Banana Frog Blog

Project of the Day :: Oh! Those Russians

When I was growing up, one of the gloomiest days each year was Twelfth Night. Coming home from school to find the house stripped of its festive baubles, cards, tinsel and fairy lights somehow made me feel like all things fun were officially over and wouldn't start again for almost a whole year. Obviously, they did - rest assured my over-dramatic younger self had plenty of larks and happy times in between Decembers - but I still think that, back then, I would've heartily approved of the idea behind today's semi-festive Frog project. 

These little matryoshka decorations would look adorable hanging from your Christmas tree, but they're not so very merry that they'd feel out of place decorating your house after the holidays, too. They're based on a very simple form of reverse-applique (i.e. stitching something behind a piece of fabric, rather than on top of it), and also employ a simple water and spilled-Christmas-wine proof technique that eliminates any chance of smudging the ink on your fabric.  

To make your own tiny Russian, start by stamping one of the dolls from the Matryoshka set twice onto a sheet of artist transfer paper. This is usually used for making inkjet transfers but it works beautifully with stamped ink images, too. Just bear in mind that anything you stamp will be reversed when you iron it onto fabric, so letters, numbers and words are best avoided. Cut out the first doll, leaving a narrow border around the outside of the stamped image. From the second stamped impression, you only need to cut out the face and head, this time snipping just inside the inked edges. 

Flip the transfer paper over so it's face down and iron the full stamped image (the doll's body) onto a scrap of coloured fabric (this can be plain or patterned). Iron the stamped head onto plain, neutral fabric. Peel the paper backing away carefully to reveal the transferred image on each piece of fabric. Using a small pair of sharp scissors, cut out the circular face section from the doll's body. 

Position the neutral fabric underneath the coloured piece so the face shows through the cut-out hole, then sew a line of running stitches around the edge of the face to join the two sections together. Use thread in a contrasting colour to add extra interest. 

At this point, you've finished the basic reverse-applique stamped doll. If you don't want to create a hanging decoration, you could just trim the fabric edges and glue it to a card or tag for a simpler, two-dimensional version of the project. 

To carry on with your tree decoration, though, snip a second piece of fabric (either the same, or a contrasting coloured print) and place it directly behind the double-layered doll. Cut a length of yarn, ribbon or string and fold it in half, then sandwich the ends between the layers of fabric. Join everything together by stitching around the stamped outline of the doll, but leave a small gap near the base. Through this, use the point of your scissors to push a little toy-stuffing or cotton wool inside the doll so it's gently padded. Then, sew up the gap, and stitch around the entire outline a second time for extra strength and detail.

Lastly, trim away the excess fabric, and rub the raw edges with your finger for a frayed finish.

You could make just one, but while you've got your supplies out, it makes sense to set up a little production line. 

Because you know they look even sweeter in groups... 

Until next time, Froglets. 

Kirsty

x

Rustic Retro

If you haven't started your Christmas card making operation just yet, don't worry! It is, after all, still October... (just!)

There's still time to get it all done - or so I keep telling myself.

Today's project of the day is a quick and simple way to get you started and is a slightly different take on the Retro Baubles set:

Using a cream ink pad, I stamped some plain paper with the little star stamp in the set to create a very subtle background. I distressed those edges a bit and using a coordinating ink pad stamped and cut out one of the bauble designs.

 
  
For the finishing touches, I added a little velvet ribbon bow, button and cotton twine detail.

Add your greeting - or not - and you're done.

This project takes just minutes to make - so if you're finding yourself pressed for time and needing to get those cards made, this could be the project for you. 
  
  

Project of the day: Tell a story...

... on your cards!

Journaling stamps aren't just for layouts and keepsakes, they're also great for imparting news and making announcements!

I used It's all about Documenting to make this new home card:

There are loads of ways you can use this set on your cards, and not just the journaling borders, I may just have to use the "Where? When? Why?" stamp for some house warming invites!

And the border stamps in this set? Well they're great for the inside of your cards too, I used one of them as a place to write my new address:

Project of the Day :: Monogram Brooches

One of the things I admire most in other people’s art and creative work is simplicity. Clean lines, striking colour combinations, pared-down style and the absolute minimum of fuss = (for me) heaven! Blessed as I am with a horrible tendency to overcomplicate just about everything, it’s something I both strive for and struggle with in my own projects all the time. So today, in the name of making a concerted effort to just get on with it already (and hopefully snag some of that pared-down goodness), both my project and this post are brought to you by the letter ‘S’ for simplicity.

Monograms are pretty much the definition of simple, don’t you think? Single letters standing plain and tall. Quick and easy to stamp, and just perfect for a wearable autumn project. To make these pretty-but-simple brooches, I used letters from the Pharmacy Large and Rosecube sets, stamped with black permanent ink onto scraps of fabric. I then followed a few (simple) steps to turn them from scrappy to striking.

:: Iron fusible webbing (e.g. BondaWeb or Wonder-Under) onto the back of each stamped monogram. Cut out a circle.

:: Peel backing off the webbing and iron the circle onto a second fabric scrap.

:: Add more webbing to the back of your second piece of fabric. Cut out a circle, slightly larger than the first one.

:: Peel backing off the webbing and iron the circle onto a third piece of fabric.

:: Cut out a circle, slightly larger than the second one.

:: Machine-stitch all three layers together, going round and round the circle, using a mixture of plain and zig-zag stitches (don't worry about making it too neat - random is perfect for this project).

:: Glue or sew a brooch-pin to the back.

:: Wear.

If you fancy something fancier, they’re just as simple to alter and adjust.

Try ironing on just one extra layer to add some frothy, organza prettiness.

Stamp a short word instead of your initial.

Cut an oval, rather than a circle. Make the outer layer felt and trim with scalloped scissors.

Fix a couple of lengths of ribbon to the back for a rosette-style brooch.

If wearable isn’t quite your style, you could always use your stitched monogram (or equally-simple stamped icon) on a card or layout.

All of which, I hope, proves that simple can be very lovely indeed. I have a mixture of plans for the finished brooches – pinning them on to bags or maybe cushions, as well as jackets and sweaters. If you’re similarly inspired to add some simple style to your new-season wardrobe, or your autumn crafting, we’d love to see the pictures. Just upload to the Banana Frog Flickr group, or post a link in the comments below. It really couldn’t be simpler.

Until next month, Froglets.

Kirsty

x  

Project of the Day: Easy Peasy Notelets

Happy Sunday Frog Blog readers, I hope those of you in the UK are enjoying your Bank Holiday Weekend!

Well, here's your quick inspiration fix for the day. If you are a fan of Nestabilities and Banana Frog stamps, here's a fast little project to help stock up your card box ready for any occasion.

Stash needed:

• White cardstock
• 5 coordinating patterned papers
• Coordinating cardstock
• Banana Frog Simple Greetings and Classic Wedding stamp sets
• Classic Rectangle Large Nestabilities and matching Scallop set
• Co-ordinating ink
• 3D foam

 

The simplicity of this project lies in the production line assembly - once everything is cut and set aside separate little piles, it takes no time to put these cards together! Plus it's a great project for using up left-over paper and cardstock.

1. First, from five pieces of white cardstock that measure 3 6/8 in. x 5 3/4 in., create card blanks that measure 3 6/8 in. x 2 7/8 in.
2. Cut five scallop backgrounds from the white cardstock using the largest scallop rectangle die.
3. Cut five plain rectangles from the patterned paper using the largest plain rectangle die.
4. Cut five plain rectangles from the white cardstock using the second smallest plain rectangle die.
5. From the co-ordinating cardstock cut five mats measuring 1.5 in. x 1 7/8 in.
6. Assemble the card blanks, scallop background and patterned paper.
7. Stick the small rectangle onto the cardstock mat and stamp motif and greeting.
8. Attach greeting to card using 3D foam.

And voila! Here's your little stack of notelets ready to send....

 

PotD: Mod Mosaic

 

The other day I was flicking through my Banana Frog stamps, as you do, looking to use some stamps I'd never inked up before... well that Make a Chain set certainly holds many possibilities for creating some varied designs.

I picked out the two square block designs and inked them up with my favourite colours at the moment, Vintage Cream and Aquatic Splash - and of course I couldn't resist using them on kraft!

