Linda’s DIY by Design

Saturday, October 5, 2013

Love Beyond The Grave

Created thes Halloween project for our LSS (local scrapbook store). I was given G45 product (Steampunk Spells, Happy Haunting paper lines and the large slider box) to create this product. I decided that I didn't want to make the normal scary type project, but I wanted it to represent my usual type of design with a touch of shabby chic, a touch of romance, a few grunge type objects, and of course....a clock! I went with the story line of a woman who has passed away, but so totally in love with her man, that this love remains with her...beyond the grave! To achieve the grunge type effect, I used black acrylic paint mixed with sand to paint the box and also used this to add texture to all my elements. To add shimmer, I used Lindys Stamp Gang shimmer sprays. I was able to add real clock gears and even a real clock pendulum to this project! How fun is that?!? I used tons of flowers, wood embellishments from SaCrafters zibbet store, Tim Holtz embellishments, and beautiful laces from Lavish Laces etsy store! And yes, I did use a Halloween embellishment or two from Micheals Craft store....such as the large skeleton hand that is holding up the clock! When I saw this it was perfect because the hand was protruding from a black flower! Too cool! I knew I could make it sort of romantic...believe it or not!! OK here's the pics! Hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by!!!

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Shabby Chic Pin Cushion

This is my Design Team project for The Piece by Piece. I decided that I finally wanted to get around to creating my shabby chic pin cushion that has been on my "to-do" list for over a year! I know, right? I had seen this beautiful vintage pin cushion decorated using this tiny chair by a wonderful friend on YT (Msgardengrove1) and I knew that I wanted to do one too! She actually had these chairs for sale, so I purchased 2 of them immediately! I really don't know why it took me so long to get around to this project, but inspiration finally arrived and I began this tiny creation! This chair measures about 6 inches tall, 6 inches wide and about 3 1/4 inches in depth. To gain a few more ideas, I decided to look for shabby chic ideas on Pinterest. I came across this design:

The cute pillow, jar, flower motif and throws laying across the arm of the chair, combined with the trims around the bottom edge gave me the perfect idea and I knew I had the perfect trims and embellishments from The Piece by Piece to make this a fabulous creation! All these elements reminded me of a shabby chic garden! So, my cute little chair, became a garden/pin cushion! From my own supply I used tons of Wild Orchid Craft flowers, Prima embellishments, a tiny clay flower pot, a rusty shovel, a few miniatures such as a wheel barrel, and watering can/garden tools. Here's how I used the decor I saw in the original photo and made it work for my chair: for the throws to lay across the chair arm and seat cushion, I used a vintage doily (I found the doily at a local sale. It was so old and tattered that it was perfect to tear apart) and some cheesecloth. What I liked about the pillow was the color and the word, so I used a wood embellishment that says "charming". The glass jar was so super cute (I wished I had a miniature of one of those!) For this... I used the clay flower pot. For the flower motif on the chair back...I, of course, used tons of paper flowers! Last, but not least, are the trims around the bottom of the chair... I used a beautiful French Guipure Lace from The Piece by Piece, along with some laces from my stash. Around this shabby chic garden is more yumminess from The Piece by Piece such as the mini pink daisy trim, the pink fabric flower trim, variegated pink wheat sprays, small candy gems, the cutest little resin owl and the most awesome silk ribbon ever! All of the silk ribbons from The Piece by Piece make the best bows! Well...I'm sure you are wondering where my pin cushion comes into view! In the center of the garden there is the mini flower pot that I mentioned earlier and it's topped with the pink fabric flower trim from The Piece by Piece...This is my pin cushion!! The direct links to the products I used will be below the pictures! And here they are:

Link to the Products I used:
2 yards Silk Ribbon Mauve: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155460064/2-yards-silk-ribbon-sk19-mauve?ref=shop_home_active
Mini Daisy Trim in Pink: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155484195/2-yards-mini-daisy-venice-lace-in-pink?ref=shop_home_active
Guirpure French Lace: http://www.etsy.com/listing/128263974/1-yard-of-guipure-french-lace-5723-pink?ref=shop_home_active
Wheat Spray 2 Tone Vintage Pink: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155486059/wheat-spray-2-tone-vintage-pink?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=wheat%2Bsprays
Candy Gems Pink: http://www.etsy.com/listing/119353040/candy-gems-pink?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=wheat%2Bsprays
Pink Fabric Flowers: http://www.etsy.com/listing/89503914/6-piece-pink-fabric-flowers?ref=shop_home_active
Resin Owl in Vintage Pink: temporarily out of stock

I hope you like the view of my shabby chic garden/pin cushion from your own "chair"! Thanks for sharing your time with me! Hugs!

