Guest Blogger ~ Upcycling Project by theMessyBrunette....

It's time for another guest to celebrate National Craft Month! Maura from theMessyBrunette is sharing a tutorial for an upcycling project. I do love upcycling, mainly because I can't bear to throw anything away and it gives something a new lease of life.

Over to Maura....

Hi, my name is Maura and I blog over at theMessyBrunette.  I love crafts and upcycling projects and I also crochet.  I eat far too much chocolate and spend too long on Pinterest.

A big thanks to Fiona for letting me guest post on her lovely blog.  I hope you enjoy my post and please feel free to pop by my blog for a visit.

I've posted before on decoupage and using it on upcycling projects, you can read about it here.  With this project, I had some plate chargers, you know the ones that make an appearance at Christmas. Well, we had a bunch of these that we never used and I was going to dump them, when I thought hmmmm maybe they could be used.  So I decided to try and cover them with some paper and make them seem like they're old and vintage looking.

So here's the plate before - just your regular silver plastic plate charger, nothing fancy with this one.  You can get this in the Pound/Euro shop, they are not expensive.

And here's the after.  I did 4 plates with 4 different looks using napkins on some and scrapbook paper on others.  I wanted the plates to look old and worn, kinda vintage looking. What do you think?

Want to know how I did it? Well here's a little summary.

NAPKIN PLATES:

The aim was to make the plates look old & worn, vintage looking ......

• I cleaned and lightly sanded the plate
• I painted the plate in white. I did two coats to give it a good coverage.
• I separated the napkins and only used the first layer - see below, it's important you only use the first printed layer.  I tore the pieces that I wanted to use and played around with the design. (On the green plate I didn't tear it up I just carefully placed it on the plate and glued it bit by bit & blended it in.)

• I then used some decoupage glue (you could use some watered down PVA or Mod Podge but I find this glue the best with napkins) and glued the napkin pieces.  They wrinkled in places but I didn't mind as I think the wrinkles make them look old.

• At the edges, I used some bitumen (a liquid paint for decoupage) and rubbed it along with my finger.  You could use some dark wax but be careful, a little goes a long way.  I used some on the inner rim as well.
• Next up I used some rice paper (rice paper is a little bit thicker than napkins and easier to use I find). I had some with "home sweet home" printed on it. I tore around the print and glued this on top of the napkin and lightly sanded it to blend it in.  I used some bitumen on this as well to age it.

• On the blue plate, I used some gold leaf around the edges

• I sealed the plates with some clear varnish and lightly sanded them when they were dry.  I repeated this process until I was happy with the result.  Be careful here as you don't want the paper to tear. Just lightly sand it!

SCRAPBOOK PLATES:

1. I cleaned and lightly sanded the plate
2. I soaked the paper in water and peeled off the back, I did this as the paper was a bit too thick to use and it was easier to use if the paper was a bit thinner.
3. Using some decoupage glue I glued the paper down to the plate and rubbed it into the plate's rim and all around.  Now it did wrinkle a bit here and there, but as I wanted it to look a bit old and worn I didn't mind this. Wrinkles can be good!
4. Now the paper didn't cover the plate fully, there were gaps on each side.  So I used some regular acrylic paint and blended the paint to the colour of the paper.  I sanded and distressed this until I got the look I wanted.
5. Next up, I used some gold leaf.  I just placed the glue on the parts I wanted the gold leaf to appear, this was in and around the edges of the plate. I wanted the plate to look old and that the paper was peeling and coming away.  I used some bitumen to make the paper look old in places as well.  You could use dark wax or even an old tea bag to stain the paper.
6. I left it to dry and coated it again with the glue to seal it. I lightly sanded it afterwards, the paper part only.  I did this a couple of times to make sure everything blended in together.

Note: these plates are only for decorative purposes, just a wipe of a cloth will keep them clean.

So that's it, hope you enjoyed the process, if I have left anything out or you need to know more please comment below.

So have you done any upcycling lately?

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Thank you Maura for sharing your upcycling project. You can find lots more of Maura's crafty DIY projects as well as baking goodness on her lovely blog. Maura is also on Twitter and Instagram.

Just a tip from me, If you can't find bitumen paint, I use Distress Inks for making projects look old and vintage.

