'WOYWW 2/27/2013 - Lucious Lovely Fabric Beads - Freebie Tutorial!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and welcome,

For WOYWW, wanted to share these wrapped fabric beads on my table that I just finished making - plus the tutorial based on how they were made!

Photo credit:
David Daruszka for Creative Media Wizards

I used red  fabrics from Maria's stash that I recently 'inherited'.

She had a box of handmade blue fabric beads in her stash - that were incredible. I had never seen fabric beads before...I had seen samples of wrapped paper beads in the past, but I always thought they were ugly. I examined Maria's fabric beads under my magnifying light to see how they were made. Then I made mine - but a bit differently. 

DURATION

I made my beads over the course of one week...Here's a tutorial if you want to try your hand at this!


Tutorial


SUPPLIES / MATERIALS LIST

· Beads - assortment of small beads and seed beads

· Coffee stirrer straws – smallest diameter

. Containers - small divided containers -  I used containers from The Container Store

. Craft mat

· Fabric scraps – cotton (minimum of 2” x 6”) - I used about 6 different patterns. I tried different types of fabrics and blends - but only cotton worked for me

· Fibers - assorted thin scrapbooking fibers - I used eyelash novelty yarns and metallic

· Glue - for this project I experimented with several (White glue, Fabric glue, 3-in-1 (my fave for this project))

· Paint - gold acrylic paint - 2oz. bottle

. Paper towel

. Palette (optional)

· Quilting ruler (or metal edge ruler)

· Rotary cutter (any size)

· Round-nose plies

· Scissors - fabric

· Scissors - Tonic

· Stamps – rubber or acrylic - foreign sript and foreign text designs

. Styrofoam scrap from old packaging - approx. 12" x 3" x 3"

· Toothpicks - equaling the number of beads you want to make

. Water spritzer

· Wire – assorted colors of thin gauge craft wire (I used black, red, gold) small enough to fit through your beads

. Wipes

· Wire cutters

PREP COMPONENTS

1. Stick a toothpick in Styrofoam every inch - make 2 or 3 rows, staggering the placement of toothpicks between rows.
2. Cut some coffee stirrers 2 inches long - then cut a few to 1 inch. Set aside in container.
3. Cut short length of fibers approx. 1 3/4" long. Set aside in container.
4. Cut wire approx. 3" long - one wire for each bead you are making.
5. Using round-nose pliers, make a loop on one end of wire. Set aside in container.
6. Cut cotton fabric into rectangular strips measuring 2" x 4" using rotary cutter or fabric scissors. I chose red fabrics with gold prints or bold prints.
7. Cut cotton fabric strips into long triangles with a 2" base.

GOLD STAMPING

1. Alternately stamp script or text on right side of fabric triangles using gold acrylic ink. Dry overnight.

WRAP FABRIC

1. Lay stamped fabric triangle wrong side up/right side down on craft mat.
2. Squeeze a thin line of glue onto triangle about 1" from base and 1/4" from each side of triangle.
3. Place straw between base and glue.
4. Wrap fabric tightly around straw pressing base of fabric triangle into glue.
5. Hold straw and fabric with left hand.
6. With right hand, squeeze a thin line of glue down center of triangle stopping 1/4" from tip.
7. Continue rolling fabric tightly around straw, smearing glue into fabric to the tip. Drop bead onto a toothpick to dry overnight.
8. Spritz paper towel with water to slightly dampen it.
9. Wipe glue off craft mat with damp paper towel. Then dry craft mat with dry paper towel
10. Clean glue off your hands with wipe - then dry your hands on dry paper towel.
11. Repeat steps 1-10 until you have made all the beads you need for your project.

TRIM ENDS

1. With the Tonic scissors, lightly trim the two ends of each bead so that the straw is flush with the fabric. Also use the fabric scissors if the fabric starts to fray. Set aside in container.

PAINT ENDS

1. Lightly dip both bead ends into a puddle of gold acrylic paint - enough to cover the fabric edges and hide the straw. Use a palette - or I used the paint inside the bottle cap. Drop onto a toothpick to dry overnight.
2. Repeat step 1 for all remaining beads.

WRAP FIBER
 
After fabric has completely dried on the toothpicks, it's time to wrap bits of fiber around each bead.
 

