it's a Bug's Life!

I've been wanting to do this project for quite some time now, but orders and life in general have only allowed me to start this year!  My kids and I spend lots of very happy times at Creepy Crawlies (aka. The Web Adventure Park) in York and I thought it would be nice to give something back...

Using these fab bright paints from B&Q, I first painted the canvas (colours are Grasshopper & Foxy).  

I find no matter how careful I am with the masking tape I get some 'leaks' so I touch up by hand to give a perfect finish.

I gave the wooden letters several coats in Antique White (again from B&Q), sanding between coats.The letters were produced in Creepy Crawlies own 'font' which Infinite letters very kindly cut out for me (they are only too happy to bespoke orders if they can, so always worth asking if you don't see on their site!)

Then for the fun part of deciding what 'bugs' to use and where to position them...

Once I'd decided I placed all but one of the stickers on the canvas in place, double checked their positioning by placing the letters over the top.  When I was absolutely sure I sealed them in place with the ever fabulous Modge Podge.

Once dry, I could then attach the first letter which had to be in place to stick down the last 'bug'...

They get everywhere these bugs!  

Just love the 3D effect and can't wait to deliver to the guys at Creepy Crawlies, I know my boys are very excited!

Hope you all like, for more examples of my work just visit my website, Henry, Fred and Felicity,

Personalised, Bespoke, Unique...

Fay x

  

projects at home for 2014!

So this year I really want to get some projects at home done. Several of them are years overdue, some new but all have been pushed aside as the end of the 2013 was so busy (not complaining!); so my view is this year if I start early I might be in with a chance of getting them done...

Project One - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Might seem a little untimely,  but as I never managed to get them painted before Christmas I thought i'd paint before putting away again!

Not quite sure what I'm going to do, but will probably be fairly traditional colours with a little bling thrown in, keep an eye on my FB page for progress and I'll blog when finished.

Project Two - SAMUEL'S CANVAS

This is 2 years overdue now and as he's had this above his cot for that time, I think it's only fair I get it done this year!

Project Three - PLAYROOM WALL

Because it brings back many happy memories and because it just looks cool, I'm going to hand paint the London Underground map on the boys playroom wall.  Will add a bit of colour to the walls as well...

Project Four - DINING ROOM WALL

I wanted to do something a little different than either paint, wallpaper or paintings on the wall; I saw this idea last year on Channel 4 and thought it was very effective (couldn't find original link, but found one better, someone who has gone before me LOL).  I'll collect all different sized, shaped plates (especially ones with molded detail) and then paint them in matte finish.  Think i'll do the majority in one colour and possibly highlight colours here or there to match in with the Harlequin fabric of my curtains and blinds...

Project Five - HALL

No idea what I'm going to do, bit it will be a HUGE white canvas from the White Collection, ideas on a postcard!

Anyway that should be enough to keep me out of trouble...

Keep following to see my progress,

Fay x

How Great Britain is!

Finally I've managed to finish middle sons Freddie's canvas!  It's taken me that long that I can't actually remember when I started it! Anywhere he we go hope you like...

Ever since the Olympics, Fred has been obsessed with Great Britain and especially the Union Jack, so after buying everything and anything with a Union Jack on for his bedroom, he asked if I'd do him his canvas the same...

Once marked out, it was time to start painting...

 

Fred chose the paints, so we had pillar box red, antique white and a metallic blue...

Couple of coats of each, the wooden letters also painted in the blue.  Then time to distress with sandpaper, I used several grades to give a more natural worn feel, using higher grade on corners and edges and a finer grade on the front and sides of the canvas

Finally attached all the letters to the canvas (after much discussion as to whether they should be straight, squint, skewhiff LOL) and voila!

Hope you like?! I think it'd also work really well with a decoupage Cath Kidston floral type theme, or some pastel patterns, vintage style.  Anyway on to the next one now, Samuel. He's coming up for two and has blue/white room in Peter Rabbit Fabric so will try to include the fabric in the canvas somehow... 

Mod Podge!

So I know I'm way behind everyone else, but I have finally discovered Mod Podge!  And in the words of Craig Revel Horwood it's A-ma-zing!!!!!!!

Here is the canvas as I was applying the Mod Podge.  I'd already used to stick down the poster image and then used it to seal everything.  I must admit the first time I put a coat on I panicked a little till I saw it drying!

Once it had dried I then stuck all the letters down.  I do by eye rather than measuring exactly as I prefer that way, and once I'd stuck down all the letters then I gave them all a coat of the Mod Podge aswell to give them a nice matte gloss finish, almost like the poster itself.

Using the wooden letters in the TinTin font gives it that real 3D effect which I love.

I hope and think you'll agree it looks fab! Can't wait for Henry to see...

Next Projects: Memory Boxes and a Union Jack Canvas for middle boy Freddie!

Fay x

P.S A huge thanks to Granny Bling who had the boys this afternoon, meaning I didn't need to lose my Saturday night in order to finish this!

a few extra hours in the day...

Okay so quite an exciting couple of weeks, although it's taken till now to get updating as there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I'm sure you know how it goes, the 'day' job is manic, the 'parent' job is manic and trying to fit in a little bit of crafting just seems so hard!  Made all that harder last weekend by 3 birthdays and a wedding anniversary, so it's all been a bit... manic! LOL :-) 

Anyway I've finally managed to get enough done to warrant updating the blog for you all to see what's going on.  As you know while I've been waiting on the letters to arrive for the TinTin canvas for my eldest, I've been keeping myself busy with some possible new additions to the Nursery Collection for 2013.

So the personalised building blocks are now finished! #woohoo.  I started off by painting the cubes themselves with three shades; grey, antique white and frosted mint as below:

Then I hit a little stumbling block (pardon the pun!) and couldn't decide whether to paint the letters all the same colour or different, I put it to my fab followers on Facebook and Twitter and out of many suggestions I liked the suggestion of different shades of the same (Thank you Jos, Helena and Angie!) so the next step was to paint the letters and place them on the cubes, think you'll agree the result is rather nice!

Will post a picture of the blocks in natural daylight on Friday so the colours can be fully appreciated.  They'll be available in grey, white and your choice of Mint, Lilac, Pink or Blue.  They can come with a simple a,b,c or could be completely personalised with a child's name.  I really think they'd look stunning in a Nursery, hope you agree?  Got to work on the boring bit now, costings...

Anyway will leave you with a few teasers of the TinTin canvas which I started today...

Hope to update you soon,

Fay x

New paints to use!

So I've ordered my 'letters' for Henry's canvas from the lovely David at Infinite Store who produces lots of different crafting goodies including wooden letters and names, so while I'm waiting on them to arrive I received a delivery of some possible new additions to the Nursery Collection from Craft Shapes including the building blocks, and I can't help but want to get crafting...

I found these amazing acrylic 'pearlised' paints from docrafts and as well as being the perfect colours they just looked so beautiful I knew I had to use them.

I'll paint the cubes and then decorate with 6mm thick wooden letters (again from Infinite Store) personalised to the customers requirements.

Anyway, I've started painting so watch this space for the results...

Fay x