• About

All Sparkled Up

~ Like dew hanging from the tip of a leaf, a single bead or word adds sparkle where there was none. BE the bright!

All Sparkled Up

Category Archives: Gilded Life

Tile work

27 Saturday Jul 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in crafts, Gilded Life, God, home decor, lighting, photography, projects, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

home, house, kitchen remodel, painting, replacing tiles, tile, tilework

The facebook post said “What has been your favorite find lately? Please share!!” They found a pair of ornate candelabra lamps. I haven’t purchased anything lately but figured surely I could find something “for a whole new purpose” in this overstuffed house. Perhaps an item I had forgotten. Hmm, yes, there was the old mirror still in the garage. That would do. It was my father-in-law’s and I’ve been planning on cleaning it up for a couple years now. How can years go by like that? Years!

Anyway, we were just talking about the tile work in the kitchen and I mentioned we needed six tiles as close as possible to the original tile to fill the hole. Photography is really difficult in such a dark kitchen so we’re painting all the cabinets white and the walls a beautiful creamy white. I can’t wait! The lighting will be glorious! Here is my cluttered, dark, Kitchen Before, with out-dated orangey woodwork, brass knobs and fruit-that-matches-NOTHING tiles.

Stove area before the redo, with fruit tiles that don't match a thing in my entire house and orange wood cabinets.

Stove area before the redo, with fruit tiles that don’t match a single thing in my entire house and orange wood cabinets.


As we talked about the tile, my husband remembered the old boxes of discontinued tile samples in the garage. They were being thrown out from a construction job eight years ago. What a surprise! Look at my amazing new craft supplies!
Tile samples.

Tile samples.


Granite tile samples

Granite tile samples


Border, relief and bullnose tile samples. These are heavy and gorgeous!

Border, relief and bullnose tile samples. These are gorgeous!


And in that box of old tile were exactly SIX tiles that EXACTLY matched the color and texture of the existing tile in our kitchen! Now what are the chances of that? Wow! We’re pinching even the pennies we find in the sofa to do this kitchen remodel so finding tiles that match is crazy encouraging!
It was hard to capture the color and texture on the tiles but they match almost exactly.

It was hard to capture the color and texture on the tiles but they match almost exactly.


The new tiles are about 1/16th” too big and the original tile was tightly set so we’ll have to carefully sand off a bit of the new tiles to make them fit. But the surface texture and color match couldn’t be better!

I’m looking forward to using the mirror and working with tile this week. What fun to go treasure hunting in my own garage. God cares about so many little details in our lives and the fact that he made sure eight years ago to stow away six little tiles I’d need today is just amazing.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

The Crown Journal

15 Saturday Jun 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in All Sparkled Up, crafts, Gilded Life, handmade books, journals, tutorial

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

All Sparkled Up, bookmaking, crafts, crown, handmade book, handmade journal, journals, lace, paper crafts, tutorial

The Crown Journal.

The Crown Journal.


For years I made my own blank journals using a standard codex construction with fabric bound spine and hardcovers. The signatures were sewn onto cords or tapes and then glued into the hard cover. This site, Humblebee & Me, has an excellent tutorial for sewing signatures on tapes.

It’s been a few years since I made a handmade journal so I finally had time to make one a couple months ago. I followed Jeanne Oliver’s video for stitching the signatures together from her wonderful The Journey of Letting Go class online . (I highly recommend the class, not just for the terrific art instruction, but also for the heart-felt inspirational videos. Jeanne, you’re the best!) Jeanne’s stitching process for sewing the pages together was easy and fun.

I didn’t photograph the steps to stitch the text block together but here is how I made the Crown Journal cover if you want to make one. This is an abbreviated tutorial but there’s enough here to give you basic instruction to make the lace crown, which would look great glued to an altered book cover. If you want actual measurements, let me know in the comments and I’ll measure some of the components for you.

It was fun going through my stash of supplies to pull out some pretty options.
The dyed seam binding tape, blue sequin fabric, lace and rhinestone chain were from A Gilded Life.
To make the text block, I cut up a sketch pad.
The linen was purchased from sources online.

Glittery trims, lace and rhinestones to make a handmade journal.

