What happens when I get a craft kit from Hallmark?

Hallmark sent me this kit “Handmade Hallmark” to play with. It’s my idea of a dream job. Here’s what the kit contains: 4 wooden ornaments, 4 embroidery floss skeins, 1 needle and 4 adhesive felt backers.

First, I wanted to cover the surface with color, and as I love embossing powders, I started with a good red one. They make a shiny, thick coat and are fun to use. So I first stamped the wood with Versamark pad which is sticky.

I sprinkle the powder on the sticky wood.

Next, the fun part which is melting the powder (which is like a waxy resin) with a heat gun. It takes about a minute.

To rubberstamp on top of the melted embossing powder (which is now shiny and water resistant), you need to use a permanent ink pad like StazOn. It’s like Sharpie ink. (Note: The melted powder is actually shinier than it appears in this photo. See end of blog post for other examples.)

How many different media can I use? I select Martha’s glitter which is really vivid and fine. First, I painted glue onto the piece and then sprinkled glitter.

I want to add an unexpected texture so I rummage through my trims and find tiny fuchsia pom poms which I glue on with Aleene’s tacky glue.

Let’s try sewing some of that thread into the holes. It’s quite fun. Then, I stick on some self-adhesive gems.

Let’s look at the mess as a whole:That was really fun. Here are some more pieces I made. I’ll go ahead and sew into the holes later.

It was fun to carve into the paint on this piece below.

For more inspiration from Hallmark artists, check out their blog, Think.Make.Share.  Purchase kits here.

xo

Lilla