Helmar Creative Team

Recycled Rose Journal

As most could of guessed by my posts I love to recycle or upcycle things, so over a period of time I have collected some strange pieces of cardboard and assorted different papers with the intentions of creating an Art Journal with them.

Well guess what I have created...

Materials needed to create a similar project 

2 A4 MDF boards

2 sheets of decoupage paper

assorted flowers, metal embellishments

assorted cardboards, mailing envelopes, fancy thick papers

black acrylic paint 

Art alchemy wax

Helmar Spray Adhesive

Helmar Krystal Kote Matte Varnish

Helmar 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Helmar 3 Dimensiol Scrap Dots


I started with 2 MDF boards and 2 sheets of decoupage papers by Little Birdie.

Using Helmar Spray Adhesive I sprayed both the paper and the board and stuck them together.

I allowed this to dry doesn’t take long at all.

Next step was to paint my MDF boards and the edges with a Matte Black paint blending around the edges of the decoupaged front board.

To protect my MDF painted boards and the decoupaged front board I took my pieces outside and sprayed thoroughly with Helmar Krystal Kote Matte Varnish.

While this was drying or should I say airing because it does omit some toxic fumes (so always spray outside), I started on my decoupage rose piece for the front board.

I have fussy cut this out and then just broke the paper fibres with my stylus to allow the image to sit with a bit of shape. 

I have used scrap dots to secure my decoupaged roses onto the front board image. 

I then decided this project needed some kind of mixed media embellishing.

So I  have cut some ball and chain pieces to use as the flower stems and also added a recycled butterfly piece off a hair band from an op shop all attached with Helmar 450 Quick Dry adhesive.

Used a bit of Art Alcamey wax to add some colour around the board edges and to define the 3D flowers. 

Now onto the recycled pages what a collection I have.

I use the boards to mark the position of where the holes need to be punched and then re enforced all my assorted papers with some cellophane tape to help protect the holes from tearing.

To attach all my pages I have used 2 screw apart threaded DRings. 

Once my album was all completed I finished up with a nice fabric flower on the front.

And that is how you create a recycled journal out of any and all papers and cardboard pieces.

Thanks and please share!

Paperclip Corsets

This month's project is a favourite of mine and I've made them in different forms over the years, little corset paperclips for your journals or other crafting projects.

What you will need:

Helmar Craft Glue, decorative cardstock, smallpieces of lace, yarn and fabric, scissors and if you desire you can use some glitter glue.

To start with decide on your corset image, I used a couple of pre-printed images from the Stamperia paperline 'Princess', I also had some dressform die cuts that I trimmed off at the hip line. If you don't have these things you can quite easily find an image online or just draw your own corset shape.

After cutting my shapes out I chose a backing cardstock. I placed my corset (right side facing me) on top of the cardstock (right side facing down) and traced around the corset. Remember if you are making more than one to mark (on the inside) which corset it belongs to.

I then played around with my laces etc to find the right colours and textures to go with each little corset. My rough measurements are that the 'skirt' will be about two to three times the length  of the corset. If you wanted to make little ballet tutus you would use much shorter pieces.

Using my Helmar Craft Glue and on the reverse side of the image. start to glue the laces etc on, remember the first pieces glued on will be the most visible pieces once you finish so you need to glue these on upside down, be sure to keep flipping the corset over to see how it is looking as you go. Layer your laces and trims and try to have the heaviest/thickest ones last.

 

Once you have glued them all on, flip your corset over and trim any overhanging edges.

Now to work on the paperclip part.  Using the cardstock piece you cut out earlier for the backing, mark a little indent at the top which is the width of the paperclip and cut it out carefully. This is so that the paperclip will not be seen from the front of the corset. Slide your paperclip over the backing cardstock. I like to have the longer part glued inside the corset.

 

On the inside, very generously apply your Helmar Craft Glue all over the paperclip and cardstock and glue the two sides together, press them firmly and allow time for the glue to dry.

 

Once the glue is dry you can decorate your corsets according to your taste and how they will be used. Please remember that if you are going to use them in a book/journal you will need to keep them as flat as you can, I used glitter glues and lace on mine.  You could also make up some 'plain' corsets in advance to be used in future projects.

 

Once everything is dry you can trim up your skirts if needed, I like mine looking 'shabby' so only a little trimming was needed.

Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by the Helmar Blog today and I hope you have enjoyed this little tutorial and will consider making some for yourself or as gifts for others. They are also great to use as bag toppers or even to put on the front of a card.

Take care and have a lovely day xxx

Jeanette