Jeff_Rudell

Dear CleverPussRevolution: I am certain you could replace the varnish that I used on this project, with a non-toxic substitute that would make your vessel suitable for use with food (fruit, breads, rolls, etc.) I might suggest exploring Modge-Podge as a finishing medium. As well, I believe certain Acrylic finishes are non-toxic and safe to use with food. Good luck and thank you for your comments.

Gorgeous! Easy to do! And too clever by half! I love it.

Dear deandebbie: I'm unsure how best to answer your question. I used two products on my tray, Mod Podge, the label of which claims it is Non Toxic, and Varathane, the website of which claims is a water-based, low odor, eco-friendly product. I would hesitate to eat food off either of these finishes but, once they are dry, I believe they are both inert. For my part, I would be comfortable placing fruit (in its skin) or perhaps a dinner roll on this tray but, no, I probably would not serve food out of it. If you can find a finish that is safe for use with food, you could probably substitute that finish for either of the two I used and still get the same adhesion results with you decoupage. Good luck.

For those who missed her performance at the Liar's Show last night, all I can tell you is it began with, "In 2004 I agreed to play Prospero in a Balinese production of the Tempest at the La Mama experimental theater in New York City." Highlights included: rescuing an elderly woman from a subway platform, a harrowing taxi ride to Bedford-Stuyvesant, comments on familial duty as it relates to picking up ones parents at an airport, a blind date, and the kindness of strangers. Other characters included a Haitian cab driver, a Barbadian immigrant, 40 Balinese dancers and a full Gamalon orchestra. Four and a half minutes after she began her tale, it ended with, "I glanced in the mirror and realized, in horror, that I was covered in blood from head to toe." I'm not kidding when I say it was a bravura performance that left the audience amazed (and applauding for more.) Our editor is a star!

OMG: Both of these egg projects are fantastic and I especially love the eggshell containers with the tiny flowers. Such a precious looking gift. Way to go! Thanks for the inspiration. Jeffery

Dear Sweat Meats, et al: Thank you all for your really wonderful words of encouragement. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to know that anything I say here might be of some help to members. I'm not certain but I suspect the fine print in my contract prevents me from accepting gifts but it would delight me no end if you would post pictures of your projects here on the site, so all the members can benefit from, and be inspired by, your creativity.

Linda: The moment I saw this I got that little tingle -- call it the Craft Itch! I could imagine how satisfying this piece would feel in my hands, what fun it would be putting it together, and what squeals of delight it would likely elicit from guests who saw it. Fun to do, fun to have, and fun to share: a perfect project in my opinion. Thank you.

Marsha: This is a lovely example and I love the addition of color! I agree, projects like this can get tedious at times but when you think of it in terms of have the opportunity to spend an afternoon thinking of a friend (and how much they will appreciate it) I know you'll agree, it really not a bad use of ones time. Thank you very much for adding this item. Jeffery

Dear justj: I did not find it necessary to coat or treat the onion skins with any fixative or finish. When adhered to the Twin Tak adhesive sheets, I found them to be very durable. As for the box, I don't have a template but I encourage you to make a box to whatever dimensions best suit your needs. My photographs were intended only as a guide to what shape you might use. Good luck and thank you for your very kind comments. Jeffery

To Readers Inquiring about Twin Tak: Twin Tak is a double-sided adhesive sheet (usually about $4.50 for an 18" x 24" piece) that is widely available at art supply stores. I am uncertain whether or not it is available at craft stores such as Michael's, etc.

As alternatives you might wish to consider other brand name adhesive sheets (double-sided being the most convenience since you can adhered the onion skins to one side and then adhere the the other side to your project -- in my case a Valentine box) or white liquid adhesive suitable for paper. With liquid glues you will have to wait for it to dry fully after gluing your onion skins in place. If you are comfortable with spray adhesives, that might offer another solution.

If you would prefer to use Twin-Tak as specified, you can order it by calling New York Central Art Supply at 212-473-7705 or 800-950-6111.

