Altered Canvas

Last weekend was a fun few days spent with a group of fabulous ladies who attended my 2 canvas classes.  It was amazing the variety of creations from everyone who choose to use different colours, not pink like I did, for their canvas.  

For those of you who prefer to create layouts only, it is easy to replicate the canvas as a layout.

Here is my layout version

Tucked in behind a cluster of flowers and fibers is our "Follow your Heart" charm

Another charm "I love you postcard", no layout is complete without a charm or two!

With one of our "Cap It"embellishment "A Mother's Treasure is her daughter", to finish my layout off.

If anyone would like me to complete a canvas for them prior to Christmas, please let me know via our website in the "contact us"section, or directly to my email if you know it.

Cost is $35.00 completed not including postage

Great Christmas present idea!

Merry and BRIGHT - our OTP Light Kits

For those of you unable to make it here to the Gold Coast for a Christmas OTP class - we have something special for you too.

Our Charming Lights kits are available as a great gift idea for corporate events, family or even to just spoil yourself!

Each jar will be painted and fabric-coated when posted out - all you have to do is add the pretty trimmings contained within the Kit. Each measures approximately 20cm in height, with a 12cm diameter base.

Please allow a couple of days after ordering, as we make up kits as we receive the orders.

Black and Gold

A classic colour combination - this is a truly stunning light. The gauzy, gilt flower on the front is just breath-taking.

Traditional Theme

This light is a perfect match for those of you with a more traditional Christmas theme.

Blue and Silver

Of course I needed to do one to match the pastel tones of my favourite Kaisercraft Christmas range. Match them with some cards made up with Silver Bells paper and you will have the perfect Christmas table centerpiece.

Pink, Silver and White

And of course - we have Pretty in Pink (with Silver & White) for those of you who love love pink.

Purple Passion

A luxurious and rich purple with gold accents - this gorgeous light would make a wonderful adornment to any woman's (or girl's) bedroom.

White and Silver

For those of you with only a small space to make festive and no room for a proper Xmas tree - consider our classic white and silver Charming Light instead. Wouldn't it look gorgeous surrounded by a few Xmas pressies?

All kits are available for the reasonable price of $24.99 (not including postage). This includes everything you need to make these gorgeous lights (you will need your own scissors and glue).

What you will receive in your kit.

Prepared jar, painted and fabric/mesh adhered.

Lid pre-drilled for lights.

Battery operated lights (2 x AA batteries not included).

Electrical tape to secure your lights.

All beading (where required) on selective kits is pre-made for you.

Any handmade poinsettias in selected kits are pre-made for you.

Basic Instructions for putting it all together will be sent via email.

Don't have the colour combination you require?  Send us an email via the website on the "contact us" tab and we will do our best to assist.

Each kit has various products - they differ between the kit colours. Here is an example of the Black and Gold Kit.

For those of you who don't want a Christmas theme - perhaps a baby night light or photo framed light might be more your style? Please feel free to email us with your ideas and we will create something personalised to suit your needs.

 

Use a favourite photo...

or what about this gorgeous baby/nursery nightlight. What little darling wouldn't sleep better with all those flowers and feathers (polyclay baby included in kit)?

To place your order pop over to the website here

DIY Christmas Lanterns

DIY Christmas Lanterns

For those who attended the 2015 my2angels retreat back in July and have been asking how I (and Shelley) made the Christmas Lanterns you all received, here is a step by step for you all.

 

We will have 4 Sizzix window dies in stock next week, if you would like to reserve one please email me via the website here (or you can email me if you know my address).  Dies cost $26.99 excluding postage which is approximately $7.40.  Don't want to purchase the die but want a kit made up for you, let me know and I will advise of costs.

So let's get started

Cut 4 windows out of sturdy cardboard or chipboard from the TIm Holtz Window Die.

If using pattern paper to cover your windows, glue paper to chipboard/cardboard FIRST, leave to dry then cut out the windows. 

Cut out the inner framework from one of the windows

Snipe two "end" pieces off all four windows.  Bend the other top 2 "ends" outwards.  Ink all over the insides of the windows. 

Cut 4 pieces of acetate measuring 7cm x 9cm and glue to the insides of the windows.

Glue two windows together (make sure the cut "ends"of windows are at the bottom.  I used the hot glue gun, much quicker and you don't have to hold the windows for so long waiting for liquid glue to dry. 

BASE

Cut square measuring 3.5cm in diameter and cut a circle in centre (our sugar beads jar is the exact size you require) - PS: Upcoming blog post is a step by step Christmas Bauble Card using our sugar bead

Glue the base to 2 of the windows

Then glue the remaining 2 windows to base.

