Helmar Design Team

Get Your Decoupage on with Helmar

Hello, Helmar fans! Liz here and I want to share my altered wooden farmhouse with you. I found this little house at my local craft store. It was yelling at me from the shelf to take it home and cover it using Helmar Decoupage and Craft Paste. I obeyed and did just that.

To begin my project, I painted all of the edges of my barn a grey and allowed it to dry.I chose to use the new Storyteller collection from Crate Paper to cover my barn. After I measured and got all of my paper sizes right, I brushed on the Helmar Decoupage Paste with a large paintbrush right onto the barn. I then applied each paper onto the barn and painted another coat of Decoupage over it. I love the firm, shiny coat that it gave my project.

To add a little more detail I decorated the barn with cut out paper grass, brass brads, Spanish moss and a feathered flower. Those were all attached using Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Colorful and Girlie (Quite Literally)

I am over the moon to be sharing my first project as a member of the Helmar design team! I am absolutely blown away by the amazing, diverse quality of Helmar's products, and feel so blessed to be able to use them on each and every one of my recent projects. For the layout I am sharing today, I used some of my favorite Helmar discoveries: Craft and Hobby PVA Glue, Helmar 450 Quick Dry, and Zap Dots. (I couldn't just use one, I love them all so much!)

I thought that I couldn't think of a better way to use the gorgeous, feminine (to me at least) color palette that Lydell found and created for our challenge, than by using these photos of my grandmother and her three daughters, taken in 1947. I mean, you can't get any girlier than that, unless you had maybe 10 girls. Hehe. As the mother of three girls herself, I'm always comforted by the fact that my grandmother successfully raised her daughters (my mom is the littlest girl, on the left), and that she is hopefully whispering encouragement in my ear from above.

For all of the one-dimensional elements on this page (mostly paper), I used the Helmar Craft and Hobby PVA Glue. When I "wormed it" (my phrase for winding streams of glue) onto the back of the paper, I then spread it very thin using a Pampered Chef stoneware scraper. A old credit card could do the same job...or hey, a new credit card could work too, it would keep you from using it later. Or maybe you could just explain to the store clerk how much you love your Helmar? Anyhoo, I love how the glue then adhered perfectly and smoothly to the base paper, even with gesso and paint and such on it.

For the very first time EVER, I was able to adhere one of these vintage plastic doilies to my layout, and then photograph it so closely.....because there weren't any glue strings! Helmar 450 did the trick! It spread so nice and thin, but was still re-positionable, AND you can't see the adhesive on the doily itself, or the paper. Perfecto! The Helmar 450 Quick Dry was also perfect for sticking this heavy clothespin to the fabric sticker, as well. There's nothing better than security in knowing the clothespin won't eventually be laying at the bottom of an album.

I'm so glad that you stopped by the Helmar blog today, and that I got to share my layout with you! I hope that maybe I gave you a little inspiration, and that you are ready to go get gluey! Until next time,big, sparkly gluey hugs to you all. <3

Altered Box of Helmar...

What a fun week of creating I have had!  My project for the Helmar Altered Art/Mixed Media week is the rejuvenation of a box that was just too charming, and sturdy to throw out. More often than not, gift boxes are the perfect item to 'alter' or 're-create', and using Helmar products makes the task so much easier!  It is amazing once you start altering items (no matter what they are) how your eyes seem to scan everything in sight, in a totally different light. I might possibly have to live till I'm 302 to get through all the projects I have currently stashed in my mind...

Firstly, I noted all measurements of  the box, adding 1/4" to each side edge, which allows for scoring and folding over for a neater appearance/finish. This box was where I discovered the idea to use hair elastics for clasping of my memory books and other altered projects. When the 1/4" edges have been scored, cut out the little square corner piece of each and every corner.

 

My adhesive of choice is Helmar 450 Quick Dry for adhering the paper to the box - why, because it is a fast drying adhesive, that still allows for manipulation while drying to ensure all edges are in place with only one glue-session.  Gentle persuasion of the paper/glue as drying, allows for a perfect finish.  This is the first adhesive I have been able to do this with, and I cannot express how excited I am to come across a product which cuts my 'waiting' time down to next to nothing, does not buckle paper, and gives a perfect finish.

