Just a quick note to let all my followers and fans know that I am coming back soon with new posts and new thoughts and crafty ideas! Be ready everyone this fall is going to be the most creative ever! Of all time!
Hugs,
Sher
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Marie A. Matchboxes!
So I have been having fun this week making Marie Antoinette themed matchboxes, and here are my first offerings!
The first one is a bit more whimsical and more like a little piece of confection or candy. It's pretty mint green background and honey colored undertones suggest as much. Then add the little heart at the bottom and how yummy Marie herself is dressed and it becomes a scrummy little treasure.
For both of these projects I started out with a normal 32 count matchbox.First, I crumpled up some patterned paper for a while until it became weathered and softer to work with. After smoothing it back out I used a glue stick to cover the back of the piece of paper.
For ease and efficiency measure out the paper for the outside of your matchbox before crumpling it up. Center your matchbox on the paper at one end and apply the paper around the outside keeping the paper taunt, then tuck in the edges.
I use a paper boning tool (or any small flat edge) to help smooth the paper on the inside edges, especially around the corners so the matchbox tray can slide through easily without catching. After that, I added pieces of vintage books pages, text, and pictures of Marie.
Once I had all the paper designs in place I used the Distress Paint in Rock Candy as a clear crackle coat on the top side of the box and let dry. You can now apply any other embellishments like the rose you see on the second matchbox or brads, paper flowers, etc. For the tray I used a combination of Walnut Inks in Lilac and Willow, along with Perfect Pearl mists that I made myself, once applied I dried with a heating tool. I used a small Fleur dis Lis stamp with metallic silver ink to decorate the inside bottom the the trays.You can finish by adding more to the back of the matchbox and tray bottom which I did, with some more vintage book pages. Then fill your matchbox with all sorts of sweet little goodies that will inspire the recipient to create their own unique piece of art.
I hope that this helps out in creating your own little matchbox and until next time as always, happy swapping everyone!
The first one is a bit more whimsical and more like a little piece of confection or candy. It's pretty mint green background and honey colored undertones suggest as much. Then add the little heart at the bottom and how yummy Marie herself is dressed and it becomes a scrummy little treasure.
For both of these projects I started out with a normal 32 count matchbox.First, I crumpled up some patterned paper for a while until it became weathered and softer to work with. After smoothing it back out I used a glue stick to cover the back of the piece of paper.
For ease and efficiency measure out the paper for the outside of your matchbox before crumpling it up. Center your matchbox on the paper at one end and apply the paper around the outside keeping the paper taunt, then tuck in the edges.
I use a paper boning tool (or any small flat edge) to help smooth the paper on the inside edges, especially around the corners so the matchbox tray can slide through easily without catching. After that, I added pieces of vintage books pages, text, and pictures of Marie.
Once I had all the paper designs in place I used the Distress Paint in Rock Candy as a clear crackle coat on the top side of the box and let dry. You can now apply any other embellishments like the rose you see on the second matchbox or brads, paper flowers, etc. For the tray I used a combination of Walnut Inks in Lilac and Willow, along with Perfect Pearl mists that I made myself, once applied I dried with a heating tool. I used a small Fleur dis Lis stamp with metallic silver ink to decorate the inside bottom the the trays.You can finish by adding more to the back of the matchbox and tray bottom which I did, with some more vintage book pages. Then fill your matchbox with all sorts of sweet little goodies that will inspire the recipient to create their own unique piece of art.
I hope that this helps out in creating your own little matchbox and until next time as always, happy swapping everyone!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Vintage Pockets of Whimsy
Another swap and my second Whimsy Pocket! This was so much fun to make too. This particular pocket is for a swap for the Tim Holtz Addicts group on Swap-bot. It is suppose to have a vintage Tim Holtz feel to it as the overall style for the pocket.
As with the last one I made in 2010, I started out with a paper towel roll that was 3 1/2 inches in length. I flatten it out, then stapled one end together to make the bottom. You can also glue or tape the end together as well. I then lined in inside with some chocolate colored felt that I glued down and slipped snugly into place.
I took a thin sheet patterned scrapbook paper(I got this design at Jo-ann's), and crumpled it up and smoothed it back out a few times to get a softer more worn look to it and glued it to the outside. Then I cut more strips of the same paper and glued it around the edges and bottom to give it texture and make it more secure.
