My Guest Post For Calico Crafts 'Boxed Menagerie'

BOXED MENAGERIE 

Hi there everyone, Kassa here, happy to be sharing  my recent 2nd Calico Crafts Blog Post - click on the link to feast your eyes upon the fabulous creationd by the regular dt and other guests - your in for a real treat.  And tis a must to go peep at the unusual and unique stash over in the Calico Crafts Web Shop - stash to suit every crafter's tastes, Altered Art, Mixed Media and much much more yumminess........

Firstly I would love to thank everyone for taking the time to pop by and peep at my last post 'LOVIN THE BEACH STILL', for all your fabulous comments and support you left over there on the Calico Crafts blog (click link to my actual post over there), My Blog and My Facebook Page - and like Tracy said (in her lovely message 'singing') yep I too am singing now thank you!

So.......

I wanted to create a little floral number, something a little different to my last post, what I had in my head had to be tweaked to accommodate my rather annoying Tennis Elbow - (acquired recently after a 3 week virus) - charming!))  And to add insult to injury the other hand lol believe it or not has pins & needles permanently in my pinky 'n' ring finger.  So fussy cutting it was and oh how perfect was Tim Holtz's new - amazing designs -  Menagerie 8-x-8 Paper Pad....

-out came the scissors and I was off.....cutting out all the delicious florals, fluffy feathers, plump eggs, that amazing nest filled with eggs, the beautiful birdies (I know not everyone is into birds so just leave them out and fill with more blooms-but I adores birds and these have soooo much fine detail in them how could anyone leave them out lol x  And of course the beautiful butterflies which make up my heavily layered hanging. (layer with Calico fabric, Jute Twine, ribbon, corrugated cardboard, tiny flourish piece with rusty wire attached, fussy cut eggs, feathers, twigs, fancy edged punched out strips of the Menagerie paper in contrast and blend effect - sew random edges leaving threads dangling and not forgetting the inky edges)

The shadow box - 7 Gypsies 12-x-12 Black Shadowbox/Tray is sooo deep it cries out to be filled with layer after layer of lush stash, it comes to you in a beautiful chalky black - and cos I wanted a peeled paint look I.......

............Gesso'd (white Gesso) the shadow box - left to dry 

-sanded down lightly with medium grit sandpaper......

-then randomly rubbed over the sanded gesso with a clear wax candle.....

-painted over the top of the Gesso 'n' candle wax with Matte Acrylic Paint (I mixed up a honey brown) - let dry 'n' sand and wax with the candle again......

-paint with your top coat of paint - let dry then sand - each time you sand you can see the wonderful peeled paint effect start to appear like magic.

iny blooms were created (bottom left) and the bloom garland hanging from the Rusty Wire - I simply soaked the Tando Mini Chipboard Flowers in water for a few minutes, then started to peel the petals layers slightly apart, shaped then left to dry.  I layered a couple of the now dry shaped blooms together and dusted the edges with inks but for the garland I, lightly Gesso'd both sides and pasted with DecoArt Modelling Texture Paste.  Once dry I sprayed with inks and pierced a tiny hole thro' their centres to fish the wire throu' - the Calico Fabric makes for lovely shabby ribbons. I attached the Garland to the wonderful Wood Flourishes, which had been given the peeled paint effect, but I popped some of the Tim Holtz Remnant Rubs - 'Elements' over the top of the dried paint, sanded to give that worn look and popped a little DecoArt modeling paste on too which I inked up and sanded when dry.  The tiny and very beautiful Butterflies on Tim's 'Elements' rubs can be seen peeping from behind the open wings on my shabby Butterfly hanging - there's eggs underneath the wings on the other side - (oh I do loves a little detail lol)

The birdies sit on Darice Mini Hearts (which act as little nests and make the birdies 'pop' forwards.  There are a collection of bits I find whilst out and about in there too, feathers (for movement), dried rose petals, twigs, hawthorn pieces and I've popped a little of the fabulous Natural Icelandic Moss  and Jute Twine in there too - just a little of each but it has a huge impact when all popped together, a detail fest lol.

Now I said I'd leave you a little flower tute, well I've told you about the mini chipboard flowers, the huge rose bloom are layers and layers and more and more layers of the tattered florals - (the new Jumbo die and Bigz die) -

   - the 'twirly' roses are simply created from a circle of your patterned paper.....

