Leaky Shed Studio and a Tutorial

Hi y'all!  I'm up today on the Leaky Shed Studio Blog!  I used some adorable kites that they make for my project today.  Be sure to take a look at the Leaky Shed Blog to see the matching card that goes with this little bucket.  Here, I wanted to share a quick step by step to share with you how I made this. 

I'm sure you already know that I seem to use little buckets often!  They are so inexpensive and perfect for gifty items.  Now, I can't seem to resist picking up all the cute paper straws that are popping up everywhere!  I kept thinking that they would be so cute for crafting, but hadn't come up with an idea yet.  Luckily, when I had this brainstorm, my little shopping sprees paid off and I had everything I needed! 

 

Here is all you will need to put this together:

Bucket

Straws

Fabri-tac

Ribbon

Quilling tool or something round

Rubber bands

First step is to flatten out the straws.  It's really easy if you just lay it flat on the table and run your finger down it.  

Next, you need to curl it.  I used a quilling tool but a pen or pencil would work just as well.  Be sure to roll them pretty tightly so that they will have a nice curve.

 They will look something like this.  Don't worry about if they are all exactly the same, at the end of putting together the bucket, you will be able to manipulate them to look the way your prefer.

Now, you are going to glue them to the bucket.  If you don't have Fabri-tac, be sure to use a strong adhesive that dries quickly.  Use rubber bands to hold them in place while the glue fully sets.

Work your way around the whole bucket, including over the bracket.  Be sure not to glue below the handle itself, so your handle will still move. 

  

Finish with a bow, of course!

One last tip:  Leave a rubberband around the bottom of the bucket and place your ribbon right over the top.  It won't show and it will keep your ribbon in place.

Don't forget to take a peek at the coordinating card at the Leaky Shed Blog! 

This is a gift bag that I put together using canvas paper, trim, fabric, some jute and, of course, gorgeous Leaky Shed Studio Chipboard!  Decorating using my Leaky Shed Chipboard gave it the special touches that it needed!

I love the Flower Leaf Corner from Leaky Shed Studio, but I wanted to use it to frame the flower cluster, instead of the traditional way. 

As you can see from the picture, this is a really pretty chipboard piece with leaves and flourishes.  I just cut it up to arrange it in a different way.  I used chalk ink to color it brown.

I tucked the Leaky Shed Studio Barn Swallow with Crown above the flower cluster.  Instead of coloring it with ink, I covered it with paper.  I chose a subtle print to keep the monochromatic look that I was going for.

Leaky Shed Studio and Authentique Swap

This is a layout that I made for the Leaky Shed and Authentique Swap.  We were given some beautiful papers and stickers to play with from Authenique and mixing them with Leaky Shed Studio supplies made for a lot of great projects!  You can check out the projects and get the details of the swap at the Leaky Shed Blog.

This collection is called Smitten and is traditionally meant to be a Valentine's Collection, but I took the 'Love' theme in a different direction for my layout.  Leaky Shed Studio makes these precious wooden hearts and along with this photo of Laynee's Dedication, I thought that they all fit perfectly together to make this layout with a different theme.

 

I drew a heart for a pattern and used it to cut out several hearts in different prints.  I used some of them on top of the paper and simply stitched around them.  I then used two of them and placed them behind the paper, after I had cut out a bit smaller heart.  I stitched around them, too.  I like the added dimension and interest that this allowed.  

Finally, I added those precious hearts from Leaky Shed Studio with little black bows!

Don't forget to check out Leaky Shed Studio's Blog for more great ideas from the other design team members!

Enjoy for Leaky Shed Studio

This is a layout that I made with a package of the Victorian Oval Frames from Leaky Shed Studio.  I'm a sucker for frames and these are a gorgeous example of frames done right!

 

I kept this pretty simple.  I painted the frames white with acrylic paint.  It took a couple of coats, but I like the way it turned out to have a bit of a chalkboard look that went really well with this paper collection.  I used Prima Optimist collection for this layout.  I LOVE this release from Prima!!

You can see from the photo above that I put a coordinated piece of paper in the center of this small frame and also in the medium frame at the bottom.  Simple and a bit of extra interest.

 

The photo was placed in the center of the large frame and I used foam dots to raise it up a bit so that I could tuck the other chipboard piece underneath it.

 I finished it off by adding flowers and leaves layered underneath and on top of the cluster.

Super simple and fast!

Let It Snow - Leaky Shed Studio

Let It Snow

I have been into purple and blue lately because my daughter's apartment is decorated primarily in purple, blue and gold.  I love these non traditional colors for Christmas projects and especially for winter projects.

 

The background of this 6x12" canvas is covered with a  piece of wrapping paper.  I just used Mod Podge to adhere it, then gave it a light mist of Color Shine.  The paper is silver and white, but I knew that I wanted to add gold as the primary metallic color.

I really love the idea of using wrapping paper for things that will sit out during the holidays.  In my case, I only buy what I love and what co-ordinates with my decor.

Tip:  Ok... weird tip for today!  If you want AWESOME wrapping paper, try TJ Maxx, Marshalls or Home Goods.  They are all owned by the same company and they have the BEST foil papers!!   They are also really inexpensive compared to buying them at other stores.  :)

 

You can see in the close-up that this is a really glittery project!  Be prepared to get covered!  

