NEWSLETTER
INSPIRATION
DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKINGHybrid Hairbow Holder
Friday, May 7, 2010
It’s Kathy here…Happy Anniversary! Wait, that’s what I was supposed to tell my husband this morning. Yes, we are celebrating our 5th anniversary today which makes today a really fun day for me, for more than one reason! Today is also my first blog post on the new Shabby Princess blog, and I am so excited!
I am also coming up to my 1 year anniversary on the Shabby Princess team as well, and has it ever been a fun year. How can you not be inspired creatively when you are using her awesome kits and other fun products? I have been digi scrapping for about 2 ½ years now, and one of my absolute favorite things to do is a cool hybrid project.
Hybrid projects are so much fun, but can be intimidating if you are just starting out. The most important thing to remember is that you will be your own worst critic. With a little planning and some creativity, you’ll be on your way to creating a unique and amazing hybrid project.
For today’s feature project, I made a hair bow holder for a friend’s little girl. I had made one for my own daughter and thought is was the perfect 1st birthday gift. I used a ceramic bisque plaque as the base, but you could use a piece of wood or MDF, cut to size, just as easily.
Here’s what you’ll need:
-
1 ceramic or wood plaque, with 2 holes drilled in the top for hanging (mine measured 9×6)
-
Acrylic paint
-
Foam paint brush
-
Glue stick
-
Double-sided matte photo paper
-
Printer
-
Digital Kit of choice (I used SP’s fabulous Blossom collection)
-
Ribbon
-
Strong Adhesive (like E-6000)
First you will need to carefully measure the area that you will want to cover with your digi “layout”. Create a digi layout in your photo editing software and prepare it to print. You will want to use the highest quality print settings and select the appropriate media on which you will be printing (it makes a HUGE difference in print quality to correctly choose the right settings for your printer). Let your page dry and “set” for a few minutes while you prep the rest of your supplies.
Paint the plaque with acrylic paint and set aside to dry. There are several different ways to adhere the layout to the plaque (or any other surface for that matter) in preparation to Mod Podge. Many people like to use Mod Podge to adhere the paper as well as to seal it. I prefer to use a good quality, high tack glue stick. I find that the paper doesn’t curl as much and allows for some “wiggle room” before it is completely set. It also is less likely to get all over your hands and wreck your project (I don’t know anything about that…just sayin’).
When the glue has dried and your layout is secured onto the plaque, seal it with a thin coat of Mod Podge with a foam brush. (There are lots of great resources and tutorials for using Mod Podge on the internet – like this one) When the Mod Podge has dried, attach 2 ribbons for the hairbows ( I used 20-inch pieces) with E-6000 and tie one through the holes to hang. Voila…you’re done! You could also embellish with additional flowers, buttons, rhinestones, rub-ons, etc…but I chose not to since it was going to be given to a 1 year old.
I hope this F-U-N project has inspired you…it is easy, pretty quick, and really CUTE! Now go make one…but check back often for more hybrid projects.
Jun 04, 2010 @ 12:39:26
I love this project! My daughter and I have made a couple holders with Mod Podge and cannot wait to try this one! Thank you!
May 26, 2010 @ 11:49:48
Great post! I really love your nice blog! I also commented at your other post that I thought was awesome. OH by the way, feel free to submit your blog to my free web directory. It will boost your visitors and backlinks!
May 08, 2010 @ 17:14:35
No way! I never knew how to do that stitching technique before!! Thanks Kathy! and I happen to have a 5 year old princess myself, who would LOVE to have that hairbow holder in her room! thanks for the wonderful idea!
May 08, 2010 @ 16:15:31
Wow, Kathy, this is a GREAT idea. I’m totally going to do this for my niece! You rock (but you know I think that already!)
May 08, 2010 @ 07:32:13
Great idea!
May 08, 2010 @ 03:55:01
Kathy, Very cool!! It worked with Elements, although I did have to move the stitching to a square document first to get it to make the circle without looking funny. I just love learning something new!
May 08, 2010 @ 11:17:16
awesome…so happy it worked in elements…i didn’t know that :o) but you will love this technique, janet!
May 09, 2010 @ 03:50:05
Yay! So glad that it worked for you…thanks for the sweet comments on the project…hope you’ll make one!
May 08, 2010 @ 00:45:39
This is adorable!! Super cute hybrid project, thanks for sharing it!
May 07, 2010 @ 20:31:14
very clever! And I love the mini oval stitching tut! :-) thanks!
May 07, 2010 @ 16:37:01
Hey Janet…great question. I use Photoshop CS3, so I’m not sure if this is available on Elements, or other programs, but here goes…
Target the stitching layer, go Filter>Distort>Polar Coordinates. This will make the stitching circular (but the top will not meet). Then I just dragged it out to an oval shape, being careful not to distort it too much. There you go, oval stitching. Hope that helps!
May 08, 2010 @ 11:16:41
YAY – thanks so much for sharing that with everyone, Kathy :o) It is a great technique that often comes in handy…
Jul 01, 2010 @ 17:55:35
thanks…did anyone try it in elements. I did and I’m still lost. It gives you a percentage to change up and down from 100% and two boxes to check polar to rectangular or vice versa…I tried both and played with the % and it always made the stitching look like a bunch of spider legs. Am I doing something wrong??? I’ve painted my plaques and hate to give up on this project.
Jul 13, 2010 @ 20:23:55
Hey Kristin…I’m sorry you’re having trouble! I don’t use Elements, but someone else did it in Elements and posted a reply here that they had to move the stitching file over to a square document to make it work without it looking funny. I don’t know that that would be a resolution to your problem or not, but I guess it’s worth a try. I’m not quite sure what else to tell you really other than to experiment a little more. I wish I could be of more assistance.
May 07, 2010 @ 16:02:45
Kathy, I have the Blossom Kit – could you tell me how you created the oval pink stitching?
May 07, 2010 @ 15:56:25
Love the Hybrid idea!! What a super cute way to organize your daughter’s bows in an accessible way!