Well, when I first heard the term Tzedakah box, I thought I heard Sedaka, as in Neil Sedaka. (According to Wikipedia, his last name actually is a variant of tzedakah.) So you know me and puns – I had to make a Sedaka/Tzedakah Box.

I used Eileen Hull’s Sizzix XL block/cube die, along with the Movers & Shapers Money Slot die to make the box. Then I printed images of Neil Sedaka albums onto a sheet of Craft Attitude printable film. I was able to put all six images for the six sides of the cube onto one sheet of Craft Attitude. (Remember to print in reverse.) Then I cut them up into six individual pieces of Craft Attitude and applied each image on the sides with some spray adhesive. I use Scotch Super 77. I did have to trim the Craft Attitude film that was over the coin slot. That was easy.

This is what the two pieces looked like before I assembled the box. I used Therm-o-Web iCraft adhesive sheets on the tabs to stick them together. I left one of the flaps unsealed, so you can still open the box and and take out the money for charity. And that, my friends, is the Neil Tzedaka box. It makes me verklempt!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Half gallon juice carton, smaller juice carton, skewers, clothespins, glue dots, Craft Attitude printable film, lamination pouches, laminator, distilled water.

STEP 1: Drink some juice. First, you will need a half gallon carton, so buy your favorite juice, drink it, and wash the carton. (The lemonade/iced tea I bought was actually 5 ounces short of a half gallon. How long have they been gipping me?) Then you will need a smaller carton. I used the little orange juice carton I got with my Jack in the Box breakfast combo. 

STEP 2: Cut off the tops of the carton so the large carton is about 5″ high, and the small carton is about 4″ high. The smaller carton will sit in the larger carton to create an ice mold, but we want the small carton elevated about an inch so the ice votive holder has a bottom to it. Therefore, we need to suspend the small carton with skewers, as you see in the photo. 

STEP 3: Now print some photos of Elsa on a sheet of Craft Attitude printable film using your inkjet printer. I chose to print on Craft Attitude film rather than regular paper because the film is transparent, so Elsa’s image will be transparent in the ice. Oh, and I sized the images so they were just a little smaller than the width of the larger carton. 

STEP 4: Cut out the images, peel the film from its protective backing, and place the film in a lamination pouch. I have a stack of 4″x6″ lamination pouches I got from Staples. The pouches are frosted, as you see in the photo, but when they go through the laminator, they turn clear. The 4″x6″ pouches are too big to fit in the cartons, so after you’ve laminated the Elsa images, trim the plastic so they will fit. The plastic lamination protects the images by making them waterproof in the ice.

STEP 5: I had 4 pictures of Elsa, one for each side of the carton. The challenge was how to keep the laminated images standing up straight between the walls of the larger and the smaller cartons, as they had a tendency to fall over. Also, when you put water in the ice mold, the images will want to float up rather than stay in place. My solution was holding each image with a clothespin, and placing the clothespin between the cartons. I also put a glue dot on the clothespin so it would stick to the wall of the outer carton. Now the images will stay put. I also put a few rocks in the smaller carton to weight it down.

STEP 6: I used distilled water for the ice block because it freezes a bit more clear than tap water. Supposedly if you boil the distilled water, it comes out even more clear, but I’ve done that I haven’t seen much of a difference. Now, the secret to filling the ice mold with water is to do it in two steps. First, just pour in about an inch of water. We only want this first layer of ice to hold the laminated images. If you pour more water than that, you’ll be freezing the clothespins in water, too.

STEP 7: After the first layer of ice is frozen (wait several hours or overnight), the laminated images are frozen into place and aren’t going anywhere. Now you can remove the clothespins and glue dots, and remove the skewers. Then pour in the rest of the water so it just covers the top of the laminated image. Make sure the water is really cold, so it doesn’t melt the ice that’s already in our little contraption. (In the photo, the skewers are still there because I forgot, but I did eventually remove them.) Put it all back in the freezer for several hours until it is frozen solid.STEP 8: When the ice is frozen solid, take the ice mold to the sink and pour some cold water into the small carton in the middle. Don’t use hot water because it might crack the ice. Just use cold water, and the water in the carton will warm up the ice on the outside. After a while, you will be able to slide out the middle carton.

