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Pumpkin Table Runner

Tyvek is a versatile product as it can be sewn or glued and doesn’t rip easily. Not only does it make it ideal for kite making but also for party table runners, especially themed children’s parties!

Get ready for Halloween with this spooky Pumpkin Table Runner designed by Kathleen Hauck…

Tools:
1802913 Soft-Cut Premium Line Scissors, 21 cm, black/blue
1802523 Comfortline Scalpel inc. 5 blades
1802526 Comfortline Cutting Mat, DIN A3, printed both sides
1802730 Aluminium Ruler, 30 cm
1812100 Lino and Wood Cutting Tool Set
1813100 Roller, 60 mm
1813300 Roller, 120 mm

Materials:
1600515 Tyvek Soft – DuPont, 70 x 100 cm, 44 g / m², white
1797010 Punch 4XL, Circle 3.5 Inch, 88 mm
Papier Offcut eg: 1549901 My Colors Cardstock snowbound
1851004 Lino Sheet, DIN A4, 3.2 mm
6000938 FolkArt Acrylic Paint, 59 ml, licorice
1055189 Foam Sheet, 300 x 450 x 2 mm, black
4550028 iZINK Textilfarbe, dalhia

In addition: a large sheet of paper, scrap paper, carbon paper, template, pencil, old lid

1. Cut the Tyvek in two lengthways so you have two 35 x 100 cm pieces. Cover your work surface and place a strip of Tyvek on it. Cut out 6 circles from the paper offcut and spread them over the Tyvek strip. Shake the textile spray before test spraying onto the scrap paper. Then spray the Tyvek table runner with the orange textile spray, paying particular attention to where the circles are. Leave to dry.

Tip: Tyvek can be sewn or glued together with contact adhesive if the table runner is too short.

2. Cut a piece of lino approx 26 x 7 cm. (Do this by cutting the lino upper surface with a scalpel. Then bend it in two to break it, cutting the woven back with the scalpel.) Place the carbon paper on the lino with the template on top. Trace the design with the pencil.

NB: The picture on the lino must always be a mirror image of the final design print. This is especially important to note when text is used.

3. Lino printing is a high-pressure process. This means that everything that remains on the lino’s surface will be visible when printing whilst everything that is cut away will not.

Cut out the contours of the pumpkins with the V shaped cutting blade. Use a slightly wider cutting tool to cut out the eyes, nose and mouth of the pumpkins. Then remove the lino surface around the pumpkins using the wide blade. Since the blades are very sharp, you should always work away from your body.

Tip: If the lino is too hard heat the surface with a hair dryer. When the lino is warm it becomes softer and easer to work with.

4. Place the foam sheet underneath the table runner wherever you want to stamp. Squeeze a little black acrylic paint onto the old lid and work it onto the small roller. Use the roller to cover the lino pumpkin design with a generous coat of paint. Position the lino face down on the table runner where you want to print the pumpkins. Use the clean large roller to slowly roll over the back of the lino, applying even pressure. Carefully lift the lino and re-ink it before printing your next image. Repeat as may times as desired. Then leave to dry.

You can download the template from Efco’s German website. (Clicking the link will open up another window with the German version of this project and you’ll find the template at the bottom of the page.)

Efco’s range of Tyvek products can be seen on Page 92 of the Basics Catalogue.

Wood Veneer Lampshade

Wood Veneer Woven Lampshade
Designed by Kathleen Hauck

Tools:
1802913 – Soft Cut Premium Line Scissors
1802730 – Aluminium Ruler
1802521 – Knife with Professional Blade
1802526 – Craft Mat
1804102 – Hot Glue Gun 55 W for ø 11.2mm
1805005 – Glue Sticks

Materials:
2213015 – Lampshade frame, round 15cm/ø 15cm
2002201 – Waxed Cotton Cord, ø 1mm, 100m, white
3480120 – Wood Veneer, 20cm x 1.25cm, natural
2690000 – Electric Light Holder with switch

In addition: pencil, bulb

Step 1. Cut 12 pieces of waxed cotton cord approx. 40cm long. Wrap a piece of cord in the middle between two struts of the frame and tie a knot. Then tie a piece of cord in the middle between the first cord and a strut. Repeat for the other side of the first cord. Trim the excess cords. Repeat around the lampshade frame so that you end up with 3 cords even distributed between all the struts.

