Snowflake Glass Slide Christmas Decoration.

This is another project using the 2in x 2in Inkssentials Memory Glass Clear Slides I have been able to source after much searching.

I sandwiched a white, glitter snowflake sticker between two slides and then used an adhesive, silver metal foil tape to seal and go round the edges of the square.

I am still toying with the idea of soldering similar slides, but the tape, when applied carefully, gives such a good finish it’s questionable if soldering would add anything more, other than the extra fiddle fart.

I attached a silver bail to the top and bottom of the square using E6000 glue for a strong, secure bond, leaving it to set for at least 24 hours, with careful twiddling with a needle I removed any excess glue.

Once I was sure the bail was firmly in place, I added a few tiny, clear flat back gems to the the front and back of the slide.

I wanted to attach a silver snowflake charm to the bottom bail, but jump rings and fiddly fittings are my crafting nemesis, in the end the bottom bail wasn’t the right way round to do this as I had hoped without using two jump rings and that just looked wrong. Instead I removed the bail completely, and attached two linked beads, taken from an old necklace and a loop of silver wire through the top bail.

To be honest this was not the most successful of projects, too much fiddle fart for a mediocre end result, but I will try it again, using what I have learned from this first time round.

Halloween Spider Bunting

I am still finding these flipping spiders in the oddest places since last Halloween! Bertie loves them, they are the first thing he goes for when I get the toy box out, so I have kept a few back just for him, but the rest I have used on this Halloween Bunting.

It’s an idea I have been toying with for a while.  I cut the triangles, which measure 18cm wide x 21cm deep, out of black card using pinking shears, to give a zig zag edge.

I then used a white Posca pen for the faux running stitch round the edges and the webs, because the ink/colour doesn’t absorb and fade into the card.

I knew the spiders would be tricky to stick but using a glue gun made it so simple, giving a strong bond to stand up to the rigours of the bunting being hung.  I didn’t fuss about removing any of the glue threads, as they added to the creepy Halloween effect.

To add extra sparkle and to catch the light when hung I added a mixture of gold and silver stars in assorted sizes, using a tacky PVA glue, again to give a fairly secure bond.

The pennants were stuck at 7cm intervals onto a length of orange ribbon to co-ordinate with the orange spiders with tacky PVA, and then held in place with pegs until the glue was dry.

I then got carried away, filling in a little more space with groups of dots, using the Posca pen, I did think of using flat backed gems instead, but thought they might be a little lost.

I now have a huge pile of neon coloured skeletons bought for 25p a pack of 10 from my Wolverhampton days …… I want to do something similar with them, but with the little I have experimented with them the triangle pennant shape doesn’t work as there’s too much empty space around them which looks odd ….. but I won’t be beaten!

Lace Glass Slide Christmas Tree Decorations

I am still experimenting with glass slide Christmas tree decorations. For these I used Inkssentials 2in X 2in Clear Memory Glass Slides. 

I had a few left over from many moons ago but didn’t think I would be able to get any more, however, after a bit of a search and a wait, I finally got two more boxes from Country View Crafts, but I have still to find any of the smaller 1.5 x 1.5in slides, I have a feeling that trying to find them may be a fools errand.

I bought a selection of wide lace for about 89p a bundle and experimented with which would look best in the square slides, cutting it to size and sandwiching it between two slides with a sprinkling of iridescent micro glitter.

I used 40mm adhesive, silver metal foil tape to seal and go round the edges of the glass squares.

Then I attached a silver bail to the top of the square using E6000 glue for a strong, secure bond, leaving it to set for 24 hours plus. With careful twiddling with a needle it was possible to remove any excess glue.

I tried to use part of a Tonic Studios script rub on each slide (as featured yesterday) ……

…… but alas despite applying an awful lot of pressure, they just would not adhere to the glass, but not to be beaten, I simply cut a section of the rub on out and glued it onto the glass instead with Ranger Glossy Accents, as I knew it would dry clear.

I used E6000 again to glue on silver filigree wrap connectors (ordered from eBay/China) on the bottom of each slide.

I cut through the centre divider at the bottom of each connector so that I could add a bead allowing it to hang exactly in the middle.

