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October 26, 2009

More Picture Frame Styles

Filed under: Hand made gifts — Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , — @ 8:08 pm

This style uses plaster of Paris again but in a slightly different way to making plaster moulds and sticking them onto the frame but I’m sure you will enjoy this one just as much and be very happy with the results..

For this style you will need:-

  • Flat picture frame (min width 7.5cm)
  • Stiff cardboard and tape
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Playdough
  • Biscuit cutter shapes
  • Paint and brush

What to Do:-

Cut four strips of cardboard to form a box around the outside of your picture frame. The sides will need to come above the frame by a few centimetres. Do the same on the inside of your picture frame. Make sure the corners of the boxed area are secure with tape to prevent leakage of the plaster.

Use the biscuit shape of your choice and the playdough to make some shapes and place them, as you like, around the frame. Each shape should be of even thickness about 1cm, press them gently and evenly into place.

Mix 300ml of plaster with 150ml of water to a creamy consistency. Pour into the cardboard box surrounding your frame to a level just below your shapes. Leave overnight to set.

When the plaster has thoroughly dried you are ready to decorate. Remove the frame and shapes and paint your chosen colours. If you’re not sure about colour choice think about where the frame will be located, can you blend it with colours in that location? Or, what are the shapes you have used for example, hearts – red and gold, shells – yellow and pale blue or stars – silver and dark blue.

Maybe you can make a few frames, package them up unpainted and give as gifts with some paint and brushes, Christmas is just around the corner.

Have a good time and enjoy your creativity.

October 18, 2009

Marbled Paper

Filed under: Craft Ideas — Tags: , , , , , , , — @ 4:48 am

Marbling creates decorative paper by dipping it in liquid containing floating coloured paints.

What You Need

  • Large flat container
  • Small containers for mixing colours
  • Needles
  • Cocktail sticks
  • Paint brushes or drinking straws
  • Eye dropper
  • Newspaper or line for drying
  • Oil paints
  • Turpentine or white spirits

Floating oil paints in the water can create some lovely patterns on your paper. Mix the paints with the turpentine or white spirits until it runs easily off a brush, Use paper that fits just inside the tray. Any type of printing paper is fine and white or coloured to your liking.

Fill container with water and drip droplets of paint onto the surface and spread the colour out carefully using a brush. Patterns can be made by blowing gently using a straw. Another way to create patterns is to swirl with a needle or thin stick. Don’t over mix because the colours wil become muddy.

When you are ready to put the paper in the water slide it in carefully starting at a corner whilst holding it at opposite corners. Make sure the whole sheet comes in contact with the surface. Lowering your paper carefully will prevent bubbles that can spoil your design. If you notice bubbles you can carefully tap the paper down into the water just a little.

Once the paper is covered carefully lift it out of the tray, it can dry on the newspaper pattern side up or hang it on an indoor clothes line.

Have Fun :)

October 14, 2009

Découpage

Filed under: Craft Ideas — Tags: , , , , , , , , , — @ 5:59 am

Découpage is the art of turning everyday items into decorative pieces that add a touch of romance to the decor.

Following is a list of general items and instructions that are required to complete most projects.

General Materials List

  • Item to be decorated
  • Clear Sealer
  • Sanding pads – Coarse, medium and fine
  • Tack cloth
  • Fine point curved cuticle scissors
  • 5cm and 10cm hard rubber rollers
  • Craft sponge brushes
  • Sea sponge – large and fine
  • PVA, Clag
  • Chux cloths
  • Water based varnish
  • Oil based varnish
  • Brushes for varnish – good quality ones are best for this
  • Blu-Tack
  • Greaseproof paper
  • oil based coloured pencils
  • pencil and ruler
  • Acrylic paints
  • Cracking medium
  • Gesso
  • Micro-mesh kit

General Instructions

  1. Seal the surface of item to be decorated with all-purpose sealer, paint or gesso.
  2. Sand gently with coarse sanding pad. Clean with a damp cloth then wipe over with a tack cloth to remove dust.
  3. Paint the background in desired colour and allow to dry. Sand and apply another coat of paint.
  4. Seal painted surface with all purpose sealer.
  5. Seal découpage paper, front and back, with sealer.
  6. Use sharp manicure scissors to cut out motifs. Arrange images as desired for your project. Use blu-tack while deciding your design.
  7. Mix clag and PVA, 4:1 and apply generously to images and surface of item. Place your images on the item and apply more glue. Smooth the surface of image and remove air bubbles and expelling excess glue. Apply roller gently to the surface to ensure it is smooth and free of bubbles. Wipe carefully with a damp cloth, so as not to move the image.
  8. Using a weak vinegar and water solotion wipe over the surface to ensure all glue is removed. This prevents mould forming after the item has been varnished. Let dry. Any patches can be coloured with oil pencil.
  9. Use sponge brush to apply two coats of sealer. Let dry.
  10. Working in a ventilated dust free area apply acrylic or polyurethane varnish to protect your finished work. Apply smoothly and carefully work in even strokes from end to end without lifting brush from surface. Allow to dry following manufacturers instructions. Repeat about 30 times, at right angles to each  previous coat. Sand in between each coat also at right angles to previous sanding, using the course, medium than fine sanding pads. Wipe with tack cloth before reapplying each coat until you reach your desired finish.
  11. Polish with Micro-mesh or beeswax.

