Gucci? CK? You! Design shoes in 1 hour.

Hello everybody. Today is Thursday and its time for how to post. I had a pair of simple black shoes. I was wearing them for a long time. The rain days in a row made me sad and boring and I decided to bring some summer in my life. So.. I painted these shoes and now they are one of a kind "Poppies Shoes" (by the way I have poppies purse and wallet so now I have whole set)

For creating such shoes or any hand painted shoes you need:
1) Shoes. Or boots. Or sandals. Does not matter. BUT - be sure if something goes wrong with them you will be ok with throwing it out without any tears in your eyes:-) Don't do it with new shoes or expensive ones:)
2) Brushes
3) Acrylic Paints
4) Spray paints (use special ones for textile, leather or one for all kind of materials). I use one from DESIGN MASTER. Color - Olive Bright.
5) Spray finish (DESIGN MASTER trademark was used for this shoes)
6) Some beads
7) Glue gun
8) about 1 hour of time (it depends from picture you plan to draw)
Step 1. Wash your shoes really well. Wait until they are completely dry.

Step 2. Take spray paint. I used the following one for my shoes.

If you plan to wear your shoes long time use paints and finish for leather. It will be more stable.
Paint shoes according to instruction, put couple layers. I painted my shoes three times. Let each layer dry before putting next one.

Step 3.  Using acrylic paints and brushes draw anything you want on your shoes. Even if you definitely are not an artist you can do it. The simplest drawings are different kinds of flowers. Also you can use stencils. Or paint something abstract:-)

Step 4. Let  paints to dry.
Step 5. Put finish on shoes. Create at least 3 layers. Each layer should be dry before you put another one.

Step 6. Using glue gun attach beads or anything you want to the shoes and you are all set. 

Now you have pair of unique shoes.

This idea can also be used if you need some shoes for a theme parties (for example for Halloween you cant draw spiders, or snowflakes for Christmas, etc.). Good luck! 

Sling Bead Necklace or Mommy's necklace

Sling Bead Necklace or Mommy's necklace is multi functional and really useful thing for mothers and babies. It keeps kids busy and gives mothers more free time. And finally it's great, beautiful accessory. If you think what to bring as a gift for baby shower it is a decision.   

Sling Bead Necklace or Mommy's necklace are set of hard, soft and rattling beads. Beads can be covered by 100% cotton, can be wooden, or plastic. They are bright, colorful, have different sizes. Your baby will love it! All materials are baby-friendly and eco-friendly

Soft beads are filled by hypoallergic holofiber and babies can chew them. 

Rattling beads really are the bells covered by cotton threads. Wood beads are created from oak, maple and juniper and not just safe for babies but also have treatment features. 

 

 Also these necklaces are good for babies that are about to have their teeth. They are really good in gums scratching

Like any other baby's stuff these necklaces are required to be washable. And they are! You can easy wash it using regular soap or any other washing languid or detergent you prefer.

Except all above these necklaces are really beautiful and unusual. Any color, any style.... You can even create your own design and order it. 

Irina (not me:)) is the master who created all incredible necklaces I showed you has thousands of other perfect accessories, toys etc. in her blog. If you have questions or want to order something you can contact Irina by her e-mail. 

License plates are everywhere:-)

It's not a secret that I addicted to old and new license plates. Sometimes ago I started to bring old license plates from my trips with and instead of magnets. To be honest I love everything related to road and trips. So I have some   small collection:

 In addition I have modern parking sign

My Road Trip entry way furniture piece continues license plates and road theme in my appartments

You can see - I am a little bit crazy about it :) So I start to look for people who are crazy the same way and found them!
The first license plates thing that impressed me was this king of ladies purses.

How beautiful, ha? And you can be sure - everybody will notice your purse. What state do you prefer today? Texas? New York? Florida? or Wyoming?

The following purse you can do by yourself. Here is great tutorial and here is the bag: 

License plates are great not only for glamorous girls, they are great also for anybody who should clean house or apartments. Next stylish item - license plates dustpan.

