A jewellery box

Hello again!!
Today  I'll show you how I transformed a box I bought from IKEA   for just 4 euros into a lovely jewellery box.

 The box is divided into little 'sections' which are just perfect for storing  necklaces  and bracelets which are quite bulky and take up most of the space in drawers and smaller boxes.

  I have always had this problem with necklaces made of beads and big stones which I quite like, but are difficult to store , keep them in good condition and  find them easily when you are in a hurry and can't spend  ages trying to locate them among a trillion other accessories!
I was very pleased to find this big, white box ,which actually  put an end to my 'what -to -wear -tomorrow'quest!
 I arranged everything nicely inside and put the box on a chest of drawers in my room.
Next, I decided to make it look pretty and more attractive .

 I picked two paper napkins from my collection and used decoupage glue and varnish to transform it into a  smart and pretty jewellery box which looks nice next to other smaller jewellery boxes and perfume bottles in my bedroom.

 I'm happy with the outcome and with how handy this box proved to be.

 That's all for now , dear friends. I wish you all a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!!
Take care and have fun!!!!

                                                                            Tina xxx

Decoupage on the...... tray!

Hello dear readers !!!

It’s been such a long , long time since I last posted anything in my little blog . I really missed it  and you!!.

Anyway, I’m back with yet another idea for an easy craft.

You know I have been recently a bit addicted to chalk paint and have tried it on a variety of items.  Among other things I’ve painted, is this old and very indifferent  tray that I’ve had for some years , featuring    starfish, sea shells and pebbles. I have been using it and hating it daily and I had to transform it or do away with it!

 After using two coats of chalk paint the starfish were gone and the tray acquired a lovely matt finish in a soft shade of grey – brown.   

 I used one of my favourite paper napkins inspired by art nouveau  in Paris, decoupage glue, varnish and acrylic paints in black, light brown and silver  and……… this is the outcome!

 I have already used my ‘new’ tray for some stylish coffee drinking and I’m quite pleased with it.

 I hope you liked the idea and that you try transforming items that you have in your house and you are not pleased with. Don’t throw things away , just give them a new life ( when this is possible).

 Take care dear readers and enjoy this new week. February will soon be here and we will be some steps closer to Spring !!!

Till next time,

Tina xxxxx 

P.S. Follow me on  instagram ( creamlinen.gr) for a more frequent and immediate contact.  T. 

Decoupage on canvas for children’s rooms

Hello, hello dear friends! I hope you are all well and enjoying November weather and activities.

Today is a rainy day in Greece, which I quite like ’cause it hasn’t rained for months and we need the change.

 As you can see from the title of this post, I’ll talk to you about a very easy but pretty make for a  child’s room, using decoupage on canvas.

 When I  started decorating my little boy’s room, I realized that there were very few ‘paintings’ for children, in the market. I know you can find  a large variety of lovely items if you search the net, but the original ones are quite expensive and I personally prefer originals. I paint, so I can make them myself, but the time is never enough these days , so I decided to combine a bit of painting with decoupage.

I bought canvas on cardboard which can be afterwards framed, some paper napkins and I used  decoupage glue and lacquer , plus paint brushes and acrylic colours .

  1. You first use a primer to paint the surface you want to work on.

2. Then, you cut out the part of the napkin(s) you are going to use,

 3. When the primer is dry, you put each cut-out on the canvas and with soft , careful strokes you apply the coat of glue with the paint brush, starting from the centre of the cut-out and moving outwards.  

4. When it is dry, you can use varnish to make it brighter and protect its surface. I used a product which is both glue and lacquer.

 It is easy  to make and if you are good at drawing/painting you can add some details using acrylic paint (e.g. clouds, birds, flowers,  letters and some extra colour – you do this before you apply the varnish).

 As you can see I made two 'paintings'.  My little boy helped me in this photo shooting and he was really happy to help his Mummy!!

 If you like, you can use a frame for your ‘paintings’ to complete the look and make it more ‘professional- like’!

 I have also made good progress in crocheting a blanket for my son’s cot.

 I’m planning to make it a lot bigger- suitable for a single bed- but for the time being it suits the little bed quite well. 

 I quite like this blue-grey-white combination and I believe my little one will use it for years,  as the colours are suitable for every age.

 I had lots of left over yarn from different projects, which I wished to use but didn’t know how. So I started crocheting a granny square using the yarn with a random choice of colours. 

 The square got bigger and bigger and a little  ‘toy and game blanket’ finally emerged!!

 I love the crazy combination of colours and I think it looks good among the soft toys and on the floor. Of course, I continue crocheting more and more rounds every time I feel like it and I hope it finally turns out quite big.

 Well, that’s all about my crafty activities these days, I’ll leave you now, wishing you a lovely November weekend with many fun ,crafty moments .

My love,

Tina xxx

A napkin case and an egg stand for spring!

Hello, hello dear readers!!!!

I have been absent from blogland for some days now  and I can really say I missed it!!!. Although I have been very busy at home and at work, I found some time to do a few little crafts to show you today.

But  before  talking about crafts let me show you some pictures from my little world these days .

 Oh , I’ m very proud of my little strawberry plant which managed to grow an amazing - for its size- fruit!

Look at it ,isn’t it beautiful? So red and juicy!!!

I adore creating little scenes with  toys and other creatures , in the garden or at home . The little girl in my heart  gets immense pleasure by looking at them and  dreaming  of fairy tale lands JJJ!!!

Easter is next Sunday for us and so I  made an egg stand for my red eggs.

 I  painted  a little wooden hen in a bright  yellow colour and added  a few flowery details,  using decoupage glue.

  I added a red ceramic egg, and voilά!! It is quite cute , isn’t it?

 I had two more little hens and I opted for a white colour for them . I ornated  their tiny necks with ribbons and put them on my kitchen shelf. I love their simplicity!!

Finally , I  decorated a napkin case to use on my Easter table.

 Step 1: I painted the wooden case lemon green .

Step 2: Then, I rubbed   the whole surface with a white candle.

 Step 3: I painted the case again, using a turquoise blue .

 Step 4: I used sandpaper to gently rub the whole surface thus revealing the lemon-yellow colour underneath.
             This way you make your object look old and give it a vintage style!
Step 5: I decorated it inside and on its sides using a favourite paper napkin with spring flowers and a decoupage glue.

Step 6: I  varnished the case using a special matte varnish for decoupage.

Tadah!!!!

 I love, love , love it!!!

It is is to make and very impressive .

 I hope you liked my little ideas and I wish you a lovely Sunday .

Happy Easter to all of you who celebrate this week!!

My love  to all.

Tina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx