Bad Girls

A new flower specially for you!

Hi Bad Girls,

Today I'll show you how to make a flower I have learnt back when I was a teen.

Between my roller skating trainings I use to do it using silk napkins,and few days ago I tought why not to give it a try using cardstok?

Well I must t confess that if you use a not so thick paper it will be much easier.However if you crease quite hard you can do it using cardstock too.

So I hope it will inspire you to make a beautiful wall art.

Lotus Flower Instructions

These instructions are for a single paper lotus measuring 5 inches in diameter and 2 inches high. Select papers in three colors, one each for the leaves, outer petals, and inner petals (we used green, blue, and pink, respectively). From each color of paper, cut four 2-1/2 X 5-inch strips. (You can make your flower larger by cutting larger strips; just make them twice as long as they are wide.)

Step 1

Fold a strip in half so it forms a long rectangle. If there is a wrong side to the paper, fold so that the right side faces in.

Step 2

Fold one corner back so the edge is flush with the crease. Repeat with the remaining corners.

 

Step 3

Fold a long edge up to meet the crease. Repeat with the other long edge. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 for all 12 paper strips.

Step 4

Hold one inner petal strip with the right side up, and nest an outer petal strip in the fold. Then nestle a leaf strip in the outer petal strip. (It will look a bit like a paper taco when you're finished.) Tuck in all corners. Repeat for the rest of the strips until there are four sets of nested petals and leaves.

Step 5

Create a lotus "heart" (center) by using a paper flower and a button. Sandwich the four nested sets with long sides are together and leaves up; secure in the center with a rubber band., Add the flower/button heart to the center. Make a star out of the paper sandwich by separating the points and lightly creasing them into a star shape. Flip the flower over so that the right sides of the papers are facedown and glue the center flower/button.

Step 6

To make the lotus flower "bloom," gently pry the inner petals  from the outer petals, bending them up and toward the center.

Then pry the outer petals from the leaves, also bending them up and toward the flower heart, leaving the leaves flat. Adjust the petals and leaves as necessary.

Step 8

Cut a sheet of paper to fit inside a picture frame. Center the lotus in the frame and hang as wall art.

 

See you soon guys.

And I wish you all a Happy Holidays!

xoxo

Lucy

Vintage Wrist Corsage

Good Morning, Bad Girls!

This vintage wrist corsage is quick, easy and will add elegance to any holiday outfit. 

 

Supplies used

- Prima " Windsor Roses" Hampton

-Heid Swapp Heart Mirror

-Pattern Paper- Melisssa Frances

-Ribbon- Melissa Frances

-Feathers, buttons, vintage image- craft supply

 Cut out a square of cardstock and adhere to the back of the flower. Cut ribbon to the length you desire (it will be tired around your wrist) and attach on top of the cardstock.

 Cut two strips of pattern paper (about two inches each) and ink around the edges. Also, cut ribbon into four inch strips as well and fold over. 

 Now you're ready to add all of the elements to the base of the corsage. Add a little bit of glue to the mirror, vintage image, feathers, ribbon and paper, and just tuck them all around the corsage.  

 Now you're ready to add a little unique, vintage holiday charm to that perfect little holiday dress! 

Happy Holidays, ladies!

xox

~Rachel

 

Elements D'Art - Tis the Season

 
  
  
for a handmade holiday!! Every year on black Friday, I make my way over to the local Hallmark store to pick out the perfect holiday ornament for our gift exchange. This year, I brought along my 5 yr. old, Alaina, to help with the decision. She promptly found the display of Advent calenders and absolutely had to have one. Now being the scrapbooker that I am, none of that commercial stuff would do and I started dreaming up cute ideas for making our own calendar this year!

I decided to make our calendar using a small 2 ft. Christmas tree that we're going to display as our table centerpiece. All 25 of our day ornaments are made using super cute Sassafras Paper Whimsies and Sassafras Paper Flowers. (They look like they were made for this project!!)  I collected extra items for embellishing each card like; jingle bells, toy candies, tinsel, glitter, snowflakes, stickers, toy wreathes, flowers, trims and small pieces of lace. There are so many cute little items that could be used, and most likely already in your stash!   
 Next, you'll start by embellishing each card and layering the paper flowers to together. ** To make the sugared clothes pins, just paint small clothes pins a neutral color and sprinkle glitter on. This was the perfect little project for Alaina, and it kept her occupied while the glue was drying!!**

 
  
   
  
 Once all of the cards are embellished you can print a page of numbers, or search through your stash and use stickers! I glued and sewed each of the tiny numbers onto a card/flower using an all purpose glue. I recommend Aleene's original Tacky Glue.  

 
  
I used a bright pink a red ribbon as garland for our tree. It also made it a little easier to clip all of the date cards too. Alaina can't wait to start adding each card to the Christmas tree and we hope maybe this project will be something you can share with your own little ones! Happy Holidays xo~ Tara

 

Elements D'Art-Sweet Noel

Hello Bad Girls!!

I am getting super excited about the holidays coming up and I have been busy working on some festive projects. This project is in two parts. Maya Road came out with an adorable chipboard house with a clever little chip book inside. The house is the perfect gift box to hold the display i created. I used Cosmo Cricket papers, vintage music paper, thicker letters, fat ribbon and lots of clear sparkly glitter.

I started with the Noel display first. I covered the front and back panels with paper and cardstock. Then lightly sanded the edges, and added ink around the edges for a vintage look. I kept all of the papers relatively neutral or light in color for a cohesive look.

I made rosettes to back the letters. First, i cut 1 1/2 inch x 12inch strips of patterened paper. Then I started accordian folding the strip-about 1/4 inch for each fold.

Fold the entire strip. Place glue dots on the last fold and bring the ends together to form a circle. It will probably pop up, which is fine.

 

Now, punch out a circle from old book paper. This will be the center of your rosette. Glue the punch out to your circle. This will help keep it flattened. I made four in total and glued them down to my panels.

And then-all you have to do is adhere your letters.

At the ends of my display, I added diecuts that i covered in clear glitter. I used Glossy Accents to adhere the glitter. Let them dry for a bit before adhering to your panels. I also used foam tape to adhere them for a little dimension.

Last but not least-I tied two bows to the jump rings. Grunge up your ribbon by adding Distress Ink-it gives the ribbon a nice vintage look.

Next-you'll decorate your chipboard house. I covered the bottom with patterned paper, sanded the edges and added ink too.

I covered the roof with vintage music paper and added glitter to the whole surface. I also added the vintage paper to the little door with a gem brad and glittered that too.

Then-when everything is covered, tie a ribbon around it and add a diecut to the top. I added red pearls to the diecut-they look so cute!

I hope this little project motivates and inspires to get those Christmas projects started. I have a lot more to do myself and i plan to share more in the BG gallery.

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

xoxo Cari

My Head's In The Clouds...

For today's Element d'Art... I have been doing a lot of daydreaming and watching the clouds lately.  We've had some spectacular sunsets and sunny days lately here in Central New York.  So, I took the opportunity to create a wooden mini album documenting my whimsical images of clouds and myself.  I used a lot of image transfer techniques in this album.  One is using a common item that you are sure to have around in this time of battling the illnesses.  Purell hand sanitizer can be used to transfer images and creates a distressed and interesting look.  Here's the project I used it on:

 

This little wooden album was given to me my Genuinely Jane and it was perfect to use for this project!  The cloud cut out was already a feature!

I printed most all of my images on an ink jet transparency and used this one for the window.  Behind it was the transfer of trees from my backyard without their leaves (ours are all bare now).

 

This was a Purell transfer!  I will show you how, below...

First, prepare your surface paper, wood slightly sanded, fabric, or any bare surface that is NOT sealed with acrylic or medium.  It won't work over those materials without a sealant added.

Print your image onto an Apollo Ink Jet Transparency and trim to size.  Using a brush (I like a soft bristle brush, but I think you can use a foam brush too) brush a layer of Purell onto the surface.  It will dry fast so add another layer.  It should not be too thick.  This is a fast process... 

Immediately put your image face down onto the wet surface and lightly burnish with your fingers or bone folder.  Don't rub too hard or it will smear.  Lift a corner to test if it's transferring.  I did some test runs on watercolor paper or shipping tags to see how much I'd need to make it work. Trial and error is key!

Lift off and viola! If some ink smeared, use a tiny bit of Purell on a Q-tip as an "eraser". You don't want to keep it on too long or the coating that the ink is printed on will come off and stick to the surface causing some tearing and issues.

Here are the rest of my pages using Purell transfers and Golden gel medium transfers!  It was fun to work with the wood surface and these techniques!