Glittery trims, lace and rhinestones to make a handmade journal.

Both front and back covers were assembled the same way. Each cover has a piece of ivory linen and natural color linen, one small and one larger piece of chip board (cut from the back of a water color tablet) and a piece of thin cotton batting for padding under the ivory linen.

The materials used to make the book cover: Ivory linen over batting over chip board, which is then glued to a larger piece of chip board covered with natural linen.

The materials used to make the book cover: Ivory linen over batting over chip board, which is then glued to a larger piece of chip board covered with natural linen.

The batting is lightly glued to the small chip board square and then the ivory linen is placed over top of the batting. This piece is turned over and the ivory linen is glued to the back of the board, mitering the corners on the back.
The natural color linen is glued to the larger board without any batting.

Once the cover pieces are covered with linen, then you get to do the fun stuff!
I lay loose pieces of lace and rhinestone chain on the top of the book cover to see what I liked before gluing anything down.
I also tried several different lace pieces before making up my mind about the crown.

Trying out pieces of lace for the crown.

Trying out pieces of lace for the crown.

To glue such fine netting, I spread tacky glue on the flat lid of a plastic bin and then laid the blue lace in the glue… then quickly picked up the lace while still wet and smoothed it in position on the padded ivory linen.

Gluing the sequined lace on the journal cover.

Gluing the sequined lace on the journal cover.

There was just enough glue on the thin lace netting to glue all the tiny pieces down securely, with no edges pulling up and no glue squishing up. I want the lace to be durable because this journal will last me at least a year.
Crown Journal-2c
The back of this board shows how the edges of the linen and lace are glued down on the back of the padded ivory board.

The back of the top cover piece.

The back of the top cover piece.

To make a lace crown, choose lace pieces that will look like the points of a crown when placed together. I used three different pieces of lace. To curve the lace, cut small slits between the motifs of the lace as shown.
Crown Journal-3a Making the Lace Crown
Here you can see where I snip the lace so it will curve better.

Snipping the lace so it curves better.

Snipping the lace so the edge can be overlapped so it curves better.

Once the lace is ready, glue the pieces together to form the crown.

The lace crown pieces all glued together.

The lace crown pieces all glued together.

Tacky glue is thinly spread on a smooth surface and the lace crown is carefully pressed into the glue.

The assembled crown is laid on wet tacky glue.

The assembled crown is laid on wet tacky glue.

While the glue is still wet, lift the lace crown piece up and carefully position it on the cover and press it down on the ivory linen. It dried fairly fast when I positioned it but I still pressed down in places to make sure it stuck well on all edges.

The crown is carefully positioned on the book cover and pressed down around all edges.

The crown is carefully positioned on the book cover and pressed down around all edges.

Cut rhinestone chain to size using jewelry cutters and glue it down with 527 Multi-Use glue or other strong jewelry glue.

Jewelry cutters are used to cut the rhinestone chain to size.

Jewelry cutters are used to cut the rhinestone chain to size.

I pressed my needle nose pliers into the book cover to make small indentations so rhinestones would set in deeper and more securely. These were glued with the 527 glue also.

If the gems are large, make a small indentation so they can be set more securely into the book cover.

If the gems are large, make small indentations so they can be set more securely into the book cover.

The crown is complete.
Crown Journal-4c
The front of the book cover is ready for the next step.
Crown Journal-4d
While the glue was drying, I made the ribbon rose buds for the journal spine. A length of ribbon was tied to make a loose knotted ribbon rose bud. I made three of these.
To make a knotted rose bud, the ribbon is tied as if about to make a knot, but the ribbon is looped over and over 4 times, not just once like a standard knot. Then when the ribbon is slowly pulled tighter, the layers of wrapped ribbon overlap and form a pretty bud shape. If the ribbon is pulled too tightly, the flower shape disappears and turns into a big knot. So you have to stop pulling while the ribbon is still loose. The ribbon “tails” are folded to the back and then stitched together so the ribbon bud doesn’t come apart. I cut off the excess ribbon and gently fringed the short ribbon tail under the bud.

Making the ribbon rose buds.

Making the ribbon rose buds.

Three lengths of ribbon were stitched and gathered together.
Crown Journal-5b
These longer ribbons were stitched behind the flower buds.

