52nd Project Completed - A 'Gilded' Panel

Well here we are, the 52nd and final project of the Challenge! 

I decided to go out with a bang and produce a totally textile inspired piece, more along the lines of my normal work. I hope you will find it interesting.

A panel inspired by a Russian icon made from sweetie wrappers and wrapping paper!

I have been meaning to get round to stitching a Russian style panel for ages as I have always admired them as an art form, and I feel it is quite apt for the time of year. Originally I thought of making it from fabric, but since starting this challenge I have decided to make it more 'multimedia' in make up so grab your glue spray, paint, paper and sewing machine and off we go!

Materials required:

• Left over Christmas wrapping paper
• Left over sweetie wrappers in Jewel like colours
• A small piece of synthetic fabric (I used a scrap of Evolon which I was sent as a sample)
• Adhesive spray suitable for fabric such as AD505
• Sewing machine
• Threads
• Computer and printer
• Freezer paper
• A piece of fabric to use as a base, this can be anything - I used an old pillowcase
• A stretched canvas ready for covering - luckily I had one lurking in the loft left over from my college days!
• Fabric paints
• Ruler or tape measure
• Scissors
• An old chiffon scarf (the darker and finer the better!)
• Staple gun

Instructions:

1. The very first thing to do is to measure your canvas, mine measures 30cms x 40cms so my backing fabric will have to be 46cm x 56cm to allow for wrapping around the canvas and attaching at the back. Once you have the measurement cut a piece of fabric this size. 

2. Now to getting all the pieces of the 'collage' together. The first step is to iron some freezer paper to an A4 sized piece of fabric and print out an image of your icon the correct size (I used an image from an old Christmas card. I played around with my image, cropped it down to just the figures and printed it out to get the size I wanted). 

3. Cut out your image and spray the reverse with some fabric adhesive spray, place it in the centre of your backing fabric and smooth it down. Now paint in some detail if required with some fabric paint.

3. Start to build up a frame around your image with torn pieces of wrapping paper and other shiny bits like chocolate and sweetie wrappers. Attach them using the spray adhesive The aim here is to achieve a worn, distressed look so don't be too precise!

4. Now add some Halos around the figures, again with torn paper.

5. You will find that the panel is now very gaudy, to knock it back and make it easier to stitch, spray the panel with a coat of the adhesive spray then smooth an old chiffon scarf over the top. The darker the better as this will not change the colours too much. Mine was a really dark blue scarf.

6. Now to the sewing machine...Thread up with some metallic thread and drop the feed dogs. Now embroider away to your hearts content. Try a meandering stitch around the frame, straight stitch around outlines and Halos etc. Change colours of thread and add detail to the figures. You may find it helpful to wind a few bobbins beforehand so you don't have to keep stopping to wind some. 

7. Once you are happy with your stitching, wrap it around and staple it to the canvas on the reverse.

And there we are the end of the challenge, 

I would just like to say a big thank you to all of you for supporting me along the way. I hope you have all enjoyed the projects as much as I have creating them. I also hope that I have come up with something that you all could have a go at. I have tried to keep the projects varied so that they appeal to all levels of skill and interest. 

Do pop into the Blog from time to time as you never know what I may be up to in the future - my next project will be a wearable art piece for the National Quilt Championships 2012 (hopefully) so keep an eye out for me there. If I do make any more recycled items, which undoubtedly I will, I will pop them on the blog for all to see.

The website will be available all year should you wish to download any more projects and I will get the last couple up there this week for you all. 

Anyway, this is me signing off and wishing you a very happy and crafty New Year!

Julie 

51st Project completed - Festive place holders

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

I hope that those of you who are celebrating Christmas this weekend are all nearly ready for the big day. It is always so much work but good fun when it does arrive. The house is, at last clean and tidy (not that anyone is expected to visit but at least I know it's done! The food is pretty much ready for tomorrow and tonight's dinner is ready to go into the oven so.....

Onto this weeks project - this is the last of the festive ideas so I hope you all enjoy it!

Festive place holders inspired by the napkin rings and matching centre pieces that I already own.