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Looking Into A Shabby Chic Garden--DT Project for Discount Paper Crafts

Found this cute little mirror at a garage sale and knew immediately that I could make into a a shabby chic wonderland! It measures about 19 inches in length and about 7 inches in height. As you will notice from the pictures, there is a mirror on the right side and there "was" a picture of a bird on the left side. Of course, I immediately removed the picture and added my own cute papers from my DT kit. I wanted the illusion of looking out the window on the left side and peeking into the shabby chic garden on the right side. I was sent the beautiful collection "Classic Elegance" by Melissa Frances. 6x6 paper, chipboard buttons, tags, crochet trim, plus some cute Petaloo mini flowers and metal corner pieces by 7 Gypsies, made this super cute! I started by painting the entire project with vintage white acrylic paint mixed with sand to achieve the texture around the perimeter. I also used this texture on all the flowers and embellishments. I then used 2 stencils by Crafters Workshop to add some texture to the mirror itself. Once the stenciling was done, I applied the acrylic paint/sand mixture around the stencil design to add some softness. I used a Lindys Stamp Gang pink shimmer spray around the painted areas of the project to give it some more shabby soft color and shimmer! Once the painting and stenciling was complete, I started to make this project pretty! I added tons of flowers by Prima, Wild Orchid Crafts, I Am Roses, and a few fabric flowers from my stash! On the left side of the project, I used gesso with a foam brush on the chipboard window shutters to achieve a very minimal texture effect. Using the brush, I pounced the gesso on, heat set it with a heat tool and then repeated the process 3-4 times. In the window area itself, I used the MF paper, some Bo Bunny "The Avenues" paper and also some paper from the "Vintage" line by Fabscraps. I cut the papers into pieces, distressed all the edges with the Prima distress tool, inked the edges with Tim Holtz tea dye ink and sewed around the edges. I then layed the papers down in a collage style. I often love to add some sort of "time" element to my projects, so on this particular design, I added a Chipboard clock by Leaky Shed underneath the window shutters and added a Tim Holtz large number amidst the flowers and embellishments. I also a Chipboard ruler by Prima Fairy Rhymes collection. On the right side of the project, to further add to the "time" element, I added a Prima metal clock and clockhand and another number by Tim Holtz. I had this wooden gate that I got from an album kit, I took the gate and cut it in half lengthwise and adhered it to the frame. I added a Prima resin angel to sit atop the gate as if he was watching over the garden area. Once again, I added tons of flowers and embellishments around the perimeter. I love to add fun accents to my projects, so if you look carefully, you may see a lightbulb, a metal lock and a cabinet handle! Links to each of the products I used are below the pictures if you want to go to a particular item and a link to the store's home page is at the right on my side bar. Just click on the pic! Here's pictures of the project:

Friday, August 30, 2013

Shabby Chic Cards-DT project for The PiecebyPiece

So for this particular project, I needed to create a couple of cards...one for a super awesome friend of mine...we'll call it the "friendship" card and one for another super awesome friend of mine who needed a card for a wedding that she had just done photography for....we'll call that the "thank you" card. Since The Piece by Piece has a most exquisite and beautiful line of product, I knew that I had just the right materials to make these shabby chic cards wonderful masterpieces!! I don't often like to just make regular open and close 5x5 cards, so I try to create a unique, one of a kind project that could almost pass for a home decor piece! LOL! For these cards, I used some chipboard mini album pieces that I had bought from Micheals Craft Stores. These chipboard pieces are the base to my cards. All the papers are sewed around the edges, distressed with the Prima distress tool and inked with Tim Holtz distress ink. The paper lines I used on the first card was the Carta Bella-So Noted collection, The Theresa Collins-Vintage Finds collection and the Authentique-Loyal collection. The papers lines used on the second card was Pink Paislee-London Market collection, and once again, the Authentique-Loyal collection and the Carta Bella-So Noted collection. I knew that I wanted both cards to be a pocket type card. and so the creative process begins! On the "thank you" I had to create in colors of orange and teal, as this was the wedding colors of the couple. I also wanted to turn this card into an actual home decor item, so that once the "thank you" portion of the card was removed, the rest of the card could stand alone as a wall hanging amidst wedding pictures of the couple in their home. I created the base with a folded back section to appear as if curtains were opening to reveal a love scene. I wanted this scene to represent a sort of "on-the-wings-of-love" motif. I was able to do this with beautiful applique wings and laces, as well as resin and wheat spray embellishments from The Piece by Piece. I was also able to add some Prima and Tim Holtz product. The chipboard heart takes its curtain call with a "thank you" note that can be placed into the couples wedding album for future memories along with their photos! I used acrylic paint mixed with sand to achieve the texture all over the card and embellishments to give it that final shabby chic look. Here's the pics of this card:

