Not Long Now!

When we started this project of the Junk Advent Calendar, I don't think we had any idea what we were really getting ourselves into.  But, we got all the kits shipped (WHEW!!), and now we have moved on to preparing for the actual class.  At the beginning I had big plans of doing a couple of decorating projects to my house and sprucing a few things up here and there.  We have just had to start on a big project that we didn't think would come this soon, so now I think I'm resolved to running the vacuum and maybe a clean bathroom would be nice.  I'm shooting for everyone having such a good time that they don't notice.  Paula will arrive early next week, Sande is also staying with me and will arrive a couple of days later.  We thought it would be fun to have a day of junking and fun before we start the main event, so we will be out and about on Friday to some of our favorite places.

Wish me luck that I get all done as I feel that my hostess skills are not that great!

Also, just so you know the ribbon for the advent has hit the Etsy store.....check it out.

Watch for a new tag tomorrow....you're gonna love it!!

Deb

No.7 Crowning Wings

1. Adhere vintage music to tag.

To create the wings-
2. Lay the wings out (no glue yet), making sure you have 5 pieces on the both left and right side.
3. Paint all the pieces of wings (only the front) with acrylic paint (white, off white or cream will work).  Let dry completely.

Once wings are completely dry, lightly sand edges. I added a bit of Distress Ink but I am not sure this step is really necessary since the gold foil will cover it up.

4. Remove 1 sheet of gold foil from package.   

One at a time, rub just the tips of the wings with a good glue stick.  You can always add more if it is not enough the first time.

Lay a piece of gold foil over the top, shiny side up.

Use a bone folder or brayer to burnish the foil

Peel away, leaving the gold foil on the wing tips where the glue was. Repeat steps on each layer of the wings.  If you are not getting enough gold, let foil/glue dry on the wing a little, then peel away.

5. Once wings are foiled, set in order again and glue together.  

When wings are dry, gently bend to give them more dimension.  Set aside

6.  Add glue or tape to center of tag (I used Therm O web Super Tape).

7.  Cut a piece of cheesecloth about 2 1/2 x 5” (measurement doesn't have to be exact).   Very lightly, lay the cheesecloth over adhesive, then gather to fit on the tag. Press into place to secure.

8.  Add wings over cheesecloth overlapping at center.  NOTE: Since I bent the wings to make them more dimensional, I used foam tape to adhere the wings to the tag.

9. Run a small piece of wire through a vintage clock face and make a loop at bottom for bell.

front

back

10. Hang large jingle bell from loop.

11. Putting it all together:

Add the clock face/jingle bell to the center of the wings with foam tape.  I used 2 pieces on top of each other to raise it up to the right level.

Glitter chipboard crown and add above wings with foam tape.

I love this tag, hope you did too!  

See you on Friday for tag #18 - Moulin Rouge...we'll work with wet Perfect Pearls for this one.

No. 14 - I Wish

1. Adhere a piece of ledger paper to tag.
2. Add WISH ticket to the bottom of tag.
3. Free-hand cut (yes, you can do it) a scallop border from a scrap of vintage music paper.  Adhere to bottom edge of tag.
4. Add crochet lace at top edge of paper.

To create the center medallion-
5. Cut a piece of cheesecloth approximately 2 x 15” long.

 Run a basting stitch to gather fabric.  
NOTE: We stitched ours a bit off center so that when you fold it in half one side is longer than the other.

Pull the basting stitch to gather fabric.

  Fold in half lengthwise at the stitching line.

Use a thick craft glue to adhere to chipboard ring.  I used a ring instead of a solid circle so the brown striped ribbon could poke up through the ring (see step #8 ).  Let dry.  You can use a piece of heavy cardstock or interfacing in place of the chipboard ring. 

