The Greeting Farm Hatters | CraftyPaws

Index Card for a Crafty Friend

CraftyPaws — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 18:54:07 +0000

While I don’t have as much time as I used to for crafting, I try to support newer, active crafty YouTubers when I can. I remember how important the encouraging comments and crafty love of other folks were to me when I first started crafting 3 years ago. Jeannie (YT: HappilyEllaAfter) is a sweet and talented crafter. While she joined the YT crafting about the same time I did, she only became active in the last year, so I wanted to encourage her to keep crafting and sharing.

I made this altered index card for Jeannie (to go along with the card and ATC that I also made for her and shared together in the video linked below) using another Hatter from The Greeting Farm that I colored with the following Copic colors: Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R 20 blush; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y32, Y35 and YR24; Burgundy part of outfit: R83, 85 and 89; Hair: RV00, 52, 55, and 66. I fussy cut her out, inked the edges and popped her up on double sided foam adhesive to add a little dimension.

For the background, I decoupaged an index card with a red, orange and yellow stripey patterned paper from my scrap box. I used a gold foil paper die cut using the Winnie and Walter True Multifaceted Heart Cutaway Die and backed it with a totally sparkly pink glitter paper that matched the color I colored the Hatter girl’s hair.

Then to add more sparkle, I glued on some wood veneer flowers that I coated twice with Champagne Gold Stickles. One coat left some of the wood showing when dry, and adding the second coating really made the flowers look like thick glittery metal embellishments.

Lastly, to add a little something extra, I altered a stick pin (which Jeannie collects). I used (from top to bottom) a burgundy flower bead that tucked nicely around the pearl pin head, a Jessie James black and gold metal bead, a silver wings bead, a faceted pink bead, and a small silver stopper bead. Although I agonized over the combination and order needlessly, I think the end result, with the various shapes and sizes, combined together quite nicely.

The following is a video share of this card (and the previously posted card and ATC):

This IC is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Word It Wednesday Red Orange Yellow Challenge
Winnie & Walter Make a Card for a Friend Challenge
Card Mania Let It Shine Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Just Keep Creating Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with an Optional Let’s Celebrate Challenge
Penny Black and More Autumn Color Challenge

What’s an ATC?

CraftyPaws — Sun, 02 Oct 2016 14:46:24 +0000

Artist trading cards (ATCs) have been a bit of a mystery for me. We’re supposed to create a little piece of art on a 2.5″ x 3.5″ “canvas,” but when does a mini card stop being a mini card and become an ATC? Well, my take on this may not be right, but I always try to put a little extra sumthin’ sumthin’ into my ATCs.

This time, I started with a chipboard base that I covered with a scrap of glittery blue and green patterned paper that I have been hoarding for years. I then added one of the Hatters from The Greeting Farm that I colored up with the following Copic colors: Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R20 blush; Grapes: V12, 09; Blue plum: B34 and 39; Strawberry: R83, 85 and 89; Blue-green part of outfit: BG45, 49 and 78; Hair: Y21, Y26, YR24 and E25 I fussy cut her out, inked the edges of the paper so the white edges wouldn’t show, and popped her up on double sided foam adhesive to add a little dimension.

For the background, to add more shine and shimmer, I used a gold foil paper die cut using the Winnie and Walter True Multifaceted Heart Cutaway Die and backed it with more of the glittery blue and green patterned paper but positioned so that less of the heart background would be glittery (less busy) and more of the attention could go to the beautiful heart die cut itself and to the Hatter girl. Then to add a little twist, I scored the die cut from the back so that I could wrap it around to the left side and onto the back of the ATC.

Then to add even more sparkle, I glued on a couple of flower wood veneers that I coated twice with Champagne Gold Stickles. One coat left some of the wood showing (which I didn’t like), but after letting the first coat fully dry, adding the second coating really made the flowers look like thick pieces of glittery metal.

Lastly, to take this from a card to a more elaborate ATC, I added an altered hat pin that I made with teal and pearl glass beads. To set off each bead, I added small and medium sized silver metal spacers, and to take the pin over the top, I added an antique brass bird charm (I clipped off the eye of the charm) to the face of the largest bead with E6000.

