Made By Marley Inspired Drawers

Sorry this is a long post! This is one of those projects I wasn't sure if I could actually pull off, let's just say the judges are still out on that one ........!!!!

I was desperate to have a go after watching almost all of the Made By Marley videos on YouTube. She makes everything look so do-able, but I was still apprehensive, despite having three packs of her luscious decoupage papers ready and waiting.

Then, I found this set of drawers sat sitting, going free, on the kerbside on the school run, well it was a no brainer, with such a basic shape, how could I go wrong??? 

I started by removing the handles and then tearing part of Marley's Passion Flower paper (£18.95 for 3 sheets) and a little Roar (£18.95 for three sheets) to fit the two drawer fronts using Modge Podge ..........

I did the top of the unit just the same and then started the part I was so nervous of, blending the paint into the paper so they looked as one!!!! Aghhhhh 

Now I'll be honest, I don't have any of the paint or brushes Lel uses, at this early stage of my interest, it was too much of an investment, so I was relying on the emulsion matchpots, acrylic paints and tiny dabbing sponges (from Temu) I already had, totally mad or what, with so much riding on the project being a success?

I started dabbing with the turquoise ........

........ then adding some wine (the colour not the juice!) ........

........... before a little yellow .......

....... and then got carried away, but at this stage I thought that it could work!  I proceeded to dab the edges and dividing bars of the unit ........

....... however, as the mix of paint proved not too robust on the plasticky surface of the unit, I decided to save any tears further along by giving everything two coats of Modge Podge to help preserve what I had done so far. 

When it was all dry, I put the drawers back into the unit to see how it looked......

I couldn't do the sides as I had run out of the Passion paper, but had enough confidence at this stage to buy some more.

However, with everything dry, I was still sufficiently buoyed up to try and have a go at stencilling (pack of 6 stencils from Temu) something well and truly out of my comfort zone, to help draw everything together.

Unfortunately at this stage I was so wrapped up in the process that I forgot to take any pictures ........

........ but believe me, I was well and truly winging it, with nothing but a hope and a prayer........

........ adding dark blue, metallic gold and a touch of bright pink here and there .......

At this stage I was well chuffed ........

 ....... and thought it might just work, however, without any more paper, I couldn't do much else except for adding more colour and stencilling to the narrow sides and cross bars.

I also painted a little of the inside of the unit to stop any of the white from showing when the drawers were in place. These would be varnished and levelled later on.

I then left the drawers for a day or so waiting for the new paper to arrive and in that time I think I lost the plot/flow ........

...... however when they did arrive, I was up to get going again .........

........ all was looking OK and on the right track, but then, I went on holiday ........

...... and when I got back, I found it hard to replicate what I'd done before. My stencilling was pants (first time trying to be honest) but I can't really be that surprised when I was using acrylic paint instead of chalk paints ........ so again the pictures drew to a halt ..........

............ until the whole thing was finally finished.

I know there's an awful lot going on with it now, layer upon layer of dodgy stencilling, the gold is subtle, but the dark blue not so. The papers now really blended into the background, so not showing to their best advantage.

Where I couldn't fit the edging stencil, I tried to copy it with a dark blue Sharpie pen (????), but that stood out too much, so I had to gently sand it down to give a more faded look ......

..... and then as if that wasn't enough, I went and added all the gold dots using a chrome marker on either side of the edging !!!!!

However, I still like it. It's not what I had in mind when I first started, but it reminds me, with the illusion of all those layers of faded paint, of an old, neglected, relic found after years of being hidden at the back of a shed, dusted and cleaned down, then bought into the house to live again in all it's shabby splendour for a few more years ............... well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

An awful lot of lessons were learned during this project, like to use the proper paint and materials, take your time but try to keep the flow going and know when to stop!  I have another small, drawed table sitting in my bathroom, ready for another go, along with another pack of paper ............. sooooooooooo onwards and upwards!!!!

Re-Vamped Heart Wreath

I told you a week or so ago that I wasn't all that keen on my new summer door wreath, well, let's just say it's certainly seen some changes since then, going from this ............

....... to this ........

...... making it pretty unrecognisable now!

I started by painting it black, which I liked it much better instantly.

I then rubbed it all over with some gold wax, with a little red and green for good measure ........ 

.........  it was much transformed to my taste ........

....... but I wasn't finished yet .......

....... because I made a whole batch of insects and bugs using my Specimen mould from Iron Orchid Designs ...........

 ....... painting their bodies with Ink Lab acrylic metallic paints and a brilliant, really shiny, chrome gold marker on their legs, heads and details.

I was thrilled with the results, they were even better than the ones I had in my head!

These were duly arranged on the heart and firmly fixed with an ample dollop of Hard As Nails on each as I didn't want to risk them ever coming off. 

After which I went over the flowers and leaves again with a much stronger layer of Ink Lab paints.  I was worried that metal effect on metal might be a bit much, but I think it works. 

To be honest I was pretty chuffed with how it all turned out (pinks and greens just aren't my thing), but I'm not keeping it, this is for Marc. I painted the bugs while  staying with him at the cottage, with him encouraging me to go bigger and bolder with the colour, while we were sat sitting binge watching Baby Reindeer!!!

Marc suggested adding flat back jewels to the bugs, which I think will work, however, I was so excited to get it posted on here, that I haven't got that far yet, but be assured, that as and when I do, the pictures will be added to make up a future post.

Mini Spooky Crypts

I made these mini crypts for Marc as he loves a skull, as much as I do!

I've had a small collection of various shines from Calico Crafts Parts for ages now, and finally decided it was about time I used at least a few.  The plastic skulls came from Temu (20 for £3.13) 

I started by securely gluing the shrines together ......... 

........ before adding a few laser cut skulls, bones and tombstones .......

...... rubbing them over with gold wax ........

....... finally adding the skulls and this is where I left them for a couple of weeks before going back to them before mooching on Pinterest, when I decided they really needed "something else".

So, I went over them again, adding an MDF grass embellishment on the back, a plastic spider and then going over the edges with black Ranger Enamel Accents to add a little extra texture and dimension ..........

......followed by a bit of basic doodling using a white acrylic pen and a metallic green felt pen.

........ before adding scraps of a brown frayed material between the skulls ......

...... which all helped give the crypts a more "atmospheric" feel, which I think really works. I am sort of tempted to add a tiny eye hook on the top so that they can be hung on a Halloween branch or perhaps even a Christmas tree, but I think I will leave that up to Marc.  I am also wondering what they would look like on a pedestal, a craft reel with a round disc in between (like a table?) ..... an experiment for another time?

And speaking of Christmas ........ could I flip the idea entirely and turn them into cute, gingerbread houses?  Hmmmmmmm ...........

https://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/shrine-kits.html