6. Pinch wide stripe May Arts ribbon in half and secure with wire.  Trim ends.

7. Adhere ribbon to the tag with liquid glue.

8. Add glue to the back of the ring and place over ribbon.  Hold in place for a few minutes until it starts to dry.

9. Punch a hole at the bottom of a glittered chipboard circle (small hole on Crop-a-dile).  Hang locket from jump ring and insert jump ring into punched hole in chipboard.

circle is 1 1/4" wide

10. Add glue to the back of the circle then adhere circle over the center hole.

11. Use a piece of wire and a 2” twig to create the center. 

Wrap wire around the end of the twig.  Using needle nose pliers, bend the wire toward the longer end of the stick.

Thread 3 pearls or beads onto wire (they can be different sizes).

Bend the wire back towards the twig, wrap around twig to finish off.

12. Weave a small piece of crochet lace (same as we used on the tag), onto the bottom of the twig.  Gather so the lace is bunched under the wire.  Wrap ribbon No. 2 around twig, below the lace and tie a one loop bow. 

The ribbon secures the lace by sandwiching it between the wire and ribbon. 

Use liquid glue to add to center of circle.  In the photo, the end of the stick is hidden behind the ribbon.

Okay, that's it for today.  

On Wednesday, the much anticipated #7 - Crowned Wings tag.

See you then!

No. 5 Powder Puff Bingo

1. Stamp tag with a script stamp (Antique Linen). You only need to do the top and bottom since the bingo paper with cover the middle.

vintage photo for edges

2. Adhere paper bingo card and brocade trim to tag. (see photo above, I forgot to take one before I glued the puff on!).  Set aside to make the puff.

To make the powder puff-
3. Cut at least 1 yd of creme tulle lengthwise so you end up with two long skinny pieces about 1 1/4" wide.  Here's how I did it: I cut one piece of tulle 2 1/2" wide with my roller cutter (of course) and then cut that piece in half to get two 1 1/4" pieces.  Don’t worry, it does not have to be perfect, mines not!

4.  Lay the two pieces on top of each other and run a basting stitch down the center of the 1 yd length.

maybe I should clean the glue off my sewing machine?

5. Gently pull the string to gather the tulle.

adjust tulle so the ruffles are on one side of the stitching line

6. Cut out a 1 1/2" circle of heavy weight interfacing.  Smear a bit of white glue over interfacing and add a piece of cheesecloth. Let dry.

7.  Working in a circular motion, hand stitch the gathered tulle strip to the interfacing circle catching the cheesecloth in the needle.  In other words, you don't need to stitch down into the interfacing.

Start sewing on the outside of the circle and work your way to the center.  This is very forgiving, you don't have to be a great seamstress to try this and if all else fails, you can glue it.

8. Run a small piece of wire through a pearl.  Bring the two ends of the wire together on one side of the pearl and twist once.

I cut up vintage graduated pearl necklaces to get the right color, size and look.

9. Thread the pearl through a metal bead cap.  

You can see the bead cap is much larger than the pearl.  I did that on purpose to make it look like the pearl is the center of a flower.

10.  For the next step you will need a dangle of some sort.  We started with a small dangle made with a jump ring, one blue bead and eye pin (a piece of wire with a loop at one end).  If you have never done this before you might check out this.

11.  I wrapped 24 gauge wire around an old ladies watch movement and added it to the blue bead dangle.   Slip the jump ring onto the long wire with the bead cap as shown here. 

Here is a You Tube video that shows the wrapping technique. 
Super easy to do.


12.  Tie a bow and thread the wire through the ribbon knot.

13.  Then using the long wire like a needle, push through puff.

backside of puff

14.  Splay wire like a brad and clip off.  It will be secure once the puff is glued to the tag.

finished puff

15. Adhere puff to the tag with liquid glue.

ETSY store info:
There are #8 manila shipping tags for sale in the ETSY shop and we should have the 3 colors of ribbon used in the calendar for sale by Saturday.  3 colors/5 yards each for $8.99 

If your interested in the wings (tag 7) that sold out in one day.  They have arrived! ...and are now listed again in the ETSY shop.

Have a great weekend everyone!
I'll meet you back here on Monday for one of my favorites...tag 14 Wish