Materials needed:

• Plastic milk bottle
• Permanent marker pens
• Crisp packets
• Clean Tin Foil
• Beads
• Wire
• Card (For Name cards)
• Glue
• Scissors

Instructions (to make 4 place holders):

1. Remove the top and bottom of your milk bottle and cut it open so you have a flat piece of plastic to work with. Mark and cut out 8 rectangles approx. 2" x 4" in size. Cut an aperture approx 1" x 3" in 4 of them to make frames the other 4 rectangles will become the backs. Now cut 4 strips 1/4" x 1" for stands. Colour the frames if desired with permanent marker pens. Glue the frames to the backs around 3 sides, just around the edges so you leave the inner edge free to hold the name cards.

  

3. Cut out some holly leaves from the foil, crisp packets and milk bottle plastic and glue around the edge of your apertures to decorate. 

4. Glue on some beads to simulate berries.

5. Now write out some name cards measuring approx. 11/4" x 31/2" these should slide into the frames from the open edge.

6. To finish glue your stands to the backs of your place holders so they stand upright.

There we have it the finished place holders seen here with the napkin rings that they were inspired by and some of the other festive projects I have produced over the last few weeks!

50th Project completed - recycled wine glass charms!

Don't you just hate it when you can't remember which drink is yours? Well no longer, jazz up your Christmas glasses with these cute little charms! I have made a set of 4: A Christmas tree, A snowman, A Christmas pudding and Father Christmas himself! All made from the plastic bottles and paper clips I found whilst tidying up last week!


Materials needed

• A couple of white plastic bottles
• Multi purpose Glue
• Super Glue
• Seed beads in different colours
• Pliers
• Scissors
• China-graph pencil 
• Sharp, thick needle
• Thick knitting needle or similar
• 4 small jump rings / metallic thread

Instructions

1. Remove the top and bottom of your bottle then cut open so you have a flat piece of plastic to work on. Now draw out your designs using a china-graph pencil or similar.

2. Cut out the basic shapes and spread glue all over the front. Using tweezers, place seed beads into the glue to make the design. Then run a layer of super glue over them to seal.

3. Allow to dry thoroughly, whilst you wait straighten out the paper clips using the pliers. Then wind them around a thick knitting needle or similar. Trim off any excess and make an open loop at one end. 

4. Make a small hole at the top of each charm with a sharp, thick needle an attach a small jump-ring to each one. If you don't have any jump-rings you can make a loop with metallic thread.

5. Now thread a small number of beads and your charms onto your rings. Finish by making an open loop at the other end so you can interlock the loops to close

There we have it, a set of wine glass charms for your festive party!

45th project completed - a 'stained glass' keyring

I am finding it hard to believe it is Saturday again already. So what did I make with the plastic packaging? 

A 'stained glass' keyring. Does any one remember shrinkies / shrinkie dinks??? Well the type of plastic found in some plastic packaging has very similar properties. You will find it labelled number 6 on the recycling stamp marked on the packaging (it has to be the non-foam type number 6).


Materials needed

• Number 6 type plastic
• Permanent marker pens
• Key chain ring and chain
• 4 x Jewellery pins
• Some small beads and 4 x handmade sweetie wrapper beads (as made in project 1 of the challenge)
• A small piece of tin foil
• Multi purpose glue (like UHU)

Instructions

1. The first job is to thoroughly clean your packaging making sure any labels are completely removed and no sticky glue remains.

2. Cut a section from the bottom of your packaging and using the permanent pens, decorate it as desired. I drew random intersecting lines on mine but you could draw a motif or favourite design instead. Outline in a black pen to simulate the leaded lines separating the panes.

3. Place in an oven at about 180 degrees Celsius. It will curl up then settle down flat again but shrunken when it is ready. Once cooled, glue your piece onto a small piece of tin foil to accentuate the colours.

4. Trim to a desired shape and punch a hole at the top to accommodate the key ring.

5. Thread some beads onto the jewellery pins and make a hook at one end. 

 

6. Now pierce 4 holes in the bottom of your piece to take the jewellery pins. Thread them through and turn in the end to form a loop to attach.

7. To finish add the key chain and there you are, a highly unusual key ring made from recycled plastic packaging.

44th project completed - A buttercup ring

I have noticed lately that there is a fashion for large plastic rings around at the moment so I thought I would have a go at my own. Here's mine .........

A buttercup ring made from the 'butter' tub!

Materials

• Yellow plastic butter tub
• Ring blank or Gold wire and a scrap of yellow craft foam
• 3 light green seed beads
• Super glue
• Needle & thread
• Small sharp decoupage scissors

Instructions

1. The first step is to remove all the borders from the tub so you have flat sheets of plastic to work with. Then cut a small simple 5 petal flower shape from a piece of the plastic.

