Wednesday 12 September 2012

I wanna tell ya a story........

So grab a coffee and settle in for a long post!!! It's time for another challenge over at Stampotique and this week we're challenging you to use Mustard, Orange & Navy. Yep I groaned too, but I actually think the combo works really well even if it did have me ripping my hair out wondering what on earth to do!

It would've been oh so simple had I planned ahead and used the C&S card that I made for CASual Friday's the other week, but oh no little Miss Disorganised merrily created a card for that challenge and blogged without even looking at the forth-coming challenges for Stampotique!!! Eeek lesson learned!

Then I made the fatal mistake of catching a glimpse of what the other girls had done and full scale panic set in (Pop over to them to have a look and you'll see what I mean!). So I gave myself a slap and tried to focus on the project for several days in a row and....... Nothing!! Dontcha just hate it when that happens??

Then, just when I'd given up all hope I spotted a picture several times on various  Pinterest board's for a salt scrub which I thought would make pretty nice Christmas gifts for my girlfriends. This then led to much googling of various homemade scrub and beauty recipes (I know you're wondering where this is going, but hang in there with me!?) and eventually I hit upon a brown sugar and honey one which immediately sparked an idea for this project! So there you have it the secret to my creative thought processes - just genius huh? Rofl! :D

Anyway, this is what I've eventually come up with, not fantastic, but it fits the challenge! I hope you'll be kind after all my pain - lol!


I started off by sterilising an empty screw lid jar and ensuring that all of the adhesive used to hold the label on with had been removed. The scrub was then made up loosely based upon this recipe (I made a larger quantity, and used olive oil and some almond and orange extract for fragrance and adjusted the texture of the scrub by adding a little more sugar). Once the mix had been placed into the jar and I'd made sure that the lid was on firmly (believe me this is essential!!!) the jar was cleaned up with an acetone nail polish remover to get rid of every last trace of oil.

I then inked some cardstock with Distress Ink and scanned the background into my computer before using the Freezer Paper Technique to print it onto some fabic. A single flower from Daisy Daisy was then stamped randomly over the fabric before ironing to set the inks. I used a cereal bowl as a template to cut the fabric into a circle. The edges were lightly frayed (if you don't want the edges to fray at all, simply run some PVA around the edge before cutting.

Next I stamped Big Bee several times onto some white shrink plastic, coloured with pencils. Once shrunk I added Glossy Accents to the bodies and Stickles to the wings. These were attached either end of some jute twine which I then used to secure the fabric jar cover.

I didn't want to waste the inky background paper that I'd made to create the fabric with, so I made a tag card with my Sizzix Tag Die. To create a little more interest, I sponged Distress Inks through a piece of sequin waste and knocked back the colour in places by dry brushing with Gesso. I then used some navy paint on the end of a paint brush to add more interest.

The word BEE was created from some old paper scrabble tiles that I've had kicking around in my stash for ages - they've simply been inked and then punched with a circle punch, before being given a layer of Glossy Accents. I then used some blue ink to stamp the Grass before attaching more of the shrink plastic bees.

Well I think that's about it, well done if you managed to stay with me - told ya it was an epic post!!! Thanks for stopping by today.

Claire xxx

I'd like to enter this project into the following challenges:
Make It Monday - Anything Goes
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday - Recycle It

35 comments:

  1. Hi Claire, great story about how this project all came about. I think I may have grimmaced about the colours too, but really like what you've done with them. Hope your friends like the scrub. Helen (Sydney)

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  2. O Claire this is fabulous. I really like handmade scrubs and will give this recipe a go. Little jars would go lovely in the fabric gift bags I made earlier on.
    I love the bee design and the colours look great.
    Fab project!
    Dx

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  3. Brilliant! That makes a great present. Sounds a pretty involved process too, with all kinds of different techniques. I haven't heard of the Freezer Paper Technique, wonder what that is?... I also love the honeycomb effect created with the sequin waste. All of it is very clever. x

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  4. Wow what a journey ;-) But love the end result, it's awesome, both the tag and jar! XOXO

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  5. Fantastic - love the story behind the project - great idea for xmas gifts xxx

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  6. Wow, looks great! Love the idea :)
    Magda xxx

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  7. Claire this is fabulous!! The scrub will be the best Christmas gift. I love your thought processes, they sound about as tortured as mine lol x

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  8. Wowzer! What a fantastic idea, so very clever and crafty of you! Love the color combo! Thanks for the link to the recipe.

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  9. I have sat many times with a blank brain too. I love what you came up with x

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  10. Love what you have created!

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  11. Love this... has a certain 'Kingston village W.I' charm ;0) Love the fabric over the jar. And brilliant use of scrabble letters. Great idea.

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  12. hi Claire- I am sneaking in with an embarassed face- BUT I LOVE what you did! It jumped right out at me- gorgeous gift that anyone would love to receive!

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  13. Genius...........absolutely genius sweetie, I love it!!!

    Lotsa hugs Vicky xxx

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  14. your not joking about epic love!!! lol, love it great work Miss designer person mwah x

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  15. I absolutely love it!! I think you did an amazing job. I'm a huge fan of Jo Capper-Sandon's bees too. Your project has actually given me inspiration to try my hand at this color combo, so thank you for that.

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  16. Gorgeous, talk about coming up trumps under pressure!

    Absolutely gorgeous!

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  17. I had to laugh when I read your post... I feel your pain!! There is nothing like a deadline to stifle creativity, and it happens to me often. So glad I'm not the only one! However, if you hadn't mentioned it none of us would have known, 'cos your project is gorgeous :-)

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  18. best gift for Thanksgiving!!!! love the tag!

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  19. What an awesome set, love both and it is a perfect gift for all occasions.
    Hugs Anja from germany

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  20. great idea. I will use this next year when I package up my honey..yes I only got 2 jars, but with your inspiration next year they will be the prettiest jars around. X

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  21. These are just FABULOUS!!! Such a lovely idea..Thank you for sharing with us this week at Make it Monday...
    Hugs,
    Marjorie
    xx

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  22. What a beautiful gift and tag and your story behind it is just ace hahah. Polly xx

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  23. Wow love it Claire. Actually managed a couple of cuppa's reading your epic post lol!!!. I know you may think i'm biased but I reckon your creation is the best!!!. You worry far too much girl lol!!!. I can see the struggle with the colour combo but you managed to pull it off. Seriously this is amazing and such a super gift idea. Big hugs Clare xxx

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  24. Loved your story and your entry for this challenge is absolutely fab!!!

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  25. Oh Claire these are gorgeous. Love them. S x

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  26. This would make an amazing gift set! Love that you used a recipe to create the scrub.

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  27. Thanks for sharing your thought process, I'm always intrigued how other crafters come up with ideas. I'm addicted to Pinterest and this project is fab! Great way to incorporate the challenge colors and recycle too. Glad you joined us at Top Tip Tuesday for our Recycle It challenge. Hugs

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  28. This is adorable! I love the matching tag! Cute idea!

    Jenn

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  29. Gorgeous ! Love your story too!

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  30. Well I think this is fantastic, even if you don't! What an amazing gift - I wish I was one of your girlfriends!!! So much gone into the gift and the tag - Love them!
    Thanks for joining in with us over at Top Tip Tuesday for our 'Recycle it' challenge :)

    Carol x

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  31. This is such a lovely recycled jam jar and I love how you've distressed this project too. Thanks for playing at Top Tip Tuesday and good luck. Hope to see you back tuesday for another challenge. Bettina xx

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