Crafting with Office Supplies

August 27, 2015May 17, 201710 Comments

When you think of crafting do you ever think office supplies?

Would you believe…

the “be happy” sign, which is now sitting happily on my fireplace mantel,

started out as a office name plate holder

A few stickers, chipboard letters, washi tape and voila a happy little reminder.

There are surfaces everywhere just waiting to be embellished.

Name plate 2

Deflecto Interior Image Sign Holder, 8.5 x 2 Inches, Nameplate (89105) (affiliate link)

“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.”

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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!

Craft Ideas Fall 2015

August 25, 2015Leave a comment

Craft Ideas Fall 2015 cover

I’m So excited….

I have two projects in the latest issue of Craft Ideas magazine.

A Back to School Announcement Board on page 11 and a simple Back to School Card on page 53.

You can see the instructions for the Back to School Announcement board here on Craft Ideas.

Make sure to pick up your copy.

Colorful Chalkboard Frame for Kids and grownups

August 23, 2015May 27, 2017Leave a comment

A simple paint and stencil project, fun for kids or grown ups.

I decided to finish painting this colorful Rustic Pallet Frame* that I started working on

yesterday evening. As the name suggests, the frame is rustic and somewhat rough.

Because I was planning on stenciling on it… I sanded the front of the frame to make it smoother.

I wasn’t worried about making it completely smooth.

The Colorful Chalkboard Frame would be a great project to make with the kiddos.

Directions to make the Colorful Chalkboard Frame:

Sand the front of the frame.
Paint the frame with white acrylic paint.
Paint the top of each pallet section with different acrylic colors. Sort of a modified rainbow.
Because the stencil had four unique patterns, I decided each color needed its own pattern.
Mask off each section of the wood before stenciling.
Stencil using a stipple brush and white acrylic paint.
Allow to dry completely
To mute to colors: Lightly sand the frame with a sanding block. (optional)
For an added sheen: Apply clear crème wax to front of frame, allow to sit for one hour and buff.
I added a small chalkboard to the inside of the frame.

Supplies Used: (*affiliate link)

Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet Frame, 11 by 12 by 2-Inch*
DecoArt Americana Mixed Media Stencil, 12 by 12-Inch, Retro Mod*
Deco Art American Acrylic Paints: White Wash, Watermelon Slice, Marigold, Foliage Green, French Grey Blue
Paintbrush
Americana Creme Wax 2Oz-Clear*
Sanding Block
Clean soft cloth
Small Chalkboard

*Thanks to Walnut Hollow and DecoArt for providing the materials used on this frame.

For more Summer fun with the kids…click on SIime Ad below.

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Are you on Instagram?

August 21, 2015August 21, 2015Leave a comment

Sue’s Creative Workshop is now on Instragram.

It always seems like it takes me a little longer to catch up with the rest of the world.

But… now you actually can follow me on Instragram. (really you can!)

If you’re on Instagram, would you please follow me?

(Did you notice my numbers? I need help.)

My Fabulous Thrift Store Make-Over

August 20, 2015May 17, 2017Leave a comment

I almost passed on this plain 8 drawer cabinet last April while visiting my daughter in Madison.

I didn’t really need it, I have too much stuff, would there be room in the car? (geez!)

It was sitting there in the Thrift Store for only $8. They had just put it out that day.

I had to take it home. (I just had too.)

As soon as I got it home, I painted it with a couple coats of black paint and gave

it a clear wax coat. It sat in my office that way for the next four months.

(I’m starting to notice a pattern here.) Anyway…. I decided that the cabinet needed more.

After receiving these cool number stencil,

Deco Art Americana Decor Stencil, Old World Numbers* (*affiliate link)

and Whisper Chalky Finish Paint* from DecoArt as part of their Blogger Outreach Program,

I stenciled each drawer 1-8.

To keep the numbers from looking too new or bright, I lightly sanded over the letters with a

extra fine sanding block and applied another coat of clear wax.

My hubby helped me put on these vintage looking drawer pulls I’d found on Etsy.

I spent more than twice as much on the drawer pulls than I did the cabinet.

I’m so happy with the way it turned out. Doesn’t it look beautiful?

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What would you do with a paintbrush and a little jar of paint?

August 19, 20151 Comment

Today I’ve been working on finishing up a couple of projects that I’ve had in the works for awhile.

Putting on the finishing touches. Taking pictures. (Lots of love goes into these projects.)

It got me thinking…

So many ideas for a paintbrush and a little jar of paint.

Come back tomorrow for the finished projects.