I then added a few tiny blue and clear flat backed gems here and there on the galss.  When the E6000 on the connectors had set I bent the edges round the edge of the slides for a neater look.

I am really chuffed with how these have turned out, they just need a narrow white or possibly blue ribbon to hang them from.  I still have plenty more slide ideas I want to experiment with,  I just hope you don’t get bored of them!

Revised - Little Craft Stick Robin Tree Decorations

Another revised project today. When I first posted these robin tree decorations I said that they need something else, but I didn’t know what …….

I thought about adding a coordinating ribbon, which I tried, but they all looked a little crowded and too much …….
So, in the end I added a few clear and red flat backed gems, I think they add a little something, after all, if you can’t over-bling at Christmas when can you?

However, I am still a little unsure, I am wondering now if less was really more in the first place, the glue is well and truly stuck on these guys, but I can’t guarantee three more won’t make an appearance after a little more thought and fiddle fart, as I have a feeling that they will continue to nag at me until I get it right.

Guest Crafter – My Auntie Beth

My Auntie Beth in Bude discovered Adult Colouring Books about a year ago ……. but what do you do with all those coloured pages?

The answer’s simple …… decoupage with them, with stunning results!  I absolutely LOVE her bowl, and am now desperate to have a go myself. I believe she uses gel pens to colour with, which, I believe, shouldn’t run when glued or varnished over.I also love the cutlery holders ……. what a brilliant idea for recycling and no two ever the same.

I know that they have gone down a storm at the family cafe in Bude, The Lock Gates Tea Room.  I asked if any had been nicked (as I would have), but she said, that as of yet, not!

https://www.facebook.com/The-Lock-Gates-Tea-Room-1732762160284309/

Framed Craft Stick Flower Fairy

My Queen Mother Flower Fairy reappears again, as if ….. by magic!  When I originally posted the fairy, I did mention  that I thought I might frame her for Iris to mark Iris’s first dance class, which should be sometime in September.

I was looking for a more ornate picture frame in the charity shops, but when I saw this purple one for just 40p I thought the colour might enhance the fairy, sadly the colour didn’t carry well in my head, and when I put the fairy and the frame together, they just didn’t do anything for each other, so I painted over the purple with a metallic gold Posca pen which looked much better.

And, as this wasn’t going to be a less is more project I brought out the blink in the form of iridescent, self adhesive gem strips.

 

However, to make sure  the strip didn’t peel off over time I did use extra PVA along the edges to make sure the gems were doubly secure.

I had taken the glass out of the frame and decided not replace it, just in case, (I don’t like glass in children’s bedrooms), but instead put a piece of very sparkly white glitter card in it’s place to act as a background.

I also put a message on the back, so that the occasion is marked and remembered, leaving a little space to add the date when I know it. Framed Queen Mother Fairy done and fairy dusted!

Craft Stick Christmas Snowflake Decoration

This idea is/was a bit of an experiment, it isn’t quite right, it needs a little fine tuning but I think other similar ideas will spin from it.

 

I used eight lolly/craft sticks to form the snowflake shape, gluing them together with E600 glue so that there was no risk of them coming apart.

 

I used PVA glue to stick a large flat back pearl in the centre and the largish clear gems on the rest of the sticks.

Then I got carried away and added smaller iridescent pearls from a strip of stickers on top of the clear gems, I have to say that the pictures don’t do justice to the sparkly effect.

On the back I stuck a silver pendent bail to act as a hanger for a thread.

I then decided to colour the back with a silver marker, so it looked more “finished off”.

I want to try this idea again, but using smaller mini craft sticks I bought recently and then decorate them identically on both sides.  I think making a smaller size would fit better between the branches of a Christmas tree and being double sided it would look better from all angles and if the decoration twirled round.

My Ever Growing Genie Bottle Collection

I have finally filled the shelf above the TV with 60's/70's Italian Genie Bottles and I just love how it looks.
But what do I do now if I see anymore, at silly prices?   I have a few bottles in my guest room, where they look equally lovely (not everyone's taste I know).  Should I carry the theme round on the other two walls, on the existing shelves, over the sofa, or would that be overkill?  .......... Answering my own question after a month or so of living with them .......  it would definitely be overkill!