STEP 9: Lastly, run cold water on the outside of the larger carton. Eventually, the entire ice block will slide out of the carton.

Put a glass votive holder and an LED candle in the opening of the ice block, and Elsa seems to glow. Obviously we’re using an LED candle here and not a real candle because we want the ice to last for a while. And because the LED candle is battery-operated, it’s in a glass holder for protection.

Here is a closeup of the ice surrounding Elsa. I love the pattern of the ice. It’s like her “soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around.” Okay, I’m off to watch “Let it Go” on YouTube again.

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Admittedly, this 4th of July project is not obviously red, white and blue patriotic. But the humor of the retro photographs and their quotes is quintessentially American. For more traditional 4th of July projects I’ve done, check out my Mason Jar Flag Centerpiece, Patriotic Pinwheel Rosettes, my Red White and Blue Yarn Ball String Lights, and Stars and Stripes String Lights.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the customized soap bars: One sheet of Craft Attitude printable film; rectangular soap bars; Mod Podge; melted beeswax.

Step 1: Print out your designs on a sheet of Craft Attitude film using your home inkjet printer. Notice I printed them in reverse, so the words are “backwards.” That way, when you apply it to the soap with ink side down, the image will be in the correct orientation.

I created these graphics on Photoshop using images from vintage ads. Click here for the free printable PDF: soap_designs_ca

Step 2: When choosing soap for this project, look for bars of soap that have a flat surface, which will make it easier to apply the image. Curved soap is more difficult to work with. Also, look for soap without a logo embossed in it. I found these nice, plain bars of rectangular soap at Whole Foods.

Step 3: Using a foam brush, apply a layer of Mod Podge to one side of the soap bar. I used the matte finish Mod Podge.

Step 4: Trim the Craft Attitude film to fit the soap, and peel the image from its protective backing. Then position the image ink side down on the soap where the Mod Podge was applied. Rub your fingers on top of the film to burnish it. The Craft Attitude will conform to any nooks and crannies in the soap. It goes on like buttah!

Step 5: Apply another layer of Mod Podge on top of the Craft Attitude to seal it. Let the Mod Podge dry. Let me tell you, this is the first time I’ve used Mod Podge with Craft Attitude and the two work great together!

Step 6: The Mod Podge seals the image, but to make the Craft Attitude waterproof so you can use the soap without the image washing off, we are going to seal the image side with wax. Yes, wax. It sounds scary and hard, but it is actually really easy. I have an electric skillet from Target that was $20, and I melted a brick of beeswax in it so there was about a quarter-inch of melted wax in the skillet. Then I just dipped the image side of the soap in the wax for a second and removed it. Let the wax harden completely, and it becomes transparent so you can see the image beneath it. Now you can use the soap, and the sealed image won’t wash off! 

Although these soaps are customized for July 4th, you can obviously make soaps for all kinds of occasions. They make great personalized gifts when you apply photographs of family, friends or pets. These would also make perfect favors for weddings or baby showers (because soaps and showers go together). And with the Craft Attitude, the soap will look like it was custom printed. 

Disclosure: I am the designer/spokesperson for Craft Attitude, and the Craft Attitude links on this post are affiliate links. Thank you. I can sleep at night, now.

I lost my dad about 15 years ago. He was a dear man who led an amazing life – living through Japanese-occupied China, then the Communist revolution, escaping to Hong Kong with my mom and older siblings, and then coming to America to make a better life for all of us. This Father’s Day project is dedicated to him, although he didn’t have a cell phone and would not know what to do with this iPhone holder. But hey – at least it’s not a neck tie.