Step 2. Cut a 50cm long piece of wood veneer. Cut two 3cm wide strips and six 2cm wide strips from this piece. Starting with a 3cm wide strip, position the end behind one of the struts. Weave the strip in and out of the cotton cords and struts. Due to the even number of struts/cords (16), the wood veneer strip will end up exactly at the beginning (i.e. behind a strut). Glue the end of the strip to the beginning (behind the strut) using a hot glue gun. Continue in the same way with a 2cm wide strip, except make sure that it begins in front of the strut rather than behind. Continue in the same vein with three more 2cm wide strips and finally a 3cm wide strip, alternating where you start i.e. in front or behind a strut.

Step 3. Use the hot glue gun to stick the two remaining 2cm strips around the top and bottom of the frame to hide it. Attach the electric light holder to the frame and insert the bulb.

Easy Beton Planter

Easy Beton Planter

Materials:
Easy Beton Paste, Cement Grey (9317903)
Easy Beton Paste, Light Grey (9317901)
Easy Moss, Green (9317767)
Easy Moss, Olive (9317765)
Balloon
String or Ribbon
Large Brush
Gimlet (1801810)
Compost and Plants
Optional: Grit or Broken Crockery for extra drainage

Step 1. Blow up a balloon and tie a ribbon or string to the end. Paint at least half of it with a thick layer of cement grey Easy Beton Paste.

Step 2. Use the ribbon/string to hang the balloon up to dry.

Step 3. When touch dry, cover it with another thick layer of paste. Leave to dry. Repeat several times until the paste is approx. 5mm thick (8-9 layers).

Step 4. Add another layer, this time blending some light Easy Beton and Easy Moss Pastes for interest. Leave to dry thoroughly.

Step 5. When completely dry, remove the balloon, peeling it away from the Easy Beton. Do this carefully as the bowl is flexible at this stage.

Step 6. Use a gimlet to carefully drill holes in the base of planter for drainage.

Step 7. If needed, place some grit or broken crockery in the bottom for greater drainage. Then fill the planter with compost and plants.

Alternatively, once you have removed the balloon, you can place the Beton bowl upside-down in a flower bed as structural decoration.

iZink Stamping is Fun!

iZink foam rubber stamps and mini pigment ink pads are perfect for creating interesting backgrounds for cards and gift packaging and if stamped onto tissue paper you could even make your own gift packaging! They can be used in conjunction with other stamps and inks too.

To view a selection of the iZink range of stamps, embossing powders, and 3D Texture Pastes see pages N.37-N.39 of the Autumn/Winter 2017 Trends Catalogue. Alternatively you can view the full range of iZink products including inks and inkpad sets in the Aladine Catalogue on Efco’s German website.

Doodling till Christmas!

Once decorated Efco’s Doodleart boxes are presents in themselves but they also make excellent packaging for those extra special presents!

They can be decorated with colouring pencils, pens, watercolour pencils & crayons, alcohol markers, and even inks or paints. Embellishments such as ultrafine glitter and crystals can also be added with adhesive. And to protect them you can even spray them with Efco’s matt, satin or gloss varnish.

 

To see the complete range of Doodleart boxes check out the Autumn/Winter 2017 Trends Catalogue.

Water Drops Lantern

Water Drops Lantern – Texture Mat and Sunshine Window Color
Designed by Kathleen Hauck


Tools:

1823105 Plastic Spatulas, 17 – 19 cm
1803103 Universal Scissors, 16 cm

Materials:
9381501 Painting Acetate, 200 x 300 mm
9500513 Drops Texture Mat, 90 x 90 mm
9380014 Sunshine Window Color, 50 ml, orange
9380026 Sunshine Window Color, 50 ml, fire red
2609213 Lantern Glass, 12.5 x 10 x 10 cm
3509002 Candle, ø 60 x H 85 mm

In addition: Paper Towel

1. Place the texture mat on the painting acetate. Cover the texture mat with some red Sunshine window colour, spreading it out with the spatula. Make sure that the recesses of the pattern are completely filled with the window colour. Pick up any excess colour with the spatula, wiping it off on a kitchen towel. Leave to dry.

Tip: Move the spatula back and forth to remove any air pockets. Also jiggling and tapping the painting acetate under the texture mat can help make the air bubbles rise.

