Linda’s DIY by Design

Friday, November 29, 2013

"Timeless" Configuration Box

   This is my Design Team Project for Discount Paper Crafts! I was lucky to receive the Marion Smith line "Mad Tea Party" as well as some yummy Prima flowers and Blue Fern Studio chipboard pieces! I decided to use a 7 Gypsies library drawer (turned on its side) and some various shapes of wood blocks that I got from a local craft store, to create a Configuration Box Home Décor Project. I covered all the wood project pieces using metallic black/brown acrylic paint mixed with a coarse sand and then went to town using Marion Smiths paper line as well as some Prima Romance Novel (also designed by Marion Smith) and Recollections Paper (Union Square). I distressed all the paper edges using the Prima distress tool and sewed around the edges of all the papers as well. I cut the papers smaller than all the edges of the wood pieces and library drawer, so that the paint mixed with sand could be seen. Plus, this gives it a more shabby/vintage look!
   Here are some details of the project and its embellishments: Since the "Mad Tea Party" paper has a girly grunge feel to it and has lots of images of clocks, I went with that type of feel for this project! This project oozes "time" with Prima metal heart gears, Prima clock faces and clock hands, a real metal clock gear (which serves as an "o" for my "x,o"), a mini pocket watch (it does work!) wooden clock embellishments, and clock charms! I used flowers in the colors of reds, browns, vintage pinks, and blacks to coordinate with the colors of the papers.  To add more romance to the project, I added Prima resin wings and resin bird, Prima metal candelabra, Prima keys, a lock, Prima wood envelope, even a tiny 1 inch tall bottle with roses and a Prima metal #2! To add a little grunge, I used the Prima vintage metal water pipes, water faucet and a Tim Holtz faucet knob. I wanted the water faucet to simulate water continually dripping to sustain the "Timeless" feeling of days gone by. I printed my picture onto an inkjet transparency and sewed that onto the paper before I adhered it to the wood block! I wanted to let the mini stopwatch hang from its original chain and drape through the wood blocks to the back and around to the left side of the project where it ends in an assembly of charms! I liked the idea of 'movement' with the chain and also it tied in with the "Mad Tea Party" imagery from the paper line... (one of the papers has an image of chains hanging at the top and at the end of the chains are such things as clocks, silverware, teacups--too cute!!) I added some texture onto the embellishments and other various areas of the project using another acrylic paint mixed with sand... this time in the cream color and the sand is a fine grain with this mix, versus the coarse grain on the other mix mentioned above.
   There will be direct links to products available from Discount Paper Crafts that I used in this project, below the pictures... Here are some pics:

Right Side

Left side

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Got Butterflies? (DT project for Lavish Laces Etsy store)

I found this cute candle votive holder at a local store and decided to turn it into an embellishment holder for a friend of mine! She adores butterflies, so the minute I saw this...I knew it would be perfect! This holder is made of metal and I covered the entire thing using a cream acrylic paint mixed with sand. I then added more texture using The Crafter's Workshop "Art Is" stencil to add in various places around the base and on some of the butterflies themselves. At the base, I wanted a "Dream"-y wonderland of flowers, flowers and some more flowers! I layered flowers upon flowers so that it would be full of yummy goodness! I used colors of aquas and creams. About 95% of the flowers came from Lavish Laces Etsy Shop. I LOVE that she carries Wild Orchid Craft Flowers! Since this was a huge assortment of flowers, what's a wonderland without a fence, a little bit of time and a cute bird? These wooden cutouts plus a few more scattered around all come from Prima. I also added some vintage trinkets from Prima included a water faucet, a tub knob and some gears! You may see a few Tim Holtz goodies as well! And if you look closely, you'll even see a hot air balloon flying amongst the butterflies!! This hot air balloon comes from the Recollection collection at Michaels. I decided to decorate the main butterflies of the stand with some flat back pearls and flowers. A couple of the butterflies have handmade lace butterflies adhered to them. All around the bases of the votive holders you will see some beautiful tiny trims from my stash and from Lavish Laces Etsy shop! I've even hung charms from the sheer bows at the centers of the votive holders! The large "Dream" word comes from Joann's. I crackled it using the Time Holtz white Picket Fence crackle paint. I added texture to all the flowers and embellishments using the same texture paint on the base of the project. Behind the "Dream" you will find some pretty aqua colored rosette trim and some cute white bow shabby chic trim from Lavish Laces. On the back of the project, I placed more WOC flowers, made a cute flower out of some White Shabby Chic Rosette Trim and made a shabby chic butterfly using a doily... again the supplies are from Lavish Laces Etsy shop as well! I will have the direct links to the laces (that are currently in stock) I used below the pics! Speaking of the pics...here they are!

