Review | Handmade Charlotte Stencils by FolkArt

April 16, 2013 by 2 Comments

I recently received a package of paper stencils called Family Message Center from Plaid FolkArt.  They are part of FolkArt’s Handmade Charlotte line designed by Rachel Faust of the website Handmade Charlotte.  Handmade Charlotte was recently named one of the Top 50 Design Blogs for Moms, and has been featured in major publications.

Handmade Charlotte Stencils

The stencils come very nicely packaged with nice graphics that very clearly demonstrate exactly what you will find inside the package. [Read more...]

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CHA Winter 2013: Innovations Showcase Products (Part 2)

January 18, 2013 by 5 Comments

[Editor's Note: This is part two of Maria's overview of the CHA Winter 2013 Innovations Showcase. In case you missed it, you can read part one from yesterday to get the whole story.)

One highlight of the CHA Winter 2013 Innovations Showcase event was the opportunity to speak to Rachel Faucett. Rachel is the author & designer from the popular blog, Handmade Charlotte. For those who may be unfamiliar  with the Handmade Charlotte blog, Rachel blogs about a variety of subject matters that would appeal to families.  She is a mother of five kids, a blogger, and a designer for Anthropologie, as well as working on her farm.  I have loved reading her blog and have found her advice and suggestions very helpful.

Cool Wall Organizer designed and made by Handmade Charlotte

We discussed her new Handmade Charlotte line of stencils from Plaid that are great for all types of projects.  They can be used on fabric, wood, and more.  She currently has a short video on YouTube for Plaid that shows how to make an easy copper necklace.

Handmade Charlotte stencils from Plaid

Handmade Charlotte stencils from Plaid

[Read more...]

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FolkArt Glass Enamels vs Gallery Glass for Faux Stained Glass Window Project

February 29, 2012 by 8 Comments
I had the interesting job of repairing two faux stained glass windows for the local renaissance faire.  These were done by some volunteers in the seventies and were in dire need of some tender care.

The paint used to create the faux stained glass effect was in bad shape.  Here is close up of some of the damage from exposure to the sun and other elements. [Read more...]

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Sponsor Feature/Giveaway: Plaid Crafts

October 4, 2011 by 107 Comments

Keep reading for a wonderful giveaway…

The Craft Critique team is in New York City to cover Martha Stewart’s newest season on the Hallmark Channel. This week is Craft Week, and we were invited to blog the show live during taping today at 10:00 am EST. Don’t forget to join us for our Tweetchat today during the show… prizes will be given, and our sponsors will be participating, available to answer your crafty questions about all things Martha and more!

We will be hosting a tweetchat today, Tuesday, October 4th starting at 10:00 am EST.
To participate in the Tweetchat just go to tweetchat.com and enter hashtag #mscraftwk

Join me in thanking our next Martha Craft Week sponsor, Plaid. Plaid has been a staple in the industry for years, producing high-quality craft products in multiple genre. Their latest release of Martha Stewart Craft Paints is one of the most exciting paint products to come out in a long time. We love the color palate, and that the paints can be used on multiple surfaces, indoors or out, and are even dishwasher safe! Of course, the accessories Martha and Plaid designed for this line are also impressive: brushes, daubers and my personal favorite, a spray applicator!

Click on any of the images below to start shopping! Or visit Michael’s Stores nationwide

The glitter line is one of my favorites. This paint is perfect to glitz up all your holiday projects.

Can’t paint a straight line? Try the Stencils in the Martha line. Shapes, florals, letters… All Martha-approved and lovely!

How crazy cool is this striping brush? I’d love to try this on my scrapbook pages!

Need to cover a larger surface with an ultra smooth finish? Try the revolutionary spray painting kit. This turns any of the satin finish paints into spray paint:

Plaid is also generously offering Martha Stewart Craft prize packs for 2 of our lucky readers! To enter the giveaway just leave a comment letting us know what you would paint with these wonderful colors. We will select two winners on Monday, October 10th.

Be sure to “like” Plaid on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @PlaidCrafts.

