Glass Chalk Paint Bottle

 

Whilst browsing Pinterest recently I found a host of inspiration for decorating glass bottles and jars. Americana Chalky Finish for Glass paint is one of my favourite products ever...it's so easy to transform a jar or bottle that would have found it's way into the recycling bin, into something beautiful with next to no effort.

 

 

I dusted off my paint and used Collall glue to stick the twine in a heart shape on the glass bottle.

 

 

 

I painted the bottle and string with the chalky finish for glass paint, and hey presto I have a pretty rustic vase for my Peony...it really is that easy!

 

Thank for popping by

Cate x

Shabby Chic Tray

The papers in the Kaisercraft Cottage Rose collection are so pretty and can be used on all sorts of crafty projects. I quite often love the papers so much, that I can't bear to cut into them, or stick things on them...using this gorgeous paper on my tray was the perfect solution!

I usually use a crackle medium between my chalk paint layers, but this time decided to try something a little different.  I first painted the tray with Primitive Americana chalk paint and when it was completely dry painted over it with Promise Americana chalk paint (I was going to use my faithful white, but as I was trying something a little different...). I love these paints as no prep is necessary, they are so easy to apply, and leave a smooth brush free surface when dry.

I then used a sanding block to reveal the base coat of paint in places, I think it creates a lovely worn rustic look and shall be doing it again.  I wound some rustic twine around the handles and finished my tray by applying the beautiful paper to the base.  The tray has a glass panel so the paper will be protected.

I have to say I am quite pleased with the finished result! We are holding a workshop on the 9th July if you would like to make one yourself.

Thanks for popping by

Cate x

Gappy Smile Scrapbook Page

 

 

 

 

Mini MB has lost her front teeth, and although we are eagerly awaiting the new 'big' teeth, I am well aware that her gorgeous gappy smile won't last forever. The Soiree collection from BoBunny is so pretty, the papers co-ordinate beautifully and make scrapbooking easy!

 

 

Recipe

 

BoBunny Soiree Collection - Soiree Boutique

BoBunny Soiree Collection - Soiree Charm

BoBunny Soiree Collection - Soiree Stripe

Tilly's Blue Floral Print Ribbon

Tilly's Pink Floral Print Ribbon

Coffee Lace

Kraft Heart Tag

English Country Garden Floral Duo Dies

Twine

Self Adhesive Pearls

 

 

The papers are a dream to work with. I have layered distressed (scissors is my preferred method of distressing!) strips  from the Soiree Stripe paper...making sure to use both sides of the paper!  The circle has been cut from Soiree Boutique paper and attached to the layout using foam pads to give a little extra depth.

 

 

Bunting has been cut from the co-ordinating papers and finished with a twine bow.

 

 

Strips of the Tilly's floral print ribbon and coffee lace have been stapled around the edge of the circle, the stapling makes attaching the ribbons easy and creates a quirky look!

 

 

 

 

 

The flowers have also been cut from the co-ordinating papers, finished with a pearl and attached to the layout. My journaling has been written on the kraft tag and tucked under the circle to preserve the pretty effect.

 

Thanks for popping by

Cate x







 

 

 

 

 

Transform A Glass Bowl Using Serviettes

 

 

Recipe

 

Glass Bowl

Jo Sonja Glass & Tile Part B

Serviettes

Paint

Varnish

Paintbrush

Sponge

 

Method

Ensure your glass bowl is clean and dry (you can clean it with pure alcohol if required).

 

Carefully Tear the serviette into small pieces

 

Separate the layers of your serviette...you will use the very top layer.

 

 

Lay a piece of the serviette inside your bowl and 'paint' it to the bowl using the Glass & Tile Part B and a flat paintbrush.

  

 

Continue to paint pieces of the serviette to the inside of the bowl to build up the design.

 

 

Ensure the bowl is dry (you can use a hairdryer to accelerate drying time) and then apply paint to the inside of your bowl using a sponge. This will really make your design 'pop'. The bowl can be left transparent if desired.

 

 

When the paint is fully dry (again a hairdryer can be used to accelerate the drying time), you can carefully remove excess serviette from the rim of the bowl using a craft knife.

 

The inside of your bowl can be varnished using the finish of your choice.

 

 



 

It's so easy to transform a plain glass bowl into something beautiful!

 

Thanks for popping by

 

Cate x

 

Back in the land of Blogging!

