Wednesday 7 December 2016

A snowy wish!

Hello crafty folks,
Welcome to my page. its already December! ! Yes…its December…month of festivities, holidays and the countdown to welcoming the New Year.
Today, I would like to show you a step by step to making a Christmas décor project using Folk art paints and texture paints from PLAID.
My recycle elements for this project are these humble, ordinary looking pill bottles( these are approx 4 inches in height!).
Here is how I made it..
Step1- Once the bottles were cleaned and the labels removed, I gave a coat of white gesso to all the bottles and painted them with home chalk paints.I colored the 3 bottles in 3 different colors.

Step2- For the lids, I took some air dry clay and wrapped the lid with it to form tiny hats and let them dry overnight. I had some little Christmas print outs in my stash and adhered them to the bottle using modge podge. These were just 2 inches in height, just perfect fit on the bottle. I inked them with archival brown ink before sticking.


Step3- I applied one step crackle paint to the bottles and let them take its own course to dry. Once the cracks appeared, I applied some burnt umber acrylics and then rubbed it with a wet wipe. This way the cracks got filled up with brown paint and voila! The bottles had vintage look. I gave them a coat of Folk art home décor Varnish and they were good to go.

By now, the caps had dried and I painted them in different colors. For one I had snow dripping on it using the Folk art texture paint (snow white). I for one, love this texture finish and have had it as a feature in all my Christmas projects. It’s probably the easiest way to give snow effects, just so REAL! I had a little bit of it on the snowy image on the bottle too.
Step4- I wanted each bottle to have a different element and so for the other, I had some moss dripping on the lids. Here again the Folk art painted finishes came to my rescue. It’s just so dimensional you can actually feel the mossy texture. I also had the same poured onto a wooden disc that I intend using as a deco platter later in the project. You can actually see that I have used just a stirrer to pour out the texture paint on to the disc as I wait for it to dry, you can see the dimension later.
Step5- I started to add some embellishments to the lids from my stash again. I stamped some music notes onto plain paper and distressed it with vintage photo DI and then stuck it to an empty cereal box and cut out the alphabets “JOY”. I have layered 3 cartons to get a chipboard feel to the alphabets and inked that too with brown archival int. I then heat embossed some gold on to edges of the alphabets and stuck them to the lids with hot glue gun. All of them have snow dripping on them too!
Here is a look at all the caps. I tucked in some coconut coir and some red pollens for the “J” cap.
 For the “O” I liked the overload of snow on the caps on the rims!
 The “Y” cap had some moss and green foliage


Step5- The bottles were ready to hit the final spot for decoration! I dressed up a wooden disc with glass crystals and placed all the bottles on it. The rimes of the disc are covered with moss and snow. I also kept some pine cones and foliage dipped is snow as additional embellishments. Here is the final look captured in different moods and locations.
I like how this project turned out..a vintage white Christmas! Do let me know your feedback on the same.
I would like to link this to the following challenges...

Stamps and Stencils- Christmas wishes
Blog studio75.pl- Christmas decoration
Craft Stamper - Snow and ice
A Vintage Journey-Winter magic
Country view Challenges- Christmas
Frilly and Funkie- Home for the holidays
Simon says Monday Challenge- Christmas gifts

 Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and recycling.
Cheers,
Rupa




Thursday 1 December 2016

My Vintage buddy !

Good morning!
Welcome to my page. It’s been a while since I blogged...I hope to be more punctual next year! Yes…we are in December…the year is coming to an end!
I am sharing my DT post for Rhedd’s Creative Spirit, where every month it’s “anything goes”, altered art or mixed media.
Last few months have been months of festivities in India and it’s been raining sweets here, lol! One such thing is the chocolate box, which I was happy when it got empty than when it was full!
I have been wanting to play with metal and this chocolate tin was just right to experiment what I had in mind. My latest toy in my studio is the sewing machine and I wanted a company to it to guard all my threads and needles…and hence the birth of this project, a sewing box!
An easy project that I managed to do in a couple of hours but had this idea in my mind, a box so vintage like a grand moms hand me down! I wanted an old looking box to hold my sewing treasures and so decided on a vintage theme! Do I need to say so!
The box was given a liberal coat of gesso and once dry, I decided to work on the focal point of the lid.
I decoupaged a floral tissue to old book page .
 I am so in love with peek of text thru the tissue…this is my current favorite and I think I will be using this is in a few more projects to come. It’s an instant vintage look!  I then had that decoupaged on the lid. Once dry, I played with Deco Art acrylics yellow ochre, raw umber and green.
I merged these 3 colors to give a distressed look to the lid.
For the base, I gave 2 costs of raw umber acrylics and then played with the doily stencil from Deco Art. I have used yellow ochre acrylics to sponge in thru the stencil.
I liked the vintage look of these 2 color combinations. I also dry brushed some yellow ochre randomly.
Once all of it was dry, I gave a coat of varnish and my box was ready.
It proudly its next to its BIG friend and promises to help me in my future projects! Here , have a look…..
I look forward to hearing your comments on this and hope you would drop by to see what the team has in store for you. Do play along beforeyou get busy with your holidays.
I will see you on the other side of the break, hmmm maybe next year!
Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and recycling.

