Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts
Showing posts with label craft. Show all posts

Sunday, April 30, 2017

A short tutorial... Glitter Camo Frame

Once upon a time....my boss (true story, but she's my "assistant" boss, I suppose) asked me to "bling" her frame for a fancy certificate she had just received. She said I could do anything I want...

The before. 

The frame...a sad dark brown wood-like thing with a gold paint 'beads' around the inside. 

I used the following for this frame: 

- Acrylic paint
-Various colors of Martha Stewart Ultra Fine Glitter.
-Random nail polish colors to match the glitter colors, and a clear polish.
-"Paillette" nail decor (tiny plastic hearts and stars for fingernail decoration)
-Any clear enamel for topcoat (a sealer works best).



The directions are simple. 

Prep: You will need a flat surface, something to lay under the frame to catch the excess glitter (I used foam plates to 'catch' the glitter and return it to the tubes to use later). Remove the glass and the cardboard backing from the frame. 

1. Paint entire frame with a base coat of any color of Acrylic paint, (I used a light pink, color doesn't matter too much but a light color will let the glitter shine as a lighter color, and dark base coats will make the glitter seem darker in color). 

2. Apply another base coat and let this dry overnight (12 hours). 

3. Allow to dry overnight, or at least 12 hours. 

4. Paint nail polish in sections, one color at a time. Any design or just 'blobs' like I did. Immediately sprinkle heavily with glitter. Let sit for about a minute and shake off excess glitter. 

5. Repeat this process for every color you choose to use. 

6. Using a clear nail polish around the inner edges of the frame, add the paillettes in matching colors.

7. Do any touch ups that are needed. Adding more nail polish and glitter as needed. 

8. Nail polish dries in about 15 minutes, so allow it to dry completely. 

9. Spray entire frame with the clear enamel sealer (take it outside, of course), then allow this to cure for 24 hours. 

10. Replace glass, and cardboard backing....and you're done! 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Crafty Things: Upcycled Ribbon Windsocks




Upcycled Ribbon Windsocks


So, Mondays we have an extra kid...who we will call "The Divine Miss M", bestie with my daughter Crazy Girl. This last Monday ...we couldn't go shopping, and it was too hot to do much else -- so...we crafted. Yay for craft time! 

Please note: there is not wrong or right way to make these...this is just a guide. 

Materials needed: 
   Cleaned plastic bottles
   Ribbon
   Hole punch (if desired)
   Beads (or random things to tie on the ends of the ribbon...also, if desired)

Supplies 



This is just super simple, there is no real right or wrong way to make these. There were 5 of us making these, and no two looked even close to being the same! 

Step 1: Cut plastic bottles so you get some rings. This was tricky, since you want to make sure the rings are all one piece --carefully 'stab' a hole in the bottle and cut around to make your rings. ADULTS should do this. From the Mello Yellow bottle in the picture above, I made these three rings below: 

Plastic rings, cut from a soda bottle.

Step 2: Either punch holes into the lower part of the ring to tie the ribbon on, or tie the ribbon around the entire ring --doesn't matter, really. 

Punching holes worked easiest for us. 

Step 3: Tie all your ribbons on, and add beads, or whatever little thingys you want (washers, or Christmas bells...random things...again, it doesn't matter). 

The kids, only 3 are mine. From left front: The Divine Miss M, Crazy Girl, The Brat, and Daughter S. 

Step 4: Tie a string at the top to hang. I punched two holes and tied ribbon. 


Step 4: Hang them in trees, if you like. They are rather pretty. 

  
















Monday, August 19, 2013

Update: Sweepstakes & a coming soon informational note!

Greetings Blog-world...Blog-ville? Meh. It's been a busy weekend...and I don't have much to add right now..but I have great amounts of good things...very soon. 

So, COMING SOON: 

I have a couple crafts to share, which may or may not contain glitter.


I also have book reviews, one of which I just started reading...so it may be a bit for that one. A couple product reviews also..shhhh...I can't tell you what they are yet, you really must learn to be more patient. 

I have more, but I don't want to be overly ambitious and rush myself into things...so I will leave you with that...for now. 

And now...a few sweepstakes --









Yay..and Good Luck! 



Monday, March 19, 2012

Handmade Watercolor Paints



Here's another find that is far from new. Handmade watercolor paints, made from random things you might have around your house. I found the tutorial and recipe at Lilac Silhouette, which I used. 



The results were great. I followed the directions, using generic products (not name brand). Everything was cheap, this project cost maybe $1.  


The next day, I checked them...and they looked like this. Eek! 
So, I drained off the extra..oil?  And let them dry some more. 


Success!!! Then I tested them...

Yay! They work. It would appear the more food coloring you add, the better the color (obviously). The yellow I made (from the 'drain' photo), didn't show up at all. Next time I will add half the bottle of food coloring!! 

Moral of the story - make your own watercolor paints, especially if they are for kids!





Original idea/tutorial found at:

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Pinterest Find - Enamel Painted Bobby Pins


This idea may have been around for years, but I just found it the other day. What can I say? I'm a little behind the times! The link is HERE, but I doubt anyone really needs the tutorial that's there. 


Anyhoo...painting bobby pins with nail polish is brilliant and overly crazy super insane simple. I added glitter, rhinestones and even used some China Glaze Holographic nail polish (even though you can't see it in the photo). They all turned out great, and my daughters are in love! 


A couple helpful tips, if I may -


~Use card stock covered in plastic (I used a giant Ziploc back), this will keep the paint (and pins) from sticking! 
~I also sprayed them white before using the lighter colors of nail polish, so the neon's would 'pop' more. 
~Two coats of nail polish, and one coat of clear polish (or clear enamel spray, which is faster) to seal. 
~The rhinestones are from those cell phone decoration sheets, the blue ones were pre-glued in the lines!! 


Try it, you know you wanna!