If you have upcyled anything, Maura and I would love to see it so please leave your links in the comments or tag us in your social media posts.

fizzi~jayne x

Guest Blogger ~ Rachel Saka ~ Decoupage Techniques....

March is National Craft Month and I couldn't let it go by without doing something.  So to celebrate I have a some guests taking over my blog to share their favourite crafty tutorials/techniques.

First up is Rachel, this is her first ever blog post so I am happy she has decided to share her tutorial with us. Over to Rachel....

Hello! My name is Rachel, and I live in Leeds with my husband and our three children. Crafting has always been a passion of mine, but with three young children, time was always a constraint! However, my youngest child started primary school in September, and I can now grab some extra hours to try to turn my hobby into a success! I specialise in home decor, and this tutorial will help with the techniques used to make a wall hanging, ideal for a bedroom.

One of the big crazes at the moment is based around superheroes, and which budding little hero wouldn't want his very own personalised initial for his room?! 

To make a bold statement, I usually use a 25cm high and 12mm wide solid letter. 

Scraps of paper can be used to create the collage effect, but I prefer the thickness of a sample of wallpaper, which can be easily obtained from the local DIY store, or even online. 

For this project, you will also need scissors, Mod Podge and a good chunky paintbrush. I prefer the children's brushes which are more robust and help with the spreading of the Mod Podge.

First of all, I take the width of the letter and measure on the paper, then cut long strips that will be used to cover the outer edge. Some crafters prefer to just fold the scraps of paper over the edge, but I feel doing it this way means its less fiddly and less prone to peeling. 

Then taking the rest of the paper, go crazy with the scissors and cut out different sized pieces- there is no right or wrong here! I like to make sure I have some of the charcters' faces, but as it is a collage effect, there are no set rules.

Squirt a generous amount of Mod Podge onto your letter, but stick to one small area at a time to prevent drying. 

Place your first scrap of paper as you wish and brush over, adding more Mod Podge if needed. 

Whilst PVA glue has the same effect, and is of course cheaper, Mod Podge is stronger and less likely to peel. It will also leave a lovely finish once complete. 

Repeat the process by brushing Mod Podge into a small area and stick the pieces until covered. Make sure to use your brush in one direction as there may be small brush lines that show up in the light. 

Some crafters like to use a sponge, but I feel that a brush gives more control. Just complete one side at this stage. Make sure you check for any bubbles and these can be smoothed out with the brush. Set aside and leave it to dry for 20 minutes. The Mod Podge dries clear, so dont worry if the surface still looks white at this stage

Brush some Mod Podge around the edge of the letter, again, bit by bit, and take the long, thin strip that was cut originally and cover, smoothing out as you go.

Remember to brush over the paper as you go to ensure a good fixing. Leave to dry again for 20 minutes, and repeat the process for the reverse of the letter. 

Once dry, the letter can be sprayed with a clear sealant to leave a glossy finish, however Mod Podge is available in many finishes, so you may feel this isn't necessary.

Ta-da! Project complete! The finished letter can be displayed on a shelf if prefered, but I normally use a small picture screw ring, and hang to add some awesome super power to a bedroom wall! 

Thank you Rachel for the tips, I think this looks awesome for big kids as well as young heroes!

You can find Rachel and follow her over here....

Twitter: @moon_6_pence
Facebook: facebook.com/moon6sixpence
Etsy: www.etsy.com/MoonSixpence
Instagram: moon6sixpence

fizzi~jayne x

Psst.... If you would like to share your craft tutorials/techniques on my blog I'd love to hear from you. Email me here with your ideas.

New products and a saving for this weekend only!!....

This week I have been busy adding new products to my Etsy and Folksy shops.  They have been a little neglected recently as I have been busy with customer orders and getting ready for craft fairs.

I used the craft fair in New Milton to test some new products and I got a great response about these coasters from customers....

 

I was inspired by my love of funny and inspiring quotes.  For the packs of 4 coasters I used the decoupage techniques inspired in a previous #CraftBlogClub challenge.

 

The coasters are glazed twice to protect the artwork from hot mugs and makes them easy to wipe clean. It is important to me that my products are fit for purpose so I tested prototypes this included drinking lots of hot drinks, (it's a hard life!). They also have cork mat on the back to protect surfaces.

