Get Kids Crafty! is Jawsome: Liquid Shaker Tutorial

 Welcome back for our Valentine's themed Get Kids Crafty! Blog Hop!  

We've all created some really fun kid centered Valentine creations!!  AND, be sure to read to the bottom for details on our first quarterly giveaway!  We hope you enjoy the hop, and find some fun inspiration along the way!  Let's get crafty!

Water shakers have been on my must try list for some time.  When my daughter decided to use Lawn Fawn's Duh Nuh stamp set for her class Valentines this year, I knew this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try (especially on a smaller scale).  And I am super pleased to share it was a huge success!  My pictures are pretty self explanatory, so I will simply offer light commentary to give more specific details.  

So, let's begin!

Tutorial: Liquid Shaker Card

After getting a head count from my daughter's teacher, we began stamping out enough sharks and fishes to complete her cards.  She both stamped and colored the images with her very own Copic Ciao markers.  She received 5 of her own for Christmas (she had to borrow the blues from mommy).  Then all the images with cut out with their coordinating dies.

Now for the liquid shaker supplies!!

• Small zip lock bags (3"x4" for this project)
• Hair gel (yup!)
• Glitter, sequins, etc.
• Double sided tape (Scor-tape)
• Foam tape

I know, hair gel may seem strange but I can explain my reasoning.  First, I watched a video that used hand sanitizer but the alcohol in the gel leached color from the sequins she added in the liquid shaker.  So, that was out.  I knew I wanted to use a gel medium versus water since it is tactile and the kids (and myself admittedly) would enjoy squishing it.  So, I was on the hunt for a different gel.  Then I spotted it - cheap blue hair gel.  Often no more than $1 for a 12 oz bottle.  And, guess what, it worked like a dream!

For her Valentines, she selected this beautiful dark teal cardstock.  It was in a 12"x12" paper stack in my stash.  After figuring out the layout, I decided 4" square cards would work and were easy for us to cut multiples of, since we needed a front and back piece.  She assisted in all cutting.

Using the smallest die from the Simon Says Stamp Postage Stamp Edge Frames die set, we cut out the shaker window from our white squares.  Next, we lined up the sentiments and quickly stamped the fronts using VersaFine Onyx Black ink.

I put a strip of Scor-tape along the back piece edges, as seen, where the tape would hold the bag to the backer and not be seen through the front window.  Then, I added a squirt of hair gel into the bags and a pinch of chunky glitter.  No more than a tablespoon or so of gel was necessary for this bag size.  All in all, we used about 1/3 of our 12 oz bottle of hair gel to make a dozen cards.

After removing the release paper from the Scor-tape, my daughter helped me put the bags in place on the backer card.  Then, I added strips of foam tape on the upper and lower edges, and to the wider side on the left, which not only offered support but helped secure the sealed end of the bag (I folded it over and then placed the foam tape, as seen below).  I didn't feel it was necessary to add foam tape to the right side since the gel occupied that space well enough, but you definitely could.

To finish the card, I centered the front piece over the back and adhered, with my daughter's "push it down" help.  I put a strip of Scor-tape on the back of all of her colored sharks and fish and she had a blast removing the release paper (HERSELF, mommy!) and deciding where to place her swimming friends.  She kept bursting out laughing when she decided to have a fish swim upside down.  And, well, mommy sometimes they are jumping out of the water (or in the case below, diving down).

These are so fun to squish!  Really!  And the way the light reflects through the gel creates a super awesome water look!

Her JAWsome collection of Valentines!  She is super proud (and so am I)!

To complete her Valentine goodies, she assembled gift bags with sunglasses, gummy sharks and fish, some Smarties, and a large heart.  She thought the sunglasses were fun and was picking a pair specifically for the different kids in her class.  "My kids" as she lovingly referred to them.

Thank you for joining us this month!!  Please comment below if you thought she did a great job and if you found this tutorial helpful!

Get Kids Crafty! is hosting its first quarterly giveaway!  We would LOVE to see you crafting with your kids!  Share process pictures or finished pieces -- the choice is yours!  

We just ask you to tag #getkidscrafty on Instagram and/or share in our Get Kids Crafty! Facebook group!  This is open to anyone, anywhere!  Awesome GKC Designer Megan has also offered to send the winner a set of Crayon Letters (max of 7)!!  How fun!  Please share by February 14th, and the winner will be announced in the February Get Kids Crafty! Blog Hop!

Don't forget to check out the rest of the GKC Designers below!

Jeanette with Acute Stamper

Marcia with The Frolicking Fairy (You are HERE)

Sara with Phineas and Mae

Megan with Mad Crafters Tea Party

Hannah with Fanciful Spaces

Crystal O. Minkler

Annalisa with Faith Dream Create

Evie with Evie Does It

 ___

#thefrolickingfairy #getkidscrafty #bloghop #lawnfawn #duhnuh #jawsome #shark #valentines #copicsforkids #liquidshaker #gelcard #tutorial