If you haven’t perused the new Close To My Heart Core Products Catalog, you are missing out on some pretty amazing crafting tools! A few of our newest additions really shake things up in the world of shaker windows—Have a look!
Use these top-of-the-line thin metal dies to cut the window, frame, and confetti for a shaker window, then pair them with their coordinating foam and acetate to complete the dimensional design.
Another of our new sets of dies is a beautiful Window Thin Cuts set that allows you to create a decorative window scene. When you pair these dies with the Square Shaker Window Foam + Acetate (also new!), you can fill it with loose sequins or some of our bitty beads to create the full “shaker” effect.
A fun tip that we want to share with you today is how simple it is to create an actual see-through window using your shaker window Thin Cuts.
To create a see-through window, you will need to cut a shape on your card base that is smaller than the coordinating overlay and acetate, otherwise your window will just fall through the hole on your project. (You will also need two frames and two pieces of acetate, one for each side.)
If you look at the circle, star, or heart shaker window Thin Cuts sets, you will notice that these each come with dies that cut confetti. These dies are intentionally designed in the shape of their corresponding sets.
If you use the larger of the two confetti-cutting dies to cut the window on your card base, the overlaying acetate and frame will fit perfectly on top to seal any shaking elements in place!
Once your window is cut on the card base, attach an acetate sheet to the back and frame it with a die-cut overlay.
Flip the card back over to the front and add the 3-D foam around the perimeter of your window. Use this 3-D foam as a wall to hold any confetti, loose sequins, or bitty beads you wish to add, and then attach the second piece of acetate and frame. And done! That’s how easy it is to build a see-through shaker window!
Have you discovered any products in our Core Products catalog that you just love? How have you been using those? Let us know in the comments below!
We’re going to shake things up a bit today by taking a closer look at some innovative ways to use the shaker windows we all know and love!
For the most basic shaker windows (which are still so much fun!), sequins and paper confetti are placed over a plain or stamped background. However, you can take a shaker window to new heights by switching up your base and adding a few fun embellishments to the exterior of the window.
In this card, a few adhesive-backed dots from our Seas the Day collection turned a plain white overlay into a ship’s porthole. Looking into the window, you can see how artistically torn cardstock has formed white-cap waves by exposing the paper’s white core. When these elements come together, it creates a whimsical card any ocean lover will be thrilled with!
Another way to dress up your shaker windows is to fill them with unique elements. Replacing sequins or paper with a few unexpected parts is a great way to turn the tables on familiar shaker windows.
By bringing some sand home from a fun day at the beach, you can preserve a bit of the actual setting along with the memories you made there.
Any mocha enthusiast will love these fun coffee bean cards!
If you plan to include larger shaker elements in your windows, you should plan to double-stack your 3-D foam tape to leave enough room for the shaker elements inside to move around.
If you really want to add a unique flair to your shaker windows, you can try adding some small die-cut shapes to the interior of your shaker.
By combining these miniature stamped shapes with a few sequins pieces, it’s easy to put your own mark on your cards!
One last example to shake things up your windows is to use them in creative places. In this post, we’ve shown you how to incorporate shaker windows into cards and even scrapbook layouts, but in this example, you can see how a basic shaker window also makes an unforgettable gift tag.
How are you using windows in your paper crafts? Do you use them in cards, scrapbook pages, or in a unique way? Share your fun and innovative ideas with all of us, below!
We are loving National Scrapbooking Month so far, and we hope you are, too! To continue the celebration, we’re going to really shake things up today and show you how to make a shaker window the size of a scrapbook page!
STEP 1. The very first thing you’re going to do is determine the size of window you’d like on your project. For it to fit a traditional 12″ x 12″ scrapbook page, you’ll need to keep your window no bigger than 11½” x 11½”. Next, decide if you’d like the base of the window (the paper that shows through under the sequins) to be the same as your base page or if you’d rather have a different pattern or color show through. If you’re keeping it the same as the base page, skip the rest of this step and move on to number 2. If you’d like the base to be something different, cut a circle* from the patterned paper or cardstock you’d prefer instead. The size and shape you cut here will determine the size and shape of your window. The window on our page is a 10″ circle, so our base is also 10″
*One of the great things about this big window idea is that you’re not limited to a circle shape. Make a square, a rectangle, a heart, a star—your window can be any shape you can cut out from a 12″ x 12″ Memory Protector™. (See step 2.)
STEP 2. Carefully trim the edges from a 12″ x 12″ Memory Protector™; this should leave you with two clear plastic sheets. Take one of these pieces and cut another circle (or the shape you chose for your window) from it. Make sure this second shape is the same size as your base piece, if you have one.
