It was a Zip

Well, actually a zipper or rather 2 zippers I found in a grab bag from one of my favorite craft companies.  They have been in my stash for awhile.  Not sure what I wanted to make with them.

Then, last night I decided I wanted a pink flower for the lapel of my coat.  Out came the zippers and needle and thread.  I got busy creating my new  pin.

I started by making a loop and stitching it together at the bottom.  I continued doing this until I had enough petals for my flower. I decided 7 was the magic number.  I made sure they where all stitched securely in the center.  Then I did the same thing with the black.  I made 2 loops for leaves and stitched them to opposite sides of the flower.

Next, with the pink I created a coil large enough for the center of my flower.  Secured that by stitching the backside to hold the coil shape.  And stitched the coil to the center of my flower.  Then  glued a hot pink pearl to the center of the coil.

I thought my pin needed a little length so I cut out a medallion from a piece of lace I had in my stash and stitched it to the back the piece.  Added a couple of pink crystals and stitched a pin back to the reverse side.

And here it is on my coat.

Happy Crafting!

Altered Fairy Dust Cigar Box with Hidden Compartment

Today is a gorgeous day.  Sunny and warm for a Fall day.

We went to go out to dinner last night and our car decided to act up and the check engine light came on.  Well,  $500.00 later it is feeling fine again.

Don't you just love it when your car acts up and your not a mechanic?

For today's project I altered a wooden cigar box.  I call it my fairy dust box.

Again, I used my favorite paper, DCWV in the primrose pattern.  There are so many different papers in this collection the results all coordinate yet look so different depending on the combinations used.

 First thing I did was paint the box with white chalk paint.  On this box I used the harlequin glittered paper.   Distressed the paper and the box.  On the top I cut out 3 of the tags, distressed the edges and layered them  Added some lace, some rhinestones, a little velvet bow and mulberry flowers.

On the front of the box I cut a lace medallion with pearls from a piece of lace and hot glued it in place. Around the top edge I cut a piece of border lace from the top of a larger piece.

Continued the paper all around the box.

close up of flower details

close up of tag detail

I continued on the inside of the lid with the same paper.  Added another cut out tag, a small piece of lace, a white rose, a couple of  butterflies and a saying I printed out from Pinterest.  Then added a row of rhinestones for more bling.  Gotta have my bling.

Tucked inside the box is an altered jar filled filled with fairy dust.

Detail of jar with on of my handmade flowers

I partially filled the jar with glitter, mica flakes and white pearls to create my fairy dust.

I made a satin pillow lightly filled with fiberfill for the fairy jar to rest on and underneath I covered the bottom with paper that I only partially glued down.  Leaving one corner loose.  I used hot glue to glue the satin pillow together.

As you can see under the loose paper there is a cut out for lifting the false bottom I created by lining the box with 1 inch strips of cardboard on all 4 sides and cutting a piece for the false bottom to fit snuggly on top.

loos corner of paper

  Under my false bottom I used a little fiberfill and a piece of ivory chiffon to cover the bottom of the box to make a soft area for any hidden treasures.  Again I used hot glue to secure the chiffon in place.

Happy Crafting!

Vintage Style Paris Map Wall Hanging

I found this map poster of Paris at a local vintage fair and decide to make it into a wall hanging.

First thing I did was cut a piece of foam core to fit the map.  I glued the map to the board, then I glued a piece of trim to the top and added a piece of chain for hanging.

Along the bottom I added a gorgeous piece of lace and a couple of lace medallions at the sides. One corner I added a mini yardstick and to the other I added a vintage wooden light bulb. I also added 2 chipboard Eiffel Towers to each side I  painted dusty pink.

Handmade flowers and lace where added to the corners with a touch of cheese cloth.  

I distressed the edges of the map with brown distress ink and sealed the whole map with Mod Podge.

In the center I added a pair of metal wings I lightly brushed with white paint and a pearl centerpiece for bling.  Along the strip of trim I added white string pearls.  On the trim I used the dry brush technique to paint some gold touches to match the centerpiece.

Above the map I painted this wooden sign white, added the word "Paris" and decoupaged flowers to each side.

I originally found this sign in a second hand store.  It was painted blues and just a bit beat up.

This sign made the perfect topper for my Paris wall hanging.

Painted Wall Mural Inspired by Mary Englebreit

As you open our front door all anyone could see at the end of the hall was a blank wall.

So, I decided to paint this mural and added "WELCOME" cut out with my Cricut machine in black vinyl letters.

I so love the art work of Mary Englebreit and thought this would be the perfect spot to add a ME inspired mural.  It certainly livens up a blank wall and makes me smile when I come home and open my front door.

Cottage detail.

I used craft acrylic paints for this mural.

I added our initials inside a heart on one of the trees.

Tree detail.

Sky detail with a little dragonfly flying by.

Happy Crafting!

Shabby Chic Dream Catcher

For this project I used a wooden embroidery hoop, strips of torn muslin, vintage doily, lace pieces, flower petals, found feathers, rhinestones and fibers

I began by wrapping the hoop with torn strips of muslin, hot gluing the ends and wrapping the wreath with bits of lace lengths, hot gluing them as I went.  Next,  I found a doily from my collection to fit the wreath and tied it to the hoop with the fibers pieces.

I added feathers to the left and right points of the doily.

 

I added bits of lace to the doily and a few flower petals with a rhinestone in the center.

I tore strips of unbleached muslin and tied several to the bottom of the hoop on each side and glued flower petals along the fabric strips.  On the center I tied fiber and white rick rack with feathers glued on to the ends.

fiber, feathers, rick rack and a couple of beads for bling

vintage doily with pieces of lace and petals

doily tied to hoop with fiber pieces 

Happy Crafting!

Week in Review

Here's a review of the this week's posts.

Monday

Hot Pink Necklace 

Tuesday

Shabby Chic Lace Wreath

Wednesday

Altered Burlap Canvas

Thursday

Paper Angel Wings

Friday

Altered Book Journal

Happy Weekend!

Altered Vintage Book Cover Journal

So, who's out shopping on the day after Thanksgiving.  Wishing you light crowds and quick a trip.

I used the pages from this book on several other projects and decided to use these book covers for a journal.

I cut the back edges of the book covers close to the book board.  Then used a coordinating washi tape to cover the cut edge.  Next I punch 3 holes along the back edges and glued metal book corners in place to protect the worn corners of the book.

On the inside of the covers I glued two pieces from the original book with information about the author.  Next I coated both sides with Mod Podge to protect the covers.

To bind my new book I used 3 binder rings.  I had some cream colored paper in my stash that 

I cut down to 3 3/4" x 7".  I was able to get 3 journal pages from each sheet of paper.  I then punched 3 matching wholes in the new journal pages.  

For dividers I cut pieces of scrapbook paper to fit inside my book covers and added tabs to each of the 12 dividers.  I can use the tabs to divide by subject or by month.  Haven't decided how I want to label the tabs yet.

All that was left was to assemble the book.

It really makes a cute vintage inspired notebook.  And I was able to reuse the leftover parts of an old book and give it a new life.