Taking The Day Off~~

To Celebrate another year older~~

 

What??

 

no way,

 

 I just had a birthday, no?

 

 

Well, the years roll on whether we like it or not.

 

So why not enjoy~~

 

being alive,

 

Thankful for the day.

 

 

 

For Family

 

 

For Friends

 

 

 

For joys untold,

 

For too many of God's BLESSINGS to count!!

 

Thank you so much for the

 

 calls, cards, emails,

 

flowers, gifts

 

lunches and dinners~

 

and for making my world a better place.

 

~Love to all~

 

Celestina Marie

 

 

To disclose,

the above pics except the cross stitch, tulips and last painting

 are shared from birthday cards. 

 

 

"Oh Look ! A Little Bucket"

This is what I said when I saw these little metal buckets at Home Depot in the paint department.

 

Two had to come back to the studio for a little redesign.

 

Starting with a coat of Glass and Tile Medium,

I always use this on metal and glass

 to give a prime and better adhesion of paint.

Let dry over night and then paint with color of your choice.

 

I used Honeysuckle Bloom in matte finish from Lowe's.

It is a soft light ivory white.

Next step,

I shaded the top and bottom edges with brown sienna acrylic paint and

 

sanded along the top and bottom and handle for a bit of distress.

 

Then added a wrap around the bucket with a ribbon of burlap,

 

  glued in place only on the center of the front side.

 

 This is done to  not see the hot glue through the burlap and look messy.

 

Now to the center area where the ribbon meets,

 

I added a number graphic from,

The Graphics Fairy

 

I printed the graphic on card stock,

cut out with decorative edge scissors and then glued in place

over the ribbon where they meet on the front side.

To the card stock graphic,

after glued in place,

 

 I added a coat of

 

Triple Thick.

Triple Thick adds a gloss finish so the card stock does not tear or rip.

It adds a protective layer finish.

You can find this product at most art and craft shops in the paint section.

 

****

 

 

 

Here is the completed bucket with a few embellishments

 adding vintage tea stained ribbon and flowers.

You notice the graphic looks a little wrinkled.

 

This is normal and when completely dry,

it will flatten out and be smooth.

 

****

 

Okay, what did I do with the second bucket?

 

Well, painted like the first, but without the brown shading, 

 

added a graphic from

 

The Graphics Fairy

 

and a few of my hand painted cottages roses.

For this bucket,

 

I painted stripes in a soft light grey to the top and bottom.

 

Then added the graphic using the chartpak marker transfer method.

 

Hand painted a few roses to each side of the graphic with one on the backside.

 

****

 

These are the steps for the transfer method and marker types. I used the Chartpak.

 

Mine was getting empty, so I did go over the graphic with a sharpie pen to darken and accent.

 

When all is complete and dry,

 

I varnished over all to seal and protect the surface using an acrylic water based sealer.

 

This is the Chartpak blender I used.

Other marker types.

Process to transfer.

Print graphic on a laser printer only and in reverse.

 

Layout in position on your surface and tape in place.

 

Run the marker over the design till complete and

lightly lift one corner to see how it transferred.

 

When you are happy with the look, take off the graphic and proceed.

 

*Note*

Be careful to not leave the graphic on too long as it might lift the paint when you remove it.

 

These little buckets will soon sit on the shelf in my etsy shoppe.

 

Hope they might inspire you to try these quick projects.

 

Put them on your bucket list to create !! LOL

 

Have fun and see you next time.

 

 

Smiles,

 

Celestina Marie

 

 

 

French Inspired Easter Eggs

 

Creating for spring has been so much fun as the days warm up.

 

Starting with  paper mache eggs, tissue paper, mod podge and a few millinery trims,

 

 I created a few French inspired Easter eggs.

I used toile tissue paper and another type similar to damask cut in 4-5" squares.

Mod podge the paper first, then form over the eggs.

 

  I found that wearing plastic gloves helps as you work with the glue and mold in place.

 

 

It is a messy process until you begin the embellishing.

 

Next adding trims of rickrack, silk flowers, lace ribbon and glitter,

 

the eggs begin to look like this.

Another style are these burlap goose eggs.

 

 I found these at Hobby Lobby and then added the trims to complete.

 

 

It was hard to photograph these eggs,

 

 but I hope you get the idea.

 

French Inspired Easter Eggs

 

for a fresh new season.

 

Soon to be on the shelves of my etsy shoppe, HERE.

 

Happy Creating!

 

Have a wonderful day.

 

Hugs,

 

Celestina  Marie

Creating and Painting Spring

With warmer temps, the flowers are beginning to bloom.

 

Such a welcome sight after the cold of winter.

 

This time of year finds me painting and creating spring from inspirations all around.

 

Maybe I am trying to help it along,

 

 

So I stitch~

and stencil~

paint and plan.

 

 

I'll fluff~

and arrange!

 

Wash the linens~

and fill my thoughts of springtime~

Preparing the cottage for a new season!

 

Are you creating for spring?

 

 Are you helping it along?

 

We can be sure,

 

the season will be here when it's ready!

 

 

 

~Have a wonderful day~

 

Celestina Marie