 

 I hope you have been inspired to use your hand sanitizer in a whole new way!  While the images are not as clear as the traditional gel medium transfer, it is fun to play with and your brushes will be super clean and sanitized as well!  

XOXO

Jen

A Home for the Holidays

It's never too early to get started on your holiday crafting!  So, today I have a project to share with you that makes for a lovely gift (or something wonderful to keep all for your own mantle).  *wink*  A home for the holidays...

 

This waterless snowglobe captures a glittery winter wonderland inside a gallon glass jar!  So, pour yourself a piping hot mug of hot chocolate, and join me for some holiday crafting fun!

Some basic supplies that you will need: a gallon glas jar (available at WalMart and some crafting stores), a thin piece of chipboard (like the kind you might find on the back of a paper slab), a craft knife, a corner-rounder punch, a ruler, a bone folder (or other scoring tool), a Xyron machines (or your favorite paper adhesive), hot glue, glue dots, pop dots, fake snow, fishing wire or clear/invisible jewelry thread, patterned paper, and various decorative elements.  Here are some embellishments that might suit your fancy...

We'll start off by constructing our house.  I used the Cottage House pattern featured here.  Don't worry about the roof or the base... we will create our own later.  Resize the pattern (either through Photoshop or on a copier) until the base of the triangular front of the house measures 3".  Any bigger, and it won't fit in the jar.  Print the pattern out on a thin piece of chipboard, then adhere the unprinted side of the chipboard to the back of a piece of patterned paper.  Use a craft knife to trim off the excess paper...

Next, use a bone folder and ruler to score along the fold lines...

Fold your house up, and use a line of hot glue along the edge to secure it together...

You'll end up with something that looks like this...

Now, we're ready to make the roof.  I used some of the new American Crafts pre-glittered cardstock (it's GORGEOUS), cut it to 2" x 6," then used a corner-rounder punch on the edges. Use a bone folder to score along the middle of the roof...

 

Secure the roof to the top of the house with hot glue...

Now, we'll make the base for the house.  I have this old plastic water glass that I saved for projects... it always seems to be the PERFECT-sized circle.  The diameter of the mouth of the glass measures 3 1/2".  Use a craft knife to trim around the glass onto another thin piece of chipboard, creating the base...

The chipboard I used is white on the backside, and will camoflage itself under the stove.  If yours is kraft on both size, either paint one side white or cover it with white cardstock.  Next, we'll make the door and windows for the house.  I made them using the same pre-glittered cardstock as the roof.  Cut a 3/4" x 1 1/4" door.  Adhere a stick-on jewel for the "door knob."  For the windows, cut (2) 6/8" x 7/8" pieces.  Let's create the "window panes."  You can see how I marked them off, and cut them here...

After you get one measured and cut, you can just lay it over the other piece and use it as a cutting guide.  Before we adhere the base, door and windows, let's create a miniature wreath. Wrap a silver pipe cleaner around your thumb twice, trim off the end, and secure with a dot of hot glue...

Use a piece of red and white baker's twine to tie a tiny bow, and attach it to the wreath with a small dot of hot glue.  Then, adhere all of the pieces to the house so that it looks like such...

This is a gift for my daughter, so I made a little tag and attached it to the back of the house using pop dots.  You don't have to do this, but here's what it looks like...

Next, use hot glue to adhere the house and trees to the inside of the glass jar...

Now, you can fill your snowglobe up with some pretty, glittery stuff.  I used a mixture of store-bought fake snow, clear mica flakes, and a sprinkling of the pink mica flakes by Melissa Frances that you will find in your October kits!  Looks how pretty...

Time to decorate the lid!  You can do whatever you'd like.  Coincidentally... that plastic glass makes the perfect circle to fir on the lid!  I edged the rim of the jar with some velvet scalloped ribbon, then added some chipboard touches.  The candy canes can be made by twisting together two pieces of pipecleaners.  OR... Bethany Lowe makes a lovely package of pre-made ones with a super-vintage look that I used here...

Now comes the most tedious and nit-picky part of this project... the dangling snowflakes.  I used these pearl snowflakes buttons from the craft store.  They have button loops on the back, so be sure to trim them off first...

Add a drop of hot glue to the back, then quickly (before it dries) smash the end of some fishing line into it...

Repeat until you have 5 snowflakes on fishing line.  I cut the lengths of fishing line at varying measurements between 3" to 5".  Use hot glue dots to adhere the other ends of the fishing line to the top of the jar as such...

