Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Announcement: Most Creative Header by Jackie Chua

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

The 'Most Creative Header' contest has finally come to an end! And it is my pleasure to announce that we have received an amazing submission by Jackie Chua of www.artsyocean.com. Thank you Jackie for your creative and awe-inspiring 'The Artsy Craftsy Header'. Big applause! Jackie's artwork will be featured (all-time) in The Artsy Craftsy NEW photo gallery, on Facebook and finally here on the website. It is my pleasure to present you Jackie's submission:

Coming soon! We will be having another contest. Easy to join, Easy to Submit, Easy to Win!
Be a follower to stay tune with The Artsy Craftsy!

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Sew Sweet Designs Fascinating Fabric

Saturday, September 15, 2012

You will always get the most stunning combo 

at Sew Sweet Designs


 If we have a secret door that allows us to go into a Fashionable Crafter's mind, you would see the amount of overflowing fashionable ideas.

And because the ideas keep coming, the fashionable Crafter needs a lot of fabric supplies to create chic, stylish and fresh designs!

You can be assured at Sew Sweet Designs.





Plush toys are great for kids and wonderful as presents to your loved ones.

If you want to get the right kind of gift, wait no more, because Sew Sweet Designs can be the right place for you. You can be assured of the cutest handsewn Plush.


A creative working girl who wants the right kind of bag for her busy schedule? Hop on over to Sew Sweet Designs (Blogshop) to get yours designed specifically just for you.

The right kind of bag, with the right kind of style.

Again, be assured at Sew-Sweet-Designs.blogspot.com


Visit Sew-Sweet-Designs today!


*This blog post was sponsored by Sew-Sweet-Designs

Friday, September 14, 2012

How to Upcycle a Costume Mask

Friday, September 14, 2012

The Original Mask
Recently I had the privileged to design a mask for a young girl who was attending High school prom, themed Masquerade. I had very little time because it was very close to the actual date. I asked her about the colour of her dress, her preferred colour, and basically things that I needed to know to design the right mask for her. I already have a gold mask with black base in stock. And i thought, great! just what I am looking for. So i set off to "Upcycle the Mask" instead.

Things required to Upcycle a Mask
Best thing to start with first is to plan how you want your mask to turn out. Once I did my planning on how I want to rip it off and put them back together again; I gathered my tools, paints and extra materials for embellishments:
Scissors
Blade
Glue
Acrylic Paints
Brushes
Sequins
Ribbons and Lace
Feathers
Buttons
(Anything and everything you can think of that you need for your project upcycle mask)...

Ripping it Apart
It may sound easy to rip it apart just like that, but honestly, it's not that easy because I had to be careful in case I overdid it. At the same time, i noticed that the original mask was not properly made (factory made from China), it had some of the glue pieces sticking out and some of the gold embellishments was broken. Basically, the idea here is to remove it and "clean it up".
Scraping off the edges to remove it very slowly
Bottom part removed. Leaving the lace on.
And finally removed! I even trimmed the edges to remove the threads hanging 

Painting the Mask
Painting the mask requires planning of which base colour to come first; reason because I am painting on a plastic surface and colour usually differ when it has been applied on the acrylic surface. To ensure a solid outcome, I use Acrylic paints. Preferably Jo Sonja, my favourite paint brand to paint on wooden and plastic surface. For the mask, I used White as my base colour followed by Gold, which I would paint on top of it later on.
Adding a base before you paint your colour is very important.
Paint the base colour on the part that you think you would want to paitnt your preferred colour.
Adding the gold onto the white
Painting the other parts.
I am also using red to enhance the eyes part.
Adding more colours to complement the mask. 
Enhancing it and more.
Embellishing the Mask
While I was waiting for the paint to dry, I started on the embellishments instead- the extras to give an edge!
I painted the feathers with Jo Sonja's Opal Dust and use Gold for highlights
Did the same on the White feather.
To create a detachable feather, I wrapped it up with a ribbon
And add buttons to it...


After dealing with the feathers, I left it to dry and went back to the mask. I reattached back gold sash with glue and use pecks to hold it to dry. 

Then, I went on to embellishing it with stick-on diamantes and sequins...



