Tuesday 29 July 2014

Sparkling Key Cabinet

 

I bought the key cabinet from 'the works' website. I did my usual thing of looking at the dimensions and thinking that's a good size then when I got it I was shocked how small it was!!! Lol. Does anyone else have this problem? I'm sure at least once in a life time everyone has made this mistake.
·         Firstly I painted the cabinet with chalk paint, I only needed one coat. I must say I am pretty well impressed with the decor art paint. I've painted a dark brown varnished display cabinet, I didn’t do any preparation prior to painting and I only needed 2 coats. I think if I had used a paint roller rather than a brush it still would have been 2 coats but using less paint.
·         Had to lightly sand the wood after painting as it looked really rough, I was hoping the paint could have disguised it but not to be.
·         I then diluted some inkadinks with water and sprayed all over the cabinet but when it dried you couldn’t really tell that I had used it. It appeared to have soaked into the wood.
·         So I added some mica powder which showed up a bit more but to be honest you can't really see it.
·         Distressed the edges with green viva decor and polished it after applying. I really love the effect this gives every time I use it. It can be used on multiple surfaces too. Pinflare sell this but they call it 'Buff It'.
·         I used a green sparkle medium with a key stencil to decorate the glass.
·         In my stash I found 2 keys and a shape that looks like old fashioned hinges made with air dry clay. I sprayed the Inkadinks on my glass mat and using a brush to paint them. Them on the hinges I used Inka Gold and the keys I used sparkle medium.
·         I then decorated the corners of the glass with liquid pearls and distress glitter glue. I'm not sure I like what I have done but for now going to leave it as I have but later i may try and scrap it off!

Materials used;
DecoArt Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint - Refreshing
Inkadinks - beany green
Mica powder
Sparkle medium - chartreuse
Viva Decor Inka Gold - green/yellow
Martha Stewart mould
From my own stash -
Stencil - key
Air dry clay

Challenge entered;
imagination-crafts

Wow 'Time' Tag







I just love the saying with these stamps. Is so true!!!! And I know plenty of other people would agree with me lol.
·         I cut the tag with my silhouette.
·         Stamped the background with gesso and then Versamark and embossing powders.
·         Stamped the numbers on white card and cut them out.
·         Using Versamark I stamped the saying on craft card and used a punch to cut it out.
·         I wanted the clocks to look like they had glass faces so i applied Versamark and embossed them with clear powder.
·         Added a string to finish the tag.

Materials used
Wow embossing powders - clear, blue glitz, blueberry regular.
Indigoblu - Stamps - Good Times, gesso
Distress ink - faded jeans
Kraft card - crafters companion
Versamark
From my stash -
EK Success punch
White stamping card
Twine

Challenge entered;

Thursday 24 July 2014

Stencil Tag



The technique I have used is by Tim Holtz. Challenges are; PanPastels - Inspired by Tim, Thats Crafty use stencils, masks or templates, I've used my own stencil made with the silhouette cameo. The Craft Barn a quote with the words IMAGINATION & LOGIC, I found on the internet for challenge.

·         Start by tapping distress inks on my stencil.
·         Misted the inked stencil with water so to react the distress inks.  
Placed it on to watercolour cardstock. Tim's instructions - While the stencil is on the cardstock, press down over the entire design using a paper towel to print the colour as well as immediately absorb any ink that might seep out inside the stencil openings.
·         TOP TIP don’t use a stencil that has a tacky surface that helps it stay in place because i had inked the other side so when I placed it on the cardstock my fingers kept sticking to the stencil so I wasn’t able to press on it to achieve a clear pattern! 
·         Lift the stencil off, dried with a heat tool.  
·         I Cut the cardstock to fit the tag and distressed the edges with PanPastels
·         I used the same stencil. Used Versamark and dusted on PanPastels then adhered watercolour cardstock to the tag.
·         Stamp the dragonflies using black archival ink.
·         Then I stamped the dragonflies a second time on the watercolour cardstock and cut them out. I didn’t have to colour then as there was some colour from the previous stencilling so that's where I stamped them.
·         Wrote the quote, then cut them out separately and coloured with distress ink then adhered along side of the dragonflies, slightly bending the wings to create dimension.
·         Embellished with a small butterfly on a head pin and curled the wire using my pocky tool.
·         I Applied distress inks to craft sheet and Misted the inks with water
·         Cut 2 pieces of ribbon and rubbed them into the inks until covered.
·         Dried with a heat tool.
·         Tim's description of the bow - Start by inserting the short ribbon through the hole in the tag.
·         Take the longer ribbon and secure one end under your thumb.
·         Wrap the remaining ribbon around your fingers until you run out.
·         Slide the loop of ribbon from your fingers and pinch in the centre to hold. Place the loop on to the top of the tag and tie the short ribbon around the loops to hold. Tie again to create a knot.
·         My doesn’t look as good as his because he used crinkle ribbon and I haven’t got any so made do with satin ribbon which didn’t absorb the inks a good as crinkle ribbon.

