Hello everyone! As you might have noticed, I´ve met quite a few of my international scrappy friends this year (it´s been a good year – meeting creative friends is the best!!!). Some of them I met at various events/fairs and some of them I visited or they visited me. The latest visitor came a long way across the big ocean and stayed a few days at my place. We had been talking about this get-together for a loooong time and it was so great we could finally make it work!

(click the photo ABOVE to see the person I am talking about 🙂 :-)…)

Besides doing sightseeing and eating lots, we also took some time to get creative together! I really enjoyed having Tina around and I wish she could have stayed longer. BUT there is always next time, isn´t there!!! So we naturally went looking for fun junk to alter. Part of it was sponsored by my lovely husband – thanks for the great old bicycle lamps, honey!! AND part of the treasures were found at the Naschmarkt Flea Market. After having gathered all kinds of pieces together, our hands were itching for some creative time. We both altered a bicycle lamp to a mixed media art doll. Both in our own way. Today I´m sharing my creation here with a little tutorial to go with it and Tina will share her´s on her blog (follow this link). This is how I created my “Theia”:

Step 1 – First, attach the lamp and the podium together with screws and make sure the parts do not move around. Without sanding or pre-treating the surface, start applying the Black Decor & DIY paint onto the lamp surface. Let dry and then apply a layer of Crackle Medium. It is best to let it dry over night. Repeat the same procedure on the podium, but this time using the Decor & DIY and paint in the color Mankato.

Step 2 – If the Crackle Medium is strong like mine and the cracks are too wide/big, apply another layer of paint. I needed to do this.

Step 3 – Take 4 sheets of old book paper and fold them into a fan. Glue together with hot glue to create a circle. Attach it to the “doll head” with hot glue. Add vintage photo  distress ink around the edges and spray with water mist to get the ink to react and spread. Dry with a heat gun. Then apply silver glitter glue for interest. Let dry.

Step 4 – Attach a brass crown on top of the “doll head” with hot glue. Add some Mankato toned paint on top to alter it. Attach half pearls on top. Next attach a piece of lace as a “hair band” and create a bow. Glue down with hot glue (but don’t burn your fingers!). Decorate with half pearls. Attach jump rings as earrings to both sides of the head.

Step 5 – Create a sentiment sign (mine says: ‘Explore Life’, and is made out of a piece of old book paper with a rub-on statement). Glue it in place with hot glue. Paint chipboard stars with Decor & DIY Paint in Black, and attach around the podium. Wrap a strip of silver yard on top and attach a half pearl on top of each star. Alter some brass pieces and attach with heat glue. I used various brass leaves for decoration. One on front and two as wings on both sides.

Step 6 – Finally use hot glue to glue down false eyelashes and attach a row of small half pearls on top. You can add more decorations to it if you would like, but I only added a little DIY lace flower on the back of the folded paper piece. That way the back of the doll also looks more interesting. The doll now decorates my studio area. The doll reminds me a bit of the Pixar lamp, but also has elements of a frilled-neck lizard, a gypsy princess and even Achilles. How’s that for a junk lamp art doll?

I hope you get inspired to take a second look at junk lying around your house and create a fun decoration out of it!! Have fun!!!

…and now make sure you check out Tina´s creation!!! I love her work, and this piece is no exception!!!! It was such a pleasure having you around Tina, I miss your company very much! We need to do this again very soon – one way or the other 🙂 !!

Happy creating,
xxx, Sanna

Supplies:
Tattered Angels – Decor & DIY Paint – Ebony
Tattered Angels – Decor & DIY Paint – Mankato
Crackle Medium – Viva Decor
7gypsies – Jump Rings
7gypsies – Jump Rings – Antique Silver
Silver yarn
Chipboard stars – Wycinanka Scrap & Decou
Half pearls – Zva Creative
Old latin book sheets from a flea market
Vintage photo Distress Ink – Ranger Ind. Inc.
Lace from a junk store
Silver glitter glue
Brass elements – another flea market find
Tim Holtz Rub-Ons
Scissors & Heat glue
Paper glue & Paint brushes