Thursday, April 28, 2016

Chalkboard Wedding Sign & Decorations

I have been working on my Step-Son's Wedding Party. I got stuck making decorations since we are not having an actual reception work $10 thousand dollars. Just a small quaint party since he is in the Navy and on leave to get married.

I decided to do the chalkboard theme which is all the rage for every occasion. I ran into difficulty with this and that.


If you are doing a chalkboard, I found a great tutorial online using a Graphite Stick (HERE) by shading the back of the design with the graphite then tracing your paper onto the chalkboard. Now I used the chalk method which wipes away and leaves a lot of dust on your board. Use the Graphite you will thank me later.

I did print out a large scale design so I went on this free site, downloaded the image then chose the size. My chalkboard was a 24" wide board with a 21" canvas. You take an 8.5 x 11" piece of copy paper and lay it on the board to see how many sheets it takes to cover the board. Mine used 4 sheets, 2 across and 2 down. You can find it (HERE).

I then tried to use a chalk marker. Even with the fine point it was not fine enough for those small areas and it also made heavy liquid marks on the board. I then used a chalk pencil. That is the way to go. It gives it an authentic look and you can sharpen it when needed. Do not use a plywood chalkboard. I have trouble with those. Use a real chalkboard.

Here are my results.





I then made some jars to go with the sign. I tried painting chalkboard paint on them but the paint just peeled off so I bought a large stamp, a roll of chalkboard tape and started stamping. I made some min tags hanging on the jars with jute string. I had an antique jar that had a slot opening so I used that as well for the honeymoon fund.







I then made some flowers out of burlap and jars to stick with the theme. I even printed vintage background paper on cardstock and then cut them out into butterflies. The string is unused burlap strings from the fabric that I dyed the taupe color. After stringing the burlap strings around the butterflies I stiffened the string using a small paintbrush and Mod Podge Matte.

I also got tired of the big chalkboard so I took a shortcut and printed a chalkboard image using photoshop of important dates.

Next on my list of decorations is another printed chalkboard sign for photos of the bride and groom using a portable Picturemate. This will be out photobooth and to earn some                                                                     money for the honeymoon fund & Tulle fabric wrapped                                                                           balloons.













Friday, April 15, 2016

FLOSS GIVE-AWAY DRAWING at Victorian Motto

Victorian Motto is having another Give-Away Drawing of her new line of floss so click on over there to enter here: (Victorian Motto Sampler Shop) and her Birthday Club.





Sunday, April 3, 2016

Spring Birds-My House Finch

Outside my bedroom window a lovely sight of Spring is a Male House Finch and its young.
There are not many interesting wildlife here in the City of Philadelphia Pennsylvania normally squirrels and pigeons.

These little ones sing a pretty song.



Thursday, March 31, 2016

Chenille Trim from Victorian Motto Shop

I bought some great Chenille Trim from Victorian Motto on Ebay. She hand dyes all of her trims and embroidery floss. The price is cheaper then R&R Productions.

There is a special in her shop if you buy 5, 5 yard Chenille Trims you get one free. (HERE)
She also has contests to win floss and other things on her blog and a Birthday Club to win floss each month.

There is a great tutorial at the Twisted Stitcher blog to attach and fluff your Chenille to your cross stitch. (Chenille Trim Tutorial). Little House Needleworks uses a lot of her ornament finishes.





Sunday, March 27, 2016

Floss Give Away at Victorian Motto Sampler

Nancy over at Victorian Motto Sampler Shop is having a Give Away Drawing on April 15th of her new line of floss. ENTER HERE (Victorian Motto Sampler).

She also has a Birthday Drawing every month so enter that as well.

I am getting my hands on her hand dyed Chenille Trims for my Little House Needleworks Ornaments that I will be stitching soon for Christmas.




Friday, February 19, 2016

L'Atelier Perdu - A Maree Basse

I love this beautiful stitching basket. I stitched it on 32 count cream Thieffry linen 2 over 2. A very stiff linen from France. For all you Americans out there this is the linen to buy for these type of construction projects and it is so much less costly then Zweigart.

I loved how Mamilou Creations did hers with the handle so I did the same for easy carry.
I used red dyed mother of pearl rings, red faded striped Japanese linen for the lining I bought from Etsy. Theiffry linen bought at Le Comptoir des Fees for nearly $40.00 a meter.

Instead of doing a scissor case per the directions, I made the beach cabins into a needlebook with a simple piece of cream felt inside. Now I am stitching "The Duchess" from the same designer.