613 Avenue Create Challenge Blog - ART WORDS - Finnabair Password Book

Hello, Crafty Peeples!

This week 613 Avenue Create, continues our committment to the Anything Goes Format.  Of course, we have an Optional Twist (Tags, Bags, Books, and More) for which I will write up a separate post.  

I have been interested in The Finnabair Mixed Media Technique for a while and when I realized that I needed a new Password Book I decided it would be the perfect practice platform.  

If I messed it up, it wouldn't really matter.  

I have tons of these little memo notepads.  I found them in a dollar bin at Rite Aid.
I would recommend putting on a coat of black gesso.  This will make your new cover adhere better.
Usually, I remove the binding and use the original cover, but this one was too difficult to remove.

I used a printed textured card stock for the new cover, but by the time I finished using stencils, paste, glaze, etc., the original color only shows through in a few places.  The texture, however, gave a faux canvas look and feel to the book.
I like to have all my embellishments relate in a cohesive manner, however,  the idea behind Finnabair is to mix random elements and stack them in what appears to be a haphazard way.  Finnabair requires thought and patience.  I like puzzles and this is like putting together a puzzle whose pieces have very crazy irregular shapes.
I used a lot of Luminarte Acrylic Glaze and Twinkling H20.  The decoupage flower is one of my favorite elements.  I kept alternating Glaze, H20, Mod Podge, and Fabric Stiffner until I achieved the color variations I wanted.  Here is a photo of the original flowers.

Prima No. 11 Essentials Floral Embellishments

I am starting a new Journal cover.  I will try to remember to take pictures of the original elements so I can show a step by step transformation.  I might even learn how to use Hang Tag over at InLinkz.  But in the meantime, here is a quick listing of some of the items materials used in this project.

Materials/Supplies

DCWV Textured Paper: Old World Stack 

Marianne Craftables Die: Clock Work

Sizzix Alphabet Die: Mac 'n' Cheese

Luminarte Acrylic Glaze: Honey Amber and Watermelon Mist

Luminarte Twinkling H20:  Sunflower 

Dylusions Ink Spray: Cherry Pie

Smooch Various Colors

Homemade Shimmer Mists

Chipboard and Metal Cogs

Metal Findings

Miscellaneous embellishments

Challenges Entered (will check Paper Playful to see what is appropriate)

Amusing Challenges - Anything Goes
Scribble and Scrap Challenge - Always Anything Goes
One Stitch At A Time - Anything Goes with A Butterfly
Sentimental Sundays - Purple, Green, Black with a Touch of Gold
Treasured Times Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes

613 Avenue Create Optional Twist - Bags, Tags, Boxes and More - Fabric Covered Cigar Box

Hello, Crafty Peeps

This is my second post for the 613 Avenue Create Challenge.  This project is for the Optional Twist portion of our challenge.

Last year I purchased a bunch of cigar boxes.  I plan to use them to hold stationery sets.
This box is slightly larger than the one I used for the Jewerly box.

Initially, I was going to use paper, but thought this fabric would work better.
I fused batting to the fabric and cut a rough pattern for the shape of the box.

I plan to create a mini album that will fit inside the jewelry box.  The cover of the mini will constructed with the papers used on the inside of the box.

Thanks for stopping by!   Hugz,  Chana Malkah

Challenges Entered (I'll Be Back!)
Scribble and Scraps Challenge - Always Anything Goes
Through The Craft Room Door - Always Anything Goes

Canvas Corp - 2015 Design Team Call

Every once in a great while, I convince myself that I should apply for a commercial design team, not because I think I'm so talented, I know I am not.  I do it because constant rejection is the key to divine humility.  This time I was encouraged by my bud Kathy Clement to apply.  She was thinking of applying.  So, I took the plunge.  We shall see, said the blind man!

PROJECT #1  - The Spindle

Kathy has this awesome thread spindle that she uses to "brand" her project posts.  I thought it was really cool and asked her where she got it.  I didn't want to use it as she does, obviously, but I thought it would be a neat way to display my Prima Fibers (my lastest passion).  The fibers come on these really cool boards, but the spindle had more appeal for me, so....... I made my own.

Inspiration #1-  KATHY'S SPINDLE  - 

Inspiration #2 - Old Paper Towel Core and A Canvas Corp Canvas Sheet Package

We use a ton of paper towels and I wanted to do something with the core...so I cut it into small sections and used as the core of my spindle.

The Project - CHANA'S FIBER SPINDLE

The base of the spindle is an empty ribbon spool.  I cut octaganal and round chipboard pieces, painted them and then covered them using papers from 7 Gypsies'  Paddington 6"x6" variety pack.  An overhead shot of the spindle would have been nice (didn't think of it when I was shooting) to show how the spindle ties in with the other elements.

THE BACK

 Tim Holtz Hitch Post fasteners and a bead are used as stabilizers.  They work great when the spindle is full.  I just tuck the ribbon/fiber behind them and they don't fall out. 

The Inspiration for the Mini Album came from the label on this Canvas Corp. Product.  I wanted to use items from my stash and realized while working on my spindle, that I only had small amounts of the 7 Gypises pads on hand.  I was curious if I could mix three very different paper varities into a cohesive design.  The b/w polka dots with the brown and canvas seemed like the perfect palette.

Project #2 - The Brown Paper Bag Mini Album 

Project #3 - The Journal Card/Note Card Holder

Products used:

7 Gypies: Paddington 6"x6" paper variety pack, 7 Gypies Lille 6"x6" paper variety pack; 7 Gypies Postale Index Cards and Envelopes

Bella Boutique Stack - 12"x12"

Simple Stories: Happy Day 6"x6" Pad

Joann.com: Printed Burlap - Postale

Graphic 45: Large Tags

Prima: Vintage Trinkets

Tim Holtz: Hitch Post Fasteners 

American Crafts: Ribbo

Misc: Paper towel core, chipboard, gesso, acrylic paint, beads, the usual suspects

Challenges Entered: (I'll Be Back!)

Happy Desk Set

Hello, Crafty Peeps!

A while back, I started making these Accountant's Survival Kits for my daughter's staff.  I needed to make twelve.  I have completed four and  I wanted to share the one I made for one of the staff members who loves  Pharrell William's "Happy" from "Despicable Me 2."

Each Kit Contains:

1 Desk Pad Set

1 Bottle Bulls----Repellant

2 - Round Tuits

Assorted Atta/Boy and Atta/Girl Tokens

Two note pads

Instructions on how and under what circumstance each item should/could be used.

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The "Happy" box is a Chiclets box that has been covered.  I made tops for each box

I can say these desk sets are helping me reduce my Stash.   To tell the truth, searching through all my scraps and new stuff that I have been hoarding, has re-energized my creative drive and reduced the clutter in my paper closet.

That's it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Hugz,

Chana