Craft Consortium MDF Collection Box

There's nothing quite like a challenge that takes you way, way, way out of your comfort zone...  isn't that how the saying goes?

Well for me, even the thought of decoupaging on MDF had me having several internal mini meltdowns.  The idea absolutely petrified me as I had no clue what to do or how to approach it - and absolutely everything I read or saw online didn't help either.

Now that's not to say that here aren't good tutorials out there...  but could I find them?

No...

So I turned to a fellow DT member on this craft team and confessed my trepidations - knowing full well that she'd done several MDF projects already that I was aware of and perhaps many more.

She gave me the confidence to go for it, so before I show you my finished design I just want to say...

THANK YOU

Julie.

*

Now, there are some rules to decoupaging, such as 'take advantage of straight lines on your sheets of paper'. 

So what does a girl do when she needs more straight lines than are actually available?  She uses her trusty guillotine of course!

I didn't want this project to look too busy before I even got to the fun part of decorating it internally...  so my project has a whole mix of different designs of paper.

Let me show you...

I started out by assembling the whole of the MDF Collection Box, then painted the whole thing bright yellow.

Then I chose three papers I knew would work well together but still have enough contrast between them.

Notice how I've cut the butterflies out of decoupage covered cardboard?

I stippled white acrylic paint quite heavily over the internal sections where I knew I wanted the butterflies to go - as well as for the sides and top/bottom of each cubby hole section, so it's only the back panels that have decoupage paper in them.

I then quite literally took a thin paintbrush, dipped it into the white acrylic paint and then brushed around those inside edges - creating what I hope looks like a 'shabby chic' project in some way, shape or form.

The sides of the box had a slightly different treatment...  selective torn decoupage sheets, less white paint stippling and more of those decoupage covered cardboard butterflies, whereas the back had a whole piece of sheet added with torn out sections glued on top.

Don't forget that you'll need a sanding block of some kind to neaten off those edges!

And please feel free to get in touch if I haven't covered anything you want to know.

Once the 'bones' of the case are decorated you can finish it in any way you please - but first, you may want to consider a layer or two of varnish...  or some other finishing product.  

I used a few coats of clear spray varnish for this project - just to seal everything prior to decorating, then chose to combine a nature theme with a need to store away some of my many smaller craft pieces...  and I used plenty of hot glue to get those lavender branches to stay put!

...  And you know what?

I'm not afraid of MDF projects any more!  

Craft Consortium supplies used:

3D MDF 

Collection Box

Decoupage Paper

Birds & Butterflies 

Vintage Postcard Script 

Oak Top

Always & Forever

Santoro empty flock containers decorated with:

 ‘Hello’ Foiled Acetate Stickers 

&

 ‘With Love’ Foiled Acetate Stickers

(On lids - remove Santoro stickers first).

Adhesive Pearls - 3mm   (In jar).  

Adhesive Rhinestone Gems - 4mm  (In container). 

Vintage Silver Heart Charms ('Amore' - front and back showing).

Adhesive Pearl Heart Chain (On container & back of cubby hole section). 

Vintage Metal Heart Charms - Made With Love  (On jar). 

Vintage Sentiment Charms (Live, Laugh, Love).

Silver Metal Key Charms 

Silver Heart Charms - Thank you

Vintage Metal Lock Charms (On spool).

Vintage Silver Lock Charms (On spool). 

Silver Metal Key Charms (On spool). 

Vintage Metal Key Charms (On spool). 

Resin Flowers:

Lilac 

White 

Red 

Rose 

Ivory

Diamante Buckles:

  Rectangle

Heart

Pearl And Diamante:

Circles

Hearts

Elegant Lace Ribbon - Heart Chain

Santoro

Kori Kumi:

Flocking Powder Set (Empty containers).

Plastic Buttons - Brights

Raffia Cord Set

Heart Stick Pins

Tell The Bees

Sequins 

Linen Cotton Ribbons 

Enjoy your day...

Donna. x

Product Focus - Craft Consortium/Valentine's Day

I'm doing something a little bit different today...  showcasing some of the many products that 

Craft Consortium have for sale that suit those Valentine's Day projects you may soon be working on.  

Of course, some of you may have already started your projects for mid February - but that's ok because you still might notice something here that you hadn't spotted before.

After all, there really are quite a lot of options to choose from!

So how did I choose to showcase some of these products?

Let me show you...

(This one's here for those of us who aren't into hearts and flowers but still want to mark the occasion in some way).

I chose to wrap tiny parcels with the decoupage papers as it struck me as a good way to properly see some of the many different designs in action.

You may well have noticed the charms and adhesive pearl hearts before...  but how many of you have ever considered those sweet little envelope stickers as little toppers, I wonder?

And so, so easy to make that I didn't even get my dies out - choosing instead to use a much neglected circle punch that I have.  

Just layer it up two or three times and add the sticker.

Simple, but effective.

I hope this has inspired you to think outside of the box a little and really stretch your stash to its maximum. 

After all...

Who would have thought that decoupage papers, charms, lace, etc could really work quite so well as actual gift wrap?

Just goes to show how versatile these products can really be.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I'll be back with a proper 'make' later in the week...

Donna. x

Blast From The Past... My favourite TYI tag ever!

I have so enjoyed my time as a DT member of Tag You're It, and I mean that in all sincerity - especially as I had only been blogging online for a very short time when Tracey allowed me to become part of her team.

So today's post is a 'blast from the past' as we were all asked if we had a favourite tag we had made to share.

I remember making this tag. 

I was still using my Ipad for photo's and my editing skills were...  well...  not very good to say the least (see darker photo below).

I would have taken a new photo but this tag has long since gone, so I made do with a revamp - though still using the same editing app as I haven't embraced changing to anything else.

(I mean seriously, I have a craft room to try and keep straight and that's a full time battle in itself)!

So yes, I've grown and changed in some ways thanks to this wonderfully fun challenge site.

I hope it's helped you on your craft journey, too...

and if you are one of the lovely people who has ever stopped by for a visit -

THANK YOU. 

Donna. x

Santoro Kori Kumi - Sale!!!

Just a quick post today highlighting a small portion of stock that's got a massive 25% off right now, so if you like the look of the pretty resin flowers or ribbons and want to see more, why not head on over to the Craft Consortium website and click on the 'Sale Items' tab on the left.

Thanks for stopping by...

Donna. x