Yarn Lovers

Hi there yarn lovers! July is a great month for fashioning baby gear with light weight cottons and sport yarn. One of our (and your!) favorites is Bernat Cotton Tots and now with 12 colors to chose from you can go pastel or up the color intensity with soft roses, blues and greens. Revel in the oohs and aahs your creation will elicit at the baby shower!

We're also carrying great new colors in Satin Sport and Bernat Satin - always a soft and glossy choice, whether crafting for the wee ones or someone larger.

For those of you who crave the softest of pure wool, check out the Elsebeth Lavold line of Silky Wool and Silky Flamme. The names speak for themselves and the colors ring rustic and warm.

Grace hand dyed in 50 Merino and 50 Silk from Louisa Harding, shines in peaches with amber, raspberry and lavender, fresh greens, golds and several other luscious brights.

Cascade 220 is always morphing into new and delicious shades via our shelves, as is Cash Zero and 220 Superwash.

Finally, I'm not going to mention the Holidays this early int he season, but just in case anyone wants to get a leg up on that season, Lion Homespun is here in all their special colors. That I'm not going to mention, like I said...

Cheerio!
"Yarn Guru" Grace

Mix & Match Memo Boards

Whether you need a calendar, a board for messages, or just a place to stick all those loose notes, these mix and match memo boards will be able to accommodate your organizational needs. The ability to customize these memo boards allows them to serve as stylish home décor accents, while also being functional. The minimum size for these memo boards is 12” x 12”.

Multiple boards can be combined to create larger organizational areas. Some common frame sizes to accommodate a larger memo board include: 12” x 24”, 12” x 36”, 24” x 24”, and 24” x 36”.

Here is a list of some of the potential supplies to use to create your own customized memo boards. This is not a conclusive list by any means, so let your creativity and imagination help you make a truly unique memo board. All of these items can be found at Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop.

Supplies:
Decorative Paper
Clear Acrylic Sheet
Metal Sheet
Clear Acrylic Calendar
Cork
Ribbon
Brads
Magnets
Marbles
Buttons

Here are some quick instructions to help demonstrate how easy it is to make some of these memo boards. To make a 12” x 12” dry erase memo board with a decorative paper you will need:
12” x 12” Frame
12” x 12” Decorative Paper
12” x 12” Clear Acrylic Sheet
12” x 12” Foam Core
1 Can Spray Adhesive

Instructions:
Apply spray adhesive to the back of the decorative paper, following the manufacturer’s instructions for use of the spray adhesive. Apply paper to the foam core. Place the clear acrylic sheet on top of the paper and foam core. Place these into the 12” x 12” frame and you’re done. If you plan to change the decorative paper regularly, to match seasonal décor, or just for fun, the spray adhesive may be omitted.

If you have any questions, visit our store and ask a Frame Shop Associate. To make a Ribbon Memory Board see our How-To Blog.

DIY Framing: Double Mats

Making a Double Mat & Utilizing the Fallout

Below are instructions to cut a double mat (a mat with two different layers) to fit an 11”x14” frame and designed for an 8”x10” image. All measurements will be presented for a vertically oriented finished product.

All instructions are explained using a Logan Push Style Model 2000 mat cutter.
Make sure to use a fresh blade for clean lines.


Materials:
1-Mat Cutter
2-11”x14” Mat Pieces
1-T-square
1-Pencil
1-Cutting Board or Large Slip Mat (a piece of scrap mat to protect work surface)
1-Roll Double-Sided Tape
1-Utility Clamp (optional but recommended)
1-Table (for workspace)


Instructions:

1. Designate which mat will be the top mat and which will be the bottom mat.

2. Cut the top mat outside dimensions to 11”x14”. Cut the bottom mat outside dimensions to approximately 10 ¾” x 13 ¾” (the bottom mat needs to be just a little bit smaller than the top mat).