This ATC is being entered into the following challenges:
Winnie & Walter Precious Metals Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes with Optional Twist of Green and Gold Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge – WINNER
Just Keep Creating Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Card Mania Let It Shine Challenge

Cheeky Engagement Card

CraftyPaws — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 22:10:08 +0000

I have a friend who recently got engaged–dream come true! Woot woot! Sooo excited for her! She has a great cute-edgy aesthetic so I wanted to make her a happy engagement card that would befit her style and also hopefully make her smile.

I was thinking of that Marilyn Monroe song, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” and thought that would be a funny sentiment for the card. I used a beautiful script font called Magnolia Sky to print out on a piece of 5″ x 7″ white card stock, “are a girl’s best,” stacking the words on the right side of the card front. I went over each letter with a black Uniball pen and topped it with Glossy Accents to make the words look crisp and shiny. I die cut the “Friend” out 5 times from black card stock and adhered them all together to create a Thicker-type die cut and topped that with Glossy Accents too.

For the “Diamonds,” I used VersaMark ink to stamp out all the gem images from the Essentials by Ellen “Hello Gorgeous” stamp set. Then with Ranger Queen’s Gold embossing powder, I heat embossed all those gems. I had placed them strategically around the card front, leaving lots of white space and room for the cutesy-Steampunk girl from The Greeting Farm Hatters Stamp Kit that I colored up with the following Copic colors: Skin: E000, E00, E21, and R20; Blacks and greys in outfit: C1, 4, 6, 8, and 9; Reds in outfit: R22, 35, 37, and 39; Red hair: Y00, Y21, YR02, YR15, E13, YR04, and E15. I fussy cut her out and popped her up on double sided foam adhesive to keep her as the focal point and also get her to the same level as the “Friend,” since I positioned her “standing” on the “F”.

I kept the inside of the card simple. I lined it with some white card stock and then embellished it in the lower left with a gold diamond die cut that I backed with gold glitter card stock just at the head of the diamond. I love all the sparkle and shine of this bold embellishment, but I also like that it doesn’t detract from the design of the front of the card. 🙂

The following is a video share of this card [to come]:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Addicted to CAS Music Challenge
CASology Dream Challenge
CAS-ual Fridays Time to Color Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
The Greeting Farm Farm Fresh Friends Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes w Option of Black, White + 1 Color Challenge – red
Addicted to Stamps and More Make Your Mark Challenge
MFT Sketch Challenge #294

Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights Inspiration Challenge – wedding and scripty font – WINNER

Completed my Hatters Chunky Charm Collection! WOOT WOOT!

CraftyPaws — Sat, 02 Jul 2016 18:14:10 +0000

Are you one of those people who can’t stand to leave things undone? I am. Although I certainly enjoy the process of creating, I also really love the feeling of completing something (and the converse is also true–I really dislike unfinished projects).

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I recently found a charm or necklace holder that had six hanging arms that matched my craft room decor perfectly and seemed to be made for the chunky charms I’ve been making with The Greeting Farms Hatters stamp set and Shrinky Dink papers. So I took that as a sign that I was supposed to finally ink up the last of the Hatters girls and get to coloring her up. I doodled on an extra layer of ruffles to her dress and a polka dot pattern to parts of her outfit to give her a little extra flair. Then I colored her up with the following Copic colors: Skin: E000, E00, E21, and R20; Blacks and greys in outfit: C1, 4, 6, 8, and 9; Reds in outfit: R22, 35, 37, and 39; Funky bright red hair: Y00, Y21, YR02, YR15, E13, YR04, and E15. Whew! That’s a lot of colors to achieve that bright red hair, but I really wanted it to harken to the bright colors of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and still contrast sufficiently from the red in her outfit (did I mention that I’ve named this cute Hatter, Queeny?). Ultimately I did a little cheat that I’ll share with you a bit later… 🙂

I scanned her into my computer, lightened the image by 60% and increased the contrast about 10%. Remember Shrinky Dink papers intensify the colors so this lightening step is critical. I printed her out to a 5″ x 7″ size on Shrinky Dink paper and then punched a standard 1/4″ hole at the top. Then I shrank her down using my heat tool to make her into a durable charm. When she was all shrunk down, I noticed that her hair seemed a bit faded. I decided to try a little experiment and added a top coat of Copic YR02 and Y00 over the dark and light areas (respectively) of Queeny’s hair, and I loved the vibrant result!

