Free tutorial for earring organizer made from two picture frames

I'm so happy to share with you my tutorial for this organizer. I've been having this idea for months and when instructables' had a contest titled "before&after" it helped me get started.

 I'm so pleased with how it turned out and that I got motivated to start. Since I love thriftshopping I have loads of beautiful jeewelry, but they are not stored in a good way that does them justice. This will be one of the many boxes I will make. 

For the full tutorial and more pics visit my instructable:

HERE

Next I have a plan to tackle my collection of rings. I also filmed the process with this earringorganizer. 

Let me know if you would be interested in seeing a video of this or if you prefer textbased tutorials like this one. There are only so many hours in a day and I need to know what to tackle first :)

Until next time: Keep crafting!

 

Easy upholstering of ottoman

The ottoman measures about 65x45x45cm.

 Today I'd like to show you an easy way to freshen up a boring and plain piece of furniture. Unfortunately I seem to have misplaced the "before" photo, but I can just let you know that the cover of it was a beige muslin cloth type of fabric.

I started by removing the old piece of fabric which was actually removable for washing. After doing that I had this foam kind of situation going on. I decided that it was too thin to leave as is because we use the ottoman as an extra seat sometimes and no one really wants to sit on it. Instead I decided to add two thin layers of batting which really added that extra butt-comfort :) 

I think the batting was a leftover piece from a quilt project so it's organic cotton. I cut it so it fitted around the lid and attached it with a staplegun.

As I went around with the staplegun I made sure the batting fitted snugly pulling it as I went along. I started attaching a few staples on the longer side, then on the opposite side, pulling the fabric tightly. Then a few staples on one of the shorter sides and finally the last side. 

After the batting it was time for the fabric. I had sewn around the edges with a zigzag stitch to stop it from fraying and then prewashed it. I attached the fabric the same way I did the batting, starting on one of the longer sides with a few staples and so on.

When I saw that everything looked good I went around the lid with the steplegun adding more staples. In the end I had a staple every 1-2 cm (1/2-1"). This seemed to hold the fabric in place. 

This ottoman has now been used for at least a year or two and holds up very well. The fabric has not sagged and it's not as uncomfortable to sit on anymore as it was before. 

I'm very pleased with the finished look and the way I placed the pattern of the fabric. 

What do you think and have you any furniture that would need some sprucing up like this?

 Comment down below and let me know.

Until next time: Keep crafting!

Thrift store bunny repaint using 3 chalk paint techniques

Hello again my dustbunnies.

Link to my latest youtube video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOIRwDO_cGo

 

 

Today I have a very eggciting post for you just in time for easter.

 

One of the best part of thriftshopping for me is to be able to find something "ugly" or unfinished and transform it into something "new". Sometimes I'm happy with the result, sometimes it looks even worse than before, but at least the potential is there. 

I love that feeling of a diamond in the rough 

that no one else can see.

 

What is your favorite part about thriftshopping?

 

 

I have made a youtube video tutorial where I show three different looks you can achieve using chalk paint. 

Which one is your favorite?

 

 

Before:

Until next time: Keep crafting! 

 

Jewelry cup and saucer tower

For today's post I want to share with you a great DIY from your thrifted cups and saucers. Are you just like me where you love these beautiful cups, but you just can't justify buying them for their real purpose because they are too small for tea/coffee? But they are soooo cuuuute and you want them soooo muuuuch? 
You just don't know what you would use them for?
Here's a way to eat the cake and have it too.

I don't know about you, but when I go to my local thrift shops I see a lot of these small cups and saucers with gold edges and flowers painted on them. There are often a lot of the same design and I hate breaking up a set. Instead I look for those they only have one of. It's also a good idea to have different sizes. Here the saucer is a little bit bigger on the bottom than on top. It takes a while to find the right combination so try different ones until you're happy with the tower. Here I used 3 cups, 3 saucers and a jar in the same style.

This tower is quite small which makes it perfect for jewelry or other trinkets. It's about 28x15cm.

All pieces are glued together except the top jar. I wasn't sure if I wanted the top to have a bigger area to hold a watch for instance or if the jar should be glued down aswell. I left it unglued for now, but what do you think? Do you prefer it with or without the jar glued down?

  By the way, did you know that during the Victorian era hot beverages were drunk from the saucer? Crazy right? I found some info about it HERE if you want to read more.

Let me know if you'd like a tutorial or if you have any questions.

Until next time.

Wedding flowerbelt/hairband tutorial

 

On monday there was a deadline for instructable's wedding contest. If you're not familiar with instructables it's a free site where people put up their tutorials in a huge selection of categories. Most of them are step-by-step instructions with photos (like mine), but some of them are with videos. The deadline was monday so naturally I came up with a brilliant project the same day. Nothing like a deadline to keep you motivated, am I right?

 

 

I've been thinking about making videotutorials, but I must admit I feel more comfortable with these photo step-by-step instructions. Do you think it's an ancient kind of way to teach or do you like these kind of tutorials? 

 

 

The way I see it is that I'd rather take a good photoed tutorial than a youtube one with bad  lighting, lots of unnecessary talk and the feeling of it taking to long and not getting to the point. 

Let me know what you think. Would you rather see my tutorials videoed? Is that even the right word anymore? Recorded maybe?

 I'm just showing you some of the shots of the finished project. If you want the full tutorial, check it out on 

 

instructables.com

 

where you can vote for this project in the wedding contest (in top right corner of the project's frontpage).

 

 

Which project to do next?

So many ideas, so unorganized. I can't even blame it on "so little time" because I do have time. The issue is to decide which project to do next. They are all so exciting!

So I thought I'd let you decide which of the following you would like me to take on first. Comment below or on facebook and let me know what you think.

The first option (A) is a small wooden crate and some chalk paint from Annie Sloan. I recently took a beginner's class in chalk paint and this is the startkit I bought. 

If you'd like me to play around with this and show you what I can come up with, let me know. 

The next option (B) is a jewelry project with blue freshwater- and waxpearls and silver detailing. I also have a cabochon pendant - a technique I've never tried before, so that could be interesting :)

Last, but not least (option C) is a bunch of different plates, cups and candlesticks. If you're curious about what I can make with this, let me know.

 

Can't wait to see what you're curious about the most.

Angel paperdoll and happy new year!

Hope you're having a fantastic new year, all ready for more inspiration and new releases from sweetpea stamps. This time I have gone all out, hoping to get your crafty fingers itching. Time to long for spring :)
Unfortunately my sweetie has gotten the flu and I'm on my way there too, so no partying for us tonight, but my doll will be dancing...

The stamps I have used are from ching chou kuik plate 33 by sweetpea stamps. This is one of my fav sheet of all times. Sayings for the arms and legs are from different sheets. The images are colored with promarkers and watercolor pencils. The edges are inked with different distress inks. The doll is cut out in white paper and heavier designer papers for the back and wings. The images for the skirt are masked. I made the pattern for the doll myself. For the top and skirtpart I used 3D tape - thicker for the skirt. The joints of the legs and arms are attached with brads. I made sure the back was as beautiful as the front in case it would hang in a window or similar so I added matching little flowers for the joint's backs. I also added some pretty organza ribbon for the hem and top of the dress.

The doll is about 10" (25cm) tall and you can bend the joints.

I want to wish all of my visitors, readers and commentators a big

 HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!

I hope you will continue to stop by for more inspiration and to give me much appreciated love. You all keep me going. 

BIG HUGS!

Dreamy bookmark

As Christmas is approaching I've been thinking about quick and easy gifts to make as going away presents. I think a pretty bookmark is always appreciated, because who doesn't like to read once in a while at least? I often find bookmarks too bulky with flowers and decorations. They look very pretty, but are not very practical.

So for my project today I used Meredith Dillman's Peridot from plate 137 by sweetpea stamps. The image is stamped off two times before stamping on the paper to give that invisible edge look. I coloured the image with copics (which I can't figure out, but I guess I need to practice more. My promarkers weren't cooperating with me in the beginning either). I used a die to cut out the pretty shapes, added a ribbon in between two pieces of cardstock and glued them together. The pink parts on this bookmark have beautiful dryembossed swirls that I accentuated with a glitterpen. I like when things look pretty from all sides.

I added a rhinestone on the hanging flower as I imagine it to be hanging out of the book. I also added glitter to parts of the image and around the biggest shape.

Challenges:
ABC challenge - D is for dazzle
Pile it on - Anything with P (pink/purple)
Totally Gorjuss - swirly whirly

Romantic jewelry or decoration bust

Hi everyone. Today I am superproud over how I managed to use my sweetpea stamps. I mentioned before that I didn't feel much like making cards lately. I've been feeling very "outside-of-the-box" and this is one of my best work yet.

I actually had the sewing and stand done a week or so ago, but the mojo wasn't really there for the final touch. So I let it mature for a couple of days and I'm really glad I did because I feel like I outdid myself.

I took a couple of photos in the beginning, but I seem to have misplaced them so this time the tutorial will be in writing more than pictures. All stamps are by sweetpea stamps.

I started by drawing half a bodyshape on a folded piece of scrappaper. When I was happy with it I unfolded it, put it on a double folded piece of pink cotton fabric and traced around with a seamallowence. After that I inked one of my fav stamps, the serene night  with black fabric ink and stamped on the side of one of the cottonpieces. I did the same with the "follow your dreams" text from plate 4. I masked them both and used only the flower parts from spring witch to stamp around.
The fabric pens I have are of very poor quality I think - very kindergarden-ish - so I thought of other ways to colour the image. My thoughts went straight to my beloved promarkers...Yes, the fabric is coloured with promarkers, even shaded as normal. It bled a little, but not more than the fabric pens I had and I think it looks nice. But I have to give you 2 tips straight away:
1.do not moisten your fabric when you iron - the colours will bleed instantly.
2. Attach the iron-on hotfix crystals before you colour if you do it by ironing them. I think I damaged my iron, Ooops! Be careful not to add crystals too close to the edges as they might brake the needle when you sew front and back together.

