How To Add Dazzle To A Tote

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

I wanted to share the link to my latest  

design team project for 

The Robin's Nest.

I created a colorful, dazzling design using an array of shapes, sizes & colors of Dew Drops

found in The Robin's Nest store.

To see the full project, follow this link:

https://chatteringrobins.blogspot.com

To purchase Dew Drops & other exclusive products 

from The Robin's Nest, visit:

https://shop.robinsnest-scrap.net/main.sc

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Have a blessed weekend!

Until next time......

Be Crafty!

A Little Shabby Chic Treasure For Pretty Spring Decor

Hello welcome

to INSPIRE.

Each week, among my design team projects

that I am working on, there lies a pile or two

of "intended" personal projects, just waiting to

be created.

With Sunday being Easter, and with much of the NorthEastern portion of the USA (including my little corner of Ohio) having been stuck with winter conditions far longer than wanted, I wanted to do something with "life".

Enter the paper mache' egg.

This idea struck while combing the aisles

of my local Hobby Lobby & Michael stores, in

search of a "fresh" idea.

So with one 50% off Easter sale at one store, and a great deal of various Easter eggs at another, the idea came to life.

For this project I used:

Gel Medium

Printed Tissue Paper

Heavy White Gesso

Metallic Wax & Paint

Glue

Lace Trim

Ribbon

Moss Ribbon

Miniature Flower Bunch

Mini Stones

Prill Sprays

Butterfly Embellishment

Wooden Candle Stick Holder

2.5" Paper Mache' Egg

Tools used:

Scissors

Craft Knife

Beading Awl

Sanding Block

I began by using my craft knife, to cut out a small portion from the top of the egg.

I then used gesso, and covered the entire egg and candle holder, and let dry thoroughly.

With the tissue paper, I ripped out areas that featured a beautiful floral print, and then applied with gel medium to the surface of the egg.

Using the sanding block, I roughed up the surface of the candle just a bit. to give a weathered look. I then followed by applying and rubbing a pewter colored wax, randomly over the surface of the candle holder.

To finish I used a metallic pink paint, lightly applied with my finger, also randomly over the surface.

Once the tissue paper had set, I used the moss ribbon as a filler to the inside of the egg, secured by glue. 

With the beading awl, made a hole within the moss, and then added the floral spray, with glue to the inside center of the egg.

I pulled a few "tendrils" of the moss the exposed edges of the egg hole, and added a pinch of mini stones around the base of the floral spray with glue.

Final embellishment to the floral, was a small clay Butterly, added to the base of the floral spray.

Using a 3 inch section of some scrap lace trim, I glued it to the top of the candle holder.

To finish, I used some vintage pink ribbon, made into a double bow, centered with a small pearl embellishment to finish.

And what a little lovely to sit on a desk or shelf, to remind me of the beauty that is just around the corner with the awakening of Spring.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Please stop back by again soon!

Until next time.......BE CRAFTY!

Memories Of The Past Find New Life

Hey there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

A couple of weekends ago,

I took the weekend and visited

a local flea market & antique mall, in search of some vintage goodies I could use in

my crafting endeavors.

I walked away with a handful of vintage photos & a silver plated teapot with sugar & creamer vessels too,

all for under $20.

Yep, under $20!

So this past week, I spent time putting together some layouts, featuring a few of the photos along with some of my favorite paper & flowers designs.

Have to say I am quite pleased with how these layouts turned out.

Each has a different style, yet still keeping with a vintage edge. 

Next on my agenda, how to alter the silver tea service set........stay tuned.

Thanks so much for visiting today,

please visit again soon.

Until next time......Be Crafty!

What An Exciting Day! My First CCB Creative Crew Project Post!

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE!

I am so excited to

be sharing with you, 

the link to my first official

Canvas Corp Brand Creative Crew

project post.

A spring inspired clutch purse,

created from a canvas banner.

Yes a banner.

http://blog.canvascorpbrands.com/spring-inspired-canvas-clutch-purse/

For full details on how I made this beauty

 and link to the

 Canvas Corp Brands online shop,

visit The Creative Studio link below the photo,

or visits the links here:

https://shop.canvascorpbrands.com

http://blog.canvascorpbrands.com

This was a such a fun project to do,

I hope you check it out, and find yourself inspired.

Thanks for stopping by!

Until next time.............Be Crafty!

Giving An Old Lampshade New Life

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

So, technically spring is still days away, but here in the Ohio valley, we have been teased a bit

of that upcoming bliss with warmer 

than average temperatures for this time of year.

So naturally, that has had me in a "re-habbing" mood, especially with my home decor.

For it is the time of year, to shake the winter blahs, and bring new life, into my decor.

My latest obsession in decor has been

Farmhouse/Shabby/French Flea Market designs.

I am also a fan of working with what I have, and just making subtle changes.

A few months ago while perusing a clearance section in the fabric dept. at my local Hobby Lobby, I found a French Script shower curtain, for like $3.

Of course I snatched it up.

The first projects I completed, was recovering my unsightly white linen drum lampshades on my living room lamps.

Having leftover material, I decided to do the same with the old lampshade for this small lamp.

So, I measured, cut, ironed & glued the fabric to the existing lampshade, and added some gorgeous fringe in a coordinating color.

This was a simple & easy project, with lots of decorative punch when finished.

And so lovely in our entryway hallway.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.

Visit again soon, and see what other creative endeavors are a foot!

Until next time.......Be Crafty!

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!

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!

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!

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.

I also used Canvas Corp Brands Tattered Angels Simply Jane Baseboard in Ivory, to create a splatter effect over the canvas.

You can purchase this and many other FABULOUS Tattered Angels products through the following link.

https://shop.canvascorpbrands.com/pages/tattered-angels

Thank you for stopping by,

I hope this project leaves you 

feeling inspired today!

Please visit again soon!

Until next time

Creative Wishes To You!

Can We Get A New Year Do-Over?

Hello there!

Welcome to INSPIRE.

It has been a few weeks since my last crafty post,

but it is so hard to create when you

get walloped with the stomach flu AND Influenza A,

back to back.

And with an already compromised immune

system from chronic illness.....

was a bumpy couple of weeks to say the least.

Today, I am completely on the mend

I am happy to report. 

And in the process of getting back to creating, 

finding my inner peacefulness again.

Current canvas project underway, using newer mediums (to me) and handful of 

Faber Castell Gelato's & Artist Pitt Brush Pens, which I had found in the clearance section on my last trip to Hobby Lobby.

I LOVE THESE!!!!

The canvas is inspired by one of my nieces, and her 2 besties (one which is my niece on hubbies side) LOVE both of these girls!

Check back soon for the finished piece.

Hope you find yourself inspired today.

Until next time.......Happy Crafting Wishes!