Crafter in the Spotlight 20 Dec

Hello crafty folks! I am back after a short & sweet break. The Itsy Bitsy Creativity Carnival in Bengaluru was a huge success! Big thanks to all the arty crafty people who made it possible with their love and support.

I am sure everyone is in a holiday mood now, getting ready for Christmas and the New Year! Amidst the festive atmosphere, here I am with an inspiring story of yet another ardent crafter, Mary Antonia Raj from Bangalore, in today’s “Crafter in the Spotlight”.

Mary is a versatile and enthusiastic crafter who enjoys Decoupage, Mixed Media & Paper crafting. She is a self-taught jewelry designer and loves working with beads. Mary believes in creating from the heart and enjoys every moment of the process.

Read along to find more about Mary’s journey. How did she get into crafting, what inspires her, what are her tips for fellow crafters, her favourite quote, how would she contribute to the crafting world if she had magical powers? Also, catch glimpses of a step-by-step Decoupage tutorial project by Mary. Don’t forget to shower your love on Mary in the comments section!

 

Rashmi Closepet M.D Itsy Bitsy: Tell us a bit about yourself & your background?

Mary Antonia Raj: Hi! I am Mary Antonia Raj. I am a teacher & a designer. I was born in Sri Lanka & raised in Madurai. I am settled in Bangalore for the past 22 years. I have a degree in Sociology, Diploma in Fashion Designing & also have completed my Teachers Training.

 RC: How did you get into crafting?

MR: My interest in crafting grew when I was seven years of age. I guess I inherited it from my family. I started with embroidery, sewing, making cards & paper crafts followed. In those days, we crafted with what we had around us such as old greeting cards, calendars, fabric etc.  I absolutely love beads and I am a self-taught jewelry designer too.

RC: What is your favourite type of craft?

MR: I love Decoupage, Mixed Media, Paper crafting & Jewelry Making.

 RC: What are your favourite products at Itsy Bitsy?

MR: My favorite products at Itsy Bitsy are many. I love the Chalk Paints, Crackle Medium, Clear stamps, Thin cut dyes, etc.

RC: If you had magical powers, how would you contribute to the Crafting world?

MR: I would spread the magic & love of handmade. I would have everyone learn at least one form of hobby craft.

RC:  Your prized possession in your craft stash from Itsy Bitsy?

MR: My prized possessions from Itsy Bitsy in my stash are the Chalk Paints and Clear stamps.

RC: How would you describe your style of crafting?

MR: My love for vintage & distressing reflects in most of my decoupage, mixed media projects & cards.

RC: How do you organize your time for crafting?

MR: Once I am done with my routine household duties, I then craft for the rest of the day. It is so relaxing to craft especially during the afternoons & late at night, when all is quiet.

I spend almost 3 -4 hours in a day on crafting.

 RC: Tips for people who want to craft

MR: Start crafting something simple. Create what your heart says. Once you get into a particular kind of crafting, you will realize how much joy & pleasure it is to create by yourself.

RC: Your all -time favourite quote?

MR: “Be Yourself” is what I believe in, and is what I am.

Here is a Step by Step project by  Mary Antonia Raj

My project is how to transform an ordinary note book cover into a keep sake treasure by using decoupage technique.

STEP -1

Take a hard bound or thick note book & apply gesso. Let it dry completely .

 

STEP -2

Choose a desired paper tissue design. Apply decoupage glue at the place where you want your design. Place the tissue carefully & fix it without any wrinkles and air bubbles.

STEP- 3

Choose a color which compliments the picture. I have used Little Birdie’s Wild Wasabi & Marsh Green Chalk Paints to blend the picture to the background.

STEP-4

To complete the background, I have used a stencil from Itsy Bitsy. The Chalk Paint I have used here is Misty Rose.

STEP-5

To finish the project, I have added a thin glitter border which I purchased a few years ago from Itsy Bitsy & distressed with light brown acrylic paint at the edges of the note book cover.

STEP-6

Give a coat of varnish to complete and seal the picture.

Here are a couple of  Mary’s other awesome creations:

Many congrats  Mary for being the CRAFTER IN THE SPOTLIGHT – ITSY BITSY!!

You will receive Rs.500/- Itsy Bitsy gift voucher & a Crafter in the Spotlight badge, which can be proudly displayed on the side bar of your blog and other platforms. Looking forward to many more creations, Happy Crafting!

 

 

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