Cheers.
 PRODUCTS FROM DECO ART
Decoupage glue 
Acrylics- yellow ochre, raw umber, green
Ultra matte varnish
Doily stencil














Wednesday 16 November 2016

Its snowing!

Hello crafty folks!
Welcome to my page today.
I have been playing with snow this past few days...I know you will not believe this.
Have a look...

Its super fun playing with PLAID texture paint and making some decor items!
Do drop by at crafters corner blog to see all the details....
WARNING! Its really cold out there, you could freeze...lol!
Here is a sneak peek...


Thank you so much for stopping by.
Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and recycling.
Hugs.

Friday 21 October 2016

"Spooky" guest post for A VINTAGE JOURNEY

Hello all!
Welcome to my page today!
So happy to share with you my guest DT project for AVJ where the theme is "SPOOKY"! Those who know me well and have seen my works, know I have not ventured in this style till date! Yes, this is my first make in this theme and I did have some sleepless nights when i had to so so.
However keeping my "recycling motto" intact, I decided to make a book box from a discarded packaging box. I used the lid of the box as the inside box for the book. I made the covers with chipboard and went about with my mixed media fun !
I covered the entire book and the box inside with black gesso and had fun with some sprays and stencils.

I got my new set of supplies from Deco Art and waiting to start work with them I have used the star stencil and sprayed in with some Deco art orange spray, dried it and then had a scrap piece of paper from the Lost and found pack. I scrunched it with water and then inked the edges with black soot DI and placed it in the center. There is some coconut coir beneath the paper for dimension, and the inks from the stencil found its place on the paper too!
 I wanted something spooky,(obviously) as the focal point. I got some alteration dies as a Secret Santa gift from AVJ and it was just perfect for this project. I cut the bat out from chipboard and gave a coat of orange acrylics.Then covered it with crackle paint from Deco art.


I added some black color to the crackle paint and as it dried, the cracks reveled the orange beneath.Fairly spooky...I was getting there, lol! I highlighted the edges with Burnished brass, metallic lustre from deco art.
 I slapped the remaining crackle paint here and there on the lid and sides of the box. I rubbed in metallic lustre green and brass on these too. Dry brushing these metallic lustres on black gesso background, gives an amazing natural texture.
 I just love that look.I think I have got the colors right here for the challenge. It was still not spooky enough! I altered a mini glass vial with crackle paint and hand wrote the magic word on it and then a spooky charm just added the final touch to the cover!
 The metallic green lustre gives a lovely effect to the cover all around. I have rubbed the edges with it.
 Once happy with the outside, I used jute twine for the closure and proceeded to make the inside. Are you ready????

I used some orange hand made paper and stenciled with black soot and some random stamping also. This became the inner cover for the lid. The box inside is bursting with some tags.

 I made 2 sets of tags. Got then as free printables on the net. I have mounted them on hand made paper, distressed the edges with the distressing tool and have inked them with DI rusty hinge.
 Here is the entire array of spooky tags! I just loved making this part...I could almost visualize the witch laughing here, lol!
 I bet she would have loved to hold them!
 And finally, just so to let you know how BIG my project was....

I had a great time working on this project, I admit was so relieved, when this was done! It is a great honor to be showcasing this project over at A Vintage Journey and I am glad the team gave me an opportunity to come out of my comfort zone and make this one. Will cherish project forever!
I would like to carry this box along to the following challenges...
Country View challenges- All things spooky
TIOT - Scary and Spooky

Сорок пятое задание "Gothic"- Gothic

Until my next creative journey,
Happy Crafting and recyling.
Cheers.

Thursday 20 October 2016

DT Post for Crafters corner, Folk art blending gel

Hello crafters,
Welcome to my page today. I have a product highlight today...the BLENDING GEL from Folk Art which I want to share with you.


