The Handmade Fair ~ Upcycling with Chalk Paint workshop....

In my last post I mentioned I attended an Annie Sloan Upcycling workshop at the Handmade Fair. I'm giving it it's own post as I learnt some great tips that I wished I knew about when I first used Annie Sloane's Chalk Paint.

Annie Sloan

Chalk Paint adheres to almost any surface and doesn't require priming or sanding. Annie Sloane is an artist and developed it 20 years ago when she had young children and didn't want to have to wait for things to dry and was frustrated with the lack of paint options available at the time.  It is called Chalk Paint because of its velvety, matte finish.

We were given a large candle stick to paint with Napoleonic Blue Chalk Paint.

It is a different approach to normal paint. I like paint strokes in the same direction and when using chalk paint for the first time I didn't realise the technique is to move the paint brush in all directions. So when I was slap dash in the workshop it was much easier....

One coat painted

When I first used the paint I kept getting air bubbles, to stop this I need to have shorter, slow strokes and not be aggressive or slap the paint on.  So when applying chalk paint you need to relax, be liberal and lavish with the paint and not be a perfectionist!

Chalk Paint is thick so you shouldn't need more than one coat and you can also create texture.  If you prefer a smooth finish just add water and apply in the same direction as the grain.

We needed a little longer for the paint to dry but we were running out of time so when I applied the wax where the paint was wet it did rub away, so make sure the paint is dry before waxing. 

When waxing use a cotton rag, work small areas at a time and don't apply too thickly. The wax becomes touch dry very quickly but the 'curing' process takes 5-21 days depending on the ambient temperature. 

To give a distressed look, we removed a little of the paint using sandpaper after waxing.

The finished piece!

I was really happy with the finished candlestick, I just need to find a place for it at home.  I was even happier that I managed not to get blue paint on my white top, phew! 

There are more ways to use Chalk Paint, you can apply two coats in different colours for a two colour distressed look. You can also mix paint to create a new colour so there are endless shades available. This paint does give you a lot of creative freedom.

Annie Sloan only supplies and supports independent stores, which I think is great.  Most of these stores run workshops to learn all the different techniques you can do with this paint. This workshop at the Handmade Fair only touched the surface!

Have you used chalk paint? I'd love to hear about the projects you have used it for.

fizzi~jayne x

Psst.... Tomorrow is the last day to enter my giveaway! To enter click here

The Handmade Fair....

Last week I went to the Handmade Fair and if you follow me on Instagram you would have seen a lot of posts that day!  I had such a great day, it was in the grounds of the gorgeous Hampton Court.  I haven't visited the Palace for so long and I will have to make a trip back.

A soon as I entered the fair it had a crafty festival feel about it, with different tents for shopping, workshops, a Super Theatre and yummy food stalls.  

We were welcomed by pom poms for World Pomination, all in aid of a world record attempt for the longest pom pom chain.

As part of the ticket price you could book a seminar at the "Super Theatre", "a skill workshop" and "a grand make".  There were so many to choose from but you could pay for more on the day, if you could fit it in!

Kirstie Allsopp opened the fair every day and introduced the speakers of the talk I attended on Pinterest.  I also saw her driving around in a golf buggy wearing her Pom Pom crown!

The skills workshop I attended was Upcycling with Annie Sloan chalk paint....

Annie Sloan taking the workshop / the Candlestick before I painted with the new colour "Napoleonic Blue" launching soon

finished!

I'm going to do a separate post on this workshop as I learnt some helpful tips from Annie Sloan that I want to share.

Jane Means gave tips for making Christmas gifts look fabulous in "The Grand Make" tent. 

The bow I made....

I wish I had been there 2 days as there were workshops on paper cutting and lino cutting, jewellery making and so many more that I would have loved to try.

I loved the attention to detail at the event, as well as bunting, balloons and pom poms, even the picnic tables had flowers....

I went on my own but it was lovely bumping into crafty folk that I know and I met up with Laura at the HotchPotch Vintage tea tent for a catch up, chat about blogging stuff and eat yummy cake!

Look at these yummy cakes, it was a tough decision....

MMmm, carrot and orange cake! 

Etsy had their own tent where they were running talks all through the day for anyone who has a creative business or is thinking about starting one. I met up with Lauren from Little Wren Designs at a talk on how to optimise our Etsy shops.

There were two tents with shopping opportunities, which had a good mix of businesses selling craft supplies as well as stalls for designers and makers.  It was great to see small, creative businesses being supported and great to see Abigail and Victoria (I met them at the Crafty Catch Up) and see their products. 