Oh dear it's been a while!

I promise to make a conscious effort to pop by more often, but for now I want to show you our fresh new website.

It's still a work in progress, but I'm pretty happy with it...let us know what you think! Constructive feedback is always useful...good or bad!

Cate x

It's a Mystery!

 

 

 Nicky Hayden recently made this fab card with her Tuesday afternoon cardmaking ladies. The optical illusion with the magnifying glass is great...read on to find out how it's done!

 

Recipe

1 piece of black card 5 1/2" x 3 3/4"

4 pieces of black card 5 1/2" x 1 3/4"

1 piece of pattern A paper 5 1/4" x 3 1/2"

2 pieces of pattern A paper 5 1/2" x 1 1/2"

2 pieces of pattern B paper 5 1/4" x 1 1/2"

Blank gatefold C6 card and envelope

Cream card for stamping and embossing

Sheena Douglas Mystery Author and I Spy stamp sheets

clear embossing powder

 

Method

Ink around the edges of all the patterned pieces of paper.

 

Stamp the questions marks all over the 2 smallest pattern A pieces of paper using black versafine ink, making sure you do a second stamp without re inking (don't do more than 2 each time though as it won't look quite so nice)

 

Stick the large piece of black card in the centre of the open gatefold card and two of the smaller panels onto the inside panels.

Stick large pattern A and the two stamped pieces.

 

 

 

 

Stick the last 2 pieces of black card to the front side panels of your card and wrap the ribbon around the card, ensuring you have an equal length on both sides. Stick the pattern B paper over the top to secure the ribbon in place. Stamp the question mark in the bottom right hand corner if you wish.

 

Stamp the typewriter onto the cream card with black versamark ink, sprinkle with clear embossing powder and heat set. Stamp your chosen words onto the page in the typewriter, then cut out and stick on the centre panel of the card.

 

Stamp the mystery greeting and emboss, cut out and mount onto a small scrap of black card.

 

 

 

Now the tricky bit! Stamp the words again and them stamp over them with the magnifying glass. Sprinkle with embossing powder and heat set. Cut out just the magnifying glass leaving the wording in the middle, then mount over the original greeting, lining up the lettering carefully, so that you have a clever optical illusion.

 

Finish by adding glossy accents to the centre of the magnifying glass, but be aware that it will need to stay flat to dry for at least an hour!

 

Thanks for popping by

Cate

x

 



Vintage Floral Card

 

Nicky Hayden recently held a couple of workshops to make this beautiful card using the Vintage Floral collection from Crafters Companion and The Papermania Botanical collection. It has a beautiful timeless quality and would be gratefully received on any occasion!

 

Recipe

 

6" Card blank and Envelope

Cream card 2 1/2" x 3 3/4"

Pink card 2 5/8" x 3 7/8"

Vintage Floral Paper 3 3/4" x 3 3/4"

Pink card 4" x 4"

Vintage Floral paper 1" x 6"

Vintage Floral paper 2" x 6"

2 large die cut flowers

2 medium die cut flowers

Lace, Bead String, Pearls & small Pearl Medallion

Victorian flower decals

Insert

 

Method

 

Begin by embossing the front of the card blank with the Vintage Rose embossing folder and then edge with Tattered Rose Distress Ink.

 

Stamp the Red Rose Botanicals stamp from Papermania onto the small piece of cream card, colour with pencils, round the corners using a punch and mount onto the small piece of Pink card.

 

 

 

 

Now stick the 2" piece of paper about 1 inch from the bottom across the front of your card, then stick the large pink square centrally over this followed by the corresponding piece of Vintage Floral patterned paper.

 

Stick the lace across the first strip of paper and then attach the 1" paper strip to slightly overlap the top of the lace, trim the edges of any excess paper.

 

Use strong glue to attach the pearl strip across the join of the paper and lace.

 

Mount your stamped image using foam pads to the front of your card. Stamp a sentiment onto pink card use a distress ink to ink the edges, add pearls and mount onto the card.

 

 

To make your flower, spritz each of the die cut flowers with water, scrunch them up and spritz with a gold spritzing spray. Un scrunch them carefully and dry them with a heat tool (it's best to leave them to dry naturally if you have time).

 

When the flowers are dry stick them all together, add a pearl medallion to the centre and attach to your card.

 

Lastly attach a couple of Victorian flower decals to finish.

 

Thanks for popping by

 

Cate

x