Guest Designer - Zoe Sanderson

Please welcome our Guest Designer for the Home is Where the Heart is challenge. Zoe Henderson of This Little Place was the top pick from the Staying in the Background challenge.

Hi thank you for inviting me to join you this month as your Guest Designer it is something that has left me feeling somewhat overawed. Art and Craft has always been some part of my life. My Grandmother used to crochet yellow drivers gloves in the ‘60s I was fascinated watching her and seeing the balls of yarn turn into useful objects but I never did master the art of crochet myself. I did learn to knit! In the lead up to Christmas when I was about 7 my Mother brought me a little kit to make Christmas Cards with colouring pencils, glue and glitter.

As a “groan up” many different creative forms have attracted my attention, about 30 years ago I became more seriously interested in paper craft. The hobby now covers a wide spectrum from drawing and painting, to mixed media, to CAS cards and even Jewellery making. With cats it is neigh on impossible to knit or do intricate wire work but I’ll try my hand at just about anything.

The greatest satisfaction comes from experimenting and learning something new.

With Covid_19 effecting us all my sign off has become; Stay Safe, Keep Well, Follow the rules

Home for me is behind my front door! For this project finding a “fairy door” at a British chain called “The Works” became the obvious place to start.

The actual door was given a couple of coats of bright red paint. The surround was then painted brown, laid thickly to give the effect of tree bark. The bank painted green and the sides or river painted blue.

The Americana crackle paint had sealed it’s self so an alternative was used. This paste has to be left for a couple of days to dry and crack, it also dries white. The positive being that if it does not work you can always paint over it. Looking at the surface the idea of using Distress Inks came to me.

Now came the easy part the finishing touches. Florist’s Moss and some die cuts as well as a little metal charm for the door knocker.

It was an enormous amount of fun making this plain wood child’s toy into a delightful ornament. I hope you will enjoy seeing as well as the fantastic work the Funkie Junkie team have made. Will you be having a go yourself?

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Check out all the details for Zoe's sweet door and then come on back and share your Home project with us. The challenge can be found HERE and runs through 11:55 pm EST on Tuesday, November 10th.