More Fun with DecoArt Crackle



I thought I would share a Christmas present I made for my dear friend who loves everything knitting and which also fulfilled my desire to keep on crackling after the fabulous Mixology event in Coventry in November!


I saw the knitting needle box kit in the Tando Creative shop at the Mixology event and ordered it when I got home. It sat for a little while as it really is quite a big project to cover and crackle!


I started on the top of the box - making it up first and then covering it with torn pieces of brown stamped tissue paper (I think 7 Gypsies - something which has been in my tissue drawer for a while). Everything got a final coat of mixed medium and I left it to dry overnight. 


When it was fully dry I gave it a coating of DecoArt Crackle Glaze and again left it overnight to dry completely so that I could then rub Vintage Photo Distress Ink all over to highlight the crackles.


I wasn't too sure what to do with the base of the box, but before I made it up I painted it inside and out with a bit of a mixture of DecoArt Raw Sienne and Burnt Umber Acrylic Paints. It still looked a bit basic so I used a large wood stamp and Archival Brown Ink to create some "woody" texture on the outside. It worked so well my friend thought it was wood !!!


And then some fun decorating the top of the box. The Knitting Needle  words come with the kit and I painted them in Burnt Umber and gave them a bit of a crackle too.


The finished box which I have to say I was very pleased with and which nearly didn't get wrapped up as a Christmas present! I will just have to make another one for myself ……


And on a knitting theme I also made quite a number of these Fair Isle wrist warmers for Christmas presents too. I am not very good at knitting fingers in gloves so when I saw a friend at the Spinners Guild knitting these I got rather hooked!


They were also nice and light to post as well.

Thank you for joining me today and I must apologise for not having been a great visitor of blogs this last couple of weeks. 

I am starting to feel a lot better after the second lot of foot surgery last week and although I am still having to sit with my foot "higher than my heart" I can just about manage to balance the keyboard on my lap! So hopefully I will be able to get back to normal soon, although a visit to the craft room is a while away yet!

Jennie x




Comments

SewPaperPaint said…
Oh Jennie, so sorry to hear you are in recovery. Do hope it continues to go well. What a fabulous and thoughtful gift this is! So sweet and absolutely gorgeous! And your hand warmers are THE COOLEST THING!!! Love them and so need a set! :) Hugs, Autumn
Julia Aston said…
What a gorgeous knitting needle box Jennie! I too thought it was wood when I looked at it. I love the top decorations - AND your wrist warmers are just beautiful! I love the colors and pattern! Keep that foot up - that's a difficult position having it above your heart! Glad you are feeling better and on the mend! Julia xx
Fabulous vintage crackle on the box - what a brilliant gift... and with those lovely hand warmers you're making, I think you deserve one for yourself too!

Take good care of yourself... here's hoping your recovery will be swift and smooth.
Alison xx
Almo said…
This is such a lovely needle box gift for your friend Jennie I think you had a few of us fooled thinking it was wood, Beautiful floral decorations too. Sound like you have to keep that poorly foot up quite high! hope its not to uncomfortable, wishing you a speedy recovery, take it easy. Mo x
Brenda Brown said…
A wonderful crackled box for the needles, I am sure your friend loved it too and fabulous knitting - I haven't done any for years apart from starting some simple bits of the girls.
Take care.
hugs Brenda xxx
A Pink said…
I would have LOVED a box like this for my needles back in the days when I used to knit regularly. Its wonderful Jennie and so practical too .
You really are incredibly creative - being able to master the art oif knitting fair isle isn't the easiest thing to do but you have it nailed . The wrist warmers are fab too .
Your friend must have been thrilled to bits with her gifts
hugs x