I love the little mini easels you find at art supply stores. I’ve used them in the past as place card holders, with mini canvases showing the faces of dinner guests. Since I have a lot of them lying around, they have inevitably been used for business card holders, recipe holders, and now, iPhone holders. Because they are plain wood, they are so easy to decorate with Craft Attitude printable film. I love how Craft Attitude goes on wood. It looks and feels like the wood has been printed with the design – not like a sticker or decal. And good news: Craft Attitude is now available at Walmart.

I decided to decorate the easel/iPhone holder with plaid because it’s such a fatherly print – that and argyle. And the plaid allowed me to incorporate a punny line: “I’M PLAID YOU’RE MY DAD.” Let me show you how I made it.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Mini easel from art supply store or some crafts stores, Craft Attitude printable film, glue stick or spray adhesive, craft foam sheet, glue.

STEP 1: Find plaid prints online and print on sheet of Craft Attitude film with your inkjet printer at home. Print images in reverse if words are incorporated. 

STEP 2: Cut the plaid film in 1/4″ strips, which is the width of the legs of the easel. Then apply a glue stick to the wood legs, place the film face down on the wood, burnish with your fingers so the film sticks, and remove the backing sheet.

STEP 3: Trim the excess film with a hobby knife. Continue applying the strips to the rest of the legs. Apply your message to dad on the ledge that holds the iPhone. I used a glue stick to adhere the Craft Attitude film, but you can also use a spray adhesive.

STEP 4: I glued a strip of craft foam to the top of the ledge to add friction to the ledge holding the iPhone. The rubbery foam grips the iPhone nicely. 

And just like that, we’re done. What a novel, yet useful, gift for a dad. Moms will definitely get jealous over this gift, but they can’t have it – plaid doesn’t rhyme with mom.

Disclosure: I am the designer/spokesperson for Craft Attitude. The Craft Attitude links in this post are affiliate links. Well, here’s full disclosure for you: I’ve made like a total of $11 in commissions over the past year with this affiliate link, but I never even cashed the check because I lost it. So obviously I’m not doing this for the money. I simply love the product and what I can do with it.

Anyway, this must explain why I love making things for Easter now. For the Craft Attitude Easter Blog Hop, I made this fun cargo train holding Peeps. It’s made with Craft Attitude printable film (of course) and Eileen Hull’s Sizzix box die.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED: Craft Attitude Printable Film, Sizzix ScoreBoards XL Die – Box, Square, Mat board, ColorBox Archival Dye Ink, brown, Super 77 spray adhesive, Halcraft beads, Large Buttons, Glue gun, Easter grass, Peeps

STEP 1: To make three boxes, which will be the three box cars, die cut six pieces of mat board with the ScoreBoards box die.

STEP 2: Since the boxes will be open, cut off the top lid of three of the six sections. Then rub the edges of all the mat board with the brown stamp ink to distress it.

STEP 3: Assemble the boxes according to the package instructions using a glue gun.

STEP 4: I found Peter Rabbit illustrations, which have just entered public domain, online and printed them onto sheets of Craft Attitude film. The sides of the boxes are 3 1/4″ x 3 1/4″, so I sized the images to those dimensions, placing four on each sheet. I sprayed the ink side of the Craft Attitude with spray adhesive, and then placed the images ink side down on the sides of the box, and then removed the protective backing. You may be wondering why I bothered to distress the boxes with ink before applying the Craft Attitude. Would the ink even be seen? Yes! The Craft Attitude is transparent wherever there is “white,” so the brown ink shows through.

STEP 5: I connected the boxes with Halcraft beads and fishing line, punching holes in the boxes to secure the beads.

STEP 6: Then I hot glued buttons to the bottoms of the boxes for the train wheels.

When the train was finished, I filled the box cars with Easter grass and bunny Peeps. I just love how it turned out. Hey, who needs the Easter Bunny when you’ve got Craft Attitude?

