Home Decor with Purple Cows

Today I've created a vibrant piece of wall art using minimal supplies and fabulous tools.

PURPLE COWS TOOLS:

Punch It! Autumn and Smart Trimmer #1060


Other Materials:
One 8x8 wrapped canvas
two 6x12 wrapped canvas
three 6x6 wrapped canvas
Pistachio acrylic paint
Purple Card Stock
Fabric flowers
Large rhinestone brads
Variegated green eyelash fibers
Purple Ribbon
Bling brackets
1/4 Balsa wood square 4x6

INSTRUCTIONS:


1. Paint all sides and fronts of canvas pieces with acrylic paint.


2. Punch 12" side of paper with the Punch It! Autumn then cut the strip off at approximately 1" wide. (Look at the spacing on the punched edge and center before trimming so it will be even.)

3. Cut 4 strips as described in Step 2 and then cut 8 narrow strips, less than 1/4" using the Smart Trimmer #1060.


3. Adhere the paper elements to the all pieces of the painted canvas, except the center squares. (See finished project for placement)



4. Using a hot glue, affix the 6x6 canvas on top of the 8x8 canvas, centered.
5. Glue the paper elements to the top of the canvas only. The small canvas is 6", trim and use the scraps for the remaining 2" on the top and bottom for the 8" canvas. (see finished project for placement)
6. Wrap ribbon around the 6x6 canvas.

You could stop here and have a very chic piece of wall art. I first wanted to create vertical stripes but then liked the second option too.




If you prefer to embellish more, as I do---continue on.

7. Wrap eyelash fibers around each canvas 3 times and tie in the back.
8. Place flowers and adhere with bling brads EXCEPT FOR THE CENTER CANVAS.
9. The center canvas flowers were too close to the edge, the wood frame was in the way. Therefore, embellish the fabric flower with the bling brad and glue into place. I suggest The Best Glue Ever! because when it dries, it remains tacky and does not leak through your fabric flowers and it does not dry out like similar adhesives.
10. Apply the bling and the two smaller flowers to the 6x6 center canvas as shown.

ASSEMBLE:
11. Using hot glue, apply glue to the edges of the canvas' that will be touching and adhere.
12. Use small pieces of balsa wood (4x6 and 3x7) 1/4" thick and hot glue to stabilize on the back of the project where the canvas pieces come together.


13. Using hot glue, adhere purple ribbon around all outside edges.

Thank you so much for stopping in today! As always if you have any questions or comments, they're welcome anytime.

Craft On!
Becky

Purple Cows: Bloom Journal

Welcome to my very first blog post for the Purple Cows Design Team! This week has been lots of fun getting acquainted with all of my new tools and the fabulous products they offer to work with them.

I created this "Bloom" Journal

PURPLE COWS SUPPLIES:
2 in 1 Combo Trimmer
Punch It!-Spring
Wind It!
Hot & Cold 13" Laminator
Melt Tool
Craft Iron Tips Gem Setting Kit
Aqua Wind It! Wire
3 x 5" Hot Pocket

Other Supplies:
The Best Glue Ever! -ScraPerfect
Glitter Blue Swirl Card Stock -The Robin's Nest
Teal Canvas - The Robin's Nest
Paper Flowers - Petaloo
Deep Lagoon Cats Eye Chalk Ink (Big Top Collection-ColorBox by ClearSnap)
Surf Pigment Stamp Pad -ColorBox by ClearSnap (Heat tool needed)
Composition Notebook, Paint Brush, Gesso
5x7" super sticky sheet adhesive, super sticky tape
Hot Glue gun, gold microbeads, fabric
Chipboard: I used packaging from my 2 in 1 Combo Trimmer
Finished Cross stitch or coordinating fabric
Small hole punch


1. Paint the cover of the composition notebook with Gesso or white acrylic paint.


2. Paint over the Gesso with The Best Glue Ever!. When it dries, the glue will remain super tacky-great for fabric and ribbon.
3. Adhere the fabric to the front cover of the notebook. Apply the glue to the inside of the cover and let dry. Fold the edges around.


4. Adhere a sheet of super sticky tape to coordinating fabric (5x7"), trim and adhere to the inside cover.

*I had a lovely finished cross stitch piece to use for this project. If you like yard sales or flea markets, keep your eyes open for some beautiful "hand-me-down" pieces for your projects.


5. Cut chipboard to size for the cross stitch piece. (I used cardboard from the 2 in 1 Combo Trimmer packaging because it was white already and a bit sturdier than the chipboard I had)

**This cardboard packaging was very rugged, but the 2 in 1 Combo Trimmer guillotine handled it like butter!

6. Use super sticky tape to adhere the cross stitch to the chip board, wrap edges around the back side and adhere.



7. Cut card stock to size: 1/2" wider on all sides than the cross stitch piece.
This one is 3 1/2" x 8 1/2".

8. Punch a decorative border around all edges.
*I LOVED how the Punch It! has guides and pictures to show you placement and keep you steady.

9. Cut the teal mesh fabric 1/2" larger than the card stock and pull fibers from all edges.

10. Assemble the cross stitch embellishment (cross stitch on top, then punched cardstock on top of teal mesh) and secure with hot glue.

11. Affix the cross stitch to the front cover of the notebook.

**I love how this little flower charm "book mark" turned out!



12. Ink the paper flowers with Deep Lagoon Cats Eye Chalk Ink.

13. Add depth with areas of Surf Pigment ink and heat set.


14. Layer the flowers and place into a Hot Pocket and laminate.
15. Trim to a small square.
16. Apply The Best Glue Ever! to the edges and dip into gold microbeads. Let Dry.

