sewing first and painting second

Here we are with all our ruffles and ribbons in place. Phew, that was a lot of ruffling for about a dozen little skirts. Perhaps I will locate a little fashionista soon for a show and tell moment.

I have been clearing my mess....oops.....Organizing! my space and locating the table surface to work on again.

And here is a sneak PEEK to a project that is in progress. It is a surprise for a reader and I don't want to give it all up yet. I can say it does involve wire cutters, old papers, decoupage probably and of course...PAINT.

Wallpaper and Buttons

This week has been dedicated to just getting some of my ideas put to reality. I am needing to move a large armoire. Problem is...it stores a lot of my craft items and it is super heavy. So, the great idea is to complete projects that are housed in said item and theoretically EMPTY the armoire. So, here goes........

I gather the square canvases and a swatch of wallpaper I had considered for my kitchen at one time. It didn't make the final cut, but I was determined to use this bit of wallpaper somehow. I love it. I used an exacto knife and cut out one of the motifs. The black acrylic paint is base coated over the entire canvas, including the sides.

After the paint dried, I used a white pencil and wrote french phrases across the canvas. Well, that didn't show up as strong after the final glaze was applied and the photo doesn't pick it up very well. I used decoupage medium to place the cut out on the canvas. I followed up with 3 coats total. (It will be used in the kitchen and I wanted to be able to wipe it off easily)

I used gold Rub 'n Buff to highlight the edges of the canvas and some of the design.

Voila, an instant artwork. I love an easy project that is also FAST.

Then, I moved onto the green Styrofoam cone. I covered it with a pieces of white fabric i.e. muslin, pellon just to hide the green. It will NOT be seen in the end. I then used a length of lace and wrapped it around the cone also.

I have a lot of white buttons from my grandmother's collection. Finally a decorative use for all of them. I placed the larger ones scattered over the cone, then followed up with smaller ones. I used dressmaker pins and pearl seed beads to pin each button onto the cone.

A note: I purchased the pkg of 750 pins and have run out. This is just a 12" cone. So, you will always use more than you anticipate. I KNOW that, but did I listen to myself? Obviously NOT.
This is a time to contemplate deep thoughts while you pin buttons. (another way of letting you know, it'll take a bit of time for this part of the project)

But, it looks great when it is done. It is actually a great way to store these buttons in a decorative way. If I need one, just pluck it off the tree.

I can't decide how to finish off the topper and I may make a topiary with a dowel and container. Any ideas? Please leave me a suggestion.

I will post more of the Armoire Projects as they occur this week. Happy Crafting.

just jump in

i have dabbled at a blog and to no avail. my blogging name has me stumped. a name i have used for so many years in doing my custom work and crafts sends you to a porn site when used on the web!!! How Dare Them!! anyway....i love REcreating old junque.

today a little shelf got a redo and I forgot to take it's before shot. it wouldn't have liked me to show off it's ugly side pre-makeover anyway.

i hadn't decoupaged in quite a while and need more practice, but it's always fun to peel off the glue from your fingers. the opposite side has artichokes. i couldn't let something pass by without a little rub n buff. LOVE that stuff.

this all started with a cool paper that found me by way of a good friend. YEAH for good friends!

thanks for stopping by and please send ALL hints on blogging my way!! it will be so much appreciated. i'll get there eventually by the meandering path.