The White Hart in the Enchanted Wood by Kat Hazelton

To see a white Hart is a rare moment of magic. This beautiful creature has a rich history surrounded in myth and legends and is a creature beloved by Kings and Queens. In Celtic mythology it is a messenger from another world sometimes associated with Herne the Hunter, who in folklore inhabited areas of Windsor Forest and Windsor Great Park in Berkshire.

This creature of folklore actually does exist though it is rare to spot one. Occasionally a deer (either a Stag or a Doe) will be affected by a rare genetic pattern that causes a reduction in the pigment of an animal's hair and skin, which is known as leucism. Unlike albinism the deers eyes remain a normal colour.
The name hart is from the archaic word for a mature stag.

To create your own magical scene you will need the following Calico Craft Parts.

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFDEER02-90x75M.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/GBMMB09-200x152-2mm.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFTREE02-90x70M.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFTREE25-90x52M.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFWFLR49-60x50S.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/flowering-wild-grass-decorative-flourish-style-25.html

Other items needed.
Acrylic paints, glue, gilding flakes or metallic paints, die cut paper trees.

I painted my MDF and cut die shapes in soft lilacs, grey and white to give my scene a mystical feel. I painted the stag with several layers of white chalk paint to make him seem almost ghostly! 

For the woodland I glued down my mdf scene in the middle and then added paper trees either side, overlapping to add depth. I used a matt decoupage glue. 

Once dry I trimmed off the overhang of tree branches and started to add the foreground gluing on mdf bushes, grasses and real sticks from my garden. 

To add extra foliage at the front I painted some dried floristry moss in the same colours adding little flecks of silver. 

To make the White Hart more magical I added silver embossing flakes to his antlers. 

For the final finishing touches I added little birds, extra silver gilding around the edge and a Royal Crown. 

Thank you for reading my blog posting. I hope it inspires you to have a go at making your own creations. 

If you have any questions about this project please do message me. I am very happy to help if I can. 

Just want to take this opportunity to thank Calico Craft Parts for asking me to guest design this month and for everyone who has sent me great feedback. Thank you, most appreciated. Kat Hazelton x

Springtime Birdhouse by Kerstin

 

Welcome!

 

Today is in the northern hemisphere, the official beginning of spring.

That inspired me to create a bird house in mixed media style.

 I used delightful chalky colours for a naturally look. 

 

 

 

some close up's

used Calico Craft Parts

Songbirds in Spring Branches 

 Flowering Wild Grass - Decorative Flourish Style 25 in two sizes

Wild Grass MDF Wood Shape - Style 1

Sheet of Mini Hares

 Wildflowers in Grass

 

I hope I was a inspiration for your creative imagination! 

 

Happy crafting!!

 

Many thanks!

Kerstin

Time for Tea by Kat Hazelton.

 

The joy of mixed media projects is you can turn odds and ends into beautiful ornaments, art and gifts. That odd bead, broken necklace, wine cork or spoon can with a touch of paint, a dabble of texture paste or sprinkle of glitter be transformed into a thing of beauty! When I was asked to step in as guest designer for Calico Craft Parts I must confess with it being so close to Easter I was tempted to do a project with bunnies and eggs! But then I began thinking back to the hazy days of being off school for Easter Holidays. One of the things I loved doing, apart from eating chocolate of course, was to bury my head into books such as Enid Blyton adventure series or Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland! Even as an adult it is a book I return to and still enjoy. So with this idea in mind I dug about my box of crafting bits and bobs found a little plastic 'Alice', a cat shaped bead, some pretty plastic flowers! Then I saw a fab MDF teapot shape on Calico Craft Parts website and an idea formed!

To make your own teapot you will need from Calico Craft parts

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/teapot-mdf-mixed-media-board.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFRABBIT10-90x54M.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/sheet-of-mini-mdf-steampunk-motifs-style-4.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFSPCLK02-90x90M.html

http://www.calicocraftparts.co.uk/MDFMINICOGS06-SetS.html

Other items.

Paints, glue, die cut paper shapes, glitter, crayons, and bits and bobs! Plus ribbon or string to hang your tea pot once finished.

To make a start I always paint all my MDF parts and paper die cuts white I find this gives a nice base to add colour paints, inks and pastes. The texture is created using stencils and texture paste.

Even though I wanted a steampunk feel  I decided to add a bright blue and gold instead of traditional steampunk colours.

I felt this was more 'Wonderland!' 

I based the clockface hands on the clock face of Elizabeth Tower, the famous tower better know by most people as Big Ben. The hour hand has a heart shape which I thought was perfect choice for my Alice in Wonderland clock.

To make them I drew the design onto card then carefully cut them out with a scalpel knife. I painted them both with black acrylic paint and edged them with gold.

I painted the little white rabbit with acrylic paint giving him a little coat. I then painted the mdf pocket watch with gold paint and added gloss to the face. I then added a gold painted cog to the back of the pocket watch to give it a steampunk'd look. The little chain is made from knotted gold thread the same used to hang Christmas baubles. Later I add a little pink crayon to his nose and inner ears.

The wording for Tea Alice was done using little word beads which I painted with some gold paint. I then glued on all my bits and bobs adding touches of gold paint to blend them into the project. 

My finished tea pot! 

Thank you for reading my first blog posting for Calico Craft Parts. I hope your enjoyed it and that it inspires you to have a go at making your own creations.

If you have any questions about this project please do message me, I am very happy to help if I can. 

Kat Hazelton. 

 

Home decor for Springtime by Kerstin

 Welcome creative friends!

 

I was inspired to create a rustic easter basket as home decoration for the springtime.

I used the MDF Trug Kit - Style 1

only as basket without the handholds. Single shapes were painted with simple acrylic colours.

 

some close up's

 

 

used Calico Craft Parts

 

MDF Trug Kit - Style 1

Sheet of Mini MDF Label Holders Wood Shapes

Sheet of Mini Hares - MDF Wood Animal Shapes

Hen & Cockrell Side by Side

Hen & Cockrell Beak to Beak

 

I hope I could inspire you! 

Have fun realizing your own visions and ideas!

 

Thanks for your visit!

Kerstin