That's something else on my 'I WANT' list of craft goodies!!

Materials used
Stencil - made with my silhouette cameo
Distress inks - crushed olive. Spiced marmalade, picked raspberry.
Archival ink - black
PanPastels - pink, green, orange.
Versamark
Viva decor 3D glitter stamp paint - silver.
Papermania rubber stamps - dragonflies

From my stash
Watercolour card
Ribbon
Water Mister


Challengers entered;

Thursday 17 July 2014

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Just a little note

My mind has been a little distracted the past 3 weeks and my crafting mojo has disappeared! Everything went ok with my knee operation but it was the diagnosis that floored me.
I watched the whole operation on the monitor and the anaesthetist and surgeon explained everything to me. It was very interesting I just wish they were talking about someone else's knee, Lol.
The outcome being that I have severe arthritis of the patella (knee bone) and the only treatment for this is a new knee operation!!!! This diagnosis blew me away; I seriously thought they could have repaired any damage during the arthroscopy.
Three weeks on and I'm coming to terms with the diagnosis. I see the surgeon again in about 3 weeks so that I can have a good chat about the next course of treatment. It's not going to be an easy decision as I have other musculoskeletal problems.
I have to keep telling myself that this is not going to beat me so I'm really pushing myself to craft as it helps with my self esteem and self worth.

I'm sure there are many of you out there that use crafting as a way of distraction from illness and to help fill those gaps of long drawn out days of emptiness and illness. 

Saturday 12 July 2014

Roses on the Horizon



This felt like my hardest challenge. I couldn’t really think of any techniques for this one.
My mind has been a little distracted this past two weeks with the diagnosis I got from my knee operation, thankfully everything went ok. I will leave a short post about my experience.
After racking my brain I came up with this design. I thought 'right' just get some materials out and go with it! My only problem is I want to use all my crafting stash all at the same time; I have too many mediums to choose from! I'm sure there are many of you out there with the same problem. No not problem but CHOICE.
·         Firstly I applied metallic PanPastels to card, the card at first seemed too smooth and the colour wasn’t as vibrant as I wanted but eventually I achieved a good coverage, it did help when I switched my daylight lamp on and saw the shine! Lol
·         I randomly stamped the large rose with Versamark and brushed PanPastels over it, repeating with a smaller rose and different colour of pastel.
·         In my stash I had some shaped card so i used that for the quote. I applied Versamark all over it then brushed on PanPastels but was left with lines where the pad had been placed so using the splat/blot stamps I randomly stamped them all over the card. I didn’t apply any PanPastels to these because as I stamped it pulled some of the colour off and I liked the effect.
·         I wrote the quote freehand.
·         Back to the background, I randomly stamped splat/blot stamps with Versamark between the roses. The stamps somehow managed to pick up some of the magenta PanPastels so that when I stamped them on the card it left a faded purple look which I actually really liked so left it like that. My Versamark pad is a little grubby to say the least. I must have had it a few years now and it's still going strong and I've used it loads of times.
·         I ruffed up the edges of the background and quote and stuck the quote onto the background.
·          
Materials used
PanPastels - phthalo green, magenta shade, metallic's
Versamark
Nikki Hall stamps - roses
From my stash -
Super smooth card
Soft brush

Challenges entered;