When you're happy with the colouring and crystals sew together the 2 body parts right sides facing leaving it open in the bottom. Leave an inch or so seamallowence as you will close that gap by hand and it's easier with more febric to work with. As you can see I added a piece of lace over her head and hip to add some interest before I sewed the pieces tohether. Stuff the body with filling - I tried 3 or 4 times to get the neck right, but it didn't want to stop folding so I left it as is. I'm sure you didn't even notice it but it bugs the heck out of me. I'm trying to live with it though, lol.

The stand was hard to find so I made it myself from a stick and a round wooden button that I drilled a hole through. I glued them together and let dry. After that they were painted with white paint and pink shimmerz. I wanted to give it an aged look so I added clear rock candy crackle paint over it. Tip no 3: not a good idea. For some reason the shimmerz reacted with it leaving a thick mush. It looked like I had mixed sugar in there - not a pretty sight so when it dried I sanded it off (giving it a distressed look in the end, haha)

Then I sewed the opening of the bust, leaving a hole in the middle for the stick. The stick isn't glued or anything it's just pushed in the filling. I found a ribbon in my stash that was perfect for the romantic vintage feel I went for. It's reversed on the backside so it looks as good on both sides. I tied it around the stick and placed under the bust. I added some dry pink chalk to three cream paperflowers I had never used and glued them to the base.

Last thing on my to do list was to balance her out as a lot was going on on the bottom half. So I took 4 different flowers and glued them together. Then they were attached with a tiny pin a la real hatpin style.

I was thinking about adding wings to her as seen on photo above, but decided against it in the end. 

I like it as a decoration, but think it would also be lovely to use as a bracelet or thin necklace holder.

I'm entering this week's challenge at tuesday taggers which is "diamonds are forever"
the town scrapper - we're in stitches.
cute card thursday - tweet or flutter
the secret crafter - anything goes

Happy 50:th Julia

Just a quick post showing you a necklace I made for Julia's 50:th birthday. I sent her a little of everything, some of these things I've already showed you; a brooch, a needleholder and a card. I wanted to make a special card with her name on it, but I just didn't have the energy. I couldn't even take an old card and add her name, so I decided it was more important that it got to her on time. I chose the bunny card as it's a little different and it fit the box I sent the rest in perfectly. Otherwise I would've sent it in an envelope and things might have broke. So this was the best solution. I sent it exactly 3 days before her b-day and it takes 3 days within europe. I'm so glad this was the time the postalservices decided to work in my favour.

I also made her a bookmark with a nice saying I thought suited her and an angel necklace. I asked which colours she preferred and she said "plum". Think this counts as plum?

I also want to let you know that only one person has claimed the sweetpea blogcandy. As I had three winners in total I will re-draw on monday if I don't hear from the two winners by tomorrow. So keep your finger's crossed if you entered and want to win :)

I'll be back soon with a sweetpea card I finished today. It was soo hard, but I've missed cardmaking so much so I pushed through. It's a very simple card, but as always I want the sweetpea stamps to speak for themselves.

Pixie cottage easter jar.

A little bit late - or waaaay too early for easter gifts, but when I found out the theme of the week was "flower bonanza" at the pixie cottage I just had to go with these cute bunnies. All I know was I wanted to use them and some of my huge stash of flowers. I started feeling a bit guilty for buying so much and not using it so that was my starting point. I've been wanting to decorate a plain jar from jam or pickles or whatever it was it inhibited before :)

Here's the result. Seen from left to right. "Glad påsk" means "happy easter". Don't you just love that little bunny ribbon? I thoought of it while working on the flowers. Thought it was perfect. The little feathers was also one of the things laying around. Sometimes it pays off to work in a mess, lol. I got it years and years ago at a thriftstore and never used it until now. I'm so glad I'm using so much of my stash. Not only does it save me money, but it declutters so mcu and that's the best part!

Seen from above. I actually didn't notice until now that a flowerbundle is missing from the far right side. I found it on the floor when I went back inside (from photographing on the balcony) but didn't think about the fact that it was missing from the photos, lol.

Before I started I was wondering how to assemble the flowers as that is always the trickiest part I think. Here's how I solved it:
First I took bigger flowers and attached them with glue like this:

After that smaller ones in the spaces between. Attach them with 3D tape to make them stand up a bit.

Make the center flower by putting together 4-5 flowers in different sizes. Attach every one of them with 3D tape:

After that add different bling and pearls to the center of the flowers or do the budget one: add glitterglue/liquid pearls.

Add a ribbon around the lid's edge. I used glue because it allowed me to move the ribbon around a bit before drying, but you can use double sided tape if you prefer.

Cut a piece of patterned paper to fit the jar and attach with the same glue (that dries clear)

Embellish by adding text and coloured images and you have the prettiest gift in town. I'm planning to make a couple for my thriftstore and see if they sell. I'm sure they can get a little bit more than they would for that simple jar. This would be a great way to raise maney for your charity too.

We have a great sketch too on the blog so I hope you'll join us this week.