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Review | Collage Vintage Notecard Kit by Accord Publishing

September 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Reported by Maria Del Pinto

I recently came across the Collage: Vintage Notecard kit (published by Accord Publishing) at my local book store.  The packaging promised an educational opportunity to learn how to collage using the materials in the kit.  Since all of the artwork, papers, and projects in the  Collage: Vintage Notecard kit are designed by illustrator Maryjo Koch, who is known for her artwork and her book Vintage Collage-Works: Artful Ideas with Antique Ephemera, I felt this would be a good addition to my craft collection.  I was not disappointed.

The collage kit contains:

  • Instruction booklet
  • 12 notecards and envelopes
  • 96 sheets of assorted artwork
  • A proportion wheel
  • A glue stick
  • A handy organizational box to hold and protect the supplies.


Don’t be fooled by the picture of the box above, there are a lot of supplies provided in this kit. The selection of decorative papers is so varied that it will appeal to a broad group of crafters and mixed media artists.

There are papers with maps on them:

There are cool vintage looking letter-style papers:



There are wall paper print papers:

More wall paper floral prints:


There are postage stamp images:

There is also a great selection of music sheet papers:

There are colorful and detailed bird images:

There are also butterfly and dragonfly images:

There are also some great rose papers:

The kit also supplies a “proportion wheel” which is a very handy tool for the beginner who likes to pre-calculate their layout.  It helps the beginner figure out the measurements when working with different size ephemeral for their particular project.  For those who enjoy the more traditional “cut and paste as you go method” you may not need the tool.

The instructional booklet is really easy to understand.  It goes into detail on the composition and combining of decorative papers and ephemera.  It also has some easy collage project ideas that anyone can gain inspiration from.

First Project
My first project was very simple, I combined some of the different papers from the kit to create a simple card.  

First, I chose the background image.  Then I cut out the bird image and the flower image and glued them onto the card.
Bird Collage Card

Second Project
For my second project, I decided to cover a plain journal with some of the papers from this kit.  I started by painting the base with some blue paint from Plaid.  Then I gave it two coats of the Extreme Glitter Paint, also from Plaid.

I choose the papers, ephemera,  and some glitter (from the Martha Stewart collection) to work with some cute ribbon that I had on-hand. I cut the various pieces out and then glued them onto the book cover.  The project took about 20 minutes to finish (including paint drying time).
Journal
Third Project
For my third project, I decided to make a small wristlet-type purse for my daughter.  I decided to use some scrapbooking papers that I had from the Echo Park Paper Co.  The first paper I used from the Echo Park collection was the “Large Leaf Dot” paper from their “Dots and Stripes” collection.  
I put the wood frame onto the paper to trace the pattern.

I then did the same thing with the “Ruby Red Large Dot” paper.

Here is a side view of the wristlet.

And a front view of the finished wristlet.  For more great ideas of things to do with your scrapbooking papers, just use the Craft Critique search box and enter a search for project ideas for scrapbooking paper.

The techniques covered in the instruction manual cover a nice base from which a beginner can create some fabulous work and build upon.  Beyond instructions on how to make your first collage card, the book offers hints on aging, scumbling, and other tips and techniques.  Additionally, due to the very generous amount of supplies, you can apply the knowledge learned from the kit to journaling and home-decor pieces.

The instruction manual is full of pictures of various items designed and made by Maryjo Koch with the materials in this kit.  They range from cards to decorating journals. It offers very simple step-by-step instructions that are written for those who not familiar with collage work and/or working with antique-style ephemera.  For someone seeking more advanced knowledge and ideas in collage, I would recommend one of Maryjo Koch’s books.  This kit is created for beginners and is represented as such through the materials in the kit.
Pros:
  • This is a great kit for beginners.  
  • The patterns on the paper are varied and could be applied to a large range of crafting situations.
  • Everything you need is included in this kit (except scissors).

Cons:
  • Glue stick did not work well.  Everything I glued with it came loose.
  • Paper colors seemed to all in the same color family… it would be nice to have fewer beiges and browns.  Adding more bright colors would have accented the beautiful papers better.
What do you think? Is the Collage Vintage Notecard Kit something that you would use? Do you have any favorite collage papers and/or techniques you would like to share with our readers? Leave us a comment and let us know!
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