Crafts

DecoArt Ink Effects |Arrow Baby Blanket

11 · Jul 9, 2012 · 25 Comments

I've been a crafter for some time and have tried many, many different products. This new paint from DecoArt called Ink Effects has blown me away!!

Seriously, BLOWN ME AWAY!!! I was a little nervous when asked to review this product. They actually had to twist my arm a bit. I'm not really a painter. I'm all over spray paint and simple stuff, but the idea about this product is that you free hand some great design and then magically transfer it onto fabric. I really didn't think I was a good fit for this one. I can't free hand anything! I reluctantly agreed and I'm so glad I did.

So here's the skinny… Ink Effects is a paint that you paint onto a piece of paper, let it dry and then flip it over and transfer the image onto fabric with a hot iron. Crazy, huh? It's actually really cool. Once I got over my painting paranoia and tweaked it to fit my skill level I was just fine. Here is what Ink Effect looks like.

It comes in several fun colors that are up to date with the current color trends. Now keep in mind, this isn't traditional paint so the color of the bottle doesn't totally represent the color of the ink. You have to look at the color sample on the top of the bottle to see what the color will look like.

I decided to add a fun graphic to a basic white cotton blanket for my friend Sarah who I threw a fun Little Bug baby shower for a few weeks ago. She is having two girls so I thought I would make a blanket with both the girl's names on it with a fun design that she won't be able to find anywhere else. You know not all moms are into elephants and butterflies. I personally like them but I also like to be different as well. Here are my color choices and the design I was going to work from.

I created the design in Photoshop Elements and then printed it out to make sure the scale and everything was right. Now, remember I'm not much of a free hand painter? I couldn't be a surgeon either, my hands are just not that steady. It's not an issue. I took my graphic and then created a mirror image and just painted right on top of the image!!!

Yea, it's kind of like Painting for Dummies… I'm sure all of you can paint something amazing with just a flick of your brush. Alas, I can not. If you look at my paint lines on top of the image you can see that they aren't perfect, but just you wait! I waited for 30 minutes for the Ink Effects to dry. While I was waiting I prepared my fabric.

The blanket that I was using was 100% cotton, so it needed to be prepped with the DecoArt Ink Effects Cotton Spray.

If you are using a cotton blend with less than 30% cotton you don't have to worry about this part. I just sprayed the fabric and then let it dry. Once it was finished drying I place my image, paint side down on the blanket and ironed it for roughly about 30 seconds. I did move the iron around so it may have been a little more or a little less.

Then I said a little prayer, and started to pull the paper back… I couldn't believe what I saw…

The color transferred beautifully, my horrible lines that I painted looked amazing, the colors were vibrant… I was thrilled!!

I love the way it looks more like a pigment transfer or a water color really. I LOVE that look. Now we can do that on fabric, can you believe it? It's so forgiving, you don't have to be a professional painter to make something look amazing. You can paint right on a printed image and it will look fabulous.

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but the fabric is still very pliable and soft. it's not like painting with regular paint onto fabric. Another positive in my book. Really, I'm struggling to find a negative. I have since washed and dried the blanket and it still looks great. It fades just a smidge but really, not a lot at all.

I give DecoArts Ink Effects paint TWO thumbs up. It made me feel like I really could be a rock star artist, or at least make it look like I am. You can purchase Ink Effects currently online through DecoArt or it will be available soon at JoAnn stores across the country. I can't wait to see what you guys think of it too!!

This post was a paid campaign for DecoArt Ink Effects via Blue Print Social. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more great Ink Effects idea, check this out…

Friday Flair Features

0 · Jul 8, 2012 · 8 Comments

Welcome to a new week everyone. I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday this last week. We had a ball at a annual Fourth of July party that some sweet friends throw every year. It was kind of an odd day here in Vegas. In the morning the clouds rolled in and we actually had ran! That is almost unheard of in these parts. The nice thing was that it kept the temperatures down which made for a lovely day!

Is everyone ready to see the highlights from last week's Friday Flair? I know I am… Here are the fun posts that caught my eye for this week Friday Flair Features.

Little Brave Man Baby Shower | Cue the Confetti

Just Call Me Cookie Monster | Mrs. Southern Bride

Storybook Activity Family Fun | Brassy Apple

Smore Cream Puffs | A Pretty Life in the Suburbs

My New DIY Tufted Ottoman | Bullfrogs and Bulldogs

Cherry Buttercream Sandwich Cookies | Salt Tree

Fast and Fantastic Griddle Toast | It's Overflowing

Chalk Painted Chest of Drawers | Daisy Mae Belle

Rustic Cherry Pie | Heather's French Press

O Beautiful | Moore Minutes

Painting Stripes the Easy and Flawless Way | I Should be Mopping the Floor

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Ice Cream Cake | Crazy Little Projects

Brie Stuffed Burgers | Veni Vidi Scrappy

Smore Krispie Treats | Baking with Blondie

Mixed Berry Frangipane Tartlets | Nifty Thrifty Things

Hansel and Gretel Lemonade Gumdrops | Poofy Cheeks

DIY Project Wicker Hanging Lantern | Dear Wallet

Roasted Beet Salad | Meine Kochlust

Homemade Pretzel Bun Hot Dogs | Brown Thumb Mama

So… does that wet your whistle for this week? Thank you so much EVERYONE, for sharing your amazing talents. Without you guys this would be a really boring party!

