THE SECOND TIME AROUND!

The Second Time Around

This area rug was once a hand woven shawl, it was heavy and was unravelling everywhere. I purchased a huge box of craft supplies and yarns from a garage sale last summer and this was part of that box of goodies. I adore the bright colours, so I took the time to take it apart and save the yarn. What is unique about this yarn is that it is nylon, yes nylon (yes, its very heavy). All winter I wondered what could I make from this yarn, that would be useful and practical at the same time? Well here is what I came up with.

I wouldn't make another one, it was very hard to work, my fingers nearly fell off a couple of times. I also don't really know how to finish the edges without them fraying. I tried weaving in the ends, but this was just too difficult. So, I got the sewing machine out and finished the outside edges with a nice zigzag stitch. I then did a  single crochet over that. I'm not sure this will go through the wash, LOL. But as a little accent mat, its perfect. I will have to back it with that grippy stuff. 

All in all though, the yarn was free and this only took up my time 

(a lot of it). 

I will use this rug until it falls apart and feel good about the bright colours in the mean time. 

CROCHET VICTORIAN LAMP SHADE

CROCHET VICTORIAN LAMP SHADE

Yes this is a Pinterest inspired project, one that I am very proud of. I know that it will bring a lot of charm to any room.

I purchased the frame from the thrift store, as I wasn't sure how this was going to turn out, so I didn't want to invest a lot of money into something that might end up unfinished or upcycled a third time. When I got home and removed the fabric from the frame, I realized that the frame was in fact two pieces. Crap I thought to myself. How the hell am I going to pull this one off. With a little thought I decided to start working my frame. I worked the entire bottom edge first, I used an in and out motion of single crochets for my foundation row. I didn't have a pattern for this, so I was just flying by the seat of my pants with design and stitches. I highly recommend just going with your own imagination and use your own ideas when making one of these. Its very liberating. No counting, just letting your fingers do the work.

I used two strands of 100% crochet cotton, I love the sturdy finish it offers. When I was getting to the top, I taped the two pieces of framing together, just to hold them in place while I worked the edges. My piece is crocheted at the top and bottom of the frame ONLY.  I hope you like my take on this very pretty Pinterest idea - see other pieces like this here - http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=crochet%20lamp%20shade

Thanks for looking!

Tin Can Recycle!

This item was finished completely in 3D Crystal Lacquer and Terri Sproul Mixers - which can be purchased here http://www.sakuracraft.com/index.htm

This is a little thank you tin that can hold small items, it was an Excel breath mint container before I got my hands on it, LOL.

This would hold ear plugs nicely for my purse as well, come to think of it. Now I guess I'll have to make another.

You'll love how easy the 3D Crystal Lacquer paints on metal and the choice of colors to choose from. Find this product here - http://www.sakuracraft.com/

Don't forget if you order anything from www.sakura.com in the month of June you'll receive 20% off your entire order. 

USE CODE CRYSTAL06 AT CHECKOUT!

My May was so busy......

How busy was it? 

Today is the first chance I've had to post something I made in May!

I've been helping my mother down size her life/home/garden almost every weekend this past month. I helped with the costumes for a school concert and had only a few moments to work on my yard. I did however find some "me" time in May. I'll be posting those projects all week. 

Here is a card I made for a friend - I used the 3D Crystal lacquer on the birds and some of the flowers, I just love how this card turned out. 

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If you order anything from http://www.sakuracraft.com/ in June

receive 20% off your entire order 

USE CODE CRYSTAL06 AT CHECK-OUT

Floral Fantasy!

 

Welcome to the Sakura Blog Hop!

 

 Continue with our blog hop for your chance to win
2 Bottles of Sakura Crystal Lacquer!

All you have to do is
1.  Subscribe to each blog on the hop as a follower
2.   Leave a comment on each blog and that's it!

 



Floral Fantasy!

 

Admittedly I have a fetish for flowers, in fact anything at all that has some sort of floral pattern will win me over. So its probably no surprise that for this "fantasy" blog hop, I went for what I fantasize about the most, beautiful flowers.

 

I began with a 12X12 transparency from Prima shown here

this transparency has been sitting in my stash for a very long time and was begging to be used. I felt that the Terri Sproul Mixers and the 3D Crystal Lacquer would be the perfect product to use on this product and I was right!!

I painted the entire image with the Terri Spoul mixers and 3D Crystal Lacquer. Once that was dry I cut my 12X12 transparency into 4 - 6X6 pieces. I made a frame with my cricut machine out of cardstock and started the layering process. I painted chipboard birds with the mixers and placed them on different transparencies. I layered the lettering as well.

 

 This last photo shows you just how beautiful the shimmer of the flowers are on the transparency. But I also made these little 3D Crystal Lacquer flowers. So fun and easy to make.

First I carefully added some 3D Crystal Lacquer to a small squeezable container (sold at Sakura) and added some Terri Sproul shimmer mixers.  I made petal like shapes on a Teflon mat and let them dry. As shown below. Then I glued layers of petals together in a flower shape with the 3D Crystal lacquer. Are these little flowers the cutest or what?

 I hope that you have enjoyed my little fantasy escape, the winter was very long, so this project really cheered me up and was easy to make. I'm giving this to the music teacher at my school.

 

Now if you are following along in the blog hop follow the list below - but you can always return to http://crystallacquer.blogspot.com

remember to leave comments at each blog and become a follower. Leave a comment at Sakura for your chance to win a fabulous prize!

For the entire Month of May you can save 20% off your

entire order on the Sakura Website with the coupon code Sakura05

 

Sakura Blog Hop Design Team

Terri Sproul http://www.terrisproul.blogspot.com

Dale Anne Potter http://daleannepotter.com/blog

Peggy Oliver http://mystampingobsession.blogspot.com

Karen Lackey http://starshinesalon.typepad.com

Lea Cioci http://www.leacioci.blogspot.com

Mai Larsen http://www.creandocondetalles.blogspot.com 

Lee Brehon www.createalways.com