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In Case you didn’t Know…

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Last year, I was asked to do a Contributor Spotlight for Craft Ideas Summer Issue. 

As intimidating as it felt, it was an honor to be asked for a featured interview.

Unfortunately, my interview was also the last interview. 

The Summer Issue was later decided to be their last issue.

I’ve had several projects featured in Craft Ideas throughout the last several years.

I always enjoyed working with them and was sad to see it end.

I’ve never shared the interview on my blog after it was featured in the magazine…

I thought I might as well share it now for those of you who don’t know.

 1.  How long have you been creating and how did you get started?  

When I was a kid, I loved doing all kinds of crafts.  On Christmas, Mom liked to include a craft kit as part of our presents.  Every year, there was a new craft for me to try.  At a very young age, I even had a thriving candle business for a while (or at least I thought I did).  In High School, I took every Art class available, but never considered myself artistic.  It was just fun. 

I was surrounded by people that loved using their hands.  My Mom loved to paint and decorate cakes.  My Grandma was a seamstress and the “ultimate crafter/craft hoarder”.  My Dad, I believed, could fix anything.  He was always tinkering on something, even the neighborhood kids would bring things for him to fix.   

I didn’t get into crafting seriously until after I opened a gift store in the 90’s.  I had attended a Gift Trade Show in Chicago and saw a rubber stamping demo.   I was sold after watching the wonderful melting gold embossing powder.    After that, I brought rubber stamps and paper-crafting into my gift store and learned to stamp.  It grew from there (any boy did it).   While I had my store, I taught classes, hosted events and guest artists.  The customers became friends and were the best part of owning a business.  

2.  Are you a full-time designer? What design teams do you belong to?

I am a part time designer creating for magazines, manufactures and teaching classes.    After closing my store in 2002, I started designing for manufacturers.  I’ve had projects used in packaging, websites, magazine ads and trade shows.   I currently belong to Xyron, Deflecto Craft Solutions, Tape Technologies and Creating with Joy Design Teams.

3.       Tell us about your blog. How did it get started? What have been some of your most popular posts?  

I started blogging sometime in 2008 after my favorite stamp store closed.   I was regularly teaching classes there and really didn’t want to give that up.   I started my blog
“Sue’s Creative Workshop” to be able to connect and communicate with the regulars offering workshops and ideas.   I re-branded my blog 4 years ago to www.sueeldred.com and started blogging seriously.  I blog about paper-crafting, DIY, up-cycling and general craftiness.

My most popular posts are the projects I do with my Grandson.   My “Creating a Garden Stepping Stone” post, which he helped me with, has had over 450,000 views.  Everyone loves a cute kid. 

4.       What mediums do you enjoy working in? What techniques do you dabble in?

I used to consider myself mostly a paper-crafter, enjoying cardmaking and scrapbooking.  Now I’m more of a general crafter.   I love creating things for my home.  I love a good thrift store find that I can up-cycle into a great treasure.  I recently used an old bird bath base, saved for just the right project, along with old broken plates (left over from “Creating a Garden Stepping Stone”) and created a Mosaic Table for my garden.  

See post here Trash to Treasure Love Story.

5.       Where do you find inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere:  in everyday life, in stores, on television and especially online.  I usually get my best ideas while lying down at night trying to sleep. Occasionally, I get lucky and I’ll see a complete picture of what the project will look like.  When that happens, I’ll get up and sketch it out.   (I love it when that happens.)

6.       I know organization is your forte. What tips do you have for staying organized?

My best advice would be to create a “home” for everything and put it away as soon as the project is finished.  Some people find inspiration in seeing all their “pretties” out on a shelf.  I’m a fan of closed door storage; I don’t work well in chaos.  I have an extremely small work space, so I must be organized or things can easily get out of hand.  I like using baskets, crates, mason jars and old drawers for storage.  Keeping it visually fun and appealing helps me want to keep it clean.   

Whenever I work on a big project, I create a gigantic mess, it’s part of the process.  Sometimes the mess lasts for a few days but as soon as the project is finished I try to put everything away.  I find it therapeutic. There’s nothing like making a major deadline by the skin of your teeth, catching the last Fed Ex truck and coming home and clearing the chaos.  It helps me put the stress of the project behind me.  It clears my mind and puts an end to the deadline.  

7.       What advice do you have for other creators?

 Just have fun.  Enjoy the process and don’t fight it (which is sometimes easier said than done).   

8.       What trends are you seeing in the crafting industry?

I see so many trends right now:  rustic wood slices, home décor, knitting, painting, up-cycling.  I like how Social Media plays a big part in creating a community of sharing and inspiring.  It excites me to see crafting growing in popularity again. 

