Angels on High

Angels on High

 

I saw this for sale (made in wood)  on a website.  Since I don't have woodworking tools, I decided to make it with foam board.  It is light and easier to work with, and to store.  It is about 6 feet tall.  It is done in layers.  I cut the a full body as the first layer.  I cut the pieces, allowing for gaps between pieces.  Here is a picture of most of the layering done, and before painting:

Layering the Feathers

After all the layers were complete, I painted the front and the back with Bin Primer/Sealer.  I am putting it outside, under a covered porch, so I wanted to seal it.  The next step was painting it a dark brown.

At this point, I started layering on color.  As you can see, I did not do a solid coat, more like dry brushing.  I also high-lighted areas with different colors.  Then again after the antiquing process.

 
This is the completed painting phase.  If you like this, you could stop here.

I sprayed this with a Sealer/Primer.  Then, I used a antiquing wax all over the angel, as in the first photo.  The 'Peace' sign was three layers and I used the same process as above.

I am posting two pictures of the patterns.  If you enlarge them by 550 percent.

Baby Shower Decorations

Zebra Chair

This shower was for a special Baby Girl, named Vada.  The Theme was Animal Toys.  Oh, and lots and lots of Pink!  Today's Blog will be the chair for the Lady-in-Waiting.  The chair went through many stages and changes, because I really did not know where I was going with it.

I bought this chair, about 10 years ago, for $4.00.  I painted it to match a dining set, and it has been used for 10 years.  New dining set, new use for chair.

I painted the chair with pink stripes, twice.  This is the first stripe version.  Then I decided to put the Zebra's head on, and the stripes did not match the chair.  For the Zebra's head, I found a photo of  a zebra on Google, and made a large grey and white pattern.  I cut the silhouette out on a white foam craft sheet.  Then, I cut out the stripes on pink.  An exacto knife cuts it like butter.   Then I decided it needed a body, I made another pattern, moved it cut it, and shaped it to fit the chair.

The stripes did not match the body, so I repainted it.  I just sketched in a few stripes to match the body and free-handed the rest. 

 This is the completed giraffe.  I added a nose, eye, a full mane, a flower, black hooves, and a tail.


It was great fun to make.  I love letting my imagination go wild.  In later blogs, I will post the matching centerpieces, shower umbrella, and a Memory Box I made as a gift.  I hope you enjoyed seeing the steps in creating a chair into a Zebra.

Super Hero Baby Shower Gift

Memory Box

I have spent the summer working on future events, and could not post any pictures before the actual event.

For this Baby Shower, the theme of the Nursery and the Shower was Super Heroes. 

I created embroidery files for my Sister, who owns a Viking embroidery machine, for one of her signature quilts.   I turned those files into graphics for a Super Hero Memory Box.  We often coordinate gifts.  Here are pics of the front and back of her quilt:

 

I use a 14 inch round Kraft box.   Next,  I design graphics to fit the dimensions of the box.  I have a printer that prints 13 inches wide, and I use matte coated paper 13 x 19 inches.  Below is the design printed out.

I use Artist's Matte Medium (as glue) and a 'credit card' to apply to the box.  The 'credit card' is the absolute best tool for smoothing paper over a glue.  Believe me,  I have tried every type of adhesive, but the Matte Medium provides the best permanent adhesive.  I also use the matte medium as a top coating.  It is very durable.  Below are photos of the covered box.

Box with Lid

 Box Lid

Box Interior

Box Bottom

I have been giving the Boxes, at Baby Showers, for 15 years.  The  Moms come back years later and tell me how much they love it.  It keeps 'little memories' safe and in one place.

Painted Canvas Screen

Mother's Day Gift

Once again, I made this for my Daughter-in-Law.  This was a Mother's Day Gift, and I was a little nervous about whether she would like it.  She did.  I had purchased the canvas screen for $30 from Garden Ridge.  It had a hideous pattern in orange and blues, but I knew Bin Primer/Sealer would do away with that quickly.  I have been experimenting with chalk paint and waxes, and used these also.

 INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Paint with Bin Primer/Sealer.
2. Stencil the daisies with Dry Wall Compound.  I made big daisy stencils in 14" and 12" sizes.
3. Using the wall color (that I added Plaster of Paris to make chalk paint) paint the screen.  
4. Randomly stencil, using a Tim Holtz burlap stencil, in dark grey.    
5. Paint the daisies white and yellow.
6. Apply a coat of  furniture wax (like Formby's or Ana White).  Follow can/jar instructions.
7. Go over with a dark wax, applying and rubbing off, as desired.

Steps 6 and 7 can be done by spraying with satin polyurethane, and then using an Antiquing method.

It's Spring, and Baseball is in the Air

Just a quick wreath for my grandkids.  They started with baseball two months ago, in February. 

• I used a 12 inch embroidery hoop, a circle of white fabric about 16 inches round.  
• A red and black marker. 
• Three 8 inch wide fabric strips ruffled (I sewed three fabric widths together and then folded and ironed it for a 4 inch ruffle. 
• A 12 inch styrofoam wreath, for the baseball's 3D look.

I printed mine on 11 x 14" printable fabric, hence the seam.  Then I went back with the markers to darken.  I laid the fabric on the wreath form, and slid the hoop down over, and tightened.  I sprayed styrofoam adhesive on the back of the wreath form, and stuck the ruffle to the form.  I added straight pins as I went around.  Be careful, that styrofoam adhesive is stickeeee.

Princess Centerpiece 

(Now on Etsy)

 


This idea was inspired by the fashion dolls with an elaborate, crocheted gown that Grandma's used to make.  Oh, they were horrid, and oh so loved! I thought they would be wonderful decorations, favors, centerpieces for a little girl's Princess Party.  They would also make nice decorations for a little princess' bedroom.  I made this for a 40th Party centerpiece with a "40 and still a Princess."  You are all so clever out there, I am sure that they could be adapted for a Bridal Shower, or maybe a Quinceanera.  They are not difficult, but they do require hand cutting.  If you liked cutting paper dolls as a child (I think I am dating myself),  it will be a snap.  The trick to this, is sewing the paper gown pieces together.  This is the easiest part.

  Free Paper Snowman Pattern

Here is a belated Christmas gift for Snowman fans.   This is a 3D snowman, that is easy and fun to make.  I originally designed this for a digital cutter, so the snowflakes were not a problem.  I have redesigned it so that it can be printed out, then cut with scissors.  I think he will be just as cute solid, but you could use a snowflake punch also.  One trick though, I sew the snowman pieces together (using a long stitch) and then fold each piece.  Just make sure that the one snowman body with a head is sandwiched in the middle of the pieces.  Let me know if you make one, and how it turned out.  Click on Links below to get patterns.

Happy New Year to all!

Snowman Parts
Snowman Body