I ended up stamping a bit of a mod mosaic design with the stamps:

 

Then I went over the stamped image with a dusting of perfect pearls for a little sparkle:

 

It's very subtle believe me! Once that was done, I wanted to add some extra detail, so used my little spokey sewing tool to create two perforated lines:

 

Then I set to work with a beading needle and cream thread to hand stitch the lines and add in some lovely blingy beads:

 

Once that was done I added a little greeting to a teeny tag and attached it to the sewn line with another bead for good measure:

 

I hope this project has inspired you to take another look at those as yet uninked stamps in your collection and see what possibilities they hold - but if you're going the beading route, it's best to put on a good DVD and multitask! ;o)

Stamping School - Stamp it off and crackle

Hi class time for another project from me, hope you’ve all had fun playing with your Banana Frog stamps since I was last here, there’s been some fabby ideas from the froglets hasn’t there! This class I thought we would re visit a technique I shared with you in my 1^st guest spot at the Lily pad back in June, remember the mirror with the crackle effect? Quite a few people have asked about the technique so I thought we’d play with it again ….. With a bit of a twist!

How does your garden grow?

 

This time I have created a 12x12 LO on corrugated card, and instead of one colour used in the distressing I thought it would be fun to try a rainbow, well who says distressing has to be dull?

The ingredients

 

Banana Frog stamp sets; Round in Circles, I heart you, Make a chain, It’s all about Hearts, Greenwich Park. Corrugated card, Gesso, Acrylic paints, PVA glue, a wide paint brush, Ink, your own photo, ephemera and embellishments.

First off I cut a 12x12 piece of card from the side of an old cardboard box. I cut a 3’’ strip away from the left side, ripped down the edge and distressed the other 3 sides of the larger piece.

 

After joining the lower part of the strip back to the main body with a piece of masking tape (I like the texture!) I painted the whole thing with gesso to make the application of the acrylic paint easier.

Next lets get messy, my favourite thing! When I’ve used this technique before I have always used one flat colour, this time, I painted a random pattern of rainbow colours with acrylics until the whole piece was covered.

 

Setting it aside to dry, I got the stamps I wanted to use ready on their blocks (the eagle eyed among you will note the unusually clean acrylic block in my picture, that’s because it’s a brand shiny new one …. It won’t last LOL!) I used a selection of stamps, and as the stamping is done in the wet glue and paint you need to be ready to go!

(As I didn’t have enough big blocks to mount all the stamps I wanted straight away I decided to work on the main section first, then the strip, also it meant there was less wet space to get stamped at a time!)

 

And so to the crackle technique, prepare some white acrylic with a touch of water in it and set aside. Dribble some PVA glue over your base and spread with your fingers (don’t use too much to start, a little goes a long way and you can always add more) keep spreading the glue around until it goes tacky.

 

Paint over the layer of glue with a wide brush, generously loaded with your white acrylic paint, and a light hand. If you keep the brush strokes going in the same direction the crackle will happen the same way, to get cracks in different directions change the direction of your brush strokes. Don’t overwork the paint as it will lift off.

Once you’re happy with the coverage start stamping and build up a pattern or as I’ve done an abstract garden.

Tip Be positive when placing your stamp, stamp straight down, but as with stamping on acetate don’t press to hard until it’s in position as the stamp will slide in the paint, also be careful when lifting the block and try and do it as vertical as possible, again to avoid sliding, you will find the stamp kind of gets sucked onto the surface!

When you lift the stamp you should see that the paint and glue has been ‘stamped off’ I continued to create the garden using the concentric circles from Round in Circles for the large flowers, one of the strips from Make a Chain for the stalks, a heart from I Heart You for the leaves, the large heart garland from It’s All About Hearts for the row of small flowers and the solid bird from Greenwich Park to complete the picture.

I then did the pva and acrylic paint thing on the strip and used stamps from Make a Chain to decorate along the edge, I love this stamp set, there are so many things you can do with it!!!

 

I then let the whole thing dry naturally while I went and washed my stamps in warm soapy water, they’re as good as new again! (Please make sure you wash your stamps!!) Then I watched the cracks appear. You can heat it with a heat gun to speed up the process, just remember to keep the gun at a distance so you don’t blister the paint.

 

With my background done I assembled my photo and embellishments distressing and inking edges and then inked round the edge of my cardboard with the same colour to tie the layout together.

