Sin City Stamps is back!

How exciting! 

The store has a new owner, 

with new stamps

 and a new Inspiration Team 

from all over the world!

 Come on over and meet everyone! 

Sin City Stamps

Rinea Foil Greeting Cards

Hi everyone!
Recently I was gifted with some specialty foils from Germany called Rinea foils. 
Let me just start off by telling you that these foils are amazing! They are thin, but not so thin that they tear easily. They have more of a paper quality that can be cut with decorative and regular scissors, or die cut. The foils can also be embossed by hand or with a machine.

My inspiration for these cards came from my love of Iris folding. Only with these foils, there is no need to "fold" as foil is so perfect as is!

 

Supplies used:

1. Rinea Foils
2. A printed Iris folding pattern (free online). 
3. Prepared blank cards plus extra cardstock for inside of card.
4. Scissors
5. Clear tape, double sided tape and some removable tape (painters tape).
6. Adhesive
7. A pencil and glitter gel pens

As you can see, the foils are gorgeous. Some are readily embossed....

While some are ready for 'you' to emboss or leave plain.

The foils are also double sided. Some with the same color, some with a bright gold.

Instructions:

1.  Print out your pattern to be smaller than the front of your card.
2.  Center the pattern and trace the outline with a pencil, pressing into the card.
3.  Reinforce the trace with a pencil and carefully cut the circle out. You can now use the circle or whatever shape you decide on, to trace for more than one card.

4.  Before you can begin working with the foils, you need to have your tape ready. Attach pieces of the clear tape to something where you can get to them easily. I used a oversized clipboard. I had 18 spaces on my pattern to cover so I  made sure to have double that in tape ready plus some extra pieces.

5.  Place the pattern over the top of your card so the design peeks through the hole. Hold it in place with one piece of removable tape- this will act as a 'hinge' to check your progress.

6.  Your pattern spaces are numbered. You'll want a different color of foil per number.
7. Open your card so the pattern is showing through the outside of the card.
You can now start adding your foils.

• Cut strips of foil so that it is a little longer than the opening.
• Line up a strip of foil with the inside edge of the area labeled with a "1"
• Tape both ends of the strip of foil face down to the card as shown- the backside of the purple foil is gold.
• Repeat with your next color foil for #2.

• Occasionally close your card to check your progress, lifting the pattern back on its 'tape' hinge. 
• Continue on with the 3rd foil for #3.
• Before you add your center foil, use any leftover tape strips to secure loose edges of the other foils. 
• Add the center piece with full strips of tape. 
• Place long strips of the double sided tape over the foil and at the edges of the card. Affix your extra cardstock in place to hide your work.

• Close your card and remove the pattern. Add any additional foil shapes with adhesive and accent the card with your gel pens.

Here are some variations.....


After I completed the bottom card, I used a dull pencil to draw some designs into the foil.
Thanks for coming by! I hope you liked my cards as much as I enjoyed making them!
Be sure to visit The Designer Crafts Connection blog to see more foil creations.
Then enter for a chance to win an amazing prize pack of 20 sheets of Rinea foil to play with!
Good luck!

How to make a Autumn Wreath

Learn how to make this beautiful Autumn wreath here!

How to Make a Mummified Body for Halloween

Every year for Halloween, I always change my outside decoration, just a bit. I have been wanting to make one of these for sometime, having been inspired by similar 'bodies' on pintrest and such.
I knew it needed to be lightweight and cheap. Intrigued?

Here's what you'll need to make one for your self:

• Empty plastic containers. 
• Newspapers. 
• A wire hanger.
• Grocery bag.
• White garbage bags
• Scissors
• Tape, clear and white duct tape.
• Silver floral wire
• Spider webbing and spooky spiders.

1. Arrange your containers ( I used a combination of 2 ltr soda bottles, a water jug, a white vinegar jug and a crushed juice container for the feet.)-  in a general body shape, lightly tape them together so not to roll out of place.
2. Fill a grocery bag with crumpled up newspaper to make a head shape.
3. Bend your wire hanger to make the upper arms. Fill that part of the body with crumpled newspaper. Use the tape to hold all in place and attach the head.
4. Tape your body together from head to toe. Then carefully flip over and tape again. If desired, cover any labels with the white tape.
5. Cut up your white trash bags and cover your body, using the clear tape this time.
6. Open up and expand your spider webbing. Roll the body in the web, securing to the body with clear tape, here and there.
7. Save some web to  make a thin rope, by not opening it up you'll have enough to bind the neck and the ankles.

I hung my body on the side of my house from wire. I attached the wire from my gate, along the wall  to a hook that was holding lights around my garage. From that same wire I was able to secure my giant spider.  Then I added more webbing and extra spiders.
On Halloween I'll shine a orange and green projection light onto this for a extra spooky effect!

Thanks for coming by, Happy Halloween!

Eye See You Halloween Resin Pendant!

 Recently I was asked if I wanted to participate in a blog hop challenge using resin and putty by Amazing Casting Products. I have worked with this company in the past and love their products! So I 'jumped' at the chance to have some fun!

The theme for this blog hop is:

 " The Great Mold Putty Scavenger Hunt! 