3. Decide how much of the bottom mat will show. A ¼” reveal has been chosen for this explanation.

4. The top mat side borders need to measure 1 ½” wide. The top and bottom borders need to measure 2” wide.

5. On the back of the top mat using a pencil and T-square, draw a line 1 ½” from both of the side edges. Then, draw a line 2” from the top and bottom edges. Continue to draw the lines a little past where the lines intersect. There should now be a rectangle drawn on the back of the top mat measuring 8”x10”.

6. Place a slip mat under the top mat near the edge of the table.

7. Line the T-square up with the side of the mat and with one of the drawn lines.

8. Using the clamp securely stabilized the T-square, mat, and slip mat to the table.

9. Line up the end of a drawn line (at the intersection) with the silver guide line on the mat cutter.

10. Once aligned sink the blade into the mat.

11. Smoothly push the mat cutter through the line and stop when the silver guide line on the mat cutter reaches the top intersection.

12. One side is now cut.

13. Cut the other matching side in the same manner.

14. Reposition the mat to cut the top and bottom borders the same way.

15. Once all sides are cut, the middle piece measuring 8”x10” should easily fall out. If necessary, a razor blade can be used to carefully loose the fallout from the mat at the intersection points.

16. To cut the bottom mat start by drawing guide lines on the back of the mat. The side borders will measure 1 ¾” wide from the edges, and the top and bottom borders will measure 2 ¼” wide from the edges.

17. Use double sided tape to stabilize the top mat to the bottom mat. Place the tape on the back side of the top mat, one piece per side. Also tape the fallout from the top mat into place on center-front of the bottom mat. It will serve as a slip mat as you cut the bottom mat. Be sure to center the mats together. Place the back of the top mat on the front of the bottom mat. Make sure the edges of the bottom mat are not visible at the outside edges.

18. Once the top mat is adhered to the bottom mat with the fallout in place, cut the bottom mat in the same manner as the top mat.

19. With all sides cut, the mat is complete. Remove the tape on the sides and bottom. Adhere the mats together at the TOP ONLY. (Due to humidity and temperature changes, each mat layer may react differently. If all sides are taped together the completed double mat may buckle.)

20. Congrats! You've made your first double mat!


There will be two pieces of fallout mat board left. These can be used to cut a mat to fit an 8”x10” frame with a 5”x7” opening. Follow all of the procedural instructions as above. The measurements needed are:
Top Mat:
-sides: 1 ½” wide
-top & bottom: 1 ½” wide
Bottom Mat:
-sides: 1 ¾” wide
-top & bottom: 1 ¾” wide

We have an excellent selection of inexpensive mat scraps you can use to practice with for this project, as well as several DIY mat cutting books. We also offer monthly mat cutting workshops here in the store, for all experience levels. And as always, our framing designers are here to answer any questions you may have.

Happy Framing! Sara

All of the products mentioned in this article can be found at our Ben Franklin Springfield location, in the framing & art departments.

DIY Floral: Easy Bouquets

Supply List:

• 1 - 12" Rose Hyda/Queen Anne Lace bouquet
• 1 - 27" Rose Bud
• 3 - 27" light pink Buds
• 1 - fern umbrella
• 1-1/2 yards Ribbon, your choice
• green floral wire
• green floral tape

Basic Instructions:

• Wire cut - bouquet open.
• Wire cut - roses to size of bouquet length.
• Put roses in center of bouquet of mix flowers.
• Wire and tape fern pieces, place along with flowers.
• Add wire around all of the bouquet, then wrap floral tape, then ribbon.

We have a large selection of color roses and ribbon, tulle and rhinestones to make your bouquet special.

