Video Tutorial: Vintage Dress Canvas (Step by Step)

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Gabrielle Pollacco

I always love watching those mixed media video’s where you can watch the process. I find them fun, inspiring and informative. I love to see the little steps it takes to put a project together. So today I thought I would share a video tutorial with you all in how I made the above, Vintage Dress canvas using the beautiful papers from the Ska vi ta en Fika? collection.

Grab yourself a nice cup of coffee (keep the pot nearby, this is a fairly long one), maybe a little pastry in keeping with the theme of the paper collection, an enjoy!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and hope that you’ll feel inspired to try a canvas using these pretty papers. Here are a few close-ups of the canvas that you can leisurely view, as well as a supplies list of products used.

Supplies: Patterned Paper: Maja Design ‘Ska vi ta en Fika? (Blommer pa Bordet, Soders Hojder-bs, En Kopp te, Sockerkaka-bs), Chipboard: Dusty Attic Designs (Ornate Corner Flourish, Chicken Wire Panel, Monarch Butterflies), Rub-on: Daisy D’s, Stamp: Autumn Leaves, Other: Kitchen twine, bulk roses, seed beads, acrylic paint, lace, pearl strand, brown chalk ink (Ranger), brown pen, 8×10 canvas.

Thanks for taking the time to view my video! xo

Creating with Ska Vi Ta En Fika?

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Nancy Hanttula

Well, today marks my very last post as this month’s Guest Creative Team designer! I have had the time of my life creating and sharing here at the Maja Design blog…so a HUGE thanks to both Jenny (for asking me) and Marie (for allowing me to create with HER amazing papers)!!!

Today, I am going to share 3 projects that I created using the beautiful Ska Vi Ta En Fika? paper collection: 2 mixed-media projects and 1 layout. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy.

I am pretty sure that everyone who has ever seen, or had the pleasure to create with the Ska Vi Ta En Fika? paper collection, knows just how truly exceptional these papers are! And if you haven’t….. They are gorgeous, and you really need to get some! But with that said, ALL of the Maja Design papers I have had the pleasure to work with are truly exceptional. The papers are heavy-weight, so they stand up to a lot of creative play with distressing, water, paint, etc. and are beautifully designed and coordinated. I LOVE how well the beautiful prints compliment each other.

The first project I would like to share is a (3) canvas mixed media piece: Sweet Little Cupcake This project consists of 3 small (4 x 4) deep edge canvases. I love the dimension of deep edge canvases. I painted the edges of each canvas before choosing my background papers. After choosing my background papers, I then decoupaged them down onto the canvases and then added stamping to create background texture and interest. The next step was to figure out which patterned papers I wanted to use for my cupcake bases. Once I decided on my papers, I cut out the bases and used them as templates. Using a pencil, I sketched the tops onto different patterned papers. Then, I cut out the tops of the cupcakes, and sketched some designs on them, so that I could add some hand-stitched details. I pierced holes out along the sketched out designs, so that I could add the stitching. TIP: If you do not have a paper piercer, a thumb tack works well for this step, and if you do not have a piercing mat (mine is made from cork) I have used a cardboard pizza box before. Once I had created all of my cupcakes, added the finishing touches, added a few more textural stamping, I then fan-folded the cupcake bases and inked the edges. I used hot glue to adhere the cupcakes and the button toppers onto the canvas. I like the way the hot-glue adheres the paper to the canvases and gives the cupcakes just the right amount of dimension. Here is one more up-close photo of some of the hand-stitched detailing I added to one of the cupcakes: Ska Vi Ta En Fika? papers used for this project included: En kopp te; Cheesecake; Blommor pa bordet; Bjornbarskakor; Tva froknar; Kladdkaka; Chokladmuffins; Chaite; Soders hojder; & Hemma hos mig. Other ingredients included: 3- 4 x 4 canvases; misc. buttons from my stash; Hampton Arts small alphabet wood stamps; CTMH & Staz-On inks; hole punch; Misc. stamps from CTMH and Stampabilities; embroidery floss; acrylic paint; and paper piercer and cork piercing mat from Timeless Touches.

My next project is a 12 x 12 layout of my sweet baby girl. I used a Martha Stewart leaf punch here….punched out the leaf, inked the edges, and curled them slightly, and then, framed my baby girl’s photo with the leaves. I also made the flower near the bottom right hand side using 2 of my punches. I used my flower petal embossing punch from Marvy Uchida (see below)- punched it out 6 times, curled and inked the edges, and then layered them together, gluing them down with hot glue. I then used my McGill Starburst punch – punched it out 3 times, curled and rolled the points, & layered and glued them together with hot glue - then added the starburst to the center of the flower. These punches make it super easy to create and make your own flower embellishments AND out of whatever paper you like. Ska vi ta en Fika? papers used for this layout included: Karleksmums; En kopp te; Blommor pa bordet; Cheesecake; Lejas Café; Maudekaka; Hemgjord saft; Hemma hos mig; Pratstund; Tva froknar. Other supplies used here included: Martha Stewart leaf, lace border, & deep edge flower border punches; EK Success apron strings border punch; McGill starburst punch; Marvy Uchida embossed flower punch; Prima & Petaloo flowers; Prima flower vine; flourish stamp; Ink from CTMH; Hampton Art small alphabet wood stamp set; embroider thread; & Prima bling.

For my final project, I would like to share another 3 canvas panel mixed-media project.

I created this project using 3 – 5 x 5 canvas pieces

I painted the canvas edges before decoupaging paper onto them.

I cut 3 different damask images using my Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge. I cut the different layers out of different patterned papers, and then glued them down with decoupage.

Above, I tested out the damask patterns against the background papers before adding stamping and paint. Once I was satisfied with the patterns of my designs, I added textural background stamping, some inking, acrylic paint…and then glued down the damask images onto the canvases.

I added some clear dimensional “Liquid Glass” from CTMH to certain points in my designs, for some added dimension.

After adding all the little extra detailing with stamps and paints and Liquid Glass, I glued everything down to the canvases and voila….I considered the pieces down.

Ska Vi Ta En Fika? papers used for this project included: Leja’s Cafe (front and back); Favoriter; Soders hojder; Sockerkaka; Mandelkaka; hemgjord saft; Marzipanbakelse; Smulpaj m applen; Blabarssylt. Other supplies used here included: 3 – 5 x 5 canvases; CTMH Liquid Glass; Cricut cartridge, Cindy Loo; acrylic paint; INK: CTMH, Staz-On; Misc. stamps: Tim Holtz, Stampabilities, & CTMH.

Thank you Maja Design fans!!! I have so enjoyed sharing my personal style with you! and I hope that something here has inspired you to create something today!

Sail Away, Sail Away, Sail Away……..Life by the Sea

Posted on February 16, 2013 by Nancy Hanttula

Hello Maja Design fans! Nancy Hanttula here again to share my 3rd installment for this month’s Guest Creative Team contribution. This week I am going to share the projects that I created with the amazing Life by the Sea paper collection.

I knew the moment that I saw this collection, that I needed to scrap a photo of my son, Saylor (my grandfather’s middle name.) I have always decorated his room in a nautical theme, including his nursery, and now, he even has a boat bed!

I absolutely love this photo of him when he was around 6 months old, and I think these papers were absolutely perfect to showcase it.

I did some hand-sewing on this layout…. around the edges, inside the paper buttons, and the star in the lower right corner of the photo.

Above, I created these “paper” buttons with my Martha Stewart embossing button punch. This punch allows you to make any paper into a button!

Above and below, you can see the little hidden journaling card that I created for the layout.

Life by the Sea papers used for this layout included: Drop the anchor, Landmark, the West Coast, Regatta, Bottle Message, the East Coast, Seaside Cottage, Life jacket, & Nautic. other supplies used here included: stamps from Tim Holtz and CTMH; Martha Stewart embossing button punch, embroidery floss, star stitching template from Timeless Touches, mini star punch, Cricut cartridges Elegant Edges and Graphically Speaking (title)

The next project that I would like to share is a 12 x 12 canvas, mixed media piece, that I created to hang in my son’s room.

The first step in this project was to choose the papers I wanted for the background.

After choosing the background papers, I took them off, painted the edges of the canvas, and then decoupaged the background papers into place.

I used the Pirates and Mermaid Cricut cartridge to cut out my pirate ship in layers. I then decoupaged them down.

It is important that while you are decoupaging each layer down, you let each layer thoroughly dry in between layers.

Once I had created my ship, I started creating the waves. I tore several different widths of parchment paper. The awesome quality about parchment paper is how much it bends and curls when water and paint are added.

Here, I have adhered the different torn strips of parchment paper to my canvas…adding some white paint to the “crests” of the waves.

After that, I added some darker ink to shade and enhance the dimension of the waves.

