Linda Nelson, Author at Linda Nelson - The Createaerie

OH, MY HACKING HEART

February 5, 2018

Hey there! I bet you’re aware that those gorgeous and very popular velvet pumpkins on display in autumn have a cousin – the velvet heart. Making one of those pumpkins is quite easy to do, and the internet is full of video and instructional tutorials to guide you along. However, the heart… not so much. Seriously, there are no videos or tutorials on how to make these little lovelies. But, guess what? They’re so stinking easy to make that a tutorial is virtually unnecessary, especially if you’ve had past success making the pumpkins. After some mental dissection pondering, I came up with a “heartfelt” hack. I think I’ve cracked the code…… or have come close enough.

What do you think?

©Linda Nelson 2018

So, here’s the “tutorial” –

Linda Nelson 2018

Simply cut a piece of velvet twice the length of its width, “up and down” stitch all the way around the perimeter roughly 3/4″ from the edge, cinch it up, stuff it, cinch it up again as snug as you can get it, tie it secure, then stick a stem in it. That’s it! A 10″x20″ piece of velvet will make a (approx.) 5″h x 7″w heart, not including the stem, of course.

After you’ve completed your little velvety creation, it’s time to move on to some other fabrics.

©Linda Nelson 2018

I also have a variation on these beauties that I will share with you very soon, so stay tuned……….

Now, go get creative!

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CANVAS CLOTH CRAFTING

January 31, 2018

Say that three times fast. No, don’t, you’ll just end up tripping over your tongue.

So……. I was working on some new greeting card designs last week, and canvas cloth was one material/element used in the design. I have quite a bit of yardage on hand, ready for any orders placed at the upcoming NY Now trade gift show. Thus, I’ve been in canvas creativity overdrive, and had to make some other things to burn off some of that surplus energy. I love this stuff. It’s neutral in color, weighty, washable, easy to work with and brings back memories to when I was taking oil painting classes and we were required to stretch and prime our own canvas.

Anyway, a couple yards draped across my work table made me think of those fabulous hand painted floorcloths, though I didn’t want to commit myself to such a project; I really need this canvas for the greeting card orders. So, I just decided to make a “mini me” floorcloth.

Isn’t it adorable?

©Linda Nelson 2018

Pictured below are the materials I used to make mine, but there are many other options that would be suitable to use. After cutting out my canvas circle, I frayed the edges, washed it, threw it in the dryer and then steam pressed it. Next, I applied a base coat of white gesso that I tinted with just a drop of blue acrylic craft paint. When dry, I made some free-hand surface designs using ChartPak ad markers, then followed up with two coats of acrylic gloss medium/varnish.

©Linda Nelson 2018

I’ll probably use mine as a surface protector, but this type of activity is such that you could take it in so many directions. I imagine dollhouse and fairy garden enthusiasts could make some really neat miniature floor coverings for their displays and setups. Handmade journal book hobbyists could make some pretty awesome covers using this method, too.

©Linda Nelson 2018

And, there’s always this crafty default – a coaster!

©Linda Nelson 2018

On another note, look who was tending to my garden yesterday. I don’t recall hiring anyone to prune my shrubs – that’s my job! Aren’t they adorable, though? This photo was taken from my kitchen window.

©Linda Nelson 2018

Now, my “deer” friends, go grab some canvas cloth and get creative!

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CUPID WAS HERE.

January 23, 2018

In my last post, I shared with you some sweet, handmade musings inspired by Cupid. Well, he continues to hang around aiming his crafty bow right at my heart. I don’t mind at all. Draw it in my direction all you want, little guy!

©Linda Nelson 2018

The fabric, trim and wire fixation kept me amused for one afternoon, but another afternoon followed……. with more fixations. I’ve been busy.

©Linda Nelson 2018

Full disclosure – this vignette was set up in my guest room, as it’s the only room in my house that gets bathed in the “flat” natural light that I prefer for photographing things. The common rooms (where I would actually intend to display these adornments)really stink with regard to suitable lighting.

I had made a bunch of wire ornaments to sell at my local garden center during the Christmas holiday. I updated the few I kept for myself by simply swapping out the original jute twine and green ribbon for pink ribbon. And, the cache of scrap ribbon leftover from the hearts I made is proof that you can pretty much turn anything into decor!

Oh, those popularly available reproduction game tiles are so overrated. Hand stamping real tiles is so much more fun ;D

Yes, I put on this siren hued, goopy lipstick and kissed the mirror just for you.

Printing vintage graphics…simple, fun and super thrifty.

The piece pictured below was a fun little project, and didn’t take much time at all to make. I bet you could come up with your own version of it. Go ahead, give it a try.

And, this little mushroom I made last year fits right in with all the other sweet companions.

Well, this post wraps up my collection of Cupid inspired creations. And, full disclosure – this is what my dining table has looked like for the past few weeks. Really.

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NOT EDIBLE, BUT DEFINITELY SWEET!

January 14, 2018

Here’s a little visually sugar coated sweet post just for you.

Temps in the teens and twenties have a way of keeping me indoors for lengthy bouts of time. I’m known for keeping my hands busy with rakes, shovels and pruners; however, at this time of year, you’ll find me keeping them busy with scissors, glue and all sorts of other crafty paraphernalia.

As you can see, I’ve been spending a lot of time indoors, and, as of late, Cupid has been my muse.

“Sew”, what’s a gal to do with abundant lengths of fabric and trim? Stitch them together, feed them onto wire and bend them into heart shapes!

And, when she’s at the end of her ribbon, she can make “naked” hearts. Copper wire with an aged patina is definitely worthy of showing some skin.

Stay tuned……I have a few more visual sweets that I will be sharing with you very soon!

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