 What amazing things can you discover to mold and transform into your art using resin?"

 At the end of this post you will fin a link that will take you to the rest of the designers involved in this treasure hunt and give you the chance to win a a resin/mold crafting kit!

OK, ready to get started?

 All the designers received the exact same items to craft with.
I chose to make a pendant that I will wear with my gypsy costume for Halloween.

 I gathered my materials. Something to make the mold shape....a vintage tart tin. some chain with bezels attached, assorted sized google eyes and a nonstick mat or wax paper.

 The putty comes in two parts. White and yellow. I gathered equal parts of each and mixed the two together until it was a uniform light yellow color. Then I formed the shape and pressed the tin in. I quickly pressed the edges around the tins edges. The putty sets quickly, in less than 15 minutes. 

 Then I popped out the tin to reveal my decorative mold!
Following the instructions on the box and measuring cups, I carefully measured equal parts of the part "A" and part "B" resins, then combined the two and mixed thoroughly with a popsicle stick.
I poured a bit of the mixed resin into the mold and arranged a few of the eyes. I waited about 5 minutes then added the rest of the eyes and filled the mold to the brim with resin.

 I placed my filled mold on a flat surface overnight. By morning I was able to pop out my cured piece!
I painted the back of the pendant with glow-in-the-dark nail polish and used e-6000 to glue the bezels in place. All set to wear on Halloween night!


 Excited to see more? Visit the rest of the designers here and enter to win your own crafting kit.
Good luck!

Colorful Bookmarks

Love to read? See how I made these inspirational book marks here!

Art Quilt Fabric Elements Blog Hop

Recently a few designers including myself, received a "Mini Paper Quilt Kit" from artist Rebekah Meier.  She sent every one a kit from her Fabric Elements line!

As you can see, the kit comes with quite a lot but also list what additional supplies that are needed.
The instructions that came with the kit are easy to follow.
Here I will show you how I created my colorful Art Quilt!

Materials:

• Fabric Elements Kit
• Neon Craft Paint in yellow, orange and pink.
• Turquoise craft paint
• Bubble wrap
• Foam brush
• Strong double sided tape
• Turquoise marker.

1. Follow the instructions included with the kit.
2. When you are ready to add color, dab the yellow paint randomly onto your piece with the foam brush.

3.  Add some orange.

4.  Paint the bubble wrap with the pink paint.

5.  Press the painted bubble wrap onto your piece, lift off to reveal some fun!
6.  Repeat process until desired effect is achieved.

7.  Paint the included foam piece with the turquoise paint and do the same as you did with the bubble wrap.

8.  A little or a lot, its up to you.

9.  Dip the end of your foam brush handle into the yellow paint and stamp some bright 'pops' of color onto your piece.

10.  When the paint has dried, finish putting everything together. Use a sewing machine to stitch your art quilt as recommended by way of the kit sample, or use the double sided tape as I did. Accent with  vintage trim and add 'stitching' with the marker.

It's so vibrant and pretty as is...I may not add anything else!

See more creative idea's 

using the Fabric Elements line 

by Rebekah Meier- here and enter to win this gift pack!

Good Luck!

Colorful Baseball Cap!

See how I made this colorful baseball cap here!

Chalkboard Welcome Sign

How cool is this sign? So easy to make too!
Best part? It's reversible!
Check it out here!

Easy Dishwasher Magnet

With a few craft store items, you too can make this simple dishwasher magnet!
See the tutorial here.

DVD and Music Storage

Too many DVD's and Music CD's?

See how I organized them here.

Sharpie Dyed Back 2 School Pencil Pouch

When it comes to Back-2-School shopping around here, we like to find items that are eye catching and cheap to make! I like to join in on the fun and decorate pouches for my own art supplies too!
To make this back 2 school pouch, you will need the following:

1.  A clean canvas pouch. I got this at a Japanese store near me called Daiso. But you can also find these at dollar stores too!

 2... Assorted sharpie permanent markers in a variety of colors and tips. I found that the fluorescent colors were the most eye catching in the final outcome.

 4. 91% Isoprophyl (Rubbing) alcohol - found in the pharmacy section of Walmart or any other convenience store.
5. Travel sized spray bottle.

 6. Plastic bin.
7. Wire rack or baking sheet.

 *Begin by drawing a basic repetitive pattern on both sides of the pouch.
Make sure you are in a well ventilated room or have a fan blowing on you as the pens do stink.

 * Scribble with the colors.

 * Go crazy and add lots of color, have fun with this!

 *Fill in any empty spots with the brighter colors.

 * Once you have colored both sides, go outside and place the pouch on top of the rack in the bin.
* Starting in one section spray with the rubbing alcohol.
* You will see results instantly.
* When you have fully saturated and blended both sides, leave the pouch outside to air out and 'set' in the heat of the sun.
* If you have no sun, you can toss pouch in the dryer or iron to set the dye. Place pouch in a old pillow case to protect dryer and use a sheet of parchment paper when ironing to protect the iron.

Fill with your favorite School or Crafting supplies and have fun!
See more Back-2-School ideas here!