Artful Musings

Monday, March 23, 2015

Welcome to our first ever Little Blue House "Bunny Hop" Blog Hop! If you have arrived from Vicki's blog, yay! If you are just starting, you can follow the hop from here as well - just follow the links in each post. In case you get lost, here's a complete list of the media team and links to their blogs.

-Lindsey (LBH Blog) http://www.thelittlebluehouseblog.blogspot.com/

-Natalie & Cathy http://lbhbluecrew.blogspot.com/

-Nadine http://myscrapnstuff.blogspot.com/

-Miss Tracy http://www.misstracycreates.com/

-Angi http://cokiepopaper.blogspot.com/

-Susan Liles http://www.susiestampalot.com/

-Vicki http://vickichrisman.blogspot.com/

-Susan Tidwell http://susan-artfulmusings.blogspot.com/ (you are here!)

-Valerie Bishop http://myhere-rightnow.blogspot.com/

And here's some fun news- everyone who leaves a comment on each team member's posts (you have to visit all the blogs and leave a comment on each one) will be entered into a drawing for the BUNNY HOP Grand Prize Easter Basket! So let's get started!

I have a fun frame project for you created with a 5"x7" canvas and the darling papers from the Echo Park "Happy Easter" paper collection. The supply list is listed at the end of the step out tutorial.

"YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE" EASTER FRAME

1. For this project I used what is usually considered the back of the canvas as the front. The wood strips form a perfect frame.

2. Paint the entire canvas except for the center with color of your choice. (I used turquoise.)

3. Cut three 1/2" x 12" strips of green patterned paper for the inside edge. Cut to fit and glue in place.

4. Cut four 1 3/16" x 12" strips of multicolor plaid paper for the outside frame. First glue down the vertical strips and cut flush with top and bottom of canvas.

5. To miter the corners, lay a strip over one horizontal frame piece overlapping the vertical strips. Cut ends flush with edges of canvas. Use a ruler to mark a line from inner corner to outer corner and cut on the line. Repeat for the other corner, then glue in place. This ensures a perfect miter every time! Repeat for other corners.

6. To cover the inside of the canvas, measure opening and cut floral paper to just slightly larger.(Mine was 5 3/4" x 7 3/4".) When glueing down, pick canvas up and press slightly on canvas backing to allow for slightly larger paper to slip under the wood pieces. Ink edges if desired (I used Tahiti Quick Quotes turquoise ink.)

7. Cut a 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" photo mat from the solid paper (I used the light blue side) and adhere photo and mat to inside of frame over floral paper.

8. Cut two strips of green "Sprinkles" vellum approximately 1 1/4" x 5 3/4" and 3/4" x 5 3/4". Use fringing scissors (or regular scissors) to cut the long edges. Curl fringed sides around a skewer or end of a paintbrush.

9. Add 1/4" Scor tape along front and back edges of tallest piece. Then layer shorter piece over the tape on the front. Remove the backing from the tape on the back and glue in place inside the frame at the bottom to represent grass. "Fluff" as desired.

10. Using a small alphabet stamp set, stamp on the green pennant ribbon with Versamark ink. Sprinkle on white embossing powder and heat with heat tool. (Note: the ribbon is synthetic and will burn or shrivel with too much heat, so keep the tool farther away and moving constantly!) Remove the backing from the first and last pennant and secure to the frame.

11. I used the "Sunshine" sticker in the upper right corner, popping it up and overlapping my photo. I added "my" with a permanent black pen. (Here's a tip for popping stickers. Add the pop dots to the back of the sticker and then sprinkle remaining area with powder or cornstarch, rubbing it into the stickiness and tapping off any excess. This removes the stickiness and allows you to pop it!)

12. To further embellish, add a heart sticker to the "Best Day" sticker and adhere to lower right corner of frame. Add two flower stickers in the grass area and any other stickers that are relevant to your photo. I also added a wood veneer arrow to bottom of frame.

13. Cut two 6" pieces of yellow paper twine, tie into bows and glue to ends of banner.

Now display your favorite Easter or spring photo!

SUPPLIES USED

(available at The Little Blue House or click links for LBH online)

"Happy Easter" paper collection by Echo Park

Blue/green solid paper, "Sunny Days Ahead" by Echo Park

Doodlebug "This and That" sticker sheet

Doodlebug "Sprinkles" vellum, Limeade

Crate Paper "Craft Market" wood veneer arrow

yellow paper twine

green pennant ribbon

Quick Quotes Chalk Ink - Tahiti