Time for Scrapping

Hello blogland. I have been on quite the hiatus. My mojo left me for a good long while, but it's back and can I just say....it is ON!!

You can now follow my blog on Bloglovin!!! If you prefer Bloglovin just click the widget to the right.

I have posted a few on the swirlydoos facebook gallery but haven't made it here. I'm warning you now that this post is very photo heavy.

Let me get you up to speed in 2016...

This page was created using Donna Salazar papers,, various Prima flowers and pieces from the Prima Almanac collection.

I used Prima's Optimist collections for this one. I had started the background a couple of years ago and just needed to pick it back up. I really loved the die cut frames. I've also been hoarding Prima doors forever and this was my first time using them.

This page actually won layout of the month over at swirlydoos in March. This is a conglomeration of a few kits and one of my fav stamps....that bird cage is fantastic.

I was lucky enough to find Prima's Nature Garden in Jodi Lee's Etsy store to make this LO of Aubrey's costume from 2014. 

This is an exploding box card I made for hubby for his birthday. The entire thing collapses flat. It was very fun and turned out very cool.

This is a LO made with the February kit using lots of Prima Salvage District and even some really old stuff from my stash.

This is another LO with the Swirlydoos February kit. I just adores the Blue Fern Studios papers here. 

and my final LO to share is another of my Aubrey Sue. This is one is one of my favs lately. There was so much detail here and it just came together so well. 

I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my work. I have some of my latest stuff yet to post as well, so stay tuned. 

Until then....{{hugs}}

Andiepants

eP eTeam Picks Challenge and Valentine Winner

I don't always have the chance to play along with eP challenges but when I do....watch out! Andiepants in the house!

Altering a bag. hmmmmmm....I've done this before. Didn't turn out so well, so here was my chance for redemption.

First, I dug out this Master Cam bag that my hubby brought home from a machinist trade show about a decade ago. 

I decided I didn't want 2 handles so I started by using my seam ripper to remove the handles that were sewn on.

To color the handles I soaked them with water first. This allows the mist to spread more evenly over the fabric. Next I sprayed my Dylusions mist in Vibrant Turquoise generously over the handles so they were well covered. You may want to use gloves. I did not :(

In order to cover that gawd awful picture I decided I would cover the thing in gesso. Remember when working with fabric to place a piece of cardboard in between your layers to avoid bleeding and soak through. Here I just used an insert from a 12x12 Prima mask.

Cover generously with gesso. If you feel you need more coats make sure you dry thoroughly in between coats. Honestly I remove the handles and covered in gesso before dying the handles in order to give my bag some additional air-dry time.

Once covered to my liking I then used Distress paint in Broken China to color the background. after that was dry I sprayed some Vibrant Turqoise in order to allow some congruency to the piece. I did this to both sides of the bag.

You will want to do the handle next since you need to reattach it to the bag. Make sure your sewing needle is a large enough gauge to handle the material of the bag. I sewed my to pieces together to make one long handle, sewed a piece of trim down the middle, and then sewed each end to the seams in the bag.

You can see here where I attached it on the inside.

The rest is just like scrapbooking! For the front I adhered a piece of burlap using gloss gel medium in various areas. I adhered the large lace at the top using the same method and allowed that to dry. Arrange your clusters and take photos so that you know where to put them when you're ready.

Next I used Wendy Vecchi embossing paste in black through a Martha Stewart silk screen to attain the large black shape (Above) and the smaller one coming out of the bottom of my cluster. I then adhered the flowers with fabric glue in my hot glue gun and I sewed the small blue Prima baubles  on by hand in the bottom cluster, top cluster and across the lace.

For the back side, I gave a good coating of water and then added more Dylusions in Calypso Teal and Dirty Martini. 

I first added all the lace piece using the gloss gel medium and let them dry. You can add dimension with your lace as I have and the gel medium will allow it to dry stiff and hold it's shape. Next I used the Hollyhocks stamp with Stazon jet black ink

and added a script stamp in Stazon Timber Brown. Notice that I even stamped on the lace. It's subtle but a nice touch.

I used a leftover scrap of cheese cloth to make a rosette with a slight tail, added an altered flower that was leftover on my desk, a random button that was sitting there, and finally added the Prima border. Again I used gloss gel to adhere the Prima border so that it was sure to stay.

