etchall® Day of the Dead Decorative Mirror

Day of the Dead crafts are growing in popularity - this mirror combines a variety of mixed media for a finished piece which will make a colorful accent to you home.

Materials:

9" Darice Mirror 

etchall® - Etching Cream, Squeegee 

              - etchnet® stencil - Sugar Skull 

Painters tape 

Makin’s Clay® - Red, Yellow, Green 

                        - Leaves Push mold 

Smoothfoam™ Disc 

DecoArt® Americana® Multi-Surface Satin™ - Deep Turqouise 

Beacon® Adhesives Tacky Glue 

Toner Plastics™/The Beadery® Skull Beads  Paintbrush 

Instructions:

This was my first time working with the new etchnet® stencils with etchall® cream - and I’m happy to say that the results were absolutely fantastic - one of the cleanest, crispest etches I’ve ever achieved!

Apply etchnet® sugar skull stencil to left side of mirror.  Use painters tape to securely tape in place, ensuring there are no ripples in the stencil. 

Pour etchall® cream on the side of the stencil - NOT ON THE OPEN AREA - Use squeeegee to pull etching cream over onto open areas of stencil, pressing slightly to ensure the cream is evenly applied though the net of the stencil.  Once you are sure you have a good even application over the open areas of the stencil, apply an additional coat of etchall® over the stencil.  Let set 15 minutes.  Return etching cream to bottle, rinse to remove remaining cream and remove stencil.  Clean any remaining cream from stencil and set aside for later use (etchnet® stencils are re-usable). 

Create multiple roses approximately 1” in size from red and yellow Makin’s Clay®.  There are multiple tutorials online for making roses with polymer clay and/or fondant - it really is quite simple!   

Use leaves push mold and green Makin’s Clay® to create multiple leaves for the roses. 

Use Beacon® Tacky Glue to mount roses and leaves as desired on left edge of mirror, extending above and below the etched skull.   Leaves and flowers can be mounted when the clay is still fresh, or after dry (normally the clay will be dry in 24 hours). 

Use Tacky Glue to mount blue skull beads randomly amongst the flowers.  Let dry.

Paint sides of Smoothfoam™ disc with Turquoise Multi-Surface Satin™ paint.  Let dry. 

Apply liberal amount of Tacky Glue to top of Smoothfoam™ disc and mount mirror.  The disc will give added depth when the mirror is mounted to a wall. 

Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror - Designer Craft Connection Blog Hop

This Glamour Girl Monogram Mirror would make a great gift for any girl who wants to celebrate there inner princess!  Sparkling crystal accents, etched glass fleur-de-lys, a glittered monogram letter, and coordinating ribbons bring it all together.  Be sure to click the Designer Craft Connection Blog button to see what other creative hand-made gifts are being shared today as part of this month's blog hop!

Materials:

12" Round Darice Mirror
Connie Crystal white crystal sheets
DecoArt® Americana® Gloss Enamels® Stick-On Stencils™ - Fleur de lys
etchall® Etching Cream
Chipboard glittered monogram letter
Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ Adhesive
Coordinating ribbons, scissors, foam brush
Command™ mounting strip


Instructions:

Place fleur-de-lys stencil onto lower right area of mirror.  Apply etchall® cream and let set 15 minutes.

Remove and place etchall® cream back into bottle for re-use.
Clean and dry mirror.  Repeat with stencil above and to the right of first image, then repeat again to create 3 diagonal images.

Cut three strips of 3 crystals from Connie Crystal sheet.  Use Beacon Adhesives Quick Grip™ to mount to straight area in center of each fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount glittered monogram letter centered on fleur-de-lys.

Use Quick Grip™ to mount single strip of crystals around outer edge of mirror.

Cut multiple pieces of coordinating ribbon about 2" long.  Fold each piece in half to create slightly-off centered loops.  Use Quick Grip™  to back edge of mirror to create ruffle around mirror.


For easy mounting anywhere, use a removable mounting strip.

Ann Butler Designs Blog Hop - Spring Bloom Topiary

I am excited to be a part of the Ann Butler Designs blog hop!  In the midst of all this snow and ice in North Carolina, I felt like I needed a little touch of spring so I designed this cheerful flower topiary!  Be sure to check out the other participating designers to see what they've created too!

