The Very Hungry Caterpillar

August 31, 2015October 9, 20151 Comment

Have you read the story of the little caterpillar that ate and ate and ate?

And then turned into a beautiful butterfly? (spoiler alert)

My project was based off the book The Very Hungry Caterpillarby Eric Carle.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the Caterpillar:

Six- 2″ Smoothfoam Balls
Sanding Block or Very Fine Sanding Paper
Deco Art Americana Acrylic Paint: Olive Green, Sea Aqua, Watermelon Slice, Marigold, Brown
Paint Brushes
Bamboo Skewers
White Craft Glue
Craft Knife
Mod Podge

Directions:

Lightly Sand the ridge around the middle of the Smoothfoam ball.
To help the caterpillar sit and not roll. Cut a slightly flat side in two of the balls. Use them as your first and last green balls.
Paint five balls with Olive Green and Sea Aqua acrylic paint. For added dimension, stipple or sponge the opposite color on the balls.
Paint the last ball with the Watermelon Slice acrylic paint. Add a cute little face.
Cut a bamboo skewer into 1″ pieces. Connect the balls together using the skewers and white craft glue.
Cut the tip off of two skewers and paint brown. Insert into the top of the caterpillar’s head.
Paint a coat of mod podge to seal the paint and give a shiny finish.

Disclaimer: This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

How to Etch a Mason Jar…

August 29, 2015June 7, 2018Leave a comment

I love the look of daisies in old blue canning jars. It just says summertime.

It’s simple, beautiful and it makes me happy.

I recently got the opportunity to work with a new product, etching crème from Etchall®.

While looking around for something to etch, I noticed the daisies sitting on the table.

Hmmm…Wouldn’t that look great with a etched flower and a greeting?

It’s a super simple project. (just how I like it)

Here’s what you’ll need: (*affiliate link)

Directions:

Clean jar to remove all dirt, fingerprints and oil. Dry with a coffee filter, paper towel, or lint-free cloth.
Apply Stencils to jar. Burnish the edges of the stencil. You’ll want to make sure no edges are coming up.
Mask around the stencil with removable painters tape for extra surface protection.
Apply a heavy coat of etchall® etching crème to the masked area of the stencil.
Leave etching crème on design for 15 minutes. After etching time has elapsed, use the squeegee to return the crème back into the original container for later re-use.
Rinse etched surface with hot water to remove any remaining crème. Remember to keep crème away from porcelain sinks or ceramic tiles.

Step #2 Step #3 Step #4

The etched flower looks subtle against the water in the blue jar.

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Etchall Design Team I have been provided product and compensation in exchange for my creative ideas. The views and opinions are my own.”

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Crafting with Office Supplies

August 27, 2015May 17, 201710 Comments

When you think of crafting do you ever think office supplies?

Would you believe…

the “be happy” sign, which is now sitting happily on my fireplace mantel,

started out as a office name plate holder

A few stickers, chipboard letters, washi tape and voila a happy little reminder.

There are surfaces everywhere just waiting to be embellished.

Name plate 2

Deflecto Interior Image Sign Holder, 8.5 x 2 Inches, Nameplate (89105) (affiliate link)

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

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Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Colorful Chalkboard Frame for Kids and grownups

August 23, 2015May 27, 2017Leave a comment

A simple paint and stencil project, fun for kids or grown ups.

I decided to finish painting this colorful Rustic Pallet Frame* that I started working on

yesterday evening. As the name suggests, the frame is rustic and somewhat rough.

Because I was planning on stenciling on it… I sanded the front of the frame to make it smoother.

I wasn’t worried about making it completely smooth.

The Colorful Chalkboard Frame would be a great project to make with the kiddos.

Directions to make the Colorful Chalkboard Frame:

Sand the front of the frame.
Paint the frame with white acrylic paint.
Paint the top of each pallet section with different acrylic colors. Sort of a modified rainbow.
Because the stencil had four unique patterns, I decided each color needed its own pattern.
Mask off each section of the wood before stenciling.
Stencil using a stipple brush and white acrylic paint.
Allow to dry completely
To mute to colors: Lightly sand the frame with a sanding block. (optional)
For an added sheen: Apply clear crème wax to front of frame, allow to sit for one hour and buff.
I added a small chalkboard to the inside of the frame.

