decor

Crafting, decor, DIY, gift ideas, home, how to, interiors, Tutorials

DIY: Torn Clay Bowls

03/19/15

Staying with air dry clay for now, these bowls were actually the first thing I made, and the clay and copper magnets the last. While I smoothed and sanded the fridge magnets, there was also something that appealed to me about the texture of this clay in it’s unrefined state. I had planned on making simple circular bowls cut out with a knife, but I liked the uncut edge so much I thought I’d make it a feature….

I think it gives them a lovely delicate organic feel!

To make, you’ll need air dry clay, bowls (to use as molds) rolling pin, and a palette knife…

Knead the clay until soft and pliable then roll out flat. The edges will take on that “torn” appearance naturally as it’s rolled.Â About 3-5mm in thickness depending on how delicate you want it. The thinner it is the more fragile it will be. The edges of my bowls are pretty thin because I’ve never been great at rolling with an even pressure. So my bowls are pretty delicate around the edges and thicker around the base. But hey, I’m embracing the uneveness!

Drape over a bowl and gently coax into shape…you can see there are some faint cracks around the base….

I recalled from pottery at school (don’t ask me how because that was some time ago!) using tepid water to smooth the surface of the clay. Just a little on your hands and smoothed gently over the surface of the clay in a circular motion will smooth out any unwanted cracks, lumps and bumps…then leave to dry for a couple of hours on the bowl but not for the full drying time as the clay will gradually tighten on the bowl as it dries and shrinks and is liable to get stuck!

After a couple of hours veeeeery gently use a palette knife, slipped between the clay and the bowl, Â and gently work around the circumference until it pops off. Place on a rack on a sunny ledge and leave to fully cure for a couple of days…

This stuff dries a beautiful natural white. You could choose to decorate or leave it au natural like I did. When dried it has a very lightweight almost unglazed porcelain feel to it.

Gorgeous!

I have another project to share with you shortly. But considering how much I’m crushing on this material at the moment there may well be more!

Crafting, decor, DIY, home, how to, salt dough, Tutorials

DIY: Clay & Copper Fridge Magnets

03/16/15

I think I may have fallen in love with air dry clay! I have Â a couple more projects to share with you using this addictive stuff. But I thought I’d kick off with these super simple but delicately charming clay and copper fridge magnets. Once dried this stuff has a really beautiful texture that contrasts with the copper in a really lovely way…

You’ll need some air dry clay. I used DAS modelling clay in white. Some disc magnets. I used these neodymium magnets measuring 10mm x 1mm as they were nice and flat. A cookie cutter. Copper spray paint. (Not pictured but I used Kobra in Copper). Superglue. Fine grade sandpaper.

Knead the clay until pliable then roll out flat. About the thickness of a biscuit. Sorry I didn’t measure the clay at this stage but the dried clay is about 4-5mm thick…

Use a palette knife to lift the shapes onto a ceramic plate. Push the magnets carefully into the back of your shapes. Push them in a little more than you might think and more than you can see here! The clay shrinks as it dries and will force the magnets out as it does. We’re not aiming to secure the magnets in this step…but to make an indentation deep enough so that when dry, the magnet will sit flush with the surface of the clay…if that makes sense! Allow to go slightly hard then transfer to a cooling rack to fully harden. (about 24 hours).

When dry, gently smooth rough edges with a fine grade sandpaper. (120 grit or finer) and secure the magnets in their little indentations with a dab of superglue. This picture illustrates what I meant about the magnets. The one on the left worked perfectly because I pushed the magnet in far enough to make a deep enough indentation. The one on the right, I didn’t; and the magnet “popped out” as the clay dried and shrank. You can also see all the little fibres in the clay before it’s been sanded, and the result after a little bit of very gentle sanding.

To get the paint effect I simply decanted (sprayed) a small amount of the copper spray paint into a small plastic pot/lid so there was a puddle of paint in the bottom and (outside in the garden!) flicked the paint onto the shapes from about 4 foot above so as to get a nice splatter pattern….

Then just pop on the fridge and you’re done!

This is obviously a self indulgent grown up version. But this would be a great project to get the kids involved with. You could make a whole bunch and have fun splatting them with paint outside. Of course you don’t Â have to use air dry clay. There are DIY versions out there using cornstarch…or good old salt dough would work as well as polymer clay or fimo.

