Welcome to my Crafting World!

Hi! My name is Maria, I am 34 years old and I'm a certified Craft-a-holic! LOL. I make different kinds of projects from Cards (which is my favourite), Art Tags, Mini Albums, Jewelries, Candles, Party Favours etc...

I've created this blog to share my projects and ideas to everyone who loves to craft.

Being a Certified Craft-A-Holic, you would expect to see me creating 3-4 projects simultaneously in one night. But of course, I don't finish them all in one night, esp. when I am doing a project that involves Mixed Media. I don't use a heat tool to dry my mixed media projects, as it ruins the project. Using a heat tool to dry your projects, tends to create a lot of air bubbles on the projects, which doesn't look nice. I find air dried projects to be more studier. It also give the project a neater look.

I craft every night, I would make one finished Card, one unfinished Album (which I do finish later on, after the drying when I am using Mod Podge or after cutting all the fussy cuts) and one unfinished Mixed Media Project (which I do finish later on, after the drying or so). Then the next night I will continue doing my Album to try and finish it (depends also if I am still using Mod Podge), then my Mixed Media (depends if I still need to use other Wet Medium) and another Card or I will go and jump on my fourth project. Believe me, I have a lot of projects in mind all the time. What I always do is Sketch or Write down my projects using my Phone, so that I won't forget it. I am not good in drawing I just Doodle it. LOL. If crafting is an Office Job, I will be very happy to go to my workplace everyday. I usually craft at night, due to the fact that I am a stay-at-home mom and I have an almost 2 year old son who loves to craft with me. Believe it or not, he does the Mod Podging for my projects, of course with my guidance, and some paintings too. But since I'm a confessed Craft-a-holic, I try to finish every house chores in the morning before my son comes back from the Nursery so I can craft! I take advantage of watching TV with my husband and with my son by fussy cutting while watching and I also take advantage of texturing or gluing onmy projects while cooking. "Imagine your life with me, if I'm your wife! LOL". But nonetheless. I don't forget my Duties as a Wife and a Mom. I see to it that everything is in order everyday before I craft, food is ready, house is clean and my son is well fed. Playtime with my son is crafting with him, so I don't have a problem at all, because he enjoys it, or I take him out, which he loves to do as well.

I hope you all will enjoy my posts. Please do leave a comment, follow me or add me to your circle.

Happy Crafting!

Monday, April 11, 2016

Graphic 45 - Ladies Diary & Once Upon a Springtime - Grandfather Clock


Good Day Crafters!

Today I want to share a project I have been dying to make for years.  I made a smaller version of it thou, I still want to make the bigger version which is the Life-size Grandfather Clock.  I had finished this project a week ago, but I failed to upload it soon as whenever I touch my laptop, I ended up watching some series and hooked myself in it so much, that I couldn't even move. LOL

here it goes!



I started out by doodling while my son is sleeping comfortably on a bed I placed in the living room.  Then I got the urge to craft, since I haven't been crafting that much because my son is sick.  I pulled out some chipboards from my craft room and took out all the materials and tools I need to make the backbone of my project.

I started cutting each one of it on our Kitchen Counter (our kitchen counter faces directly to the living room, where I can see my son directly on his bed sleeping), as I cannot craft in my craft room as my son is sick and I need to make sure I can attend to everything that he needs immediately.  I usually craft with him in my craft room, but now that he's sick, I don't.

So here's how I built the backbone of my Grandfather Clock Version.  I tried my best to edit the unruly things surrounding it, since I am crafting on top of my kitchen counter.  Pardon me, if my editing is not good, as I am just a Novice in the Photoshop Application.

So here goes the Steps on How I made my Grandfather Clock - Smaller Version:

Please Note Before Following my Measurements:  I based my measurements from the Pendulum Clock Kit I have.  I am using Walnut Hollow Pendulum Clock Movement.  If you're using something different, you to configure the measurements, especially the length of the Pilar and the width of the Top, before you can start defining the measurement of the stage and the Cabinet / Drawer.