Supplies Used: (*affiliate link)

Walnut Hollow Rustic Pallet Frame, 11 by 12 by 2-Inch*
DecoArt Americana Mixed Media Stencil, 12 by 12-Inch, Retro Mod*
Deco Art American Acrylic Paints: White Wash, Watermelon Slice, Marigold, Foliage Green, French Grey Blue
Paintbrush
Americana Creme Wax 2Oz-Clear*
Sanding Block
Clean soft cloth
Small Chalkboard

*Thanks to Walnut Hollow and DecoArt for providing the materials used on this frame.

For more Summer fun with the kids…click on SIime Ad below.

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My Fabulous Thrift Store Make-Over

August 20, 2015May 17, 2017Leave a comment

I almost passed on this plain 8 drawer cabinet last April while visiting my daughter in Madison.

I didn’t really need it, I have too much stuff, would there be room in the car? (geez!)

It was sitting there in the Thrift Store for only $8. They had just put it out that day.

I had to take it home. (I just had too.)

As soon as I got it home, I painted it with a couple coats of black paint and gave

it a clear wax coat. It sat in my office that way for the next four months.

(I’m starting to notice a pattern here.) Anyway…. I decided that the cabinet needed more.

After receiving these cool number stencil,

Deco Art Americana Decor Stencil, Old World Numbers* (*affiliate link)

and Whisper Chalky Finish Paint* from DecoArt as part of their Blogger Outreach Program,

I stenciled each drawer 1-8.

To keep the numbers from looking too new or bright, I lightly sanded over the letters with a

extra fine sanding block and applied another coat of clear wax.

My hubby helped me put on these vintage looking drawer pulls I’d found on Etsy.

I spent more than twice as much on the drawer pulls than I did the cabinet.

I’m so happy with the way it turned out. Doesn’t it look beautiful?

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Getting Creative with Resin

August 13, 2015May 10, 202013 Comments

I’ve always wanted to use resin in a project but have always felt somewhat intimidated.

Thanks to an opportunity with Environmental Technology Inc., the makers of

jewelry resin and much more, I finally got my chance.

EnviroTex Jewelry Resin

And… after watching this video. I felt confident to start.

I couldn’t believe how easy it was and how happy I was with the results.

The hardest part was deciding what to make and what to fill.

For my Projects:

I started with some over-sized bottle caps from Maya Road which I spray painted black.
I used a circle punch to make a background from scrapbook paper.
I used dimensional stickers, metal pieces, regular stickers and glued everything in place using white craft glue.
I measured and mixed the resin according to the instructions and filled the bottle caps.
Then it was time to wait for the resin to cure.

The original plan was to add a hanger on the back, and use them as a decoration.

But… I had a better idea and decided to add a magnet to the back instead.

I really, really like them.

Now that I’ve seen how easy it is, I’ve got a few more things in the works.

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

*Disclaimer: This post uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Painting on Acrylic Frames

August 3, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

With all this new Home Décor chalk paint out on the market…

with it’s claims of being able to paint on most anything. I decided to give it a test.

I’ve used it on wood, old frames, stuff like that.

Acrylic frames? It was worth a try.

I created a mask using blue painters tape and applied it onto the front of a

Mini 3″ x 4″ Sign Holder* (*affiliate link) from Deflecto Craft Solutions.

Make sure to burnish the edges of the tape.

I painted the surface of the frame with:

FolkArt Home Decor Chalk Furniture & Craft Paint in Imperial*

I used 3 coats of paint. Make sure to allow good drying time in between coats.

After allowing plenty of time for the red paint to dry and cure.

I gave the frame an aged look by applying a layer of Tattered Angels Decor and DIY Paint*

I wiped it off with a damp paper towel. Leaving bits of the black streaks.

I stamped around the edges of the frame with a crackle background stamp

and Tsukineko StazOn Ink Pad, Jet Black*

Carefully remove the blue painter’s tape mask.

At this point, I stopped and admired my frame for almost a month.