Then, like for all the prior chunky charms I poured through my stash of beads, charms, junk jewelry, and metal pieces and gathered everything that I thought would fit with Queeny’s color scheme and “queen of hearts” theme. Unlike for all the others, however, I realized I would have to do little shopping for some red beads (I had one measly bottle of red seed beads). Luckily Joann’s was having a 50% off sale plus an extra 20% off entire purchase (including sale items) coupon! I picked up a strand of Jesse James beads and a strand of Blue Moon beads and combined them with some junk jewelry pieces, acrylic pieces, a tiny corked glass bottle, and steel, black and gunmetal charms in my stash to make my last and most favorite chunky charm in this collection.

The following is a video share of this chunky charm and the one I shared in yesterday’s post HERE:

This chunky charm is being entered into the following challenges:
SanDee & Amelia’s Anything Goes Steampunk/Industrial Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Creations Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes Challenge

Custom Greeting Farm Chunky Charm

CraftyPaws — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 23:07:59 +0000

Debbie Hayslette has been so patient as I ran around the country for work and had no time to craft. She was the lucky winner of the custom chunky charm giveaway that I did for my first The Greeting Farm guest design team project. I think I am finally wrapping up my consulting project that I started in January (and was only supposed to last 2-3 months), and I am so looking forward to crafting more again.

I made this chunky charm featuring one of the cute The Greeting Farm stamps from the Hatters collection that I colored up with the following Copic markers: Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R 20 blush; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y32, Y35 and YR24; Burgundy part of outfit: R83, 85 and 89; Hair: RV00, 52, 55, and 66

I scanned her into my computer, blew it up to 5 x 7″ size and lightened the image before printing it out on Shrinky Dink paper. I fussy cut it out and then used my heat tool to shrink it down and make hard. Then it was a matter of adding lots of beads, charms, and gems all along a chain attached to a large lobster clasp.

I kept everything in a kind of monochromatic pink/gold palette and tried to create a “Paris in Summertime” theme (with an Eiffel Tower flower Art-i-cake, various crystal flowers and bead butterflies). 😀 I hope it will bring a smile to Debbie’s face.

The following video will give you a sense of all the little bits and bobs I added from my stash and from various lovely crafty friends:

This chunky charm is being entered into the following challenges:
MarkerPOP Summertime Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Monochrome Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Card Mania Around the World Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black and More Flower Power Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
A Beautiful Mess Anything Goes Challenge

Easy Peasy DIY Custom Sweatshirt and Tote Featuring The Greeting Farm Hatters

CraftyPaws — Tue, 31 May 2016 01:26:47 +0000

This will be a quick post, as I have been away for work and have been pulling all-nighters, trying to finish up a big consulting project and I am so sleep deprived I’m a little loopy. I just wanted to share with you all what I think is a super cute custom sweatshirt and tote that I made with the adorable The Greeting Farm Hatters stamp set.

The following are the Copic colors used to color up these cuties:
Niki (pink outfit): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R 20 blush; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y32, Y35 and YR24; Burgundy part of outfit: R83, 85 and 89; Hair: RV00, 52, 55, and 66
Peacock (violet outfit): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11 with R 20 blush; Violet part of outfit: V12, 06 and 09; Trims on outfit: BV01, 04 and 08; Hair: C6, C9, BV04 and BV08; Peacock feathers: G09, YG21, E13, B04 and B69
Elsa (blue outfit): Skin: E000, 00, 21 with R30; Medium blue: B21, 24, 95 and BG45; Dark blue: B63, 66, 69; Hair: B60, BV31 and B21
Blondie (blue-green outfit): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R20 blush; Grapes: V12, 09; Blue plum: B34 and 39; Strawberry: R83, 85 and 89; Blue-green part of outfit: BG45, 49 and 78; Hair: Y21, Y26, YR24 and E25
Patty (green outfit): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, with R20 blush; Green part of outfit: G85, 94 and 99; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y21, Y26 and YR24; Red flower trims: R83, 85 and 89; Hair E97, 99 and 29

I fussy cut them out, scanned them into my computer, and printed them out onto Avery Light Fabric Transfers iron-on papers. After I ruined the first print out, I remembered to reverse the image so that the text I added would be transferable correctly. I cut around the image and text, leaving a thin border. Then I heated up my iron to the highest heat setting with no steam. I positioned the transfer onto a plain white sweatshirt, and using a good amount of pressure I ironed on the image. I did the same for a canvas tote I picked up at Hobby Lobby. After both transfers were well-adhered to the fabrics, I carefully removed the back release paper to reveal the clear images. Oh I was so excited to see that the images had transferred so cleanly and vibrantly!

I will be using this tote for all my summer time farmers’ market shopping, and even the sweatshirt is a great summertime piece for me since my hubby loves to keep the house air conditioned to a cool 72 degrees. Yes, I live in sweatshirts and sweaters all summer long. LOL

The following is a tutorial video about how to create these custom pieces:

These projects are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
MarkerPOP Summertime Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Crafty Girls Creations Anything Goes Challenge
Our Crafty Corner Anything Goes Challenge

The Greeting Farm Index Card

CraftyPaws — Sat, 21 May 2016 19:23:03 +0000

My friend Sue Ann (YT: Sue Ann Thomason) has been on YT for years and is currently hosting her very first challenge. I knew I wanted to support her if I could and she made it easy! She asked that we decorate an index card (4″ x 6″) in our style and share some information about ourselves on the back.

She had already told me that she loved purple and that she liked this cutie from The Greeting Farm Hatters stamp set so I knew that is how I would decorate the front of the card. The following are the Copic colors I used to color up this cutie: Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11 with R 20 blush; Violet part of outfit: V12, 06 and 09; Trims on outfit: BV01, 04 and 08; Hair: C6, C9, BV04 and BV08; Peacock feathers: G09, YG21, E13, B04 and B69.

For the index card itself, I used papers that had been gifted to me from my friend Bev (YT: NewCrafterBev), purple mulberry paper flowers from my stash, rolled ribbon rose flowers from my friend Barb (YT: Barbara Alexander), and washi tapes from my stash as well as some gifted to me recently by my friend De (YT: Dorothy Jewell). Lastly I added a couple of puffy doggy stickers that had been gifted to me by my friend Anny (YT: StargrlAnny), customized to resemble my Biscuit and Bandito. Essentially this card is kind of a self portrait of me and my fur babies. 😀

The following is a video share of this project, as well as a share of the accompanying stick pins I decorated:

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Card Mania Flowers Challenge
Work It Wednesday Flowers Challenge
Crafty Gals Corner May Flowers Challenge
Crafty Girls Creations Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Our Crafty Corner Anything Goes Challenge
Crafting A Beautiful Mess Anything Goes Challenge

Winner of The Greeting Farm Hatters Custom Chunky Charm and Prize Pack!

CraftyPaws — Tue, 17 May 2016 21:24:29 +0000

Taking all those who left a comment about which of The Greeting Farm Hatters was their favorite from this Chunky Charm Tutorial Video, I drew a random winner for a custom made chunky charm featuring the cutie I colored up and called “Niki” (a la Niki Minaj). Congratulations to Debbie Hayslette, who wrote:

Debbie Hayslette: These are too cute…I love Niki!!! Tfs. Hugs, Debbie

Debbie, please PM me with your address so I can create your custom chunky charm and send it to you along with the other crafty goodies shown in the picture above.

Here is the video reveal:

Thanks to everyone who played along and left a sweet comment on the video! Big hugs, Kristina

The Greeting Farm Hatters Card in Blues (My Favorite Color)

CraftyPaws — Mon, 16 May 2016 17:51:02 +0000

I love how many wonderful gifted crafty items I was able to use in creating this card. I colored up one of The Greeting Farm Hatters with the following Copic colors: Skin: E000, 00, 21 with R30; Light blue/aqua: BG11 and 13 (with white dots made with a white Gelly Roll Pen); Medium blue: B21, 24, 95 and BG45; Dark blue: B63, 66, 69; Hair: B60, BV31 and B21. Then I fussy cut it out and inked the edges with a black marker to hide the white edge of the paper.