 

I have also added wall hangings to my collection and I have one left from my stall which can be found in my shops....



 
I added  more cards to my range, some of which co-ordinate with the coasters.

To celebrate the launch of my new products, and it's a bank holiday yay! I am offering 20% off everything in my shop!! (excludes P&P). 

To receive this great offer use the code MAY20B at the checkout of my Etsy shop and the discount will automatically be deducted.  To shop in my Folksy store, use the same code in the note to seller and I will refund the saving before dispatch.  Unfortunately Folksy do not have the option for sellers to offer discounts so this is the only way I can give you a discount via Folksy.

This offer must end Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2014, so don't miss out!

To see all the new additions to my range and to take advantage of my 20% off go to either my Etsy or Folksy shop.

I hope you like my new products

fizzi~jayne  x 

#craftblogclub Challenge ~ Re-Loved....

....I Re-Love You!

Every Tuesday at 7pm #craftbloclub brings together craft bloggers, lovers of craft blogs and craft.  Emma, the founder of #craftbloclub, sets us monthly challenges to get our crafty teeth into.  You have to check out her blog and her beautiful Re-Loved project here .

February's #craftblogclub challenge is all about upcycling and bringing new life to something for the home. 

I have done something small and simple but something I wanted to do.  Everyday I sit at my desk and see this....

My pen pot is a Cheese Football tin! I don't even like them, they are my hubby's Christmas snack of choice.  It is practical but ugly.  So I turned it into this....

Much prettier!


I did this using the technique best known as Decoupage.  I've only done this once before on Christmas decorations and I loved the effect. 

I used....

Deco Mache paper

Washi tape
Buttons
White Gesso paint
White Acrylic Paint
Tacky PVA Glue

How did I do it....

1. First of all I wanted to reduce the height so I could see what I have in the tin, so I measured 12cm around except for at the front where it is 11cm to give it a nice shape.

When using the Stanley knife I scored before cutting to ensure accuracy and so I was less likely to slip!  I also cut on a non slip mat, (I used my embossing mat) which meant it was easier to control and my fingers and wrists were still intact.  I sanded down any rough bits.

2. I primed the pot with white gesso paint and then painted a couple of coats of white acrylic paint to ensure the Cheesy Footballs could not be seen. If I was using thicker paper I would not necessarily need to use the acrylic paint but as Deco Mache paper is thin I needed to do this.

All prepped and ready to go

3. I used 2 different papers and cut them into random squares and rectangles.  For a different look you can just tear.

Now I am ready to Decoupage!

4. Using a brush I spread PVA glue on to the pot. I used the same brush to pick up and position each piece of paper onto the surface at random.  Each time I added more glue on top of the paper to fix it in position.

and then it looks like this....

5. Now, I could have stopped there, but that's not me I decided to get a dry brush and painted strokes of white gesso paint over the paper in random areas of the pot....

The paint gives it a distress look

I used Gesso instead of acrylic paint which is thicker and more opaque so the papers can still be seen. The trick is also not to over load the brush.

6. I could have also stopped here but then I found some Washi tape that would go perfectly with the papers so added strips and covered in PVA glue over the top to give it the same gloss finish as the rest of the pot.

7. I did varnish with Decopatch Aquapro Professional Varnish to make it water resistant and to give the colours longevity.

8. Now I really didn't need to do anymore but I love buttons so added a few small ones. So the final product looks like this....

What do you think?

I love the colours, they bring a bit of spring into my craft den and the aqua chevron is very on trend!

This is an easy and a relaxing technique, I don't know why I haven't done more of it before.  It is ideal for using up scraps of paper or fabric.

It is also addictive, I couldn't stop, I even decoupaged a draw from my craft den....

I did exactly the same except I skipped the white acrylic paint and I also used my distress inks. I inked around the edge with Mustard Yellow and Vintage Photo colours.

This drawer belongs to a set from Ikea I got a few years ago and I have been meaning to decorate them, the question is do I decorate all the draws the same or all differently??

What do you think, all the same or mix it up?

I now have the upcycling bug and looking around the house for a project, I think it will be our bedside tables next....

I will be hosting #craftblogclub on 11th March at 7pm, I hope you can pop along for a chat



fizzi~jayne  x