At the Hop...

Hello and welcome to my leg of the Twiddleybitz Blog Hop.  Thank you so much for joining us - if you happened upon this hop by mistake, stick around, you’ll be blown away by the fantastic work the Design Team Angels have been creating, I certainly have been!  You can find the schedule here, and then first up with the wonderful Mel Forbes :-)

Thanks to Nic and Andy from Twiddleybitz for having such fabulous CHIPBOARD  products to work with and for developing new products constantly - it’s a pleasure and privilege to work with you and for you.

Throughout the hop you should have been collecting the secret words - usually highlighted (not exactly subtle in the process either!) or bolded...  When you have them all, you need to head back to the NING to send the phrase to the lovely Sandra Wallace by private message.  You will go into the draw to win a Fantastic Twiddleybitz CHIPBOARD prize pack of your very own!!

Each of the Design Team Angels have also been offering Twiddleybitz CHIPBOARD RAKs for people who comment on their blog hop posts - some with conditions - like you have to use their secret word in your comments - I must say we have some very creative people joining us in the blog hop!!

I have been addicted lately to creating the gorgeous ATC Cupboards that were released a little while ago.  I have now made four!!  This last one I made, I experimented and have created a technique I have been playing with for a while now.  

I am a wood girl - The furniture in my home is wood and I love the natural tones of nature... After making 2 black and 1 white cupboards I was “champing at the bit” to create this one.  I  will go through it step by step for you,  I am so excited to share this!!

step 1 - use a eyelet punch to form the 'knots' in the wood - you need to do this to both sides of each piece as you will see front and back of most of them.  Don't do too many!

step 2 - Use a brown marvy marker or similar to create the grain - work in one direction - the direction you think the wood would be cut in - on a real piece of furniture.

Step 3 - create shadows and depth by using black soot distress ink and an empty squash pen(you could use a fine paint brush as an alternative).

Step 4 - blend and colour using vintage photo distress ink and a sponge.

Step 5 - re-define any areas where the grain is unclear.

Step 6 - coat every surface with an even layer of mod podge or similar - allow to dry and repeat for 3 coats for best results.  When applying - use  a thin brush and the brush strokes to emphasise the grain of the wood.

step 7 - use the instructions enclosed with the cupboard for assembly - don't worry, it's easier than the IKEA flat packs!

step 8 - attach the inside paneling of the doors (I have used a printed transparency from Kaiser, making sure the pattern is the right way up and the clocks on either side meet up correctly), and then repeat for the inside panels for the sides of the cupboards (I have used the Kaiser transparency again).  I used dimensional magic to adhere the transparency as it dries clear.

Step 9 - Use a hot glue gun to add the beads as door knobs.

Step 10 - Fill your cupboard with ephemera or Twiddleybitz CHIPBOARD of your choice, attach bling and decorations on the outside if you wish.

Step 11 - use the hot glue gun again to attach the music box mechanism to the lower back of the cupboard.  (Mine plays “Happy Birthday”)

Step 12 - Counter weights will be needed as the mechanism is heavy.  Use 2 size 6 sinkers - underneath in the front corners, adhere them using the hot glue gun again.

I do so hope I have inspired you today.  Please share your creations with us in the NING gallery and join us shortly in the forum for the closing of the Twiddleybitz Hop.  I will be ‘hopping’ over there shortly because I have a surprise for you all!

I have a number of questions for you - all related to the Hop.  Find the answers and send them to me via a private message in the NING forum and you will go into the draw for a Twiddleybitz RAK from me!!!  Also - in case you didn't know, you can chat to us via the heading "Twiddley Chat" on the Ning whenever we're online!!  hint hint - NOW!!!!!

Please be sure to leave me a comment and use that secret word!  All those who do and are 'followers' of my blog will go into the draw to win another secret RAK from me!!!!

Thank you so very much for stopping by - it’s been fantastic!!