Upcycled Mini-Egg Tube Storage Solution

The master of crafty invention, Tim Holtz (along with his friends at Ranger Ink), has come up with a brand new mini-applicator tool for the ever popular Distress Inks – if you’ve not come across it yet, it’s circular and smaller than his previous rectangular ones. I’m still waiting on my order for the tool, but I had a delivery of the replacement foams…

I came up with a storage dispenser for the foams, but the design was a little flimsy and I wasn’t entirely happy with it. As I was munching through some Cadbury’s mini-eggs (don’t you just love this time of year?) I was pondering the design… and then realised as I was about to chuck the tube away that it might be the solution. A quick check showed it was just the right diameter to take the foams, and a new design was born. Before… and after:

Two More Crackle Effects

 

I’ve just received two more crackle effect mediums, which I’ve added to my original Crackle Effects Mediums post. These are DecoArts two step and Wendy Vecchi/Dreamweaver Crackled Texture Paste.

More TV air time – not me, my samples…

It’s the Craftwork Cards Weekender on Create & Craft TV today and tomorrow – they are launching a C&C exclusive pack of papers, die cuts and card candi. The Paper Artistry pack also includes a useful handbook with instructions for making the various cards. I had a sneak preview when a goodie package arrived on Tuesday, and having spent the day making on Wednesday, I can tell you that they are superb quality and super designs – and you should all know by now I don’t wax lyrical about things I don’t like! Excitingly, the two samples I made are also being featured:

The dress form is 12 inches high, and features paper crafted skirt and bodice with the bow and ribbons from the die cut kit. The plaque features the papers (Silhouette cut) and the die cut flowers and dog from the kit.

The shows continue at 12noon, 6pm and 7pm then tomorrow at 11am, 2pm and 7pm, while stocks last. Create & Craft TV is on Freesat 813, Virgin 748, Freeview 36, Sky 671, and some shows are online via their website.

Timeless Deep Frame Assemblage (for Jones Crafts)

This one was a bit against time… despite being the Timeless Collection from Kaisercraft. I got the kit on Tuesday and it needed to be done in time to take to the NEC today for the CHSI Trade Show. Well, I prevailed, and it was done by Thursday afternoon 🙂

The frame is Candy Box Crafts’ 6½ inch one, and is really easy to assemble. I created my own template for cutting out the covers which wrap from the back, round the front, and to the inner sides. Just so happened I sent it to my Silhouette Cameo to cut out so that I could keep the paper orientation the same. The rest is just using the various papers, ribbons, printed tape and collectables with copious amounts of Pumice Stone Distress Ink. The drawer sets are shrunk down Silhouette templates from Lori Whitlock cut from the Timeless Collection papers. Buttons are from the Jones & Co. Horn Value Pack.

 

Four Hole Flower Frame (for Creative Expressions)

Continuing the white-on-white theme I started last week (and probably ending this week!), I’ve created this shabby chic home decor piece using the Pronty MDF Photo Frame with Four Holes, stencils, texture paste, gilding wax, stamps, embossing powders, die cuts and white PVA glue.

Paper Bead Jewellery Display (for Jones Crafts)

This project for Jones Crafts shows the versatility of scrapbooking papers – why do a 12×12″ layout when you can make wearable art? Combine with Jones’ buttons and perfect jewellery sets can easily be made. Mount your pieces in the Kaisercraft large jewellery organiser and your wearable art becomes a home decor piece in it’s own right. The paper beads are splash proof thanks to the varnish, are tough due to the lamination, but are not water proof and will be damaged if soaked.

Sewing Room Assemblage (for Creative Expressions)

I’m glad there’s five Wednesdays in January this year, as it’s given me more time to work on my final project for Creative Expressions using this month’s featured Antique Dressforms stamp set. This sewing room assemblage was fun to put together and features many of my favourite techniques as well as some innovative uses for some of the other CE products. A room-by-room guide follows and a printable worksheet is here. The complete assemblage is available to purchase – contact me for details.

Sewing Room Door Plaque (for Creative Expressions)

Another of my projects featuring Creative Expressions’ Antique Dressform stamp set. This one is sporting a few embellishments that I wouldn’t consider to be my normal style, but the ribbon roses (also from CE) matched the theme perfectly and made a great pin cushion for the various pins I nicked from my quilting stash. No step-by-step photos this week, but there’s still a kit list and instructions for those that want them:

Crackle Effect Mediums – putting them to the test

I love a decent crackle effect, but it’s a notoriously difficult thing to get ‘right’ and nigh on impossible to get the same results every time. I noticed I have collected a number of different crackle effect mediums over time and thought it was time to do a side by side trial.

Don’t recycle Christmas cards – upcycle them!

It’s 12th night, all the decorations are down, and the Christmas cards are destined for the recycling bin. But wait… what else could you do with them? Here are three ideas I came up with for making next Christmas’ cards with last Christmas’.