2. Now cut a small circle from another piece of the tub which looks the right size to make the centre of the flower and cut slits around the edge towards the centre as shown above. Now using a heat gun gently heat the edges of your circle so they start to curl up slightly and separate. You will need to hold down the centre of the circle with a pair of tweezers and do the heating in short bursts to avoid a melted mess!

3. Using the super glue, stick the two parts together and leave to dry. Once completely dry, glue 3 light green seed beads onto the centre of the flower using super glue and set aside to dry completely. 

4. If you do not have a ring blank (like me), you will now need to make a ring. Wind a length of wire around your finger 3 times make sure it feels comfortable and is not too tight. Now neatly bind the 3 strands together tightly with some more wire making sure the edges of the wire are covered.

 

5. Cut a small circle from a scrap of yellow craft foam and stitch it firmly to the wire ring.

You now have a ring blank - of sorts!

6. Now glue your flower onto your ring back and there you are a cute little flower ring! 

I could have painted out the printing on the back of the flower but I thought it was actually quite nice to leave it there!

43rd project completed! - Gift jars

With Christmas fast approaching, I am already looking for gift ideas.

Rather than discard all these glass jars I thought I would have a go at making some gift jars! They are decorated with a clue to the item inside. These are a very effective way of creating your own unique gifts.

Materials

• Old glass jars
• Computer
• Printer
• Paper
• PVA Glue
• Varnish
• Scraps of fabric
• Coloured rubber bands
• Small scissors
• Pinking shears

Instructions

1. Start by removing the labels from your jars, I soaked mine overnight in a bowl of washing up liquid and hot water. The labels easily peeled off in the morning!

2. Cut a circle of fabric the size of the top of the jar plus 2cm all round. This will make the jar cover.

3. Print off some pictures from the internet to correspond with the items you are going to fill the jar with. For example I printed off some pictures of some beautiful Victorian baths for a jar to hold small bath bombs, and some crayons for a jar to be filled with crayons for a nephew who loves drawing!

4. Cut the pictures out really carefully and glue them onto your jar. Once dried, cover each picture with a coat of clear varnish to protect them.

5. To finish fill your jar, pop the lid on and cover the lid with your circle of fabric. Secure with a rubber band.

There we go, a very simple way of making unique gifts for all the family. Why not make one for everybody this Christmas reflecting their interest?

I have actually been very busy this week with another project. My Daughter is on the Hollycombe float at the local carnival. The theme is 'Ivor the engine' and she is posing as Idris the little red Dragon! Being 14 1/2 she is not best pleased but I have been relishing the making of her outfit all week - those of you with Teenagers will understand how great it is to get your own back sometimes.

The Dragon outfit was made from some left over sweatshirt material given to me by my Stepmother after a clear out and it was stuffed with some more of the pillow stuffing from the other week.

42nd project completed - perfect autumnal earrings

Well what did I make with the fir cones and sycamore seeds?

Two pairs of autumnal earrings! 

Materials needed (Sycamore earrings)

• Two sycamore seeds
• Permanent Marker pens
• Earring hooks
• Jewellery Pliers 
• PVA Glue

Materials needed (Fir cone earrings)

• Two small fir cones
• Some semi - precious stone chip beads (taken from a broken necklace)
• A few small silver beads
• Earring wires and hooks
• Hot Glue Gun
• Jewellery Pliers

Instructions (Sycamore Earrings)

1. Take your sycamore seeds and very carefully, draw on a small design using the permanent pens ( I did a simple 1/2 tree design using the seed head and spine as a trunk!) See above.

2. Give both sides a coat of PVA glue to add a shine and some protection

3. Once completely dry, pierce a small hole in each top just large enough to take the earring hook.

4. Very carefully attach the earring hooks using jewellery pliers and there you have it a highly unusual pair of earrings, bound to cause a stir!

Instructions (Fir cone earrings) 

1. Using a hot glue gun, glue the jewellery wires to the back of your fir cones. Then very carefully bend them so they curve around the shape of the cone and stand up straight, you don't want wonky earrings!!!!

2. Add a few beads to the wire and then attach an earring hook after making a small loop at the top with the jewellery pliers. 

There we are, two very simple but very interesting pairs of earrings!!!