Dyps faux batik

I absolutely love this method to make cards and cover boxes. It's a lot of fun and the results are amazing.

Supplies:

Watercolor paper
Watercolor paints
Brushes
Tortillion or Eraser
Rubber Cement
Jac Bottle with .05 size tip
Pin that will fit into the Jac tip

Optional: Silk stain

Method.

Step one: use watercolors to paint the background. I like to swirl and blend my colors.

Step two: fill the jac bottle with the rubber cement.

Step three: use the rubber cement to draw henna designs ( or whatever) on the paper. Rubber cement is a harsh chemical only use it in a well ventilated area. Keep it away from children and meth-heads!

Step four: once the design drys use watercolor to paint a solid color over the entire piece of paper. Darker contrasting colors work better. If you would like a very dark shiny surface try silk paints. ( I used silk paints in the pictures below.)

Step 5: once the top coat is dry use the tortillion or eraser to remove the rubber cement.

Step 6: marvel at the amazing art you created then take pictures and show me at www.facebook.com/kchennasupply so I can see and compliment your artistic skill.

:)

Sealing Henna Candles, the EASY way

When I was younger my mother was an avid rubber stamper. She showed me this method and... low and behold, it works beautifully on henna'd candles. 

Supplies:

Candle, decorated with Henna. Make sure the henna is completely dry. 

Wax paper. you want a piece long enough to wrap completely around your candle to create a tuft of paper in back that you can hold on to. 

Heat Gun

Method:

After your henna has completely dried take a long sheet of wax paper and wrap it arround your candle with the extra in the back. You want enough wax paper to create a handle to hold your candle by.

Take the heat gun and heat the candle to met the wax. Tighten the grip on the wax paper to put pressure on the henna, pulling it into the surface of the candle. Use the heat gun like a hair dryer to slowly melt the wax evenly. 

Once your wax is glossy carefully peel back the wax paper. The henna should now be protected under a layer wax. If it is not completely encased re-wrap the wax paper and repeat the heating process. 

A few notes:

Henna with oils and sugar may burn, please heat them carefully.

This method is best for candles with lighter colors of wax, but any candle will work.

You can also use this method to seal beautiful henna designs on paper to candles. 

Explore, play, have fun and make something wonderful today!

~kaci~

www.kchenna.com

 Want to see it in real time? Check out this little video :)

Artists are the Innovators

I see so many new Henna artists posting questions on the henna forums about how to do this craft and what is the right way.

I believe fully that true artists are innovators, not afraid to try something even if the outcome could ruin the piece they tied to create. The fun is not only making something wonderful, it's the journey of experimenting and forging new paths while creating.

Do not be afraid to make a mistake. Do not be afraid to play and have fun!

Several years ago I was asked to write a henna craft book for one of the popular henna publishers. I worked on that book for two years. Relentlessly reading forums and asking questions. Experimenting with recipes, techniques, sealing methods, and surfaces.

As I researched and wrote I noticed several things. I started to dislike crafts, it was no longer fun like it was. People were very angry at my answers to their questions, even though I had done my homework on the subject.

In the end I told the publisher I could not do the book. After all the work I had put into it I realized that a craft book, while cool, would halt my learning process. I decided instead to start this blog so I could write what I had learned and could continue to update as I learned more.

Writing a book would have been for ego. It would not have helped make creators just replicators. ( Not that I have anything against replicators.)

Do not be afraid to push the limits. Do not be afraid to try somethings and invent something new.

Be an artist, be an innovator, be unique. Don't be afraid to fail! Some of the greatest innovations were made from mistakes. Don't be afraid to be a little silly and to have fun!

( One of my favorite henna pieces was done by a dear friend. She henna'd a piece of cheese. Yes, an actual piece of cheese ( Kraft single if I remember correctly.) )

Please never forget that henna is about feeling good, creating beauty, making other people feel good.

with happy thoughts go create something wonderful...

~kaci~

Failed experiment, Henna on Crab-apples. 

Raina's Resist Paste

Raina Lehto from  Zhashki Henna was kind enough to share her recipe for a kickin resist past for Henna!

Raina, I love you, thank you so much for sharing this with us!

Ingrediants:

Flour. I used whole wheat, Raina used bakers, expiriment and see what works.

Lemon juice

Elmers Glue. Raina uses white glue, I used gel glue, both worked.

Method:

Mix some flour and lemon juice into a container until you get a mashed potato consistancy. Add glue until you get a texture you can work with. ( careful to make sure you mix out all the clumps of flour.)

Pour mixure into a cone or jac bottle.

To use:

Apply your design to skin using the resist paste.

Allow to paste to dry completly.

Smear an even coat of Henna over the design area. You do not want too much or too little henna. I applied a glob and smeared and skimmed it over with a spatula. Like doing drywall
, but on skin.

