge show at Ft. Vancouver in Washington State that is pretty spectacular.  If you don't make it and fight the crowds, they always show the display on our local news channel and we can still enjoy it.

I was out in my yard yesterday, and even though we have had oodles of rain this Spring and early summer, I have some roses that are blooming and my FAVORITE...the Passion Flowers, are starting to bloom.  I am going to post some pictures I took so I can share these wonders of nature and so you can enjoy them a little bit too!

This is my first little passion flower....peeking out.  Did you know that the passion flower is an herb and the whole plant is edible?  It is said that the passion flower herb works like a tranquilizer.  Now, I have not tried it...and chances are I never will, but I also know that some of these plants grow some tasty fruit.  When the pod closes back up..(the bloom lasts for about 3 days..) it dries up and if you open it back up, it looks like there is a little fairy in it.  There is also a story about the passion flower that relates to the passion of the Christ.  Each part of the flower stands for a part of the story.  Now for a look at some of my roses......

And for the Grand Finale.............

Isn't this one beautiful??

I am learning to take one day at a time and enjoy the little blessings along the way.  Being thankful for a cold glass of water....from a pure water source; a nice house with a roof over my head....even a green yard with it's bounty of blooms (and weeds)......These are just a few of the things I am thankful for in this great nation we live in. I am thankful for family and friends...and pets. Let's celebrate our Freedom today and the small things that make life enjoyable.  Thanks to our Troops for helping to keep our country free. Hope you have a safe and

Happy 4th!

Marilyn

Crafting on a Sunday afternoon......(something useful)

Hi and Happy Sunday! 

Tomorrow is the 4th of July and I am surprised that I am not hearing more loud noises coming from the neighborhood.  Maybe we are spending our hard earned dollars on other things these days.  Speaking of that, remember I told you about the fun craft supplies I purchased at my friends' Ben Franklin Crafts store in Springfield?  Well, I dug out a few more of those supplies today...and I am still on a CraZy TACKz roll...so I have come up with a very useful little project!  I even used a recycled picture frame...it is beautiful and reminded me that we all have frames somewhere hidden away that just maybe need to be dusted off and given a new life.  A coat of paint can do wonders.  Some of us just like the shabby chic look and it won't need much done to it at all.  So!  I will tell you first about the supplies I had on hand to do my project.  Supplies:  one 8 x 11" picture frame, one package of CraZy TACKz (12 per pack), one 12" square page of memory paper with vintage automobiles, two 12" square 1/4" thick pieces of cork board, clear
Dimensional Medium (Ranger), a scrap of memory paper with a pocketwatch design on it, 1-1/2" cardstock letters that spell KEYS.  Oh, and some Modge Podge and a paint brush.  ......scissors, ruler, X-Acto knife, 1/16" round punch, pen, water bucket, paper towels...etc.  I will show you a couple of views of the project as follows:

And next, a side view showing how the CraZy TACKz are placed in the tires of the car.  (I cut the paper tires out of the cars using an X-Acto knife).  Then, I punched a tiny hole in the middle of the tire, slid  the paper tire over the hook...and adhered it to the plastic stopper of the tack using the dimensional medium.  I like to stick the tack into a piece of styrofoam to let it dry.  Once I had adhered the paper (cars) to the cork board that I had placed in the frame, I gave them a coat of Modge Podge to seal them and let them dry.  Then, stick the CraZy TACKz with the tire back into the spot on the cars where they should be. 
*Note:  A second piece of cork board should be cut to fit into the opening on the back of the frame.  Glue it to the back of the first sheet.  The cork board needs to be dense enough so it accomodates the entire length of the TACKz.  Ok.  That should about do it.  I realize that as you read this you will not be able to exactly follow along as with instructions.  I am hoping that you will get some inspiration from this design and have some fun creating your own.  I am always here to answer any questions you may have if there is something specific you need to know. 

And now an up close picture.........

Ok, that will about do it for today.  It is time to take a break and sit out under the nice shade trees in our backyard.  With a cold drink.  In a reclining chair.  Yes, that's the ticket!  Hope you are all having a great Holiday week-end and if you have family in the Military or you ARE in the Military, our hats are off to you!  You are our Heroes!  I am working on the next project...so stay tuned.  It will be coming soon.

God Bless America!  (and you!)

