Magic Box - Miniature Broomstick Tutorial

 

This is really easy and very messy to make so don't

have a go if you've just had your nails done!

It's a great size to add as a spooky embellishment

on the front of a card
 

 

YOU WILL NEED:

1) one paper clip

2) one length if kitchen towel -
(torn to about 20mm (0.75 inch) wide)

3) one length of brown paper (35mm wide x 170mm long

(1.4inches wide x 6.5inches long)

4) PVA Glue

5) distressing inks 'forest moss' & 'brushed corduroy'

6) short length of sewing cotton

7) paint brush

8) crystal glitter to highlight (optional)

9) Ranger 'Glue N seal' to finish (optional)

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Start with your paper clip and straighten it out.

 2a) Cut it to around 70mm (2.75inches) long

2b) Give it a 'witchy bend' or two

 

 

3) Dab your inks onto a waterproof surface -

I've used a glass coaster here.

4a) Squeeze some PVA glue onto the ink

and mix the colours into it.

You don't need as much glue as this -

my nozzle popped off!!!

4b) Drag the kitchen towel through to

load it with the mix.

 

5) Bind the paper clip to the end

and back again.

Don't worry if it hangs off either end

you can trim when it's dry

6) Clean the glue off your surface

and apply more ink.

Roll the 'broom handle to and fro to pick up

more colour.

This is best done before the 'handle' dries.

 

note: You can also pick up the ink on a paintbrush

to cover any stubborn recesses (clean your

brush straight after).

 

7) Ink up your length of brown paper -

using the same colours as before.

8) Allow to dry, or blast dry with a heat gun,

then cut fine strips across the full length.

8a) Be sure to leave about 15mm (0.6 of an inch)

uncut along the top.

 

9a) Cut fine slits across the other (top) side

leaving about 6mm (0.25 inches) uncut

9b) You don't have to do this all the way along

about three quarters of the length

then trim off from there

10) Run some glue down the uncut area and,

starting with the trimmed end (shown in 9b), 

roll the paper length tightly onto the 'broom handle'

 

11) This is how it should look

12) Run your length of cotton through some ink 

to colour it.

Apply glue to the uncut area of your 'broom'

and wind the cotton tightly round. 

 

13) When the glue has dried snip into the broom

you're aiming to make the 'bristles' irregular in length 

14) Scrunch the 'bristles' to make tem untidy -

think 'bed head' hair style (scruffier the better)!

Fan out the short bristles - 

(along the top, nearest the handle).

 

 You can highlight with crystal glitter or

just varnish with something like Rangers 'Glue N Seal'

It has a matte finish but gives a nice gentle glow.

 

Hope you give it a go and thanks for popping by!

 X 



Magic Box - 'Something Wicked'

 

by the pricking of my thumbs

something wicked

this way comes...

This box was purely for fun.

I love Halloween and I love these lines from Macbeth.

It had to be a blustery, Autumnal day.

I wanted a broomstick - in the air,

 

an old, twisted hat

(made from velvet paper),

 

and a book of spells.

There's a 'bobbly eye' on the front cover...

 

...that bobbles when the book is opened.

 

 

I think I love Halloween more than Christmas.

Is that bad?

 



 X 

 

 

Here's what I used to make the box:

 

Stamps;

Basic Grey clear stamps set 'Eerie Collection'

(for the box and inside panels).

I used the large web. Stamped with VersaFine 'Onyx Black'

and highlighted with black holographic glitter.

 

Star Highlights on inside panels;

A star background stamp I made myself

(I have the Imagepac Daylight Stamp maker)

Stamped using IndigoBlu 'FlitterGlu' - FABULOUS glue!

and sprinkled with holographic gold glitter.

 

Spell book stamp;

Hero Arts wood mounted rubber stamp 'Small Script'.

Stamped using Tim Holtz Distress Inks 'Brushed Corduroy'.

I also aged the pages with this colour.

The page edges are highlighted with ultrafine brown glitter.

 

Punches;

Mini spider punch (monocodirect.co.uk).

Xcut botanical embossing punches;

Oak

Beech

Woodware small maple leaf.

 

Leaves inked with;

Crushed Corduroy

Rusty Hinge

Spiced Marmalade

Mustard Seed

Crushed Olive

 

Box panels inked with;

Rusty Hinge

Spiced Marmalade

Mustard Seed

Crushed Olive

 

The Bats;

I drew the bats (using a white pencil)

onto black card and cut them out.

I applied Woodware black 'Fluffy Stuff' to their bodies.

 

Broomstick;

Handle;

A straightened paperclip bound with a

glue soaked length of kitchen towel.

Inked with 'Brushed Corduroy' and 'Crushed Olive'

after it had dried.

 

Broom Head;

A length of brown paper inked with the above colours.

I cut fine slits along the full width then rolled it onto the handle,

applying small amounts of glue along the way.

I wrapped a small length of sewing cotton near the top -

to mimic a rope tie.

Finishing with highlights of clear and brown glitter.

 

Witches Hat;

I made this from black 'Velvet Paper'.

It held its shape well but was a 'Devil' to stick!

 

-o-



Magic Box - Lovebirds

Well I'm still here!

Hope you will forgive my 'long time no blog'.

I've been busy making boxes but don't always get the time to photograph them.

This box was commissioned by Gloria for her daughter's wedding earlier this year.

The theme of the wedding was lovebirds.

Gloria wanted a hidden message tag within the box.

 

I made a hidden compartment under the lid (flower) panel.

This held a small 'tag book' with a beautiful message from

Mum and Dad.

 

The book was bound using iridescent cord and a mother of pearl heart - pull the cord and the book slides from its hidden compartment.

 

The roses match the ones in the bride's bouquet.

Ivory tipped with maroon.



There had to be a cage with lovebirds inside.

 

I couldn't find a bird cage die small enough...

 

...so I adapted my memory box

'wraught iron gate' die instead. 

 

I had to draw and cut out the lovebirds by hand -

I wouldn't want to do that too often - boy are they small

(smaller than my fingernail)!

 

 

Thank you for your emails and messages you are wonderful!  

 X