Bend the "ends"on the window ledge and glue these to the bottom of your windows.  DON"T glue to line up with the base - you need a gap approximately 1cm, for the tea light to sit level

ROOF:  Cut 1 piece of sturdy cardboard or chipboard measuring 12cm x 12cm - score/bend towards each corner and pierce hole in centre

Adhere pattern paper and ribbon to top of roof (I used our white scalloped edge ribbon)

 

Inside of roof, adhere aluminium foil or tape sheets (this may help reflect your light) or just ink/adhere pattern paper - your choice

 Start to decorate lantern.

I cut out baubles from Silver Bells Carol and "hung" them from our white rhinestone chain.  Also I "hung" one of our Joy typewriter keys

To hide all glue or rough edges spray with Snow Spray, glitter, diamond dust or whatever will match your design

 

Paper I used for my blue and silver lantern is Silver Bells "Carol" available in the paper pack here

If you are planning on making several - we made 60 for the retreat - I found spray painting all the die pieces this was so much quicker

Please contact me if you have any questions or need to translate my "blonde" instructions lol

Mini Gumball Machines

Someone asked me once where I get my ideas for OTP's from. The truth is - I really don't know - they just seem to leap out at me when I am looking at things. Out of the blue - at the weirdest  moments and looking at the most mundane things - ideas just come to me. ;)

So - I have these cute little gumball machines (thanks Alison Bevis for spotting them for me on one of your little shopping trips) - and then I got an idea ...

Whilst I love to make OTP's, I also try to make them functionally useful if possible and as Mazz Cairns would say, not "dust collectors" so I decided to make a pink one first (and a little shabby in style) so I could store my fuschia rhinestone dots.

I started by covering it with Gesso, then while it was still wet, I scrunched up some muslin all over it. Then I sprayed it with some watered-down pink paint..

I taped down some of our pink organza scalloped edged ribbon, bent one of our pins from the "Perfectly Pink" Flutterbies collection and added a pink butterfly (which had a pearl centered flower on it) to the top of the gumball machine.  

Then it was time to tie a bow with the ribbon and cover it with clustered flowers (also from the "Perfectly Pink" Flutterbies collection), some 1cm light pink roses, 1cm dark pink roses, pink sweetheart blossoms, large pink & white leaves, silver leaf charm and our pink pearl garland. 

Then I added a single flower from our White Felt Ribbon, which I centered with one of our roses.

More butterflies from our "Perfectly Pink" Flutterbies collection,

pink pearl garland, lots more roses and our pink sweetheart blooms.

 The bottom edging was made with some scrap lace and more of our 1cm light pink roses.

Now to work on my blue gumball machine ... I am thinking maybe a nautical theme, with some of our blue scroll felt ribbon ... so stay tuned.

Grunge meets Pretty OTP

Time for a trip down memory lane - waaaaayyyy down memory lane.

I have a couple of the old telephones from way back - remember them? Can just imagine my mum and dad sleeping out the night before in the queue - waiting for the new phones to be released by the the Postmaster General (antique reference there for all you OLD Australians) ...

Anyway, as I was saying, I have an old phone - and I couldn't decide what style to create with it so...  I decided to let loose my creativity muse and did both styles in the one project!

First, I attacked the phone with a hammer, (which is great for releasing the tension of dealing with the "idiots" who took 2.4 weeks to reconnect my internet), but is not so good at convincing the new neighbours that we are nice, quiet people!  (ok - so there is a plus side to that - since I was able to create without the computer distracting me!)  

Then I set to work adding cogs, mists and sugar beads to the exposed inner workings of the phone. When they were all grungy and steampunkified (is that a word? if not it should be) I painted and stamped the outside of the phone, glued on some felt and then added some floral and butterfly pretties to the "completed" project.  

Operator - I need a line ...

Now I have a totally wicked stand for my mobile phone.  All I have to do now, is to remember to put it where it belongs - so I don't spend ages looking for the damn thing!

One of the main items used in creating this OTP was our white felt butterflies and flowers ribbon.  

Think outside the square and cut it up to use individually here and there, so that you have small snippets of it sitting behind the other embellishments.

For the embellishment cluster in the centre of the "dial", I started my layering with some muslin, added one of the frames and butterfly ornaments from our Sweet Purity "Wings and Things", Collection, some cut up felt ribbon and finished it all off with some stamens and blue roses.

Our Brilliant Blue Flutterbies were the perfect complement to blue and white colour scheme of my phone-rest.  More blue flowers and our silver leaf charms added whimsy to the soft, romantic half of the phone.

Here you can see the cut up felt ribbon pieces - centered with roses and a piece of muslin tucked in behind them.

Back to the grungy side of the phone.  Leaving the original bits inside, I added some of our cog and computer charms, an angel wing and key charm, and a smattering of our bronze clock charms. It's probably a bit hard to see them all from the photos, due to the attack of blue and black mists I gave the phone 'innards'!

 

Got a spare antique phone lying around the place?
You too can have a unique phone rest for your mobile phone. ;)

ALL OUR FELT RIBBON IS CURRENTLY HALF PRICE and the my2angels DT have been busy creating to bring you lots of ideas in the coming days.