Smash style journal for 21st Birthday Gift

Just want to share a Smash style journal I made for a birthday gift! I love making this style of journal :o)

Happy Halloween!!!

Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Halloween and share a couple of photo’s with you!

   

Our Pumpkin Carved by my dear hubby!      My daughter just back from Trick

                                                                                              or   Treating!

Midori Style Christmas Planner/ Refill

I always like to have a small Christmas planner that I can carry in my bag at this time of year. I have seen a lot about the Midori notebook system on YouTube so have decided to make something that is not only good as a small stand alone planner but can also be used in conjunction with a Midori Passport notebook or even a Filofax.

This is what I have come up with:

You can see more about these Planners here in my etsy store!

These little planners would be great record to keep afterwards especially if you don’t have time to keep a December Daily!

Anyone for a Picnic?

As promised in my last post I am sharing some photos of the finished gift basket I put together using the gorgeous products I purchased on Etsy. (see link in previous post!)

 

I added some cupcake style candles and a little notebook. I thought the gingham fabric made it look more like a picnic basket which is what I was trying to achieve!

 

I also put together another gift basket this time for my sister in law who loves her garden:

This one was filled with all garden related treats. A jar of tea that looks like dried flower petals, a lavender bag, some seed envelopes, candles, clay herb plant markers, a photo frame, a small sandwich tray and much more including some hand felted flowers that I made!

Both baskets were well received and I had fun putting them together!

Have you ever done anything like this? If so what did you include?

Hope you are enjoying the sunshine and having a great summer!

Some Yummy Purchases from Etsy!

 

I am making up a gift basket as a thank you for my sister in law and came across these yummy looking bath treats on etsy.

I thought they would be perfect to put together with some cupcake candles in a “Picnic” basket. The shop owner put together a lovely gift set for me and I was so pleased with the products and wonderful service I received that I wanted to share it here with you!

Here is the link to the store:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LOLAsoapsnbombs?ref=seller_info

 

I will try to remember to photograph the completed basket once it is done!

1000 Years of Traditional Crafts & European Stone Festival Lincoln

Yesterday we visited the city of Lincoln as the castle was hosting “1000 Years of Traditional Crafts” within its grounds. There was everything from wood turning, lobsterpot making, blacksmithing, stone masonry , stain glass to name but a few.

Some of the stall holders were dressed in traditional costumes while the demonstrated their crafts.

At the same time up at the Cathedral grounds they were hosting the “European Stone Festival” so we had a wander round that too and marvelled at the skill and creations of the stone masons. There them was food and farming:

Then an evening walk around the beautiful city:

All in all a wonderful day despite the odd shower and overcast weather!

Finally back blogging!!!!

Where does the time go? This year is speeding by with not enough hours in the day!

I have lots to catch up on so here is just a few of the things I have been working on:

Not sure if I showed this small table previously. It was originally stained dark brown but after some painting with you’ve guessed it Annie Sloan Chalk paint and some stencilling and freehand painting the end result is shown above! This went to a new home with a little girl whose bedroom was being done in a shabby chic style and she was thrilled with it!

I have wanted a Bureau for a while and purchased this one from ebay.

With some painting in Annie Sloan’s Cream and Provence mixed with old white paint here is the result:

I have added some of the journals that I make in the bookcase as they are usually hidden away in a cupboard in my craft room!

Finally for this post we have redecorated our living room do I decided to brighten up the fireplace:

From this:                                                           To this:

Of course using Annie Sloan Chalk paint. My son told his brother not to sit still too long or he might get painted lol!

I’ll leave you with a few more things I have painted……

Do you think I have a problem?

Bank Holiday Sale in my Etsy store...

Thought it was time for a Bank Holiday Sale in my Etsy store!
15% Discount from now until Monday 27th May.
Follow this link:
http://www.etsyonsale.com/shop/craftingtostaysane
Have a great weekend!

Update on the Sideboard…..

As promised from my last post here is the Sideboard after I have painted it with Annie Sloan Chalk paints in Provence with clear and dark wax distressing. I love the colour of this piece and am tempted to keep it but it must go to a new home so that I have room and the money to buy my next project!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see I lined the cupboards and drawers with contrasting wall paper.

Hope you are having a wonderful Easter weekend!

My latest projects!

I am thrilled to say that I have sold my very first piece of refurbished furniture: The large Dresser that I showed in a previous post! With the money I have added to my growing collection of paints and yesterday I went in search of more furniture.

I went to the second hand furniture shop, where I previously purchased the unit I painted for our bathroom, and this is what I found there:

 

Not sure how old this sideboard is but it is very solid and heavy! I love all the detailing think it will work well with the Annie Sloan Chalk paints and some distressing! Now all I have to decide what colour or colours to paint it!

Talking of colours I have just finished a corner unit in Duck Egg with dark wax. I am getting more confident using the dark wax now! Let me know what you think!

Please come back soon to see what I have done with the dresser!

Red Nose Day 2013

Well yesterday was Comic Relief 2013 and my regular readers will know how much my daughter loves to be part of the fund raising and dressing up. This year at school she had to “wear something funny for money”. As you can see from the photos she had great fun!

 

Vintage Lace Doilies in my Etsy store

set of 3 Lace Doilies

I have added some Pretty Vintage Lace Doilies to my Etsy Store.

Large Pine Dresser and first time using Dark wax!!!

 My Biggest piece of furniture so far. This time using Old Ochre Annie Sloan Chalk paint and finished with dark wax.

It was my first time using dark wax and was a bit scary at first but luckily there are lots of great videos on you tube that give great tips on how to use it.

 It took my a long time to do this piece and at first I wasn't happy with it, you know how it is when you work on a project for a while I think you just get bored with it! Any how I love how it has come out.

 We used beeswax for the top surface and handles after they had been sanded down.

Now in search of my next project!

A fun journal.......

Created using a tutorial by Marianne Kensington (pocketfullofvintage). Super fun to make, I have added the link to her tutorial under my video!

Cute vintage tiles..........

I have just added some cute tiles in my Etsy Store:

Set 1

Set 2

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/125487353/vintage-round-decorative-tiles-for?   set 1
 https://www.etsy.com/listing/125487903/vintage-round-decorative-tiles-for?   set 2
https://www.etsy.com/listing/125488319/vintage-round-decorative-tiles-for?    set 3

Set 3

Thought they would be cute to use on all sorts of crafting projects; Jewelery, Furniture, Mini Albums etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Small Altered Drawer and Shelf Unit

Close up of Drawer.

This unit started out a dark brown colour. Sadly I forgot to take a before photo but I am sure you can imagine what it was like.
As you can see I used my ASCP again in Old Ochre and Old White. With an undercoat of Duck Egg Blue for the knobs. I then Decoupage Websters Pages paper to add some more "Shabby" interest.
This could be used as a jewelery box, letter writing unit, needlework box infact I'm sure there are countless other uses too!
I will be listing this on ebay at some stage so I am hoping someone will love it as much as I do! 

 http://neverendingdecorating.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/networking-saturday-1.html#more