Here's where the nit-picky part comes in... you'll have to fiddle with and adjust the snowflakes until the all face the same way (the front of the jar).  That's why I used GLUE DOTS instead of hot glue.  You can reposition the wire with glue dots.  Then, you can add some pretty pink jewels to the middle of the snowflakes, and have something that looks like this...

Then, just screw the lid onto the jar.  And, there you have it... a vintagey little snowglob filled with all the prerequisite sparkle of the season!  

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this project.  Happy crafting!

xoxo,

Holly

Elements d'Art - "Grateful" Centerpiece

Happy Fall, fellow Bad Girls!

Can you believe we're already in November? Thanksgiving is, of course, one of my favorite holidays because well... turkey. And mashed potatoes smothered with delicious gravy. And stuffingcranberrysaucesweetyamsbroccoli&pumpkinpie! :) Most of all, it's about getting together with family and expressing what we are grateful for.

This year, I wanted to "count our blessings" in a different way... in a way that can be documented while also serving a purpose (to sit there and look pretty-like) so we'll always remember what we were thankful for this year. This is what I came up with - a Thanksgiving centerpiece!

 
  
The best part about this is that you can get the whole family involved! I had each member of my family write down what they were grateful for on some Scenic Route journal spots and used them as part of their special "leaf". My youngest even helped with her own!

The possibilities are endless as far as what supplies you can use. Of course, you would want to use colors/products that would best match your decor. :)

SUPPLIES:

* LARGE "leaves" (floral picks) from your local craft store floral dept. (dry leaves work best, as they are sturdy and easier to work with.)

* An existing or purchased vase or container with floral filler of your choice

* Low temp glue gun

* Solid/Patterned paper

* various embellishments (ribbons, buttons, flowers, journal tags, etc.)

I used the Vintage Yummy line by Sassafrass Lass for the base of my leaves.  To get the shape, you can trace a rough sketch of your leaf onto a plain piece of paper and then use that as a template for your patterned paper.

 
  
I LOVE to use stitching of some sort on all of my projects, but stitching on these dry leaves was not an option so to achieve the look, I sewed my paper pieces together, as well as some lace, before adhering them to the leaves.

 
Once you have all of your paper "bases" complete, you can begin to adhere them to your leaves with a low temperature glue gun. And then the fun part begins... adding your photos, journal spots & dimensional elements to each leaf. Let your creativity soar!

When you are done, you will have a set of beautiful (and meaningful) floral picks to add to any arrangement you'd like, year after year.  

Another idea for this would be to have your "leaves", including photos, completed with just a spot left for a journaling tag. As friends/family arrive, you can give them each a journal tag, have them fill it out and then just add it to their leaf! It will be a centerpiece to be cherished for years and years to come.

Wishing you all a wonderful (& creative!) holiday season.

xoxo

Angie

Reveal Party Tonight!!!!

Hi Everyone! Tonight is the night that we reveal all of our new kits!!! How EXCITING!!! We have a total of 6 to choose from and I thought it would be very BAD of me if I showed you some sneaky peekies of what you can expect to see!!!.........

All of these peeks are from not only our Feature Kit, "La Traviata", but of all of our Art Kits, and our Specialty Kits too!

Enjoy and see you tonight!!!!.......

xoxo

Wendy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

November Sneak Peeks "La Traviata".....

With all that I have on my plate lately, I thought it would be quite appropriate to celebrate being a woman...and girls, I know when I say this, you completely understand me when I say that we as women not only should, but need to give ourselves our credit for all that we do. I am still struggling day to day with creating balance in my life and trying to manage all that I do. It is not easy, but as women, I noticed that we are very strong...we are not quitters....we are brave, and we are always willing to step up to the challenges that life creates for us. So, November's kit means quite a lot to me, and I will say honestly, that if you are on Auto Ship, and this kit is yours, then count yourself as very special. Countless hours went into searching out just the right elements that I thought epitomized what I am feeling right now and I how I wanted to convey that artistically. So.....without further adieu please let me introduce you to:

"La Traviata".......

