Deco Flower **Gauche Alchemy and Flamingo Scraps**

I was at JoAnns finding crafts for my boys to do for the summer, and I stumbled upon some great finds.  One was this cardboard flower.  It is about 2 inches thick and 8 inches tall, and it was 70% off!!  I immediately thought I could decorate this thing and the September kit "Kokeshi" from Gauche Alchemy would be perfect!!

Here you see the original flower, very simple and just begging to be decorated!!

I attacked this like a paper mache or decoupage craft.  I smeared craft glue over the entire flower then open up the two napkins in the kit and pressed them over the entire flower.  I tore of excess tissue, added more glue, and added more tissue layers until the entire flowers was coated with tissue front back and in all the little crevices.  I then tore some of the other papers (origami and torn book pages) and glue them on for more layers.  Then I cut out some of the cute little animals from the papers and odd bits from the kit and layered them in with it all too. 

 Here you can see the back side of the flower.  The back side only has the tissue paper, so no torn paper or animals for layers.

I then pulled out the wire from the pink ribbon, tied a bow,  and placed it at the bottom of the flower like a little bow tie.  I then added a burlap flower, leaves, and bling from my stash to create a cute little table decoration.

Supplies Use - non kit items can be found at Flamingo Scraps

Kokeshi Kit (September) - tissue, ribbon, papers
Flower - Maya Road
Leaves and Bling - Recollections
Adhesive - Martha Stewart

Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday - Card **Gauche Alchemy**

I wanted to create a card for my mom that is elegant and special for her birthday, as she is one of the few people I know of that saves every card she is ever given, she even pulls out the ones that mean a lot to her year after year to put on display for that event.  It is one of the many reasons I put a lot of effort into creating a card for her, not only because she is my mom and does so much for me but because I know she appreciates them.

 I used the wonderful September kit "Kokeshi" from Gauche Alchemy to create this card.  I started with a kraft base, then layered it with the pearlescent white paper and then lots of layers of the Japanese book pages.  Each layer I inked along the edges to give them a more distressed look.  I then took a strip of the fabric along the middle, added in my own flowers and bling on top of the purple lace ribbon from the kit I made into a bow.  I then wrote out happy birthday on a spare part of the Japanese book page.

It is a very thick card, but I am hand delivering it and do not intend on placing it in an envelope to squish it, more than likely it will end on on her table for years to come.

Supplies Used

Kokeshi Kit (September) - fabric, lace ribbon, papers, book pages

Flowers, Leaves, and Bling - Recollections
Adhesive - Martha Stewart
Pen - Recollections
Ink - Ranger

Enjoy!!

Bird House **Gauche Alchemy**

I came across this cute little bird house and it just begged to be decorated, plus it was on sale so I paid less than a buck for it!!

 

I used tons of wonderful items from the September kit "Kokeshi" from Gauche Alchemy.  

I first the the washi tape and created layers on the front of the house to texture.  I then inked the edged of the entire bird house.

 

 I then glued on various sequins and shapes from the kit and then painted on gesso over them and let it dry.

I cut out sections of the oragami paper for the top and a different color for the sides.  The i combined spray mist and shaving cream and coated the entire house with it and let it dry.  After it was dry I then sprayed on more mist of the same pink color.  The dry shaving cream gave it more texture.

I then glued on some flowers, leaves, and a butterfly from my stash to the front and top.

Supplies Used

Kokeshi Kit (September) - papers, washi tape, sequins.

Flowers, Leaves, and Bling - Recollections
Adhesive - Martha Stewart
Mist - Tattered Angels
Ink - Ranger

Enjoy!!