How to Age Paper - 6 easy technique to make paper look old

If you want to give a pristine white paper a browned, unevenly-colored aged appearance and parchment-like texture you need to use an aging technique. I love using my own aged paper for my vintage and steampunk projects. It's also very cost effective because you only need a few ingredients to create this effect instead of buying lots of expensive paper.

There are a few techniques to age paper:

Coffee

I'm not a coffee drinker but this aroma filled powder can be much more than just a bevarage, it can be used to age paper and give it a brown antique look.There are two ways to acheive this effect:

Painting with coffee

Dipping in coffee

Tea

Tea staining will give you a lighter color and more suttle result than coffee. You can use the tea bag itself to stain the paper directly or dip the paper in the tea. You can dry the stained paper in the oven or in a sunny place.

Tea Staining

Spray and Ink

Use a blender and a combination of distress inks like wallnut and vintage photo and ink your paper to achieve an aged look. Another technique is to spray the paper with spray ink.

Spraying

Paint

To achieve an aged effect with paint you would need a few shades of brown and to work in stages.

Layers of paint

Here's a really cool technique with shoe polish.

So many fun techniques to try. I hope you'll try at least one, because the effectis worth it! Do you have other techniques or ideas to distressor age papers? Share in the comments!

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5 Minutes Craft - Mummy TP Trick or Treat Boxes

There's just enough time to make these spook-tacular easy and fun toilet paper rolls mini Trick or Treat boxes and fill them with yummy candies. All you need are a few TP rolls that instead of finding their way to the bin can be used to create last minute party favors.

This is a great craft to do with your kids or in school. It only takes 5 minutes to create the box, wrap it with a white bandage you can get at the pharmacy and add a face. The face is the really fun part because you can create all kinds of spooky faces with as many eyes or teeth that you want!

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Art Journal Page: Be Yourself

The best advice I ever got was to Be Myself. No masks, no costumes, no fake smiles just me. If someone will love me or accepts me it should be because they like me and not who they think I am. This art journal page is all about this feeling of self acceptance.

I created a colorful background with sprays and stencils as the base for this spread. Then I started to add layers of colors. Bright and happy colors that would deliver this positive message. I cut face parts from a magazine and created a face. This artificial face is of course meant to make a point, a few points actually. How we are all made of so many things and facets and we are not just one layer. How we should be ourselves and not fit into pre designed molds someone decided for us and how artificial it looks when we do fall into these patterns and definitions.

Then I drew a hair which is a total contrast to that composed face. It is flowing and free. I added all kinds of details in the hair, color, shapes and texture. This is the part that shows all the creativity, freedom and happiness that we'll have if we'll stay true to ourselves.
Finally I added the title "Always Be Yourself".

Always remember this because you are good enough to be yourself!

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5 Ways to Maximizw Space in your Craft Room

We all have too much supplies and not enough space for it. It doesn't matter if you have a craft room, a corner in the house or just a closet. These tips will help you get more space for all the supplies you need to store.

1. Stack
I have a thing about boxes.Most boxes have lids on the top which means you can put anything on top of them because youneed to open them up right? WRONG! Stack your boxes. Put one on top of the other. In a perfect world you would put the boxes one next to the other but in real life we have to make compromises. Use coordinating boxes in size and in pattern or color soit will look nice as well as being practical. And if you need something from the bottom box just move the boxes on top, alittle exsercise for the hands.

2. Adjustable Shelves
I baught shelf units in IKEA so I can adjust the space between the shelves according to the space I need. Unlike on a pre built shelf unit I don't waste space when things are smaller and I can fit tall stuff as well as more shelves.

3. Use the walls
If we all had huge craft rooms we could fill the walls with our creations but unfortunately that is not the case. If there is no room in drawers, shelves or cabinets move to the walls. I found some great ideas in the kitchen section in IKEA (again...I know it's affordable) that I could hang on the wall. It's a great solution for supplies that can be stored in containers and don't take a lot of room.

4. Under the Table
There is a huge space thatis usually missed...the space under the table. Your legs onlyneed somuch room to move...so why not utilize this space for storage. I have some large boxes with all kinds of supplies, as wellas my Etsy shop packing materials and allthe stuff I sell at the store. It's all carefully wrapped and organized.

5. Remove Packages
Packages can be complicating things. They're not flexible and usually much bigger than the product they hold inside. I took all the supplies out of their packages and put them in little containers I arranged in a drawer. If the manufacturer or product name is important add a little note on the bottom of the container.

