Onwards and Upwards Weekend Is Here!

It's finally here!  The onwards and upwards weekend blowout, hosted by Jennifer of Jennifer Grace Creates.  I'm so glad you're here. 

If you're following the blog hop, you should have landed here from Lisa-Jane's site at Come Inside My Crazy Head.  In case you didn't know, there's a prize to be won if you comment on all the blogs in the hop.  You need to begin with Jennifer's site, and end at her site.  Then leave a comment letting her know that you commented on all the sites participating.

And what is the prize you ask?  Well, I'm delighted to say that it's a prize pack of cheerful Glitz Designs Color Me Happy and Simple Stories 24/7.  You can see it in the picture above.  All entries must be received by Monday the 13th of May at 10.59pm BST. 

In keeping with the theme of onwards and upwards, I decided to do a project using Jennifer's word of the year, "PROGRESS".  I thought it would look cool as a quilled inspirational wall plaque.  

I started the project by printing out the word in a pretty script font.  I made sure that I chose the lightest printing available.

After cutting my strips, I started gluing them onto the word, starting in the middle and working to the outer edges.  The strips were glued standing on their sides.

This is the halfway point.

Working the other side.

Lettering finished.

I decided that it didn't need to be the full page size, so I cut it down, leaving about an inch all around.

For the frame, I used the same colored paper and cut four 2-inch strips.  Then folded back both sides 1/2 inch.

I measured and mitered each corner.

Checked for fit.

I used some of the scrap pieces to reinforce the inside of the corners.  

For strength, and to keep the sides straight, I knew that I needed more.  So I took card stock and cut 4 strips like before, but a tad smaller.  Then I folded the sides the same way.

All four glued to the inside and outside.edges.  This really strengthened it. 

Before I glued it, I punched a hole for hanging.

I cut the plastic from this cardboard to use as a faux glass for the front of the frame.

Instant recycling.  Gotta love it!

Since the plastic could not be glued to the inside (because of the quilling), I had to figure a way to attach it to the outside.

This is what I came up with.  I thought it turned out great.

This is what the back looks like, once it's finished.

So, what do you think?  Would you believe that this is my first try at quilling words?  I think I did good, if I say so myself.

I took loads of pictures trying to capture how pretty it is, but none did justice.  

Just take my word for it, it's purty as can be!







Thanks for stopping by.  I hope you enjoyed my project.  Your next stop along the hop is Jo's site at http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/.  I've included a list of the participating sites below, just in case you get lost along the way.

Jennifer - http://jennifergracecreates.com/

Rinda - http://gallorganico.blogspot.co.uk/

Meghann - http://www.meghannslittlecorner.blogspot.co.uk/

Louise - http://scrapbook-me.blogspot.co.uk/

Lisa-Jane - http://comeinsidemycrazyhead.blogspot.co.uk/

Julie - http://www.icreatepurtythangs.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo S - http://www.curlyscrapbooker.blogspot.co.uk/

Jo B - http://www.buckinghamspalace.blogspot.co.uk/

Jenny - http://dragonllew.blogspot.co.uk/

Jacky - http://scrappyjackylive.blogspot.co.uk/

Fay - http://beautifullilysramblings.blogspot.co.uk/

Daphne - http://dapfniedesign.wordpress.com/

Abi - http://creatingpaperdreams.blogspot.co.uk/

Jennifer - http://jennifergracecreates.com/

Recycled Dreamcatcher Tutorial

I'm back with another recycled project and tutorial in one.






How about a dreamcatcher?







The only money spent on this project was for the glue, and even then I already had that on hand from last school year. 

For materials, I used bakers twine that I won last year from Melissa at Handwork Chronicles.  You can visit her etsy shop here.  You can read about my win here.  I also used a ring from a mayonnaise jar and an old birthday card envelope.





For basic supplies, all you'll need is a pair of scissors and glue.  I also used a rotary cutter, mat, box cutter, a very large blunt needle, tweezers, and because I got impatient, a paper shredder.  Whatever works for you is fine.

I started by opening the flaps on the envelope.  Using the rotary cutter, I cut one flap off and laid it aside.  This will be used for the feathers.

Normally, I would have just used the rotary cutter and cut about 3 or 4 strips from the envelope, but as I already said, I got impatient and used my handy dandy shredder.  Oh well, I now have plenty ready for a future quilling project.

If you look closely at the ring, it is kinda split into two connected rings with the inner one being a little slanted toward the inside.

Using my box cutter, I cut the rings apart.









This gave me two rings.  The one on the right is the slanted one.  I just discard it. 








I then wrap one of the strips around the flat ring.  No glue needed at this point.  The wrapping will hold the strip in place.

I continue wrapping all the way around.  It took three strips.  When completed wrapping, I glued the end down.  It kinda looks like silk ribbon, doesn't it?

Now, using the twine, I measured three times around the ring and cut for length.  This will be used for the inside web. 

I took the twine and tied it onto the ring, leaving about a 4 or 5 inch tail.

Run the twine under the ring, then over the ring, then under the twine.

It should look like this.

Move the loop back or forth to where you actually want it to be, then hold the twine tight to keep it from moving.  You can actually put the loop anywhere you want.  Closer to the left will give you more loops, and the right will be less.  With a little practice, you'll be able to judge where you want it.

Continue making loops all the way around the ring.

When you get back to the beginning, just continue looping onto the tight part of the twine, as you can see in the photo.

It just occurred to me that I am left-handed.  You may have to reverse these instructions.

I stopped at this point to make the bead.  A dreamcatcher is nothing without it's bead!

I took a strip and cut it down the center to make it thinner.

Using my needle, I rolled the strip and glued it down.  This needle is my favorite tool in the world!  It's what I use for my quilling.  You can just use a toothpick, or anything small.  Just be sure that it leaves a hole big enough to thread the twine through.

Once you thread the bead on it is time to end the web.  You can just tie it off and cut the excess twine off very close.  What I do to make it look a little more uniform is weave it back up to the beginning point.

I give it a loop at this joint.

It then looks like this.  I continue up and tie it off at the beginning tie.  I then cut the twine the same length as the beginning tail.  Then I tie both tails together to become the hanger.

For the length of twine for hanging the feathers, I circle the ring one time and cut.  For feathers, I use the envelope flap that I had laid aside.  I didn't measure, just cut the shape of two feathers.  Then clipped all along both sides to kinda feather it up.

I ruffled the feathers up a little so you can see what I mean.  Sorry about such a bad picture.  It was supposed to look better than this.

I folded the feathers longwise to get a line down the middle, glued the twine down the back of the feathers and then tied it onto the bottom of the dreamcatcher.

Finished and hanging.

So, what do ya think?  Recycling at it's best!

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