I used a cartoony peacock feather patterned card base from my friend Carol (YT: Crafty Carolina Gal). I added champagne Stickles to the centers of the graphic feathers to add a little extra interest and sparkle. Then for the lacy “ground” for the little girl to stand on, I used a beautiful double sided lace from my friend, Mataya (YT: minnescrapper). The lace had a center space for running ribbon so I wove a sheer teal ribbon that I had received from my friend, Emily (YT: Emily Cox) to coordinate with the blues of the little girl’s outfit. The flat back pearl stickers that I placed at every loop junction were from my own Dollar Tree stash. 🙂

For the cluster of flowers, I used a vintage doily from my friend, Beth (YT: bethesscrapbookroom), topped with blue mulberry paper flowers I had received from my friend, Yurlady (YT: Yorlis07) and tiny pale blue tulips from my friend, Tina (YT: Crafty Bean). Being made with crafty yummies so many wonderful friends, it is no wonder that I feel like this card exudes crafty love! I feel so blessed to have been able to create with all these gorgeous things and to be part of this warm and wonderful crafty community.

This card is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Flowers Challenge
Card Mania Flowers Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday Flowers Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Cards Galore Encore Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
A Beautiful Mess Anything Goes Challenge

How to Make Chunky Charms Featuring The Greeting Farm Hatters

CraftyPaws — Mon, 09 May 2016 10:56:10 +0000

I am beside myself thrilled with this opportunity to be a guest designer for The Greeting Farm. I love their adorable images, and I had a blast creating these chunky charms using The Greeting Farm’s Hatters stamp set, Shrinky Dink paper, beads, tassles, charms, metal gears, rhinestones trims, junk jewelry pieces, a memory locket (filled with flower sequins and x’s and o’s), old chandelier crystals, and acrylic flowers (basically I layered on anything I thought would add sparkle and springtime fun).

I first colored up five of the images (main color of outfit noted in parenthesis) with the following Copic colors:
Niki (pink): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R 20 blush; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y32, Y35 and YR24; Burgundy part of outfit: R83, 85 and 89; Hair: RV00, 52, 55, and 66
Peacock (violet): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11 with R 20 blush; Violet part of outfit: V12, 06 and 09; Trims on outfit: BV01, 04 and 08; Hair: C6, C9, BV04 and BV08; Peacock feathers: G09, YG21, E13, B04 and B69

Elsa (blue): Skin: E000, 00, 21 with R30; Medium blue: B21, 24, 95 and BG45; Dark blue: B63, 66, 69; Hair: B60, BV31 and B21
Blondie (blue-green): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, 04 with R20 blush; Grapes: V12, 09; Blue plum: B34 and 39; Strawberry: R83, 85 and 89; Blue-green part of outfit: BG45, 49 and 78; Hair: Y21, Y26, YR24 and E25
Patty (green): Skin: E000, 00, 21, 11, with R20 blush; Green part of outfit: G85, 94 and 99; Yellow/gold part of outfit: Y21, Y26 and YR24; Red flower trims: R83, 85 and 89; Hair E97, 99 and 29 (I didn’t end up using this one so that I could reserve 1 key ring for my giveaway prize–see how to enter below)

Then I scanned each of these into my computer, blew them up to 5″ x 7″ size, lightened them by 60% and increased the contrast by 10% (this lightens the image without losing detail). I then printed these out on Shrinky Dink paper, punched a standard 1/4″ hole at the top, and used my heat tool to shrink down the images. They turned into really great sturdy pieces that would be great for embellishments, making into magnets, or as centerpieces for charms (like here). I love that they can be handled, viewed from all sides, and can swing and move. I have these hanging on my craft room wall on a necklace holder and love the little wall decor. 🙂

The following is a process video on how to make these chunky charms:

GIVEAWAY: To enter to win a custom Hatters chunky charm as well as some extra crafty goodies from me, watch this video on YouTube and leave a comment on that video (not here) telling me your favorite Hatter (detailed rules in video description of YT video).

These chunky charms are being entered into the following challenges:
May Farm Fresh Challenge — Swing into Spring Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Monday Home Decor Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Fab ‘n’ Funky 3 or More Layers Challenge
Not Just Cards Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Anything Goes for Merry Month of May Challenge – WINNER
Through The Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
A Beautiful Mess: Anything Goes Challenge