Bonus Tip
Purge Often - between you and me...I'm sure there are some supplies you don't need or want. So purge, donate, sell, give...less supplies need less room :)

Even small spaces can have plenty of room for all our supplies if only we organize them in a creative way. I hope you'll try some of these ideasor come up with some ideas of your own.

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What would you like to learn?

I'm working on a new exciting adventure for all my readers and followers. I have a general idea of what I want it to be and how I want it to work but in order for it to be really successful I need your input. After all this new endeavor is for you so I want you to be a part of the process.

If you could get creative tutorials on anything what would you want to learn?
1. Paper crafts
2. Mixed media
3. Art journaling
4. Jewelry making
5. 3D art
6. Recycled and altered art
7. Scrapbooking
8. Home decor
9. Sewing and Crochet
10. Other

Multiple answers are possible!
Please write your answers in the comments.

Now before you start bombarding me with emails :) I can't tell you much yet but I can say it will be all about tutorials of all kinds, especially videos but also PDF's and others, special offers and discounts, famous guest designers and lots of fun contests and giveaways. It will be opened ONLY to an exclusive group which you could all be a part of but you'll need to register for it.

Please share this with everyone you could think of because the more answers I get the better I'll know how to fit it to YOU!

Thank you for your participation!

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Halloween Altered Spell Book - part 2

Last week we created a spook-tacular altered spell book and I promised thatthis week we'll work on the inside. Well...here it is. An apothecary style, shadow box, magical potions and spell book!

First you need to glue all the pages to the back cover. This will basically create the base for the shadow box. Next you will need to cut out four little compartments in the book by removing all the pages. The best way to do that is to use a ruler and a craft knife.

After distressing and spraying the shadow boxes it's time to fill them with little bottles, containers and everything Halloween. Use stuff that you think a witch might need to make her potions and spells...

Finally I added a chipboard with the word spells on it. And I also added a printable tag with an inventory written on it. If you want to get the tag please email me at kessler054@gmail.com

In a project like this it's all about the details. The more details you add the more authentic it'll look, if you can say that about something which is a complete fantasy:)

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DIY Boo-tiful Halloween Frame

Everybody is so busy getting ready for Halloween, deciding what costumes to wear, what candies to buy and what decorations to have. The the big spooky day will be here and you'll take lots of photos why not display them in a spooktacular way too? You can make this BOOtiful frame ahead of time and display photos from previous Halloweens!

This frame is so easy to make you'll not believe it:

1. Attach metal wire to the back of plastic skulls with tape.

2. Attach wire to the back of frame with tape.

3. Cover frame with skulls duct tape.

4. Attach black cord to spiders. Let dry.

5. Attach cord to the back side of the top of the frame with tape so the spiders will hang from frame.

6. Cut the letter “B” from orange cardstock. Glue to bottom left corner of the frame. Add two bottle caps as O’s. The instructions for creating the spooky bottle caps are here.

You can find the full supply list and a step by step video tutorial here.

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How to Start an Art Journal

This is a question I get asked a lot. The answer is much simpler than you think. It doesn't take much to start an art journal except your will to do it. Everything else is an excuse...you don't need to know how to paint, draw or doodle. You don't have to use fancy materials or compare yourself with professional artists. Your art journal is your private retreat, your very own sanctuary, your special place where you take care of you.

How do I start my art journal?

A background is a great place to start. You can create a background with any medium you want or use any material. You can paint, doodle, use water colors or crayons. Glue pieces of paper or spray with stencils.

Some people are intimidated by the blank page but even more so from the background. Yes, it sounds strange but it's true because once it's done it's sometimes hard to know where to go from there. I suggest to use prompts. This is a great way to get an artistic direction of where to go.

Writing

Quotes: Quotes are a great way to express what you’re feeling, but without the work of coming up with just the right words.  quotes are universal on one side but very personal on the other because each person can read a different meaning for them.

Lists: create lists like things you're grateful for, things you love or hate, a bucket list...

Free Writing: Just add words or letters to express how you feel.

Shapes

Cutouts: Add cut shapes from scraps of paper, magazines or other paper memorabilia. Cut them with scissors or tare them.

Free shapes: Draw random shapes or patterns and color them, it's a really hot trend now.

Stamps/Stencils: layer shapes using different stamps and stencils.

Texture

Add texture with different mediums like modeling paste, crayons, tissue paper, gesso, acrylic paints etc.

Hungry for some more Art Journaling?

How do you creatively express yourself or let go? Have you tried art journaling before? Try it and let us know how it turns out!

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Altered Halloween Spell Book

I think the most fun projects I ever made were made for Halloween. I love all the creepy spooky stuff you get to add to everything and even if I don't celebrate this holiday it's still fun. This altered spell book takes a little time to create but I think the result is worth the wait.