Apply Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive to the side pieces first, making sure to take the adhesive right up to the very edges of your paper.  Without delay, apply paper to box sides one at a time and gently manipulate folds into place.  Repeat process with all sides.  The reason I apply paper to sides first, is so that no joins are obvious on the front.  Also, my reason for using a striped paper, joins are less obvious than a pattern.

Measure and cut base paper, slightly smaller (a few mm's) and again apply using Helmar 450 Quick Dry, and the same for the top of the box, using a more decorative paper of your choice.

Use a Crop-O-Dile to punch a hole through the centre of the lid of the box, and directly below on front of the box, and insert an eyelet into each hole.  Weave a hair-tie from inside through the eyelet hole of the top of the box, adhere using Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive, and allow to dry.

I have been a button collector for many years, so I had oodles of fun seeing which button looked 'right' on my project.  To attach the button, a wire-tie from a garbage bag was threaded through the button shank. 

Buttons with shanks are most appropriate for this project, as they allow a gap that the hair-tie can wind over and around with ease.  To finish the inside, twist tie around and then spread both ties out across the inside of the box on either side of the button - adhere in place with a smearing of Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant.  Works a treat! 

Time to decorate!  I have a love of lace, so I found a nice piece which could be cut up, and gave the lace a swipe over with Walnut Stain Distress Ink, giving a more vintage appearance. Also, any areas where the lace may fray when cut, an application of Helmar Fray Stoppa, was applied before cutting into pieces.

Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant was used to attach the Tim Holts Ideology Foundations (legs), and there is no way they will ever budge!  The Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant is superb for metal objects, and very little is required to do the perfect job.

Decorating was a lot of fun, using a variety of mediums and adhesives to 'match'.  Layers of paper, flowers, lace, leaves, and butterflies were adhered using Helmar 450 Quick Dry which allowed me to continue working without having any delays waiting for glue to dry. A light coat of Helmar Professional Acid Free Glue was applied to back of ballerina cut out, and adhered gently pressing with a make-up sponge to remove any small air-bubbles beneath the paper. No buckling of the paper, soooo loveeeee this glue!

Metal charms were added using the Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant - this adhesive is a must have for anything metal, though can be used on most surfaces, including concrete.  Gemstone Glue was applied to the areas where beads were reuqired, and there is no way those beads will ever come loose.

Thanks for visiting today! Sandie

Helmar Products Used:

Gemstone Glue

 Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant

Helmar Professional Acid Free 

  Helmar 450 Quick Dry

 Helmar Fray Stoppa

Altered Wooden Box by Jamie Cripps

Hi guys!  Jamie back with you today!  I love making altered items for our home and as gifts so I am always on the look out for great finds!  I recently picked up this cute box at the Christmas Tree Shop for only $3.99!  Such a deal!

I love that it is hinged and includes glass in the top frame and this box has removable inserts for the dividers which makes it so much easier to alter!  It's the little that excite me :) 

I picked out some papers and trims and grabbed my Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive and Helmar Crystal Kote spray and turned my box into this...

Supplies:  Pattern Paper: Homestead (SEI), Ink: Mustard Seed and Frayed Burlap Distress Ink by Tim Holtz (Ranger), Twine: Cappuccino (The Twinery). Metal: Key from Bits & Pieces Stella Rose (My Mind's Eye), Adhesive: 450 Quick Dry, Crystal Kote (Matte) and Adhesive Runner (Helmar), Box: From the Christmas Tree Shop, Misc: Burlap

 

Here is a quick video tutorial to show you how!

   Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

Love is in the Air, Helmar helps make fabric and paper flowers for a Wedding

Good Morning all you Hot Helmar fans! It is L. Grace Lauer here!

Today I am going to share with you how to make fabric flowers from polyester with Helmar glue! These were made for my Sister's wedding. I am going to take a quick moment to shout out "Congrats to Sheay and Tom". 

WARNING! Long post... grab a cup of your favorite comfort beverage and a snack! I am pretty sure you will enjoy it!

Now, lets get started - How to make the fabric flowers...

