Last December I was honoured to be asked be the amazing Riikka to contribute to a series of fabulous Creative Christmas Calendar inspiration blog posts. this was my contribution.

Funky Wire Christmas Decorations 

by Louise Nelson

"I would like to share with you some very simple quick and easy Christmas decorations They can be created to suit whatever colour scheme you would like, the colour is only limited by what is available in the range of spray paints in your local hardware store.

What you will need; 

Polystyrene balls 

Wire 

Christmas flowers 

Spray paint 

Clear drying glue 

Tools you will need; 

Wire cutters 

Forming hanging loop

To start with cut a length of wire approximately 50cm long. Then in a free form manner create loops and waves in the wire [as depicted above].

When you are happy with your design twist the ends over to complete your free form patterned loop.

Bend these ends to the same shape as depicted in the photo above. Put to one side and begin to fashion the ball part of the decoration.

Cut a short length approximately 6-7cm long and bend over [as depicted above]. 

Forming Decoration

To start with bend over the end over the wire at right angles, about 2.5cm.

Push this end into the foam ball in the midline. 

Whilst holding this in position with your thumb proceed to wind the wire abound the foam ball. Continue to wind it around in a segmental manner.

When you are happy with the wire coverage around the ball, cut the wire with a short length of about 4cm, bend it over as shown above and press end into the foam ball, over the centre where the wire passes over itself, this will help to hold the wires in place.

Using the short bend over length press it into foam ball over the crossed over wires to hold them in place at the other end of the ball.

Attach the free form loop in the same manner. 

Embellishing Decoration 

Using your desired colour spray paint spray the decoration on all sides and allow to dry.

Once dry adorn with your desired Christmas themed flowers and embellishments. I have kept mine simple and used Prima flowers which were glued into position. 

I do hope you enjoyed this quick easy step out on my Funky Wire Christmas embellishments."

Imaginarium Designs :) :) :)

Hello Hello :)

Today I would like to share with you one of my favourite techniques for creating a textured background, using the faaaaabulous 8 x 8 honeycomb chipboard.

What you will need;

Imaginarium Designs

1 x 12 x 12 chipboard background

1 x 8 x 8 Honeycomb chipboard shape sheet

Other

Impasto

Spray Gesso - Krylon

Spray mist - I used Shimmerz Vibez - Red-y-or-Not

Tools

Spatula or credit card

Heat Gun

Spray bottle with water

paper towels

Prepare background chipboard with a coat of spray gesso and allow to dry.

Create textured masked hexagon shapes with honeycomb chipboard and impasto; scrape the impasto into the open areas of the shaped chipboard, remove chipboard mask and allow to dry.

When impasto paste is dry spray on a liberal amount of mist on and around the masked pattern area.

Tilt your background and allow the mist to dribble down the background.

To soften the look I have also used misted water on the mist; over-sparying and allowing it to run off.

Mop up some ares of the water misted coloured mist; I do this to ensure that I get a 'balanced look'.

Using a small soft bristle paint brush addd some extra spots/splats of mist colour to highlight certain areas of the textured background, ensuring that you maintain visual balance.

Dry the mist off using the heat gun.

This is the finished background [close ups below].

Honeycomb IDS 0053

Cheers and Happy Scrapping :)