Allow the henna to dry completly, 4-8 hours is best but since the Henna is thick you can do less time and get good results.

Scrape off the henna and resist.

Follow usual aftercare

Tahdah, you have a kickin resist design.

I warn you, this method is really addictive and fun to play with!

Don't forget to head over to Raina's site and show her some love.

http://www.zhashkihenna.com/

:)

Watercolor Cards by the Amazing Mani Crain.

 

Handmade cards are a perfect, personal gift. 

 

Supplies used for this project:

 

*Georgia Pacific white card stock, 110# weight (this paper is lightly coated for ink jet printers, which reduces curling when painted)

*Watercolors and natural hair brushes, one large and one small

*Colored Pencils

*Clear or White wax crayon

*#2 Pencil

*Fine Point, indelible marker, such as a Sharpie

*Scissors

*Gum Eraser

 

-Gather all supplies needed.  Decide what size you want your card to be, then fold and cut the paper to size. 

 

-Sketch your desired design lightly in pencil.  You'll be erasing the pencil lines later, so don't press too hard.  

 

-Using colored pencils, color in all the detailed areas of your drawing.  You could also use indelible colored markers for this part, but 

I prefer the blending and shading options I have with colored pencils. 

 

-Once you have colored in all the desired areas, outline your drawing with a fine point black marker, such as Sharpie.  Make sure that

your marker will not bleed when it gets wet (indelible).  

 

-Erase your pencil lines.  A gum eraser works well for this because it doesn't leave an oily residue to interfere with the paint.  

 

-Using the crayon, color over all areas of the drawing that you don't want paint to adhere to.  You can thoroughly cover all of the colored

areas, then wash color over the entire card or just outline the picture and fill in around the edges of the design with the small brush, without painting over the drawing.

 

-For this bit, you'll want to work kind of quickly.  Using your large brush, lightly cover paper with water, just enough to dampen the pare, not so much that there is standing water.  This helps you move the paint over the background.  As soon as you have done this, pick up the desired color of paint with your brush and begin swirling it onto the paper until the entire background is covered.  Once it had dried a bit, you can go back in and add more color to certain areas, so you get varied saturation.  This will give your background depth.  Be very careful not to over-saturate or over-work any particular area, as this can cause the paper to pill, bleed through, and/or tear.

 

-Once your card is completely dry it can be embellished with glitter, gilding, ribbon, or any other fun little accent.  I've had great success finely outlining bits with white school glue then sprinkling on micro-fine glitter.  Just enough to embellish, not so much that it overpowers the art.  Or you can leave it as it is, add a little personal message to the inside, and it is ready for the mailbox!

 

The options for doing these cards are practically limitless.  Play around, experiment with different mediums,  and have fun!

Week II of organizing with Michelle

Week II:

Without bogging down in psycho babble there are three basic organizing styles; those whom are ‘visual’ (like to see everything at a glance), those whom I call’ minimal’ (a place for everything and those places are not apparent, and of course those whom are a blend of the first two.
Interestingly enough, most everyone is a blend to one degree or another.

Let me give you examples of each ‘style’:

Visual:
This person is a quilter; who completes one project at a time.
In pulling together the next quilt they need to pick the fabrics for it.
This person’s fabrics are color coded and stored on shelves in a tall bookcase for easy visual selection.
Same goes for the thread, wall mounted racks, color coded.
All tools of the trade are hung on pegboards for easy access.
Completed quilts are on a constantly changing display.
Completed quilt patterns are framed and hung on the wall along with a snap shot of the project.

Minimal:
This person is a scrapbook enthusiast.
They are not perfect as they have multiple projects going at any one time.
In keeping up with each project, this person keeps them in individual two gallon Hefty zip-lock bags labeled and hung on skirt hangars.
The projects are stored in the closet behind a closed door.
Like-wise are all the assorted supplies necessary to creating a scrapbook.
All surfaces in this space are clear of anything unnecessary; leaving only a task lamp, large monitor, and key board.

Blend:
This person has many interests and multiple projects in different mediums.
They are also not perfect and individual projects can sit idle for long periods of time.
Projects are kept in a variety of storage mediums.  Fabric projects are stored in plastic bins w/lids, each in its own pillowcase.  Knitting and crocheting are stored in various sizes of zip-lock bags, also in bins.  The bins labeled and are stored in a closet
Related notions, needles, and or hooks are stored out of sight in individual containers in separate drawers.
These are examples of ‘minimal’ organizing.
For the visual, this person utilizes a very large project board to keep track of the current projects.  Colored pencils sit out in clear vases.  The inventory of fabric has been reduced to swatch cards (3x5 cards) with a swatch of fabric a-fixed and its fiber content, and available yardage noted, all held together on a large binder ring.  This is hung off the project board.
Patterns are filed by type in clear boxes on a bookshelf.  Likewise all reference books are shelved in the open.

