Christmas Cheer for Imaginarium

Altered Pringle Tins and Bauble 

By Sue Smyth 

I love to recycle, and pringle tins are one of  the best 

and most rewarding things to  decorate.

 I wanted to do 

a Christmas theme but not so much that I could not 

use this throughout the year.

I was after an ornate look, as if it might be an artifact 

or piece from a royal palace, so  I knew gold would be in the mix lol.

I simply adore how the antique beads came up. I have 

used cheap gold and coloured beads and rolled

them in a dish of Alcohol ink

Here I have used Mushroom and Cranberry to give 

them an aged look. They remind me of  mercury glass I think.

I have also used a cheap plastic snowflake decoration

as the base for the tree tin.

I have decorated the front with ID frames and sunbursts

then set a jewel or resin rose

in the centre, I just could not resist

adding a sweet bird trinket too.

This is a pringle tin, and I have used 

a fibre bristle tree on top, but I have sprayed it 

red with Dylusions post box red.

Then I have brushed Dimensional magic (or glue)

over the bristles and rolled it in gold 

glitter!!! It looks superb in real life.

This tin is a Chai tea tin ( I have sprayed the inside with 

black spray paint to disguise any marks left inside)

The finial on tip is an old Christmas tree topper.

I have sprayed it with matt black spray paint

and rubbed over with Alchemy gold 

wax.

Check out how I achieved the texture on the surface 

on my mini tutorial below 

Antique Bauble 

My next project uses much the same techniques as above but 

with a few twists.

This gorgeous bauble uses ID border chipboard 

and two doiley chipboard shapes.

I wanted it to look good no matter what angle you

looked at it.

Then I have layered a large filigree trinket with a sunburst

Chipboard. then a ruby gem.

Around the edge I have added dimensional magic 

and some beautiful red micro beads, I have 

used a pointed tool to mooch them into 

shape. I also love the mirror glass shards

that I randomly adhered to the spikes of the 

chipboard.

I started with just an ordinary foam bauble from

Kmart...costing 2.00 

I snipped out the centre of the doily so it would 

fit over the bauble top.

Then with texture paste (as this has more grabbing power on round 

objects) I have glued the chipboard onto the bauble.

The tip is to spray the chipboard with a little water

first, then it will mold nicely to the shape.

Then add rubber bands to hold in place while it dries.

Once texture paste is dry, paint with black gesso.

Then paint with orange Dylusions paint, leaving 

little bits of black showing.

Then I have rubbed over Inka Gold, in Copper, and Red.

Then I added a little Metallic Red and Gold Alchemy wax 

because I liked the colours.

Over top of that add more gold paint rubbing over the 

raised areas and decorate as above to finish.

Altered Tins Tutorial 

These are the humble containers I started with.

Add a generous amount of texture paste.

Then add some trim to the top and bottom and stipple 

the texture paste, then I have used 

glass beads. just at the top and bottom not the middle.

Spray the border chipboard with a little water and

wrap around the tin, add a rubber band to hold in place.

I have done the same for the second tin.

When Texture paste is dry, paint them black with gesso.

Then paint over with orange dylusions paint. I have used

orange because it is close to gold in colour and 

I wanted an over all gold humm.

Then rub over with Red, copper and gold inka gold

to finish and decorate the front and lids as you like.

Happy Crafting 

and a Very Merry Christmas to you all

thank you for following my crafty projects throughout 

the year and I hope I inspired you all 

Sue Smyth 

imaginarium fairy business

Fairy Business 

By Sue Smyth 

Recently I went to an visual installation that featured

fairies, dragons and elves, it was gorgeous.

It so inspired me to do a woodland

fairy canvas  

First I started with crumpled tissue paper, which I painted 

black, then I added wood fibre, also painted black

Then I painted the canvas moss green and dried

it off . And then added

inka Gold and metallic paints.

Next I altered a plastic doll to look like

a woodland fairy.

The wings are a large butterfly which

has had moss added to it.

I have added a skirt in sheet moss 

Cloisonne Butterfly technique 

This is one of my favourite techniques (please forgive the blurry

shot here lol)

Cover a chip butterfly with 

Purple liquid pearls, use 

a toothpick to move it out to the edges nicely.

Then add dots of gold liquid pearls.

Then use a toothpick to swirl the 

gold around the purple while it is 

still wet. Dont over do, 

then allow to dry. 

Then I have arranged my canvas, added

vines, tiny mushrooms, pine cones and flowers.

Here are some close ups to show the details

A little Christmas Cheer 

With the silly season almost here, my thoughts 

turn to decorating. 

This was a purchased book box that 

I thought would be lovely if decorated in side.

So I added some background paper then the 

ID window, which is covered with my 

faux snow..see below for recipe

It gives a wonderful textured look to the window

Then some green moss looks like 

foliage, especially when I have

dabbed it with a little white gesso to 

create a snowed look.

I have tucked some Tim Holtz deer in side the window too and 

of course some ID chipboard trees, also 

covered in the faux snow.

Faux Snow 

It is really difficult I know lol

1 teaspoon of white gesso

1 teaspoon of white glitter 

mix together until happy, add more glitter for more

texture.

You can use fine glitter (which I have) or 

chunky glitter for a more textured look.

Happy Crafting 

October spookiness

October Spookiness 

By Sue Smyth 

I love decorating, whether it is for Halloween or Christmas 

so each year I make a spooky book to 

use in a Halloween display.

I have been experimenting with lashed binding

on the spine and wanted to incorporate it in this project.

This year I wanted to do Dracula's Diary and I had the

idea in my head for most of the year.

I wanted to use fangs and bats and trinkets along 

with a neat key or two.

Here I have embossed one of the chipboard swords with

Stampendous aged silver embossing powder, it is 

great for covering chipboard and is even better when 

done twice.

The fangs were painted black, then cut in half.

then rubbed over with gold paint, 

I have stuffed the top of them

with shredded muslin.

I have painted the trinket with black gesso, let sit

for a minute or two then wipe 90 percent of

it off with a baby wipe for a better

antiqued look.

My boys love dragons, and I found in Kmart

some plastic dragons and a mini castle play set(see below)

and thought this would make a great 3 D top for a box.

I love the texture of the castle, once you

paint it with black gesso and add colour over the top

the texture is enhanced.

I love the vibrant dragons eye, quite by

accident I put lots of black seed beads

around and they kinda covered the edges

like the eyelids of a dragon.

The head I cut off the toy and glued onto the

top of the castle.

I wrapped black fibre around the base and

pushed into the glue to add strength.

That lovely Dragon eye.

The wing I wanted to have a red tinge to it

so I have added red inka gold over the top of the blue and 

purple inka gold.

This is toy set I used...so cool

The base was a box from Couture Creations Seasons Greeting

set 

Add you layer of texture using chipboard and 

adhering it down with gel medium.

After adding a layer of texture paste with a stencil

that resembles scales, I added the Emma frame

but cut it up to fit.

Once you have all of your texture on,

paint with black gesso, I think

this is kind of nice even with out the 

next layer of paint.

Now dry brush with after midnight Dylusions paint. 

This gives the box a bright blue hum under the 

final layers.

Then dry brush cobalt inka gold over top with a fan

brush.

Then add spots of purple and green as desired.

Finish with a final layer of Art Alchemy Metallique gold wax.

I have included a few photos of my altered book display for 

Halloween.

This is why I do so many, they look cool on display dont you think?

Happy Crafting 

From Sue