3D Vase

                                  3 D Vase

Square Vase

Seasonal Fish Napkins

Glass gems –Ice Blue

Small shells

Turquoise Twine

Iron

Hot Glue Gun

Razor Blade

Take the Napkins and Iron out all creases out of it. There are 3 layers of the napkins. You need to take apart all layers. You only need the layer with the picture of the fishes on it.

Mod Podge 3 sides of the vase.  Arrange the napkins, so it center on the vase. Make sure the napkin fits around the sides. If there is any excess on the side, Use the razor blade to scrap off, so it perfectly at the edge and Let it dry completely

When dry Mod podge over the napkin. Do not rub on the mod podge it will rip the napkins. You should dab it instead of rubbing. Best results. Let dry completely

When totally dry, face the vase so the side with no napkins is in the front.

Use the twine to wrap around the top of vase, make sure to leave extra twine for a bow, plus excess to hang down the case. Hot glue the shells to the end of the two long pieces of twine.

Fill the case with the Ice blue glass gems. .

    You are done.

  There is more to come with using the napkins. Stay tuned.

                Hilo Ben Franklin

Distressed Mason Jars

Mason jars!

The number of uses of this beloved jar has grown so much since its uni-tasking canning days.

(Bringing a little bit of Good Eats reference into this..😄)

Now it can be used as storage for small craft items or random doodads, soap dispensers for those

Urban or Industrial Chic bathrooms, and even plant pots!  We all need that simple and fresh look for the kitchen table, right?  What's better than a clear mason jar and some lovely flowers from the garden? (Or the neighbor's garden?)

Here, I have a way that you can add a little bit of Shabby Chic to your Mason Jar centerpiece.

Behold the basic technique of sand-paper distressing!

Here is a close up of a jar that was spray-painted with Chalky Finish spray paint in Morning Sky.

Gorgeous, isn't it?  It' s the perfect and elegant French blue tone for Spring!  Notice anything different about thatlittle distressed bit?  Right!  It has a tinge of penny-copper so that it looks like a distressed copper pot.  (Actually, it was Design Master spray paint in Rose Gold!)

Rose Gold and Copper just add that right amount of "antique" (antiquity?) to a craft piece.  It's both classic and modern with its pinkish metallic hue.   Here's a shot of the inside.

 

 All you need is a few spritzes!  It's best not to overdo it so that the paint doesn't all pool to the bottom.  The same goes for the outside of the mason jar.  After spraying the inside, turn the jar upside down and spray in light even coats.

Here are the two Spring-time Mason jars that I created using beautiful cool-toned pastel colors.

The one on the right is that perfect minty hue (Ubermatte's Mist), with its cover painted in rose gold once again.  As always, experiment, experiment.  Creativity stems from both inspiration and experimentation, so don't be afraid of those lovely mistakes.  It's trial and error!

Also, don't forget to have fun!

Erika @ PC

Shaker Grad Pics!

Graduates!  It's time to send your grad photos to friends and family!

 Now, we are all familiar with the traditional black cal folder and the message 

written in white gold or silver pen.

IT'S TIME TO BREAK THE RULES.

Today, we have two awesome ways to deck out your senior portraits!

 

First way: Cardstock! There are so many colorful designs to choose from

in our stores!  All you have to do is choose a theme and pattern and, with just a few scrapbooking 

techniques, you can add some color to that plain black cal folder!  Add some ephemera embellishments and even some pop-up accents!

Here, I used a couple papers from Amy Tangerine's new On a Whim Collection.

Just as a heads up, Ben Franklin Crafts is selling Lauhala print Cal Folders!

This item is exclusively sold at our stores, so don't miss out!  They add a great "Island" touch,

which is great for sending photos out-of-state.  Paired with cute tropical-themed paper, it is ADORABLE.

Notice the glitter yet?  Yes, there are sequins and glitter on the photos!

I used the We-R-Memory Fuse Tool to make the graduates' photos into "shaker photos"!

                                                                                  
 It's a pretty simple process, really.  All you need is scrapbook sleeves, sequins, glitter and your graduate's photo!  Slip the photo into the sleeve and place it flush against the corner.  (That way, all you need to do is fuse two sides!)  Slide some sequins and glitter onto the photo and fuse the remaining two sides to seal them in.  Lastly, cut off the excess sleeve plastic! 

Back to the Lauhala print.  It can be a little tricky to work with for it can go in either the "tacky" direction or the "cute" direction depending on how you use it. 