September 16, 2009

Pressed Flower Gift Tag

Filed under: Craft Ideas — Tags: , , , , , , — @ 5:39 am

Making gift cards is something my daughter and I enjoy doing together, we share ideas and we both learn from each other. We decided to try a pressed flower card for my sisters birthday because of her love of flowers. We were very happy with the result, and the benefits were many, my sister loved the card, my daughter and I spent time together and we have added another craft to our repertoire.

What You Will Need :-

  • White Card
  • Cord/ribbon, 22cm (9ins)
  • Gold Paint/pen
  • Fine Water Colour Paint Brush
  • Hole Punch
  • Small Flower eg. Pansy, hyacinths, primrose

Cut the card to suit your chosen flower, the flowers should be less than half the width of the card. Draw a border around the card and go over it with the gold paint.

You will need to use flowers that have been pressed and have dried for the appropriate amount of time (about six weeks).  To protect the flower on the card it is fixed in place with glue as well as a transparent seal over the top.

Place the flower on the transparent  seal sheet and draw a circle around the flower, give it a 4mm border. Cut out the shape and carefully remove the backing. Place the pressed flower face down on the transparent sticking film, carefully dab a small amount of glue onto the petals and centre of the flower. You are then ready to put your flower in place, press down carefully over the flower and film removing any air bubbles.

Punch a hole in the corner of the card and thread with a cord or ribbon Write any words or message with a gold pen.

Enjoy and be Happy :)

August 5, 2009

Playing with Dough and Clay

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , — @ 4:02 am

Easy to make play dough and clay will give hours of creative fun for younger or older children.

Making Dough

Cooked

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 4 tablespoons of cream of tartar
  • 2 cups water
  • colouring

In a saucepan, mix dry ingredients. Gradually add oil and water, stirring them in together. Cook on top of the stove for 2-5 minutes, stirring constantly. The dough is cooked when mixture leaves side of pan and forms a mass. Cooked dough will keep in a sealed container, in the refrigerator, for up to three months.

Not Cooked

  • 2 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup cooking salt
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • 1 cup water (approx)
  • colouring
  • bowl
  • mixing spoon

Mix dry ingredients in bowl with spoon, add oil. Add colouring to water in a jug. Add water to bowl, a little at a time, stirring at first, then mixing with hands and kneading. Dough can be kept in a floured container or plastic bag. Put in a refrigerator if you want to keep for more than a week.

Dough can be used and reused to make lots of fun stuff or just for squishing and rolling.

Making Clay

  • 4 cups of plain flour
  • 1 cup salt
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • bowl
  • kitchen utensils eg. rolling pin, fork, paper clips, cookie cutters
  • Paint brushes
  • clear gloss enamel

Mix salt and flour in bowl. Add water, mixing with fingers. If clay is to stiff add a little more water. When mixed take clay out of bowl and knead for 4-5 minutes.

Use cookie cutters or roll and shape into what ever figures you like. Place on baking trays. Insert paper clips into the back if you want hooks for hanging later. Bake in a moderate oven for at least one hour. When ready allow to cool then paint and decorate as desired. Use clear gloss enamel to finish off.

Have Fun :)

July 26, 2009

Kids Painting Fun

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , , , , — @ 4:47 am

Blot Painting

What You Need:- Paint, brush, spoon or flat stick, paper.

Method:-Fold paper in half then open it out flat. Place paper on flat surface. Put paint drops down the fold or on one side of the paper with a brush, spoon or stick. Fold paper over again and rub palms of hands over paper, starting at fold and working out toward edges. Open paper and see what shapes the blots have made. Some shapes can look like objects, animals or insects. These shape’s can be later cut out and used for cards, mobiles or other crafts.

String Painting

What You Need:- Paint, string or wool, brushes. clip type clothes pegs, paper.

Method:- Cut lengths of string or wool 30-50 cm long. Lay paper on a flat surface. Holding one end of string with a peg dip string into paint. You may need a brush to help cover all of the string. Trail the string around the paper to make different patterns. Lift strings and dry flat.

Another Method with String:- Place painted string on paper with attached peg over the edge, fold paper as in blot paper painting, place one hand on top of folded paper with the other hand pull string out. Repeat with different colours.

July 25, 2009

Kids Keep On Painting

Filed under: Kids Painting and Crafts — Tags: , , , , , , , — @ 4:01 am

Bubble Painting :- Powder paint or Dye, dishwashing liquid, bowls or plastic containers, drinking straws, paper. Put some dishwashing liquid into a separate bowl for each colour. Mix sufficient paint with a small quantity of water and add to dishwashing liquid to make a strong colour. The child must be able to BLOW through the straw for the next step.

Put straw in liquid and keep blowing until bubbles rise higher than the sides of the bowl. Gently place sheet of paper on top of bubbles and repeat for each colour. The effect is lovely, Dry Fla

Foil Painting :- Foil, acrylic or tempera paint, liquid soap, brushes. Cut foil to painting size. If using tempera, add 2-3 drops of liquid soap to paint.

Foil Etching :- Foil, cardboard, tape, tempera paint in dark colour, liquid soap, broad brush, pencil or twig. Mix 2-3 drops of liquid soap with tempera paint. secure foil to cardboard with tape. Brush paint to cover foil. Let dry. Using stick scratch dry paint from foil to make pattern or picture. Do this carefully so the foil does not tear.

Wet Paper Painting :- Paper, water, sponge, thin paint, small spoons, brushes. On a flat surface coat paper with water using a wet brush. Drip paint onto wet paper using a spoon or brush. Allow colours to blend. Use a brush to help blending. Dry Flat.

Have Fun :)

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