Well I tried anyway.
I decided to tart my blog up and couldn’t because the template I had used was a weird one and I couldn’t work out how to remove it. So it now looked all wrong and I wanted a new look so I have started a new one at http://allthingspapertoo.blogspot.co.uk/
not sure I totally like it yet and I can’t get the header right so I might spend some time designing one.
All future posts will be there so I hope to see you soon.
Finally I got this done.
I gave it a base coat sometime last year and then couldn’t decide what to do with it. Then I got the Graphic45 Birdsong papers and had so much left over that I just knew it was right. I made the flowers by cutting them on my Eclipse, so quick and easy and in any size I want. Then I inked them and put them on the box. the final addition of the bird took some finding. Eventually I found one online but when it arrived it was facing the wrong way, really should wait to assemble all the bits at one time. Still it looks OK, you can’t see the long flowing tail on the bird but it sort of takes off the hard edges of the box.
Other projects are in hand but are taking time as layers have to dry.
Have a lovely day, we are off to London to do a bit of work.
I was looking for something to use the gorgeous Graphic 45 Bird Song papers I had left over from the book and decided I wanted to alter a small set of drawers and make it look like an oriental, black lacquer box. I hunted everywhere for something in wood or MDF but nothing seemed right. Then I popped into one of the charity shops in town and there it was. A wooden jewellery box with 3 drawers and a pull down each end with dingy foam in them, supposedly to take rings. shame I didn’t take any pics before really but it was just a darkish wood all over with tatty handles.
Plan of action was to take off the handles, easy peesie! they just pulled off. Then give everything a gentle sand and paint it with black acrylic as a bas. That went fine and 2 coats of paint later it looked so different.
The drawers had moulding on them so I highlighted the valleys and then cut strips of Bird Song to fit the tops. Originally I was going to stamp the sides and top but when I did one it just didn’t look right so I covered it up with more paper and kept it really simple. The only other things were the handles for the drawers and the inside of the old ring holders. The handles were easy, I had some pearl beads, very traditional in Chinese circles. The ring drawers took some though but I eventually decided on gold stamped images on red. I used a figure and a willow tree on each.
It now takes pride of place in our living room and, if you look from a distance you could ‘just’ mistake it for a lacquered piece.
Well with artistic license I suppose they are. I found these little boxes at my local store – yes the lovely Artistic Stamper – and knew they were perfect for my herb collection in the kitchen. They are very simply decorated with a base of gesso, some Distress Paint on top. that was left to dry and then I random stamped all over with leaves and flowers. Of course I then had to find something for the small one as it is quite tiny for pots. It is now full of 3 tomato pots which just fit in the top, they are growing on till I can get them in the greenhouse. The pot cover on the big one in the middle needs some attention and I see some red and hot as it holds a chilli plant.
Goodness I have just noticed the sun was trying to shine, a sign of better things to come.
Have a lovely day, we are off to Heathrow this afternoon to drop a neighbour who is off to Australia for 3 weeks –think I am jealous.
I have tried twice to post this in the last couple of days, using my iPad, but nothing wanted to work so it is back to the PC and something I know will work.
I know it is nearly 6 months since I last posted, things have been hectic and for several months I didn’t do much craft at all. I am back to it now though and have been for a while so time to catch up. This will a bit random so bear with me.
Where to start – well Christmas might be a good place. I didn’t make Jennie’s workshop at The Artistic Stamper but I got the kit and instructions and spent a day later in the workroom and did most of it, final touches were made at home.
It was made from a circular wooden base and 3 of the small boxes from Configuration Boxes. Paint, glitter, alcohol inks and all the rest.
Another workshop was this canvas using the new Distress Paints and some new stamps from The Artistic Stamper, quite unusual colours for me but It brightens up my display.
On the Artistic Stamper Creative Team Blog Emma showed her creation and I just loved it – hers is here. I made some minor changes and the card base has curled up where Chris has had it on show for ages (note: must use thicker card if I use this shape again!).
Another workshop was book making using Graphic 45 Place in Time papers. We got a whole pad to play with and, with guidance from Jennie, we put a book together. This is mine with a page for each month and pockets to put things in.
That inspired me to use an MDF book I had covered in gesso some time ago. I have gone a bit oriental at the moment and got the Graphic 45 Bird Song pad and used it on the outside of the box and then made a book to go inside. I also used gold embossing powder on the edge of the book.
I made a mini canvas which I was quite pleased with, I have another to do but haven’t got any ideas yet.
Finally a clock. I got a couple of cog blanks but have only finished this one so far. The finish came about from watching a demo on TV. They were using Dreamweaver Embossing Paste and, as usual, I wasn’t concentrating totally on it – well I was making my book at the time! Anyway they sprinkled something on the paste and then heated it with a heat gun, the effect was really good so I gave it a try. The thing was I used embossing powder and they had used mica powders but in some ways mine finished effect was more dense and vibrant as they only put a little of the mica n the paste. It does take some heating and really needs one of the long thin heat guns that runs faster than the gun shaped ones. Here is the finished one
It is just leaning on the basket for now, till I find somewhere to hang it.
Projects in the pipeline are 3 fruit crate pot holders for the kitchen window sill, the other cog base, a larger bird box and an old wooden jewellery box than I am turning into an Oriental box. I will try and post them as they are done and not leave it so long next time.
If you got this far thank you!
