Last time I showed how to make recycled postcards using cereal boxes and crumpled tissue paper. Today I'm taking a cue from these plastic bag prints, using alcohol inks and a plastic bag in a postcard project.

Materials

• Paperboard (like from a cereal box), heavy poster board, or card stock.
• Plastic bag. Thicker, more opaque bags are better for hiding the pictures and writing on the packaging underneath. If you don't have plastic bags around because you only use shopping totes (good for you!), then you could also use the slick side of a cheap shower curtain. (Thanks to Filth Wizardry's shower curtain play mat for the shower curtain idea.)
• Adhesive. A Xyron works great for this project.
• Alcohol inks and applicator.

Instructions

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After surveying the site's visitors, Polymer Clay Central has changed the rules for all future challenges. Now you can enter by sending them photos of your work — no more costly trips to the post office required! I think this is a great move on their part: it'll make it much easier for folks like me to get in last-minute entries. I also like that they're keeping a mail-in option for folks who aren't comfortable taking their own pictures. You can read the new rules here.

Here's a list of the upcoming challenge themes:

• July - CELEBRATION
• August - OVER THE RAINBOW
• September - GLITTER & GLITZ
• October THAT REALLY "BUGS" ME
• November - CARVE IT UP
• December/January - RING IN THE NEW YEAR

Polymer Clay Central has held challenges since March 1999, with July marking their 110th challenge. Not only do the winners get bragging rights, but the top 3 vote-getters also win generous prizes. If you haven't entered one of their challenges, give it a try!

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If you're like me and have trouble throwing away possibly-useful things, then you may not even want to read this post. I had a lot more storage room before I realized I could cut up all my cereal boxes and use them for crafty purposes. And I used to only keep the tissue paper that looked nice enough to re-use... now I feel obligated to keep even the stuff the gift recipient crumples up and tosses aside dismissively. So, pack-rats, consider yourselves warned. This may be another thing you'll have to find room for in your "nest."

The postcards are made from cereal boxes and recycled tissue paper. Or other stuff (see more suggestions in the materials). And the possibilities are pretty much unlimited.

Materials

• Paperboard. You can recycle this from cereal boxes, soda can boxes, Kleenex boxes, etc. If you don't have those, you could use heavy duty poster board or cardstock.
• Tissue paper. Old, crumpled stuff works fine. You could also use other patterned paper products, such as paper tablecloths or paper napkins (if using 2- or 3-ply napkins, make sure to separate the layers first)
• Adhesive. I used decoupage glue (i.e. Mod Podge or Crafter's Pick) for my project. A Xyron machine or spray adhesive would also work.
• Decorations. Stamps, paint, antiquing inks, chalks, glitter, etc. (Nothing 3-D, though, or it won't qualify for the postcard rate.)

Instructions

Continue reading "Recycled Tissue Paper Postcards" »

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My birthday's not til August, but I already know that I'm getting a great gift from my mom. She offered to paint my craft room for me. It's something I've wanted to do for at least a couple of years, as this old blog post from the archives so pointedly reminds me. Once we had Sam, I wondered how projects like that would ever get done. So I was thrilled when my mom offered.

I'm pretty sure I'm going with an earthy orange. The orange swatch above is my current fave. I'll probably also add some shelves (the bookcase is overflowing, plus there are some thing I've made that I'd like to display). And I've got a few ideas for wall decor — even some including polymer clay. (Surprise, surprise!)

Continue reading "Craft Room Makeover, Lighting Giveaway" »

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Father's Day is right around the corner, so you may still be looking for the perfect gift. Crafting handmade gifts for men takes a little extra creativity — dads don't always appreciate delicate, flowery things. Fortunately, polymer clay is an incredibly flexible medium that offers a lot of options for masculine projects too.

Here are a few masculine gift ideas for Father's Day or any other time:

1. Pen Set

Pens are one of the quickest polymer clay projects to make, and they can be really classy-looking gifts, especially if you use a pen kit. (See my pen kit tutorial for instructions.)

Continue reading "6 Masculine Gifts to Make with Polymer Clay" »

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