DIY Floral: Wrist Corsage

Supply List:

• 1 - wrist Kaber (your choice of style)
• 1 - rose
• 1 - peony flower or any of your choice
• 1 - statics stem
• 1 yd sheer ribbon
• green floral tape
• green wire, 22 gauge
• wire cutter
• scissors

Basic Instructions:

• Cut both flowers stems off to the bud.
• Wire the bottom of the flowers then wrap green floral tape.
• Wrap the small buds and leaves also.
• Do the same with one static stem.
• Make a small loop bow, wire/tape.
• Now you have everything wired, taped.
• Just start adding and taping together alongside each other, keeping side to side.
• Now wire the whole corsage to the wrist, keeping the end of wire inside of flowers and now by the wrist area finish with floral tape.

You can add rhinestones, pearls, baby's breath, and as many smaller flowers. This is for silks only. Fresh flowers you will put the wire through the bottom of the flowers and wrap with floral tape. And you can only do the night before and refrigerate the flowers until you use them.

DIY Floral: Decorating Arch

Supply List:
decorating arch
1 - feather beaded stem
1 - clear stem beaded leaves, pearls
2 - flower garland
4 - tulle: 3 yards sheer with edge
2 - white doves or white flowers
white clear lights or pearl lights frosted
white wire, 22 gauge
wire cutters
scissors

Basic Instructions:
Wire on garland of mixed flowers on front of arch, keeping centered, about 8" open in middle.
Next, put lights on, weave back and forth between flowers.
After that the wired pearl beaded garland will go right alongside where the lights went!
Last the tulle sheer will start from the top where the flowered garland begins. Weave then until it ends - make two big bows with the remainder of the tulle sheers.
Add white flowers and doves to finish.
Wire in clear stem/feather stem.

You can add color flowers, ribbon to finish with your colors of the wedding, we also have LED battery lights for the table centerpieces.

Stay-cation Fun!

With summer here, it's time for vacations and with the economy down this year, many people are taking "stay-cations". What a great time to put your memories of vacations past into a scrapbook!

Making Memories has a classic looking 8"x8" portfolio and collection called the "Great Escape". It includes papers cut to fit the 8"x8" book, coordinating embellishments, rub-ons, brads, clips and dog tags.

I used pictures from our trip to Arizona and Nevada this Spring and they look great!

The next time you're in the store, take a look at the sample book I made and have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Linda Hodson

New! From Impression Obsession

I'm excited about some new clear stamp sets we received from Impression Obsession. They are used to create a faux watercolor look, and there is an accompanying, detailed technique booklet that shows you how to make some really great looking cards.



There are four different stamp sets to choose from. One set features vases, greenery, and 12 different types of flower heads, so you can create lots of different looks from just one set!

The technique sheet has detailed instructions with pictures, and is really easy to follow. It includes how-to mask & layer stamped images - very useful when building a bouquet of flowers.



I plan to do some samples and a demo for these kits, so watch our upcoming July calendar for details on learning these faux watercolor techniques. And, look for my next blog on how to custom blend your own stamp pads!

Thanks!
Lurah

Canvas, Canvas, Canvas!

...And a whole lot more! That's what you will find in our Art Department. Small canvases, large ones, thick & thin ones, singles and twin value packs too! Oh and did I mention they're on sale now for 50% off? What a great deal!!

Peggy's Paper Updates: Summer Destinations

It's that time of the year when we all start planning our summer getaways. We've gotten some really exciting new travel groups that I just had to tell you about:

Mrs. Grossman's Destinations cardstock stickers (check out the USA State header stickers) are colorful and fun, while Paper House stickers & rub-ons feature real photos of various destinations and points of interest. Paper House also has a new line of papers tht are a photo collage in subtle grey tones, embellished with simple flourishes and symbols and just a touch of glitter - very classy.


If you're like me and plan to stay closer to home this summer we've stocked up on all of our Oregon travel papers & stickers. There are three Oregon papers to choose from, including a beautiful Oregon map print paper- a proven customer favorite.

Wherever you're headed chances are we've got the papers and embellishments to document your special excursion.

Enjoy the Journey with Ben Franklin Crafts & Frame Shop!
Yours, Peggy