How to Make a "Better-than-New" Pair of Recycled Flats

If you had a chance to read my last blog post,  I mentioned  I was just getting warmed up.  After experiencing how easy I altered the handbag, I immediately started looking for other items on hand I could transform!  Shoes was the next logical experiment and, I happen to have a "small" collection to choose from. 

This pair have seen better days (ya think?)   Since they were one step short of the trash bin, I thought there was nothing to lose.

Before (pretty ratty heh?)

This is a beginner project and requires very little time, talent or supplies.  

Here's all you need (minus the brayer):

1.  I covered the shoes with one coat of Golden liquid acrylic paint (titanium white) - you could also use a Folk Art paint (often available at the dollar store for a buck or two)

2.  You will need two sheets of Craft Attitude (available on-line at www.Amazon.com)

3.  Print your pattern using an inkjet printer on to the Craft Attitude sheets and remove the backing.

4.  Liberally apply glue to the shoe - and I mean liberally.  Don't scrimp on the glue people!

5.  Place the translucent film over the shoe, lining it up to make sure it cover as much as the shoe as possible.

6.  Using your fingers smooth out the Craft Attitude beginnning at the toe and working around to the sides.  If you misalign it, you can lift it up again and reapply.  It isn't that stressful!  You have plenty of working time.  The glue doesn't dry quickly and the film is sturdy and it is also a little stretchy and will 'move' 2-3 mm if you are out by a smidge.

7.  Take your scissors and roughly cut out the area that is surplus that is laying over the opening in the shoe.  (You will need this to finish the back of the shoe.)   Cut out around the sole of the shoe in a similar fashion.   

8.  Using an x-acto knife, make your fine cuts to finish off the edges using the lines of the shoe and sole as your guide.  With a sharp blade, a ten year old can manage this easily.

That's it!  If you are doing this for the very first time, it may take up to an hour to finish both shoes.  I have a bit of experience so I completed the project in under 30 minutes.  Yes. Half an hour. 

After shots: 

How easy was that?  

It took me much longer to complete this blog post than it did to transform these beat up shoes into a better than new pair of shoes!  And, even though I am not a 'matchy-matchy' person, I just may throw on a white shirt, a pair of jeans and break into a new 'coordinated' look!   

Thanks for reading!  I am half way through my next pair of recycled shoes and will be back to share my musings early next week!  

Tweet

Craft Attitude Makeover Part One - Boho Handbag

I decided even though winter will still be on my doorstep for another two months at least, there wasn't any reason why I couldn't at least start thinking about spring!  And spring to me means a couple of things - warmer days, and the rebirth of COLOR in nature.  

I've seen lots of cool examples over at the Craft Attitude Facebook Page on how to personalize your iPhone, but I rarely use mine unless I am travelling.  So instead, I thought - why not try my hand at repurposing a rather lack-lustre handbag.  

I found this one at Winner's with a substantial discount and it was a light color.  Since I was introduced to Craft Attitude about two years ago, I always have my eye open for light colored and inexpensive 'objects' to add some "Attitude" to! 

Plain Old Inexpensive Handbag

This month I seem to be drawn to a color pallette that is half  Bolliewoodish and have Bohemian  and so once I`d layered a suitable number of images (courtesy of Iktupilli and Tumble Fish Studio) I adjusted the color pallettes to suit a brightly colored motif: 

Back of Bag  - digital collage

Front of Bag - digital collage

I used 3 sheets of Craft Attitude (you can use any type of Attitude product) - they are all the same just different packaging.....trust me on that!

And above is a photograph of the ALL of the supplies you need to make your handbag (gluestick,

scissors, x-acto knife, brayer....easy-peasy.

I really did not expect it to be this easy.  The fabric of the handbag (100% polyester) seemed to be  the perfect match for the Craft Attitude.  I am NOT shy with the glue stick, - just sayin....please do not try to skimp on the glue or you may end up with bubbles underneath.  Not pretty.  I NEVER have any bubbles.  I sometimes have globs of glue on my hands at the end of it all, but NO Bubbles EVER.

Above are photos of the front and back.  The purse was not the same size as the Craft Attitude (8.5 x 11 inches) so I did have to add extra little strips to each side so that it it was fully covered.  The pattern was very conducive to being able to do this successfully.  

Here are a few snap shots I took randomly in an effort to capture how beautifully the Craft Attitude molded to the fabric of the bag - I will be looking for more of this material!! 

 

I remain impressed at how the film becomes part of the texture...if you look closely you can see slightly raised dots on the surface of the purse.

Craft Attitude Boho Handbag - Spring 2014 coming soon!

PS - I could not stop at just the bag.....I will be back in a few days with photos of.....I bet you can you guess what I made next?   Stay tuned.

Thanks for the visit - and as always,  your comments are always appreciated...more than you know!

Tweet

Walk In the Snow - Linda Tanaka

 Below is the process Linda Tanaka undertook to create her work titled  "Walk In the Snow" for the Open Studio Project with Craft Attitude.  To read more about Linda and her statement on this piece please follow this link. 

Materials:

Canvas

Acrylic ink

Golden open acrylics

Golden soft gel

Liquitex Opaque Flakes

Craft Attitude Transportable Inkjet Film

1.  Preparing the canvas with Golden Irridescent Pearl and Liquitex White Opaque Flakes -

2.  Creating the calligraphic lettering to be transferred on to the Craft Attitude Transportable Inkjet Film -

 3.  Using a light table Linda made a sandwich of the paper turned upside down and a layer of Craft Attitude taped on top, shiny side up. A  traceable pattern  allowed her to hand letter on the shiny side of the Craft Attitude that could then be applied to the canvas.

Note:  An alternative to the method Linda used above,  you could also take a photo of your original calligraphic lettering, and then with an inkjet printer, print the lettering directly onto a sheet of Craft Attitude.  Don't forget to choose " mirror image " in your printer setting options before printing it out. 

3.  Linda used a Nikko G flexible nib dip pen to letter on the shiny side. The pen glides easily but does not allow for as much pressure and lift as a calligrapher would want to use. The material is a bit “stretchy”; that attribute is what allows Craft Attitude to be applied so successfully to a textured surface. The calligrapher has to be careful not to distort the material with too much downward pressure when making the stroke.

4.  Cutting the Craft Attitude out - 

5.  She then adhered the art film onto her canvas substrate using Golden soft gel medium and completed her lovely  textural piece.

"Walk In The Snow"

Mixed Media on Canvas - 7" x 9" inches

Linda Tanaka

Tweet

Holiday Blog Hop - Craft Attitude Collage Tutorial

Welcome to the Craft Attitude Holiday Blog Hop!

Teaming up with the enthusiastic and uber talented Jonathan Fong, equally talented jewelry craft expert Candie Cooper and other well known Arts/ Crafts/Design professionals and enthusiasts,  I am delighted to share with you  a relatively new  and exciting collage technique  I've developed and test over the past several months.  I call it the "Collage Under" and I'm excited to share this exciting new image transfer technique.


In this step by step tutorial,  I will walk you through  a few simple steps showing you how easy it is to combine a few scrap papers ( you most probably have on hand)   along with  one sheet of Craft Attitude,  to create a one-of-a-kind mixed media collage.  

 I love receiving  handmade gifts - nothing feels more meaningful to me in these days where time is such a valued commodity.  Why not begin today and in less than a few hours, create an inexpensive but  great gift for one of your friends or family members this holiday season? 

 "My Baby Sister - A Special Gift"

8 x 10 mixed media collage 

Mixed Media Artwork by Trudi Sissons

Image Credits:  Tumble Fish Studio - Winged Splendor and Merry Merry Kits

Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved

Skill Level:  Beginner-Intermediate Mixed Media Craft Enthusiasts

Time Required:  2-4 hours max

Here's a list of what you'll need:

* 1 sheet of Craft Attitude Art Film  (you can buy any one of the various packages of "Attitude" - they all contain exactly the same product, just different instructions explaining different ways to use it) 

* UHU stic  - acid free glue stick that dries clear (or other comparable brands, like Mod Podge or Elmers)

* Photograph  -  I used a vintage image from Tumble Fish Studio's "Winged Splendor" kit available from DeviantScrap   But, why  not add that extra  personal touch to your gift  by using your own vintage family photograph?  The Graphics Fairy also has a large selection of vintage photographs available at no cost. 

* An assortment of left over scrap paper bits (if they're handmade or cotton, even better!)

* One page from a book  slightly larger than the  finished project dimensions (I used a vintage paper from an old dictionary)

*  an Inkjet Printer
* a brayer or similar roller (in a pinch, use your finger tips...I often do)
* Golden  Artist Colors - Soft Gel Matte #3010-5 (optional as a final top coat and/or as an adhesive)
* Optional - Mat and Frame (see Step 5 for money saving tips)

 Steps:

1.  Gather up a collection of complimentary  paper scraps combining different colors and textures. 

2.  Using whatever image software program you have, print your  photograph on to Craft Attitude, remove it from its carrier sheet and place it on your work surface shiny side facing up. 

 Photograph used - Copyright Tumble Fish Studio's "Winged Splendor Kit"

(see above information to purchase this image)

 

Tip:   If you like, go ahead and test different compositions by placing different papers under the transparent art film  image until you are satisfied with your composition.  I decided  on the  arrangement above and then numbered which scrap I would glue first and so on.  A bit of planning at the start of your project may save you time overall.

3.  Glue each scrap of paper right side up, then turn it over and adhere it to the shiny side of the Craft Attitude art film. Using a brayer or your fingers, smooth  the surface to ensure maximum adhesion.  Repeat, layering each scrap until you have achieved your desired composition.

Front and Back of  Collage -  Work in Progress 

4.  Take the final large printed page from a book or dictionary, cover it with glue and adhere it on top of all of the other smaller scraps, again using a brayer to ensure a full adhesion.  This layer will cover any spots  not covered with the other paper you've attached and shine through to the top.  It also provides a good substrate to hold your final piece together.

5.  Attach your collage to a mat and frame and PRESTO - another gift ready to go!  

Tip:  To save money, size your final piece to standard sizes - 4x6, 5x7, 8x10.  That way you'll be able to buy ready made mats and frames at a fraction of the cost of  having  your artwork professionally framed.  Michael's often has 40% off a large selection of their standard frames too.

 The images below  illustrate the final collage (both front and back) and  a sequence of  photos  as it progressed from start to finish.

Now it's your turn!   I would love to see your mixed media collages using Craft Attitude.  You can mail me at trudisissons@shaw.ca with a link to your work. 

For questions about where you can purchase Craft Attitude please visit their website at www.craftattitude.com

Press  here to be redirected to Craft Attitude -  FREQUENTLY ASK QUESTIONS

Happy Creating and Happy Holidays from my home to yours.

Tweet

Charms for Altered Art Obsession

I finished these little charms for Altered Art Obsession this morning. They are made from an assortment of old earring parts (way old!), Swarowski crystals, tiny images from ARTchix Studios and lots of wire and hmmmm....oh, crimping beads. It's been years since I've tried my hand at making 'jewelry' (I use the term lightly)!!!! My favorite is the one photographed individually showing both sides.... with the two-sided face,,,, hmmmmm not to be misconstrued as two-faced.

Tweet