-take a sheet of the Menagerie paper, draw round a tea plate/side plate, tear out (not cut out)

-tear (starting from the outer edge) a spiral shape, leaving enough paper in the centre to pop your glue on.

-dust the rough edges of the spiral with inks

-starting from the outer spiral, preferred pattern face-up, and turn over the outer rough edges (only tiny edges) all the way to the centre.....

-now at this point if you like you can add extra's - pieces of thin Calico strips, Jute Twine, Lace, ribbon (anything that will add texture and detail)

-I have created the 'twirly' roses from the spirals without extra's.....

-starting from the outside spiral strip, (preferred pattern face up) form a small,tight spiral and as you work your way around the forming rose centre, start to carefully twist and turn your spiral strip as you wrap and twine it, as your rose grows your wrapping can become looser -

 -once you run out of spiral strip the last turn should fold under your formed rose, pop glue on this (hot glue gun preferably - be careful of burnt fingers though!) and push down 'n' hold rose in place - the centre of the rose may still spring out , just pop a little glue in there and pop centre back in place 

- these roses are sooo quick to create once you've practised and tweaked your method - you can create loose lush roses, tight crisp roses, try 12x12 papers and a dinner plate size circle, or tiny,tiny yummy sized fiddly roses...

There you have it......tis one finished shadow box full to the brim with the said wonderful stash.....the unique and unusual stash from Calico Crafts Web Shop - I have been lucky.....

-and I was thinking......maybe this is something you could create for yourself or as a FATHER'S DAY treat....I know my Dad would love it as he is a fanatical Gardner who loves to feed the birds all year long, ticking off which bird visits, when, how many times etc.....whatever you decide they (shadow boxes) are a real joy to create - immense satisfaction develops from within as your box grows layer upon layer.

 I'm offski for now - I have had a ball creating these pieces for Calico and everyone who stops by to peep.......either over on the Calico blog or over here on my blog or perhaps both blogs :-)

Kassa xoxo

A New Challenge - Altered Tin - 'A winter Wonderland'

Hello there lovely friends

I hope you are all well and happy or at least one of them!!!  I am both well and happy (a little troubled with my cranky back and bloomin blocked sinus's but fighting fit as a whole) - deffo smiling from cheek to cheek though - no idea why such a big grin (it's that big it's bordering on obnoxious lol) - I love feeling like the sunshine is always out and the birdies are singing sweetly.....Anyways onto todays post.......

Over on the The Artistic Stamper blog their October challenge is 'Alter Something' - and I fancied having a go.  Idea's for the challenge swam around in my head but I only decided upon Altering a tin after reading the lovely Zuzu's post - 'Little Altered Plaque'  over on the The Artistic Stamper's blog  - the tin box idea is from Zuzu's facebook page.

Where to start - having never altered a tin before, you could say I was and still am a little excited cos boy did I enjoy myself and don't ask after the state of my craft room - I must have had everything out by the looks of things - tee hee x  I do hope my swap partner will like my little make 'A Winter Wonderland' - with it being my first altered tin I'm a wee bit (well) nervous shall we say x Though soon I/we will get to have a peep at all the 'Altered Tin Swaps' as Zuzu is putting up an album of them all when everyone has their swaps - can't wait!

I can honestly recommend altering tins and have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in Zuzu's 'Altered Tin Swap' - thank you Zuzu xoxo.

So this is my first challenge that I've entered in an ages - I was looking for a 'Challenge' literally - I needed to spread my wings throw off the cobwebs (it's so easy to get stuck in a rut but even easier to try 'n' dabble in pastures new) and The Artistic Stampers September challenge has so fit the bill giving us all such a wide scope for creativity  - thank you ladies xoxo  (there is also a fab give-aways - well 3 chances to win some brand new Artistic Stampers stamps - I've entered all 3 - just thought I'd let my lovely friends in on it too! just follow the links x)


Thanks for stopping by and taking a peep at my idea of a 'Winter Wonderland' - if you've any questions I'll gladly answer.
I love all your comments, questions and love oh and nearly forgot all your little jokes too.

Giggles 'n' huggles
Kassa
xoxo

Christmas Girlie Wreath - 9 Ladies Dancing

Hi there....

...what fabulous weather we are still getting - I'm loving it and long may it last!