I definitely think I've redeemed my prior shame of altering a bag. I quite like this one.

And for the giveaway...

The random winner is Geri!!!!  Please email me your address at tiggertoo57@gmail.com.

Thanks so much

{{hugs}}

Andiepants

Swirlydoos and eP stacked boxes tissue cozy

Ok...so when I hear the word cozy...I get a little gaggy. Isn't that something that your grandmother crocheted for every kitchen appliance she had? Don't forget the crocheted flowers too ;)

So when I saw a cozy and the words "that's a great idea" came out of my mouth...I felt like perhaps I had been possessed. (this is the part where my head spins around)

Wait...let me explain. I love pinterest (don't we all) and I was just sitting there when this cozy came across my feed. This lady had created the cutest (but a little plain) tissue box cozy that looked like a nice neat stack of books. What a great present for my twins' teacher!

Now I KNOW that I could do something like that Andiepants style so I found another image of altered stacked boxes/drawers that looked like random stacked books with lots of shabby and lots of chic. 

BAM! 

Inspiration

I was going to make a tissue box cozy that looked like random stacked books. I was going to take the main idea from each and combine them to make...an altered box!!!!

VOILA!!!

*pausing for applause*

OK...so how did I make this adorably shabby piece of art?!

Here's a step by step video

Video

and here are printed instructions with photos. 

First I started with poster board. Cut a strip that is about 7" tall x 21.5" long. Starting at one end score at every 5.25" inches. This should leave a 1/2" strip at the end. *Crafty Andie's hot tip: Instead of 7" tall you can make it a tad shorter which will allow you to cover the box using one piece of 12x12 cut in half. Just measure your tissue box.

1. Along each score line measure 1/2" down from the top. Use a ruler/yard stick to connect the bottoms fo these 1/2" lines and then score along this line.  Cut down on each 1/2" line. These you will fold in to make the top of the box.

2. Fold your box together and apply glue to the 1/2" flap. Fold each one of the small 1/2" flaps and glue them to one another. You should now have a box that will cover a tissue box.

3. Decide what sizes you would like your "books". I chose 7"x5.75", 7"x8", and 8x8.5" *Crafty Andie's hot tip! Don't make the top book too small. I ended up with a very small edge to work with which made it very difficult. Next time I would make it a little larger.

4.Once you have figured your sizes, go ahead and cut 2 pieces of posterboard for each size. One piece for the top and one piece for the bottom. You can use a thicker chipboard for this step if you wish your "books" to be a tad sturdier.

5. Organize your "books" starting with the largest on the bottom. figure how you would like them skewed (or lined up straight). Place your tissue box on top to make sure that 1. the "books" will fit around the tissue box and 2. nothing is hanging off the edge. Use a pencil and trace the tissue box on the top book, trace the top book onto the center, and trace the center book onto the last book. *hot tip: because the posterboard bowed outward on the box, I used the box to mark my corners then used a ruler, measured the actual length of the box, and use my ruler and measurements to draw out the shape on the top "book".

6. Use reposition-able adhesive and adhere your book tops to the bottoms. (so when you cut out the square they won't wiggle)

7. Use an exacto knife and cut out the hole for each book set.

8. Now it's time to cover your books. I only had 1 piece of each paper so I had to try to cover both sides of my book. GET 2 SHEETS OF EACH PAPER!!! Trust me on this one.

10. Once all the pieces of your books have been covered, edge them with ink for a semi-distresssed look.

11. Use Mod Podge or Matte medium to wrap your tissue box.

12. Cut the pieces for your book bindings. I did 3 inches for the large one and 2" each for the smaller. Make sure you add an inch overlay for each cover. Therefore...my binding for my big book would be 8.5" long by 5" wide. Punch the corners for a decorative look.

13. Adhere the bindings with the 1" overlap. If the binding pieces overlap into the hole for the box, use and exacto knife to cut them out. 

14. Slide your finished books onto your box and adhere them bottom to top. Then them to the edges of the tissue box. Use a bullet level to make sure they are straight.

15. Adhere your top 

16. Embellish with gorgeous eP embellishments and Swirlydoos flowers and bling and you're done!!!

Papers are by Jillibean soup. You can get some adorable Jillibean embellies from the eP store! Just click on the link under Enabling your obsession to view the full store!