At this point, I added some background stamping, some banners at the top, some red inking to compliment the blues and nautical theme, and voila, I considered this piece finished.

the quote on this canvas reads, “a smooth sea never made a skillful sailor”

The Life by the Sea papers I used for this project included: the West Coast, Navigate, Landmark, Nautic, Sailing, Bottle Message, the East Coast, & Optimist Dinghy, other supplies used include: 12 x 12 canvas, Decoupage, Stencils from TCW/Dylusions, stamps from CTMH, Tim Holtz, Stampabilites, and Hampton Arts, Cricut cartridge Pirates and Mermaids, parchment paper (waves), Ink from CTMH and Staz-On, acrylic paint

TFL my friends!!! I hope something here has inspired you to create something today!!!

Be sure and check back next Saturday, as I have a whole lot to share on my last Saturday posting!!! or better yet, sign up to receive the Maja Design daily blog posting directly to your inbox!!!!

Until next Saturday, keep creating!

Nancy-sign

Experimenting with “Vintage Winter”

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Nancy Hanttula

Hello Maja Design fans!! Nancy Hanttula here once again to share week #2 of my creations using the gorgeous Maja Design papers. This week I am spotlighting the projects I created using the Vintage Winter collection. My first project is a multi-canvas mixed media project. I was so inspired by the blues and reds in this collection (one of my very favorite color combinations), and being that we are so close to Valentine’s Day, I decided to create a Valentine’s inspired project. Here is a photo of all of the mini-canvases together (each canvas is 5 x 5): and now here they are individually (in no specific order): I used a lot of acrylic paint and stamping on the backgrounds….as well as a few rub-ons here and there from my stash. I also used some felt hearts and some dimensional fabric paint to add extra texture. On the above canvas, I added some jute twine to emphasis the word LOVE in the series.

The little chipboard bird piece is from Michael’s craft store.

After I show the individual panels, I will show you the basics on how I created this project.

I think this project has a real grunge-art, as well as a folk art, quality….my 5 year old daughter calls it “messy art.” Personally, I think that’s the best kind.

and for the final panel (although I am thinking about making another panel for this project…mainly because I think it would be more aesthetically pleasing to have 3 rows of 3 across in more of a square shape hanging on the wall)

So here are some “before” photos:

The first thing I always do when working with canvas is to paint the sides…I think this is super important to have a “finished” looking piece.

After the paint has dried, I then go in with stamps to add extra interest and texture.

Fast-forwarding a few steps…I have decoupaged the background paper (all from Vintage Winter collection) onto the canvases. Then I applied paint with a palette knife, instead of a brush or my often-used fingers, along the edges of the canvas

After applying the paint…I did some masking and stenciling. The next step is cutting out and applying the hearts. I also outlined/framed each panel with white paint.

Next comes the fun part, adding dimensional paint, rub-ons, small embellishments, and my words. The words are simply stamped using tiny individual wood alphabet stamps onto another piece of patterned paper…..then cut out, edges inked, and adhered. I will note that I applied the hearts and words using hot glue…I like to do this because it gives it just the right amount of dimension off of the canvas.

And there you have it. My style of mixed media is very “freeing” – there is not a right or wrong way of doing it, and I encourage everyone to give it a try!

The “Vintage Winter” papers I used in this project are as follows: Winter Wonderland, Fun in the Snow, Lovely Winter day, Enjoy the Cool, Winter Joy, It’s Chilly Outside, It’s Snowing, Crispy Air, Season’s Greetings, Christmas is Coming, & Christmas Cards.

Other ingredients included: (8) 5x 5 canvas panels, acrylic paint, jute twine, Hampton art small alphabet stamps, black pilot pen, misc stamps from CTMH/Tim Holtz; Polymark Dimensional paint, Misc stencils including The Crafter’s Workshop; Felt hearts from Hobby Lobby, metal key and chipboard bird from Michaels, misc. rub-ons from my stash, and ink from Staz-On, CTMH, and Colorbox; Cricut cartridge “Lovestruck”

And for my next and last project using this collection, I did what I consider to be a traditional layout.

This is my son when he was almost 2 years old. I loved this costume.

I hand-stitched the flourishes using white embroidery floss. I LOVE sewing on my pages. There is something very therapeutic about hand-sewing, much like creating in the first place.

I also cut these snowflakes out with my Cricut – using my Cindy Loo cartridge.

I added some faux-stitching to the snowflakes using a pen….and accented the tips of the snowflakes with some frosty-colored bling from Martha Stewart.

The “Vingate Winter” papers used in this layout include: Snowmen, Winter Joy, Enjoy the Cool, Season’s Greetings, I’m Staying Inside, Winter Wonderland, & Winternight

other supplies used here include: Martha Stewart bling, Hampton Art small alphabet stamps, Colorbox/CTMH/Staz-On inks, embroidery floss, and Cricut Cartridge Cindy Loo.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest endeavors. I hope you join me next Saturday when I get to share my next round of creations. But before then, be sure and stop by the Maja Design blog daily…the talent here is absolutely AMAZING!!! or better yet, be sure and sign up to receive their latest blog posts right into your inbox!

