A bit of upcycling

The school where I teach was getting rid of this old book box/storage unit, and I just couldn't let it go in the skip. So I brought it home, and transformed it into a herb planter!

 

I started by sanding it all down, then I turned it over, and drilled holes into each section for drainage.

 

I then cut weed suppressant material to line each section - checking that it actually fit - and put it aside for later.

I then painted it with Cuprinol Garden Shades paint - Sage, Seagrass and Purple Pansy - to match my potting table.

 

When it was dry, I attached the liner with a staple gun, making sure to push holes through for drainage. I tidied the top edge with some black webbing, before planting my sage, mint, thyme and oregano. 

 

So much better than ending up on the skip!!
Cxxx

Pack your case!!

... although you really won't get much in this little one!  I've got a thing for little boxes and cases - and have had this (and a few more like it) in my stash for a while. Friday is the day when Sue is back on your screens for the One Day Special on Hochanda at 6pm. 

The case itself needed a couple of layers of gesso before I could start, so the pattern didn't show through the paint and rice paper. Once that was dry, I covered the whole thing with Clotted Cream Starlight paints. Then most of it was covered with rice paper. 

I added a bit of texture with Malahit Relief Paste and Sage Shabby Chic Relief Paste through a stencil. Inca Gold and Peridot (Green) Alchemy wax were used sparingly to add more colour around the edges.

The tag is made from rice paper stuck onto card, and the little "buttons" are from the same piece of card, sprayed with red and cut with a punch.

I will be back tomorrow with another sample to share with you.

Cxxxx

Wooden Heart

Here's something that's really quick to make - and looks so effective. I picked up the wooden heart for a couple of pounds in The Range, and the letter tag in Hobbycraft for a quid.

I used Rice Paper 418 as it provided a nice background with no focal image.

I turned the paper over, drew around the heart and then used water to outline it, so I could tear the heart shape out. This was then stuck onto the heart. 

I covered the wooden letter tag with Rich Gold Starlight, using a stencil brush.

I applied Chocolate Shabby Chic Texture Paste through the Inky Script stencil.

And also added it to a paper rose.

Flat backed pearls were added to the tag.... 

... and the heart.

And finally the tag and the flower were attached to the heart. As I said, not overly complicated - but very effective. 

Cxxxx

New 3D Folders

Morning. Not long until the launch of the gorgeous new 3D embossing folders, with complementing dies and stamps. 

Here's another of my makes - one of those mirror frames from Ikea, painted with a mix of Pebeo White Gesso and Pebeo Deco Matt Sepia. 

I used the Kraft card with the Textured Swirls embossing folder. The pieces near the corner were painted with the Gesso and Sepia mix before embossing, and the center one, it was dry brushed over after embossing. Both were inked over with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide - as was the frame itself. 

I also used the Rose Vine, Take Flight and Floral Delight Dies, adding texture to the base, and as embellishments over the top.

Enjoy the shows.
Cxxx

Day 60 - and last day of sharing favourites.

Evening!! Well, what a day!! A generally busy one for me - running this morning, followed by a quick sewing session. Then off to work this evening! And arriving home to the amazing news that Crafter's Companion will be launching some fab new products on Hochanda this week!! How exciting!!

And today is the final day of sharing favourite makes from 2015. And this one is a really simple make - but when it was shown on TV, it seemed to be very popular - which makes it a favourite with me!!

It was for the launch of the Times Gone By CD in March last year - and the images just lent themselves to some real vintage looking samples. Details can be found by clicking here.

Cxxx

Day 54 - Seven Days Crafty Friends Challenge

Evening!! Tonight's share is a blast from the past, as I have been nominated on Facebook to share some of my favourite makes over the next seven days. 

So I am starting off with this post from September 2014 of a mirror frame I altered for a mixed media challenge. Click on the link for more details of how I made it.  

I chose this one to start with as I just love the colours and the way it all turned out!!
Back tomorrow.

Cxxx