Thank you to everyone for their very supportive comments on this post. Good luck and Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

Jeffery

To AuburninAuburn: Twin Tak is a double-sided adhesive that comes in a variety of sheet sizes. I would probably recommend against spray adhesives or liquid glues for this project in order to avoid the mess. Twin Tak allows you to adhered the skins to one side and then peel off the backing and adhere the the finished sheet to your project. Good luck!

Dear tonistre: The trick to getting Floral Tape to stick (or so I've found) is to keep in mind that the tape sticks best to ITSELF. This means the trick is to get the tape stuck to itself with a quick roll of the wire and tape together between your thumb and forefinger. Floral tape also seems to get "stickier" if you stretch it a little as you're rolling it. I'd suggest practicing rolling tape around a pencil (or something rigid) until you get a feel for how the tape responds to being stretched and pressed onto itself. I hope this helps.

Dear pamphyila: My grandmother taught me to iron ribbons by carefully sliding them over a warm lightbulb. It seems our grandmothers were "green" long before it was fashionable. Thank you for your comments.

Amaryllis is absolutely correct in her evaluation. At the time, some years ago, the combination of "crazy-seeming" behavior, poor hygiene, and the unsanitary raw materials, made me loath to accept a paper crane from the street vendor. I would like to think I have since matured a little in my attitudes. Now, far from repulsing me, crazy-seeming behavior is something I am drawn to; hygiene (especially in this case) is often outside ones control, and; now that I've become a "trash picker" in my own right, I admire his resourcefulness. I'd like to think that, were I to happen upon the same situation today, I would offer money, accept a crane, and venture to share an origami recipe or two with that enterprising street crafter so that he could expand his product line and improve his lot. As I wrote in a recent post (DIY: A Manifesto (of sorts)), I've grown much more interested in passing along (craft) knowledge to others whenever the opportunity to do so arises. Thank you, Amaryllis, for your insightful comment.

mistah's comment points out an oversight on my part, chiefly that the "Noel" envelope is intended only as packaging for storing the nativity components. I would still recommend a sturdy manila envelope be used to when sending this item through the mail in order to protect your creation from dirt or damage. Think of the "Noel" envelope" as the project box and the manila envelope as the wrapping paper that hides your surprise. Thank you, mistah.

Dear ModernGirl: Sensational!!!!!!! I love love love love love it (so much, in fact, I'm going to sit down and make another one on my own only this time I'm going to use our palette. Perfection!

Lorell: Yes, my fusible interfacing is the woven kind. I actually bought it at Village Fabrics on 1st Avenue and 11th Street in NYC. It came of an enormous bolt so it didn't have any identifying labels or direction. It is woven, though, and the man who sold it to me said it was "double sided" so I did not fold it with the fusible side inward.

I have a dedicated "craft iron" that (sadly) doesn't get that hot anymore so I didn't have any problem with "stickiness." However, on my first attempt I did use a Silpat baking pad between my iron and the fusible material and that seemed to work well at preventing any residue from adhering to my iron. Thanks for offering tips on this material. I'm quite new to it so I appreciate all the guidance I can get.

cavalierking and craftiretiree: I've looked into the reported printing problems and I have been unable to duplicate them on my end. When I attempt to print this post, all pages and all images print fine. I even tried printing from a friends PC (I'm on a Mac) and everything seemed find. I've asked the CraftStylish crew to take a peek at it and we'll see if we can correct the problem.

sfucella: I'm newer to fusible interfacing than you since I didn't even know if came in different weights. I haven't a clue what weight I used but I would suggest you try something supple enough for you to crease it and crease it again (four layers) without the material being too bulky. I hope you'll post pictures of your results.

To all the others who left glowing and appreciative comments, thank you thank you thank you for all your encouragement. It means the world to me to hear your thoughts on these posts. Such encouragement is a gift. Jeffery

Dear Judy: Sorry for the delay and for failing to note in my post that I used a 12" wreath. Don't let what I used inhibit you in choosing a size that best suits your purposes. I think a larger wreath with smaller circles could be just as handsome as a smaller wreath with larger circles could be. :-)

Dear Wildenfunky: Any origami pattern will work with this tutorial, of course, but if you are interested specifically in this deer pattern, it is, to the best of my knowledge, only available in the book The World of Origami. The author has created a series of "composite figures" made of up two crane bases and this is one of them. They are not particularly difficult to make (which I love) but I've not found anything like it elsewhere. You could check with your local library or search for it second-hand online. Thank you for your kind words. I hope you'll post pictures of your work on the site for us all to enjoy. Craft on. -- Jeffery

Dear Eveh: It was easy to add the type to these cards. After I finished making each of the prints (and after they were dry) I simply ran the completed pieces through my ink-jet printer. No scanning was required.

