design team

Holiday 3-In-1

In The Studio

Today over on the Imagine blog, my latest project is up: Go check it out!

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_snowflake_card_tag_ornament_main

It includes instructions on making a shaker card, ornament, and gift tag all from a single set-up with the die cutting machine and a single pass with the embossing paste.

Earlier this month I continued my love affair with faux finishes and created my take on mercury glass and made them into a quartet of napkin rings fit for the holiday table.

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_fauxfinish_mercuryglass_napkinrings-main

I believe it’s been a little while since I shared my Imagine projects (shame on me, I know!), so let’s keep rewinding with some October projects:

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_masks_main

I may not be on the Helmar team anymore, but I do still love their products and have a bit of a stash left. This mask charm project put Imagine’s sprays and embellishers to work with linen and Helmar’s stiffening and draping liquid.

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_halloween_garland_main

And does this Halloween garland really need explaining? Really?

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_book_main

Is it bad form to have favorite projects? I don’t care if it is, because this book I made for a September project just makes me squee with delight. The book itself is cool enough, but the cover just makes me swoon–instant age courtesy of some careful application of Creative Medium and metallic inks.

jvanderbeek_imaginecrafts_main

I haven’t forgotten my mixed media friends, either. My other September project was art journal meets wall art and was a rather satisfying monochromatic project.

2016_august_jv_puppycard_main

Going back a little farther, in August we went to the dogs and I make this puppy love card that I still hanging around my work table because I find myself terribly clever some days.

2016_august_jv_bulletjournal_main

And to complete this project rewind, we have something rather topical (I think). I still want to go into the planner journey I went on this year in greater detail, but for now it’s important to know that I spent my summer in a bullet journal and had a merry time exploring different ways to customize my weekly spreads. For the back-to-school time frame I played around with this particular layout in my journal with stamps and inks and some choice embellishments.

A Project You Can Sink Your Teeth Into

In The Studio

 

There are few things in this life that squick me out more than tooth issues, but even my dental demons didn’t stop me from creating these cute tooth fairy pillows for the Helmar blog.

Just the right size to slip under a pillow

Just the right size to slip under a pillow

Growing up, I had one of those interactive board books called Bruce’s Loose Tooth, about a moose named (you guessed it) Bruce, who had a tooth that just wouldn’t come out, despite how loose it was. So there was a string running through all of the pages showing all the different ways he and his friends tried to rid him of the tooth. The most memorable involving a moving train, I seem to recall.

At any rate, like most kids in the US (a safe generalization, right?) when a tooth came loose it was placed under a pillow and magically replaced my money in the morning. Silver dollars were the big money prize, back then, but I know I’ve heard of modern day tooth fairies bringing 5 or 10 dollar bills.

Inflation is everywhere!

While it might have been cute to make one of these for Duncan’s puppy teeth, I think we’re past that stage (not to mention he’d just destuff it), it’s a cute and simple project for those with little ones of the tooth-losing ages. It uses a fray-blocking medium as well as a basting spray that would come in handy in any number of projects, so go check it out!

Hang out the Red, White, and Sparkly

In The Studio

Jokes about appliance holidays aside, today is Veterans Day–the day we are not-so-gently nudged to remember that freedom is not free and that we owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to our military members, past and present, for their service to our country.

Thank you.

Over on the Helmar blog, today, I have my crafty send-up to patriotism in the form of my Starred and Spangled Banner:

jvanderbeek_helmar_veteransday_starred_spangled_banner

Head over to the Helmar Design Team blog and see how I made it (and how you can easily make one, too). For those of you who have the day off (I do not), enjoy the midweek break.

My Year With Helmar

In The Studio

This time last year I was positively over the moon about being accepted onto the Helmar team, and I’ve had a blast working with their products and getting to know my fellow team members. I’ve been invited to stay on for the next six months, too, so who knows what I’ll come up with to share. But today I thought it’d be fun to look back over the projects I’ve created for them over the last 12 months.

Helmar Scrap Dots into Stamps!

I started out my Helmar time with a bit of a bang: using Liquid Scrap Dots to pipe out my own skull stamps to make ribbon to decorate the house with. Still one of my favorites!

Veteran's Day Shadowbox

My next assignment called for a Veteran’s Day project, so I borrowed some service pictures from a friend and made this shadowbox for her.

Thanksgiving Centerpiece for Helmar

Then, suddenly, it was Thanksgiving, and I made a centerpiece for our hall table.

Victorian Ornaments for Helmar

I ventured into glittered territory for my December post, showcasing these Victorian Lady ornaments I made for our Victorian-themed Christmas tree.

King Cake Pillow Boxes

I loved these King Cake Pillow Boxes I designed for my January project. The look almost good enough to eat (and yes, there’s still glitter freaking everywhere!).

Sculpted Fabric Hearts

Using their Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid I created some patched fabric hearts and had a lovely time getting nice and messy with it.

Victorian Memo Frame

Then I spruced up an old frame with some fabric, ribbon, and (of course!) for a pretty Victorian Memo Frame.

Accounting Joke Birthday Card

In March I made the most of Todd’s upcoming birthday by making him a very accounting-centric card with real adding machine tape.

Decoupaged Wooden Bunny

Then decoupaged this wooden bunny wall hanging that I’ve had around for ages in time for Easter.

Time To Craft Altered Clock

In April I took advantage of a spare clock laying around and had a little fun with paper and glue.

Pocket Letter & Decorated Envelope

In May I made a pocket letter and decorated envelope for my pen-pal.

Doll Courtyard Diorama

In June I got to show off some of my Dal’s in the courtyard diorama I made from upcycled cardboard and other things around the house.

Drive No Evil Art Car

And I doubt you’ve forgotten my July post, where I painted my own car and sealed it with Helmar Crystal Kote Gloss (that I then needed to disclaim because it wasn’t a tested use… oops!).

Altered Composition Book

After the art car, I toned things down a bit and altered the cover of a composition notebook--a much more traditional project…

Perfect Planner Clips

Made some seasonal paper clips for use with my planner…

Baby Girl Dimensional Baby Card

And crafted a sweet card for a friend’s baby shower (which is today’s post over on the Helmar blog).

And that’s what I’ve created for Helmar over the 12 months! I’m already working on my next project for Helmar to kick off the next 6 months with the team. I have no idea what will come after that, but I know it’ll be creative and fun!

Extra, Extra, Read All About It!

Everyday Adventures

Have I got news for you?!

Actually, it’s more like a confession…

Did you know…

I’m Gauche!

But not just any old gauche, oh no, the lovely ladies at Gauche Alchemy have decided I’m just the right kind of gauche to join the GA Team as a blog writer! I’d be speechless, but that wouldn’t fit this group!

Actually, I’ve known about this for a week, now, but couldn’t breathe word one. Do you know how tough it is for me to keep the good kind of secrets? Really tough. Like maybe as tough as it is for me to resist the basket of Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs in the living room that I am *not* getting up to go pilfer between paragraphs.

Starting later this month I get the pleasure of writing up projects from the Alchemists (that’s what they call the Design Team members) and even toss in a few projects of my own from time to time.

Needless to say, I’m beyond excited about this!!!

I mean, how could I *not* with badges like these:

Which do you think I should put in the sidebar on permanent display?

Now, for those of you who know exactly what-all I’ve got going on, you’re probably wondering just how I have time to take on something else?

Well, that leads me to Page 2, as Paul Harvey would say.

_______________________________________________

What to Feed Your Raiding Party is getting closer and closer to being absolutely, true-blue, in-print done! I still have to lay out the actual pages–and that’s no small task, I admit–but that’s pretty much ALL that’s left. Compared to everything else I’ve done for this book in the past 2+ years, the layout is just details.

I’m not quite ready to announce a street-date or even open up pre-orders just yet, but if you’ve been curious about the cookbook or are planning to order a copy, make sure to either subscribe to the progress blog over at whattofeedyourraidingparty.com or Like the Facebook Fan Page so you don’t miss any of the big announcements that are coming up soon!

But wait, there’s more!

_______________________________________________

Because I firmly believe the best things come in threes, I have one more piece of news to share. This one is pretty time-sensitive, too. On April 28, 2012, I’ll be hosting the Helper Monkey version of the 

Great American Bake Sale

to benefit Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign.

If you’ll be in the Tallahassee area that day, make sure to stop by our table at the Market Square Farmer’s Market and pick up a sweet treat and do good at the same time. If you’re not in the Tallahassee area, check out the Bake Sale map and find one in your area (or sign up to host one, yourself!). Or, none of those options work for you, would you consider making a donation on our team page? After all…

$1 can help provide a hungry child with 10 healthy meals.
$4 can help provide a child facing hunger with a backpack full of healthy food over a weekend when school meals are not available.
$9 can help connect a child with healthy lunches during summer when school is out.
$35 can help a child care center provide free afterschool snacks and suppers to at-risk children all year long.
$65 can provide a grab-n-go breakfast cart to an elementary school so that every student starts every school day with a healthy meal.

Thanks a million!