You start with an old book and a plastic skull. If you have a spider or some other Halloween embellishment you can use that instead. The next step is to create texture on the front cover of the book by adding the skull and a spider web with a hot glue gun. Don't worry if the lines are not straight or you get glue hair, the more texture the better.

When the glue is dry cover it with a damp paper towel and Mod Podge. Once that's dry (remember I told you it takes time? Be patient) paint everything with black acrylic paint. It doesn't look much but when the paint dries make the lines of the web pop out with Inka gold. I also added a little brown acrylic paint to add another layer of color.

The final step is to glue the two front and back pages to the inside of the cover and age everything with distress ink. Next time we'll work on the inside of the book...Can't wait!

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Crafter's Block - 10 ways to get over it!

Every crafter has a creative block sooner or later. It comes without a warning. One day you are full of ideas, creating beautiful projects and the next...BAM! nothing, just a white blank with no ideas. At first you struggle with it. You may go through all of your craft supplies, maybe try to force yourself to create something – doesn’t matter what, just anything to get that spark back. But that almost never works because you can’t force creativity – you just can’t no matter how hard you try. But fear not my crafty friends, there are easy ways to end crafter’s block.

Here are 10 ways to get over this obstacle and get your creativity back:

1. Leave it alone. It sounds counter productive and exactly the opposite of what you should do, but trust me it works. Try to something relaxing like a bath, a walk, a massage or even wash the dishes or do the laundry. This allows your mind to relax and not think directly about what you want. In a way you are distracting your mind so it relax enough to find its mojo back.

2. Pinterest. Visual inspiration is always a great tool for visual persons like us. Visit your favorite boards and check out the latest creations there. You never know what will catch your eyes.

3. Try something completely new. If you're a paper crafter try jewelry making and if you are a wood enthusiast try mixed media. When you open your mind to new artistic experiences you create new pathways in your brain and basically add more creative volume to it.

4. Join a challenge online. There are so many blogs and facebook groups that offer all kinds of challenges that can spark your creativity.

5. Go to the Craft Store. I could spend hours at Michael’s or Joann Fabrics. Take the time to go up and down each aisle just to see what other crafts are available. Buy a few new crafty bits while you’re there. Sometimes the smallest thing like a piece of ribbon or a bead can ignite a fire storm of creativity.

6. Challenge Yourself. Go through your craft supplies and select a handful of random items. Now make a project using only the items you’ve picked out. See how many different projects you can come up with using those supplies.

7. Use Quotes: I find quotes to be very inspiring. A few words always make me think in visual images and give me great ideas for projects, especially art journal pages.

8. Social media: join a swap, ask your friends to come up with ideas for small projects you can create, or check out DT projects from your favorite companies.

9. Cook something new. Cooking, baking and preparing food is creative. One creative path will take you to another path ans will open your mind.

10. Repeat a project you’ve already done. Make it better. Chances are you have supplies left over from a project you made ages ago. You may have even blogged about it. Do it again and make it better. (And take better photos!)

How do you keep that creative spark alive? Tell me what you do to get over crafter’s block.

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Create Your Own Craft Supplies

I'm a firm believer that if you can make it yourself (and you have the time for it)then definitely Do It Yourself! Craft supplies are no different. There are so many ways to create craft supplies without almost spending  nothing or very little money.

https://www.pinterest.com/einatkessler/create-your-own-craft-supplies/

So I created a Pinterest board with a collection of home made recipes for creating your own craft supplies.

Some of my favorites are:

Homemade stamp/ink Daubers 

Make your own Ink Sprays with Inktense Blocks

DIY Pearls

DIY Texture Paste recipe

There are many more recipes for homemade supplies you can use. Just click on the link and you'll be instantly transported to a world of DIY craft supplies.

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Halloween Spooky Bottle Caps

Are you ready for Halloween?
I think it's one of the most fun days of the year (even though I don't celebrate it myself). All the spooky costumes, the decorations and the candy...well what's not to like right?

Here's a little fun and fast project I created using bottle caps and paper to get you in the mood, if you haven't started already... It's a great project for kids on a cold afternoon.

Here's how you can make yours:

1. Punch 1” circles from cardstock.
2. Create monster faces with combination of different size eyes. Draw different shaped mouths with black pen.
3. Create hair from metal wire: Cut pieces from metal wire and glue to the back of the bottle cap with tape. Cover it with a 1” circle. Shape the metal wire to create curls, straight or crazy shapes.
4. Use the bottle caps as party favors, napkin holders, decoration or embellishments for scrapbook layouts and cards.

The full supply list can be found here

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