Step 1: Make sure you are working with 100% Polyester! ALL natural fibers are flammable as well as Rayon and a few other man made fibers... however Polyester with mostly melt when heated. Keep a close eye on it.

Step 2: Cut a circle out of the fabric

Step 3: Fold circle in 1/2 and then in 1/2 again (Skip to step 6 if you are wanting the round lollipop flowers)

Step 4: Cut two or three slits from the outside curve toward the center about 2/3 of the way in.

Step 5: unfold the circle

Step 6: hold OVER open flame (not in the flame) from a candle,to gently melt the edges of each petal.

Make many of these with different sized circles and then layer them up!

HELMAR STEP: I used Helmar Premium Craft Glue to adhere each layer to the other and to also adhere the hair "fastener" (clip, wire twisties, comb) to the flowers. Though this glue dries fast to the touch you need to let it cure for a bit longer.  Let set for the glue to cure completely before testing it in your hair... I speak from experience!

***Make sure there is ventilation in the room (watch for a breeze though it tends to blow the heat and flame around and you can easily get burned when the flame is unsteady.

Lets look at some examples...

Hair piece #1 - Bridal flower (this one is made from the remnants of her dress when she got it altered) Helmar Premium Craft Glue was used between every layer and to attach the sliver eyelash ribbon and even the metal center piece. Helmar Gemstone glue came to the rescue when I noticed there was a gem missing in the metal center piece, shhh... don't tell my sister!

Helmar Gemstone glue was used to adhere a spare gemstone (yes I have a selection of those handy just in case... hehe) into the empty place drying totally clear to let it shine! Because this piece was made with the chiffon from her dress it was quite flimsy. I used Helmar Fabric Stiffener & Draping Liquid to give the petals some rigidity.

Here it is in action on the big day! (This photo is courtesy of Sarah Christine Photography in Fort Collins, CO, I highly recommend her!) Isn't my baby sister beautiful?

Bridal Shoe Accessories: The flowers attached with safty pins. (This photo is courtesy of Sarah Christine Photography in Fort Collins, CO)

Flower Girl Accessories! Hair pieces #2 and #3 - All the blue, yellow and grey flowers in the top photo were used to adorn these lovely little ladies with mass amounts of hand crafted Helmar infused pretties! Everything from their hair to their belts to their flowered poms have Helmar all over it! Here is my precious little daughter and her hair piece. (This photo is courtesy of Sarah Christine Photography in Fort Collins, CO)

Their Hair pieces were created like the Bridal Hair piece as well as their belt flowers only I used a large safety pin to attach them to the belt.

Their poms on the other hand started off as a $1 store styrofoam ball (2 for a $1) Using Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA Glue, which is rated for styrene, all over the balls and then wrapping them with strips of the silver taffeta fabric (left over from their dresses that my sister made, yes I come from a very crafty family) made the perfect base for the flowers. After the Helmar Premium Craft Glue was dried on the flower they were pinned into the Styrofoam balls with strait pins and for some extra security they were also glued with Helmar Premium Craft Glue . The handles were done the same way and even after some friendly battles with the Ring Bearer the poms had no mishaps and stuck together like all my Helmar projects do. (This photo is courtesy of Sarah Christine Photography in Fort Collins, CO)

The Ring Bearer Boutonniere - this was created with this technique explained HERE in a great video tutorial (I skipped the inking and misting).  I used Helmar Acid Free Glue to adhere the layers together again to make them very secure because they were in the hands of children for hours... and well kids will be kids. Then I used Helmar Gemstone Glue and sprinkled them with an iridescent glitter from PK Glitz. We added these yellow flowers to the flower girl poms also to bring in more of the yellow shade from the programs and invitations. The Card stock was from Coredinations Foundations.

 

Matron of Honor and Mother of the bride hair flowers - Now since I was the Matron of honor at this wedding I did not get photos of my hair but these were the hair pieces I had the stylist twist into my side fishtail french braid. (This photo was taken prior to the gluing process on the burned flowers...)

Here are three of these little guys clustered in the Mother of the Bride's Hair.

