Monday Motivational 3/7

Welcome to our Monday Motivational at Betty Bees Buzz!!


Today I will be showing you how to do Spirelli or 'string art'.

For some of you this may be a new technique and for some, just a reminder of a technique we sometimes forget to use. This is such an easy technique allowing you to make various designs to work with your project.

The first thing you need is your template. This can be cut with any cutting machine, manual or electric. What also works well too are Nestibilities. Don't forget to do a search online for free templates.

For my sample I used a pattern from one of my Nestibilities.

Tape the end of your string to the back of the template. I keep the string on the spool since I have no idea how much I will need.

As you can see from the photo, you start by bringing the string to the front and depending on your design, bring it down and then under the cardstock to your point B. Bring it up so you start again at the next groove to the starting point. Bring that down to your new 'B' and go under and keep going. You will notice the string crosses over.

When I do my design, I keep going until there 'diamond' shapes for each groove. This also helps me keep track should I get distracted.

Depending where you bring your part A to meet part B will determine how much space you have in the middle. By bringing the string from A to B close, you will have more space in the middle to add whatever you would like.

Here is a different edged shape.

Here are two cards I made using a cut from my Lacy Labels cartridge. By changing the size on my Design Studio, I was able to get an oval shape.

The center for this one was just big enough to fit the flowers in. The center was done using my I-Top!

Using the original shape, a circle, I designed this to have a larger opening.

I would like for you to notice that I cut little slits on this template to hold the string. This allowed me to used this super cool cut and not have my string move on me.

I sure hope my instructions were easy enough to follow and please, if you have any questions let me know. I would love to see your 'spirelli' on our Wednesday HoneyBee Showcase!!

Photo on a candle

This is a project/tutorial I did for Betty Bees Buzz

For some of you, this technique is not new, but I'm hoping it will remind you how easy this is and what a great gift this would make for any occasion.


Some of you live in parts of the country that when you look at the landscape around you, you see the beautiful colors of reds, golds greens and browns that God has painted. Here in Central Florida, my palms are still green and my summer flowers are still blooming. While driving around, I will see a cluster of trees with shades of yellow and gold, but to get the true fall color palette I must create it myself.

For my project you will need:
Wax Paper
Scissors
Candle
Hair Dryer or Embossing Heat Gun
Rubber bands
photo

When you find the photo you would like to use on your candle, print it using regular white ink jet paper. Trim off excess paper around your photo.

Take your photo and place it where you would like it to be on your candle. Then, take the wax paper and wrap around the candle on top of the photo. Secure the wax paper with a rubber band on top and one towards the bottom. The wax from the paper will melt to infuse your photo to your candle.

With your heat gun (or blow dryer on high), slowly and evenly go over your photo. Keep your tool about 2 inches away and don't stay in one place too long. As the wax melts, you will see your photo get darker (shinier) letting you know that area is done. When you remove the wax paper and you see an area that is not infused, just put a piece of wax paper over it and heat until set.

When I did my candle, I did melt a small section near the tip of the photo. I was not concerned because I knew my embellishments would cover it. For those that know me, they know my saying is 'there are no mistakes'.lol..

You are now ready to add ribbon, flowers or whatever you would like to give your candle that one of a kind look.

I apologize for not having photos showing the steps. After I did my project, it wasn't until bed time that I realized I had forgotten to do something. If you have any questions, please ask and I will be more than happy to help you make a project you will love sharing.

Hear is my finished candle ready to display on my dining room table.