Disclosure: I am a designer/spokesperson for Craft Attitude, and the Craft Attitude links you see are affiliate links. But I was the number one fan of Craft Attitude before anyone else, so I would be using this stuff even if I weren’t the spokesperson. So there.

You can download the free printable here by clicking on the links. I have one that’s in reverse as well, for your convenience.

love_dice_printable

love_dice_printable_reverse

These are the blocks I bought at Joann. They are from Darice, and come in three in a pack for $2.29.

I printed the designs on one sheet of Craft Attitude film, and then cut them into individual squares to fit on the blocks. 

Then I applied a glue stick to the wood, and placed the Craft Attitude film ink side down on the glued surface. (That’s why it’s important to print in reverse.) I find it easier to place the Craft Attitude film on the surface with the backing still on it. Then when it’s where I want, I peel off the backing. 

And just like that, something fun for Valentine’s Day. So roll the dice. Do you feel lucky?

Well, I know you feel crafty. So take a look at the other projects for Craft Attitude’s Valentine’s Blog Hop.

Let me talk a minute about Rit Dye and wood. They go together like ramalamalama kadinga da ding dong. If you’ve ever tried staining wood, you know you’re stuck with a few available colors, and it’s messy and sticky. Well, with Rit Dye, you have a choice of a lot of vibrant colors, plus you can mix the colors to create new ones. And it’s so much easier.

Here’s what I did. I poured a little Rit Dye in a plastic cup and then applied some to the wood tags with a foam brush. The dye kind of just sat on top of the wood a little rather than getting absorbed in right away, so I used a paper towel to rub it in. Presto. Gorgeous color on the wood.

To set the dye, I then put the wood in a microwave oven for about 20 seconds. Look at those vibrant colors, yowzah.

I made up these fun captions and printed four out on a piece of Craft Attitude printable film. You hear me say over and over again, Craft Attitude lets you apply any photo or image to practically any surface. Just print out your design on an inkjet printer, and apply it to the surface with a glue gun or spray adhesive. Here is the Craft Attitude coming out of the printer. You’ll notice I printed it in reverse. That’s because it has words on it, and we’ll be flipping it over ink side down later.

Apply a glue stick on the wood. I’ve also used a spray adhesive like Scotch Super 77 with wood. 

Peel the Craft Attitude film from the protective backing and place it on the glued surface. It will feel like the design has been printed right on the wood with a smooth, satin finish.

Then cut off the excess film with scissors or a craft blade.

Was it that easy? Yes, as the people who came by the Rit Booth can attest. Although they are probably being detained right now at TSA for having too fabulous a luggage tag.

MAKING PHOTO RIBBON: Measure the width of your ribbon. Mine was 1.5 inches. Then size your photos so they are 1.5″ high, and put a bunch of them in a row. I used Photoshop for this, and I fit in 5 rows onto one document, and then printed it out on a sheet of Craft Attitude. Cut it into strips.

Leaving the backing paper on, apply spray adhesive (I use Scotch Super 77) to the ink side of the film. Place the strip face down on the ribbon, rub it with your fingers, and remove the backing paper. Personalized ribbon, people! 

Of course, the Craft Attitude works best on a lighter colored background. The ribbon I used was a light green, which was a cool background to put my dogs against. Aren’t they cute dressed up like Santa and an elf? Now, one sheet of Craft Attitude can make a ribbon that’s about 52″ long. You’ll see from the photo that it’s really flexible, and once it’s on the ribbon, you can still tie it into a bow. 

PERSONALIZING WRAPPING PAPER: This is just so easy, I don’t know why I don’t do it all the time. I have a 3″ hole punch, so I sized photos of Gershwin to 3″, and printed out the photos on a sheet of Craft Attitude film. I could fit 6 pictures on one sheet. Then I used the hole punch to create 6 circles of Gershwin’s face. Keeping the backing paper on, I applied spray adhesive to the ink side, placed the circle face down on the wrapping paper, burnished with my fingers, and peeled off the backing. 

