Chilling out with Belle & Boo

Over the weekend I indulged a bit moe in Belle & Boo products. I had already a card with the cute ballet decoupage image in mind where I wanted to use white die-cut corners and leaves for a light summery feel. But I also wanted to create an MDF plaque with a seaside scene utilising the ice cream scene. And this one is not for gving away, it is just for me and my new home and therefore extra special.

Base of the plaque is an MDF coaster. I used a Crop-a-dile to punch a hole and then covered both sides in patterned paper from the Belle & Boo II collection with the help of glossy First Edition Deco Mache glue.

All die-cuts used for the two projects are created using First Edition die sets.

I have again prepared product lists and step-by-step instructions for both projects in case you want to re-create them. Just go to my Trimcraft gallery for details.

Belle & Boo Summer Crafting

The new Belle & Boo products by Trimcraft are just lovely for nice summery craft projects. And I just cannot resist the cute rabbit Boo. So the items came in pretty handy for some crafty relaxation on lovely days with loads of sun like we are allowed to enjoy them at the moment. The result are two plaques and a card with a folded sheet of patterned paper, which you can see in this post. I hope you like what I have created.

Product lists and step-by-step instructions as well as larger images of the projects can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Santoro Mirabelle III Plaque

I must admit that the Santoro collections by Trimcraft are my all time favourite craft products for the creation of decorative items for my own home. And after the coasters there just had to be another Santoro Mirabelle plaque.

The plaque is created using a rectangular piece of MDF, which came already with two holes at the top, a length of string, some First Edition Deco Mache glossy decoupage glue and apart from that only Santoro Mirabelle III products. A list with all individual items as well as step-by-step instructions are again in my Trimcraft gallery.

Santoro Mirabelle III Coasters

Trimcraft have done it again and just brought out more absolutely gorgeous craft products in the Santoro range: Santoro Mirabelle III. I really love the beautiful and luxurious images for home decor items.

Today I would like to show you some coasters that I created with the new products. They are based on 10cm square MDF coasters. And a generous layer of Deco Mache gloss decoupage glue to finish of the coasters ensures that they are protected.

A product list and step-by-step instructions as well as individual images of the coasters can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Relax

I must admit that I spent most of today on this project, but I just love to turn MDF items into unique decorative items for my home. And when I found these Dovecraft MDF letters on the Glitter Pot website there was no holding back. They just appeared to be perfect for the new First Edition Deco Mache papers by Trimcraft.

Other products I used were First Edition dies, First Edition textured cardstock and some paper roses and rosebuds.

Initially I tried to cover the front and back with another section of decoupage paper and to then work on the sides. But I got neater results by using small sections of decoupage paper, really soaking them with adhesive on the letters and then smoothing them into shape. It is without a doubt messier, but I feel that it was worth fingers covered in Deco Mache glue and the 'clean-up work' at the end (and yes, I still peeled off small sections of adhesive from my fingers and nails hours later).

A full product list and step-by-step instructions are again in my Trimcraft gallery.

Decoupaged Polystyrene

I might have used polystrene eggs for the home decor items, which I would like to share with you today, but polystyrene balls would also do the trick in case egg shaped objects remind you to much of Easter.

Polystyrene objects can easily get covered with decoupage papers (I used Simply Creative papers by Trimcraft). And as they are white, they do not even require a primer.

Alol embellishments used on these eggs are also by Trimcraft. Detailed product lists and step-by-step instructions for all items can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Sequin Easter Egg

Firstly, apologies for the long time without blog post. A lot is going on in my life right now.

I hope you are all enjoying the Easter weekend and are not too much impacted by the awful weather.

The sequin Easter egg shown here is a project I created a couple of days ago using a small polystyrene egg, Dovecraft Serendipity sequins and Dovecraft glitter ribbon. The pins I used are 13mm long sequin pins, which worked well and did not get into the way of each other.

It took me about two hours to complete the egg, but somehow it was really therapeutic to push the pins into something ...

Decorative Floral Muse Frame

Just good that I picked up another deep RIBBA frame in IKEA last Saturday. I like the new Dovecraft Floral Muse collection by Trimcraft so much that I just have to have some of it as decorative item in my home. So yesterday's craft project was another decorative frame. And I really love how it has turned out.

And this time I even remembered to take a photo of the project before putting it back into the frame. Reflections on the glass can make it so difficult to photograph these decorative frames.

If you would like to re-create the frame, you can find a product list and step-by-step instructions in my Trimcraft gallery.

Belle & Boo Christmas Plaques

During 2015 my crafting focus has really shifted from cards to home decor items. I never thought that I would enjoy it so much to create decorative frames and MDF items. And my handcrafted Christmas decorations, for example, that are currently surrounding me are - in my humble opinion - even nicer than many bought items.

The two MDF plaques in this blog post are created around the adorable Belle & Boo Christmas collection by Trimcraft. The plaques were prepared with white gesso and First Edition deco mache papers. A final all over application of First Edition deco mache gloss decoupage glue gives them a nice shiny and smooth finish.

Product lists and step-by-step instructions for both projects can again be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Wintery Snowflake Decoration

Merry Christmas!

Today I would like to share a wintery home decor item with you. I found it perfect as Christmas Day crafty treat, but it could also be a nice gift for a host during the festive period. And as it features snowflakes, it is not just for Christmas but a lovely item throughout the winter. I used Dovecraft Christmas Basics wooden snowflake shapes and white adhesive pearls as well as metallic paints and jump rings.

I am so pleased with the way this snowflake chain has turned out that I will definitely create another one in gold and silver.