I first put purple glitter on the entire snowflake.  After it was dry, I just took my paint brush and dabbed in a few places with glue and added the blue glitter.  Repeat the same process for the gold glitter.

I also did the edges the same way.  I did use purple paint, but decided that the glue worked better.  

 

For the bling in the background, I just glued the blue trim down and then added adhesive jewels.   I also added some jewels in the center of the snowflakes.  

Finish the project off with a sentiment and a bow.  Actually a really easy and quick little sign to set out during the winter.  

Tip:  Since I am giving shopping tips for this post, I thought I would let you know that I picked up the trim at Michaels for $1.   They have several colors in the $1.50 spot, but always dig a bit in the dollar ribbon bin.  You never know what you might find.

Of course, while you are shopping make a stop by the Leaky Shed Store!

Card and Ornament-Leaky Shed Studio

 Hope that you all had a great Thanksgiving!  Our family had a wonderful holiday and are now gearing up for Christmas.  

For today's post, I used the Leaky Shed Studio Christmas Ornaments.  This is a terrific group of ornaments that is so pretty already, so designing with them was super quick and easy!  

This ornament was super easy.  I started by giving it a couple of sprays of Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine.

I then added glitter to the edge and to the separate circle piece in the middle.

 

I used tiny strips of foam tape to attach the inner circle.  For the picture, I made sure it really showed up to show, but hanging on my tree, you don't see it at all unless you are looking for it.  :)

The flowers and letters are already glittered, so it took nothing more than gluing them to the project. 

Tie a bow and a hanger to the top and your are good to go!

I also made a card with two more of the ornaments. 

Now, since it's really obvious, I'm owning the fact that getting a picture of this card really did me in!  However, I think you can still see the details.:)

  

I repeated the basic idea from the ornament for the tree on these.  A couple of sprays of mist and glitter accents. 

For the centers, I used a 2" punch to make circles of paper.  This My Mind's Eye paper is already glittered, so all you have to do is glue it to the back.

Tip:  If you haven't ever tried it, let me recommend the Art Glitter Glue.  It lays down a fine line, dries quickly and is so much easier to use than school glue. 

Again, use foam to layer the chipboard, glue down the flowers and tie bows for this quick and easy card.

One more confession, since I'm owning my mess today... Notice the glitter on the bows.  Weeelllll...I had glue on my fingers and got it on one of the ribbons.  Of course, that meant I got glitter on it, too.  Guess what?  I liked it a lot, so I added it to the other ribbons, too!  Mistakes aren't always a problem!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

Don't forget to check out Leaky Shed Studio on Facebook, too!

Perfect Day - Leaky Shed Studio

This is a picture of my daughter and my niece taken during a girl's only weekend. I took this picture at dinner when we let my husband participate by taking us out for a fancy dinner.  Of all of us, my niece (on the left) deserved to be treated!  She's the sweet mommy of 5!

The Perfect Day

You can see that I used 3 pieces of chipboard.  I kept thinking about techniques to use on them, but finally settled on simply inking them to darken them up a bit.  I love the natural look of the chipboard, as is, but wanted to have them stand out a bit more.

I used Cat's Eye Chestnut Roan chalk ink to add the touch of extra color.

Because I cropped the picture close, the chipboard corner piece made more sense to use a design element to frame the photo instead of being used in the traditional way,  I use a few sticky pearls to embellish it a touch.

Lastly, I used a paper butterfly layered over the top of the chipboard butterfly.  I liked the way I was able to echo and frame the lighter colored paper butterfly to make it stand out more in the design.

Leaky Shed Studio Products:

  Flower Corner

Ring Frame Small 

  Garden Bugs

Thanks for stopping by to take a look at my project!

Leaky Shed Studio and Julie Nutting

I'm a big fan of Julie Nutting and actually purchased her book and played with her tips for drawing my own dolls.  Let me tell you, having them all cut out and ready to go is much easier than coming up with your own!  As you've already seen from some of the other designers, these little dolls are so versatile and there are endless ways to decorate them to suit your personal style.

I made a sign using three of the chipboard dolls.

This sign is only about 5x8" so it makes a perfect little door hanger.  It is one I picked up at Hobby Lobby for about a dollar.  I am forever picking up little bits and pieces to alter.

Be Marvelous

 The background was created using modeling paste and spritzes.  I sprayed some of the blue and purple on when the Modpodge was dry and used a paper towel to rub across the paper to give it a hint of color.

I chose to paint the doll's bodies and hair and to make their dresses from paper.  

Tip:  Before I started decorating them, I ran them through my printer and made a copy.  I then printed the copy on lightweight cardstock to make a pattern for cutting the clothes.  It's a super quick and easy!

 

After covering them with paper, I used my PITT Big Pens to add some details to the dresses in purple and blue.  I used a fine Pitt Artists pen to do the outlining and the details on their hair.

 

 

You can see that the outlining and details that I added are very loose.  I wanted some movement in the dresses but didn't worry about perfection.  Just a few brush strokes will do the trick.

To finish them off, I spritzed them with Perfect Pearls to add some sheen. 

Leaky Shed Studio Supplies:
Sassy 4"
Holly 4"
Spooky 4"