I love how the film is relatively transparent, so the design on the wrapping paper shows through. This makes the image look printed on the paper, rather than looking like a sticker. 

PERSONALIZING A GIFT BAG: This too is crazy easy, but such a fun way to customize a gift bag. I bought a gift bag at Joann with some candy canes on it and printed out a photo of Gershwin on a sheet of Craft Attitude. 

Leaving the backing paper on (I sound like a broken record), apply some spray adhesive to the ink side of the Craft Attitude and place it face down on the gift bag. Burnish it with your fingers, and peel off the backing. Instant photo gift bag. Amazing or what?

Just like with the wrapping paper, I love how the design of the paper shows through, so it looks like the photo was printed on the bag. 

That’s a wrap, folks!

Here are the supplies I used:

2-3 sheets of Craft Attitude film

ColorBox Crafter’s ink pads – red, green and black

Judikins French Love Letter Background stamp

Skewers

Recollections double-stick tape from Michael’s

Westcott scissors

Step 1: For the first few steps, keep the protective backing on the Craft Attitude film. This makes it easier to work with. Start by cutting wavy lines on the long edges of the Craft Attitude film. I do this so the rose petals aren’t so “square.”

Step 2: Instead of printing a design on the Craft Attitude, I’m coloring the film with Clearsnap Colorbox Crafter’s ink pads. I rubbed the ink pads directly on the film. Two sheets of Craft Attitude were rubbed with red ink, and one was rubbed with red ink on the sides and a green stripe in the middle. That green will be for the outermost layer of the rose. Then heat set the colors with either an iron or a heat tool. I used a heat gun.Step 3: I could have left the Craft Attitude with just the color, but I thought adding a design on top of that would add dimension. Plus it would be more festive. I decided to use Judikins’ French Love Letter Background because the words give it that certain “je ne sais quois” for the holidays. I used Clearsnap’s ColorBox Crafter’s black ink (called “Night”) for this. Be sure to heat set this ink as well.

Step 4: Now take some scissors and cut about 4 slits on each of the wavy sides, but don’t cut all the way to the center. Cuts that are around 3 inches are ideal. When cutting, the slits don’t have to be equidistant. 

Step 5: Now peel the Craft Attitude from its protective backing and stack the sheets on top of each other, ink side up. The sheet with the green stripe should be on the bottom, which is why you can’t see it in the picture. Look, the petals are already curling like they’re supposed to!

Step 6: Fold the stack of Craft Attitude sheets lengthwise. The ink helps hold the inside edges together. You can now see the green at the bottom fold. Apply a strip of double stick tape to this bottom edge.

Step 7: Now it’s the fun part, and we can create the flower before our eyes. Place a wooden skewer on the far right edge of the stack, making sure it adheres to the double stick tape, and start rolling the Craft Attitude around the skewer, squeezing with your fingers where the tape meets the skewer.

Step 8: As you go around, start fanning out, but keep squeezing the part where the tape meets the skewer. 

Step 9: Keep going around until the flower is complete. The petals, which you precut in an earlier step, now just fall naturally around the rose. If you don’t like the placement of certain petals, just adjust them. You can arrange several of these flowers in a vase for a holiday arrangement, or even place them on gifts instead of bows.

On the photo below, the rose on the left was made with two sheets of Craft Attitude, and the two other roses were made with three sheets, so you can compare the fullness of them. I hope this project has inspired you to not only use Craft Attitude in one of your projects, but to think outside the box and use it in an unconventional way. Boy, I wish I had these for my book “Flowers that Wow.” (Shameless plug)Be sure to see all the projects coming up in the next days and weeks in this blog hop.

For a great gift, you can also put photos on the CD cases with the Craft Attitude film. Here are photos of my dogs Gershwin and Fosse on the CD cases. LED candles would light up their cute faces, too.

Before I go through the super easy tutorial on this, let me talk about Craft Attitude, because it’s a new product and not a lot of people know about it yet.