I made these the same way as the bride's but much smaller about 1 1/2" circles. I used wire on the backs to be able to twist them into any hair style or bobbie pin cluster. To secure the wires I used... You guessed it Helmar Premium Craft Glue.

I know, I know... but I warned you this was long! I am almost done!

I had to add to this post that this technique was used again just yesterday while adding leaves to my son's Peter Pan Costume! The leaves are attached to the costume made by my mother... with Helmar Premium Craft Glue because it is washable! If you have a question about wash-ability or what glue is right for what surface... please check out this chart HERE on our blog.

Well that's all folks! I hope you were able to finish your beverage and snack in time. I hope you all have a Happy Helmar Day and please leave a comment below! Thank you for your time!

Helmar Design Team Member

 

Sparkling headband with 450 glue

My daughter LOVES headbands so when Green Tara sent me some beautiful pearl trim and acrylic bead flowers and dragonflies, well I just couldn't resist creating another pretty headband for her. Helmar's strong holding 450 quick dry was just the right glue I needed for a long-lasting bond of all the pretty elements you see here. This glue really made the job fast and easy. You can't see where I glued either - so it lets the acrylic beads really shine!

I gave her the headband on the morning of her 4th birthday and she wore it all day long!

So this is the "before" shot of the plain plastic headband. It's amazing what a few great embellies and the right glue can do!

Easy Headband Instructions:

Step 1 - Cover outside of headband (dollar store) with bead trim (or ribbon, or lace etc.) and let the 450 glue dry for a few minutes.

Step 2 - Add embellishments of choice and tlet them dry.

Step 3 - Brighten a girl's day. Seriously it's THAT easy (if you have the right glue!).

Honestly, it often costs about HALF of what'd you'd pay in the stores too. Here is an example of one I've made in the past with fabric trims and flowers (on a wide faux leather headband, also from the dollar store) to give you a bit more inspiration to try making your own...

 
This glue is my "go to" glue - clear, strong and acid free. Love this stuff!

Thanks for dropping by the blog today!

Vicky Alberto, Design Team Member

http://simplypaperandcreativity.blogspot.ca

 

Build A Better Mouse Trap with Helmar

Well, perhaps I didn't build a better mouse trap, but I did manage a prettier mouse trap.   Do you do what I do and wander around stores looking at things and thinking of what you could make with them or how fun it would be to alter them?  I was wandering around the hardware store and spotted mouse traps.  It reminded me that I had seen somewhere online that a trap was altered and looked really great, looking kind of steampunk and I thought it would be fun to try altering one myself.  There was no way I was leaving that store without a mouse trap or two..... heck, I even grabbed a rat trap.  Can't wait to tackle that one.  For now, I'll stick with sharing the mouse trap.

I started with removing the unnecessary pieces from it and sanding the edges lightly to remove any rough spots and splinters.  I gave it a light coat of gesso for no real reason other than I felt it should have some kind of a primer on it before I got after it with my Helmar Decoupage Paste.   I chose a pretty paper from Pink Paislee and cut two pieces to fit both ends of the mouse trap surface.  I probably could have removed the spring and replaced it, but doing it in two pieces wasn't difficult.

I gave my paper pieces a couple of coats of Crystal Kote Glossy before decoupaging them to the mouse trap surface.

Once the decoupage was dry, I gave the entire trap surface another couple of coats of  Crystal Kote Glossy.  I placed a piece of clear tape over the spring so as not to fill it with  Crystal Kote Glossy.  It probably would have been okay, but I didn't want to take a chance.

I chose to embellish the top with paper flowers and various paper leaves to coordinate with the pattern paper.  I gave what started as white paper flowers a quick spray or two of a yellow Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist and once dry, I pulled out the can of Crystal Kote Glossy again and sprayed the embellishments. 

 

 

Once everything was dry and ready for placement on the trap, I put a blob (creative word) of  Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant on the trap and was able to arrange my pieces on it.  I couldn't resist the quick addition of a few gems using Helmar Gemstone adhesive. 

My last step is to adhere magnets to the back of my new clip for attaching it to my refrigerator or, more likely, my metal front door.  I'm good for leaving notes for the delivery men in my life.

