Thursday, 31 May 2012

Tando Week: pendant + dress form

Ciao!
Gio is with us today with a couple of samples she made for us using the Tando mini house and fences set to create a beautiful jewellery piece (I see that when I asked to think out of the box... they do take me seriously LOL). She also altered a dress form using the Tando cogs as embellishments. 
Aren't they both gorgeous?






I painted the little chipboard from Tando with Fresco paint: London Bus.
Once dry I covered it with the transparent Viva Croco paste. When still wet I poured some beads, microbeads, pieces of lace, jump rings, little fragments of plastic.
I let it dry and I added the image, a piece of red fiber and I linked the pendant with an old chain using some jump rings.



Materials
Fresco paint: London Bus


For her second project, Gio used the clock hands and cog pendants.
Who would have thought that those would end up on a dress form?



I covered the dorso with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints: Little black dress
Once dry I stamped it using a swirl stamp from PaperArtsy HP1007 and StazOn Metallic Silver.

I painted the mini cogs and the clock hands from Tando with Fresco Finish paint Pewter.
I cut  the bodice from silver tape and I attached to the torso, along with the cogs and the clock hand as a necklace.


Materials
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paints: Little black dress 
PaperArtsy Fresco Finish paint Pewter



Our special offer this week
10% on Americana Acrylic paints
Just type 
AMERICANA10
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!






Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Tando week: triple arch layered frame

Hello, 
Michelle is with us today and she altered a Triple arch layered frame beautifully using Crafty Secrets stamps.

To make my little scene I glued the three frames from the Tando pack together and triple embossed with wow metallic-copper-sparkle embossing powder.

I drew around the outside edge and the inside of the windows very lightly with pencil to establish the area for stamping.

The lovely Garden Girls were stamped to create a scene with the large tree from the set in the middle frame.

When the scene was positioned it was then coloured with coloursoft pencils and sansodor. The Garden Girls and the little table were decoupaged to give a little dimension.

I used the Tim Holtz small easel cut from mount board to make the frame stand after decorating with a few flowers and some flower pots I have had since forever.

It was fun creating this little window and have still got the window cut outs left to make a little triptic something or other with - great value particularly as you could make three windows like this if you didn't make the frame as deep........    Mmmmm what scenes could I create next?

Materials
Tando Creative: Triple Arch Layered Frame
Wow metallic copper sparkle embossing powder
Crafty Secrets - Garden Girls



Our special offer this week

10% on Americana Acrylic paints
Just type 
AMERICANA10
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!




How beautiful is this? 
Back tomorrow with Gio... 






Tuesday, 29 May 2012

Tando week: Art Journal window

Hi, 
Day two for our Tando week. 
I asked the team (if they could) to use the Tando products in a different way. To really think out of the box, and not necessarily use them the way they should be used. 
I think Neil did a fantastic job today with the Printer's Trays when he turned it into a window for his A4 Art Journal cover. 


Here's the printer's tray that Neil used.... 




And here's what he did with it... 

I love the Tando printer's trays but don't always want to use them as an ornamental piece so I've used them in my large journal to create windows, like this:


I've stuck pages together to get the depth needed and I've used all 3 with double acetate with items captured in between on 3 separate pages
You can see them a bit in this picture.
(Not the easiest things to photograph, even in the sun!)


I've also used just one with a card backing to create interest on this journal I made which I really like



So I thought I'd show you the basics of how to make one.
Start off with a piece of chipboard the same thickness as a single piece.
Mark out the place you want it to be and cut it out with a craft knife





Take a piece of patterned cardstock and using the waste chipboard from the aperture mark out where you want to cut out (On the reverse of the card) and cut out. (Tip: use cardstock larger than the chipboard as it is easier to have spare and then when you stick it down you can just trim away any excess)

Colour the front of the tray, I used distress stain. add the tray to the chipboard.

Cut a piece of acetate slightly larger than the tray; cover the chipboard with studio matte multi-medium; lay the acetate over the tray and lay the cardstock over that and press down

To finish the journal cover I marked and stamped onto the piece of card I'd cut out; filled the aperture with bits and bobs and stuck it down on the reverse using double sided tape. I used tissue tape to neaten all the edges and around the front of the aperture too. I used double side tape to make sure it stayed stuck down!



I used a bind it all to bind my pages and the cover together to make myself a nice A4 journal.

Materials (for journal cover)
Cardstock (I used 7 dots 12 x 12 paper)
Tim Holtz tissue tape


Our special offer this week

10% on Americana Acrylic paints
Just type 
AMERICANA10
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!




