A Pretty Pile of Paper Chaos: Clearsnap Proud to be Made in the USA Blog Hop

Proud to be MADE IN THE USA Blog Hop

Did you know that all Clearsnap Products are manufactured right here in the United States, at our headquarters in Burlington, WA? They are! Every inkpad is made right here under our loving, careful guidance so that it will be the best quality possible when it reaches your craft table (and for years to come). To celebrate Clearsnap's commitment to manufacturing products in the USA we have released a Limited Edition 3 Color Pigment Inkpad, MADE IN USA. Our Design Team has created stunning projects with this inkpad to share with you today, Labor Day! This inkpad has only been available to retailers purchasing inkpads and distinctive accessories direct from Clearsnap, as a "thank you" for their support of our company.

But we're giving one of these inkpads away!!! Please visit all of the blogs listed below as part of today's blog hop and leave a comment on each blog. Each comment counts as an entry into the drawing. Comments must be posted by midnight 9-5-11 PST to be eligible for the drawing. A winner will be posted to the Clearsnap Facebook Page on 9-6-11.

Clearsnap Blog http://clearsnap.blogspot.com/
Cathie Allan http://canadianscrapbooker.ca/cathie/
Robyn Weatherspoon http://robynweatherspoon.blogspot.com/
Stephanie Ackerman http://stephaniescraps.blogspot.com/
Tami Sanders http://tamisanders.com/
Charlotte Jenkins http://suepup.blogspot.com/ You are Here
Daniela Dobson http://danieladobson.blogspot.com/ Next
Sabrina Alery http://sabrinaalery.blogspot.com/
Jean Okimoto http://davebrethauer.typepad.com/inkollage/
Mary Dawn Quirindongo http://mypinkmexico.blogspot.com/
Jennifer Priest http://hydrangeahippo.blogspot.com/

Today I am sharing with you how to create," Vintage Labor Day Photo Block" using the "Made in USA Colorbox Ink Pad" and 12 Timbers wood block. I wanted to create a "vintage look" project, a little treasure you might find sitting in your grandmother's attic.

I dedicate this project to all the men and women who helped build the American Dream. I want to he honor all those who fought for rights of workers in America. Many generations later, were are still benefiting from the fruits of their labor, eight-hour workday, Social Security, health insurance, unemployment and disability insurance, occupational safety standards, fair wages and decent working conditions – labor fought to win these protections for all Americans.

Front

Back

Directions

I surfed the Internet for some vintage images. I reduced the images to 2 1/2 X 2 1/2 and printed the images on my printer. Use scissors or a craft knife to cut out the image.
Make sure the wood block you are decorating is clean and dry, fill in deep gouges, and sand it down to remove bumps and imperfections if necessary. If you want to paint it or refinish it, you should do this before pasting anything onto it. I primed the surface with a coat of acrylic paint to help the cut-outs stick better.
Use a paintbrush to brush a thin layer of Mod Podge onto your surface and onto the backs of the cut-outs. Make sure you apply the Mod Podge evenly and over the edges of the cut-outs
Ink the edges of the images with red a blue ColorBox Pigment Ink Pad.
Using a star stamp, stamp six blue stars with ColorBox Pigment Ink
Lay a piece of your cut paper image onto the area to which you applied the Mod Podge. Apply the paper carefully to avoid bending or crumpling it, and smooth it out with an old plastic gift card or with your finger, rubbing outward from the center. Repeat with each piece. For a more complex appearance, make several layers of cut-outs.
Make sure the whole piece is thoroughly and completely dried before proceeding. If you are applying several layers, make sure each layer is dry before starting on the next.
Seal the decoupage with a couple coats of Mod Podge. Let each coat dry thoroughly before moving to the next step.
When the Mod Podge is dry, sand it with 400 grit sandpaper to remove imperfections. Use a damp cloth to remove residue from sanding. For this project, I lightly sanded the project because I wanted to keep some of the imperfections and brush marks.
Using a drill, drill three 7/64 small holes in the top of the block.
Distress the edges of the finished block's edges with Blue ColorBox Pigment Ink
Using 20 gauge wire, wrap one end of the wire around a wooden skewer three times, creating a spiral. Gently remove the skewer and repeat this process two more times.
Apply craft glue into the three drilled holes and place the non-spiral end of the wire into the drilled hole. Repeat process for all three pieces of wire. Let dry before moving to the next step.
Cut and tie ribbon randomly on the wire pieces.
Cut and mat three images, make sure the images are double sided so you can display this project "in the round"-basically 360 degrees.