Girls wanna have fun!

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page today. Its getting warmer by the day here but I had great joy in doing this project as always... its a trash to treasure one, (do I know anything else at all!!!).

Off late I have been doing a lot of masculine project and so this time decided to pamper myself! Its vacation time here and I plan to travel soon and isn’t that a time to flaunt too...and so I made myself a little suitcase to carry all those “strictly womanly stuff”...you will see in the end, lol!

This time I looked around my store room and spotted this DIY craft packaging box, quite sturdy and ready to take on what I had in mind and so it reached my craft table along with an old Mills and Boon!

And after some time became this.....

Here is how it went...

Step1- It was a vertical closure box and I had to play around a bit and make if a horizontal one with the flap opening like a suitcase. Once that was done, I gave a generous quote of gesso and planed my next course of action. 

I had this lovely vintage wrapping paper in soft pastel shades which I thought would be perfect. I wanted something subtle and not too flashy! I inked the paper with tea dye and painted the box with chalky finish

Step 2- I cut out the wrapping paper with the images of the bird, lovely blooms and the vintage gramophone and a perfume bottle...It felt like a dream already!

Once that was decoupaged, I worked with my new stencil from Deco art and my homemade texture paste. The stenciled flowers start from where the decoupage ends and I carried it to the sides of the box too. Once that dried, I spritzed some walnut stain DS and dried it with a heat gun. It found the crevices easily and added a lovely vintage look to the box.

Step 3- I fixed the metal closures for the box and worked on the handle. I ran a thick CS thru an embossing folder and then gessoed and painted and it and then gave a few coats of varnish to make it sturdy like leather and then rubbed it with de co art metallic lustre in fushia and gold! Fixed it with a brad and lo!  Some metal charms..a pair of heels, a comb and wings...and I was ready to fly with this!

Step 4- As part of embellishments, I made the corner strips for the box using CS and did the faux leather technique in dull grey colors and attached it to the box with some faux stitching too! The top of the box is an altered key using TH alterations die and I aged it up with crackle paste and DS, fixed a metal flower and then a shabby resin rose and some 2 toned paper twine along with a pearl, phew! The label says it all and that gave me the mojo to work on the inside!

So let’s open the Pandora’s box!

Here we go....

Step5- The inside lid is lined with pages from an old Mills and boon and I altered a little envelope...got my new credit card, lol...more shopping! I covered the envelope with the same wrapping paper and covered the flap with a doily and attached it to the box. 

This can hold my secret bills! A lace flower sprit zed with milled lavender and a velcro closure seals it. One more label for the lady and  a few tiny wooden pegs on the lid to hold some paper slips and girlie pics...just made me smile actually!

Step6- The inside of the box was lined with wrapping paper too and inked it with tea dye DI. The crochet lace on the rim just added to the womanly factor and I placed a text doily in the center and sealed the base with an sheet so that it doesn’t get soiled inside. The edges of the entire box were rubbed with metallic lustre gold and some fuchsia here and there.

That’s the pretty suitcase all set to be loaded...let’s see the “strictly womanly stuff” ,lol!

There you go...one more time...

There is room for all of this and more!

Ta ta...My new companion for the vacation! I will see you soon.

I wish to enter this suitcase in the following challenges...

Stamps and Stencils- Trash to Treasure (you bet, my new buddy now!)

A Vintage Journey- Spring is in the air ( with all the pastel shaded and the flowers all around! )

Things to alter – Ag,Add a bird ( can you hear it sing near the gramaphone,l ol)

Craft Stampers magazine – Spring flowers ( loads of them)

Lessology- snail mail revolution( gosh, if not for that credit card! )

Thank you so much for stopping by and

Until my next creative journey,

Happy crafting and recycling,

Cheers.

Deco Art products used-

Deco art decoupage glue

Chalky finish paint- Vintage

Deco art matte varnish

Deco Art metallic lustre- Radiant red and fab Fuchsia

Deco art stencil- re usable stick on stencil, Arabian tile

What's your style?

