Triple T Tuesday: Double-Loop Bow

Howdy, and welcome to my Triple T Tuesday segment.  This is were I share with you Tips, Tricks, and Techniques on different passions of mine.  So far, I have shared Triple T's on paper crafting, and today isn't any different.  {smile}

Today's Trick is how to tie a double-loop bow.  Now, let's get to this!  This technique is relatively simply.  There are videos and/or tutorials on the internet.  But, this is how I do it.

1.  Start with the type of ribbon you want to work with.  For me, I prefer a soft, very pliable ribbon.  Seam Binding, (to me) works the best.  The stiffer the ribbon, the more 'tailored' the bow will look.

2.  Create a 'V' with the index and middle finger on your dominant hand.

3.  Hold the start of your ribbon with your thumb and ring fingers.

4.  Loop the ribbon around your index and ring fingers, in a 'figure eight' fashion.

*side note:  for a double loop bow, you will need to loop the ribbon around each finger twice.  

for a triple loop bow, you will need to loop the ribbon around each finger three times.

5.  The tail/end of the ribbon must make the last loop around the middle finger, before you tie it.

6.  Bring the ribbon tail towards you, and under the 'figure eight'.

7.  Bring the tail back over the top of the 'figure eight'.

8.  Pull the tail taught.  This will help 'set' the knot where you want it.

9.  Tie the two ends together, as if you were tying a knot.

do NOT tie this knot too tight, as you will need to be able to remove your bow from your fingers.

10.  Slide the bow off of your fingers gently, so that you do not pull one end of the ribbon too tight.  As this will create a lop-sided bow.

10.  Viola! you have a double loop bow!  

And now you are ready to embellish it, or simply add it to the front of a card, or any project!

I hope the directions are easy to understand.  If you have any questions, please let me know. {smile}

3T Tuesday: Sew Clean

Howdy! and welcome to another edition of Triple T Tuesday.  This is my forum to provide you with various Tips, Tricks & Techniques.  So far, I have focused on paper crafting, but I also add some cooking and sewing posts.  {smile}

Todays title is Sew Clean.  I love adding machine stitching to my greeting cards.  But, as you know machine stitching sews on both sides of fabric and paper.  And, I think if you see the stitching inside a card, it looks sloppy, and not 'clean'.  

So, here is my TIP: when you add machine stitching to your paper crafting, only put that layer thru your sewing machine, and use very strong adhesive to attach the sewn piece to your paper craft.

photos, of course:

When layering your papers, use minimal adhesive toward the center of your papers.  You just want to adhesive to help 'hold' the papers/trims in place while sewing. 

See how 'ugly' the backside looks?  You wouldn't want THAT on the inside of your card.  So add your strong adhesive over the machine stitching.  This will hold the paper pieces together, and will also bind the machine stitching to the card.  Holding the pieces together, and keeping the stitches from coming undone!

The inside of the card, looks Clean and Crisp.  Perfectly beautiful!  All your machine stitching is hidden, out of sight, and not inside the card!

I hope you found this TIP helpful!  

3T Tuesday : Water Color Wash

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy, and welcome to my little piece of blog-land.  Today is Tuesday! And on Tuesdays, I share a segment I call: Triple T Tuesday.  The triple T = tips, tricks, and techniques.  These little tutorials currently are for paper crafting, eventually, I will share some baking tips. {smile}

Todays tutorial is on water coloring.  It's called water color wash.  It's a way to add some color that looks random, and artsy.

One of the most important pieces of information on this tutorial, is the paper you need.  You can NOT use typical card stock.  You MUST  use a 'sealed' card stock.  White Shimmer card stock by Stampin' Up! is the perfect card stock for this technique.  Not only will this card stock allow you to watercolor with saturating the paper, but it also adds a wonderful bit of shimmer {smile}.

The other important piece is the ink you use.  You MUST use a water-proof ink: archival,  or solvent. You can always heat emboss your sentiment or image using embossing powder.  This will work, too, and allow you to use a wider range of colors and metallics.

The supplies for this technique are minimal.  

1. sealed card stock (white shimmer card stock)  

2. a fine-mist water bottle

3. an aqua painter

4. liquid re-inkers

(so saffron, crisp cantaloupe, and pool party)

5. paper towel(s)

1.  stamp, heat emboss, or print your sentiment or image onto shimmer white card stock.

*my sentiment was printed onto the shimmer card stock with my home printer

2.  spray the card stock with water until the card stock is wet.

3.  dip the wet brush tip into the liquid re-inker

* always start with a little amount of color.  You can add more, but it is very difficult to remove.

4.  keep adding colors

the wet color will move/blend where there is water.

Once you are satisfied with the final 'coloring' set piece aside to dry.  Or you can use a heat tool to speed up the drying time.  Once dry, add this beautiful watercolored piece to any project!

This technique can also be used with water-color paper.  You would simply 'color' you paper with water, using your wet paint brush.  

I hope you found some useful information today, and you create something beautiful and unique!

3T Tuesday : Tea Stained

~ photo heavy post ~

Howdy, and welcome to a new series I am working on.   I always have tips, tricks, and techniques up my sleeve.  And, now, I have a platform to share them with you! {smile}  I am calling this series: Triple T Tuesday!  I will be sharing tips, tricks, and techniques for paper crafting, and baking; my two passions.  {smile}

For my first edition of triple T, I am sharing a tea stain technique.  Let's get started!

When 'color'ing or staining, please keep safety first.  Use pot holders for hot pots, allow hot tea to drain off embellishments on a paper towel on top of a paper plate.  Use tongs or a fork to remove items from hot tea.  And remember to keep children and pets away from the stove when working with hot liquids.

1.  Grab your supplies: pot to boil water in, tea bags (I use 5 regular size), and then the embellishments you want to tea stain: cotton trim, lace, seam binding, and clothes pins.

wooden clothes pins, cotton trim, cotton lace, and seam binding

  

2.  Boil your pot of water, and add the tea bags.

allow the pot to boil for a minute or two.

3.  add your embellishments:

4.  watch the pot.  Different materials take-on the color differently.

When working with wooden clothes pins, they will cause your pot of tea to foam, but don't worry, the foam subsides in a minute.

Boil wooden clothes pins for 5 minutes, and then turn the heat off, leaving the clothes pins in the hot pot.

5.  use tongs, or a fork to remove your embellishments:

Remember, that fabrics have a washed color pattern from the tea staining, but it makes the fabric look antique, or vintage. {smile}

I took the lace and cotton trim out after 2 minutes in the boiling tea.  I wanted a light kraft color.

I allowed the seam binding to boil a bit longer.  For some reason, seam binding, can be stubborn about taking on color.  Always remember, *the longer you leave the embellishment in the boiling tea, the darker the staining.  

Wooden clothes pins take quite a bit longer.  I left the clothes pins for 2 hours.  But, remember, check them periodically.  

To speed up the drying process of my fabrics, I dried my materials with a heat tool.  {smile}  I couldn't wait!  But remember, your heat tool is hotter than a hair dryer, so be careful!

6.  After drying, look at how pretty my materials look with their new antique 'color'.  {smile}

 Thank you for stopping by!  I hope this was helpful!  And remember, if you are tea staining, always use more material than your project calls for.  That way, you aren't tea staining on a daily basis {smile}.  I always tea stain trims in one foot lengths, and seam binding in one yard length.  I only needed a couple of clothes pins, so I added a few more in the pot.