Ann Butler http://www.creativitystirsthesoul.com/2014/01/ann-butler-designs-january-blog-hop.html

Amy Bowerman http://wp.me/p1xj8L-1ub

Candice Windham http://candicewindhamdesigns.blogspot.com/2014/01/how-do-i-love-thee.html

Cheryl Boglioli http://wp.me/p2zUiu-1cE

Eileen Hull http://www.eileenhull.com/2014/01/ann-butler-blog-hop.html

Jen Goode http://www.100directions.com/pretty-as-a-peacock-ink-colors-from-clearsnap-and-ann-butler/

Madeline Arendt  http://madelinesthoughts.blogspot.com/2014/01/ann-butlers-stamps-blog-hop.html
Sharon Rienhart http://smrdesigns.blogspot.ca/2014/01/delicate-valentine.html

Materials: 

Ann Butler Faux Quilting Stamps by Unity Stamp Company - 1” Leaves All Over
Clearsnap® ColorBox Crafter’s® by Ann Butler - Lilac
White cotton fabric 
Lavender embroidery floss, needle 
1 1/4” Smoothfoam ball 
Yellow Blumenthal Lansing button 
Wooden skewer 
Darice tin watering can 
May Arts ribbon - yellow print, green print 
Beacon Adhesives Tacky Glue 
Iron 

Instructions: 

Ink 1” leaves stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Ink stripe stamp with Lilac ink, stamp 8 times on white cotton fabric.  Heat set with iron. 

Cut out each stamped square, leaving approximately 1/8” on all sides. 

Place 2 leave images back to back, straight stitch embroider around image.  Repeat with remaining stamped leave images and striped images. 

Use fingers to gently remove threads around stitching to create frayed edge. 

Thread each square, through one corner, onto needle, overlapping.   Fan out to create flower. 

Place small amount of tacky glue on yellow button.  Place in center of flower.   Embroider through flower ot hold in place. 

Place Smoothfoam ball into bottom of watering can with hole facing upward. 

Place small dab of glue on top of skewer, wrap with green ribbon.   Place strip of ribbon around stem, tie, then tie ends in knot to create leaf.  Repeat on other side. 

Insert skewer into ball. 

Glue flower to top of skewer.  

Tie strip of yellow ribbon around watering can ending with a bow. 

Add Spanish moss to top of watering can opening to cover ball. 

Smoothfoam™ Stuffed Fabric Mirror

This month on the Smoothfoam™ blog I'm sharing a stuffed fabric mirror.  You can find the instructions on how to create this project in the link post.  http://www.smoothfoam.com/blog/how-to-make-a-fabric-covered-mirror/

Holiday Shopping List - The Stylish Way

The countdown to the holidays is on - and for many people the real mad rush of shopping kicks in this week as we approach the infamous "Black Friday" day after Thanksgiving.    This year, I decided that instead of bringing a piece of notebook paper with my holiday shopping list - I'd create a small, purse sized notebook that I could keep my list in, tuck receipts or coupons into, etc.  I can even use it from one year to the next until it's filled.   When I whip out this list, I'm hoping this festive little book will make me stop and reflect on the true joy of giving - or at least remind me that soon enough I'll be back in my studio busily creating, which is much less stressful than shopping to me personally, when the holidays are over!  


Materials:

Darice 3" x 4" notebook 
Theresa Collins Noel Collection patterned papers and chipboard embellishments 
Spellbinders™ Grand Calibur® & Spellbinders™ Shapeabilities® Poinsettia set
Red cardstock
JudiKins Diamond Glaze
Clearsnap ColorBox Archival Dye Cat's Eye inkpad - Red Devil
The Robin's Nest "Champagne" Dew Drops embellishments
ScraPerfect The Best Glue Ever
1/2" Gold Organza ribbon
Westcott Craft Titanium Bonded Non-Stick Scissors

Instructions: 

Following manufacturer instructions, cut and emboss poinsettia using Grand Calibur® & Spellbinders™ Shapeabilities® Poinsettia set.   Apply thin coat of JudiKins Diamond Glaze to each layer of petals before assembling flower. 

Determine how you'd like to layer the papers for cover and back of book.  The assortment of designs in the Theresa Collins Noel Collection all coordinate well so the hardest part is deciding which ones you want to use from the great assortment... Ink edges of all pieces with Clearsnap Red Devil inkpad.   Mount with Best Glue Ever.  Let dry.