Hope you enjoyed this. 
Back tomorrow with yet another jaw-dropping project
See you then ;o)



Monday, 28 May 2012

Tando week and new guest designer

Hello, 
Hope you had a lovely weekend. 
What have we got in store for your this week? Tando Creative !!!
We, at the Craft barn, LOVE Tando products, there is so much you can do with them. So our talented DT members have been working their brains and little fingers out to create beautiful samples. I am sure you will love those. 


The other surprise we have for you is a new Guest Designer: Karen!
Karen is on the Tando Creative DT and has agreed to come and play with us for a while 
Starting today with her GOOORGEOUS pincushion set.
Welcome Karen, I hope you enjoy your crafting time with us ;)


*****

Hi there, my name is Karen and I live in Cornwall in the U.K.  I am married and have one daughter and a gang of cats.  
I can't remember a time when I wasn't making something!  My Mum was always busy making all sorts and by the time I was 6 I could handle a sewing machine ( no Health & Safety issues in those days haha).  
I have been on various design teams over the last few years and have worked closely with Di Oliver at Tando Creative since it was just an idea in her head!  
I love getting messy with all sorts of mediums and am always up for trying something new.  Its a real priviledge to be working with The Craft Barn and I look forward to it all.






TANDO PINCUSHION HOUSES

1. Lay the main house piece flat onto fabric and draw around, allowing some extra fabric to tuck over the top, where the eaves are.  Make sure that the join will be at one of the side backs.

2. Glue the house together.  Leave the roof aside as its not needed yet.

3. Arrange and stitch doors & windows on your cut out fabric so that they match the different sides (if you are using embellishments that need stitching)   I used felt, blanket stitch & beads for these.  If you are glueing on embellishments do this after you have stuck the fabric to the house.

4. Using wet glue attach the fabric to the house making sure that the fabric isn't wrinkled and the doors & windows are where you want them.  Now glue the extra fabric over the tops, this can be tricky...it doesn't have to be too neat as most will be covered up!

5. Take some more fabric and fold in half. Take the chipboard roof from the house kit and use it to measure a piece for the stuffed roof (allow for a 1/4inch seam allowance all round).  Right sides together, place the 2 long sides together and stitch, leaving a gap for stuffing.  Press the seam open and to the centre of the tube.  Now stitch the ends closed.  Turn and stuff firmly.  Push the stuffed roll into the roof space and secure with wet glue.  (I used lots of elastic bands to hold in place till it dried).

6. Glue some lace to the eaves.  Finally add felt to the bottom to finish off. 



Material used: 
Cotton fabric  sets 3 and 6 


Isn't this adorable? 
Can't wait what to hear what you think. Please let us know in a comment below. 
See you tomorrow





Saturday, 26 May 2012

Simply Saturday and Dreamweaver

Helloooo, 
This is our final post about the Dreamweaver products and techniques. We hope that you would have learnt a thing or two, and even in you haven't, maybe you will want to find your Dreamweaver stencils and have a play after this week.


Today, Gay is showing her 3 favourite techniques with Dreamweaver stencils and inks or pastes as well as the new Metallic F/X mica powders. Aren't they just gorgeous ??
Let us know what you think





First up is stencilling, through the stencil with Cut and Dry foam and distress inks, great technique because you can move the design easily all over the page as long as you mask well, see inserts!

Next I used white embossing paste but made a complete mess up it all seeped under the stencil and I'm too mean to throw it away. So I painted it black with fresco chalk paints and highlighted the design with gold rubbing wax. I was quite pleased with the amount of texture, it looks almost like brass!

This version is with translucent embossing paste. I applied the stencil, masked well and used the translucent paste but before it was dry I sprinkled the FX micas. When it was thoroughly dry I brushed the mica powder off and a very sparkly wisteria was revealed!



This is white embossing paste and gave me a wonderful base and contrast on the black card. Painting with the chalk paints again and on the leaves I mixed the mica up with water and painted it onto the leaves. The mica needed to be fixed so I sprayed with hairspray.


Materials
Dreamweaver Wisteria stencil, 
Metallic FX powders in Purple Satin and Kiwi
Embossing pastes: white, translucent.
Metallic rub on paste Traditional
Tim Holtz butterflies from the Papillons stamp set.
Fresco paints in Orchid, Moonlight and Little Black Dress


Our special offer this week
Just type
DREAMWEAVERCAROL
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!