Cheap, easy, quick, fun. What’s not to love!

decor, DIY, Future projects, home, Inspiration, jersey, jewelry, knits, Knitting, planning, refashion, refashioning, repurposing, Restyles, Uncategorized, Upcycling

DIY: 21 INSPIRATIONAL IDEAS FOR USING T SHIRT YARN

02/20/15

OK, so it’s fair to say I’ve developed a bit of an obsession with making T Shirt yarn. The next question of course is what to use it for! I’ve been browsing the interwebs for inspiration and thought I’d share a few ideas with you, just in case, you know, I’m not the only obsessive in the room….

These chunky knit cushions are right near the top of my “To do” list. Â A simple knit/purl square on chunky needles with a linen backing. What could possibly go wrong, right?! The ubiquitous T Shirt necklace deserves a mention here. This clutch bag, from what I can gather is knitted from lengths of rubber. No reason it couldn’t work in T Shirt yarn instead though…

The idea of a cosy blanket knitted on chunky needles appeals to me right now (instructions here); and I can see potential in this tutorial for crocheted cord being used in a jewelery piece or perhaps as handles for a bag? Now I know this rug is not made from t shirt yarn but a) its lush so I just had to share (and there are other delicious yarn art examples in this post) and b) the concept/technique could surely be applied on a smaller scale with T Shirt yarn?

I love copper, grey and simplicity. So this necklace tutorial particularly floats my boat. Again there are other tutorials included in this post from Brit +Co. Love this knitted tote pattern from Daily Fix and surely T Shirt yarn lends itself perfectly to macrame hanging plant holders. Several examples in this post from Censational Girl.

I mean seriously, how delicious do these knitted floor cushions look? No tute, but the idea would be simple enough to replicate? I can think of a multitude of uses for these crochet baskets (tutorial here from nimi design.com) and this macrame wall hanging has a simple charm. I’m thinking the technique could also be adapted to form a decorative element for a T Shirt refashion (party in the back anyone?) Â or maybe to create a cute string grocery bag?

Spoiler alert! Rugs are at the forefront of my plans. This spiral rug from A Beautiful Mess, crochet rug from WhollyKao and woven rug from Viva Le Jar, all employ different techniques to equally cool ends…none use T Shirt yarn but….you could, right?

This knitted rug pattern from Purl Bee could surely be adapted for T Shirt yarn. This free pattern for a crochet basket from Ravelry calls for 12mm cotton yarn so could be doable and I like the effect of this rope trivet from Design Sponge. I can’t help but think this nautical style of knotting could be fun to try too…

Another slightly more simple knitted bag. I think even I could manage this one. I love the effect of this idea from Oleander & Palm. Simple lengths of coloured yarn hung in volume to great effect;Â and a random woven belt design that I came across that could totally work!

So, I hope that gives you a few ideas of what to do with your squidgy balls of jersey goodness! I’ve started playing around with knitting mine and have a few ideas in the works….watch this space!

decor, DIY, home, how to, Tutorials

DIY: Ink Wash Typography

11/24/14

Having had “such fun” (as Miranda would say 😉 with ink washes on my DIY Wall Art project, I’ve been brainstorming other ways to incorporate some more into our new home. I like some of the typographic art that’s out there but not necessarily the printed kind. Graphic prints are not really my thing. So I decided to have a play at creating my own with a slightly more handmade/arty feel….

A super quick project. Took me about 20 mins. You’ll need cardmaking sticky letters a bit like these, (mine were from the Â£1 bin at Hobbycraft about a ahem…year ago!) writing ink, watercolour paper,(or paper of at least 300-400gsm. Don’t skimp on the paper. You can just about make out some wrinkles in my paper where it buckled a bit from the wetting because it wasn’t proper watercolour paper!) a paintbrush and water…

Create your desired quote using the alphabet stickers, then wet over and all around them using clean water. Dip your brush directly into the writing ink and paint over your letters and onto the wetted paper around allowing the ink to “bleed” and diffuse into the wetted surface around. Be sure to get the ink into the centre of letters with closed loops like “o” “a” “e” etc,,,,

Allow to dry a little. Carefully lift the alphabet stickers away from the paper. They’ll be a little soggy from the water and ink so won’t likely come off in one go, so is a wee bit fiddly at this stage. You’ll also find that the shiny top layer will peel off but leave a little of the underpaper still adhered.(You can see this on the letter “n” in the pic below) So you may have to peel the two layers separately to fully reveal the clean white paper behind. I left the underpaper in place on a couple of the letters because I quite liked the slightly imperfect, textured look it gave….

Allow to dry…pop in a frame…simple as!

I keep thinking these would make great handmade Christmas gifts, no? When I eventually get my sewing space back…(ie when we build a new summerhouse in the spring) this may well find a home there…to serve as a reminder whenever I’m tempted to rush to get a project finished! I do that. Alot!