Lost? Not now I'm not!

Happy 28th December! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to the New Year. I was so lucky to have all my chicks home - happy Mother Hen!

By yesterday I really needed a play date! I had a couple of old wooden cupboard doors that I wanted to revive! This is a variant of an idea that has been doodling about in my noodle for a while.. It's a bit wonkey here and there and I didn't sand down quite as well as I should have - it was snowing! But as a trial run - more than happy. Now, do I put on a couple of old iron handles and use it as a display tray or put a hanger on the back and a couple of key hooks on the front?

This is part of 2015's new range of personalised items that will be available soon!! 

So, to start -

Cupboard door - mine is 29cm x 30cm

Paint - I used Craig & Rose chalk paint - "Sung Blue"

Stencils - these are a set from Rustoleum

Acrylic Paint - here I used Burnt Sienna with some white

Wax - An oak wax then natural Beeswax.

Here is where the photos are poor - aka non-existant - sorry. It was very dark and miserable I'm afraid. 

I removed all the hardware and filled in any holes with some wood filler, once it was dry I sanded down - it was snowing so it only got a light hand sand - as you can see!! It will be easy to do a much better job than I did! 

Apologies, again! I have put on two coats of chalk paint and stenciled the GPS location. This can be found on your GPS/phone or Google. I used a sponge applicator for the acrylic paint - as this was a <cough> trial run and I was impatient I didn't tape it up to guarantee a straight line... The degree was made using the rubber on top of a pencil and the minute was an unused eye shadow applicator - go with what you have is my motto!

Once it was all dry - I may or may not have used my heat gun to speed up the drying, I rubbed it all down using some medium wire wool - particularly the edges and corners. It would be "good practise" to wear at least sturdy gloves with wire wool - one of those splinters hurts!

I put on a light layer of medium oak wax to help age the whole piece putting more over the bare wood - apply and buff in the direction of the wood grain. Different waxes have different waiting times before buffing and re-applying so check the *destructions* on the tin! Follow this with a couple of coats of natural beeswax and ta-dah... So, tray or wall plaque? What do you think? Though as I have another door I am probably going to do both - with more due care and attention next time!

I hope you enjoyed this. If you use any of my tutorial please link back to here. Thank you. I put in a lot of time and effort into these makes and I am NOT sponsored by any companies of the products I use - they are simply my preferred choice.

Right I need to locate a small child to explain Tumblr... Have a wonderful day.

Loves & Hugs. Lor.xx

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Non-slip quilted sewing machine mat.

Armistice Day 2014

Another busy day in the bunker. I had to finish off three quilts before I could play with a brilliant pattern using a Moda jelly roll! Here is the link to the Moda pattern I modified - http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/02/woven-jelly-roll-rug.html

I used Avant Garden by MoMo, really bright and cheerful - especially good on such a dull, glum and grey day! 

I needed a quilted mat for under my sewing machine and after struggling to keep the machine in one place whilst I was pushing the quilts through it had to be non-slip too! Perfect time to play with this pattern! I used 2oz polyester wadding, non-slip lining and some white linen sheeting.

I worked out that I wanted a mat approx 40cm x 30cm - so I cut my non-slip lining, wadding and linen sheet all 40cm x 30cm. Following the instructions I pressed and cut 9 x 40cm strips and 12 x 30cm strips.

Stitched,

pinned

and stitched!

Then the fun part, paper weaving with fabric..

As advised - good advise - I pinned and zigzagged a few rows at a time.

I was very tempted to leave it like this! But, once all the cross strips were sewn it was time to do the lengths - this is where I added the wadding and stitched the top onto it.

Lots of pins!!

A shortage of photos from here - once the front was stitched to the wadding I squared everything off and pinned the non-slip lining to the back, made up enough binding to do the edges and ..

all bound, pressed and most importantly..

non-slip!

 It works like a dream, I am so pleased with it and the Moda pattern was fantastically easy to follow - the link again - http://www.modabakeshop.com/2011/02/woven-jelly-roll-rug.html.

If you have any questions please comment below, or if you just fancy introducing yourself it would be wonderful to hear from you. Please link back to here if you use any part of this post. I can also be found burbling away at www.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsAndBows.

Thank you so much for reading all the way to here! Have a wonderful day. Loves & Hugs. Lor.xx

Burlap and Paint.

(Stuck & Stuffed..)

Gosh, seems like an age since I last wrote here...I have been busy, honestly! If you would really like to keep closer tabs on all the comings and goings you could pop over to BeadsBraidsAndBows on Facebook. I can be found there happily burbling away - plentiful supply of hot coffee and biscuits!

Back to the point...I made these hearts up quite a while ago, unfortunately remembering to take photos isn't my strong point - I get stuck in and blissfully bimble away...

From memory, you will need:

Hessian/Burlap - I used fairly coarse hessian

Fabric Paint

Stamps/Stencils - the large foam stamp I used has since been packed away - refurb..

Plastic Sheet/Bag

Low heat Hot Glue Gun

Polyfill

Ribbon/String and Buttons

Lay your burlap on your sheeting, apply fabric paint to your stamp according to instructions. I rotated my stamp on this one but not with the red - stamp away. Leave to fully dry.

Once fully dried cut out you hearts. I used a piece of card approx 15cm x 15cm (6" x 6") to make my heart template. I cut out the fronts from the printed burlap and the backs from plain burlap. 

Once they have all been cut and pinned together it is time to bring out the big guns - well the low temp glue gun. Stick the front and back together round the edge leaving a couple of centimetres open for the polyfill. You could sew them together but I found that the glue really cuts down any fraying. Use a thin line of glue and "squish" the edges together to avoid any hard lumps. I did a short length at a time. Oh, and those rubber thimbles you can get are great for the squishing without burning!!