17. Use the Melt Tool (with the 20ss tip) on high setting to affix a nailhead from the Craft Iron Tips Gem Setting Kit to the center of the flower.

**Woohoo! Four Wind It! plates in one set!

18. Use the Wind It! tool to create the wire book mark with the Aqua Wind It! Wire.

**I was afraid of the wire! It is so thick and the Wind It designs so intricate. I thought I was in trouble. (Did I mention the colors of the wire being so gorgeous?) The wire is very soft and pliable. It was SO EASY TO WORK WITH. And, the Wind It! tool has a hole at the beginning and end of each design to put the wire into and hold it while you wind.

19. Punch a small hole into the corner of the flower charm and slip onto the wire flourish.

VIOLA!


Thank you so much for blogging today.
Please visit the Purple Cows blog from time to time for project ideas and inspiration.
This design team is AMAZING!

Artfully,
Becky

INSPIRED: quickie easy sew project

Today I was inspired by a project I saw on Pinterest.com and realized I NEEDED ONE! I have an outlet by the couch that seems to be the hot spot for cell phone charging when relaxing at home. But, the cord trails from the wall to the couch and is an accident waiting to happen.

I opted for a quicker fix and just sewed a pouch to hang on a nearby coat hanger that was already mounted nearby.



This is the lovely project that inspired me.
It was posted by Ashley on the Make it! and Love it! blog.



Thank you Ashley and Make it! and Love it! blog :o) you have solved a very aggravating situation in our home.

Cheers!
Becky

Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop

Welcome to this month's Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! DCC is a large, diverse and very talented group of artists and designers. We "hop" on the first Monday of each month--many have give a ways and blog candy that will be drawn later in the month. ENJOY all of the "April Inspiration" this month, visit all the bloggers by using the HOP button on my side bar or at the end of this post.

**I will be drawing one winner on April 16th for a $25 gift card to Starbucks!! Please comment by COB Sunday, April 15th.

My inspiration for this flower was a DIY for large tissue paper flowers found at designsponge.com and created by Kate Pruitt found here: TISSUE PAPER DIY

It was created in the "spirit" of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" for a Charitable Art Show I am donating it to and it will be up for auction at the Town Club event in Sanford, ME on April 26th, 5:30-7:30pm to benefit Counseling Services Inc. (another art piece below I created also for this event - Starry Night Abstract)



Approximately 6 feet tall



1. There are three 3/4" x 8"square boards screwed together for the base with a plastic plant pot screwed to that.
2. I filled the plant pot with cement and inserted three wooden (bamboo?) branches.
3. After it is completely dry, spray with 3 coats of stone fleck spray paint.



4. Form a leaf shape with a wire hanger using the "hook" part as a stem to attach to the flower stem, Cut fabric to shape 1/2" to 3/4" larger all the way around for the seam. Sew the fabric with wrong sides out. Do not sew completely, leave the opening large enough to insert the wire hanger form and then hand sew to meet with the "stem".

*This fabric is vintage brocade I purchased at a thrift store!! GORGEOUS.

5. Attach the coat hanger "stem" of the leaf to the bamboo base for flower stem securely with wire.


6. Cut 4" strips of fabric, wrap around the bamboo base adhering securely with hot glue.
Don't just "spot" with hot glue, bunching will occur (voice of experience there LOL). If you need to pinch to make the stem more narrow throughout this process, just wrap the next layer high enough to cover the puckers.

7. The stem is wrapped with a gorgeous assortment of 1/2" to 3/4" GLASS BEADS! It's so pretty! The are on heavy wire, secured at the top of the stem and at the bottom.



8. The center of the flower is a plastic frame that was a gaudy Easter egg covered with teal and white garland from the dollar store. I removed the garland and attached the frame to the top of the stem with wire.

9. In the spirit of "Starry Night", this sculpture is lighted! I used a battery operated set of 50 white lights attached to the "egg" base with wire twists. I tried just wrapping it but had much better results by securing each light individually where I wanted it and pointing it's direction to the front.



**There is 20 yards of navy blue tulle here :o)

10. Using 2-3 yards of tulle, I pushed "puffs" through the back of the center form to the front and pulled them fluffy and full to cover the form and hide the lights.
11. Accordion fold layers from the rest of the tulle approx 3/4" yard (yes, this was a 2 person job! Thank you, honey!), then cut a basic flower shape through all of the layers. Randomly stagger a few sections of the stack just so all the petals weren't lined up exactly.
12. Using a large needle and fishing line or clear beading fibers, gather the center and attach to the back side of flower center. This took some more strategic gathering and sewing in multiple places.
13. Fluff the layers of tulle thoroughly and individually to achieve fullness in the bloom.

It's really breath-taking in person! I hope you'll stop by the Town Club on April 26th to view it, along with my other donated piece: Starry Night Abstract.



Layers of canvas over a black branch frame, mixed media with metallic pigments.
Approximately 4 feet by 5 feet.

Thank you for hopping with the DCC! Use the HOP button to visit all the blogs and leave a comment here to win $25 GC for Starbucks on April 16th.

Cheers!
Becky

Designer Crafts Connection: SPRING IS COMING!

Welcome to this month's Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop! We are a group of talented designers sharing and inspiring all you crafty peeps out there. We post on the first Monday of each month and there are also lots of give-aways.

This month we are celebrating SPRING and NATIONAL CRAFT MONTH!

For me, Spring means the return of my feathered friends, I just LOVE birds :o) and was inspired to create this wall art from fabric scraps.



Eventually..............(ha ha) it will be framed and hung!

Please use the hop button below (or in my side bar) to visit all of the participating blogs, be inspired and find some blog candy!

Cheers!
Becky