STEP 3. The last thing you will need to cut to create your large window is an overlay. When you cut your overlay, make sure that it is the same size as your other two pieces so they will all match up later when you stack them to assemble your window. On our page, we created an overlay that frames our shape and also has a world map in the center (making our complete project look like a globe). Your overlay doesn’t have to be this complicated. Decide how much of the inside window you really need or want to see. Also take into consideration where you will be putting other elements of your scrapbook page, like photos and journaling.
STEP 4. When you’ve got all your pieces cut, gently rub the base and the clear plastic window in circular motions with an anti-static pouch. This will help reduce static cling and allow the sequins move freely when you shake or turn the completed page.
STEP 5. Carefully place small pieces of 3-D foam tape around the perimeter of your base piece. Keeping your base flat, add a handful of loose sequins inside the frame you just created.
STEP 6. Lay the clear plastic shape on top of the 3-D foam tape and press firmly around the edges.
If you don’t have a separate base piece and are using your base page as the back of your window, add the 3-D foam tape to the perimeter of the plastic shape instead. Then, fill the center of your framed plastic shape with sequins and lay the base page on top of it to attach. Flip the page over to see your window.
STEP 7. The last step in assembling this large window is to hide the foam frame by layering the overlay on top of it. (An adhesive runner should do the trick!)
Now that your window is complete, all that is left to do is to attach it to your project along with all of those extra elements that make a scrapbook page truly yours.
We’ve been having a lot fun with StazOn™ ink in our art studio recently and wanted to let you in on it!
Considering all of the different black ink options available, from the faithful Archival Black to the newer Intense Black, it is no surprise that the StazOn ink pad is often overlooked. Most of us who follow this blog papercraft, scrapbook, or make cards out of paper. StazOn ink, although it works well on semi-porous surfaces, including paper, is better known for its use on non-porous surfaces such as plastic, glass, and porcelain. It stays put on the stamped surface, without pilling, until it completely dries.
We decided to put this trusty ink pad to the test, and sure enough, the results were as expected!
Tip: An inked stamp can be slippery on a non-porous surface, like the acetate circle in the shaker windows above. When you are ready to stamp, we suggest you do so with a steady hand, bringing the stamp straight down. (Avoid breathing if possible! 😉 ) Any slight movement in your hands can cause your image to smudge. Just as carefully, remove the stamp from the surface with a straight lift. Do not roll your stamp away.
Follow-up Tip: If you moved while stamping…it happens…have a damp rag (a wet wipe works!) at the ready to wipe off your surface. This only works on non-porous surfaces. If you are working on a semi-porous surface, like leather or photos, wiping will only spread the ink around creating a bigger smudge. A wet wipe should do the trick. (DO NOT use the My Acrylix® Spritz Cleaner to wet your surface for cleaning.)
Once your image is stamped, the ink will require time to set. We recommend that you plan ahead as you work with StazOn ink. Stamp first and set these pieces aside to dry as you work on the rest of your project.
But what if you want to stamp on something that is porous?
Most inks will seep into a permeable surface and spider out from the original stamped image. The trick, here, is to make your surface non-porous, or less porous. To stamp on a wood surface, like this album cover from our Made with Love mini album workshop, use a clear matte acrylic sealer. Before we stamped on our album cover, we sealed the surface with a clear finish aerosol spray. (If you have access to Mod Podge, it works really well, too!) Make sure to allow the sealant to dry before stamping onto the surface. It shouldn’t take too long, but if in doubt wait a bit longer just to make sure.
What are you stamping with StazOn? Do you have any tips or tricks for using this ink? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
There are only 6 more days to purchase our Welcome Home wreath kit, which includes pre-cut pieces and instructions to create a beautiful paper succulent wreath.
The great thing about this paper wreath, apart from being super affordable, is that it can work in your home all year round! Usually store-bought wreaths are season-specific, but this one adds beauty to any part of your home any time of year.
Today we want to share with you three unique ideas for decorating your home with this homemade wreath. Choose your favorite, or try them all throughout the year!
1. Hang It on an Old Window Frame
If you love shabby chic, try hanging this wreath on a rustic window frame. You can place this window frame on an entry table or mantle and lean it against the wall, or you can just hang it up on any wall. Hang the wreath with some vintage-looking ribbons, like those in our Rustic Home ribbon pack, and you’ve got the perfect country look.
2. Add a Saying
If you love those wooden plaques that say things like “home sweet home” or “live laugh love,” try adding these sayings to wreaths instead. Hang them on wreath hooks, vintage knobs, coat hooks, or just straight on the wall in a row.
3. Personalize School Pictures
Hang a wreath above each kid’s school picture with his or her name. It’s a great way to personalize the standard school picture gallery in your home, and because these wreaths are so affordable, it’s totally reasonable to get one for each kid!
Which idea is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!