9.       When you aren’t creating, what do you enjoy doing? (Hobbies, leisure activities, etc.)

I love taking pictures, treasure hunting at thrift stores and estate sales, reading, playing with my grandsons and just being with my family.  In the summer, I love growing flowers, vacations and lazing by the pool.  I’ve got a good life.

10.   List some all-time favorites: book, TV show, movie, song, travel destination, etc.

I’m a hopeless romantic and love reading sweet love stories.  (nothing trashy) I’m a big Debbie Macomber fan.  My favorite movies are “You’ve got Mail” and “The Holiday”, I watch them every time I find it on television.  (My husband always reminds me I own them on DVD.)

 My favorite, can’t miss shows, now are “This is Us” and “Fixer Upper”.  (And… I’m still bummed that they ended “Parenthood”.)   My favorite song is “What a Wonderful World”, sung by Louie Armstrong.

One of my favorite things to do is to sit on the beach under a beach umbrella, listen to music and read a book.  

11.   Tell us about your family. Do they share your love of crafting?

All three of my kids are creative in completely different ways.  My oldest son, is in web design.  My daughter is involved in fashion and my youngest son loves music.  My grandson and daughter-in-law are my partners in crime.     

That concludes the interview…for those of you who didn’t know, now you do.

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*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

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Coloring with Derwent and Xyron

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I recently received a special box of Derwent Procolour Colored Pencils* to try out along with

the Derwent Big Book*.  As soon as I got them, I couldn’t wait to try them and scribble in my

new sketch book.  I have used several different brands of colored pencils through the years and

I was impressed by the smooth clean lines and easy blending.

  

Happy with my scribbling…I decided to keep the page and add the words “Be Happy”.

This would be a great start to a scrapbook layout.

  

I also used my new Derwent Procolour Colored Pencils* to color in a page from a

Mini Coloring Book* for grown-ups.  I adhered the coloring page to cardstock using my

Xyron Mega Runner* for a quick and easy card.

 “This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Xyron Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.”

*Disclosure:  This blog post uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

“Dyeing” for Spring

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Welcome Spring with all your beautiful flowers, warmer days and everything renewed.

My Welcome Spring Banner turned into a real labor of love.

I began this project with the idea of using fun pink and purple hand cut felt flowers.

After I cut all the flowers and leaves, I decided to dye the embroidered letters.

The letters turned out so soft and delicate, I needed something softer for the flowers.

So…more flowers and more dyeing!  (make sure to read all the instructions below.)

I could of kept things simple and glued all the flowers in place, but noooo…

instead at the last minute I committed myself to stitching the entire thing.

Let me tell you…I’m not a stitcher!    (But, I am pretty satisfied by the way they turned out.)

To make the Welcome Spring Banner you’ll need:

  1. Add several drops of dye ink to each misting bottle.
  2. Remove letters from backing sheet and place on a Non Stick Craft Mat* or (wax paper).
  3. Spritz the letters with both blue and green ink for a variegated look.  Allow the ink to soak into the letters then dab away excess ink and water with a paper towel.  Let dry.

Look at how beautiful the letters dried.  ↓

4.  Create simple, hand drawn flowers (small, medium and large), circle and leaf patterns onto plain white paper.  Cut then trace around the patterns onto white felt.  Cut out.

5.  Spray the leaves green, set aside then spray the flowers and circles one color at a time.  Allow them to dry overnight.

6.  Layer the circle, small flower and large flower on top of each other then stitch in place.  Use a small amount of glue to hold the pieces in place while you stitch.

I love how the ink pooled at the edges of the pink flowers!

7.  To create the banner shape, fold a 10″ x 14″ piece of white felt in half lengthways.  Cut diagonally across the bottom from the center fold to a point about 3″ up from the bottom corner on the outer edges.  Stitch the flowers to the banner using a button at the center of each one.  Tuck leaves underneath the outer edges of the flowers then stitch in place.

8.  Set iron to cotton setting, approx. 350°, or follow garment care label.  Position letters with shiny side down on felt, then iron the letters in place as shown.  Cover letters with a fine cloth.  With firm pressure, iron cloth over the letters for 30 seconds.  Turn banner over and iron the back of the letters for 30 seconds.

9.  Use a sewing machine to stitch the banner to backing material, then stitch trim in place across the top and around the bottom edge if desired.

 If you need to finish your banner in less time, glue the flowers, leaves and trim in place, then use a fusible interfacing to adhere the felt banner to a backing.

Look for Joy® iron-on embroidered alphabet letter sheets at your local craft store.

My “Welcome Spring” banner was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclaimer:  This post uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

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DIY Bloom Floral Plaque

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Bloom into Spring with this DIY Bloom Floral Plaque.

