INSPIRE: February 2018

Sunday, February 25, 2018

A Jewel Tone Foiled Bottle How To

Hello, welcome to INSPIRE.

Today I wanted to share the link

to the ScraPerfect blog, where today

you will find my latest project using

the innovative ScraPerfect products.

A beautiful jewel toned bottle.

For full details on how I made this bottle, visit the ScraPerfect blog at:

https://scraperfect.blogspot.com

For ScraPerfect products,

visit the ScraPerfect store at:

http://scraperfect.com

Thanks for stopping by today!

May you find yourself inspired to create!

Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

How To Make A Shabby Chic Fancy Floral Bird

Hello & welcome to

INSPIRE!

I feel as though I have found

a long lost friend.

I have finally completed

the journey from the flu,

to near wellness, and

back to my crafting space.

And I am thrilled!

Today I completed a two day project,

a Shabby Chic inspired bird,

made with air dry clay.

For the "form", I used

a blown lightbulb & leftover wooden knob

from a past project.

I wrapped several layers of tissue paper around them both, and bound with masking tape.

I then followed a 1 to 1 ratio of

gel medium to water, and strips of craft paper card stock to make a solid mache' form in which to add the clay to.

The clay I absolutely love to use is Das Air Dry Modeling Clay. It is light weight, and so easy to use and form. And can be found at your local Hobby Lobby & Michaels.

Basically I created a med thick clay "skin" and applied it to the bird form. I use damp hands to smooth and manipulate the clay to cover the form completely and then I let it dry to a slightly dampened state.

Using the same technique, I formed and shaped the wings, eye sockets, tail & beak and while slightly wet, applied and formed them into the body.

I wanted to give the bird a slightly carved looked, so I made striations with a ceramic tool over the wings.

Once the clay had dried, I used a dry paint technique, using a mousy grey acrylic paint first, then white washing it with a water downed white acrylic paint.

When the paint had thoroughly dried, I used a dry

scouring sponge to lightly sand over the entire surface of the bird, to remove any rough spot of clay, and lend to a distressed look.

To accent the bird, I used floral embellishments of daisies & leaf petals, painted with mild paint, alternating a pattern in applying them, and I used heavy duty epoxy glue to attach them.

To completely finish the bird, I used a thin coat of

Tattered Angels Glimmer Glam in Clear, which just gives a hint of glimmer with it's slightly glossy finish.

You can find Glimmer Glam & the entire Tattered Angels line of products at Canvas Corp Brands online shop, along with other great CCB products like

7Gypsies, Ken Oliver, Aga Baraniak & more.

https://shop.canvascorpbrands.com

Thanks so much for visiting today. I hope you enjoyed this project, and feel inspired to create one for yourself.

Until next time.........Crafty Blessings!

Saturday, February 17, 2018

A Lovely Bohemian Inspired Canvas With Beautiful Dew Drops

Hello there, welcome to Inspire.

I wanted to share with you

a link to my latest DT project

for The Robin's Nest,

using their exclusive

Dew Drops.

For full details, following the following link

to the Chattering Robin's blog.

https://chatteringrobins.blogspot.com

For the Dew Drops used in this project

& so much more

visit The Robin's Nest online store at:

http://shop.robinsnest-scrap.net

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Live A Life Inspired: What I Have Discovered About Me

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

What a rocky start to 2018.

So much illness running rampant,

and running through our entire family,

including our house.

Truly leaving me feeling un-inspired,

and living on the couch for 3 or so weeks.

With the exception of some minor sinus issues,

I am starting to feel so much better

and ready to create again.

Which brings me to todays project,

and the inspiration behind it.

One of my beautiful nieces.

This loving precious creature,

drifted into our lives at

a most difficult time in my own.

Having just gone through

a radical hysterectomy, without

the possibility of ever having children

my life felt dark, and hopeless.

Just 3 days after surgery, she was born.

While recovering at home, my brother & his wife

made our home the first stop upon bringing this beautiful baby home.

And the first time I held her,

and she looked up at me, looking into her

eyes I knew my life was going to be fine,

all because this precious miracle.

Twelve years later, she has grown

into such a loving, kind & joyful young lady,

in spite of a difficult upbringing (or lack there of).

Ever still being a miracle in my life.

So this canvas, is inspired by her, and her 2 "besties", one of them also being another niece of mine.

These beautiful girls find joy & fun in all they do and are so inspiring to so many.

I created this project using a 9x12 canvas, layered lightly with clear gesso as the base. I used a variety of gelato's, texture paste, stencils and artist pens to create the background & illustrations of the figures for this canvas.