Bad Craft, part 1

Trial and Error is good- you live, you learn, right?  That's what I'm telling myself.

This will be the post about the Error.  The trial, and success story will be tomorrow.  :)

My initial attempt at creating some artwork for the end of the hallway, in addition to using up some of the green flat sided marbles (like the ones I used to make this wreath in October) I picked up months back at the dollar store didn't turn out, well, quite as expected.

Here's what it looked like when I realized this was going to be the error half of this series post:

Yes, that's the fabric peeling back away from the frame it was in.

While it was good to start with, I realized I did a few things wrong.  I used this Pottery Barn clover mirror as the shape inspiration... I suppose I was thinking of doing a St. Patrick's day project, but why?  I never have decorated for St. Paddy's day before.  I think I was just lucky that my marbles were green.  :)

 

 

Full Tutorial tomorrow, but here's what the frame I purchased looked like this first and this is a taste in how I put this together.  And, how I ultimately had to re-do it.

 

  

For a few days, it DID look like this:

In the end, it's hanging in the hallway with a new pattern.  Here's a sneak peak:

Anyway, stop by tomorrow for the full reveal on the version I think will stick for a while.  :)

PS:  Don't forget to leave me a note on my SUV post.  I'm totally enjoying reading the very informative comments.  I've even read some of them out loud to Z!  :)

Mass-o-Glass

Sorry for no post yesterday!  *sad face*  I've been beat.  As in super duper tired.  Like, I went to bed at (or before!) 8:15 the last 7 days.

In fact, I haven't read a blog post in 3 days, which is like sacralidge.  :)  Ok, not that bad, but you get the idea!

Onto the good stuff...

As spring was approaching, and all those great vase fillers start to come out, I wanted to show you some easy and cheap-o glass displays you could MAKE.  I know, it seems contrary, but I like the FILLERS so much, that I needed more containers for all the good stuff!

I made the following items:

• an apothecary jar
• 2 glass hurricanes
• 1 cake stand
• 1 footed bowl

The ingredients are simple: some glass dishes, some glass candlesticks, and some E-6000 glue.  Oh, and an open window.  :)

First, you might have seen the glass hurricanes back around Christmas time.  These were as easy as the rest of them.  I found what were two tall perfectly cylindrical glasses at the dollar store, in the dish area.  Perfect for hurricanes, which of course I've seen others do before.  I then also picked up 2 glass candlesticks.  $4 for these.

 

 

All I did was add a ring of that stinky, smell glue to the rim of the candlestick, then carefully pushed the glass onto it.  The benefit of working with glass is that when you attach them together, you can see through and make sure that things are perfectly lined up!

 

 

Then, leave somewhere to dry for a few hours (I think you're supposed to leave it for 24 hours?  I did for some, but not all)

For the cake stand and the footed bowl, I simply picked up a glass bowl and a decorative glass plate, also at the dollar store, and followed the same process from above.  The bowl was great at Christmastime, because I displayed the christmas crayons I made for the kids in them!  And now, I have a cute little nest with blue egg soaps for spring!

(If you're interested in that key artwork I made, you can go HERE for the project link!)

 

 

Regarding the apothecary jar, I found the base jar at a thrift store for $1.99.  I just added a glass candlestick to the underside, and voila! $2.99 apothecary jar!

 

 

Now, how ironic is it that most of the jars are empty?!  That's because I'll show you later how I filled them all.  Oh, and where I put them all.  :)

I miss you all, and will hope to be back full force again in a few days!
Hope you're all doing well-

DIY Candles & Containers

This year, after being bitten by the craft bug this blog thing has caused, I wanted to try my hand at a craft that could be a good gift for the holidays or any time.

Lucky me, to have seen a post that Kate did over @ Centsational Girl.   I tried my hand at something I would consider less crafty and more DIY... I doubt I'd do this again, but I thought I'd share since I did like how they turned out.

First, I gathered the materials I needed:

-Glass Containers (each one was no more than $0.50)
-Frosted Glass Spray Paint (this brand was $9.99 at Michaels, but the Rustoleum brand is much cheaper at Joann's- about $4.99)
-Letter Stickers (I liked this font, but get a sticker that can bend with the roundness of your container.  These were a bit too stiff.)
-Microwaveable Soy Wax ($13 w/40% off coupon), wicks ($2.99 for 12), and colorant/scent (if desired)

I purchased as many glass containers that matched as I could at the 50% sales at the local thrift store.  I tried to get them all about the same size.  I cleaned them all by hand, and then put the letter of the name I was giving them as a gift for.

Then, I used the frosted glass spray paint, and sprayed right over the lettering.  Since I was doing this a day before it rained, and around 10pm at night, they didn't dry.  Yes, I was totally impatient.  AGAIN.  Don't be shocked, this is a normal occurance.  And, of course, the impatience messed up my project.  Grrr.  (Can I quit my day job so I could do my projects during the day hours?  umkaythanks.)

 

 

After I brought the glass inside to dry faster (see above paragraph about my impatience), I started to mix up the soy wax as they mentioned on the package.  I made all different colors, and tried to add scent. (I purchased Lavender, since I was giving these to coworkers, and it's a calming scent, cause God knows we need it.  ugh!)

 

 

I used chop sticks to hold the wicks up while they dried.  They all cracked at the end drying point, and I assumed it's because they cooled too quickly on the granite.  Had I read the instructions thoroughly though, I would have read about the fact that you make a well in the wax as it starts to cool.  Oh well.

 

 

The best part about this project?  Packaging them up to bring as gifts!  I love that since the colors were not traditional christmas, that they'll be able to be used throughout the year.  :)

Again, candles are cheap enough that I probably wouldn't do these again.  I prefer decorating, and more hands on craft projects.  But hey, I've got the experience under my belt now.  And, I have another post now that shows the not-so-rosey side of crafting.  I'm not perfect, and not every project can turn out perfect.  :)

Anyone have a project that went horribly wrong?!

Thrift Scores: The photos, volume 1

As promised, here are some pictures of the items I scored this past weekend. I didn't photograph the lamps tonight, but will soon. I'm thinking of cleaning up the faux leather looking fabric shades with fabric paint- but what color? The bases are a nice crisp white.

Here's the Thrift Scores, mentioned in this post:










I hope to paint some more tomorrow on the buffet. Work schedules have been hectic, and I'm jumping out of my skin wanting to get it done. I plan to order drawer pulls in the next day or so. Exciting times! Now if I could only quit my day job...