                                                     
Just like working with textures in mixed media, mixing a fun and modern print consisting of simple shapes with the photo-realistic lauhala print can balance everything out.  And of course, Amy Tangerine will have that perfect, quirky and colorful, tropical paper!  Here, I used the other, more solid side of the tropical print paper to create a space for a short message.  The square could even be made into a pocket large enough for a graduation or grad party invitation!

 Here are the close-ups of the "shaker photos" .   I slid these photos into the decorated Cal-Folders and it really brought everything together.  It added that extra gold accent and "fun factor" to the portraits.   Wouldn't these be fun to get in the mail?  I was having a ball shaking them after they were fused! 😀

There are so many ways to customize your graduation photo to make it really represent who you are and what you're all about!  Have fun with it because this is your celebration, Graduate!

Congrats!

Erika @ PC

Bunny Board

                           Bunny Board

 Unfinished Wood Wall Plaque with Hanger

Cut out bunny shape

White Creamcoat Paint

1/25 Stroke Paint Brush

1 Burlap Flower Color of choice

1 Tulle – color of choice

Need Sheer ribbon in 3/8 Inch and 5/8 (color of choice

Large 3” Pompom maker

Hot glue gun

Lay the board flat, and trace the bunny image onto it.  When done you can tracing you can paint the inside of the bunny with the White paint. Set aside to dry.

While it is drying you can take your ribbon and make a bow. You should have 2 different sizes and color. Tie it to the top of the board next to the rope.

Take the pompom maker, using the tulle start to make the pompom. Following the instructions that come with the pompom maker. Plus have pictures to you how it is done.

Now that the board is dry, hot glue the burlap flower to the bunnies behind. On top of the flower hot glue your pompom.

                                Enjoy your decorated bunny board

                                                Hilo Ben Franklin

Graduation Centerpiece

If our stores' AWESOME displays haven't already given it away, Graduation Season has officially started!  It's time to start weaving and braiding those leis, to send out those Senior portraits to relatives you may not have been aware of until now, and to start ordering those graduation posters and banners!;)   Another thing that probably every parent has had on their  "HAVING A CHILD" To-Do List for the past 17 or 18 years is of course their graduate's GRADUATION PARTY!

 I've seen everyone from the last minute decorators to those who come in right after Valentine's Day, searching for ideas and inspiration (See what I did there?) on how to decorate for their child's grad party.  I'm talking banners, centerpieces, cake stands, table covers, favors and more.  

Well, today I have a centerpiece project that is really easy and quick to make!

All you need are a few items!

 

For the cap I used a 12x12" piece of black chipboard that I cut down to a 9x9 square, 12x12" black cardstock, embroidery floss for the tassel, and a black brad.   I made the base of the cap with the cardstock, cutting two 3 1/2 x 12" wide strips, with one of the strips having a triangular shape coming out at least one more inch.  This is for that front part of the cap that goes over the forehead.  I made a basic tassel by winding the floss around four of my fingers and tying it off at the center.  Then I secured the end of the tassel to the center of the grad cap with the brad.

 

On the bubble vase, I took some alcohol inks and then, me being a Pearl City graduate, dripped some purple, silver and cool pearl (lavender) straight onto the glass.  To give it a splattered look, I blew on some small drops that I squeezed onto the glass and let the ink sort of spread to create a "fuzzy" look.  Letting some of the ink dry in the dripping state also adds to the paint splatter look. 

After I let the alcohol inks completely dry, I wrote on top of the design using a white oil-based marker.  Oil-based paint markers are always going to be the best for glass when you want an opaque and permanent line.  Also, they won't scratch off like their acrylic counterparts!  I gave the letters a shadow detail using a thinner black oil-based marker and then filled the vase with a strand of the warm white firefly lights!  That is really what makes this centerpiece shine!

 

 

If you really want to make things fun (and take advantage of the lights), how about a cute face?  Yes!  This can be double-sided!  You could even cut your graduate's school logo out from vinyl and stick it onto the glass.  Coordinate the color of the lights to the school!  Red for Radford and Kaimuki, Blue for Moanalua or Waipahu?  Even the hat and tassel can be changed up! 

Have fun!