Dovetail cut one end of gold organza ribbon, mount to bottom front of book, approximatley 1/2" from bottom edge, with dovetail extending slightly off edge.  Wrap around to back of book and mount.  

Mount chipboard "GIFTS" embellishment over gold ribbon.






Arrange poinsettia in bottom left front corner of book.  Mount, extending off book, and remove outer petals. 

Use JudiKins Diamond Glaze to mount gold Dew Drops embellishments as center of poinsettia, and layer over "GIFTS" chipboard embellishment.  Let dry.

Happy shopping and may you all take a moment to reflect on the joy of giving this season! - Cindi

Dress Details - A Closer Look at CHA Crafty Couture Gown

Roses in the Garden was the theme I chose for my gown this year.   From there I challenged myself to create a gown that was primarily made from repurposed materials, at a minimal cost, with hand made embellishments.   Little did I know that "challenge" would end up being a key word throughout this adventure.  From creating the dress without a true dressmaker's dummy to ensure it would fit the needed measurements (hey, I got creative  - meet "Beatrice" my personal mannequin), to transporting the gown to Chicago, to attempting to repair the extensive damage that occurred in transit on the hotel room floor, I persevered.  The result was this gown and coordinating pieces I think Mother Nature would be proud to have her daughter wear to the prom or a special event. 

A perfect color match!

The bodice was made from newspaper panels, layered with Plaid Mod Podge to seal and add structure.  The inside was lined with pink Duck Tape to add sturdiness.  After a layer of white paint was added, I began hand painting the freestyle climbing roses using blended shades of Plaid’s acrylic paints.  The colors of the roses themselves perfectly matched the colors of the actual climbing roses I have in my own garden.    When I was finished layering the roses, I enhanced each rose and leaf with Jacquard Lumiere 3-D Metallic Dimensional Paint & Adhesive for added shimmer and depth.   A light coat of Plaid Martha Stewart Sugar Cube paint added a tiny bit of sparkle all over to the finished painted bodice.   Makin’s Clay leaves were made with a push mold and added to the top and bottom edges.   The bodice was closed in the back and held in place on the mannequin using Velcro Brand Adhesive strips.

For the trellis skirt, individual strips of layered newspaper were Mod Podged, then woven to create the desired effect.   The trellis was spray painted with white paint.   The skirt liner was created from an old repurposed white sheet, and green floral organza material from a clearance rack at a fabric store.   The skirt was held closed, and held on the mannequin, with Velcro.

The vines for the climbing roses were made with jute rope and jute string painted with Krylon spray paint.    The vines were woven through the trellis skirt and hot glued in place.  Push molded Makin’s Clay leaves were mounted using Beacon Adhesives Felt Glue.   The individual roses were created from custom mixed shades of Makin’s Clay.  Each rose and rose bud is made from numerous tiny hand made petals, layered to create a cluster to mimic the actual tiny climbing roses in my garden.  Once dry, each rose was lightly accented with Lumiere 3-D paint for a bit of shimmer.  The complete roses were mounted to the vines and stems using Beacon Adhesive. 

Rubber stamped butterflies, embossed on vellum, were painted with USArtquest Pearl-Ex watercolor paints, then embellished with Darice beads using Judikins Diamond Glaze as an adhesive and sealant.   Diamond Glaze was also used to lightly coat the wings of each butterfly.  The butterflies were added as accents to the front of the top of the bodice, and on the trellis. 

The small clutch purse was also made from Mod Podged newspaper, lined with pink Duck Tape.  It was painted in the same manner as the bodice and has the same clay leaf accents.



The coordinating shoes began with an old pair of silver shoes.  Several coats of white paint altered them to a more subtle background for painted rose accents and clay rose accents.  In the trend of colorful soles, the bottoms were painted with the same yellow as the roses on the gown. The painted shoes were also given a coat of the Plaid Martha Stewart Sugar Cube paint for a tiny bit of sparkle. 

Laslty, here's a shot of the gown before I disassembled it into pieces for transportation to Chicago..... luckily I packed a fully stocked repair kit so I was able to apply some triage techniques before it hit the CHA Showroom floor!

I hope you enjoyed this behind the scenes information on what went into the creation of my gown.  I can tell you first hand that all the gowns on display were amazing - I can only imagine the time and effort that went into each one and would love to hear the stories behind each creation in the Summer 2012 Crafty Couture display!

Until next time, happy crafting and remember to "Dare to be Different!"
- Cindi