It could just as easily be nailed directly to a wall or have a hole drilled in the top and hang it for leaving messages or clipping important papers, mail, etc.  It could just sit on a shelf and look pretty, too.

I made my clip pretty and flowery, but I can envision some really cute whimsical ones or even some masculine ones for the guys' shops!  Think using 450 Quick Dry and gluing nuts and bolts to it.  

Needless to say, the clips are pretty strong and can hold a pad of paper, stack of mail, or a quick note.

Helmar products used for this project were Decoupage and Craft Paste, Silicone Adhesive Sealant, Gemstone adhesive, 450 Quick Dry,  Crystal Kote Glossy. 

 

Can't find Helmar products in your neighborhood?  Check out the left sidebar for a list of preferred online retailers and think about asking your local scrapbook store to get them in for you.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me.  Now head to the hardware store and see what you can alter and embellish. 

 

Cindy

Taking the jars up a notch!

Hi everyone!! Julie Tucker-Wolek with you here today and I wanted to share a quick little project that I made recently!

My family and I are moving in about a week to our new home! Well, in this new home, I actually get an AWESOME craft space! So I have been spending my weekends at IKEA (don't have to twist my arm to go there! lol!) buying stuff for my new scrappy space.

Well, on a recent visit to IKEA, I found these jars -- and I knew I wanted them for all the little things I have in my scrappy stash -- buttons, loose alphas -- etc. So I bought 6 jars and started filling them up!!

As I was filling them up, I realized I wanted them labeled - but not just like a quick sticker to say what's in the jars -- I wanted something that stood out and was easy to read!

Here is what I came up with!

I used Helmar's 450 Quick Dry to adhere the Dear Lizzy jars to my tags - and also for the alphas!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate it!

Mixed Media Sketch Book Cover Created with Helmar

I love to sketch, so it goes without saying that I have a lot of sketch books lying around my studio. However, I love to create fancy covers for my sketch books so that they match the creative wonders that are happening inside those wonderful books!

 For this sketch book I created a mixed media cover and I had a lot of fun doing it!

The supplies I used where Helmars 450 Quick Dry Adhesive & Helmar Crystal Kote Fixative, paper from Tim Holtz & Echo Park Paper, flowers from Prima Marketing Inc. & PanPastel .  I cut out my paper and used the Helmar 450 Quick Adhesive to stick it to the front of my sketch book. I then used the same glue to adhere everthing else on too! It was so quick and simple!

     

 

*I have to put a side note in here. I have been teaching and creating art for quite a few years and it is so nice to finally have a fixative that works so well especially with products like PanPastels, charcoals, & pencil!     

 

Once you spray the Helmar Crystal Kote Fixative over the PanPastels everything is nicely set and the colors are still wonderful! Quick and Easy!

It really was fun to create this whimsical cover because the Helmar products dried so quickly. So, if you have sketchbooks at home, give this a try. Try decorating the outside of them. It makes them so much more cheery!!

Have a super crafty day!!!

Susan K Weckesser

Helmar Design Team Member

 

Easy Treat Container with Helmar

Hello, Helmar fans! This is Liz and I am so excited to make my first DT post for Helmar. I have been using Helmar adhesives for a while now and I'll never use another brand. The simple truth is...it just works! The end of the school year is upon us and my kids' teachers have gone above and beyond to teach them and help them have a successful school year. I found these cute little treat containers on Pinterest that I thought would be cute to make them for their teachers. I'll show you what I learned.

1. Cut a piece of patterned paper to 6x8 inches. Run your Helmar Permanent Adhesive Runner onto two adjacent edges.

2. Roll the sheet till it resembles a tube shape. Press firmly to seal the edges together.

3. Now press together the top which has the adhesive already on it.

Fill your container with whatever treat you want. My daughter's teacher loves Hershey's Kisses so I filled mine with those. Seal the open side shut so everything is shut inside. Chocolate Kisses are heavy so I reinforced the top and bottom with Helmar Craft & Hobby PVA glue. Cut the edges with decorative ages, if desired, and decorate the package. Finish it off by spraying it with Helmar Crystal Kote Matt spray. There you have it. Pretty and pretty easy, right?

Thanks for stopping by today.