Quilt Tops at the ready!!

After a stressful day at work yesterday, I resolved to do no work today - just stuff for me. And of course that always has to involve crafting. And all my preparation for the quilts has paid off today!!

So, the strips I shared last time have been sewn together with long strips of sashing, and voila!! Two bed throw quilt toppers. Have to say, though, that I put on on the bed and it's come up a little smaller than I had planned - and that's before any quilting which will cause is to shrink a little more! But.... it will do the job of co-ordinating with our feature wall, AND protect the quilt when Molly comes up for a cuddle when we're chilling out!!

The next job is to baste these to the wadding and backing. I have chosen some plain fleece fabric as the backing, as we have always had fleece blankets on the bed to protect them before. I may regret it when I start quilting as it will be a little thick and bulky to move through the machine!! I may have second thoughts and just back it with more sheeting, and edge the fleece to use separately!! Decisions, decisions.....

Take care,

Cxxxx

How to spend your day off!

I've not been at work today, so after a lot of doing nothing this morning, I got down to starting a project that I've been planning for a while. We've just had our bedroom decorated after nearly 2 years with bare plaster, and seemingly centuries old carpet, and I wanted to make a couple of new quilted throws.

When I purchased my Crafter's Companion Build a Block Curves set, I was sent a free strip roll from their Country Yard fabric collection. In fact, there was one with each of the sets. As they are the perfect colours for what I wanted, I have decided to use them to make some simple, large blocks for the quilts. The pinks that were included have been put aside for another project at a later date.

This afternoon has been spent planning the layout of the quilts, how to sew the strips together for best effect, and of course sewing the strips together.  Watch this space for the next instalment!! 

Take care,

Cxxx

Wooden Heart

Here's something that's really quick to make - and looks so effective. I picked up the wooden heart for a couple of pounds in The Range, and the letter tag in Hobbycraft for a quid.

I used Rice Paper 418 as it provided a nice background with no focal image.

I turned the paper over, drew around the heart and then used water to outline it, so I could tear the heart shape out. This was then stuck onto the heart. 

I covered the wooden letter tag with Rich Gold Starlight, using a stencil brush.

I applied Chocolate Shabby Chic Texture Paste through the Inky Script stencil.

And also added it to a paper rose.

Flat backed pearls were added to the tag.... 

... and the heart.

And finally the tag and the flower were attached to the heart. As I said, not overly complicated - but very effective. 

Cxxxx

True Love Forever

I have been amassing a few gorgeous trinkets to alter from my local car boot, but in the meantime, I have a box canvas created using a load of Imagination Crafts goodies - and an old pre-used canvas.

I have used:

Off cuts from rice papers - 339 and 446

Starlights - Hot Pink, Clotted Cream

White Gesso

Decoupage glue

A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements

Structure Paste

Other

Box Canvas

Lace

Red Liner tape

Doilies

Art Basics Heavy Body Gel

Paper flowers, fabric flowers, wooden hearts, Card Candi, UTEE flowers

I decided to use up some scraps of rice paper and a box canvas that I had previously used and over-painted.

I played around with the pieces I had, until I was happy.

I painted the canvas with white gesso.

I then brushed Hot Pink and Clotted Cream over the canvas with a bit more gesso.

Using Decoupage glue, I stuck the rice paper to the canvas.

The lace trim was stuck on using red liner tape.

I added a quarter of a doily to each of two corners, using decoupage glue.

A mixture of structure paste and Hot Pink Starlight paint was mixed, and applied through A4 Art Stencil - Crosshatch Elements.

I then had a rummage through my stash to find some embellishments and stamps and played with the arrangement of them until I was happy.

At this point I decided to add the structure paste to the edge of the canvas . 

I glued more rice paper to a whole doily.

The first layers of embellishments were added using Heavy Body Gel.

I had a go at making some embellishments using the Structure Paste and moulds. It did take quite a while for the paste to dry in the mould - the thinner the piece the quicker it dried.

I added these onto the canvas.

And covered over with white gesso. The paper flowers really didn't want to be covered - never had that before - the colour just kept seeping through even after several layers. Lesson learned - and I don't think it shows too much.

With a dry brush, I added Hot Pink and Clotted Cream Starlights and more gesso.

I gessoed the wooden hearts, painted them with Hot Pink Starlight, and then dabbed Clotted Cream Starlight over the top with a dry baby wipe.

Having painted Clotted Cream onto a piece of card, and then I stamped using Crafter's Companion Textures word stamps. I cut the pieces into banners, and edged with some of the pink structure paste.

I added the hearts to the canvas.

And then the words.

The words don't show up so well on the final photo - but hopefully you get the ide.

Back soon

Cxxx

Mixing it up!!

Have been working on a few bits and pieces - really messy, mixed media type stuff. This is the first of my pieces. A canvas with the focal point being a gorgeous rose image. 

What I used

8x8 Canvas                      

White Gesso                           

Crafter's Companion Textures Elements Stamps- Words to Inspire 2

Brilliance Ink - Galaxy Gold

Memento - Espresso Truffle

Prima Finnabair Art Ingredients - Melange Art Pebbles

Metal Butterfly

Imagination Crafts: 

Starlight Paints - Clotted Cream, Topaz, Mint; 

Mix Media Ink Sprays - Light Blue, Sunshine, Dark Brown;

Structure Paste;

Starlight Wax - Diamond, White Gold;

A4 Stencil - Past Times;

Art Stamps - Distress Set 1;

Just Pearls - Antique Brown;

Magi Bond Decoupage Glue.

I started by wetting the rice paper to take out the piece I wanted for the canvas.

 I mixed Clotted Cream with white gesso, and covered the background.

I also mixed Topaz with white gesso and dry brushed this on, creating a vertical and horizontal texture.

I did the same with the Mix Media Sprays, to create a green paint for dry brushing on the canvas.  

I cleaned up the mess by spritzing my mat with water, and then smooshing a piece of card over the top.

 I'm sure it'll come in useful for something!! 

The border part of the stencil was all I wanted to use so I taped it off, and spread structure paste through the stencil onto the canvas.

As ever with me, I then got carried away and forgot to photograph the next couple of steps. So, once the Structure Paste was dry, I added the Rice Paper in the middle with Decoupage Glue. I then put the stencil back over and sponged Dark Brown Mix Media Ink Spray through, and over the Structure Paste.

I also used Topaz over the stencil to add depth. More Clotted Cream and Gesso were mixed, and used to stamp texture over the structure paste and other areas.

 With the script stamp, I used Diamond Starlight Wax to stamp onto the canvas.

The word "sentiment" was stamped once with Brilliance Galaxy Gold, and then re-stamped with Memento Espresso Truffle. I used the washi tape to help stamp in the correct place the second time.  

White Gold Starlight Wax was used to add highlights to the Structure paste, and also brushed on to areas of the rose. The final touches were: Just Pearls - Antique Brown, highlighted with White Gold wax, a metal butterfly and the Melange Art Pebbles.

Phew!! Have a few more step by steps in the coming weeks. Looking forward to sharing them with you. 

Cxxx