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page!

It’s the beginning of summer here...blazing sun and bright colors around! That’s my inspiration for the current project.

It’s the beginning of April challenge at Rhedd’s Creative Challenge, where it’s always “anything goes, altered art or mixed media”.

I have made these passport sleeves in different colors and styles for each member in the family.

Have also used different techniques.

For the man of the house-

For the vintage lover( me, lol)

The boyish charm-

 

The playful little girl-

Have a look and I will be back mid month with a detailed tutorial on the making. Do 

remember to stop by.

Meanwhile take look at what the team has made and do play along.

Until my next creative journey,

Happy Crafting and recycling.

Cheers.

What's your quote?

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page today.

I wanted to share a happy moment with you all and of course another DIY project!

I got featured again in the local daily not just for my work, but for what I am MOST PASSIONATE about.....RECYCLING!

It gives me immense pleasure to be known as someone who consciously works with TRASH to churn out something beautiful!

Thank you friends here, who have always been supportive of my work and who have encouraged me to take this further.

Here is the clipping. Feel free to zoom in to read all the details.

As for today's project feature, this is what I have up cycled. I have always wanted to incorporate plastic in my project so that this hazardous contributor to the landfill is minimized!

I have a regular flow of these fabric softener bottles at home which are quite sturdy and can be used as a decorative planter as is.

But the crafter in me wanted to add a twist to it and so this got done!

Step1- I hand cut a piece of wood panel from my stash and gave the top panel 2 coats of Americana decor chalky finish paints. How cool, my canvas was ready in a jiffy! Next, i used a wood bark stencil and home made texture paste to which I added some fluid acrylics(burnt umber)  and textured the panel. I distressed the edges too with the same to give a shabby wood feel.

Step 2- The lower panel got 2 coats of Americana decor chalkboard paint. I then cut the top portion of the plastic bottle and thick natural cotton chord around it. The bottle got even more sturdy!

Now the magic with a printed napkin and Americana decor decoupage glue...I chose this lovely spring birdhouse, nature kind of print. Love the feel the little birds hovering and the flora and fauna and the GREENS! The napkin had a lovely ribbed texture against and chord and I set it with 2 coats of matte varnish from Deco Art. The alphabets are layered die cuts using cereal box.

Step 3- I distressed the edged of the plastic bottle with green acrylics and then added some coconut coir on the base of the plastic bottle for obvious reasons, lol! Next was to mount the bottle on the panel. The carpentry got done, drilling holes and attaching both the panels with the cotton chord and voila, my outdoor display was ready!

One panel, 3 different looks! Here they are...

Day 1, you could choose to have it as a name board with natural growing plants!

Bored, have some artificial blooms in warm tones and this is the PERFECT warm welcome for your guests!

Bore again, some lovely roses makes it even more cozy , making the quote a reality!

Bored again...KEEP ON PLAYING with the looks!

That’s the advantage of the Chalkboard paint.....a blank board to have your random thoughts out there!

So what’s your quote for today???

Do let me know what you think about this project and next time dont throw that fabric softener bottle, think of ME!!!!

I want to take my panel to the following challenges...

613 Avenue Create- Ag with a bird

Craft for the Craic- Luck of the Irish

STAMPlorations Mixed media Challenge- use stencils

Emerald Creek Dares- ring in spring

More Mixed media- Use green

Deco art Products used-
Chalky finish paints
Chalkboard paint
matte finish varnisg
Decoupage glue
Fluid acrylics- burnt umber

Until my next creative journey,

Happy crafting

and re cycling.

Cheers.

TALE of the TIN !

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page today.

It’s not every day that you salvage some vintage family pictures of your parents wedding and great parents! My father handed over these lovely vintage pics from his recent trip to his home town where he found these in the attic of his ancestral home!

I had to preserve these and thus started this project. Something so special had to have proper protection and I wanted it to reflect the era it belonged to!

