Friday, January 24, 2014

How to make melted crayon art

There are many ways to make melted crayon art, this time I wanted to try something different. The most common way I've seen of doing this is to take the crayon, glue it to the canvas and use a blow dryer to melt the crayons as desired. I wanted to see if I could find a more controlled melt.

Supplies:
Crayons, canvas, cutting board. knife, cup cake tin.





These are the supplies that I chose to use, they aren't mandatory. :) 

Step by step instructions:
1. I separated the crayons into the colors I wanted and cut them into small pieces.








 2. I placed the crayon pieces on the canvas to make my mosaic picture. then placed it in the oven on the lowest temp. I set 10 min. alarms and checked it periodically.




 
3. Expect the unexpected, Its ok to accept a change to your plans! I melted great! but I apparently put way to much crayon on the canvas, when I pulled it out of the oven there was a pool of melted crayon. I pored off the excess wax and came up with a completely different piece of art then I originally intended. My son named this work "Colorful waters" And I think it fits perfectly!!
 

 
 
TIPS!
 
If you do want to try my method I have some tips that i've learned from trial and error.
 
* Use a cheese grater, or blender for cutting up crayons
 
* When placing your crayons use less and place them further apart, The wax spreds more then you would expect.
 
* Place tin foil on whatever you put your canvas on in the oven.
 
 
If you are interested in buying my work you will find it at: https://www.etsy.com/listing/176873544/melted-crayon-art-colorful-water?

 
 
 


Monday, January 20, 2014

What I do when I'm sick

Down and but not idle!

If your anything like me, you can't just sit on the couch and stare at the wall. It is much easier to get threw the sickness when your mind and hands are busy. Unfortunately, it's hard to find stuff you can do from that one spot on the couch. I sew! Or embroider? Either way, I work on my cards for my Etsy shop. 

 I search for new pattern ideas! Pinterest.com is my constant companion!! I will find pictures I like, and use them as inspiration. Here's a cool peacock feather I drew. It doesn't look like much, but it will look really sweet when it's been sewn.



 All my cards have some sort of Hand stitched embroidery, That's my thing! They still need assembly into the actual card, but this is how I start. This and a movie, I'm set. (I'd like to point out that I've had a sinus infection for a week and it's getting really old. I'm pregnant with twins, and to top it off I stepped on glass and got a nasty cut on my foot. When it rains it pours)







Thursday, January 16, 2014

How I start my embroidered cards

It starts with a design, a printout or something I drew.
Then, using an awl and foam/a towel/scrap of carpeting, to set my paper on, I punch holes to sew my design. A lot of people ask how I know where to put the holes, that is something I can't answer.  I see the finished work in my head and it come I work from that.  If you are trying to make embroidered cards try to look at it like a dot to dot. Connect the dots to make your picture. Just remember not to put your holes to close together or your paper could rip. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Launching my first blog!!!

Welcome to my blog! At the beginning of the Holliday season 2013 I started an etsy.com shop. My shop features my hand stitched embroidered greeting cards. I also have a collage up that I made. In my spare time at home I 'craft', and I want to share all my creations with others! I post most of my work on my etsy.com site (see link) but here, on my blog, I will post my inspiration, ideas, works in progress, and other artists and work that I love. Come along with me on my artistic journey. etsy.com/shop/barleycreations