Of course I made a few purchases, although I was very restrained for me and just about managed to stick to a budget....

Stamps from Craft Aslyum / Fimo / Flower Moulds / Gorgeous craft book, "Paper Only"

Overall it was a great day and I hope that there will be another one next year, fingers crossed! Did you attend? I'd love to hear about your day in the comments below.

fizzi~jayne x

Psst.... Have you entered my giveaway? I'm celebrating my Blog's 1st birthday and you could be in with a chance to win £15 of Vouchers to spend in any Etsy shop. To enter, click here before 30th September 2014.

Another celebration! My Blog is 1 year old....

What a month of celebrations! Last week was fizzi~jayne makes.... 2nd birthday and today is my blog's 1st birthday! I can't believe it is already a year, where has the time gone!

It has been a place to share experiences of running a creative small business with some inspiration and craftiness along the way. You can read my first post here.

I love writing my blog and I have learnt so much in the past year. It takes a lot of work and requires dedication but it has also been about taking me out of my comfort zone and pushing myself. I've also learnt that you really don't know what is possible until you try.

The past 12 months have been a journey whilst I learn about writing content and taking great pics, I've also been nominated for a Liebster award, I now co-host #CraftBlogClub and I have met some wonderful people through the blogging community and made friends - in real life as well as internet friends.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and I would really love to know what you think. I am truly thankful to anyone who makes the time to read my posts, whether you have been a reader since the beginning or just popped by today, thank you!!

I want to make sure I continue to inspire and that I write articles you enjoy to read so I would really appreciate your feedback because without you, I would be very lonely here!  I have a little survey of 10 questions which I would really appreciate if you could take the time to complete.  It should take no longer than 3 minutes and if you leave your email address you will be in with a chance to win a £15 Etsy* Gift Voucher to spend! (you don't have to spend it in my shop but it would be nice if you took a look!)

To have a chance to win you need to complete the survey by 30th September. A name will be picked out at random thanks to Random.org.  Don't worry, I won't keep your details or contact you unless you win. The winner will be announced here on 2nd October.

Please enter the Survey here 

Thank you and good luck!

fizzi~jayne x

*This is not sponsored or supported by Etsy, the giveaway is a gift from me as a thank you for completing the survey.  
One winner only will receive £15 Etsy Gift Voucher which will be emailed to them.
If you are a family member you can complete the survey but you will not be entered into the giveaway, sorry!

fizzi~jayne makes.... is 2 years old....

Two years ago I launched a Facebook page and Folksy shop to start selling my cards. At first I didn't have any definite plans for fizzi~jayne makes...., it was friends and family who encouraged me to sell my creations and without them I would not have had the confidence to do it.  Who'd have thought 2 years on I would be doing it full time and developing new products in home décor! 

It is nearly a year ago when I took the plunge to become fizzi~jayne full time and I am so glad I did.  It's been hard work and a very steep learning curve!  I hope I have inspired others that it is possible, really it is! I have so many plans for fizzi~jayne makes.... and a lot of work still to do but I can't wait to make them a reality.

I am so grateful for the support I have from my customers and those around me, without you I would not be able to do what I love.

 

To celebrate my birthday I am offering 20% off in my Etsy and Folksy shops when you use code BIRTHDAY2 but it must end Sunday 21st September at 23:59.

 

To redeem:
Etsy  shoppers ~ enter the above code at the checkout and the discount will be deducted. 
Folksy customers ~ please enter the code in the "note to seller" box and I will refund the saving before dispatch. Unfortunately Folksy do not have the option for sellers to offer discounts at the moment so this is the only way I can do it.

I have added a few new products to my shops (including Christmas!) so now is a great time to go shopping.

Thank you
fizzi~jayne x

5 Year Anniversary....

On Friday we celebrated our wedding anniversary. 5 years ago I married this great guy....

 

How the time has flown by! Every year we give each other gifts based on the anniversary year, 5 years is wood. Obviously I had to make something so I thought I would share what I created.

Using scrabble tiles (made of wood) I made these cuff links with hubby's initials....

I had this small wooden box which was waiting to be used for something and to be decorated.

The box fitted the cufflinks perfectly!

I painted it and used my distress inks to give it some dimension and just because I love using distress inks. I gently sanded it to show more of the wood grain before varnishing it.

The "with love" is a stamp that is in a railway sign style and as he is a train fan, I made this card....

 

Thankfully he loved it, phew!

I got a hammer, yep you read right, but it is what I wanted! I want to do more wire work and I needed a hammer with a nylon head, it had to have a wooden handle of course!

fizzi~jayne x