Making Music @ home

Hello happy Crafters

Thank you for joining me today.

I thought I would share a project with you that you can make at home. I know 

some may feel a little down due to being indoors for so long and the weather 

being so lovely outside here in the UK. But to lift your spirits and bring a little 

joy lets make music:

Try different mediums and please share it with us.

#stayhome

#makemusicstayhome

I have a large file where I keep images of crafting ideas, so when I need some 

inspiration or ideas on crafting and additional techniques I can brush up on or 

try out, I go to my file.

I saw this beautifully decorated mixed media Violin, and of course I did not have 

one so I decided to make one. And what does one do if you need to learn to make 

something – You hop onto YouTube. I found a video on how to make a violin using 

carton – what you really need is just the template actually, so I have attached one for 

you to use – easy peesy.

Download/save and make it the size you want. 

Violin process:

Using the template, cut out the carton pieces you need – you could use cardstock, 

foamcore or paper. For the sides, I cut strips of carton based on how thick I wanted 

the violin to be. Give the strips of carton a slight roll so it breaks the fibers a little. 

This will make it easier to follow the turns of the top and base of the violin carton 

pieces. Glue the pieces together – I used a glue gun – its quicker. But any good quick 

dry adhesive will do.

I used my usual glue and water mix (1:1) and decoupage the carton project with 

kitchen paper roll. Remember, you can use tissue paper, cigarette papers, lace etc. 

what ever you have handy. You don’t really need to do this step, but I think it seals 

it up nicely and makes it harder.

Once the violin is dry - Of course I can’t wait for it dry naturally so I used a heat gun 

to speed up the process - coat it with Gesso or acrylic paint.  

I used some scrap pieces of paper, torn into strips and glued these down. you can use 

the same glue mix, mod podge or gel medium.

I added some stencilling using the Prima Designer tile stencil and added some crackle

paste. 

Mixed Media Process:

These are the products I used.

#colorglow

#13arts

#nuvo

#Tonicstudio

First I found some embellishments and some tags and decided on a layout (make 

sure the Violin is dry and ready for the next steps)

Of course my favourite creature is the Butterfly and I always try and stick one in 

somewhere - so delicate, free and beautiful. I wanted to definitely add this feature 

in my project as I saw the Morethanwords April Challenge and had to join in as I 

love the theme. I also wanted to create a project that you could make and feel joy 

in it everyday when you see the beauty you have created. 

I added some flowers to my temporary layout - Definitely needed these as we are in 

spring and celebrating nature. I adjusted and added and removed my embellishments

until I was happy. I took a photo so I would remember how I wanted my goodies.

I removed the flowers and the tag and adhered all the other embellishments. Then

we start creating. I sprinkled "a little bit of that and a little bit of this" of the 13@rts

color glow, add some squirts of water and let the magic begin. 

I love the shimmer the Colorglow gives. You can use Lindy Starburst sprays/magicals

as well or shimmer acrylic paint. Water down the acrylic paint and add it with a paint

brush, if necessary add a little squirt of water to mingle it on the project. 

Dry with heat gun - not too close :)

I add some extra colour where I need to and remove a little with a wet wipe. 

Once the inks were dry, I used my finger and some white Gesso to highlight the 

stencilling and embellishments. Do sections at a time and dry the Gesso as you finish. 

This prevents the Gesso from mixing with the ink and keeps it white.

I then added my take and flowers. I inked the edges of the violin with black ink

and brushed the dauber over the flowers as well to highlight the edges. I also

painted a few of the embellishments with silver. 

Here are a few more photos: 

I have entered this creation into the More than Words April challenge. 

Please click on the image below for the link to the competition and some 

wonderful inspiration.

Thank you for joining me and I hope you feel inspired to make your own music

Take care and stay safe 

Loves Candace 

STEAMPUNK HAT

Howdy Happy crafters

I hope you have all had a wonderful Easter weekend, as much as you can indoors😋

We had an Easter egg hunt on Sunday. I left clues around the house for my boys and
Hubby - bearing in mind my boys are now 18 and 20 😲 but they enjoyed it :)
I am so grateful they are home for the lockdown.

Today I am sharing my Steampunk hat I created off of my previous post - Hat Tutorial.
I created the first hat about two weeks ago, and I eventually created my Steampunk hat
over the last two days.

I have been dying to make one. I created my own goggles and used a lot of bits and bobs
from around the house and my scrapbook stash. I die cut the gears and cogs, used some
resin and metal embellishments I had in a collection box. In my collection box, I keep
broken bits and pieces of items ie pens, bulbs, straps, mechanisms, any pipe cut offs etc.
You never know when they could come in handy.

I also used Airdry clay for the goggles and wiring on the hat.

And so I began:

I used two pipe cut offs that were equal size and cut to round acetate cirles to fit on top
of the pipes. You can use the carton of the toilet rolls or kitchen rolls when the cling
wrap or foil is finished. This means you can cut the goggles with the side panels.

But here I made my own sides with Airdry clay.

I printed some images to fit inside and glued them in place. I added some self adhesive
gems, glue bottle lid to the front acetate lens on one and found a clock face rim in my
collection box and and fitted perfect around the other lens.

I used a large image I printed and created a frame around the clock face. I left it to dry.

I made my hat per the previous post but I made the hat abit taller
I joined the lenses with gems and created the straps to fit on the side.
I used plastic buckles and eyelets, and a clasp of a broken cat collar.

I added some die cuts to the hat that I cut from carton, as it is easier to mould around

when it is damp. I used glue (wood/PVA) and water in equal parts to glue down the 

carton die cuts to create a texture on the hat. 

I also used mutton cloth dipped in the glue mix to wrap around the hat and create the 

material texture, I did dip the cloth in the glue mix and then squeesed out the excess. 

You can also use powertex or gel medium mixed with water to have the same effect. 

I did this on the top of the hat and the base. And left it to dry.

 I added a few more embellishments and some Joinery tape.

 I painted the goggles and adhered the side straps to it.

I then painted the hat black with all the embellishments.

I added a few more embellishments - I used Airdry clay to make the "wires" and I used eyelets
at the end to finish them off.

I then used Acryllic paints - Chocolate, Raw Sienna and Mushroom to paint the hat. 

I used  Raw Sienna to cover most of the hat, but I did not cover it completely, it was 

more a dry brush technique. I did not want to hide the black underneath as it makes it

looks more vintage.

I used #13@rts Color glow Andalusite - to colour the straps and add some shimmer to
the goggles, it makes it look more worn.

I used the "Mushroom" acryllic paint to highlight some of the texture on the hat using
a dry brush technique. I used Acryllic paints, Magenta, Demin, Mushroom, Chocolate to
paint the "wires"

I then painted the gears and cogs and clock die cuts with White gesso and once
dry I painted them with #plascon Paint effects Silver metallic paint. I adhered
the die cuts and then did a light dry brush with black Gesso to highlight the creases
of the material and some of the texture background.

I also used the Silver paint with dry brush to lightly highlight some of the embellishments.

Here are a few close ups.

Hope you have enjoyed the post and have a go at creating your own master piece.

Thank you for stopping by and wishing you a safe and healthy week ahead.

Loves
Candace