2. Apply a second thick layer of orange Sunshine window colour directly from the bottle over the entire design. If necessary, smooth the surface with the spatula, again, tapping the painting acetate so that any trapped air can rise. Leave to dry.

NB: Because this second layer is slightly thicker, the drying process can take up to 2 days. If you try to remove the motif from the texture mat too soon the layers may separate, leaving the relief in the mat.

3. Carefully remove the motif from the texture mat. The best way to do this is to carefully remove the dried paint from the edges first, working your way in to the centre. Cut the drops out with scissors and position them on the lantern glass. Then place the candle in the vase.

You’ll find the lantern glass in Section 10 Decoration on page 403; Sunshine Window Colours in Section 16 Paints on page 627 and Texture Mats in Section 1 Crafting-Basics on pages 96-101.

Turtle Bookmark

It’s amazing what you can create with simple shaped punches!

The turtle on this bookmark is from Christine Urmann’s “Mini Figures for Punches” book and is created using different sized circle punches.

Turtle Bookmark
designed by Kathleen Neumann

Tools:
1802523 Comfortline Scalpel
1802730 Aluminium Ruler
1802830 Cutting Mat DIN A4
1802532 Comfortline Hobby Scissors
1793114 Circle Punch L 2.8 cm
1791010 Circle Punch M 2.5 cm
1793009 Circle Punches L 10, 12, 14 mm
1790011 Circle Punches S 3, 10 mm
1792019 Rounded Corner Punch M,
1789899 Circle Punch 6mm

Materials:
1549970 My Color Cardstock Pine Forest, Dark Green
1549967 My Color Cardstock Desert Cactus, Lime Green
1549963 My Color Cardstock Limelight, Light Green
1549901 My Color Cardstock Snowbound, White
1549989 My Color Cardstock Black Magic, Black
1906010 Acryl opak Marker Thin Point, White
4511281 Clear Drops Stamp
4510903 Acrylic Block with Recessed Grip
4510999 Stamp Mat, Black
4511947 Versacolor Pigment Ink Pad, Light Blue
4520063 Woodies Exlibris 2
4511965 Versacolor Pigment Ink Pad, Green
4511400 Stamp Cleaner
9362009 Double-sided Deko-Tape
9586505 White Craft Glue
2002265 Waxed Cotton Cord, 1 mm, Green

In addition: Kitchen Paper, Pencil

1. Cut a 7 x 14 cm rectangle from the dark green card and a 6 x 13 cm rectangle from the white card. Round the corners of both rectangles with the rounded corner punch.

Position the large Clear Drops stamp on the acrylic block and ink it up with the light blue ink pad. Stamp it onto the smooth backside of the white rectangle. Repeat with the small Clear Drops stamp. Stamp the Woodies Exlibris stamp with green ink in the open middle area of the large Clear Drops stamp. Leave to dry.

Stick the white rectangle to the dark green rectangle with double-sided tape.

Punch a 6mm circle at the top end of the bookmark. Cut four 20 cm lengths of cotton cord and thread them through the hole. Tie all cords together in a knot and, if necessary, cut the ends to the same length with scissors.

2. Create the turtle using punches according to the instructions in the “Mini Figures with Punches” book. Stick it together using the white craft glue and then stick it to the bookmark with double-sided tape.

 

You will find all the punches and Christine Urmann’s “Mini Figures with Punches” book (which is available in English, German, French and Italian) in the Everything For Paper Catalogue.

Creaflexx Flower Pendant

Designed by Kathleen Neumann

Materials:
3400021 Creaflexx Foil, 44.5 x 30 cm / 0.5 mm, Transparent
6832123 MS Multi-Surface – Metallic & Pearl Acrylic, Aquarium
2117154 Wax Glass Beads Luster, 6 mm,  Light Turquoise
2163691 Head Pins, 30 x 1.5 x 0.75 mm, Silver Coloured
9735402 Necklace Mechanism, 2 cm
9735291 Choker with Ball Clasp, ø 15 cm / 47 cm, ø 1.1 mm
1791058 Punch M Flower, 23 mm
1793058 Punch L Flower, 35 mm
1794058 Punch XL Flower, 47 mm
1827109 Awl, 9 cm
1802911 Soft-Cut Premium Line Scissors
1803901 Heat Gun
1823004 Modelling and Painting Sponge, ø 7 x 3 cm
9311433 Mixing Palette, 24 x 19 cm
1801810 Gimlet, 2.5 x 3 x 4 x 5 mm
1804003 Hot Glue Gun
1805001 Glue Sticks
1801908 Round Nosed Jewellery Pliers
1801905 Side Cutters
Paper offcut e.g: 1549901 My Colors Cardstock, Snowbound