Well I've had a little well a lot of internet trouble again - or should I say a total lack of internet! BUT hey presto with a few trips here and there to purchase the appropriate wangle fandangle gear (I am so techno illiterate and after this last few weeks it looks like ignorance truly is bliss - tee hee) we have V fast internet connection - it's ace and I'm back in touch with Blogland - deep sigh of joy x

So......

....my 1st Christmas offering - I hope you like x

'9 Ladies Dancing'

The AMAZING Girlies are stamps from Sarah Hurley Shop - I am addicted to them, Sarah's stamps are so easy to stamp with and layer up - stamping could not be more fun! And they are a fab price too!

The paper stash I dressed the girlies in is the new Tim Holtz merriment pad - I adore this pad and couldn't wait to get my hands on it - there will be none of this stash left soon cos it is such a user friendly pad, as it alters and distresses real a treat.

The little Santa hats are created using a cute Memory Box die - layered up and covered in DecoArt Snow Writer, sprinkled with Glamour dust for an extra Christmassy sparkle, all from my local craft shop the Craft Box (the little bells, natural and winter white twine are also from the Craft Box)


And the gorgeous snowflake charms are from the Hobby House - unbelievable prices that's why I use so many.



TIPS
I created my wreath ring in minutes - here's how if you don't have a circle cutting gadget.

• Draw around a large dinner plate onto chipboard/craft card - cut out.

• Place a side/sandwich plate in the centre of this large circle you have just cut out and draw around that too.  Now cut out the small centre circle and you will be left with a wreath ring ready to cover. 

• For extra strength (if you so desire) use the wreath ring you have just created as a template and re-draw/cut out another wreath - marry up before adhering to each other.  Also you can use the wreath as a template to draw around your choice of covering. Using this technique you can create all different sizes of wreaths, all you need to do is find different sized circular objects to draw around. 

TECHNIQUES - Mini Tutorial

Here are some close up  step by step piccys for of how I created the girlie with the bubbly hairdo - a sort of mini tutorial x

 I used white bling Bazzill Basics card stock - punched out various tiny circles - I used my Crop-A-Dile and my tiny circle punches.

I carefully cut - from the outside inwards - a spiral on a few of the larger circles.  I used my much loved and used Pergamano scissors for this as they have excellent fine sharp tips for precise cutting capability.

Now for the remaining circular shapes - the ones you punch from the Crop-A-Dile need to be slightly trimmed - they are left with 2 tiny tiny tags.  Then with an embossing tool and an embossing matt shape all the circles gently into a Jelly Tot shape - I like to use larger embossing tool heads for a smoother finish.

You can get the feel for how deep I eventually push down on the embossing tool.

Pinflair glue will give the hair depth and is great for adhering different shaped embellishments to surfaces, really strong too and allows you time to move/style the hair - tee hee.

I start with the largest Jelly Tot shapes first.

Then I slot the spirals gently into place - I use my tweezers to coax the spirals into the Pinflair.

Just add more Pinflair as you need it either onto the head or as shown here onto the individual shapes - or as in my case both!

The Tiny Crop-A-Dile Jelly Tots shapes are used to fill in any small gaps - I also use them to frame the face like wispy kiss curls x  And I loved the stray curl so much I left her with it - a sort of dishevelled windswept  look x

The fringe is easy peasy - fiddly yes.

Cut tiny slightly curved strips of your card stock and while your Pinflair is still wet push the strips up and under the Jelly Tot Shapes - if they are to long don't worry cos you can give your girlie a haircut!

Apply more Pinflair either under the hairline or on the individual fringe strips if needed - wipe off any excess glue that shows or cover with another fringe strip.

Voilà

Ta Dah!!!

It's a good job the hair isn't created with real Jelly Tots cos it would never get finished cos I'd be constantly be eating it- hee hee hee x

We ll I'm off for now - got to go catchup with my lovely friends over on FB, all I've been doing is ticking 'like' a lately - I need to drop a few lines too - not for the want of trying - but hey I need a few more hours in the day, don't think that's going to happen somehow , do you? 

I will be back in with close up shots of all the individual  '9 Ladies Dancing' Christmassy girlies so you can get a closer peep at all the details/bling on their frocks and hairdo's x

It's great to be back in, thank you all so much for your lovely kind words on the blog and on FB welcoming me back - you are all so very kind and lovely friends x

Huggles

Kassa 

xoxo