An old shoe box and a tshirt is all that I started out with and worked on it with this awesome product.


You ought see what happens...do visit the Crafters Corner blog where I have all the details and a pictorial to create textures with this gel.

Do visit and let me know.

Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and recycling.
Cheers.







Saturday 1 October 2016

All cracked up!

Good morning!
It’s already October! Its festivities and vacation in Bangalore at this time and I am off on a short break for 2 weeks but would love to share my DT project before that!
At Rhedd’s Creative Spirit, The rules are simple...”anything goes”.. altered art or mixed media only. I have this time re cycled a packaging box to make a vintage keepsake/trinket box.
I first gessoed the lid and covered the base of the box with some fabric scrap and some cotton chord.
I then adhered a tissue to the lid and worked with some crackle texture paste all around it. 
Once that was dry, I spritzed some eucalyptus ink to highlight t the cracks and also some metallic lustre in green.
The floral tissue along with the cracks and the metallic highlights gave the box a real vintage weathered look.
Love how the textures and the ccracks show up.
I rubbed some metallic lustre here too and have placed a metal flower. The cherub on the metal flower is using air dry clay and silicon mold.
For the closure, I have used 2 metal brads and twine pull. The box has plastic bottle caps (painted) as feet.
The box opens up to reveal a photo slot on the inner lid and the inside of the box has been lined with pattern paper.
I hope you all take the time to visit the blog to see what the team has in store for you and do play along.
I will see you on the other side of the holidays.
Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and re cycling.
Cheers.



















Saturday 10 September 2016

Ring of Friendship

Good morning!
Welcome to my page!
I am in love, love, love...yes with my sewing machine and making vintage junk journal! Here is my second one in a week. To see my previous one with Graphic 45 papers, click here.
This one is made for a dear friend who loves coffee and butterflies and pretty much anything with wings and of course, VINTAGE!
I have kept all of her likes in mind, and managed to make this one of her. I couldn’t bring myself to end this project as I had so many ideas and I wanted all of it here!
So bear with me for a picture heavy post, I promise to keep the write up small, lol!
I have used a brown cover envelope as the base and have made a chipboard spine as I wanted to make a journal with twine binding. 
This way the pages can be removed and added to her convenience!

She loves oranges and browns and have sort of used those colors here. I created a faux leather spine cover Kraft paper, Deco art mists and crackle glaze,. The rusty ring that you see is an empty red tacky tape ring!
I did some mixed media on an old wedding invite. Have used stencils and modelling paste, crackle paste and mists from Deco Art. 
Once I was happy with the layering and textures, I fixed the rusty ring and in went some coconut coir and I stamped a lovely sentiment about friendship. I tore the edges and inked with walnut stain and placed it on the coir bed.
2 little bugs and an ornate butterfly seem happy out there. The butterfly is from text paper and I have stiffened it with UTEE.
Some linen chord for closure and the best part it I had a great time stitching this entire journal cover and the closure. It was so much fun!
Time to open the book...here we go.
Page 1 is a flap over from the brown cover and have used it as a tuck spot and also you see an adult coloring page.
This journal has coffee stained papers, lots of pockets, tuck spots, journaling tags, check list pages and adult coloring pages too! I have also attached some text pages, which she can gesso and even make art journals here. This is one handy book which she can carry when she is travelling, keep bills, color pages, journal and what not!
All the pockets and tuck spots are made from text page, This time an old Nancy Drew book!
Here is a vintage lady peeking thru a zip lock cover!
I have some tiny yearly notes stitched into a mini accordion!
Some tuck spots using the picture pages.
An envelope from the novel!
A checklist on the move!
More adult coloring pages.
The last page, you can see the flap of the brown cover, a secret compartment to keep all that you treasure!
The back cover is equally vintage and has my friends initial! What a co incidence!
Here is look at all the journaling tags, post cards and tickets from the journal.
Lots of winged beauties here for her to admire.
I could just go on and I know a pictorial is no justice to the efforts that has gone into making this journal! But I am technically challenged to take videos lol!
That’s pretty much the story of this journal and I will be handing it over to my friend soon!
I forgot to ask...can you smell the COFFEE here!
I would love to take this journal along to the following challenges....
Stamps and Stencils- Colors of Autumn
Creative Artist Ch- AG mixed media
Frilly and Funkie- Things with wings
A Vintage Journey-create within a frame
Until my next creative journey,
Happy crafting and recycling.
Cheers.