Getting Creative with Resin

August 13, 2015May 10, 202013 Comments

I’ve always wanted to use resin in a project but have always felt somewhat intimidated.

Thanks to an opportunity with Environmental Technology Inc., the makers of

jewelry resin and much more, I finally got my chance.

EnviroTex Jewelry Resin

And… after watching this video. I felt confident to start.

I couldn’t believe how easy it was and how happy I was with the results.

The hardest part was deciding what to make and what to fill.

For my Projects:

I started with some over-sized bottle caps from Maya Road which I spray painted black.
I used a circle punch to make a background from scrapbook paper.
I used dimensional stickers, metal pieces, regular stickers and glued everything in place using white craft glue.
I measured and mixed the resin according to the instructions and filled the bottle caps.
Then it was time to wait for the resin to cure.

The original plan was to add a hanger on the back, and use them as a decoration.

But… I had a better idea and decided to add a magnet to the back instead.

I really, really like them.

Now that I’ve seen how easy it is, I’ve got a few more things in the works.

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*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!

My Summer Vacation…

August 11, 2015May 17, 2017Leave a comment

When the Jimmy Buffett tune came across the radio…

I was immediately filled with a combination of jealousy and sadness.

My husband’s vacation was just a few days away and we had no plans.

I mean none other than work in the garage and scrape and paint the deck. (yay!)

Every other summer we try to plan a “beach vacation” and this was that summer.

For months, I’ve endured everyone’s Facebook vacation pictures while longing for the beach.

(Insert dramatic sigh!)

But…being practical people, this summer, we’d opted for a “Garage Make-Over” instead.

Don’t get me wrong… I love our new garage. (another post for another day)

I just love the beach too.

Truth is… I have a teen-ager.

The thought of him being stuck with two boring parents away from his friends,

his music and games for a whole week sounded like torture to him.

He was not interested in the least.

I know we should of made him go.

But… I wasn’t sure that I wanted to spend all that money to take a sulky teen.

So, we opted for practical instead.

But… when I heard the song on the radio, it reminded me of our favorite Mini Golf place

the one on Myrtle Beach where they play nothing but Jimmy Buffett songs.

I told my husband when I got home, and…being the good man that he is…

he checked for last minute cheap airfare and hotels. (what a guy!)

But… practicality won out again and we decided for something closer.

A trip to Lake of the Ozarks. (romantic I know)

When we opened the door to our room, on the Marina, we were struck by the amazing view.

Our son, who’d refused to bring his swim trunks was now having second thoughts.

Seriously, you could fish off the patio. (Which he immediately did.)

Neither one of the guys had been in a cave before. So we did that.

The real highlight of the trip was when we rented the boat and took it out on the lake.

Driving a boat for the first time, girls waving from the other boats, actually brought a smile

to his face. I didn’t catch it on camera, but it was definitely there.

It was a great trip, a great memory and I’m so glad we went even if it was for just a few days.

Painting on Acrylic Frames

August 3, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

With all this new Home Décor chalk paint out on the market…

with it’s claims of being able to paint on most anything. I decided to give it a test.

I’ve used it on wood, old frames, stuff like that.

Acrylic frames? It was worth a try.

I created a mask using blue painters tape and applied it onto the front of a

Mini 3″ x 4″ Sign Holder* (*affiliate link) from Deflecto Craft Solutions.

Make sure to burnish the edges of the tape.

I painted the surface of the frame with:

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint in Imperial*

I used 3 coats of paint. Make sure to allow good drying time in between coats.

After allowing plenty of time for the red paint to dry and cure.

I gave the frame an aged look by applying a layer of Tattered Angels Decor and DIY Paint*

I wiped it off with a damp paper towel. Leaving bits of the black streaks.

I stamped around the edges of the frame with a crackle background stamp

and Tsukineko StazOn Ink Pad, Jet Black*

Carefully remove the blue painter’s tape mask.

At this point, I stopped and admired my frame for almost a month.

Just waiting for inspiration….

Meet Rachael Cunningham Parr.

I found Rachel, a tin type, years ago while hunting for treasures.

If Rachael is your relative, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t really a gypsy.

(She really is a beautiful woman.)

I embellished the frame with some vintage rickrack, key, and a tiny flower.

“R is for Racheal” was made with Metal Type Charms by Tim Holtz*

Once inspired… I created a couple more frames.

The frames uses charms and hardware from Canvas Corps Brands

and Chitchat Word Stickers by Tim Holtz*.

Now to try this on a bigger frame!

“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!