≡ Menu
Video sharing how a hardware store switch plate can become a vintage inspired frame or shrine for this week's Let's Play link party with Carolyn Dube Let's Play, a link party where you can be inspired and be inspiring!

How am I helping myself play this month?  I’m finding art supplies at the hardware store!  These items weren’t intended to be art supplies by the manufacturer but that doesn’t matter one bit!

How does finding supplies there help me play?  I can get an unlimited supply, the items are usually quite cheap, and there isn’t a “proper” or “right” way to use them for art since they weren’t designed for that!

Each Tuesday this month I’ll share a new video tutorial with a different item from the hardware store and I’m looking forward to seeing what you share in the weekly link party. Since this is all about play, there aren’t a lot of rules so you can share any of your play- whether it is on the theme or not!

What about the monthly giveaway?  It’s a $50 gift certificate to WalMart.com- why there?  Because it was the closest thing to a hardware store that I thought would be near as many people as possible! You can find last month’s winner here.

This vintage frame all started with a light switch cover from the hardware store! Full video showing how for this week's Let's Play link party with Carolyn DubeThe vintage inspired frame in this video is a light switch plate.  It reminded me of old windows so I bought one.  After filming the video, I went back and got a couple more!

This won’t surprise you but how it turned out is not what I planned.  Yes, there was an OOPS, an Outstanding Opportunity Presenting Suddenly that changed the direction of where I was going with this!  Yup, I left it in the video!

Watch How to make a vintage frame out of a hardware store find on YouTube.

Supplies Used: Switch Plate(it was cheaper in the store than online), DecoArt Black paint, fineliner (and here is video with more details about using and filling a fineliner)


Let's Play March all about finding your art supplies at the hardwares store plus a weekly link party!This month’s giveaway is a $50 gift certificate to Walmart.com
because you can find all sorts of non art supplies there that work wonderfully for art play!  Link up what you’re creating (and you get a bonus entry into the giveaway for sharing your play) or leave a comment telling something that you liked about one of the photos shared. One comment per person.  Giveaway closes Monday, April 4th at 8am EST.

New to Let’s Play?  You can find out all about it, what you can share(and it is almost anything- it doesn’t have to follow the monthly theme), why your play (yes YOURs!) helps others to play, plus other info here.

[inlinkz_linkup id=610961 mode=1]

Link up etiquette  

  • If you see something you like, leave a comment on their photo or blog post and show some love – let them know they inspired you! 
  • Share your recent play (any form of creativity is welcome) that hasn’t been linked up to a Let’s Play before ( limit 3 per week please)
  • Add a link back to to this post so that others can find it, be sparked, and join the fun!
  • New link party begins each Tuesday..sometimes even late Monday night… 
  • Enter the giveaway for the $50 gift certificate by linking up (and you get a bonus chance for sharing your fun) or by leaving a comment telling something you liked about one of the photos shared in the link party. One comment per person on this week’s blog post.  The winner will be announced on the first Tuesday of the following month. You can find all the details about Let’s Play here.

You can upload a photo or use a URL or Instagram.  Not sure how to find a URL or link up? Check out this page of Let’s Play FAQs.

Want to put the button your blog? Just copy all of the the code from under the button.

Let's Play!
{ 25 comments }
February Let's Play wrap up and winner announced!

Each month for Let’s Play, there is a $50 gift certificate given away and February’s was to Amazon.com.  I am so grateful for random.org because I couldn’t even begin to pick a winner- so many wonderful people playing!

Who did random.org pick?  Janet Joehlin!  Congratulations Janet and keep an eye out for my email with the details!

February’s theme was to use a neglected supply and I certainly had plenty of those!  In my next blog post, I’ll announce the March theme.  If you’d like the inside track and find out the theme early…sign up for my newsletter and you’ll hear it first there!

Video showing how to use a stencil to make word pebbles with Gelli printed® papers for the Let's Play link party

 

 

Making word pebbles with neglected floral marbles

 

 

Video tutorial using playcolor paint sticks with rubber stamps to make an art journal background for this week's Let's Play link party!

 

Using old shadow/mirror stamps and sticks of tempera paint

 

 

How to make textured and patterned Gelli prints® with cheap lace video for the week's Let's Play link party!

 

 

 

Using old stiff lace on the Gelli Plate®

 

How to use Tim Holtz tissue wrap, a rubber stamp with paint, and stencils in an art journal for this week's Let's Play video!

 

Using tissue wrap in an art journal

 

Let’s Play is all about how to let yourself play.  I’m sharing what I’ve learned on my personal journey of rediscovering play every Tuesday with a new video.

There’s a theme that I explore each month, but this is play and there aren’t a lot of rules to play so when you share what you’ve made in the weekly link party it can be any play!  And sharing gets you an extra chance to win the monthly gift certificate!

 

{ 4 comments }
Video sharing how to store small stencils and masks so that you can easily find what you need!

The small stencils and masks are fun to play with but storing them has been a challenge for me, until now!  I could hang them all up on little hooks, but I just don’t.  It feels too much like cleaning to me so my masks would just sit in a pile on the counter.

Video sharing how to store small stencils and masks so that you can easily find what you need!

Then I realized that I could make a Rolodex of sorts for these. To be able to put them away easily and find the ones I need quickly- a dream come true!

All that I required was a hardcover book.  Any size.  It took me about 5 minutes or so to fold the book so that it would hold all of my masks and have plenty of room for more!

Watch How to store your small stencils and masks on YouTube.

Not only is this a fast and practical way to store these, but more importantly, it’s fun to use!

Video sharing how to store small stencils and masks so that you can easily find what you need!

Want to know how I store my larger stencils?  The Tale of Goldilocks and Her Stencil Storage explains why I love those  J hooks so much! Get them from Uline or in smaller quantities here.

In a blog post and video showing my studio…including why I organize the way I do…you can a look at a larger spinner that I moved up to for storing my stencils later…sadly, the company that made the large spinner rack is no longer in business.

Here are some of the masks from the video, all at StencilGirl Products.


{ 19 comments }