For the "friendship" card, I still wanted a pocket card, but I wanted to combine two pieces of chipboard together to make the pocket. I used a crochet lace (from The PiecebyPiece) weaved at the left edge to close that side of the card and used Beacons 3-n-1 glue to close the bottom and right side of the card, leaving the center open, thus, forming the pocket! Because of the thickness of the lace, it kept the pocket slightly more open than normal to allow a chipboard piece (in this case, another heart) to slide in and out (this is where I write my personal note). I went with colors of teals and creams, added a wooden fence that I crackled with Tim Holtz white picket fence crackle paint (I know....a picket fence and white picket fence crackle paint...no joke! LOL) a Prima resin angel, some Recollections products (butterfly, lamppost, resin corner piece) and lots of texture with stenciling/modeling paste, some cheesecloth to add a shabby chic softness and again the acrylic paint mixed with sand. The flowers are all from Wild Orchid Crafts. I love the cool color palate of this card! But most of all, I love the acrylic candy gems, the resin bird in its nest and the beautiful trims from The PiecebyPiece Etsy store! These products make this card shine! Oh! and how could I forget my signature decor item...the 'x' and 'o' wooden letters...they are included to complete the project! (You will probably note that I did not include the 'x' and 'o' on the "thank you" card...I hadn't forgotten...I chose not to include it on this particular card since it was made for a client of a friend that I have never met). Anyhoo....all the direct links to the products I used from The PiecebyPiece will be below the pictures and the link to the store home page is at the right on my sidebar, just click on the picture! Here's the pics of the "friendship" card:

The PiecebyPiece products used:

Crochet with Velvet Center Trim: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155333078/2-yards-of-crochet-with-velvet-center-in?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=july%2B2013%2Brelease

Silk Ribbon in white: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155466825/6-yards-silk-ribbon-sk01-white?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=july%2B2013%2Brelease

Large Candy Diamond Gems in Light Blue: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155480688/large-candy-diamond-gem-in-light-blue?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=july%2B2013%2Brelease

Wheat Sprays in Teal: http://www.etsy.com/listing/155480416/wheat-spray-2-tone-teal?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=july%2B2013%2Brelease

4 pc Wing Appliques: http://www.etsy.com/listing/103133156/4-pieces-wing-appliques?ref=shop_home_active

Venise lace in white: http://www.etsy.com/listing/128162870/1-yard-venise-lace-90519-029-in-white?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=white

Scallop Venise Lace in Cream: http://www.etsy.com/listing/128162148/1-yard-of-scalloped-venise-lace-164-810?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=cream

3 Piece Sitting Bird in Orange Sorbet: http://www.etsy.com/listing/110526096/3-piece-sitting-birds-orange-sorbet?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=bird

3 Piece Birds on Nest in Baby Blue: http://www.etsy.com/listing/110524361/3-piece-birds-on-nest-baby-blue?ref=shop_home_active&ga_search_query=bird

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Embellishment Carousel- DT project for Lavish Laces

For my first design team project for Lavish Laces, I wanted to alter this 3 piece candle holder "carousel" that I found at a local thrift store. We all have those cute scrapbooking embellishments that we seem to reach for over and over...(like those adorable Prima products) and I wanted an organizer store them in...and why not make it cute too! So when I saw this candle holder, I knew I could turn it into embellishment storage! I used tons and tons and tons of Wild Orchid Crafts flowers from Lavish Laces etsy store, as well as the cutest little trims and most beautiful rosette trims! I used the cute trim around the top of the glass candle holders and added charms from my stash! In between the candle holders, on the first tier and down below, was a "space" where I wanted to create a scene. Each space has a different picturesque scene, but all together is one cohesive theme. I wanted to create that beautiful garden area where we all want to go and spend our "time" and relax and hang out awhile. One of the elements I created for this carousel...I had created before on a clock project, and I have been wanting to re-create this again, because I loved it so much....and I'm just saying....I may create it yet again on another project! I decided to make another miniature swing near the fence of the flower garden. I used flat craft sticks and tied it together with string to create a slatboard swing and then used eyehooks underneath the wooden tier to hang the swing! I always love some element of time on my projects, so from the swing, I used a tiny wooden Prima clock. On this project, I was able to use quite a few new Prima embellishments, such as the white heart gears, the metal faucets and wooden embellishments. I went with colors of pinks and creams and tans on this project to give it that total shabby chic feel! The carousel itself, is made of wood, so I took acrylic paint mixed with sand to paint the entire unit. I also used this mixture to add texture to all the tops of my elements...which is usually something I always do! I love, love, love texture on my projects! I will have direct links to the products I used from Lavish Laces etsy store below the pics. If you would like to go the the home page itself, just click on the Lavish Laces picture to the right on my sidebar! Here's some pictures:

