A little more Christmas Inspiration...

Here are some variations on this month's Christmas Decoration Theme:

 

This felted heart is easy to create using an Efco polystyrene heart as the base. Needle felt it with red wool, tie a gold ribbon around it and push a plastic hanger into the top for the cord.

This pink bauble is made using a polystyrene ball as a base. It was divided it up into quarters which were then felted with pink and purple wools. Silver ribbon was fixed with pins and beads. The felt stars were attached by needle felting them to the wool background and gems were added with Dekofix glue.

 

You can create striped effects by felting a polystyrene ball with a base colour and then laying thin sections of wool fibres over the top which are then felted to the base using a felting needle. Ribbons, beaded pins, sequins and gems are then added for extra decoration.

Efco's plastic drops are a beautiful shape and, provided you use small napkin motifs, they can still be decoupaged in the same way as the bauble in Project SO/0008M. You don't have to crackle the painted background if you don't want to and you can add a decorative ribbon as a finishing touch if desired. To make it hold is twirly shape use tiny pieces of double-sided tape to stick it to the plastic bauble.

If you prefer your Santa to have a more traditional look with his hat folded over rather than standing to attention as in Project SO/0010M just thread the cord through the centre of the felt for the hat rather than the tip. That way you can fold it over, using a dab of glue to hold it in place, and add a small white pompom at the tip.

 It doesn't matter whether you prefer a more contemporary look for your decorations or more traditional colours, if you use Efco's wire stars as a base, you can create you own beaded decorations to tie in with your chosen theme.

I hope these decorations have inspired you to have a go at making your own this year. You could even make it a family event by getting the kids involved! If you need a little help to get started check out this month's Product of the Month page at Projects4Crafters.com

Happy Crafting!

Fee x 

Christmas Decorations for October!

Hi Everyone

This month there isn't a featured product as such, but more of a 'Christmas Theme'...

 Decoupaged Bauble

(SO/0008M)

Snowman

(SO/0009M) 

Father Christmas

(SO/0010M) 

Felted Bauble

(SO/0011M)

  

Using Efco's fab range of polystyrene shapes, plastic 2 part baubles, cotton balls and extensive decorative elements and embellishments you can create truly unique and diverse decorations. Check out this month's Product of the Month page for instructions on how to complete the featured decorations above. For inspiration on creating other Christmas decorations such as 'fir cone choirboys' check out the Special Occasions page. Alternatively, if you're into beads, why not try one of the bejewelled wire stars like the one below which can be found on the Beading page.

There's nothing like unpacking the family Christmas decorations and finding ones created years ago by the children, so why not start creating memories for the future by making one of this month's projects with your own children.

Happy Crafting everyone!

Fee x

Yet more pyrography...

Hi Everyone

It's official... I'm hooked! I never realised how much fun Pyrography could be. Not only can you decorate wood using simple design rubber stamps as a guide but you can also create unique cards using heavyweight watercolour card!

 

The first card was rubber stamped and then the outline was traced with Efco's basic pyrography tool with a round burning point. The same tip was used to first add shading and then singe the edge of the card after cutting it out. For the second card a design from The Ultimate Design Source Book for Crafters was traced and transferred onto the watercolour card. The pyrography tool was used to go over the outline and then the colour was applied using watercolour pencils with a brush and water.

Nowadays I can't stop thinking of designs to add to every wooden box etc I come across. For instance, I thought Efco's rustic wooden heart would make a  great present for a wedding anniversary...

It's not a smooth surface but can still be pyrographed if you take your time and do it carefully. The same Efco Roses Stencil was used for the front as was used on the Rambling Rose Tea Caddy (HF/0018M). The initials and date were printed from a computer and then traced.

I always think it's rather nice to decorate places on objects that people don't always expect eg the bottom of a box or a little detail inside a lid etc. Here I thought it would be rather nice to decorate the back of the heart as well as the front. Here's the design for anyone who wants it.

All you need to do is click and drag the above image to your desktop before printing it out and tracing it. Lay it on the left side of the heart and retrace it before flipping it over to transfer it onto the right side.

However, if pyrography is not for you, you can use the designs for painting projects. For example here's the Hanger from the Hanging About Project HF/0017M. 

 
The same template was traced onto the hanger but this time a small round brush was used to create comma strokes for the leaves with green and yellow acrylic paint (in the same way as the Advent Wreath Project FMJ/0003). A fine liner brush and green paint was used for the stems and dots and a Berry Maker Applicator for the white flowers with yellow centres (although you could use a cotton bud or the end of a brush handle instead).

Happy Crafting!

Fee x

More Pyrography

Hi Everyone

If you're new to pyrography then it's a good idea to practice first on a scrap of wood. If you're using Efco's wonderful Burning Stamps in conjunction with their basic Pyrography Tool (this is not heat adjustable) it's especially wise to practice first as you may need to blow on the end to cool it slightly to stop it over burning the wood.

There are a wide variety of wooden items available to decorate for crafters these days. For instance, Efco do an extensive range of assorted wooden boxes etc. There are also other wood items available to the crafter such as Pébéo's earrings from their Fantasy Accessories Range which are perfect of pyrography amongst other crafts.

This pair were decorated using a Hero Arts stamps as inspiration and the rounded nib burning point. They are so easy to do and once done all that's needed is a couple of coats of varnish for protection... et voilà!

Happy Crafting!

Fee x

Pyrography - September's Featured Product

Hi Everyone

September's Product of the Month is Efco's Pyrography Range. They do a great basic pyrography tool and assorted extra burning points and stamps which are ideal for anyone who would like to try their hand at the craft. To get you started there is the simple door plaque, followed by a decorative hanger and tea caddy.

HF/0016M - Pyro Plaque

HF/0017M - Hanging About

 HF/0018M - Rambling Rose Tea Caddy

Of course you can use stencils and design books as a basis for your own pyrography designs, or even rubber stamps as seen below...

Pyrography is a great way to decorate everyday wooden objects around the house and it's a lot of fun too!

Happy Crafting!

Fee x

2013 Calendar

Hi Everyone

The 2013 Calendar Template is now available to download from the Papercrafts page of Projects4Crafters.com.

Project P/0007M shows how to turn the template into a calendar. You can decorate each page with rubber stamped images, mixed media, paint or even photographs. You could make personalized calenders as presents for friends and family. Theme them to each individual's taste eg. if they are a gardener have a floral theme, if they are newly weds use photos from their wedding or honeymoon or if they are an elderly relative you could use photos of your children - it's up to you how you decorate it!

Enjoy!

Fee x

Advent Wreath

Hi Everyone

Here's another Christmas project which I think you'll like!

 Advent Wreath

It introduces the comma stroke which is used to create the painted decoration on the tree. This is one of the basic strokes in decorative painting which, with a little practice, you will find is a very useful stroke to learn. It can be used to great effect to create a wide variety of patterns.

There are some superb online tutorials for the comma stroke if you'd like to see how other painters do it (everyone has to find out what works best for them by having a go and practising):

To view Prudy Vannier's Basic brush strokes video click here

or

To view Chéryl Poulin's website: Your Decorative Painting Resource.com

Another great video which shows an alternative way to do comma strokes is:

Jo Sonja's® Round and Short Liner Brushes

As this is a slightly more involved project, what with all the various components that need to be decorated, I would suggest that you make a start on it sooner rather than later, particularly the comma stroke and not rush.

Happy Crafting

Fee x