OK to recap, here are the three major types; it is very simple to identify the rudimentary systems for each: 

Visual – needs to see what they have, seem to operate in clutter.
Minimal – wants everything put away, clean surfaces.
Blend – obviously are a combination of both of the above.

We have reached the point where you have a decision to make;
clean the room to the point where it is easy to navigate or,
Organize in the middle of the mess.

My advice is to clean to where the room is easy to get around in and make choose on area/item to deal with at a time.
Some equipment/system(s) is/are universal to all three types and any kind of organization project. This is information is all available in books, on-line, and has been on television for many years...
You need receptacles; at least three:  keep, toss, and donate.  In the decision process for “keeping/tossing/donating” time limits are always necessary (as in, if you haven’t used an item in a month, six months, a year, etc.) to move the process along; give yourself one and stick to it.  Don’t forget lots of trash bags!  The deal here is to organize and organizing universally involves purging. 

OK, pick a spot (for this part I am going with the room theme) as the example. 
If you are:

Visual
You need to decide what type of display and storage you have, what you might be able to get rid of, and/or what you may need to add.
Start with what you use the most and make sure it gets the best storage “real estate”.
Working from there, sort through each area and items by group and lose what you have not used according to your pre-set time limit.

Minimal
You need to decide how much storage you can live with and perhaps without.
To accomplish this you need to reduce your on-hand supplies by eliminating what you have not used in your pre-determined amount of time. (Catching on to the theme here?)
Next, make sure you really need the all storage you have.

Blend
To add storage or eliminate, this is a question you cannot answer until you complete the whole sorting process.
Take the time to decide if the items you have out already are what you want to keep out, if not, sort, eliminate and decide where you will store these items.
Next, repeat the process for all items in your space.
Keep in mind that those who are considered a “Blend” do so in different degrees (50/50, 60/40) and the ratio changes from time to time. 

Gathering your weapons

Some of this was covered in the “keep/toss/donate” above.  Obviously, you will find having a vacuum or broom and dustpan at hand very helpful.  Dust cloths, trash bags and any cleaning items for your particular area.  Many of you have small children and we all have busy, busy lives, try dealing with only one area/item at a time and work at it until it is completed.  In sticking to this plan you are tackling your area one manageable step at a time and not creating more chaos.  Be kind to yourself, if it takes you hours or days to complete one area/item so be it.  You are working toward cleaning and organizing for yourself so won’t have to tackle the same thing six months down the road.  Change takes time.

Home storage solutions blog (http://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com) is currently doing a 52- week challenge for the whole house starting with the kitchen.  She has done an excellent job in breaking down tasks and giving advice on how to deal with it. (No; I am not being compensated for plugging the blog(s))  
*Home Sanctuary is another blog to check out, she is guiding you toward creating a whole house cleaning system that is unique to you!
http://www.homesanctuary.com/rachelanne/2012/01/household-organization-setting-up-a-system-that-works.html

Good luck this week, if you get stuck let me know!

Michelle

3d Sugar Skull Ornaments

Our humble tree

I Love this time of year!

The Christmas trees, the scent of pine, the sales at Goodwill.

The usually kind composed people turning into sale hungry

vicious " run you over and steal your Elmo doll" zombies.... ok, maybe not THAT part. ( OK, I do like to sit back and watch grannies turn into blue haired football quarterbacks and beat the hell

out of people. It

is just human nature, and cheaper since we can no longer afford Netflix! Just saying.)

My favorite part of this season is the crafting. It is the perfect excuse to MAKE SOMETHING!

This week I am going to show you a super simple ornament craft for your tree... or car... or, well, use your imagination! (Don't like skulls? The internet has a ton of free 3d templates to make ornaments. Same steps, different shape!)

3d Triangle Ornaments

The first step to this amazing ornament is to go visit " Skull a day" and download the free skull template.

You can cut and glue the template to a piece of card stock OR, just trace the pattern since you do no not need the printed skull.

This is arts and crafts, make modifications to your hearts content. I did not do the jaws, but you certainly can, you CAN do anything!

2. Construct your skull.

Glue is wonderful, so is double sided tape.

3. Decorate to your heart's content! Use henna, gems, markers. ( This is a great family craft everyone can help with!)

4. ( Optional) Want to protect your piece? Give it a coat of Modge Podge, then a spray coat of clear sealant.

Throw them on the tree and enjoy a craft well done.

See how easy that was?

Try it and link us to your pictures.

(Next week I will show you an even simpler skull.)

3d skully and next weeks simple skull.