Christmas Comes

 With today's entry I'd like to close out year 2013, which I must admit must somewhat stormy, but after all, calm comes after a strom. For me comes time to reflect, rest and plan. 

If you don't already know, we are expecting our first little one, and each day is a small mystery which we will be able to solve in five months. 

By the way, we have been mulling over names for a boy, so if any interesting names come to your minds, please write and I will gladly read them.

 My latest orders have been send and I hope that my customers will be happy and satisfied with this year presents.
 If you would like to make something last minute yourself,  I encourage you to check out my 'Tutorials' section and watch the short 'Christmas Tutorial' which I prepared just for you. 

To all decoupage lovers, I invite you to my newly formed Facebook page 'PassionForDecoupageUk'. 

 PassionForDecoupageUK

I also hope that your holiday shopping has been fruitful, and preparations in the upcoming days are peaceful and full of inspirations. 

 Once more, I wish health, colorful holidays as well as success in the upcoming year. 

I'll see you in 2014. 

 

 THIS WEEK COME AND PARTY AT:

 http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/frugal-friday_26.html- The Shabby Nest

Christmas Tutorial - How To Decoupage A Metal Bucket Using A Paper Napkin And Crackle Medium

Hello

Most of you probably know that there is no surface which couldn’t be decorated with napkin, paper or your own printout.

Preparing metal surface may require a little bit more practise and knowledge as well as using special materials.

In case of slightly rust surfaces we can use anti corrosive product before we will go further. Such surfaces can be covered with water based primer and then, lightly rubbed down with paper.

I have prepared for you a little Christmas tutorial with paper napkin and crackle medium. 

    MATERIALS:

-          Metal bucket

-          Sandpaper (60-100 grit)

-          Acrylic paint – base colour – sky blue

-          Acrylic paint – cobalt blue

-          Acrylic paint – white

-          Medium size brush

-          Pva or tacky blue

-          Crackle medium or crazy crack Dala

-          Kitchen sponge

-          Decorative ribbon

-          A whole bag of sweets or cones.

   1. My bucket has already been painted blue so I started to lightly

       rub down  the surface in order to get  better adhesion and then

       cover it with universal primer sealer. If your bucket isn’t

      painted, you should put a thin layer of primer and then slightly

      rub it down with sandpaper.

  2. Upper part of the bucket is tapped with sponge so that we get 

      dark blue. We leave it to be dry.

    3. I cover a completely dry blue strip with a small amount of crackle medium, not to stream, and then I wait until it will be slightly dry until the moment it is very  gently sticky but is not totally dried.

  4. I cover whole bucket with white and wait for ca. 30 minutes until it will be dry.

5.  Cut out precisely the motive during the process of drying. It can be pulled out but there will be ugly edge of the napkin, distinguishing from the rest, on the white background.

Professional decoupage is to combine the picture with the background to present the motive as it would be painted. Play with precise cutting has wonderful final effects. Maybe, next time I will tell you more about my point of view relating to cutting and pulling out some motives from napkins.
 

  6. Before applying glue, you plan where our napkin will be on the    bucket in order to get satisfying look. I suggest you to wait up to the moment the glue will be slightly dry and then we stick bells separately, gently pushing them with dry fingers or dry brush.

 7.  When it is dry, cover entire work with glue once again. If our glue is too thick, we can softly mix it with water.

    8.  In case of my works, the bucket is covered with over a dozen layers with varnish and sanded between layers.

For domestic purposes, you can sprinkle it with one or two layers of spray varnish.

I wonder if it isn’t too early to wish you Merry Christmas so I wish you successful Christmassy shopping.

Maybe, you will prepare some gifts for your relatives by yourself this year.

See you next...

This week come and party at:

 SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY
CONFESSIONSOFAPLATEADDICT

How To Extend Life Of Your Cut Flowers - Daffodils And Tulips

Most of us adore cut flowers in a vase. Regardless of the fact if we buy the flowers or they are given to us, we would like to be pleased with their fresh look without the necessity of replacing them. 

Beautiful colourful bouquets can change our interiors thus they acquire more character. Bouquets improve our mood. 

Fresh cut flowers are very often at my home therefore I will present you some trusted hints concerning extending life of some flowers which were in majority told me by my mother. The advice will be divided into a few phases, in which I will tell you about different varieties of flowers as well as some techniques of extending their lifespan. I will also try to attach some photos. 

You don’t have any influence on the process of cutting the flowers or on their previous keeping but you can obviously influence their further life. There are some factors which are important: 

• first of all a proper temperature or a place where the vase stays, fresh water or a good access of air.

My most favourite flower, despite its bizarre nature, is a daffodil or narcissus. 

They are bulbous flowers of which more than one story can be told. Daffodils secrete a viscous and poisonous substance with an unpleasant scent. In combination with tulips or irises they can harmfully influence their lifespan and cause their drooping because of alkaloids which were previously mentioned.

 If we want to combine daffodils with other flowers, the best idea would be to:

•  put them in a vase with tepid water on the day before the  rest  of flowers. A viscous sap should be secreted within a day and night and shouldn’t constitute any danger. 

In case of daffodils alone, we should:

•  put them in a clean vase, cutting straight their stalks
•  we should also often change the water.

As we know cut flowers are kept in the special refrigerator rooms or other places which are well air-conditioned. In florists or supermarkets they stay frequently next to the entry to the shop. 

I advise you to keep your vases away from radiators, electric devices or sunny places in order to eliminate excessive heat. I also don’t recommend you to place them on the TV set because of safety reasons. 

Summer time is favourable to surrounding with flowers therefore observe this plot and maybe you will find out some more…