Some Other Things to Remember:  

  • I distressed all my designer papers first with Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Inkpad - Tea Dye before I stick them on my project.
  • I Mod Podge the Whole Project and I leave it overnight to dry, Then I applied the Crackle Paint, leave it for a couple of hours to dry.  Then I applied the stains over it, let it drip inside the crackles and wipe it out.


THE TOP

I started cutting the top portion like so.
I put a little opening in the front to attach my clock mechanism.  You can cut  the opening however you like, for me I used a Circle Sizzix Movers and Shapers Die.  I cut out some strips of cardstock as well and used it to attach all my chipboards together.


Top View.  Notice that I did not attached everything.  That open part will serve as a door at the backside of the clock mechanism for changing batteries.  I also added some cardstock strips below, it will help attach the top portion to its stage.


I covered my the front and the back with papers from the Graphic 45 - Ladies Diary Collection.  I also Modpodged everything and added some crackle paint on the front part.  Then I et a distress stain drip inside the crackles for added effects.  Please refer to the image below before adding the clock motor.
This is how I added my clock from the backside.  I have a lot of excess circle die cuts from this project.  I have 20 pieces chipboard die cuts that are excess from this project.  I piled them all up and added some paper to cover it.  It will give the clock motor the dimension you need for the inside so that pendulum will swing on the proper sides.


THE STAGE

I cut out 7 pieces Chipboards and die cut it in the middle like so.  If you are using a thicker chipboard, you don't have to cut 7 pieces, you just cut enough that you think is thick enough for the base.  And you can just use any cuts in the middle as you like, you can hand cut it or whatever, because this middle cut will only serve as a place were the pendulum can be inserted into.  So its all up to you.
I piled them all up together.  Mod Podge, Crackled and Stained.


Then I stick my clock house on it like so.



THE PILLARS
I cut out some chipboards like so.

Score each one of them, one inch by one inch.
Assembled all of them like so.



Covered with Pattern Paper, ModPodge, Crackle Paint and Stained.



THE DRAWER / CABINET

Making my Drawer / Cabinet.  So Instead of Making a Drawer, I changed my mind.  I made a Cabinet, so that I can use my hinges.  I cut out 12pcs 6x 4 3/4 inches Chipboards and 3 pieces 6x6 inches Chipboards.


I stick them up together by 3s like so.  So you will have 4 pcs of 6 x 4 3/4 inches and 1 pc 6x6 inches Chipboards,
Then I formed it in an open cube like so in the inside.  In the outside I just use some Cardstock Strips to Connect them.



THE BASE

I cut out some chipboards like so.  It doesn't have to be 18pcs if you're using a Heavy Weight Chipboard (Thick).  But since I only have Medium Chipboards in Stock, I have to cut out 18 pcs to match it with the height of the feet that I'm using.
I stick them all up in a pile like so and stick some cardstock strips on the edges.
I covered up my Cabinet with Pattern Paper and same with my base before sticking them together.  Then I Mod Podged it inside out.  I crackled the outside (the parts that will be showing out) and stained it.


I also made the cover of my cabinet based on the box size.


I assembled and decorated the whole Grandfather clock like so.

















MATERIALS / PRODUCTS USED:


  • Graphic 45 - Ladies Diary Deluxe Edition
  • Graphic 45 - Feet
  • Medium Weight Chipboards
  • Light Craft Cardstocks
  • Tissue Roll (Just the Cardboard)
  • Scor Pal - 1/2 inch Double Sided Tape
  • Sizzix Tim Holtz Movers & Shapers - Circles
  • Walnut Hollow - Pendulum Clock Movement Kit 3/4 inch surface large
  • Mod Podge - Matte
  • Glossy Accent
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distressed Inkpad - Tea Dye
  • Tim Holtz Idealogy - Knobs
  • Tim Holtz Idealogy - Hinges
  • Tim Holtz Idealogy - Book Corners
  • Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations - Chevron
  • Sizzix - Fence
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Antique Linen
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Tarnished Brass
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Paint - Black Soot
  • Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Marker - Vintage Photo
  • Some Magnets from my Personal Stash
I hope you all enjoyed it!  Happy Crafting!
09 10