Until next time, I hope you create something amazing today!

Sommartider … Let the Creating Begin

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Nancy Hanttula

Hello Maja Design Fans! Nancy Hanttula here for my very first posting for this month’ s Guest Creative Team contribution. I am so excited to finally get to share the creations I have made using Maja Design papers. I am starting out with the Sommartider collection. So, sit back, and relax, and get ready! I have a lot to share…… Maja Designs Mixed Media

Here is my first project, a mixed media piece. Here are some photos of how I created this piece:

I started with a basic 12 x 12 canvas. I painted the background as well as the sides of the canvas with acrylic paint. Using stencils, masks, stamps and ink, I created the basic background texture.

I tore different squares of paper all different patterns from the Sommartider collection and using decoupage adhered them to the canvas. I then added more stencilling, masking, stamping to the background.

I then tore and rolled pieces of paper. I secured them together by adhering the rolls closed with hot glue, and then I adhered them to the background with hot glue. This is how I created the dimension of my sun.

I hand-stitched a border around my little “gray” cloud and around my sun rays.

I then created my title using some alphabet stencils.

After finishing the title…I did some hand-doodling, added a bit of acrylic paint & stamping here and there for added interest, and voila, I considered the piece done.

Supplies used here included almost the entire Sommartider collection but specifically: Lata dagar, Sol o bad, Lunch idet grona, Klarbla himmel, Kvallsdopp, Badshorts, Citronsorbet, Iskall saft, Hallonsorbet, Bikini, Strandklanning, Strandmode, Badlakan,Varma kvallar, Blomsterprakt, & Massor av glass. Other supplies included: 12 x12 canvas, Tim Holtz – CTMH – other misc. stamps, hot glue, Decoupage, Poster Stencil, Black Pen, The Crafter’s Workshop – Prima – other stencils.

My next project is another 12 x 12 canvas mixed-media piece:

Using another 12 x 12 canvas….I first painted the sides, chose the papers I wanted for the background, and using acrylic paint, stamps, and stencils created interest to my background.

After I chose the papers I wanted to use, I decoupaged them down to the canvas.

Although I used the Sommartider collection for the majority of this piece, I did use one piece of the exquisite ska vi ta en FIKA collection because I just felt that I needed a bit darker color for my branches. I sketched out my branches….and then used my X-acto knife to cut them out.

I then used my XL and Large Paper Shaper Retro flower punches to add some flowers, and free-handedly cut out some green leaves.

Once I got the basic design down, I then decoupaged everything onto my background.

After adhering the flowers and leaves down (and after the canvas had thoroughly dried), I went back in adding extra stamping, outlining, and hand-doodling.

I hand-drew my bird onto the back of the paper and then cut it out with my X-acto knife.

After cutting out my bird, I also adhered it down to the canvas with some decoupage. (Note: Decoupage comes in different brands…such as Mod Podge, and “Decoupage” … you can even find recipes for making it yourself on Pinterest.)

After my bird was dry…I added a butterfly for my bird’s wings…I adhered it with hot glue. (FYI: Hot glue is my adhesive of choice for heavy embellishments. Just know, hot glue can be a bit tricky and you need to be sure where you are going to glue it down because once it is down, you will tear something if you try to get it up.)

So after I have everything good and glued down, I go back and add some finishing touches of acrylic paint, outlining, doodling, and stamping. Once I am satisfied with the result, I am done.

And because I’m kind of a “fancy” Nancy, I had to add some fun pom-pom trim to the sides. (adhered with hot glue)

“ingredients” used for this piece included: Sommartider collection, specifically: Blommor i sitt har, Iskall saft, Hallonsorbet, Bikini, Lunch idet grona, Sol o bad & ska vi ta en Fika paper: vaffla m bjornbarssylt. Other supplies used here: misc rub-ons, XL and Large Retro flower punch from Paper Shapers, butterfly from Michaels store, black Pilot pen, white Sharpie, pink pom-pom ball trim from Michaels, Decoupage, various acrylic paint, sketch pencil, X-Acto knife, misc stamps from CTMH-Tim Holtz-misc., Staz-On Ink, and various stencils including some from The Crafter’s Workshop.

And now for my 3rd project using the amazing Sommartider paper collection (can you tell I LOVE this collection?):

Gosh, I love this photo of my precious baby girl (look at those baby fat rolls on her arms, don’t you just want to squeeze her?)…she’s not really a baby any more as she is now in Kindergarten. Life really moves so fast. That is really why scrapbooking our memories is so very important. Don’t you think?

