Tuesday, December 8, 2015

New Robe for Winter


The other day I was in Costco and noticed their new winter throws.


They are so soft and the colors are so inviting.  I bought one and decided to turn one into a robe for winter. 

 It doesn't get that cold here in California so I wanted a log robe with short sleeves.  
Just love the colors, too

My ankles always get cold and this came out with plenty of length to keep my ankles toasty and warm.



It has a V neck.


Short sleeves


Now we just need some cooler weather.


Happy Sewing!





Monday, December 7, 2015

Tiny Mini Christmas Album


I had the empty container from a bronzer that I used during the summer.

I thought the container was just too cute to toss away. It has a little door and window on the front and one on the back.  Then it hit me, perfect for a tiny Christmas album, the color was a perfect red already.



On the spine I glued a paper sticker with a handle image.

Spine

Front cover
Inside the front window I added a square of Christmas scrapbook paper.  Then a little red acetate house image , some green bling rhinestones and on a dimensional  glue dot I use a punched out 1' Santa image.




Back cover

Made a little tab to  pull the album pages out from the box.


And here are the front of the album pages ready to be filled.

 

The back side is red and white stripe.  There are 7 little pages waiting for pictures from Christmas.


Happy Crafting!








Saturday, December 5, 2015

Week in Review


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

Monday

Shabby Chic Dreamcatcher


Tuesday

Painted Wall Mural




Wednesday 

Vintage Paris Map Wall Hanging


Thursday

Altered Fairy Dust Box


Friday

Zipper Pin


Happy Weekend!





Friday, December 4, 2015

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!





Thursday, December 3, 2015

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!





















Wednesday, December 2, 2015

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.







Tuesday, December 1, 2015

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!