After that I embellished it with ephemera, a Tim Holtz Ideology ornate plate and seam binding for the handle. The fun part is filling it up with rare goodies for my partner, which include vintage bits of ruler, a small compass, an old game piece, a charm I made and a vintage silk rose.
I love participating in swap like these especially with this group in particular. They are so creative and make some of the most lovely craft items I have found anywhere. It's nice to put such love and effort into something you make and know that what you receive will be just as fabulous and made with care as well. I am very fortunate to be a part of such an amazing group of artists. Blessings for a happy week and as always, happy swapping everyone!
As with the last one I made in 2010, I started out with a paper towel roll that was 3 1/2 inches in length. I flatten it out, then stapled one end together to make the bottom. You can also glue or tape the end together as well. I then lined in inside with some chocolate colored felt that I glued down and slipped snugly into place.
I took a thin sheet patterned scrapbook paper(I got this design at Jo-ann's), and crumpled it up and smoothed it back out a few times to get a softer more worn look to it and glued it to the outside. Then I cut more strips of the same paper and glued it around the edges and bottom to give it texture and make it more secure.
After that I embellished it with ephemera, a Tim Holtz Ideology ornate plate and seam binding for the handle. The fun part is filling it up with rare goodies for my partner, which include vintage bits of ruler, a small compass, an old game piece, a charm I made and a vintage silk rose.
I love participating in swap like these especially with this group in particular. They are so creative and make some of the most lovely craft items I have found anywhere. It's nice to put such love and effort into something you make and know that what you receive will be just as fabulous and made with care as well. I am very fortunate to be a part of such an amazing group of artists. Blessings for a happy week and as always, happy swapping everyone!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Pretty Little Pink Dress
After that I used the Victorian Velvet Distress Ink around the edges, added the script writing stamp block in Milled Lavender as well and finished off the edges with Distress Stickles in Worn Lipstick, then added the embellishments.
I think I will be making more of these in the near future and seeing what else I can make from them. What can I say, it is great to be back and crafting again. I dedicate this dress to my mom, this is the first Mother's Day with her with us and I know she would have loved a little dress like this. Happy swapping everyone and bless you all!
Friday, August 19, 2011
Steampunk Themed Mini-zine
So, I am hosting a swap for a mini-zine with a steampunk theme on Swap-bot. I really like making zines and I can take my time and add to them slowly over the course of a week or even two, so no rush, I like that very much.
This one was really fun for me because I love steampunk. This zine has more of a picture book feel to it more visual than chocked full of information and it's a little colorful and with a more whimsical approach to steampunk than serious or true to form, but I like it!
I make all my zines by hand so I have an original, tangible template for each one I have made so far. I do not have any digital programs to aid me in making zines. But making them by hand is fun too. I use inks, and stamps, tissue tapes, just whatever I have in my stash to help make my idea come to life.
So enjoy a little sneak-peek and have fun crafting this week and happy swapping to all!
Friday, July 1, 2011
Slowly Creating Once More
My newest inspired act of creativity is this set of hand stamped, hand stained muslin ribbon I made for a trade on Flickr. I used various Walnut Inks and Glimmer Mists to stain the ribbon and then used different colors of Staz-On inks to stamp the designs.
I also made the tags that are shown with each ribbon. For them, I used Distress Inks in Barn Door, Black Soot, Dusty Concord, Peeled Paint, Vintage Photo and Milled Lavender to name a few, Distress Crackle paint was used on a tag as well. I then misted then with water and Glimmer Mists and used Staz-On once more for the images I did not want blurred around edges. Essentially, these are ribbon and tag sets. I hope to sell them soon when I get my Etsy store set up. Listing from top to bottom they are Bloody Valentine, Celtic Garden, and Parisian Post.
I added vintage hat pins to secure each set and give that special touch. The ribbon I used to finish off each tag is cabbage roses ribbon from a great Etsy shop I have mentioned before in my blog... MemrieMare, the link follows: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MemrieMare
I hope you enjoy these new items and thank you for looking. Happy crafting!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Taking a Break...
My sincere apologies to all my followers (believe me I appreciate every person that follows this blog). I am taking a short break now for some family business. However, I will be back and blogging soon once more. Please don't give up on me, there will be more fun crafts to come! Thank you to all who follow this blog, you all make me smile!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)