Marilyn

www.crazytackz.com

Just "Hangin' Out" with CraZy TACKz

Hello Friends,
Just got finished with a colorful little Jewelry Hanger using a brand new US patented product called CraZy TACKz.  These little tacks with a hook are convenient for use anywhere in the house for a multitude of uses.  I exist in the world of the Crafter, so I have taken them and used them for handy little home decoration projects that are useful as well!  The first project is a colorful little jewelry hanger that I put together using a few supplies from the craft store.  You start with a base, ..in this case I used an 8" x 6" stretched canvas that I found on sale.  You can also use a rectangle made from a soft wood or cork board instead of the canvas.  I will be showing some more projects as time goes on.  Below is the most recent project:

I painted the outside edges and the back of the canvas with a bright pink paint.  Patterned scrapbooking papers were cut to fit and adhered to the canvas using a Modge Podge medium.  I found some cute stickers and adhered them to some contrasting card stock, then cut each one out, leaving a 1/8" border.  The stickers were arranged and adhered to the canvas using dimensional dots.  I glued some paper flowers to the front bottom edge and THEN.....pushed a CrAzY TACKz into the center of each flower to hang my jewelry on. (You might want to ask for some help on this one if you are under the age of 18.)  I purchased these cute stickers at my favorite Ben Franklin Crafts store that I was talking about in an earlier blog.  Let your imagination be your guide and find some stickers with a theme you love and want to decorate your space with!  You will notice as a "grand finale" I used a CraZy TACKz and a paper flower to hang my useful decoration by the ribbon hanger. I will give another look at this project...use it as an inspiration to create your own fun designs.

Supplies:  CraZy TACKz, 8" x 6" stretched canvas, (or other surface of choice..i.e. wood, corkboard, etc.), scissors, adhesive dimensional dots, craft paint, paintbrush, water bucket, paper towels, glue stick, Modge Podge medium or craft glue, 1/4" ribbon.  Scrapbooking supplies:  Sheet of stickers, decorative cardstock,  paper flowers (in a package)......AND most important, an adult...to make sure the tackz are handled properly and nobody gets poked!  I like to stick my extra tackz in a piece of styrofoam to keep them secure.  The package works well too!  I am including one last picture...so you can see the mechanics of the "hook on the tack" and how it works.  This is a close-up of how I used a CraZy TACKz to hang the piece.  Isn't that slick?

I hope I was able to give you a little

inspiration today and that you will create a project of your own.

Happy Crafting and enjoy the Holiday week-end!  God Bless our Troops!

All the Best!  Marilyn

Ta-Da! Here's the first......"CraFty" CraZy TACKz....project!

Unless one is walking through the craft shows and stores with their eyes closed..they would take notice of a new crafting trend.  Banners!  You can purchase pre-cut chipboard tiles and embellish them with papers of your choice.  Die cut machines are a simple way to cut letters and shapes to decorate your banner tiles.  I use the word "tiles" loosely.  Tiles are basically the shapes you choose to make your banner with.  You can choose from various shapes and sizes that are ready for hanging.  If you can't get to the craft store for your pre-cut banner tiles....I would suggest to you the following tip.  In fact, I created this banner from scratch because I couldn't get to the craft store.  When I was growing up, everything had to be made from scratch.....fortunately, they make it easier for us in this busy world we live in by helping us with the elements to create.  As I was saying though, the "tip" would be to create a pattern and trace around the pattern onto the cardstock paper of your choice.  Then, find a contrasting color of cardstock....glue the first tile to the contrasting paper, then cut out leaving a 1/8" to 1/4" border around the shape.  (refer to my photo to see what I mean.)  Then, decorate each shape as desired. Do you have a special birthday coming up?  Make a personalized Birthday banner and hang it up with CraZy TACKz.  Then, hang your balloons from the "hook" on each side of the banner!  Or, personalize a banner for your bedroom and hang your jewelry or keepsakes from the TACKz!  I am sure you will come up with your own ideas....CraZy TACKz are so fun and easy to use.  I have some more crafty ideas for you and I will be sharing them as I create them.  The next one I am working on is a little wall hanging to hang your jewelry from.  My daughter was using push pins for this and they would fall out of the wall, jewelry going with it! It is especially frustrating when it falls behind something hard to move.  Right?  CraZy TACKz hold 3 to 5 lbs., depending on the type of wall you are putting them in.  Thus...they work 10 times better than a push pin!  Well, I am going to go back to work on my next project.  Hope you got inspired by this project and if you have any questions....just send me a message and I will get back to you! 

Happy Day, Marilyn