Aqua Shabby Chic Rosette Trim:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/163146313/fresh-aqua-shabby-chic-ruffled-rosette?ref=shop_home_feat
White Shabby Chic Rosette Trim
http://www.etsy.com/listing/163133478/white-shabby-chic-ruffled-rosette-flower?ref=shop_home_active
Venise White Tiny Bow Trim:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/160232582/1-yard-venise-white-tiny-bow-lace-trim?ref=shop_home_active
Venise Ivory Floral Dangle Lace:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/160231600/1-yard-venise-ivory-floral-dangle-lace?ref=shop_home_active
Dainty Heart White Cotton Lace Trim:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/128840059/1-yard-dainty-heart-white-cotton-lace?ref=shop_home_active
White Floral Cotton Lace Trim:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/153110243/1-yard-white-floral-cotton-lace-trim-58?ref=shop_home_active
White Bow Shabby Chic Trim:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/155899064/1-yard-white-bow-shabby-chic-trim-2-x-4?ref=shop_home_active
Wild Orchid Craft Flowers main page:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/LavishLaces?section_id=11594005

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Canvas "Card"

I was commissioned to create a "thank you" card for a client of my friend Sharon, who is a photographer! (You should check out her work...Simply Design Studios. I will link her sites below. She has done some beautiful work and has even been featured in well-known magazines! Nope! I'm not proud of her! wink wink) Anyhoo! I don't often like to just create a simple card and since this is for a wedding client, I really wanted to make something that they could display in their home and also feature one of their wedding photos. I used a 6x6 (3D) canvas for the base of this "card". I used the paper transfer technique using a gel medium to transfer the paper to the canvas. I love this effect because it allows the paper to look infused to the canvas versus just being glued on top! It also allows for the paper to have a worn, shabby, white washed appearance! Basically, you apply the gel medium to the canvas, lay your paper (right side down) on top of the medium, smooth out any bubbles and then let it sit for about 24 hours to become completely dry. Once that is complete, you begin by using a sponge (you can use anything, but a sponge allows you to soak the area without becoming to saturated) and dip it into water, ring out the excess and begin wetting your paper. Once you get a nice "all over" wet look, take your fingers and begin rubbing off the top layer of paper fibers. You will have to keep re-wetting your surface area throughout the process. You basically keep wetting and rubbing until you see your paper starting to show through. Be careful how hard you rub or you will rub your actual pattern paper off the canvas! It looks good in small patches to create a worn look, but you don't want that all over. You keep completing this rubbing process until your entire paper is shown through and all the paper fibers are gone. I find that by using yours fingers to fun off the fibers, you have more control. It takes some time to complete the process, but it's totally cool!!
After, I did this transfer technique, I wanted to cut a heart shape opening into the canvas where my picture would show through. I had a wood heart shape that I used as the frame for my photo and also as the pattern to cut into the canvas with. I printed the picture onto an inkjet transparency! Once I adhered the picture on the backside of the canvas I adhered a script paper behind the transparency so that it would show through the photo! I worked with colors of aqua and orange...as these were the colors of the wedding. I wanted to add wings to my canvas, but knew that I couldn't place them under the wood heart shape because there would be a huge space between the heart and the photo. I used the wood heart again to trace the shape of the heart onto the end of each wing so that the wing could have the exact shape of the heart "edge" and then the wing could be adhered directly up against the heart shape. Once I was done with the wood heart I glued it onto the front of the canvas at the heart shape opening of the canvas...and then I went to town with the decorations! I used 2 little Prima wood bird shapes on the penny farthing because the wedding couple had little love bird figurines around their wedding as decor and even on their wedding cake. I used a trio of clocks to simulate the essence of time and their future ahead as husband and wife. I also added gears to simulate clock parts! I wanted this piece to have a masculine and feminine feel to it, so that is why I added gears in combination with lace and flowers! For texture I used acrylic paint mixed with sand around the embellishments and on the large aqua flower, I added German glass glitter! So....you're wondering where the "card" is...it's on the back...of course! I created a pocket, sewing and distressing the edges of the paper and added a sheer ribbon to make a bow. Around the bow center, I added acrylic gems, wheat sprays, two diamond shape circles dangling from chain to look like wedding rings, and a pretty flower! I adhered all this to a 6x6 piece of chipboard and glued the chipboard to the back of the canvas. Here's the pics:

Here are the links to Simply Design Studios:
www.simplydesignstudios.com
www.facebook.com/SDStudios

Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Altered Book Stack

I decided to alter a stack of books. This project is a little bit steampunk, a little bit grungy, a little bit vintage and a little bit romantic! You may notice that this altered book stack uses REAL books!! I always search garage sales, thrift shops, etc, for books that are, in essence, falling apart...ready to hit the dumpster...because then I can use them for altering projects (whether it be a few of the book pages, or the entire book itself) without feeling guilty! Because face it, if they are falling apart, what is going to happen to them? Like I said earlier, they are probably ready to hit the dumpster. Anyhoo, so I pulled three of my books from my stash, and went to town, tearing off the covers (I really wanted the raw edges of the spines to show). Then I took the Prima distress tool and began distressing all around the edges of the pages. I used some different colors of brown distress inks from Prima and Tim Holtz to add a vintage feel to the edges of the papers as well! I used tons of products from SaCrafters Zibbet store (product links below), lots of product from Prima and Tim Holtz, some wonderful 7Gypsies pieces, a few steampunk items such as real gears, real clock gears, a lightbulb, some chain and a real working clock! Added some beautiful trims from my stash and would you believe it....there is not a single flower on this entire project! How on earth did I manage that? Some things I did to the altered book stack: I printed our wedding picture on a transparency and laid it on top of some rolled up sheet music. I used a 6x6 stencil from SaCrafters with some modeling paste mixed with some black acrylic paint and added that to the left side of my photo and down at the bottom. I also wanted my book stack to have "tabs" coming out from the side pages and "bookmarks" coming out from the top portion of the books. I have a few elements that I carried around the project...clocks/clock gears, the numbers '2'&'14' and music in the form of music sheet paper, a resin angel playing an instrument and a metal music note. Everything is lifted up with the beauty of Tim Holtz metal corner "feet"! Here's some pics:

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

"Unforgettable" -DT project for Discount Paper Crafts

When I received my Design Team kit this month from Discount Paper Crafts, I knew immediately what I wanted to create with it. I was sent the beautiful "Curiosity" collection by Kaisercraft. With it's rich colors in reds, greens, blacks, and golds, I knew that it was an assortment of papers and diecuts that would work very well for a vintage project. I lost both my parents within the last few years (my dad first and then my mom) and after my mom passed away I came across a box full of photos. As I began to look through each and every one, I found a black and white photo of my mom and dad taken when my mom was about the age of 14. They were married very young (mom was 14 and dad was 18). This photo was a gift to my heart and I knew I would treasure it always. I also knew that someday, I would find the very right design to emulate how I feel about my parents and that it would need to be a timeless portrayal of their love and my memories. I had found this metal charger plate (it measures about 12 inches in diameter) at an antique mall and I immediately bought it because the design around the perimeter looked like a doily. Totally vintage! At the time, I didn't know exactly what project I would use it on, but I was buying it! And I'm glad I did!! This plate was the perfect background for my project! I used a 3 step crackle technique with Plaid Crackle medium on the entire plate and for more background texture, I used The Crafters Workshop "Art Is" stencil with modeling paste, and some India Ink and a fan shaped paintbrush to add some splatter. I printed my parents photo on a transparency and backed it with some script paper by Prima (the Almanac collection). Of course, I used paper and diecuts from the Kaisercraft collection I was sent as well as some elements I cut from the Prima Romance Novel collection. Prima For embellishments, I used a ton of Prima: the Junkyard Findings collection (vintage faucet knobs, Resin floral hearts, clock face, clock hands, skeleton clock white heart gears) the "Audrey" flower collection, the Odette flowers in Almond, the XO wood icons, Shabby Chic Resin Treasures (bird), Shabby Chic Metal Treaures (the candalabra) and a couple of the Alencon crochet laces. I also had the privelege of using Blue Fern Chipboard (Manor Hinges) and a doily diecut from Cheery Lynn Designs (Sophie's heart). The wooden gates I used are from Kaisercraft as well. I distressed all the edges of my papers and diecuts with the Prima distress tool and used a sewing machine to sew around all the edges, including sewing the photo to the Almanac paper. I used Lindy's Stamp Gang shimmer sprays to add sparkle and for texture on the embellishments, I mixed acrylic paint with sand and used a pounce foam brush to apply it. If you look closely around the bottom perimeter of the plate, you may notice a scallop edged doily! I cut the doily in half and adhered it to the plate before I started assembling all the yummy embellishments! I think it adds even more of a vintage feel to the design even though it is very subtle . After the pictures, you will find direct links to each of the products that are currently available that I used from Discount Paper Crafts! Here are the pictures:

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: