Tutorial Thursday #3 - Large Desk Tidy

It's Sam here and I have a Tutorial on how to make my project from this fortnight's challenge.
    
DAZZLING DESK TIDY
       

  

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I used the following materials:

    

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD

Large Remote Control Holder / Desk Tidy
    

MEDIUMS USED

White Gesso

Acrylic Paint (various brands)

Cosmic Shimmer Paint (Russet Red, Sunrise)

Gelatos (Coconut)

Inktense Pencil (Black)

Posca Paint Marker (White)
      

OTHER PRODUCTS USED

Dots stencil by That Craft Place

Words stencil by That Craft Place
   

All products above available from That Craft Place.
    

ANYTHING ELSE

Various round objects to draw round!

Old credit or gift card

      

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Tutorial

This is the fabulous MDF Large Desk Tidy before I got my hands on it!  It is of course available from That Craft Place!
    
Don't forget to let each stage dry (or use your heat tool) before you continue to the next stage!    

   


GRAB WHITE GESSO & THE COSMIC SHIMMER PAINT (Russet Red): 

1... Give all the pieces a thin coat of white gesso on both sides and the edges.
TIP: Avoid getting any paints on the tabs which slot together.  If you do, wipe it off.
2...  Once dry, sand the surfaces lightly.
3...  Apply 2 to 3 thin coats of the Cosmic Shimmer Paint to one side and the edges of all the pieces except the piece that forms the back panel.  Only apply the paint to the top edge of this piece.
           

    
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THEN GRAB YOUR ACRYLIC PAINTS:
 4... Paint blocks of colour on to the remaining unpainted surfaces.
TIP: I didn't paint direct onto the outside surfaces of the side panels.  Instead I drew round the panels onto thick cartridge paper and painted these.  This is so that once constructed, the tabs which slot into the side panels are not visible.
         

   
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NOW IT'S TIME TO START PLANNING THE DECORATING!:    

5...  Glue the cartridge paper (painted in the last step) to the side panels.  Trim to size. 

 6... Using bottle lids, drinking glasses or any other circular items (or a compass!) begin to lightly draw lightly with a pencil onto the panel fronts.

TIP: I found it helpful to slot the project together at this point.  It helps you to visualise the finished look and decide where to position the circles and other decoration.
7...  Take your stencil and very lightly mark where these will go on the panels. (I used a words stencil by That Craft Place at this point).
         

  
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THEN:  

  8... Using the Dots stencil by That Craft Place I sponged a bright pink acrylic paint onto the panels. 

 TIP: Light sponging with a sponge dabber helps the stencilling to keep clean defined edges.     

     
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CONTINUE LAYERING: 

9... Using the edge of an old credit or gift card, apply lines of paint in different colours.  

10...  Start adding some colour to the smaller circles. 

 TIP: Rather than using a paint brush, I used a sponge dabber and kept adding paint to the smaller circles in a dabbing motion.  This added texture and therefore interest to the piece.       

  
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KEEP GOING, YOU'RE DOING GREAT! : 

 11... Apply a couple of coats of white gesso to the remaining circles. 

 12...  I also added a different colour to the smaller circles at this stage as I didn't like how the paler colour looked.  This is optional though.        

   
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STAYING WITH THE LARGER CIRCLES: 

 13... Build up a nice opaque covering of the bright pink paint (that we used for stencilling through the dots stencil earlier) round the outside of the circles, leaving the centres white for now.  Repeat for every circle. 

 TIP: You don't need to be too tidy in the centre of the circles at this stage.        

         
 14... Add a contrasting colour to the centre of the circles that we have just painted.
TIP: I chose to mix together an orange acrylic paint with some Cosmic Shimmer Paint in "Sunrise".
     

   
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TIME TO ADD SOME HIGHLIGHTS : 

 15... Using a white Gelato (Colour "Coconut") I rubbed this over the join between the 2 colours in the large circles.  

 TIP: Add some to start and rub in circles, then add a little more a rub again to build it up. 

 16...  Apply more of the Gelato to the outer edges of the small circles.    

  
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NOW THE WORDS! :  

 17... Lay the Words stencil back over the areas where we had marked the word positions in step 7.   

 18...  Sponge black acrylic paint through the stencil in a light dabbing motion. 

        

  
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AND NOW THE FINISHING TOUCHES :  

 19... Using a white paint marker, outline the lettering.  

 20...  Also outline the small circles. 

 21...  Add faux stitching dashes to the top edges of the panels. 

 22... Using a black Inktense pencil, shadow round the large circles, using a water brush to smudge the edge slightly.

    

      
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TIME TO CONSTRUCT! :  

 23... If you need to touch up any of the red painting done in step 3, now is the time to do it!     
24...  Apply white glue to the outside edges of each divider & back panel & slot into the side panels. 
 TIP: I like to keep pressure on the sides for a couple of minutes to allow a good bond to form before continuing. 

 25... Apply white glue, this time to the bottom edges & slot into the base from the decorated side.  

 TIP: Again, keep pressure on the joins for a couple of minutes to allow a good bond to form. Let dry solid for a few hours. I usually leave overnight.        
        

ENJOY!

   
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Links you need to know 

    

That Craft Place Facebook Shop

That Craft Place Natter Chatter Group on Facebook

That Craft Place Etsy Digi Store

That Craft Place Website
     
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Don't forget our latest challenge is HERE

xxSAMxx

TUTORIAL THURSDAY - DT Sam - Freestanding Flowerpots

It's Sam here and I have a Tutorial on how to make my project from this fortnight's challenge.

FREESTANDING FLOWERPOTS
    

   
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Supplies

  

THAT CRAFT PLACE MDF / GREYBOARD
MDF Freestanding Flowerpots
MDF Mini Tag
MDF Words - "Believe"

MEDIUMS USED
DecoArt Crafters Acrylic - Black
Black Gesso
White Gesso
Old, Unwanted Coarse Glitter
(or you could use coarse sand, or a ready mixed Texture Sand Paste)
Acrylic Paint (various brands)
Archival Ink (Tree Branch & Jet Black)
Mod Podge Gloss
Mod Podge Matte
Ranger Crackle Accents
Collall Silicone Glue Gel

OTHER PRODUCTS USED
8x8 Graphic 45 Paper Pad - "Artisan Style"

All products above available from That Craft Place.

ANYTHING ELSE
Brown Garden Twine
A vintage piece of gold patterned paper from my stash
    
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Tutorial

This is the fabulous MDF freestanding flowerpots before I got my hands on it!  It is of course available from That Craft Place!

I didn't pre-gesso this project because much of it was going to be covered in patterned paper.

  

STARTING WITH THE FLOWERPOTS: 

1...  Mix together black gesso and cheap coarse glitter until it is the required consistency 
(see supplies list above for alternatives to glitter).  
TIP: I wanted it to be very "gritty" so added quite a lot of glitter to the gesso!

2...  Apply the mixture to the pots using a stiff brush, adding an extra thick layer to the top edge to form the lip of the pot.
3... Allow to dry thoroughly.

  

 
   

NEXT ONTO THE PAPERS FOR THE LEAVES AND FLOWERS
4... Lay the MDF piece face down on the reverse of your patterned paper and draw round the leaves .
5... Repeat several times with each chosen paper for the flowers.
Tip: I drew round alternate flower petals, choosing 2 papers for each flower for more interest.
 6... Cut paper for the mini tag and glue to each side of the tag.  Sand the paper off the edges to tidy.
7... Cut out all the leaves and flowers, cutting the pieces around 2 to 3mm bigger than the lines.
8... Using a distressing tool, or open edge of scissors, distress around the edges of the leaves (except the bottom edge).
9... Glaze the petal pieces with Mod Podge Matte.
10... Ink the edges of all the pieces with Archival Ink, first with "Tree Branch" then with "Jet Black".

  

       

NOW FLIP THE PIECE FACE DOWN
11... Paint the reverse and all the edges of the the piece as well as the bottom strip on the front.  I used black crafters acrylic.
Tip: Avoid the tabs when adding paint, paper or any other medium to MDF pieces.  This allows the pieces to still slot together nicely, otherwise extra bulk can make things a tight fit!

  

   

BACK TO THE FRONT, WITH THE FLOWERS FOR NOW:
12... Paint the flower stems and dry before adding black Archival Ink to the edges.
13... Choose more papers and glue to the flowers! We will trim to size and tidy it up at a later stage.
(I just forgot to photograph them before trimming!).

NOW BACK TO THE FLOWERPOTS:
14... Using a dry brush and a tiny amount of white gesso, dry brush over the pots highlighting one side more than the other.

  

         

    

AND BACK UP TO THE FLOWERS!...
15... Trim roughly around the petals.
16... Using sandpaper or a sanding block, sand round the edges of the petals holding the sandpaper at a 45* angle so that the excess paper is smoothed away.

  

NOW TO ADD SOME COLOUR TO THE FLOWERPOTS
17... Dilute some acrylic paint to a wash consistency and brush over the flowerpots.
Tip: I chose 3 different colours as closely matched to colours in the papers as possible.
18... Using a sponge applicator, redefine some of the raised areas with black Archival Ink.

   

   

NOW TO ADD THE PAPERS TO THE MDF!
19... Glue the leaves to the piece, making sure it is stuck down all the way to the edges.
20... Using a bone folder, shape the petal pieces.
21... Add glue to the back centre only of the petal pieces and attach to the MDF.

   

     

NOW FOR THE BASE
22... Paint the reverse and sides of the base with the black acrylic paint. Allow to dry.
23... Add paper to the top of the base piece.
24... Allow to dry before glazing over the top of the paper with Mod Podge.
25... Using a sharp knife, cut away the paper from the tab slots.

  

      

NEARLY THERE!....
26... Using dies, cut circles to fit the centre of the flowers.
Tip: If you don't have any suitable dies, simply draw around bottle tops or similar, and cut out!

   

   

   
AND NOW FOR THE FINISHING TOUCHES
27... Again using a distressing tool or scissors, distress the edges of the circles.
28... Ink the edges with black Archival Ink.
29... Apply a thick layer of Crackle Accents to each circle.
30... Once completely dry, attach to the centre of each flower with silicone glue gel.
Tip: Add a generous blob of glue gel to give dimension.

31... Ink around the base piece with black Archival Ink.

32... Apply glue to the flowerpot piece, between the tabs, and firmly press together into the holes in the base piece.
33... Hold in place until a bond has formed. Allow to dry firm before continuing.

34... Attach the mini tag around the centre flower with twine, tying in a knot at the back.

35... Add the "Believe" sentiment.

ENJOY!

 
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Links you need to know 

    

That Craft Place Facebook Shop

That Craft Place Natter Chatter Group on Facebook

That Craft Place Etsy Digi Store

That Craft Place Website
     
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Don't forget our latest challenge is HERE

xxSAMxx