Crazy for Kaisercraft!

As you can see from my previous posts, I've shared several Kaisercraft projects in back-to-back posts. I'm crazy for Kaisercraft! In addition to the fact that I absolutely LOVE Kaisercraft products, it's also because I decided last month to begin a journey... feverishly working on projects for their 2011-2012 design team call!

I can ecstatically report that I have made it to the final round! See all 25 finalists here. I am so thrilled and honored to be in such great company! I still have a long way to go with the final projects, but a big big big thank you to Kaisercraft for putting me through to round 2!

krafty pearl - kaisercraft 2011 dt 25 finalist

And as if that wasn't exciting enough... "My Red Cabinet" from my 4/26 post is the Kaisercraft April sketch winning layout! Thank you so much, Kaisercraft!

krafty pearl - kaisercraft april sketch winner

Last but not least, I wish all moms out there a very happy early mother's day! My mum is my craft idol. She is a watercolorist, an oil painter, a knitter, a crocheter, and an apparel designer/maker. She does it all!

Here's a card I made for my mum using all Kaisercraft products. One of the reasons I find Kaisercraft products so inspiring is because of the lovely variety and the incredible versatility. They have bright, fun and whimsical patterns but then they also have soft, romantic, vintage designs. I went for the soft, romantic look for my mum's card using this gorgeous flock accent pattern paper. Loves it!

krafty pearl - happy mother's day!

Used: Kaisercraft pattern papers and acetate overlay, Kaisercraft Kaisercolour acrylic paint in pretty pink, Kaisercraft flourish embellishment frame, Heidi Swapp bling, and Sizzix die

Thanks for looking and stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Will You Fly Me Away?

Can it really be May already? Time sure does fly! I created this mini album to wish my special guy a happy anniversary. Inspired by him of course... and by:
  • This super cute song by Annie Little and yes, a very cute Kindle ad. I've wanted to use this song in a project for the longest! The happy beat always puts a smile on my face.

  • The soft romantic colors of KaiserCraft's Lush collection. I especially love the patterns, cherry blossom and maple. I used KaiserCraft's KaiserColour acrylic paint in red to compliment the pretty aqua colors.

  • The lovely bauble shapes of the KaiserCraft bauble tag album. The round bauble reminded me of a hot air balloon and immediately triggered the "Fly Me Away" song in my head.

pearllui-minicover-400blog
Above: One of my favorite KaiserCraft products are the wood flourish embellishment frames. I painted it in a red that I echo in the rest of the mini album.


kaiserminialbum-spread0-400blog kaiserminialbum-spread1-400blog
Above: I designed the album so that as soon as the cover is flipped, the album looks like a hot air balloon. I really like that I can take apart the album to just show the cover bauble and heart and hang that as room decor. I painted all of the bauble tags with KaiserColour acrylic in antique white as the base color. I then stamped polka dots on the using KaiserColour acrylic paint in gold. Tip: Apply acrylic paint onto your rubberstamp with a wide flat paint brush to get an even layer of paint.


kaiserminialbum-spread2-400blog kaiserminialbum-spread3-400blog
Above: For this album, I wanted it to be a cross between card (with lots of handwritten elements) and a mini album (with pictures that follow our journey through this last year). I painted wood flourish embellishments with KaiserColour acrylic in red and gold with a rough flat brush to get in the grain.


kaiserminialbum-spread4-400blog kaiserminialbum-spread5-400blog
Above: Mod Podge is awesome to adhere pattern paper over the tags, even the acetate overlay! Although the acetate overlay is clear, an even coat of Mod Podge did the job, drying clear for a seamless attachment to the bauble tag. I hand-cut flowers from KaiserCraft pattern paper and adhered some more pom pom ribbon to add some softness to the mini album.

Used: KaiserCraft pattern papers, acetate overlay, wood flourish frames, blooms, KaiserColour in gold and antique white; Me & My Big Ideas bling; EK Success border punch; Michael's heart wood shape; Whisker Graphics twine; EK Success scallop circle and circle punch; Hero Arts polka dot background rubber stamp; M&J Trimming pom pom ribbon; Jenni Bowlin button; DMC embroidery floss; Bic Mark-it markers; Mod Podge; Glue dots

So whaddaya think?