Put in enough polyfill to the desired "stuffedness". At this point you could add some lavender or similar. Use the glue gun to seal the opening shut! 

Either glue or stitch your ribbon and button to the top and there you have it! They are really easy and come together very quickly if you have a glue gun handy!

If you are interested in buying one or more of these I have listed some on my Etsy store at  BeadsBraidsAndBows.

If you have any questions please comment below, or if you just fancy introducing yourself would be wonderful to hear from you. Please link back to here if you use any part of this post. 

Thank you so much for reading all the way to here! Have a wonderful day. Loves & Hugs. Lor.xx



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Gold Leaf and Lace

 I love these Christmas hanging hearts. They are decoupaged in the same way as the Festive Bunting. Instead of inking the edges I played with a new toy!!

A gold leafing pen!! 

I edged the edges of the hearts added some jute twine and they are all done and dusted!

I managed to get my hands on metres of this daisy trim in a bright white... As I rarely use white trim something had to be done... Pinched a couple of A.N.Other's tea bags and made a bowl of very strong tea! This trim is man-made and so could take the hot water.

Next a bowl of raspberry and apple infusion....

How long you leave the trim in will determine the colour - a bit of trial and error.  Once it is removed from the bowl rinse under cold running water and pop outside to dry. I then iron it between some brown paper and wrap for a later day! This is my idea of short, sweet and to the point.

Some pretty shades there...

I would love to know if you give either of these projects a go. Photos always welcome! 

This evening I am going to plough through a small mountain of ironing as #4 off on a school trip to Barcelona - lucky girl! Though getting her to school for 03.45am isn't going down too well!

I can usually be found at www.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsAndBowswww.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsAndBows blathering away!

Please pop over and say a big blogland hello.

Loves & Hugs.

Lor. xx

Festive Bunting 

Gosh, it has been over a year since I last ventured onto my little patch of Blogland! I hope you will join me whilst we explore!

I am going to try and write up this tutorial for Festive Bunting - note I haven't used the C-word!! It comes together very easily - the drying between various coats takes the most time so allow at least 5 - 6 hours....

You will need:

 A selection of scrapbook papers/wrapping paper...
6 x 5cm MDF hearts - pre-drilled is easiest.
Assortment of small wooden toppers - I have chosen Festive ones!
1m length of suede ribbon.
Ink pad.
Decoupage glue.
Pencil, scissors, brush or sponge applicator.
Hot glue gun.
Clear varnish.
Emery board.

Let the fun begin..

The first step is to apply a coat of decoupage glue to the hearts to seal them. I have used First Edition's Deco Mache but normal PVA mixed with a splash of water - runny yoghurt consistency will work just as well. The hearts will need approximately 10 minutes to dry. In the meantime...

Trace around your hearts - I have used paper from www.bobunny.com. I have only cut out six as I am only doing the one side of my hearts as it is for a fireplace and the backside won't be seen.

I love this paper! This is when it starts to get messy - a pack of baby wipes is always a good idea. 

Apply a coat of glue to your mdf heart and to the back of your paper heart - put the paper onto the mdf aligning the edges as best as you can. Apply more glue onto the heart working from the centre to the edge to smooth out any bubbles and ensure good "stickability"! I use my fingers to check that my edges are well stuck and to remove the surplas glue from the edge. Now clean your hands and repeat again and again...until

Leave these to dry for 20 - 30 minutes before applying another coat of glue and leave to dry. I use a brush for my glue as with these papers the brush strokes really do not matter but if you prefer a smoother finish use a sponge applicator.

As I am using wooden toppers I have also applied a coat of glue to them - now you start to see why the wipes are so useful! Whilst all the drying is going on, make a cup of tea, eat shortbread, put a load of washing on the line, start dinner...blah blah...

Once your hearts are dry it is time to use a very specialised tool to pierce the paper through the holes in the heart...I use an old plastic children's knitting needle! I use my thumb to feel the hole and then gently poke it with the needle from the front side. Doing it from the front means that the surplus paper goes to the inside leaving a nice smooth finish.

Yep, you guessed it - another light coat of glue. You could probably skip one coat but I want these to last for a long time! And again allow to fully dry.

By now your washing is probably dry and you have eaten dinner! Rummage around in that drawer we all have for all those bits we know we will need one day and find an emery board. Go all around the edges of your heart. This will remove some of the glue you have spent hours on...

I use a docrafts ink pad for inking the edges. It is acid free and non-toxic!

The end is in sight - have you remembered to put the wine in the fridge?

Fire up the hot glue gun, decide what topper you want where and stick them on! If you don't have a hot glue gun you could use any strong adhesive - mind your fingers!

To use a well-worn phrase - once dry..time to apply the first coat of varnish/sealant...I like Rustoleum's Crystal Clear protective coat. This doesn't need a lot of time between coats but follow the instructions for your product. I apply three light coats and allow at least 24 hours for it to harden off.. If spraying try to do it outside as the fumes are fairly horrid.

And so to the suede cord..I just knot my ends to make hanging loops. It can be a bit fiddly to get them all evenly spaced but so worth it in the end.

What do you think? I hope you feel it was worth reading all the way through. If you do make your own I would really love to see your pictures.

Any questions please message me, I can also be found rambling away at www.facebook.com/BeadsBraidsAndBows.

Now go get that wine...

Loves & hugs, Lor. xx

Wednesday

http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2014/09/wow-us-wednesdays-189.html#more

http://diybydesign.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/fall-into-fall-its-party-188.html

http://www.flusterbuster.com/2014/09/flusters-creative-muster-party-91.html#more

http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/vintage-inspiration-party_30.html

http://www.ducksnarow.com/2014/09/wonderful-wednesday-blog-hop-93.html

http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/whatever-goes-wednesday-242.html