The reason for the title "La Traviata" is because of its literal meaning..."The Woman Who Strayed"...Hmmmm.....you might be wondering how do I relate to this? Well....I am trying so very hard right now to stray from what is my life as I know it and trying to adapt myself to a more appropriate lifestyle that fits all of my goals and dreams. I have so many new businesses on the table right now, and trying to fit that in with everything else is quite honestly very daunting, but I cannot deny my passions....So....moving along...then I found a gorgeous vintage opera music book, and along with antique sheet music paper I was left breathless when I saw this image from "La Traviata" in the book....

WOW! This just spoke volumes to me....for me, at least, where I am at....this picture evoked so many feelings in me...drama....surprise....passion...excitement....just to name a few. I knew I just had to have this for the canvas that I am going to be creating with the November kit. So, then if its an antique original...what to do? I am having it painstakingly reproduced so that all of you can have it to. You know that is not my norm...I ususally give everyone a different sheet so that its authentic vintage, which is our trademark, but this one...ummmm.....I just knew you girls would have to have it to, right???!!!

The papers that we are going to be using for "La Traviata" are so very pretty and speak volumes of how I feel.....here is a tiny sampling...

This kit has a lot of really special vintage finds that I hunted down....take a look at these cards from the 1930's....in mint condition, and very rare to find in perfect condition and quantity like these.....can you see how they fit my theme perfectly???? Soooooo very BAD GIRLS too!!!!!....Eeekkkkkkkkk!!!!!.......

I was soooo very excited when I found these in the huge quantity that I did...so hold on to your seats girlies....you are about to be super surprised with which one you will get in your kit....yours will be original...there are NO two alike!!! And these cards are very thick and very large...approx. 4" X 6"....a gorgeous focal point for the canvas that is November's project!!!! And what a better way to celebrate being a woman??? To me, these just speak volumes of what it means to be female and feel alive and sexy....come on girlies....you are all sexy and you need to create something that reminds you of that every single day!

Another mind blowing find that I came across is these very old, and i might add, in perfect condition, Dick and Jane flashcards....take a peek....

12" X 3", these are sooooo very rare and unique....imagine the possibilities!!!!! I am still pinching myself that I found the entire huge box of them intact with 100's of flashcards...enough for all of my bad girlies...nothing could make me happier!!!

Reveal night at BAD GIRLS will be November 2nd at 10 p.m., but please make sure you show up for the party at 9:00 p.m. in The Parlour. You will be able to see Bad Girls November Kit "La Traviata" in all of its glory then! Make sure you visit the Blog again tomorrow....I will be showing you more sneak peeks...and they are AMAZING!!!

Happy Halloween~!!

xoxo

Wendy
 
 
 
 
 

Elements d'Art - Treasure box

Hello Bad Girls!

It's a pleasure to be here with you today!

Let's make a treasure box using some of our favs vintage images from your Bad Girls Kits.

Let's get and old box that was only geting dusty and transform it in a useful piece of art!

This box can hold lots of things and mine is were I'll keep all my wishes hopes and thoughts.

I hope you'll enjoy it and don't forget to hook me up cos I trully would love to see what you'll create!

xoxo

Lucy

 

Some supplies I've used just to guide you trough the process:

Papers

websters - Your Life,beautiful.

7 gypsies - broadway and life creme

JB - tweet tweet

Embelies

7 gypsies - vintage/ephemera collections from the journey

Old book paper

ribbon roses - unknow

rubons - unknown

Vintage paper doll images (Sweden)

Ticket - Tim Holtz

Ink - Holiday vintage ranger

Karen Marie Klip - butterfly (Denmark)

 

Take a peek on the sides of the box.

 

 

Ok so let's start this baby.

First you have to measure and cut the paper to cover all your box.

 

Once it's dry you can scratch with the scissors the edges of the box.

Add some paper scraps around as you can see on the photo below.

Get all the embellies together to prepare your collage on the box.

 

If you have one of those cute envelopes open it and cut all in parts to glue down on the sides of your box.

Cut out the flowers from the websters paper.

Go ahead and start your collage on the top of the box as you see on the photo.

 

Now the fun part.

Lets make some paper roses.

1. Cut out by hand or punch some circles.

2. Cut those circles as an spiral from outside to inside.

3. start rolling the paper from outside.When you reach the end hold it,lift the end of the paper and add some glue to hold all the rolled layers together.

4.Hold it for a few seconds and it's done!

Look how prety they are!

You can make as many as you like to decorate all sort of things.

Hope you liked this week's project.

It was made with all my love specially for you!

See you next time:)

xoxo

Lucy