The ribbon loops are sewn to the back of the ribbon rose buds.

The ribbon loops are sewn to the back of the ribbon rose buds.

I ruffled a long length of seam binding tape to use on the front cover. Here it is pinned down on the larger natural linen-covered board as I adjust the ruffles to fit. But before gluing down the ruffle, I glued on the decorative top of the cover.

Seam binding tape is gathered down the middle and the pinned to the cover to check for size and adjust ruffles.

Seam binding tape is gathered down the middle and then pinned to the cover to check for size and adjust ruffles.

I spread tacky glue generously over the back of the ivory cover piece and pressed it down on the larger board.

Glue is squirted on the inside of the top cover piece. After taking this photo, I spread the clue around using an old credit card and made sure the glue extended all the way to the edges and corners.

Tacky glue is squirted on the inside of the top cover piece. After taking this photo, I spread the glue around using an old credit card and made sure the glue extended all the way to the edges and corners. Tacky glue is great because it sets up fast but you have to work quickly.

Some of the glue squished out around the edge but that was good. I used my fingers and a pallet knife to press the folded ruffle into the glue. I used the ruffle folded in half all the way down the length for extra fullness. It was easy to press the center of the ruffled seam binding tape into the glue and it held well. I squeezed more tacky glue into any spaces that didn’t have enough to hold the ruffle well.

The top of the cover is glued on the larger linen-covered board. Then while the glue is still wet, the ruffled seam binding tape is pushed into glue.

The top of the cover is glued on the larger linen-covered board. Then while the glue is still wet, the ruffled seam binding tape is pushed into wet glue between the two boards.

The back cover was different. Instead of a ruffle all the way around, I just pleated the four corners and let the seam binding tape stay flat on the sides. I glued this down before gluing on the back piece.
Crown Journal-7a
I cut a small motif from the blue lace and laid it in glue as for the front cover.
Crown Journal-7b
The glued motif was positioned and pressed down carefully, especially around the lace edges. Here is the finished back cover.
Crown Journal-7c
I glued a piece of decorative paper inside the front and back covers to cover the edges of the linen and lace. The same kind of paper was used to wrap the front and back signatures so they would match.
Crown Journal-8a
Each signature was folded inside a piece of vintage wallpaper or decorative paper. Here you can see the gap between two signatures in the journal.
Crown Journal-8b
I accidentally placed this piece of wallpaper upside down during construction of the journal. I don’t mind because mistakes like this make me smile and remind me life isn’t perfect.
Crown Journal-8c
Once the book was sewn together, I stitched and glued the bundle of ribbon rose buds into the spine.
Crown Journal-9a
Crown Journal-9b
Here you can see the stitching along the spine.
Crown Journal-10
The bundle of rose buds in the spine doesn’t interfere with the book opening fully.
Crown Journal-11
I used a decorative paper punch to punch the edges of pages in random places.
Crown Journal-12
One of the ribbons is threaded in between two signatures to be used as a ribbon bookmark.

One of the ribbons at the spine is used as a bookmark.

One of the ribbons at the spine is used as a bookmark.

Crown Journal-15

The finished Crown Journal.

Crown Journal-14

The binding of this book allows it to open fully, even with a ribbon bundle glued and sewn into the spine.

This journal will last me about a year because I tend to write very small. I’ve been using it for two months so far and it has shown no signs of loosening and all the lace and gems are glued down tight, even when I slide the journal between books on a bookshelf.

I have to confess that this is the prettiest journal I’ve had in a long time. It’s quite heavy and the covers are soft and silky to hold. All the prettiness has had an unexpected impact on me. Each night, when I pick it up to write, I noticed that my writings have become more optimistic. I’m really glad about that because I have a couple old journals that are genuine but much too sad to reread. This is the perfect journal for this time in my life, a time of transition and full of good things, all sparkled up.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Crissy has a Gilded Crown!