Sunday, August 25, 2013

1 Design...6 Cards!

I created these cards for a friend of mine who runs a local photography business. She has asked me to join forces with her to create some designs for her business. She wants cards to give out to new clients who sign a business contract with her and she also wants cards to give out to those clients after she has finshed the photo shoot for them. After a creative brainstorm session, she has decided that the cards given to new clients need to be simple, yet elegant, a single cohesive design and done in the colors of her inside studio. The cards that will be given at the end of her contract (mostly for newly married couples) will be designed to fit that specific couple...i.e., their wedding colors, their personality, etc. (you will get to see one of those first endeavors in my next DT project for The Piece by Piece!) Anyhoo, here are the first set of 6 cards I created. They are all the same sketch design and color palette, yet different paper patterns and accessories...except the flowers. The flowers are the same on every card. I have used several different papers from DCWV, Recollections and G45. The paper pad used from DCWV is: The Immortal Love stack. The paper pads used from Recollections are: Portobello Road, Regent Street and Union Square. The paper used from G45 is Romantique. I didnt want the cards to be a normal open/fold card. I like to create cards with a twist sometimes. I created these to be a "flip-it-over" type card with a pocket on the back, where the 'thank you' note pulls out of the pocket. I started with a base of chipboard. I used a shape from the Bo Bunny "little miss" chipboard mini album. I traced about 3/4 of the design onto my own chipboard and cut it out for all the cards. I then used that shape to cut all my pieces for the cards. On the front of the cards, their are 3 paper pieces: the top portion is in creams, the middle strip is in reds, and the bottom portions is in browns, which creates the colors from the studio. The back side contains the red color on top and the same brown pattern on the bottom. I didn't distress the edges on these papers as I normally would (with the Prima paper distress tool), because I wanted to keep the elegance of the card intact. I did, however, sew all the edges of the papers and inked around the edges using chalk ink by Prima and Colorbox. In order to sew all the pieces together, I used a brown cardstock by Bazill as my main piece to sew to and then once the ensemble was completed, I glued this piece to the chipboard base. I then added all my laces, flowers and embellishments.

And here are the photos:

the back side of all the cards featuring the thank you note

closer look at the back

Here is a link to my 'Simply Design Studios' web site if you wanna check out the photography skills of this wonderful, talented lady! And fyi...she often entertains clients photo shoots locally and around the USA.
http://simplydesignstudios.com/

Thursday, August 8, 2013

A Time for Family-DT project for Discount Paper Crafts

Finally got around to altering this Tim Holtz clock! What a blast! Wanted to create a shabby chic project for a friend featuring the love of her family. I started by using gesso to prime the metal of the clock so that it would take the next painting technique-- which is an acrylic paint (in vintage white) mixed with sand. This was applied inside and outside the clock. I then used a Prima stencil to add some micro dots in various places around the clock. I also used a PLAID stencil to add various words to the outer edge of the clock as well. I wanted to add some teal color in sporadic places, so I used a teal color acrylic paint mixed with water and sprayed it around the clock. (I decided to use teal and pink as the color base because the photo inside the clock had this color scheme). I printed the picture onto a transparency and sewed the transparency to a gorgeous paper print from the Theresa Collins "So Noted" collection. I love how you can see music notes and script through the transparency of the photo! I measured the perimeter inside the clock and cut out a chipboard circle using the measurements. I then attached the picture to this chipboard circle and glued this chipboard ensemble inside the clock making sure to leave room at the back of the clock to be able add a working clock assembly. I wanted this clock to be pretty and functional. From here I started adding all the pretty embellishments. Most of the flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts. There are some pretty Prima Cabriole flowers and some Petaloo flowers from Discount Paper Crafts Etsy (DPC) store. I also added some beautiful Prima metal and resin embellishments such as the lamp post, skeleton clock, clockhands, lightbulb and heart, also from the DPC etsy store . The Resin angel is from Melissa Frances, again from the DPC store! All the direct links to the products I used will be below the pictures. If you just want to go to the store's main home page, click on the store link to the right on my sidebar! (There are so many great products and new releases!) I took a Prima skeleton clock and cut it in half with a metal power tool and applied half of it at the top of the clock and the other half at the bootom of the clock! I like the effect! For the angel, I used gesso as a primer and then used the Tim Holtz crackle paint in 'white picket fence'. I love how it turned out! The wood word at the bottom was also done using this technique. I love to add moving parts to my projects, so I decided to do this by using white chain, add a hanging heart with clock hands from the angel and then loop it over in a tiered swag effect to attach it to the lamppost. I wanted to carry this effect at the bottom of the project, as well, to make it a cohesive unit by using the chain again and add another 3 tier swag and a hanging heart charm. For the numbers on the working clock inside the Tim Holtz clock, I used Prima metal numbers. I didnt have enough 1's to be able to make the "12" so I used a tiny 7 Gypsies key to make the number "1". The texture that you see on all the flowers and embellishments is the acrylic paint/sand mixture, dabbed on with a foam paint brush.
...That completes my designing factor, so, at this point, I'm guessing you would like to see some photos: