Weekly Challenge

Morning all,

It's Sunday and you know what that means......

........Challenge day!!

So what's it going to be this week??



This week has been Deco Mache on the blog, so let's
say your challenge this week is to cover an object of your choice
 with paper or papers in Deco Mache style!

Could be a box, a letter, a number, papier mache, wooden, 
card, whatever you fancy!

You know the rules, as many entries as you like and you

have a week to enter.  Entries via the link below 

which will close midnight March 15th.

The winner will be picked by Random Generator 

and announced on Tuesday March 17th.

There is a £10 voucher up for grabs.


So off you go and create something wonderful as
you always do.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

see you soon,


Jane x

An InLinkz Link-up

Deco Mache Week - Neil Walker

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the weekend.

It's Deco Mache week here on the blog and I hope you are enjoying

 the projects.  If you have not already tried it, do have a go, it is a

 lovely relaxing way of covering many surfaces.  You can't go wrong

 with it, which makes it ideal for little crafters to have a play too!

Today it is Neil's turn and what a stunning project

he has for you!

Neil calls it 'Simple Ribbon Storage'......

 Paint the storage boxes with a mixture of Fawn and Mauve 

Americana Paint

When dry, lay the boxes together and cover part of the front with

 some DecoArt Faux Finishing Medium.

Lay a sheet of paper over and press in place. Use a knife to separate

 and leave to dry.

When dry, remove the excess loose paper.

Add double sided tape to another piece of the Decomache paper

 to make a co-ordinated tape.

Edge the sides and top and bottom to neaten everything nicely.

Crinkle and glue a sheet of paper onto a sheet of card. Punch, die cut

 or cut out flower shapes. Use the Marion Smith Blooms tool to 

shape them. Add centres.

Glue them to the storage boxes with hot glue.

Beautiful Neil, thank you.

What a lovely way to keep your ribbons tidy!

This is what Neil used -

Die-cut Ribbon Box

DecoArt Paints - Fawn and Mauve

DecoArt Faux Finishing Medium

Deco Mache  - Burnt Umber

White Card

Marion Smith Bloom Impression Tool

Heat Gun and Glue

Double sided Tape

So what do you think?

You know we always like to read your comments.

Don't forget we have Inspiration Day at the shop today,

Kay Carley, Heidi Green and

Jo Firth-Young demoing her new stamps!

Do come and see what they are doing.  

I'm sure you will be inspired!

See you tomorrow with our new challenge,

Jane x

Deco Mache Week - Pauline Wheeler

Helloooo,

Here we are again,

Hope you've had a good week, the weekend is nearly here again!
Well, today is Pauline's turn to show you her beautiful 
Deco Mache project. 

Pauline has used the book with a hidden drawer!

Remove the drawer from the box and paint both with Scattered Straw
 Distress Paint then allow to dry...

Coat the top of the box with a multi medium, I used glue and

 seal.  Either cut the paper to size or just place onto the box 

and smooth it out. Cut strips for the sides of the box and

 for the front of the drawer. Repeat the process.

When dry trim the edges and coat with another layer of multi medium...

With your finger or a bristle brush, edge the box and drawer 

with Treasure Gold, 

I used White Fire...

Die cut two layers of the large flower and three or four of the small 

flower from the Tattered Flower die. Screw them up...

Layer and stick them together and add a large pearl in the centre...

Spray a little of the black spray onto a craft sheet. Scrunch up a bit of the leftover paper and dip it into the spray. Randomly pat it onto the

 box and drawer front. When dry add another coat of multi medium 

to the box and drawer.

Lightly spray the flower with the black spray

Die cut three leaves and the Framework die in black card. Add them 

all to top of the box.

What a lovely project, again a super gift to make for

somebody special!

If you'd like to have a go, this is what Pauline used -

Book with Secret Drawer
Distress paint - Scattered Straw 
Deco Mache - Floral Spray
Tim Holtz - Tattered Floral Die
Tim Holtz - Framework Die
Memory Box - Delicate Fern Die
DecoArt Mixed Media Mister - Carbon Black


So there is our second project of the week.
Hope you are enjoying them!

Don't forget it is demo day at the shop on Saturday, tomorrow!

Kay Carley, Jo Firth-Young and Heidi Green

will be there to inspire you!

Do try and visit the shop, they'd love to see you.

I'll be back tomorrow with another project, 

this time from Neil.

See you then,

Jane x

Deco Mache Week - Dawn Heald

Hi everyone,

Welcome to another week on The Craft Barn Blog.

This week we are featuring Deco Mache, if you've never tried it 
please do, it is great fun, very easy and can be used on all sorts of 
surfaces.  We saw some lovely new papers at the Trade 
Show in Birmingham a few weeks ago, can't wait for them to come in!!

Today Dawn is going to show you what she has been up to....

"I've chosen to use the Paper Mache pencil case. These are inexpensive

 and you really can alter them however you like. The flat surfaces 

make it easy.

Top tip -

Before you start, put a piece of tape over the press stud hole, this stops

 paints glues etc from going in it that prevents it from

closing at the end.

Spread Grunge Paste through the Harlequin stencil onto parts of the

 pencil case. Leave to dry or use heat tool to speed it up.

Give the whole case two coats of White Gesso and dry.

Then cut Deco Mache papers into small pieces and stick to cover case

 inside and out with Matt Medium. I used Small Flower outside,

 Large Flower inside.

When dry, sponge the edges with Hey Pesto and then Chartreuse

 Fresco paints.

Make some feet using plain paper folded up into long strip and

 rolled tight. (I used half sheet of paper, lengthwise, for each foot). 

Then paint. Use glossy accents to glue to bottom of case.

Use the Lemon Yellow Liquid Pearls to highlight the raised parts

 from the Grunge Paste. Just dab a tiny amount onto your finger and 

spread lightly over them. This gives a subtle sheen.

Coat entire case with Satin Varnish.

Die cut the Marianne design butterfly, draw over the shape
 with Liquid Pearls Lemon Yellow, when dry snip away the
 edges to make a smaller Butterfly. Glue a couple of gems on the
 antennae and glue to case lid".


Thank you Dawn, what a lovely gift this would make!



This is what Dawn used -

Paper Mache Pencil Case
Deco Mache papers - Small Flower, Large Flower
Tando Creative - Harlequin Stencil
Grunge Paste
Marianne Design - Butterfly Design
Fresco Finish Paints - Hey Pesto, Chartreuse
Liquid Pearls - Lemon Yellow
White Gesso
Cosmic Shimmer - Dries Clear Glue
Matte Medium
Clear Gems



Check out the Paper Mache items on the website that
could be covered with Deco Mache papers.  It is also great for the kids
to do too!


See you tomorrow with another fabulous project,


Jane x