These directions are great (I alway run things by my 10-year-old niece as a sort of field test and she agrees that they are clear and easy to follow.) I'm going out to pick up supplies so then next time we're all stuck inside on a rainy day, the nieces and I (there are five of them!) can have an afternoon of jewelry making. As one of them said, "This could make me very popular with my friends." Ah, the social benefits of bling! LOL.

Great job, Carolyn. Thanks for being the first to post your work. I love it.

A few readers have asked for the name of the paper I used for this project. All of the paper I used came out of my scrap basket so it's been a little difficult to identify everything. Still, I had some success that I hope will be of interest to anyone making these on their own. J.

For the white daisies: Echizen Washi Kozo & Sulphite paper from Thailand (Direct link to page where this paper is featured: http://www.nycentralartsupply.com/asia/japan2.html). Style number: M32 Gira-Ume, 80 grams, 31" x 43", $5.60 per sheet

For the yellow centers of the white daisies: Canford Paper (Direct link to page where this paper is featured: http://www.nycentralartsupply.com/europeii/unitedkingdom.html), Desden Yellow, 150 grams, 20 1/2" x 30 1/2", $2.00 per sheet

I mean "CraftyPod" blog (I left out the "y" in my last comment.) Let this be a lesson to all crafter that they should NOT to be writing comments at 1:56 in the morning when they should be sleeping. :-)

Diane: Spoonflower sounds amazing. I can't wait to try it out. I also wanted to compliment you on your amazing CraftPod blog. I dipped in for a quick look and two hours (TWO HOURS!) zipped by before I knew it. I love the work you're doing there. Super.

Jennifer: You've ruined me!!!! Now that I know I'm not limited by the type of embroidered papers I can buy off the shelf my mind is racing to all manner of projects I want to begin. This is a disaster since my mind is already running in ten directions. I'm going to be so busy playing with this new process it's unlikely I'll ever get any of my work done now! :-) Thank you for the great tutorial.

Dear Javamaven: The birds I simply cut out myself. You can make your own by simply downloading some bird images from Internet and then tracing them onto ColorAid paper and cutting them out. All you need is a craft knife, a cutting surface, and some colorful paper and you can make your own in a matter of minutes. Good luck.

Dear craft_gal: I use either X-acto or Excel brand blades (usually number 11, which is the most commonly available size.) I've had similar problems with blade tips snapping -- very annoying -- or blades being dull -- very very annoying. When I investigated by talking to a purchasing manager at a large art supply story in New York City, I was informed that most of the blades packaged for consumer use are now produced in China (isn't everything, these days?) However, he claimed that blades sold in 100 unit packs are still produced in the U.S. Why this should be I cannot say -- it may not even be true -- but I have had pretty good luck with the 100 packs. They are a bit expensive ($25-$35 depending on where you buy them) but it beats having to replace a blade every few minutes.

Another option you may wish to consider: Many art stores and higher-end craft stores now sell surgical steal scalpels. They are EXTREMELY sharp, quite durable, and they have a rounded tip. The snub-nosed blade prevents the tip from snapping off and there's no question they are sharp. I don't use them myself only because the handles are plastic and I tend to bear down rather heavily when I'm cutting so I prefer the steel shank of a regular X-acto. If you have a lighter touch, you may wish to try a scalpel. New York Central Art Supply in New York City carries them if you cannot find them where you live (NY Central Art Supply, 62 Third Avenue, NY NY 10003, 212-473-7705). Good luck and craft on!

Dear artlikebread: Thank you for your kind comment. I've added a picture of floral frogs, per your request. You can find these items at your local florist (and often at your local flea market, too.) Craft on!