08 Tuesday Jan 2013

Posted by Julia Monroe in beading, dolls, Gilded Life, sewing, sparkling

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Crissy doll, Gilded Life, Stash Society, vintage Crissy doll

A box of glittering goodness arrived from Gilded Life’s Stash Society and oh my, what splendid craft supplies! There were glass vials of mica flakes and vintage mother of pearl buttons. There was a vintage trinket box, a mica-dusted cherub, a glass tube of sparkling beads and jewelry supplies. There was a generous piece of ultra-soft, rose-taupe sequined fur. Sequined fur! Not your everyday stuffed animal variety fur. I instantly pictured a garment out of a fairytale, perhaps a baby’s bonnet made of swan’s down or a shawl worn by a princess.

Although these items were beautiful, it was a small, clear box that stole my breath away. Written in gold on the box were the words Thank You and inside was a glittering, miniature beaded crown. What an awesome Christmas surprise!

A beautiful beaded crown from Gilded Life.

A beautiful beaded crown from Gilded Life.

I carefully took the crown out and placed it on the table for a day. It made me happy just to see it. And then I remembered something from long ago and far away. Tucked in an old dusty trunk was my vintage Crissy doll from my childhood in the 60’s, the doll that grows her hair by turning a knob on her back. My mom sewed all Crissy’s clothing, including this stunning pink taffeta and velvet dress and cape, with a sprinkling of hand-stitched pearls and iridescent gold trim.

Vintage Crissy doll, wearing a handmade pink taffeta and velvet dress.

Vintage Crissy doll, wearing a handmade pink taffeta and velvet dress.

Crissy can’t wear just any crown when she dons pink velvet and pearls. My mom’s handwork deserved nothing less than a grand crowning touch. Now, over 40 years later, Crissy finally has a crown befitting the occasion.

Vintage Crissy doll wearing a beaded crown from Gilded Life.

Vintage Crissy doll wearing a beaded crown from Gilded Life.

Thank You Debbie and Shea for the glorious crown!
And Thank You, Ma. I am still awed by your handwork! Love you. ♥

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

If you are a non-WordPress follower, enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Tags

allsparkledup All Sparkled Up altered book art baking beach beads bird bread breakfast cake candy carving cat cats chocolate Christmas Christmas tree cookies craft crafts dessert DIY Easter Easter eggs eggs egg tree encouragement fabric family figs flowers food funny gardening Gilded Girls God granddaughter grandkids heart home decor hope inspiration inspirational jewelry jewelry making joconde light Little Plastic Bears miniature miniatures mixed media mousse nature painting PB & J pets photo photography projects recipe roses salad Scoliosis scripture sewing snow sparkling Spoonflower sunlight sunset Sunset Beach surgery tablescape tea tree tutorial Valentine's Day vintage book words

Archived Posts

Top Posts & Pages

Sourdough Breadstick Cobras
A Welded Valentine!
Marble window sills
Sugar Bonnets
BFN Day - To the Third Neighbor I gave Sourdough Grain Bread

Recent Posts

  • Sfogliatelle
  • Blue Willow Toile
  • The Kitchen tea towel
  • The little cake she decorated
  • Icing flowers
  • Matthew 11:28
  • Christmas at Sea Tablescape
  • Gratitude
  • The Hot Air Balloon mobile has lights
  • Journaling in Coloring Books
  • The Light is still here.
  • A Hot Air Balloon decoration for my granddaughter’s room
  • Coco’s new favorite hangout
  • My kitten is growing
  • English roses fabric

Post Categories

All Sparkled Up allsparkledup altered books American Girl Dolls art baking Baking for Neighbors ballet beach beading BFN birthday books cake decorating calligraphy candy cats Christmas color community cooking Craft Fail crafts DIY dolls drawing Easter encouragement Etsy fabric family fashion design Favorite Childhood Books flowers food Free Idea funny gardening Gilded Girls Gilded Life God granddaughter grandkids handmade books holiday home home decor Inspirational jewelry making journals lighting Little Plastic Bears Mexican miniature mixed media music nature New Years On my Worktable painting party pets photography Princess doll projects recipe Scoliosis Scripture sewing sketchbook sparkling Spoonflower sunlight sunset tea time Thanksgiving The cats time tools travel tutorial Uncategorized Valentine's Day water wedding woodwork words wreath
Follow All Sparkled Up on WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • All Sparkled Up
    • Join 289 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • All Sparkled Up
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: