Design your own stamps without carving

This is an interesting technique of making stamps with silicone caulking and acrylic plexiglass. You can save money and creat stamps with our own design. 

Thanks to http://blog.makezine.com/ for the nice tutorial!

Materials

1/8″-thick acrylic plexiglass; can be found at hardware stores

X-Acto knife

Metal ruler

Silicone rubber caulking (clear) ; can be found at hardware stores

Water-based paint

Brayer

 

Note: You can cut plexiglass to size by scoring a straight line several times using an X-Acto knife and metal ruler, and then placing the plexiglass on a table with the score line over the edge and snapping it in one quick motion.

 
Step 1: Sketch your designs on paper. These botanical designs range between 4″-6″ wide. The leaves are 2″-3″. But your designs can be any size you like.

 
Step 2: Hold the caulk tube vertical and tap it against a flat surface 8-10 times to remove any air bubbles. Cut the tip of the tube with scissors. I usually cut about 1/8″ away. Remember, the size of the hole on the tip of the tube will be the thickness of your lines, so cut cautiously! You can always cut a little more off, but once the tube is cut, you can’t make the opening smaller again.
Place your design under a piece of plexiglass and trace over it with the caulk, making sure you are evenly squeezing the tube and all drawn lines are touching the plexiglass. The harder you squeeze the tube, the thicker your lines will be. In some designs, this might be a desirable effect. You might want to practice on some scrap paper or plexiglass before you start on your stamp.

 
Step 3: Let the caulking cure for 24 hours, and then your stamp is ready.

 
Step 4: On a sheet of plexiglass, squeeze a dollop of paint. To create an ombre print, you will need to use two paint colors at the same time. Load the brayer with paint as you roll.

 
Step 5: Using your brayer, apply the paint on the stamp. You will need to make three to four passes to ensure all lines are covered.

 

Step 6: Carefully press the stamp on your desired surface.




 
Step 7: Create a beautiful botanical pattern! Clean your stamps immediately after use by wiping the surface with a dampened paper towel and any small spaces with a dampened cotton swab. Then, wash gently under running water with a little bit of soap.

Craft Tips!

 

 

Ucreate shares some tips that make our crafty lives easier! 

Here they are...

 

• Use a cookie sheet w/ newspaper or wax paper for a portable craft surface…super easy cleanup!
• Sharpen your scissors by cutting sand paper.
• Place a little bit of Vaseline to the end of your glue gun to get rid of those long glue strings.
• Soak your paint brushes in fabric softener or hair conditioner for 10 min…cleans right off!
• Recycle large plastic lids by using them for a painter’s pallette or cutting them up for stencils.
• Need to create a large pattern? Use newspapers!
• Keeping a magnet close by makes picking up those sewing pins a sinch!
• Store those pipe cleaners for kid’s crafts inside of a paper towel tubes.
• Break up some styrofoam to create snow for craft projects.
• Keep those cardboard boxes! Cut & cover with patterned paper to make a mini album, cover with art paper and use as a canvas, and I always use them to eliminate a mess while spraypainting!

Having trouble picking the perfect Mod Podge finish?

This picture shows you the finish of 8 different kinds of Mod Podge on paper. (1.Antique Matte 2.Matte 3.Outdoor 4.Sparkle 5.Glow in the Dark 6.For Kids-Gloss 7.Super Gloss 8.Crackle )

Thanks to http://www.ohsoprettythediaries.com/

Make a Scarf Organizer

Source: http://dollarstorecrafts.com

  This is an easy project that will take you about twenty minutes to complete.You can also use this organizer for belts or ties.

Project Materials:

• One package of round plastic shower curtain rings, $1
• Something to tie with (ribbon, yarn, etc.), on hand or $1
• A hanger, on hand

I got the shower curtain ringsin the bathroom supplies section of my dollar store, and I chose to use shower curtain rings because I like that you can open them, making it easier to slip your scarf into the ring. I used ribbon to tie the rings together because that's what I had on hand. If you use ribbon, I recommend using the thinnest ribbon you have, but better than ribbon would be yarn or maybe even something like zip ties (you can get them in the tools/auto supply section at your dollar store). I just used a hanger we had on hand.

To make it:

Lay two rings out side by side with the openings on the same side. Tie together. Add another ring to the chain to make a series of three rings. Make four sets like this.

After you have your sets of three rings, put them together back to back, so the openings are at opposite ends. Tie the backs together, then tie each ring to its neighboring rings. You should have what vaguely resembles one of those plastic ring things from a six-pack of soda. Use the remaining sets of three rings to make another "six-pack."

Tie the six-packs to the hanger securely. Insert scarves and start organizing!

Note: If you use ribbon, you might want to sear the ends of ribbon with an open flame.

Another note: You could fit more six-packs on one hanger, but I'm not sure if the hanger would be strong enough to hold more than twelve scarves. Just a thought. You be the judge, though!

How to break in your shoes in less than 2 minutes

Source: http://coffeelightandsweet.blogspot.gr 

My new flats were a bit too tight in the toes. So I tried this incredibly simple and neat trick from The Observer via Lifehacker for stretching out the area. And guess what? It worked!

Put on socks  and slip on your shoes. 
Aim the hairdryer on the tight section for a few seconds (wiggle and stretch your feet inside the shoe for maximum benefit).
Keep the shoes on while they cool.
Remove the socks and test out shoes.
It should be stretched out, but if you need more room, then repeat the process.