Thursday, January 5, 2017

Easily Distracted by Eclectic Elements...

Hi folks...I can't wait to get started on some projects with the gorgeous bundle of Eclectic Elements fabric Tim sent me and have downloaded a few patterns for tote bags and such but this "not very good with instructions" crafter will have to wait for a day when the brain is plugged in and firing on all cylinders and the crafty list isn't looking so hectic.
But I couldn't leave this precious cargo lying around in the cubbyhole and as luck would have it...I had the ideal storage solution right there...staring me in the face. I'm a big fan of the Sizzix Tim Holtz Die Storage Boxes...very sturdy and high quality

but unfortunately not always available to buy in the UK so I was over the moon when I managed to grab the last 2 in a half price pre-Christmas sale...orginally intended to store On The Edge or Decorative Border Dies they are just the right length and a perfect fit for storing the Eclectic Elements fabrics...

and you know me...it doesn't take much to distract me from the crafty work list and before you know I was planning some customised storage for my Eclectic Elements threads. I've fallen in love with these threads...strong...chunky....they don't tangle and are perfect for adding hand-stitching to projects. They are available in packs of 4 in 3 different colourways so while I wait for the other two packs to arrive...I set to work on the make-over of a Christmas Gift box giving it 2 coats of Gesso to prepare the surface...

for it's Eclectic Element overcoat...
I didn't want to use up my Distress Collage Medium Matte on such a large project so I looked out my huge bottle of Decoart Decoupage Medium...Distress Collage Medium Brush and used my Ranger Brayer to make sure it was well stuck down...added the printed section from the selvedge edge and gave it a protective coat of Decoupage Medium which dries in about 20 minutes but best left overnight to fully cure. 
And then the fun bit...a little bit of decoration and of course Tim has the perfect stamps...
I stamped the images on to Ranger Natural Sticky Back Canvas and the sewing thread image again on to Plain Tissue Wrap,,,coloured on the reverse with Distress Markers...cut out and fixed in place with Distress Collage Medium Matte...
 and then die cut the panel using Sizzix Tim Holtz Stitched Rectangles Thinlits...
I had to keep the decoration fairly simple...no 3D type elements so I just added Design Tape and Label Letters and fixed the panel to the lid with Distress Collage Medium Matte...
Now here's the really cool part...there was no measuring or pre-planning involved when I embarked on this transformation...I just knew the box was going to be big enough to hold all the spools but hey I'm over the moon that my usual rush in where angels fear to tread has worked out...check out how snugly they fit into their designated spaces with left over spaces for Eclectic Elements findings and needles...the box came with flimsy corrugated dividers which were not going to stand the test of time so I used them as templates to cut my favourite go-to product for constructions such as this...Sizzix Little Sizzles Matboard...
and I'm thrilled with the latest "a place for everything and everything in it's place" cubbyhole storage box...


You can find links to all Tim's Eclectic Elements products below...
Today is the day that the VERY VERY SPECIAL PARCEL
will be arriving so it's "tidy up the cubbyhole/clear the decks" time
ready for a woohoo I'm very excited stamping adventure
Have fun whatever you're doing
Hugs Kath xxx