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial and I hope you decide to try one for yourself.

{{hugs}}

Andiepants

Shabby Chic

Did you see the badge on the side of my blog?! It's official...I'm educating for Swirlydoos! I am really so excited to have this opportunity. Stay tuned for some fantastic videos, projects, and prizes.

I have also started an Etsy store! That too is located at the sidebar. I am just getting up and running but keep checking back as I add more items.

Shabby Chic is so in right now. Admit it...we love it. The white wash, vintage, soft, and oh so romantic look has stolen our scrappy hearts. 

I am no exception to this and so I am presenting a new class series called Shabby Chic with Andie! Classes will be once a month over at the crop n shop. You can check out their facebook page here:

CROP N' SHOP - Burton, MI - Shopping & Retail | Facebook

As my general swirly style is very 3 dimensional, I am having to seriously reign it in for these classes. Check out the first page.

Class will be May 8th from 6-8pm. All are welcome just sign up ahead of time!

I also wanted to share a page I made this last fall at a retreat. Of course I used a past swirlydoos kit. What else would I use?

 This is Liam at about 4 months old. His nickname was Sumo because he was so darn chubby!! The best part about a retreat is being able to use other people's stuff. The large stamp in the corner and the punch for the photo corners were all borrowed pieces.  This was one of my all time fav kits. Just sayin...I really love all of the different textures on this page. 

 Here I did a close up of my cluster. The flowers were from the kit but the stems were actually hand made!! I'll put a tutorial up on youtube for it.

Here is a close up of the stamp since it was difficult to see.

TFL,

Andiepants

Ultimate design challenge week 1

So the challenge for week 1 was to make a 3D embellishment using 2 techniques involving mediums and use that on a project. Of course I went total Andiepants style with another steam-chic project!!

Last year at a boyscout training session, I won a wooden boat to take back and promote the camp to my pack. My boys decided a few days ago they no longer wanted said boat and I decided to keep the wood. 

When this project was introduced I had dreams of gluing the wood down and decorating but that's about as far as I went. Everything just kinda fell into place! I was walking through Joann's (working on another project, and saw the canvas was 50% off! I decided that's what I needed to support the weight of the wood I wanted to use.

After layers and layers of multimedium, gesso, paint, stamping...it all came together. I used the feathers as wings on the dress form...so it's like a fairy. I love the contrast of all the white and romantic against the grungy metal and crackle on the base of the dress form. 

Check out all the other gorgeous projects at Swirlydoos.com. The girls have pulled out all the stops. 

TFL

Andiepants

Shabby-palooza

Ok so I completely agree...the ____palooza term is way overused. But this so totally applies!

Two of my girlfriends have daughters graduating together and have planned a duel open house for this afternoon. The theme...shabby chic of course!! My GF recently installed a wide plank wood floor for the barn. She collected old doors from the garbage for back drops, has hanging shredded sheets, and rain barrels. I'm so excited to see the final product. For the centerpieces she asked me to make some of these little heart bags from the Cricut tags bags boxes and more. I thought it would be super cute to make some pie boxes as well. She plans to have random frames with pictures of the girls, and various antique and shabby pieces all over the tables. I was so excited to be able to make these for her.

 Sorry the light quality is so poor. I have to use my phone because my camera is on the fritz and have been way too busy during the daylight to get good photos.

All paper is by Wild Asparagus.

 The yellow flowers are from Melissa Frances and the flowers are Spellbinders blossom 1. Big thank you goes to Lisa Gregory over at Swirlydoos for the butterflies.

 The metal pieces are from the dollar store. I have been experimenting with tarnished metal. Way too much fun. 

 Can you spot the toilet paper tube? If you guessed the leaf you would be correct!! There is a tutorial over at Swirlydoos for how to make these lovely little gems.

 Sorry this one is so blurry

 Here is another metal piece. This on I covered grunge board with foil tape and used multiple colors of alcohol ink. 

This box was my favorite. I love the soft blue with the yellow and brown. The tulle is just a piece from...you guessed it...the dollar store.

Remember scrapping is as expensive as you make it. I enjoyed sharing my creations with you. Stay scrappy.

hugs,

Andiepants