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl


Thanks for linking:
Get Your Craft On Tuesday
Tip Junkie handmade projects

Happy Birdies

I was once again inspired by the pair of mourning doves that started nesting on my window sill in March. Here I altered the KaiserCraft MDF birdhouse key holder with a nest, the birds, the eggs, paint, pretty pattern papers... the whole shebang!


pearllui-kaisercraftbirdhouse2-400blog

Used: KaiserCraft birdhouse; KaiserCraft KaiserColour acrylic paint in tropical water and antique white; KaiserCraft blooms; KaiserCraft acrylic stamps; KaiserCraft, Echo Park For The Record Fancy Foral pattern paper and Jillibean Soup Gruyere Cheese pattern paper; My Little Shoebox alpha stickers; Martha Stewart microbeads and glitter; Offray ribbon; Whisker Graphics twine; Mod Podge; glue dots; birds, eggs & nest from floral aisle of local Michael's; heart shaped buttons also from Michael's; M&J Trimming pom pom trimming and sequins; Recollections pearl stickers; beads left over from previous jewelry making days

For MDF painting tips, refer to this post! Here is a closer look at the other details:

To create the nest:

pearllui-kaisercraftbirdhouse2-detailnest400blog

  • I bought the birds, eggs, and nest from the floral aisle at Michael's. You can find them online as well.
  • The eggs were plastic and came speckled brown. Apply glitter with a coating of Mod Podge. Tip: Stick a toothpick in the egg at the end not visible in the nest before applying Mod Podge and glitter so your fingers stay sticky-free.
  • I wanted the nest to be decorated and appear a little dewy. So I applied Mod Podge to the nest, sprinkled some clear Martha Stewart microbeads and colorful beads to the rim of the nest. Tip: Mod Podge dries clear, so no worries if you've got a little too much of it as you're applying the beads. After all, you do want them to stick to the nest!
  • Stick birds, eggs, and nest to each other using glue dots or more Mod Podge.
To fill the birdhouse window:

pearllui-kaisercraftbirdhouse2-detailopening400blog

  • Stamp two identically shaped images on two pieces of pattern paper. The smaller images in this KaiserCraft stamp set perfectly fits into the opening!
  • Mod Podge the two together, aligning it back to back as mirror images with a 6" piece of twine centered between.
  • Continue to coat with a few more layers of Mod Podge and let it dry. It will harden and appear more like a dimensional charm.
  • Adhere the two ends of the twine to the back of the bird house and voila! You have yourself a cute little spinner charm!
  • To mimic the dotted pattern paper, I first painted the window frame in tropical water, then I layered sequins over the frame the teal color peek from the center of the sequins.
So, whaddaya think? Hope you likes!

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

Thanks for linking:
Get Your Craft On Tuesday
Tip Junkie handmade projects

More Than a Picture Frame

I totally love the KaiserCraft BTP line. Inspired by my guy, I created this keepsake for us with the KaiserCraft BTP MDF 9-frame photo display. This display frame is unlike the others because the back board and the frame comes in two separate pieces making it so easy to cut papers to fit in or to paint the openings! I like that their products are a blank slate and you can personalize it and make it your own however which way you wish! I also love the accompanying KaiserCraft KaiserColor acrylic paints that coat the MDF so well.

pearllui-kaisercraftbeautifullove-400blog

Used: KaiserCraft Beyond The Page 9-frame photo display; KaiserColour acrylic paint in gold, slate, white; KaiserCraft, Echo Park and Jillibean Soup pattern papers; Bazzill dotted Swiss cardstock; Martha Stewart and EK Success punches; Crayola air-dry clay; Bic Mark-it markers; Me & My Big Ideas and Heidi Swap rhinestones; Mod Podge (my trusty pal!), Recollections pearls; M&J Trimming sequins

About this project:
  • Painted the top in gold (KaiserCraft KaiserColour in gold) very light-handed with KaiserCraft fine flat brush. Applied about 3 coats for full coverage, allowing a couple of minutes drying time between each coat.

  • Painted the sides of the frame in white (KaiserCraft KaiserColour in white) with a KaiserCraft fine flat brush. Applied about 5 layers, letting a couple of minutes drying time between each coat.

  • Mod Podge is ALL over this project as an awesome adhesive and sealant for MDF.

  • Once all the paint and pieces were adhered exactly where I wanted it to appear, using the frame as an overlay guide, I used more Mod Podge to glue the frame to the back board. To keep the frame tightly adhered to the back board as its drying, cut small strips of wax paper and use medium sized binder clips to grip the corners and sides. The wax paper will keep the clips from leaving marks on your painted frame.