Additional: Baking Paper, Thin Cotton Gloves, Heat Resistant Pad

1. Cut a flower from scrap paper with each punch. These will serve as templates. Use a needle tool to transfer each flower onto transparent Creaflexx twice and cut out. Use a sponge to cover the Creaflexx flowers with a thin coat of blue pearlescent acrylic paint. Leave to dry.

2. Lay a sheet of baking parchment on top of a heat-resistant mat so that the Creaflexx won’t stick to the mat whilst warm. We also recommend you wear thin cotton gloves whilst working with Creaflexx as it may get very hot during the heating process.

Heat the flowers individually with a heat gun and bend the petals upwards. The smaller the flowers the more the petals should be bent. Transparent Creaflexx cools off very quickly, hardens and retains it’s shape. It can be repeatedly heated and petal positions altered.

3. Use a gimlet to make a hole in the centre of each flower except the largest. Thread a blue bead onto a headpin followed by the flowers (small to large except the largest). Always a place a dab of hot glue in the flower centres to stop them moving. After the last flower, remove the excess headpin with wire cutters and attach the largest flower with a dab of hot glue. Glue the necklace finding to the back of the flower. Temporarily unscrew the ball clasp and straighten the choker wire with jewellery pliers to thread the flower to the desired position. Re-bend the wire and attach the ball clasp.

Advantages: malleable when heated – hardens and retains shape once cool – reformable – can easily be cut with scissors – use any heat resistant surface as a former (e.g. cans, edge of a table, tubes etc.) – can also be embossed when warm.

See the Autumn/Winter Trends Catalogue for white and transparent Creaflexx.

Creaflexx Info:

Available in panels of … (size and thickness)

It is a thermoplastic resin. It can be shaped by heating – it solidifies again as soon as it is cold and then retains the form into which it was shaped. This process can be repeated. You can always reheat Creaflexx and bring it back to form into another shape.

It can also be embossed in the warm state, e.g. with a Spellbinders ™ Platinum ™

– Material can be cut with scissors

– It is recommended to work on a heat-resistant surface and place a layer of baking paper on top of it so that the Creaflexx can not stick to the surface when it is warm.

– Since the material can become very hot, we recommend wearing thin cotton gloves whilst working with Creaflexx.

– If one area is heated for too long, or if the material becomes too hot, the transparent Creaflexx may become milky white.

– The transparent Creaflexx has no adhesive side like the white Creaflexx.

– You always need adhesive to fix it, e.g. UHU Kraft all-purpose adhesive (remains milky after drying) or hot glue gun (clear, but you can still see the glue if the Creaflexx is not painted).

– It has two smooth non-adhesive sides.

In comparison to the white Creaflexx, the transparent Creaflexx must be warmed longer and it also cools and hardens faster.

– Creaflexx can be used, e.g. over table edges, metal cans or pipes. There should always be a layer of baking paper between Creaflexx and the substrate so that the material does not stick. The substate which is to be used as a mold, should be heat-resistant.

– Creaflexx can be decorated with acrylic paint as desired.

– For better durability of the painted surface and a higher resistance to abrasion, it is recommended to finish the piece with a coat of varnish.

– Paints and varnish dry very slowly.

Holiday Memento Frame

If you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to summer you could try your hand at this Memento Frame (designed by Kathleen Hauck) which is created using one of Efco’s Pappart frames.

