Winter Blues- IndigoBlu Challenge

Hello there blog readers.

I just wanted to thank you for checking in today and to let you know why I haven't been blogging for the last few months. Unfortunately my Mum passed away in October and it all happened quite suddenly, so I am now slowly getting back to doing some crafting. 

So I would like to dedicate this creation to my Mum...Xx

What better way to start blogging again than taking up this months challenge over at IndigoBlu. The theme for this month is Winter Blues. 

Come and see how I put it all together!

Apologies in advance for the photo's, This time of year natural lighting isn't very good for using my iPhone camera. I really do need to invest in a good camera so that I can use extra lighting. Maybe I need to ask Father Christmas lol

An idea formed in my head after purchasing the IndigoBlu Snow Globe stamp.

I stamped five images with the stamp onto white card with a blue Stazon ink and added different images in purple to the middle of the globe but in the end decided to go with the houses for all five globes I used on the pedestal above.

Each image was cut out, folded top to bottom down the middle, then each images was glued to the next to make a 3D globe. Glossy accents was painted over the globe to give it a glassy look and when this was dry I used Stickles diamond ice and baby blue liquid pearls down each side of the panels.

Small gems were added to the snowflakes on each panel making up the globe!

The pedestal was cut out of thick card using a Sizzix Die called 'Cupcake Stand & Pendent. I cut out two of the squares so that I could use the 2nd one as a base to attach some Christmas trees. 

The pedestal was painted first with Gee Soo Good in white, then once dry I repainted it with Sleeping Beauty paint.

Once the paint was dry I went on to use some embossing paste and stencil to give the pedestal some texture. 

I left this overnight to dry then added some thick white embossing powder and a few extras from the Encrusted jewel kit from Stampendous.

Now onto the embellishments,

Snowflakes were punched out of pearl white card and hung from the top square using jump rings, the large Snowflake embellishment on the top of the snow globe was made using wooded cut out snowflakes which I painted white then added Stickles, and a large pearl headed pin was pimped up with extra beads.

A small glass bottle was the next item to be given a makeover.

Out came the Mega Flake again along with the encrusted jewel kit, tiny glass beads and a little scroll I made saying 'Christmas Wishes'. I also found a small wooded Christmas tree in my stash and that was covered in Flake as well.

Sheffield Steel Flake was also used to add a bit more detail along the edges of the squares and stand.

                         

                                   

Two small Christmas tress were added to the base to give the pedestal a more christmassy feel so I can use this as a Christmas ornament in my living room.

I hope this post has given you some ideas for a last minute Christmas decoration.

            

Please pop back again soon and if you enjoyed reading this post, why not subscribe to my blog to see what I am creating next.

Happy Crafting to you all,

Sue xx

Altered Cotton Purse

Good Afternoon Everyone,
Here is a project I have been working on and when I shared some photos on Facebook I receive quite a number of comments so thought I would share with you how to create a purse of your own!

Front View

Back View

Altered Purse

Materials and Equipment Needed

·         Cotton Purse

·         White Gesso  

·         2 Paintbrush’s 1 x thick brush / Flat head size 1"

                                     1 x thin brush for use in softening the coloured in images

·         Glue and Seal

·         StaZon Ink

·         Stamps

·         Derwent Pencils

·         Paint Brush & Water

·         Ribbon, Buttons, Thread, extra Cotton Material

·         Piece of card the size of the case you are altering!

·         Iron & Paper

What to do next!

If you have a spare piece of cotton material, paint it with gesso a couple of times and you can use this as a practice piece to stamp on before you start stamping on your purse!

Make sure the purse you are altering is smooth before painting! If it has creases in it, give it an iron to smooth it out! The reason for this, is to have a flat surface to stamp on!

OK, ready to start!

(If you want to, cut a piece of paper the same size and shape of your purse, then design a layout of where you want your stamped images to go).

Onto the Purse

·         Place the piece of card inside the purse before you start painting! This stops the paint going through and sticking the purse together.

·         Paint one side of the purse and let it dry. Turn the purse over and paint the other side! Paint both sides again!

(This helps to make the surface of the cotton flatter to get a better stamped image)!

·         Once the purse is completely dry you can start stamping!

Just remember you won’t get a crisp image if you try and stamp too close to the edge of the purse where the hems are, as it is double material!

·         Use StaZon ink to stamp your images as this ink is permanent! Give the ink time to dry completely! About 10 mins!

·         Use the pencils to add colour to your stamped images. (You can soften the colours a little by using a damp not wet paintbrush to go over the colours! (Clean the brush between colour changes)!

·         When you have finished stamping and colouring leave the purse to dry over night!

·         Iron the purse with a dry medium heat iron, (no steam) between a piece of clean white paper (This stops the images from being transferred to your ironing board)!

·         Let the purse cool then paint a layer of Glue and Seal on both sides! Leave to dry for a good 4/6 hours! Better if you can leave overnight!

·         Decide what type of embellishments you want to sew onto the purse! Sewing on ribbon, beads, buttons etc!

·         On the Purse I posted on Facebook, I used the practice material to stamp and colour the same butterfly I stamped on the purse to make a 3D image on the purse!

                                              Pearl Flat buttons sewn on with brown cotton

Butterfly stamped and coloured on cotton material then cut out to form a 3D element to the Purse

Good Luck and Happy Crafting!

There's No Place Like Home! Ruby Slippers

Check out these Shoes!

I Created these for a Challenge I joined on Facebook, to use the colour Ruby.
The shoes and stand are cut from a Sizzix Dies, and the flourish was cut from a Tonic die!
The shoes were cut from red card stock then once assembled I painted them with glue and dusted them with glitter. (I have also used red glitter paper but this makes it more difficult to glue the pieces together)!
The stand was made from thick card covered with patterned paper before I cut it out with the die

I cut out a larger size platform for the shoes to sit on then decorated the top with green card stock and yellow patterned paper, then I drew on cobble stones to represent the Yellow Brick Road! The edge of the road was highlighted with gold stick on gems and around the platform I glued on pleated green ribbon.
The tiny flowers were punched out of card stock then I used a ball tool to make them slightly 3D and added a gem to the middle!
I cut out four flourishes and placed them around the stand and the side of the shoes!
The tiny flowers were punched out of card stock then I used a ball tool to make them slightly 3D and added a gem to the middle!
I cut out four flourishes and placed them around the stand and to the side of the shoes!

Thanks for reading this post, if you would like more information or to purchase die cuts please email me!
Have you made one yourself?  why not share your photos here!xx