  • For long-winded MDF painting tips, refer to my last post!
Here's a more detailed look at what's going on starting top, across, and down each row!

Box 1: Painted KaiserCraft wood flourish label holder using a cheap chip brush to apply 3-4 coats of gold acrylic paint, letting each coat to dry a couple of minutes each. Cut a 6 1/4" x 1" piece of pattern paper and punch a border.
Used: Echo Park sticker, KaiserCraft wood flourish label holder, KaiserCraft KaiserColour acrylic paint in gold; Me & My Big Ideas and Heidi Swapp bling, KaiserCraft and Echo Park pattern paper, Martha Stewart punch

Box 2: Just cut paper in about 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" rectangles, and the frame will fill in the gaps.
Tip: Just cut doily in half. Because the Kaisercraft comes in two pieces, you can just put half a doily under the frame and glue the frame down. There's no need to cut the doily in fours to appear perfectly aligned in the box 2 and 3. I loved this display tray for this very reason!
Used: Jillibean Soup pattern paper, Echo Park number stickers, Me & My Big Ideas bling

Box 3: Cut polka dot paper into a thin strip to appear like a ribbon.
Used: Bazzill dotted Swiss cardstock, Echo Park letter stickers, Echo Park pattern paper

Box 4 and 5: To unify the two boxes and create a single scene, I Mod Podged a punched heart and glue dotted it to the frame. (It's ok to think outside of the frame!)
Used: Southworth fine linen paper, KaiserCraft and Echo Park pattern paper, Martha Stewart punches, Recollections pearls, Bic Mark-it markers, M&J Trimming sequins

Box 6: 4x6 photo split into two using Photoshop where 75% is my guy and I and 25% is of the gorgeous fluffy clouds of Hawaii.
Tip: By breaking up the photo in this ratio, it also visually broke up the repetitive frame. You can try other ratios if you want to create more "frames" without actual frames!

Box 7:

pearllui-kaisercraftbeautifullove-box7-400blog

This is one of my favorite 'technique' areas on the display. I was learning pottery when I first met my guy... so it was a part of our story. I really wanted to mimic the look of a ceramic piece without actually having to create a piece for the display for several reasons... no access to a kiln any more... the piece would be heavy and difficult to secure to the tray... And so, after some research I decided that I can very easily recreate the ceramic look with just simple non-toxic Crayola air-dry clay! It's light and fluffy... easy to knead and shape. Totally love it!
Used: KaiserCraft pattern paper, Echo Park sticker, Crayola air-dry clay

Box 8 and 9:

pearllui-kaisercraftbeautifullove-box89-400blog

Before adhering the frame to the back board, I painted these areas using KaiserColour in slate. Two coats of paint was plenty because it's a dark and opaque color. I then printed a meaningful term to us and adhered it directly to the paint. What is "hppiness"? I'll explain more when I discuss word art, so look forward to that post in a few weeks!
Tip: Painter's tape will help keep color where you want it, so don't paint without it!
Used: Me & My Big Ideas bling, Recollections pearls, EK Success punch, Southworth linen paper

This really is more than a picture frame and will be an everlasting keepsake. What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!
- KRAFTY pearl

My New Teal Wood Grain Memo Board!

Lately, I've been playing around a lot with KaiserCraft goodies... extending myself "Beyond The Page" to make cute decorative pieces for my home. Their MDF products are perfect for it too! I've wanted a cute little memo board for my kitchen for the longest, but couldn't find one that truly fit my style. When I saw the KaiserCraft bracket frame, I knew it was perfect to create my own memo board... a teal wood grain memo board.

pearllui-kaisercraftmemoboard01-blog400

Used: KaiserCraft bracket frame, KaiserCraft KaiserColour in tropical water and antique white, Ikea fabric, Whisker Graphics baker's twine, Lara's Crafts dowel cap 1 1/8" (found at local Michael's, but can also be found here online), Lara's Crafts small clothespins (also found at local Michael's), Fishs Eddy's mini salt shaker, Mod Podge; miscellaneous: heart buttons, tacks, woodgrainer comb, paint comb, painter's tape

Displayed: Fuji Instax instant photo (love),
Jillibean corrugated heart
, My Little Shoebox woodsy pattern paper, American Crafts Lizzy celebrate sunshine stamp

I loved how it turned out and hope you do too! Here's how I made it and some tips & techniques.