1. Squeeze a very small drop of glue onto center of bead.
2. Choose one matching or contrasting fiber.
3. Wrap fiber diagonally onto bead in a spiral going from top to bottom clockwise, while smearing glue in the center of fiber. Don't glue the fiber all the way down - leave each end unglued a little with the fiber sticking out.
4. Drop bead onto a toothpick to dry overnight.
5. Spritz paper towel with water to slightly dampen it. Wipe glue off craft mat with damp paper towel.
6. Clean glue off your hands with a wipe - then dry your hands on clean paper towel.
7. Repeat steps 1-6 until you have wrapped all the beads with fiber you need for your project.

WRAP WIRE / STRING BEADS
 
Goal is to string 10-20 beads per fabric bead.

1. Hold fabric bead in left hand vertically.
2. With your right hand, place wire loop on left side at top of fabric bead - and press loop down with your left thumb.
3. Holding bead in left hand, hold wire in right hand, tightly wrap one wire diagonally in a spiral going from top to bottom clockwise, stringing 3-5 beads every 360 degree turn as you wrap the wire. Leave a 1" tail at end of wire.
4. Make a loop at end of wire and press loop tightly to bottom tip of bead. If wire is too long, cut a bit off before making the final loop.
5. Admire your handiwork!

NOTE:  These fabric beads are suitable for hanging on the wire binding of an altered book, art journal or scrapbook. They are NOT suitable to wear for necklaces, earrings  or bracelets because of body oils and perspiration.

Let me know if you try this technique. Send me a link to a photo of your fabric beads on your blog or website.

Thanks for stopping by - and please leave a comment.

Here are more artist desks for WOYWW if you want to take a peek!

Peace,
LuLu

GIVEAWAY! LIBRA De-stash! FREE Giveaway! Deadline: Extended! More pix! More Info!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes  

You could win these supplies!

Sample journal of what you can make with the mixed media supplies in this huge Giveaway!

Sample of what can be made with Giveaway supplies!

Is your birthday coming? Have you had a birthday? Post a comment - you could win!

LUCKY LIBRA LADY FOLLOWER - BIRTHDAY FREE GIVEAWAY!

September is my birthday month and I'm celebrating with my Followers by offering a FREE giveaway! 

So if you are a Libra lady celebrating your birthday on Sep 27th or celebrating your birthday on Sting's birthday Oct 2nd, indicate that in your comment and you could win!

I have put together some HAPPY MAIL / de-stash items for one lucky Libra (or other) birthday girl! See list of free GIVEAWAY goodies!

ELIGIBILITY

Any LIBRA lady in continental USA is eligible over 18 years of age. If your birthdate is Sep 27th or Oct 2nd (or close to those dates) you could be the winner! You must have an email address.

You do not have to be a Follower to enter.

But there is a Bonus for FOLLOWERS! Followers get a extra little something-something!

See below if your birthday is in September or October!

WHAT IF MY  LIBRA BRITHDAY IS NOT YOUR'S OR STING'S?

A birthdate on, or closest to, either of these 2 dates (9/27, 10/2) will be the lucky winner! Up to two winners - one lady born Sep 27th and/or one lady born Oct 2 (or closest birthday).

WHAT IS INCLUDED WITH THE GIVEAWAY?

Giveaway de-stash items will be a grab bag of new and gently used mixed media supplies selected from my various studios. These supplies are ideal for creating junk journals / smash books / glue books / flow-ish journals / bullet journals / art journals.

Giveaway Includes:

Update: (a $450 value)

1. ·          A5 bullet journal - partially prepped/setup/page numbered by me with pen test pages, index pages, Key / Icon / Color Code page, plus stamped page title borders, and page title cartouches (ESSENTIALS, 8”x5.5”, dot grid, archival, acid free, ribbon bookmark, back pocket),A5 calendar / journal  – dated, obsolete, blank, twin-wire,
2. ·        junk mail journal – ready to paint and embellish (wirebound by me),
3. ·        Tote - 18 pocket tool tote – foldable,
4. ·        Tote - crocheted hobo purse (thrift store find),
5. ·        Adhesive - glue stick,
6. ·        adult coloring pages – assorted sizes (owls, nature, mandalas, etc.),
7. ·        book pages (vintage, old, foreign, dictionary, etc.)
8. ·        colored pencils (in repurposed marker tin) – warm tones,
9. ·        craft mat – new (RANGER), 
10. ·        embellishments (metal, resin, paper, TIM Holtz, and more),
11. ·        embroidery floss on bobbins – wound by me (primary colors),
• NEW! Embossing supplies for heat embossing,
12. ·        envelopes - assorted sizes, types, materials 
13. ·        Fabric - Designer upholstery fabric samples,
14. ·        fabric scraps -  quilter’s cotton,
15. ·        Fiber - Twine (striped),
16. ·        file folder -decorative for coloring,
17. ·        lace seam binding,
18. ·        markers - STM, FINELINE + MORE (assorted warm & cool tones),
19. ·        papers - deli paper (plain and painted),
20. ·        Papers - gelli print papers, 
21. ·        papers - painted wax paper,
22. ·        Papers - scrapbooking papers - patterned scraps, 
23. ·        papers - vintage sewing patterns,
24. ·        pen - fountain pen with refill cartridges (JINHAO),
25. ·        pen - FRIXION erasable pen with refills,
26. ·        pen pouch - clear with elastic divider loops (KAREN FOSTER),
27. ·        pens – glitter gel, black gel,
28. ·        Post-its – 2”,
29. ·        Ribbons - assorted lengths,
30. ·        Rub-ons with craft stick - Asian style alphabet,
31. ·        Scissors – one pair micro scissors,
32. ·        Stamp pad - STAzON permanent ink pad,
33. ·        stamp pads - Dye ink pads – assorted minis,
34. ·        stamps - clear with acrylic block – assorted themes,
35. ·        Stamps - Rubber stamp set – mini alphabet in Mimi pouch + divider tray,
36. ·        Stencil – mini alpha-numeric,
37. ·        tabs – adhesive back,
38. ·        tins – Altoid tins - empty,
39. ·        Tool - water brush,
40. ·        Tools - watercolor brushes – assorted tips/sizes,
41. ·        washi tape rolls – partial,
42. ·        washi tape sample cards – wound by me,
43. ·        yarn samples – super bulky,
44.          plus more mystery goodies [not shown],
45.          plus free complimentary shipping.

HOW TO ENTER GIVEAWAY

 

Leave a comment on this post only with your name and birth date - birth year not needed.

WHEN IS EXTENDED DEADLINE?

EXTENDED Deadline is 12:00 midnight CT on Nov 30, 2020.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT

I'll announce winner's name during the week of Dec 15th on this blog, in a new  post.

HOW DOES WINNER GET PRIZE?

INFO NEEDED FROM WINNER in DECEMBER 2020 - 2 IMPORTANT DATES

          Before midnight Dec 22, 2020 CT, Winner must email me (use the 'Contact' form in right           sidebar) with their email address.

          I will contact the Winner via email  requesting the following info that Winner must email           to me before midnight Dec 27, 2020 CT.        

1. copy of their ID (see below) - in body of email,
2. their snail mail address (no P.O. boxes)

About COPY of ID  

To claim your prize, winner must email me a photo copy (in body of email - not as an attachment) of their ID  showing your name and your birthdate.  ID copy can be your state D/L, your real ID, your passport.

IMPORTANT: (On your copy, be sure to mask out/cover your SSN and address and any other private/confidential info before uploading to body of your email).

WHEN WILL WINNER GET PRIZE?

After I get the above info by the deadlines.

          I'm planning to ship the Winner's prize around Dec 31, 2020. I'll email tracking                         number to Winner.

FREEBIES and TUTORIALS

Also, check out all the Freebies and Tutorials while you are visiting my blog.

Thanks for stopping by - Happy Birthday and GOOD LUCK!

'WOYWW 2014/01/15 - Happy New Year Giveaway, Haul, Commission, Tutorial & Giveaway!

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Happy New Year to all,

I'm back with a lot of news.

HAUL
Here's my recent haul from a local Archivers scrapbooking store that, I'm sad to say, is closing next month.

Haul from Archivers store closing

 (ink pads, ink sprays, Distress stains,

SNAP & Brag Book photo albums,

 SNAP page protectors) - yeehaw!

COMMISSION
I just got a rush commission late  last week for a set of invitations - carte blanche to design, print and assemble, stuff envelopes, address and mail. When I get a rush job like this, I charge the client a 'rush' fee in addition to the project fee...

In progress assembly for 2 components of invitation commission.

I stamped and signed the back cover first.

 

 

Over the holidays, hubby and I went on a road trip to Paducah KY. We wanted to visit the National Quilt Museum (awesome and overwhelming) and also research real estate in conjunction with the artist relocation program Paducah offers to artists. Before we left I cobbled together a collection of custom Travel Valet Trays. Did not have time or money to buy valet trays - plus, store bought trays are all too heavy for my 'travel light' experiment. (I wanted to practice 'packing light' in anticipation of our trip to Paris - someday).

 

The first picture shows the Travel Valet trays I made from Duck tape and/or Shelf Liner Paper. They are connected using (scrapbooking) brads. (In the top left corner of the scoring board are box lids I made from folding squares of paper origami style  - as experiment samples. I decided to use duck tape instead of folded paper because of durability.

 

This tutorial is for the trays I created when we returned from KY after testing the duck tape trays.  The duck tape trays with brads took too long to assemble when we got to our hotel suite in KY. So upon our return to Chicago, I developed trays using inexpensive chopping mats (dollar store) which are flexible - attached with rubber bands that stretch. These trays can be opened flat for packing and setup quickly with a rubber band upon arrival at my destination. Eventually, I plan to adhere the PARIS pattern duck tape to the chopping mat trays!

 



Purpose of trays: corral chargers, jewelry, lozenges, hair pins/barrettes...

 

TUTORIAL - Travel Valet Trays



Paper (unused) and Duck Tape (used) trays -

 Prototypes

 

Chopping mat package (from DOLLARTREE - 2 for $1 USD) + 

completed Travel Valet trays

 

Top - Travel Valet tray (assembled)

Bottom - Rubber band +

 inside of Travel Valet tray (unfolded, disassembled)

 

Top - Travel Valet tray (assembled),

Bottom - Rubber band + outside/bottom of 

Travel valet tray (unfolded, disassembled)

 

Supplies:

1. Chopping mat (dollar store 'DOLLAR TREE' - set of 2 in package)
2. Scoring Board (I used Martha Stewart)
3. Bone Folder (included with M.S. Scoring Board)
4. Craft knife (I used Exacto)
5. Cutting mat (I used Fiskars Rotary Cutting mat)
6. Ruler (prefer metal edge)
7. Rubber bands - thin (office supply)
8. Scissors (I used Tim Holtz Tonic scissors)

Directions:

 

1. Place chopping mat, frosted/matte side up (that is, shiny side down), on cutting mat.
2. Using craft knife and ruler, cut a square or rectangle 2" larger than the size tray you want (most of mine were cut 5" square for final size of 3" square).
3. Place square or rectangle on scoring board, and using bone folder, score 1" on each of the four sides.
4. Using Tonic scissors, cut a 45degree angle into each corner from outside edge to scored edge.
5. Using Bone Folder, lightly fold and burnish lightly each side towards center.
6. Using Bone Folder, heavily fold and burnish each angle cut towards it's corner.
7. Cut a small triangle into the center of each of the folded cut 45degree angle corners. (This is the notch where the rubber band will secure the closed tray)
8. Attach the rubber band, starting from  from any corner, sequentially around the outside of  tray by sliding rubber band into each notch. (I also tried an experiment with elastics (from a scrapbooking website) but the elastics were too 'fiddly'. The rubber bands worked quicker to setup the trays)

Let me know if you try these Travel Valet Trays. They can be used at home, in studio too of course!

 

GIVEAWAY

Ends January 20, 2014. Please enter on Giveaway post with a comment - and spread the word!

 

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

 

You can visit more artists ateliers at Julia's WOYWW site - click here.

 

Peace,

LuLu

 

'Two Sisters - Then & Now!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes

Howdy and Welcome,

Have you been enjoying the summer? It sure is zipping by for me!

I just got back home from a long weekend road trip -  visiting my youngest sister and her brood near Door County in Wisconsin.

Marly and Mary Lou -1980's
Chicago, IL
 (when I was leading my pop-rock band!)

Marly and Mary Lou - July 2013
Wisconsin

Isn't it amazing how much our appearance changes over the years?!
Thanks for stopping by - I would love for you to comment on this post, or any of my other posts. Please become a Follower, if you're not already....

Stay tuned! I plan to post a tutorial soon PLUS some more freebies PLUS..............

Another GIVEAWAY is coming this Autumn for Followers - to celebrate my 4th BlogOversary! If you love mixed-media, altered books, scrapbooking, assemblage or art journaling, this is the GIVEAWAY you will want to enter!

Peace,
LuLu

'WOYWW - 06/13/2012 - TUTORIAL: Steampunk Art Journal / Smash Book / Scrapbook!'

by Mary Lou 'LuLu' Haynes


Howdy and Welcome,

For WOYWW this week, thought I'd show you the book I'm presenting to Daddy on Sunday Father's Day. This week is also his 80th birthday! Daddy goes scrapbooking with me once a month at Aunt Alma's house. She's 95 years old!

This is sold as a BRAG BOOK (by Fancy Pants) that I found at Archivers during their long weekend crop last week. It's designed like a combo Smash book and scrapbook - with clear plastic page protectors for photos, lined pages for journaling and 15 sections divded by thick cardstock pockets. It looked very sturdy - now I want to buy more! Update: It is sturday. I made the book SO FAST! I bought another BRAG BOOK for more vintage heritge ephemera I recently was given. I hope to have the 2nd book completed in time for our annual August 2012 family reunion. Ha! Ha!

I decided to use it as a scrapbook / art journal including photos of Daddy through the years with captions for the photos as my journaling. This book makes it super, duper fast to do scrapbooking - and I'm always on the lookout to scrapbook faster! Aren't we all?

Here are the steps I used. You're welcome to use my steps as a pseudo -  tutorial.

SUPPLIES

·        Acrylic  paint - gold

      ·        Brag book or Smash book
      ·        Bubble wrap
      ·        chain
      ·        dimensional items – your choice
      ·        fishing lure holders
      ·        Gold paints to ‘gild’ cover edges (test and experiment first)
      ·        Heat tool
      ·        Heavy gel medium
      ·        jump rings
      ·        Old hotel keycard or putty/spackle knife – 2”
      ·        Paint brush -  ¼” round
      ·        Pattern scrapbook paper/cardstock
      ·        pliers - chain nose, round nose
      ·        ribbons (7"-8")
      ·        Spray ink
      ·        Table cloth or craft mat
      ·        Tape runner (permanent)
      ·        Tim Holtz distress charms
      ·        Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors
      ·        Vinyl gloves (opt)
      ·        Water container



PSEUDO TUTORIAL

First, I removed some of the lined pages (as usual), because it was already FAT when I bought it. So I knew that adding more would make it gi-normous!

Next, while still at the weekend crop, I started adhering pattern scrapbook paper to each lined page, the inside covers, and the pocket pages. Easy peasy! Then I added ribbons to the wire binding. Also added, tabs I made to the edges of each section divider pocket.

When I returned home, I started playing with the covers. Adhered torn pattern scrapbook cardstock, gilded the edges with various gold paints, spray painted the covers with blue and green spray ink found at Archivers. Very messy, but good thing I used my 'spray box'. Great investment.

Then, for the front cover, I adhered foam letters and spray painted them with spray ink. I randomly stamped both covers with gold acrylic paint using bubble wrap  that I'd wrapped around my hand. Then I gathered a bunch of dimensional items and glued them on using generous amounts of 'heavy gel medium' (Golden). I did a layout on freezer paper to test the composition first.

Some items I adhered were washers, springs, foreign and domestic coins, dice, watch parts, vintage CTA tokens, Monopoly game tokens, bingo tokens, flattened bottle caps, keys and calculator parts.

Compostion test

After I was satisfied with the test, I started gluing down the various items. I glued items over a few days - letting the cover dry overnight. I've been adding some photos in the page protectors.

Added chains, fishing lure holders, keyring, skeleton key and Tim Holtz distress charms to the wire binding.

Also, I found Daddy's 1932 christening dress and slip with Granny's handwritten notes, which I added in an archival ziplock bag. I punched holes in the bag first using my Bind It All (BIA).Then cut a slit in each hole with Tim Holtz Tonic scissors. Luckily, the placement of the BIA holes matched the wire binding!

Front Cover

 Back Cover

The book got fat again, and I'm not even half finsihed!

 Front fan

Top fan

What do you think of the front cover? Have you ever used dimensional objects in your art work? If so, what is your favorite glue for heavy objects?

Thanks for stopping by -  and don't forget to comment. Please come back soon.

More artist studios for WOYWW are here.

Peace,
LuLu