 

Tools:
1880420 Flat Synthetic Paintbrush, Gr. 20 / 19 mm
9311433 Mixing palette, 24 x 19 cm
1879900 Plastic Paintbrush Washing Container, 16 x 16 x H 8.5 cm
1804102 Hot Glue Gun, 55 W for ø 11.2 mm
1805005 Hot Glue Sticks

Materials:
2630692 Rectangle Frame, 21 x 30 x 8 cm
6000901 FolkArt Acrylic Paint, 59 ml, Wicker White
6000412 FolkArt Acrylic Paint, 59 ml, Magenta
2486101 Plastic Letter Beads, ø 6 mm, 200 Pieces, Multicolour
2486001 Plastic Number and Sign Beads, ø 6 mm, 30 g ~ 180 Pieces, Multicolour
2002702 Waxed Cotton Cord, ø 2 mm / 6 m, Cream
2604002 Medium Mixed Shells in a Basket, ø 19 cm
1402402 Wooden Clothes Pegs, 45 mm, 24 Pieces, Untreated

In addition: Holiday photos or postcards (here: 1532162/63/64/65 Punched Design Paper, Romantic Summer, A4, je 1 Sheet 170g/m²)

1. Prime the frame with white acrylic paint and leave to dry. Then paint everything except the inner frame with magenta. Leave to dry.

2. Select the letters etc from the letter and number beads you need to spell “HOLIDAY # SUMMER ♥︎ 2017”. Thread the cube beads onto the cotton cord in order and glue the beginning of the cord to the back of the frame. Wrap the cord around the top half of the frame making sure it’s not too loose. Position the cubes where you want. Always fix the cord on the back with a spot of glue to keep the tension and hold the cord in position, preventing it from getting damaged later.

Tip: Instead of “HOLIDAY # SUMMER ♥︎ 2017” you could also add the holiday destination e.g. “HAMBURG”. In addition, this framework allows for the possibility of recording various events e.g. a wedding anniversary, a special birthday, the last family celebration or birth – there’s no limit to the imagination.

3. Stick some shells to the bottom of the frame. Then use wooden pegs to attach holiday photos or postcards to the cotton cords.

You can see a variety of Pappart Frames in the new Autumn/Winter 2017 Trends Catalogue.

Christmas

Efco have added some new shapes to their range of Pappart Frames…


They can be decorated using acrylic paints and a host of other craft materials and be used as unique picture frames or ornaments for memorabilia.

The frames can be used in a variety of ways all year round but look especially stunning at Christmas when combined with Starshine foil…

Here’s a simple but very effective festive project inspired by ancient Chinese shadow box art and the art of German paper cutting.

Winter Wonderland
designed by Kathleen Neumann

2629797 House Frame, 17 x 19 x 5 cm
6832082 MS Multi-Surface Acrylic Satin, Beetle Black
1795082 Pointed Fir Tree Punch 3XL, 67 x 63 mm
1794082 Pointed Fir Tree Punch XL, 45 x 43 mm
1794260 Reindeer Punch XL, 46 x 37 mm
1549989 My Colors Cardstock, 12 x 12 Inch, Black Magic
1000402 Starshine Effect Film, 50 x 35 cm / 0.30 mm
1260189 Wool Cord, 5 mm, Black
1802532 Comfortline Hobby Scissors
1880420 Flat Paint Brush Synthetic Hair Gr. 20
9311433 Mixing Palette 24 x 19 cm
1802523 Comfortline Scalpel
1802830 Cutting Mat DIN A4
1802730 Aluminium Ruler
9362009 Double-sided Deko-tape, 9 mm x 10 m, transparent
2689910 Warm White Lights, Battery Operated, 70 cm, 10 LEDs
1879900 Paint Brush Washing Container, Plastic, 16 x 16 x H 8.5 cm
1804003 Hot Glue Gun
1805001 Hot Glue Sticks
Pencil, Batteries

 

 

 

 

Paint the house frame with black acrylic and leave to dry.

 

 

 

 

Place the house frame on the Starshine foil and trace the outline with a pencil. Cut the shape out using the scalpel, ruler and cutting mat. Use double-sided tape on the front edge of the house frame to stick the Starshine foil in position.

 

 

Punch different sized fir trees and reindeer from the sheet of black card. Stick these to the Starshine foil with more double-sided tape. Trim any parts of the shapes that protrude beyond the edge of the house frame.

 

 

 

 

Glue the string of lights to the back of the frame using the hot glue gun. Glue the wool cord around the front edge with the hot glue gun to conceal the double-sided tape which may show through the Starshine foil.

 

 

To view the range of new Pappart frames please see the new Autumn/Winter 2017 Trends Catalogue and for Efco’s entire Pappart range go to their Pappart and Wood Catalogue. Starshine foil may also be found in the current Trends Catalogue on Page N.56.