 

Erika @ PC

Boa bunny wreath

Boa Bunny Wreath

 3 White Feather Boa’s 2 yards

Styrofoam wreath 14”

Pink Glitter paper

1 piece White foamy squares

Pencil

Scissors

Double sided tape

Glue gun

Greening pins

Ribbon for bow

Tale the Styrofoam wreath, hot glue the end of one of the boa’s to it. Start to wrap around the wreath, ever so often put a dot of hot glue to set it. Do not do it real close together and you might be able to get away with 2 boas. When you get to the end hot glue it and start with the other ones. When finished. Set aside.

On the white foamy trace and cut them out. Do the same with the pink glitter paper. Except for make them smaller the white ones. Use the double sided tape to put the pink ears on the white ones. Using the greenie pins to put the ears on to the back of the wreath

Choose your ribbon. Make a bow and hot glue it the front of the wreath.

 When done you will have a furry bunny wreath to hang on your door.

                 Hilo Ben franklin

Spring Keiki Crafts Camp 2017

Hey Crafters!

I hope everyone had an awesome Spring Break!

At our stores, we had a very successful Keiki Craft Camp making

fun and adorable crafts with the kids.  Let me just say, there were A LOT of kids this Spring, which was AMAZING.  No surprise, because the projects included classics like Perler Beads and Shrink Art!

Sara at Market City with a full class!  We're ready for today's craft, Teach!

What was especially impressive was the number of kids who showed up during the second day of camp.  Why you ask?  SLIME, of course!  Yes, that craze that's been sweeping the nation and causing Elmer's Glue to just fly off the shelf!  In fact, slime even caused a nationwide shortage of Elmer's Glue.  Crazy, right?  We loved how all of the kids' slime turned out different, representing each child's preferences and color choices.  "More glitter,  More Borax"!  "Not too much foam beads!" The measurements had to be just right!  We had so many fun and interesting ways to customize the slime.  Not just by look, but by texture as well!   This glob had some colored foam beads that seriously made it look like ice cream.  I mean, come on!  Look at it!

One of the most rewarding things was watching them play with the slime and to see them have fun with it. 

 

    

Just the right amount of lotion produces a satisfyingly stretchy slime.

                                        

Much stretch.  So wow!

So goopy and messy, but that's half the fun!

Just in case anyone is interested in the slime recipes that we used, each store did have their own special concoction. So, feel free to check out each one for different recipes and have fun experimenting at home!  Also, don't forget that our stores have started expanding on the Slime supplies, so specialty items like Borax, foam beads and clear glue are starting to hit our shelves.

Stay tuned to see what else we have in store!

Look at the mixed media scrapbooking going on here!  These kids even include photos in their wood craft project.  What a great way to record and make memories over the break.  The keiki got to create their very own piece of mixed media art!  We gave them everything they could ever ask for; from glitter to cardstock.  And they went nuts.  Like, glitter on the floor and their faces nuts! 

SO MUCH FUN!

You will not believe how much glitter was left on the table. 

Although making a big mess is all part of the CREATIVE PROCESS!

Bright colors and Glitter are all the rage right now. 

  

A stinkin' adorable project that we had on the last day was a Pet Rock and Sanctuary.  Basically, our kids decorated a pet rock, painting it whatever animal they wanted, and they then created a little habitat/home for it using a clear pail, odds and ends, and a whole lot of imagination!  From shark tanks to butterfly homes, the crafts these kids made were so  creative.   There were many who liked to jazz up their homes with lots of bright colored doodles all over their pails and flower cut outs strewn all over the inside.  We also noticed there were some who liked to keep things simple, with a bit of Spanish moss here and a bit of green fluffy moss there.  Maybe a little washi tape around the rim of the can along with a couple cute bows tied onto the handle.

This craft camp is a lot of fun for kids, and it's a great way to make new friends and to learn how to make a bunch of different crafts!  This program is available at all stores during Spring, Summer and Fall.  Stay connected with us on our company website (benfranklinhawaii.com), Facebook (@BenFranklinCrafts) and Instagram (@bfcrafts)!

Square Vine wreath

                                            Square Vine Wreath

Wreath- Square Branches 24”

Succulents Bush 8.5” asst. 2 pieces

Succulents 7.5: asst -need 2 pieces

Wild Succulents spray 6” need 2

Stem- TBR gurb Daisy need 2

Clips 4” birds with feathers tail

Hot glue gun

Floral wire 26 gauge

Twist on the succulents to the braches. There is a low balance on one side and high balance on the other side, this way you a good effect.

Then after you put the all the succulents into place and then, you should hot glue them into place... Arrange the daisy where you would like them.

You can place the birds onto the wreath, where you would like them.

         Joy Hilo Ben Franklin