Just a quick note
Gay recently went to Italy (lucky her) and got to meet Gio (lucky her x 2). 
I thought I would share a pic of them two taken in Rome...




Have a great weekend :o)




Friday, 25 May 2012

Dreamweaver week: Chunky ATC

Hi


For a change it's me introing Linda's piece this week because sadly this is Linda's last project as a full time DT member, we've worn her out LOL!  As you can imagine being a member of our DT takes a big time commitment and Linda has lots of other things that she is involved with so she has made the decision to step down from her DT commitments with us.  We love her work so I am sure we'll persuade her to do some odd bits and she's still demoing and doing classes for us so happily we'll still see her at The Barn.  I really want to thank her for being a DT member and for all her great projects.


Sandy x


Here's this weeks masterpiece, I'm sure you're going to love it....

*****

A chunky ATC from me for Dreamweaver week. First I took some TSS Copper metal and a Dreamweaver stencil and put them through the Bigshot using the platform; plates; silicon mat and a card shim. To fill, I use the Dreamweaver Embossing Paste ... it's quick to dry and mess free ... much simpler than other fillers.


When the paste is dry I add a double sided adhesive sheet to the back of each piece and adhere to the wood. Then it is a case of painting the metal with Eco Black Acrylic and swiping back the excess to age the Copper.


I decorated using Tim Holtz's Stamps and Gadget Dies inter mixed with a few Nestability Circles and some Idea-Ology Gears ... not forgetting my favourite Tando mini Compass!

A few more details




That's all folks ... literally! 
This is my last post for the Craft Barn Design Team ... 
Thank you all for your wonderful support ... 
Happy Crafting!

Materials:
Dreamweaver: Embossing Paste
Dreamweaver Gears Stencil
Tim Holtz Stamps: SteamPunk
Tim Holtz Dies: gadget Gears
Nestability Circles
Eco Green Crafts Paints Black Acrylic



Our special offer this week

20% on Carol Cockbain's DVD
Just type
DREAMWEAVERCAROL
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!



Thursday, 24 May 2012

Dreamweaver week: Art Journal

Hello :o)
Today's post is a hint of what is coming tomorrow ;)
"Back stage", Gay showed us her Dreamweaver technique for her Saturday post, and Michelle liked it so much that she used it on her Art Journal page.
So here's a hint of Gay's technique as well as a beautiful AJ page made with the Dylusion misters we received recently.














I like to use my journal as a bit of a technique book as well as an art journal and this is certainly a technique I'll be using again!
After seeing Gay's cards for this week (see tomorrow's post), I really wanted to try out her idea so tried it out on a journal page


The background was produced by spraying Dylusion inks directly to the page then squishing (a very technical term) another piece of card over it making the colours blend. I then stamped one of the lace motifs from the Katzelkraft set using a brown versafine ink pad.

Materials

Dreamweaver stencil: Heart lock and key
Dreamweaver embossing paste: Crackle

Katzelkraft unmounted rubber stamps - Lace
Versafine ink pad - Vintage sepia
Rub n Buff: Autumn gold
Distress Ink pad: Black soot


Our special offer this week
20% on Carol Cockbain's DVD
Just type
DREAMWEAVERCAROL
in the offer code box as you go through checkout!



Wednesday, 23 May 2012

Dreamweaver week: Tag and flower

Hi, 
Want to know how to use your Dreamweaver stencils differently? Well, Isa'sArt will show you today with a very clever way to make her flowers.. Who would have thought? 
Let us know what you think of this technique and the beautiful tag 

*****


I started with stencilling the Christmas baubles on paper with Distress inks.
I then cut them out making sure to leave that "pointy end" as it will be perfect to apply the glue, and then distressed the edges.
To glue the petal/baubles, I took a button, and glued the end of the smallest baubles (5 of them) at the back of the button. I then glued the longest baubles the same way and left it aside to dry

Tip of the day
I then spritzed the flower with a bit of water for two reasons
1- It makes it easier to give the proper shape to the flower
2- I can now add a bit of mica powder to give a metallic look to my flower.



The dragonfly was made with another Dreamweaver stencil
Materials
Tim Holtz Alterations: Movers and Shapers large die Tag and bookplates
Distress inks: Vintage photo, Walnut
Sakura pens Idendity brown
Impression Obsession Cover-a-card Thin stripes
Dreamweaver paste: gold
Powder Metallic FX pink blush
Dreamweaver LL Ornaments
Dreamweaver LS Dragonfly