You cannot even imagine how many-sides license plates are. You can use it in every room in your house even in bathroom as toilet paper holder:

Or in the leaving room as wall decor:

Next one - license plates memo board:

Do you like it? If yes - here is the tutorial how to create this one.

Lets continue with bookend. You can also do it. How to is here.

I believe there are a lot of other stuff that you can make using license plates, and a lot of interior design ideas with license plates theme. If you know some I'll really appreciate if you share it with me. 

This post was prepared used materials from the following web-pages http://www.greenandmore.com; http://blog.makezine.com/; http://www.apartmenttherapy.com; http://blog.craftzine.com/; http://www.funinthemaking.net/

Wanted old and broken furniture

Wanted any old, broken or good furniture for remodeling and renovations for some money or free. Do you have and really old and ugly piece? Give it to me! Do you have a piece of furniture that you love but it does not look good anymore? I want it!

How to create skeleton leaves

My next "rescue" furniture project requires skeleton leaves. They can be bought in Michaels and other craft stores but there is no challenge and creation in buying stuff:-). If you dont know how they look, here they are:

So what we need for creating this beautiful leaves:

1) leaves

2) old phone book or other old book

3) baking/washing soda

4) green tea (leaves)

5) old tooth brush

6) knife

There are two ways to skeletonize leaves. 

First way. Fastest one

Step 1. Go to park, it's beautiful outside now. Collect leaves. Green/yellow/brown...If leaves are green put them to the book and leave them there for couple weeks. If they are dry - they are ready to use. I

Step 2. Prepare cup of hot strong green tea. No sugar. 

Step 3. Put leaves in tea for couple minutes.

Step 4. Now you need pan and green tea. Prepare strong green tea in the pan.

Step 5. Add baking or washing soda to green tea. 2-3 big spoon to half a liter of tea.

Step 5. Add baking or washing soda to green tea. 2-3 big spoon to half a liter of tea. Boil leaves until the leave's "meet" became soft and start separating from  skeletosn. For each type of leaf it will be each own time. Usually 20-30 minutes, oak and maple leaves should be boiled more than hour. You can boil leaves using microwave.

Step 7. Now you should dry your cooked leaves. Put them into the oven or microwave and let them completely dry

Step 8. Your leaves now looks really ugly. It should be so. Don't worry:)

Step 7. Back to green tea:) Make another cup of tea. For all steps tea should be really hot.

Step 8. Using tooth brush start to remove all  leaf "meat"

Step 9. You should be really careful and patient. Leaves are really fragile so probably you will brake couple. 

Step 10. When you decide that you got skeleton leaf - take a iron, put you leaf on the white paper, cover it with another layer of white paper and press it.

Step 11. If you want color leaves before ironing put your leave into food colouring.

It was the first and fastest way to skeletonize leaves. 

Second way.

Put dry leaves into the water and leave them there for a week or two. After some times the leaf meat starts to separate from skeleton. Then you should wash leaves with water.

"+" - time and water do all your job.

"-" - you should wait for a long time

"-" - the water is really stinking. 

After couple years of practice and tons of wasted leaves you probably will be able to create something like leaf on picture below. I am just kidding:)

Good luck!

Sources for the first and last picture: http://hmhome.ru/; http://www.skeletonleaf.co.uk/

All about Doctor Watson - handmade dog toy

Let me introduce - Doctor Watson and Tanya Suliz. Doctor Watson is english bulldog created by Tanya- incredible artist from Kiev, Ukraine. She makes her toys in dry felting technique.

The doctor Watson is cute and curious. What is he looking for here? 

Maybe squirrel?  Or evidents on crimes scene?

Or friends?

But I think he is looking for new owner. Do you want to be the one? 

Unfortunately Tanya has no her own store, a lot of here toys can be found in her blog. If you live in Kiev  you are happy one, you can meet Tanya this weekend and moreover learn how to create such amazing toys like Doctor Watson, Knopka (see on picture below) and other pets :). This weekend in Tanya is providing master class in Kiev.

All info about this class can be found here. If you want to buy toys or any questions you are also welcome to Tanya's blog