I made the “quilted” flower on this page and here is a photo tutorial on the basic construct of it:

I traced one of my large paper flowers (stashed away in my collection) and cut it out on 2 different patterned papers.

I then drew some inside petals to one of the flowers (on the back of the paper.)

I then cut out the insides and pierced some holes to stitch around the borders.

After that, I took the other flower and backed the stitched flower…stitching them together at the very end of the petals to keep them lined up. I then layered the inside with some flowers from stash and voila…my “quilted” paper flower.

I also tried out the BRILLIANT tutorial that Gabrielle shared here at the Maja Design blog (Gabi you ROCK!) for making paper ruffles. I changed it up just a bit by first using a Martha Stewart border punch.

I don’t think I was quite as successful as the ever-talented Gabrielle (gosh, her paper ruffles were GORGEOUS) but I sure did try…and over-all, I am very happy with the effect (and definitely plan on trying it out again).

Ingredients for this layout include the following Sommartider papers: Sommarens bild, Blommor i sitt har, Hallonsorbet, Blomster prakt, Lunch idet grona, Bikini, and other supplies include: Martha Stewart border punch, Cricut Ornament Iron 2 cartridge -frame cut at 11 inches, Thicker alpha stickers, Martha Stewart crepe paper flower, Prima & Petaloo flowers, brads from Spare Parts, butterfly from Reneabouquets, buttons, ribbon, embroidery thread from my stash, & felt hearts from Hobby Lobby.

and NOW for my very last project I created with this AMAZING paper collection, Sommartider, my FAVORITE project of all: But, before I show you the finished project, I want to step you through it….just know, I absolutely LOVE how it turned out…and it was a true experiment through the whole process:

I bought this multi-paneled lamp-shade at Walmart for about $12.

I then took some tracing paper and traced out the dimensions of one of the panels.

Using this traced out “pattern” – I cut out paper panels for each panel in the lampshade and adhered them using Decoupage (this was the experiment part, as I wasn’t sure the paper would actually adhere.) But I was sooo pleasantly surprised to find that the paper adhered beautifully. (NOTE: spray mist the paper with water before decoupaging onto the lamp shade’s fabric surface – this aids in the paper actually bending to the contours of the bend in the lampshade.)

After the panels dried, I added trim from my stash to all the borders using hot glue. I just love the whimsical feel to this finished lampshade! AND I was happy to use some of my HUGE ribbon stash.

“ingredients” for this project include: Sommartider paper collection- Klarbla himmel, Blomsterprakt, hallonsorbet, Standklanning, Lunch idet grona, & Badshorts; Lampshade from Walmart, Decoupage, various ribbons and trim from stash, hot glue, Rose trim from Webster’s Pages, a few buttons from my stash and a dash of Prima flowers.

I sure hope that something here has inspired you to get crafty today! And a great big THANKS for looking!

Mood board January

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Jenny Grotherus

The Christmas carols are starting to fade away and the New Year’s resolutions are here to stay.

Winter has arrived in Uddevalla, Sweden. I’m sitting in my office at Maja Design with a snowstorm playing around outside my window. The flurries are dancing in the air before slowly falling to the ground. Our beautiful winter landscape inspired me to make our first challenge influenced by this cold season.

We have finally come to the moment where I am going to present our Maja Design challenge concept, this time filled with the light colours of winter…

I’m very proud to present our first mood board… January

Definition mood board - n

a board used by designers on which samples of various colours and textures are mounted to help in deciding which elements complement each other

We will be using mood boards for our challenges. We truely believe in creativity and art at Maja Design. You are free to interpret the mood boards in any way you’d like. They are supposed to set you in an inspirational mood without too much controlling. We would like you to be inspired by the poems, words and photos. They are not given rules, they are just there as inspiration.

The January mood board has been inspired by the Vintage Winter collection, but you can use any Maja Design collection you like as long as you follow the colour scheme.

Here’s some information of how this is going to work…
The mood boards will be presented the first Tuesday every month. We will be presenting all participating creations that fulfill the requirements below January 29th. We will also draw a winner who will be winning a Maja Design collection of their own choice in 6×6 or 12×12.

After your creation is done, take a photo and send it to moodboard@majadesign.nu without any watermarks (size 600×600). Include your full address in the e-mail and what collection you would like if you win. Don’t forget to write down if you would like 6×6 or 12×12. We need your creation January 27th at the latest.

Here is some inspiration that our lovely Creative Team has created for us. AndreaEwen Andrea Ewen camillaekman