I also used a gold outliner by Pebeo (another favourite brand of mine) to create swirls. After it was dried up, I used Pebeo's Gold gilding wax to highlight it, creating a metal-ish solid looking surface on the outliner.


My favourite finishing move- Gilding Wax in Gold!
Applied the wax on the outliner

Once everything was dried up and all in tack, I set off to varnishing it with a Satin varnish for a sleek and shiny result. I would've used a glossy varnish but I didn't want to get a plastic-ish look. And so, once I was done, the varnish dried up too, I attached the Feathers on it. The buttons are at the side.

And done! The finished work.
Another therapeutic crafty weekend! Have fun!



SO SWEET Fabrics at Sew-Sweet-Designs

*This is a sponsored review


Find yourself only coming across limited fabric designs? Are you the kind of crafter that has an eye for fresh and colourful fabrics for your needlework? Hop on over to visit Sew-Sweet-Designs blogshop to purchase their newly added fabric collection.

Click here to view their Fabric Collection
Sew Sweet Designs is the brainchild behind a passionate Crafter in Decorative Crafts and Fabric Crafts. You can be assured of a well-picked fabric selection that is available at the blogshop.

Sample of bags made by Sew Sweet Designs

Initially begun with hand sewn chic handbags (awesome for everyday use, especially for young mothers and working girls!), Sew Sweet has now expanded into sewing Owl Pillows that comes in a variety of colourful designs. Sew Sweet has also taken the liberty to incorporate their collection of fabrics into their handmade items.It's a good to see crafters who adapt their collection into amazing needlework results for their customers to see. 



Owl Pillows are available at Sew-Sweet-Designs
Sew-Sweet-Designs also offer fabric reviews and tips. Perhaps you can learn a thing or two creative tip via this article HERE. Check out their review fabric to get some mighty inspiration; mighty enough to make you want to create awesome-possum bags or plush with gorgeous fabric from Sew-Sweet-Designs' fabric collection!

For more info, please visit http://sew-sweet-designs.blogspot.com.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Inspiration: Vintage Button Rings by Yan's Grocer

Monday, September 10, 2012

Vintage buttons made into sophisticated rings! Great for a quick accessory-fix for any special occasions and avoid the hassle of spending on expensive jewelries. By Yan's Grocer

Pick: DIY Fairy Bag by Craft & Closet



Turn your unwanted skirts and scarves into Fairy-like Bags!

Listen: The Dragonborn Comes by Malukah

Credits to Skyrim of Bethesda Game Studio
Believe it or not, I actually think that the song 'The Dragonborn Comes' from Skyrim (PC Game by Bethesda Game Studios) is an ideal music for inspiration. I listened to it when I was writing. Sung by Malukah with ancient-like lyrics:

Our Hero, our Hero, claims a warrior's heart
I tell you, I tell you, the Dragonborn comes
With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord art
Believe, believe, the Dragonborn comes

It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes
Beware, beware, the Dragonborn comes
For the darkness has passed and the legend yet grows
You'll know, you'll know, the Dragonborn's come

(Sons of Skyrim)

Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin
Naal ok zin los vahriin
Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal
Ahrk fin norok paal graan
Fod nust hon zindro zaan
Dovahkiin, fah hin kogaan mu draal


*Lyrics credits to Skyrim of Bethesda Game Studio

Watch: Coco Before Chanel (2009)

via

If you find yourself at crossroads, and you want some certainty in pursuing a Fashion Design career, watch this movie to see how the great Chanel consistently unveil her creativity while making a mark in the history of Fashion. A legend!

Inspiration: Beani Pet by Jun Yue


Jun Yue of Beani Pet has surely done a good job with her blog. Love the colour combinations and fonts used by this celebrated Malaysian Crafter. 

She also does excellent needlework on plush and pillows~ want to feel inspired? 

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Join the Vamped Bazaar this September 2012

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

It's an upcoming bazaar that is also looking for vendors. C'mon! Call them up and join them for the big date! For more details, contact the number on the poster (above) OR visit their event page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/109966192484238/

Time: 3pm - 10pm
Don't miss out the "vampy" fun!