Friday Flair Link Party | Inspiration Cherries

2 · Jul 5, 2012 · 26 Comments

Happy {almost} Friday!! I'm posting Friday Flair a little early today because… well, because I like to shake things up a little bit some times!! Everyone needs a little spontaneity in their lives, right?

Yesterday as I was getting ready for our 4th of July pool party, I headed to the store and they had the most beautiful dark cherries on sale and I fell head over heels. I bought a couple of pounds to take to the party, because who doesn't love a bowl full of cherries? I also procured a couple of pounds to play around with as well. As a result… I have cherries on the brain!!! I LOVE this time of year!! Last year I came up with my Black Cherry White Chocolate Cupcake in a Jar that was my all time favorite so far. We'll see what I come up with this year.

Our inspiration photo for this week comes via Mowielicious and it's a stunning No-Bake Oreo Chocolate Cherry Tart…

img source | no-bake oreo chocolate cherry tart via mowielicious

Oh don't you want to just dive right in? The photo is aaaamazing and the recipe looks delish. This may make it onto my cherry list this year for sure!!

Now it's your turn to SHINE!! {wow, too much Victorious in my life right now!}

10 Last Minute Fourth of July Ideas

5 · Jul 3, 2012 · 5 Comments

Alright, you've caught me… It's the night before the big Fourth of July holiday, we have a huge party that we attend every year and I have yet to figure out what I am going to bring tomorrow!! Anyone with me? You would think in my world I would have planned something out months in advance and have been prepping for days. The sad truth, no. I need to find something aaaamazing to take so I thought I would share what I've found over the interwebs {that's what my sweet husband calls the internet} with you guys too. Maybe, just maybe you are in the same boat. If you are please let me know that I'm not the only one!

I LOVE Panna Cotta and this would be too fun to take to the party!!

Patriotic Panna Cotta Shooters | Sprinkles Bakes

Red, White & Blueberry Trifle | Martha Stewart

4th of July Marshmallow Pops | Wenderly

Red, White & Blue Popcorn | Christene Houston via WhipperBerry

Yellow Cake Pie with Chocolate Mousse | Foodie Crush

Rice Krispie Treat Sparklers | 5 Minutes for Mom

Triple Berry Layered Lemon Cream Cake | Lauren's Latest

Red, White and Blue Ice Cream Pie | Yummy Mummy

Berry Bliss Rocket Pops | Family Fresh Cooking

Cookie Cutter Fruit Salad | Whit & Whistle

No matter what you make for your gathering whether big or small… I hope you have a fabulous time. I pray you have a day full of…

good food
belly laughs
family & friends
watermelon dripping down your chin
lemonade that puckers your lips
magical fireworks
a heart bursting with pride for the amazing country that we have been blessed with
and above all safety!!

Sail Cloth Shower Curtains | Guest Post

2 · Jul 3, 2012 · 3 Comments

Soooo when I was at Haven I met the sweetest lady that I just fell in love with and her name is Kari and she has the most beautiful blog called Thistlewood Farm. She is one of those sweet southern belle ladies with a personality the size of Georgia and I ADORE her!! When I had a chance to check out her amazing blog after we met I was blown away with her work and HAD to share her talents with you today as she teaches us how to make sail cloth shower curtains. So, take it away Kari…

Hello Whipperberry readers. I'm Kari from Thistlewood Farm and I am so excited to be here with you today, sharing my numbered sailcloth shower curtain project.

Sailcloth Shower Curtain Tutorial

Supplies:

Red Cotton fabric from Wal-mart (the thicker the better)

Scissors

White Shower Curtain

Sharpie

Pins

Step 1:

Print out extremely large numbers on your computer in Ariel Bold.

These were printed at 700 x.

Cut out numbers and photograph them on grapevine.

Because printed numbers photographed on the table just aren't the same.

And because you have been pinning photo props on pinterest in your quest to be a highly sought after grapevine numbers photographer.

Step 2:

Take your 700x Bold Ariel Font numbers and trace them with a sharpie.

Backwards.

Because when you traced them frontwards….the sharpie showed.

And even though you tried to fray the sharpie off the edges.

You still knew it was there.

And the little bits of sharpie that still showed even after you tried to fray the edges took on the proportions of the Empire State Building lit up red white and blue for the fourth of July.

Trust me.

Backwards is so much more sharpieless.