So here is a VINTAGE EXPLOSION ALBUM totally designed from scratch  and elaborately embellished and given the look of an old weathered, aged Tin Box!

Now that too looks like it has been salvaged from the attic,lol!

Stay tune.... loads of pics and I want to share all the excitement in doing this exploding tin!

Making of the Tin- I have used cereal box chipboard and wrapped kitchen foil around it. Once set, ran it thru 4 different embossing folders. 

Next applied a thick coat of black acrylic paint and gave it a few minutes to dry and then wiped off randomly with a baby wipe.

Love the instant ageing of the aluminum panels. 

Now I dished out my new supplies from Deco Art, the metallic lustre’s !!! Brilliant turquoise, Lavish green and fab fuchsia it is which has given this tin the lovely colors...it’s as easy as taking in your fingertips or a soft sponge and rubbing it on. The colors along with the black just give it the aged look which I wanted!

I wanted this tin to tell a tale of 100years!

The lid too made in the same fashion with a panel on top(though not seen).

I have used 3 glass baubles as the “pull out” for the lid. All around the tin and the lid I have the sixzzix thin lits die cuts in antique gold.

Embellishments on the lid- I wanted a bit of NATURE on the lid and hence the elaborate work!
The flower is made with TH tattered florals die. I have just mopped up some milled lavender and peacock feathers DI and then stamped some script with archival brown and layered 3 petals to from the flower.

 The center is a twisted twine with a little pearl center. All inked with tea dye ...a vintage flower you see! The twisted rose buds to are made with the smallest tattered florals and the other one with the medium one. So its a total TH family, lol!

A rusty, old mini picture frame holds a little love letter.

 I aged the letter and framed it inside. The frame was a cheap shabby sore bought one, which has been rusted using some rusting powder from Paper Artsy, white vinegar and some gel medium.

To start with, I applied some gel medium to the surface and the mixed some rusting powder with vinegar and applied liberally over the frame and some buttons and just left it over night.

The first thing I see in the morning....Voila, RUST!

I made my own bow maker with a cardboard sheet and used it to make the dual tone bow with some lavender and off white twine.

I layered a bed of coconut coir...I like the natural texture of this and then started placing the flowers on a leafy background. Some berries and a pine cone fill up the space.

I also aged a small glass vial and hung 3 metal charms, falling intentionally on the front panel where the couple are happy to be showcased from the lost and found paper pack! A Prima tiny bulb..makes it cozier!

Tiny metal legs help the Tin to stand up and take all the load, lol! A few pics of the panels all around...

Inside the tin – The lid when opened explodes to reveal an album inside!

The main panels have pictures of my parents wedding way back in 1971!

I have used the negative of the postage die cut to form the frame and some rusty old buttons to hold the picture!

So much rust from the attic, lol!

The album has 12 pages and I have used the Prima sunrise sunset paper line.

 The vibrant yet vintage oranges, yellows and pinks are all I wanted for these black and white photos. Simple interiors as I wanted the pictures to speak for themselves.

Here is a pic of my lovely parents on their D day!

Here is one of my paternal grandparents on their DAY...this was sometime in 1930’s!

Inside each pocket is a post card photo mat that has more vintage love! I total this vintage tin can have up to 48 pictures... That’s a lot of VINTAGE, lol!

I know it’s been a long post and ranting...Thank you so much for being till here. Do leave your thoughts on this.

I would like to take this Vintage Tin to the following challenges...

Anything But Cute – Vibrant colors

Country View Challenge- Industrial

MIXED MEDIA WORLD- Vintage

Stamps and Stencils- spring is in the air

Emerald Creek Dares- Ring in spring

A Vintage Journey -Substrate – Board (eg - grey board, coaster board, cardboard, chipboard) 

Main Colour – Lilac or pale purple 

Technique – Rust Effects (perhaps using rusting or embossing powders or rust coloured paints) 

Product – Something metal 

Frilly and Funkie- lets make a Trio (3 baubles, 3 metal charms, 3 mini rose buds and 3 leaves!)

Until my next creative journey,

Happy Crafting and recycling.

Cheers

The TRIO !!!

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page today.

I have another interesting recycled kitchen decor/utility item today! So much in love with this one as this is made for a very special couple!

I wanted to give something that they would see and use every day and that would give them joy FIRST thing in the morning. Any guesses and here is what I started out with...

Of course this is not going to make them happy,lol!

Okies...so here is the next stage of the packaging box!

Any guesses here....

Well after this, it became THIS!

Fine...I am going to be out with it now...

Here is the final reveal!

 I managed to make a kitchen caddy with 3 pretty mason jars sitting snugly, waiting to serve their morning beverage!

I had a great time bringing all of these together, making the caddy from a cardboard box needed some alteration, fixing the plaited handles and working the twine around it. I then brushed some white chalky finish paints on the twine for a shabby feel.

Decoupaging these lovely blooms was an easy task with Americana decor decoupage glue and it it was great feeling to see the caddy bloom into a shabby chic decor piece! the ribbed texture of the twine seen thru the tissue is a great sight.

I distressed the edges with Archival corn flower blue and then gave 2 coats of matte varnish which made the caddy real stiff and strong to take on the weight of the jumbo mason jars, lol!

I chose 3 lovely vintage colors smitten, delicate and refreshing chalky finish paints from America decor and sponged in 2 coats.

Once this was dry I made the labels with chalkboard black paint on the lid and the bottle. This was just enough to write “their names”!! Now, that’s my original handwriting, lol! Haven’t used a chalk in so many years...am actually wondering about all the possibilities here!

These colorful jars can be used to store anything and with a wipe be labeled again! That’s cool!

I can’t stop sharing the “trio” happily flaunting their badges, lol! This is such a satisfying project for I have re cycled, re used, re invented, re purposed our daily house hold trash into something that can be the PRIDE of the kitchen now! I am sure they are going to light up the new home!

Here is one last look...This is what I call a FAMILY!

If  you did enjoy reading and seeing this project, do let me know how you like it. It always gives me great pleasure to know what you have to say.

I would like to have this Trio enter the following challenges...

LESSology- hand lettered Love

C.R.A.F.T Challenge- Easter Spring

Emerald Creek Dares- ring in spring

TIOT - feminine and fancy

decorate to Celebrate- AG

Until my next Creative Journey,

Happy crafting and recycling,

Cheers!

Paris on my table!

Hello crafty friends..

Welcome to my page today.

Wee am here with my DT post for Rhedd’s Creative Spirit where every month its only Altered art or Mixed Media, NO CARDS! That’s always easy on my cos...I get the jitters if I have to make a card!

This time too I have recycled an empty paint box carton. I played around with its existing dimensions and made it look like a ladies bag!

I had a friend in mind when I did this. She has a new job and I dint want to just give a card that would probably be shelved and forgotten. I decided to give something that she would have on her desk and maybe it could even help her to be little more organized...what say???

I have used the Indian brand papericious”an evening in Paris” paper stack. Unusual of me with pinks here, but them it was going to a female friend you see!

The paper by itself was so pretty, I just added a little bit of lace and pearls to enhance the feminine look, lol! One little handmade rose with TH tattered florals die adorns the lid.

The handle is made with co coordinating glass beads and copper wire from my stash.

The die cut is from Sizzix and perfect for the occasion.

The box opens to reveal a stack of cards organizer! Yes, it’s a visiting/business card holder.

I thought my friend would find it handy and fancy on her table and easy to carry around too!

I hope you will drop by to see what team has in store for you and take the time to play along too.
Linking this to the following challenges...
Craft your passion- AG
Inspiration destination- AG
Simply paper crafts- AG
613 Avenue Create-- AG optional twist lace and pearls.
Crafty Boots Ch- Something for the lady

Until my next creative journey,

Happy Crafting and recycling,

Cheers.