I admit it…I’m an adhesive snob.

There’s nothing worse than spending hours on a project and then it  comes undone

from using the wrong adhesives.

I tell people all the time “not all adhesives are created equal”.

That’s one reason why I was so excited to be on the Xyron 2018 Design Team.

Xyron has Good Adhesive!

The DIY Bloom Floral Plaque is the first of many projects to come using Xyron.

DIY Bloom Floral Plaque Products Used:    (*Affiliate Links)

*Disclosure:  This blog post uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

How to make a DIY Bloom Floral Plaque…

  • Lay a piece of a 8 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ piece of decorative scrapbook paper (design side up) on the Xyron Creative Station, 9″* crank the handle to run the paper through the machine.  As it moves through the Xyron Creative Station it adds adhesive to the back side of the paper.
  • Easy to use and it doesn’t need any electricity.

       You get complete coverage, no gluing, no wrinkling, no bubbles!

  • Lay Wood Flower Shaped Plaque onto the adhesive side of the paper.
  • Carefully cut around the wood shape with a craft knife and craft cutting mat.

  • Gently sand away rough-cut edges on the paper using an extra fine sanding block.

  • I used my electronic die cutting machine and cut files to create pieces for my background.  The Xyron Creative Station* is great for adding adhesive to the back of intricate pieces.

  • After the layers are adhered together, I use the XYRON Adhesive Eraser* to remove any extra adhesive from the edges of my pieces.  Remember to use a gentle touch.

The XYRON Adhesive Eraser* is one of my favorites must have tools.  I keep it on my desk at all times.

I think every paper crafter should carry one in their supply box.

  • For added detail…use a gold paint pen to edge around the outside of the Wood Flower Shaped Plaque and the decorative scrapbook paper oval.

  • My Xyron Creative Station* makes quick work of assembling all the pieces of my DIY Bloom Floral Plaque.
  • Finish embellishing the plaque with a few paper flowers glued into place with craft glue.

 “This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Xyron Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.”

March Calendar Girl Card

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The March Calendar Girl card was made by using one the pages from my

Calendar Girls Mini Coloring Book* by Adornit.

The card was water colored using dye ik pads and a Waterbrush*

I apply the ink directly onto a piece of acetate and pick up the ink with my water-brush.

MATERIAL LIST:                            (*affiliate links)

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

March Calendar Card Directions:

  1. Form a 5 x 6 ¾ inch card from cream cardstock.
  2. Cut green chevron patterned paper to 4 ¼ x 6 inches. Adhere to gold cardstock and trim a small border. Adhere layers onto 4 ½ x 6 ¼ olive green layer and then onto the cream card base.
  3. Cut Calendar Girl coloring page to 3 ¼ x 4 ¾ inches.
  4. Apply light watercolor wash to coloring page using waterbrush and ink from light blue dye ink pad.
  5. Color on acetate sheet with the salmon marker; pick up color with waterbrush and color girls face on coloring page.
  6. Dab ink onto the acetate sheet with ink pads. Pick up color with waterbrush and paint the rest of the calendar image.
  7. Add gold accents to the glasses, center of flower, skirt, socks and lettering using the gold gel pen.
  8. Add diamond stickles to the girl’s hair and vest.
  9. Adhere calendar girl to a thin gold cardstock border and onto the front of the card base.
  10. Add green enamel dots to the bottom corner of the card.
  11. Tie a sheer ivory ribbon to left side of card.

Finished card size: 5” x 6 ¾.”

March Calendar Girl was sponsored by ADORNit.

*Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Make it Personal

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Re-purpose a canvas bag and make it personal!

Last year I received a really nice, large and sturdy canvas bag from a event I attended.

While I really do appreciate all the sponsor’s named on that bag…

I knew I use it more if I made it personal.

With Joy Iron-on Embroidered letters personalizing it was a snap…

choosing from the large variety of colors and fonts available wasn’t quite as easy.

Step one…  Remove the sponsor’s iron-on transfer logo with a

XYRON Adhesive Eraser (*affiliate link).

While this may not work for every type of bag, it worked great on this one.

Making it Personal…

  • Set dry iron to cotton setting.
  • Surface of fabric to which letters are to applied should be clean.
  • Cover Letters with a lightweight or sheer pressing cloth.
  • Using firm pressure, iron over letters for 30 seconds.
  • Turn item over, iron on back for 30 seconds.
  • Allow to cool before handling.

Joy® iron-on, embroidered letters are available in a variety of fonts, sizes and colors. White letters can also be colored with dye, paint, markers and more to create custom colors!

“Make it Personal”  was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

*Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

A Creative Mess…

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 A Creative Mess is better than idle Tidiness.

I love this saying, it fits me to a tee.

I do like a neat and tidy craft space, but when I’m working on a project, it’s a complete mess.

To create the words…

I created the saying using a design file on my Silhouette CAMEO 3 Wireless Cutting Machine*

using 12″ x 12″ Adhesive Glitter Vinyl Sheets by StyleTech*.  I laid all three of my vinyl colors

down on the cutting mat at the same time and cut my saying with one pass of my machine.

Styletech Craft products brought to you by ATSM Craft 

Disclosure:  This blog uses affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

I Love Square Frames and a Good Bargain…

I found this 90’s framed print at a garage sale for 25¢ and painted it black.  

I added my words onto a piece of white cardstock using transfer paper.   I adhered the white

cardstock onto an extra piece of glitter vinyl and inserted it into the frame.

A Quick and Easy, Thrifty Home Décor piece for my Crafty Space.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the StyleTechCraft Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

Together… Mini Flip Album

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Together is my Favorite Place to Be…

This cute little flip album is one of the “make and take” projects that I taught

in the Deflecto Craft Solutions Booth at Creativation in January.

Shop Your Fav Brands at Scrapbook.com

“Together is my Favorite Place to Be” Supplies Used…          (*affiliate link)

Directions:

  1. Make two marks on the top of the frame approximately 3/4″ in on each side.  The marks need to be approx. 1/2″ down from the top of the frame.  (If the holes go down too far the pages won’t flip correctly.)  Drill two holes in the top of the frame with a 3/16″ drill bit.
  2. For the mini album cover…Adhere a 3/4″ x 4 3/4″ scrapbook paper strip onto the top of the corrugated paper leaving a 1/8″ margin on the top.  Adhere the 3″ x 4″ journaling card (cut from the scrapbook paper) onto a 3 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ piece of blue scrapbook paper layer, add those layers onto the corrugated paper and then onto a 4″ x 6″ black cardstock layer.
  3. Using the drilled holes on the craft frame as a guide, mark the cover and the kraft cardstock pages and punch two holes on the top.
  4. Mark and punch holes into a piece of 4″ x 6″ decorative scrapbook paper and insert into frame.
  5. Attach cover and pages to the craft frame with book rings.
  6. Tie ivory ribbon around cover.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

*Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

Rotating Embellishment Organizer

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Being a paper crafter at heart, I sometimes wonder…

What’s your favorite way to embellish?

For me it’s flowers, twine, buttons and pearls.

My Rotating Embellishment Organizer also know as Deflecto’s Rotating Carousel Organizer*

is a great way to organize my “go to” embellishments.  (and it looks pretty too.)

The Deflecto Rotating Carousel Organizer with Nine Canisters*   (*affiliate link)

comes with three 6″ bins and six 3″ bins.



It is also available as a Rotating Carousel Organizer with Six 6″ Canisters*.

It’s a great way to organize your supplies.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

*Disclaimer:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

How to make a Love Coaster with Easel

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A Quick and Easy, DIY, Valentine’s Decoration or Gift.

The “Love Coaster with Easel” is one of the projects that I made at the StyleTechCraft

booth while at Creativation last week.  

Everyone loved how easy it is to make an easel using a clothespin.

Materials Used:              (*affiliate link)

*Disclosure:  This blog uses ads and affiliate links.  If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog.  Thanks for your support!

To make the Love Coaster…                               

  • You can use Plain White Square Coasters* or…I made my scalloped coaster using a steel rule die and white chipboard.
  • Cut a heart out of Translucent Red Glittered Vinyl from Tape Technologies using a thin metal die.  Apply the glitter heart to the coaster using a transfer paper made for vinyl.
  • Using my Silhouette Cameo Electronic Die Cutting Machine*, I cut the word “love” out of Black Glittered Translucent Vinyl and applied it directly over my heart using transfer paper.
  • I edged the sides of my coaster in silver, using a Silver Leaf Paint Pen*.

How to make an easel using a clothespin.

To make the Easel…

  • Glue a Wooden Clothespin* on the back of the coaster with Rapid Fuse Adhesive*.
  • Pull the clothespin open just enough so that the round metal spring comes slightly out of its groove.  (Some clothespins work better than others so you might need a little luck.)
  • To keep the clothespin from snapping shut…glue the top ends of the clothespin together.

Love Coaster-Sue's Creative Workshop-www.sueeldred.com 1576

A couple of guys at the show made theirs into Valentine’s cards.

I told them all they had to do was add a sweet note inside and, they were set.

Maybe I should have told them including flowers and chocolates is also a good idea.

“This is a sponsored post.  As a member of the StyleTechCraft Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.

You can now find the full line of StyletechCraft products online at ATSM.

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