Mermaid Shell Top

Hi, Everyone!

This week we are going to be doing a really fun mermaid-themed project!

A Mermaid Shell Top!

How cool is this?  It's a really easy and cheap idea for fast mermaid costume or just for a quirky beach shirt for this summer.  Who doesn't want to feel like a mermaid once in a while?

What I used to make this mermaid top was a regular white t-shirt, GP Purple Ceramcoat Acrylic paint, Iridescent Purple Scribbles, and Textile Medium.  I also had some parchment paper to help stop the paint from bleeding onto the back of the shirt as well as an iron to cure the paint.

First, try on your shirt to see where you will want your shells to be.  Make marks with a washable fabric marker.  (I chose to just wing it.)

Next, you're going to mix the paint and the textile medium with a ratio of 2:1.  Two parts acrylic paint to one part textile medium.  What this medium does is it makes any craft grade acrylic paint permanent and flexible on fabric.  This means that it won't wash or flake off even if the fabric wrinkles.  

Make sure you put a piece of parchment paper underneath the front layer of your shirt so that the paint doesn't get onto the back.  The textile medium will make the two side stick together if you don't!   Then, start painting your shells!  I chose the basic clam shell shape like a certain red-haired mermaid.  

After letting that dry, heat set it with either an iron or a heat tool.  You're going to want to heat each area for at least thirty seconds to cure the medium.  

Lastly, draw the outlines of the shells with the puffy scribbles paint for some dimension!

As always, feel free to mix it up!  Add some embellishments like rhinestones or even use glitter paint for more texture and sparkle.  How about writing a mermaid-themed quote underneath in a funky script?  You could even paint some iridescent scales for that real siren look.

Have fun!

Erika @ PC

Typography Necklace

Do you swoon over a new font you found on the Internet? Do you stop and stare at a well printed sign? Do you love typography and all things wordy? Do you love type so much that you never, ever want to be parted from it? So much so that you want to wear wonderfully font-tastic jewelry every where you go?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, I made this necklace just for you! It's the perfect accompaniment to any word nerd's attire, and as you can see, it's a testament to your gumption, courage, and general moxie-tude.

If you want to create your own typographic statement jewelry, all you need is some shrink plastic (yes, I am talking about those good old shrinky-dinks that you used to play with when you were seven and had to bug your parents to stick in the oven for you), a 1/4" hole punch, some chain, jump rings, a clasp, and a sparkly crystal on a head pin for the extra accent.

Then, you can download your new favorite font, print up a wonderful word (like moxie) and simply trace your word onto your piece of shrink plastic. The necklace above is made with matte shrink plastic and a slick writer pen from American Crafts. Don't forget to cut out your word and punch your holes before you start to shrink. String everything up on a chain and show off your new word nerd style. Oh the moxie-ness of it all!

Puna @ Enchanted Lake

Whoops! Almost forgot to let you know that there's a post before this one. Please scroll down and check it out.

Crankin' Out Crafts Episode 92 - Fabulous Masquerade Mask (On The Road Edition)

Using the new Body Art paints by Tulip, J-Me paints an elegant face mask with rhinestones on our model, Hazel. Great for a costume party or a masquerade ball!

Paint a fabulous face mask to add to your costume!

Watch the episode here: Crankin' Out Crafts: Episode 92 - Fabulous Masquerade Mask

Supplies:

Tulip Body Art Paint

Black Eyeliner

flat wide paint brush (synthetic hair)

flat narrow paint brush (synthetic hair)

water

scissors

rhinestones, embellishments of choice (we used a rhinestone design with adhesive already on the back)

You may want to also keep paper towels or make-up remover wipes handy for clean-up. Visit our stores to check out the new assortment of Tulip Body Art Face and Body paint products!

Crankin' Out Crafts Episode 91 - Fabulous Nails (On the Road Edition)

We have a very special guest this week on our Crankin’ Our Crafts: On the Road Segments - Meet J-Me from Pearl City BFC! 

J-Me is not only stylish and fashionable, but a great crafter!

Today, J-Me shows you how to add sparkle to your nails, using glitter!

Decorate your nails with chunky glitter - Looks Fabulous!

Supplies for the project

Watch the episode on YouTube: Crankin' Out Crafts: Episode 91 - Fabulous Nails


Supplies:

clear coat nail polish

stylus

WOW! chunky glitter


Stay tuned this week, as she’ll be demonstrating three “Fabulous” projects!