Painting the frame:
  1. Apply 4-5 layers of your base color directly on the frame, letting each layer to dry for about 5-10 minutes each. Your base color should be the lighter color since light on top of dark won't "grain" as well as dark on light. Since I chose my wood grain pattern to be comprised of teal (KaiserColour in tropical water) and antique white (KaiserColour in antique white), antique white would be the base color. Tip 1: I suggest 4-5 layers for the base color because likely it is less opaque and will take more applications to saturate the whole surface. Tip 2: Also, since the surface is fairly smooth, using brushes would show brush marks. So instead, I picked up a handy Whizz touch up and trim kit from a local Lowes (it comes with 2" roller, tray and 2" high density foam roller cover) to apply the paint. It worked like a charm and NO brush strokes! Best part, you can actually reuse everything with a good rinse in warm water. After some usage, you'll just need to replace the foam roller cover.
  2. Seal the first color by applying 2 glossy Mod Podge layers and let dry overnight so that all previous layers harden. Tip: By using glossy Mod Podge, you create a slick layer so it's smoother as you push the second color later.
  3. Tape areas where you want to keep as the base color with painter's tape. I wanted the beveled inner and outer trims to remain antique white. Tip: To seal the rounded areas, just cut smaller pieces of tape to follow the curvature of the shape.
  4. Using a cheap chip brush, apply the second pattern color fully on the surface. While the color is still wet and glistening, use a woodgrainer or a comb to drag the wet paint and apply the wood pattern. Tip: Most woodgrainers are pretty large in width (because they're usually for large surfaces such as walls or furniture) and the surface of this frame is too small to fully optimize the pattern. So instead, I used a combination of paint comb drag and a toothpick! Yep, a simple tooth pick broken in half, taking the broken side drags paint just as well. I created a smaller eye in the upper right corner with this technique.
  5. Finally, seal one more time with a coat or two of Mod Podge.
Creating the clothespin line:

pearllui-kaisercraftmemoboard02-detail01-blog400

  1. Use two wooden dowel caps. You can also use thread spools or cute knobs. I painted the wooden dowel caps and adhered it to the frame using more Mod Podge. (Love that stuff!) Tip: If you decide to go with another wooden item to hold the ends of your clothesline, use a takeout chopstick and a large glue dot to hold the wooden item in place as you paint it so you don't get paint all over your fingers as you paint around it.
  2. Using a string of baker's twine, long enough to more than double the distance between the clothesline ends, tie a knot and then twist the twine until you get the desired tension and drop, then hang the ends on the "knobs". Tip: With this technique, you can change out the clothesline whenever you want a change! You can use jute, ribbon, embroidery floss... the possibilities are endless!
Other decorative elements:

pearllui-kaisercraftmemoboard02-detail02-blog400

  • Wrap fabric around a thick layer of foam to create the inner area for tacking. Tip: You can also use cork board squares, but I chose to use fabric over foam so that I can also easily slip sheets of paper (in this case, an Instax photo) to the side of the frame because the foam although is thick, has give that corkboard doesn't have.
  • Create button tacks by simply apply flat back buttons to flat top tacks.
  • I wanted the memo board to almost be like mini desk in the middle of my kitchen, so I added a mini "vase" to it. The "vase" is a mini salt shaker from one of my fave stores here in NYC, Fishs Eddy. To keep the clarity of the glass, I adhered it with Mod Podge. Tip: You can also add other "storage" elements to the frame, if you're not a flower person, by adhering a small tin box (to store a small sewing kit or matches) or another mini frame/bunch of mini frames instead (so you can interchange even more photos). How cute would these be running down the side of a memo board?
  • Do the flowers look familiar? They're crepe paper roses from my previous tutorial here.
I have to say I'm totally loving this frame because it's a memo board but it can also be a picture frame! I love functional and versatility! Currently, I'm using it more as a frame.

So what do you think?

pearllui-kaisercraftmemoboard02-blog400

And lastly but certainly not least, I wanted to thank Julie of Julie's Open Window for linking me as one of the 'new blogs you must see'! It's always so exciting to see support and encouragement from the craft community as a rookie blogger like myself!

Until the next post!
- KRAFTY pearl


Thanks for linking:
Get Your Craft On Tuesday
Tip Junkie handmade projects