If you would like to recreate this project, you can find a product list and step-by-step instructions in my Trimcraft gallery.

The Night Before Christmas Plaque

Today I would like to share another home decor item with you.This time it is an oval Christmas plaque based around an image from Helz Cuppleditch's The Night Before Christmas collection by Trimcraft and the matching reindeer deco mache papers. The base is an oval MDF plaque into which I punched two holes using my Crop-a-Dile Big Bite. Other tools like a drill would also do the trick.

For a product list, step-by-step instructions and a larger image please go to my Trimcraft gallery.

The Night Before Christmas Scene

Now that I am on my own I need a lot less Christmas cards and find myself more and more often opting for home decor items when I am crafting. And they make it possible to have some more and new decorative Christmas items even if the budget is tight. And Trimcraft's new collection 'The Night Before Christmas' with images by Helz Cuppleditch in combination with some other great new First Edition and Dovecraft Christmas products allows for some unique items with a personal touch that could not be just bought in shops or could be found in countless homes.

This 6" x 6" panel based on a piece of cardboard also brought out a great way of using up loose glitter without mess. I mixed a generous amount of PVA with white Dovecraft glitter and applied it lavishly to the icicle border and the snowflake elements. This leaves the ice and snow elements nice and sparkly - and the glitter is not shedding.

I prepared again a product list and step-by-step instructions, which can be found in my Trimcraft gallery.

Large Santoro's Willow frame

Usually the packaging of craft products is just for the bin. But Trimcraft's Santoro products are so beautifully packaged  that even many of the wraps, boxes and cover sheets of paper pads provide great additional craft items. For this frame I turned the reverse of the cover sheet from a 6" x 6" Santoro's Willow paper pad into the focal point.

The frame I used is from IKEA's RIBBA collection. I absolutely love the square frames, as their depth allows for generous embellishments and 3D effects. I have again uploaded a list of the other products as well as step-by-step instructions to my Trimcraft gallery.

Storage - just prettier

             

Cardboard storage boxes are inexpensive and useful, but most of them do not actually look that good. So I thought that Deco Mache decoupage papers by Trimcraft in combination with some other craft products could make a real difference.

I like the shape and size of the long Tjena boxes from IKEA - and as they are available in white, it is not even necessary to prime them with a light colour before applying Deco Mache papers. I opted to improve this one with Deco Mache papers in contrasting colours and to embellish it then with a Santoro Mirabelle decoupage image and die-cuts created with Santoro's Willow dies and First Edition alphabet dies. I deliberately concentrated on the lid, as I intend to keep the box in a drawer with a frosted glass front. And pretty boxes behind the glass just look better than a wild collection of items.

A product list and step-by-step instructions for this project are again available in my Trimcraft gallery.

I think I will make a few more of these boxes over the next months. They are an attractive way of keeping drawers with glass fronts or open cupboards/shelves organised. And now that I need a lot less cards for my personal use it is also nice to have some other craft projects lined up.

Decorative Santoro's Willow Frames

Santoro's Willow - Mechanic of my Heart Frame

The products from the new Santoro's Willow collection by Trimcraft are so absolutely gorgeous that I just have to be a bit selfish and use some of them for home decor items. Otherwise I would probably just end up stroking the products and not use them, as I would not like to part company with them ...

I also adore the modern and stylish RIBBA picture frames from IKEA - especially because of the nice deep frame, which can stand up straight on a cupboard, shelf or windowsill. And although these 13cm x 18cm frames are not as deep as the square version they still provide enough space for a few, not too high embellishments.

Santoro's Willow - Mademoiselle Snow Frame

Frames of this kind can make lovely presents, but these two will definitely not leave my home. And more will follow in the near future.

Product lists and instructions for both projects can be found in my Trimcraft gallery. Just click onto the titles below the images to get directly to the relevant page.

Another Santoro Mirabelle Decorative Frame

Yesterday evening I put another decorative frame together. I opted again the Santoro Mirabelle collection by Trimcraft, but used the deep 23cm x 23cm RIBBA frame from IKEA on this occasion. If only the glass panel and consequently the resulting reflections would not make it so difficult to take decent photos ...

I only added a tiny amount of non-Trimcraft items to this project: leaf die-cuts created with a Joanna Sheen die as well as walnut paper roses and cherry blossoms from Wild Orchid Crafts.

I love the Santoro Mirabelle so much that is nice to create home decor items and to surround myself with them. The other advantage is that the frames fill up gaps, which were left behind when somebody packed up his stuff. I think I will create some more frames with the initial and the new Mirabelle products. And at this rate it might not be too long until IKEA sees me again:).

A full product list and step-by-step instructions for this frame are again in my Trimcraft gallery.

Santoro Mirabelle Home Decor and a Design Team Call

Have you also got a favourite craft range where you find it difficult to use the products for cards and to just give them away? One of those collections is for me the Santoro Mirabelle range by Trimcraft. So I picked up a couple of RIBBA frames in IKEA the other day and intend to turn them into Santoro home decor items - just for myself.

I made a start with a silver coloured 13cm x 18cm frame. It is not too deep, but can still accommodate some smaller pearls and some of the metal charms. You can find full instructions for the project in my Trimcraft gallery.

Do you like the Trimcraft products as much as I do? If yes, Trimcraft are currently looking for talented crafters who would be interested to join our design team. You should have enough time to create at least five projects with instructions for each new collection.

Trimcraft are a fantastic company to design for. Marketing staff and design team members are a great and friendly bunch. And there are always loads of lovely new products to look forward to and to play and experiment with.

Does this sound good to you? Then just hop over to the Trimcraft forum for more information and details of how to apply.