 

I laced the gap at the top of the strip with some garden string….

 

 

… And added journaling to the cute little seed packet that I found as a free download on content in a cottage blogspot

 

I love the multi coloured dots, hearts and swirls on my background and the texture you get from stamping into the paint.

 

 

 

So why not have a go, just get a small piece of scrap card and use one stamp to get started, it really is good fun to ‘stamp off’ the paint and see the effects you can achieve with your Banana Frog stamps! Don’t be shy now, share your results with us, I’d love to see what you do with this technique. Thanks for hopping by and hop by soon to check out the all the fab projects the froglets have to share. I’ll see you in class on the 11^th August until then happy crafting!

Love

M x

Project of the Day :: Copy & Combine.

This layout is based around a photo of me taken by my other half while I was distracted. He quite often sneaks photos of me when I'm not looking, which I quite like as it usually results in relaxed, more natural shots of me which I really enjoy scrapping. It also takes the pressure off me to both smile and keep my eyes open at the same time [a task I tend to struggle with when in forn of a camera!!!].

With my back turned, the main focal point of the photo became the printed design of my hooded top so I thought it would be fun to try to recreate its traditional tattoo style by combining several of my Banana Frog sets.

I began with the scribble heart from the 'I Heart You' set and added a smaller heart from 'Classic Wedding'.  Next I added two solid star shapes in blue [from 'Make a Chain'] then used black ink and an outline star image from 'Make a Chain' [along with one from 'Tag It'] to create definition.

I completed the stamped element of the feature by adding a solid red heart and three pink flowers [all from 'Make a Chain'] then embellished it with two metal bird charms and some rub-on keys.

I then continued the imagery by stamping a generous amount of tiny heats and stars right across the page. 

I'm pleased with how closely I could recreate an existing design using my stamps and it's been a useful exercise in looking at my sets with new eyes. Rather than treating them as a set to be used all together - I sought out specific shapes and symbols which I could then combine and adapt to suit my purpose.

Layering up your stamped images is a great way to approach any of the stamps you've have had for a while, which you're really familiar with ... it can really alter your view of them and their use beyond their single design properties.

As always, we'd love to see any of the projects you've created using any Banana Frog stamps, so feel free to drop any of your work alongside ours in our Flickr group.

If you have any questions you can always use the 'Discussion' board on there too.

You know where to find me.

Julie :)

Project of the day: Going dotty

Recently I have become re-addicted to Liquid Pearls, I can't seem to get enough of adding little pearly dots here and there to all my card projects... and why should this addition not extend to my Banana Frog stamps?

There's something very therapeutic about adding those little dots to your stamped images, and there's no reason for them to just be pastel colours.

I stamped the background in red ink using a design from the Concentric set: 

 

And added red Liquid Pearls:

 

But of course there is always room for pastel colours, and the best tip is to stamp your image using Versamark, I used Flowery Thoughts for this card and added the stem and leaves by hand using a Versamark pen, and then just went over with Liquid Pearls:

 

 

Once my Liquid Pearl addiction has run its course I shall be back to adding Stickles dots!

Break out the colour!

When it comes to stamping, I'm sure I'm not the only one who reaches first for that trusty, well-worn black ink pad about 99% of the time!

It's kind of a hard habit to break because black just goes with everything right?

But I actually had a rummage through my rather extensive ink pad collection (I don't know how it got to the state it is!) the other day and decided that it was really time some of those zinging colours had an outing!

A great way to reacquaint yourself with the actual colours of your inks is to create some journaling accents with the It's all about... Documenting stamps on scraps and off-cuts. The ones you like, you just cut out and bag up for later use, they are just so handy and versatile to have around. Of the little pile I made I selected my favourite one and set about using it on a project.

Well it didn't take much to remind me why my two favourite non-black shades are Memento Rose Bud and Versamagic Turquoise Gem - a fab combo indeed. And here is the end result of where that colour journey took me:

  

The itty bitty font in the Paper Chains set is just the perfect fit for those journaling blocks, and the circle stamps were fab to add a little accent too.

 

To lift the colours a bit more I traced the edges with glossy accents.

So there you have it, one journaling card down... a dozen odd left to go!