Just waiting for inspiration….

Meet Rachael Cunningham Parr.

I found Rachel, a tin type, years ago while hunting for treasures.

If Rachael is your relative, I’m pretty sure she wasn’t really a gypsy.

(She really is a beautiful woman.)

I embellished the frame with some vintage rickrack, key, and a tiny flower.

“R is for Racheal” was made with Metal Type Charms by Tim Holtz*

Once inspired… I created a couple more frames.

The frames uses charms and hardware from Canvas Corps Brands

and Chitchat Word Stickers by Tim Holtz*.

Now to try this on a bigger frame!

“This is a sponsored post. As a member of the Deflecto Design Team I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas, views and opinions.”

*Disclaimer: This blog uses ads and affiliate links. If you choose to make a purchase using one of the links, I receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you) that helps offset the costs of maintaining this blog. Thanks for your support!

Creating a Decorative Display Board for all my Little Pretties

July 29, 2015February 9, 2023Leave a comment

My project started as a Memo Board and…

While I was looking for some push pins I stumbled across a collection of little pretties.

Tucked away in a cabinet along with a lot of other embellishments were these little

metal frames. Something that I’d been hoarding since my K & Company days.

I added those frames along with some other little pretties onto my board. (Love!)

To make my Memo/Display Board I used: (*amazon affiliate link)

Smoothfoam 12 x 12 Scrapbook Page Mount
Wood Laser Cut Frame
Gingham Material
American Crafts Homegrown Layered Flowers*
Cream Acrylic Paint and Paintbrush
Craft Knife, Cutting Mat and Ruler
Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive*
Beacon Fabri-Tac Permanent Adhesive*

Directions:

Paint wood frame with cream acrylic paint.
Cut the Smoothfoam sheet a 1/4″ larger than the center opening of the frame.
Apply spray adhesive to the front of the Smoothfoam and lay onto the fabric.
Wrap and glue the fabric around the back of the Smoothfoam.
Glue the frame onto the front of the covered Smoothfoam.
Decorate the top and bottom of the frame with dimensional flowers.

*My little pretties are stuck into the display board with decorative garment pins.

A really fast and easy project.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam.

Shop Amazon Scrapbooking Supplies*

DIY: Mini Crate Make-Over

July 25, 2015August 6, 2021Leave a comment

DIY Mini Crate Make Over…

Because sometimes a girl changes her mind.

It all started with this… My Sweet Earth Day Tea Party Crate. (←original post)

A cute cream and pink crate with a pretty pink flower.

It was perfect for what I wanted at the time.

But… always resourceful, I decided to reuse the mini crate* (*affiliate link) in my work space.

Because my work space has a vintage vibe… a mini make over was in order.

I took off the flower embellishment and gave the mini crate* a light sanding.

Then I painted the crate with FOLKART Home Decor Chalk, Imperial*.

Being an impatient crafter, I was tempted to start my next color right away. Make sure to wait.

Allow a couple of hours for the piece to dry before adding the next color. (trust me)

Next, I gave the crate a light coating with Black Home Décor paint.

Use a small paint brush to get into those corners.

With a soft, damp, clean cloth, wipe off the black paint to give it an aged distressed look.

I used Tattered Angels Décor in Ebony*.

If you start to think it looks to dark, just add highlights with the red paint directly over the

ebony paint. If you like a matte finish, you can stop right here.

I wanted a little more sheen, so I applied FOLKART Plaid Clear Home Decor Wax*.

With the wax, you apply a thin coat, wait one hour and buff with a clean soft cloth.

I’ve always loved furniture with that aged red finish and wanted to give it a try.

Now that I’ve started with something small, (which is always a good idea)

I’ve got my eye on a couple more pieces I’d like to refinish.

FYI: If you’d like a mini crate like mine you can get it at online at Amazon* or Walnut Hollow.

This project was sponsored by Walnut Hollow, Canvas Corp and Plaid.

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DIY No Sew Pillows to Dye for…

June 25, 2015February 9, 20234 Comments

Recently, I participated with a group of Designers in a Manufacturer Challenge sponsored by

Fairfield World the makers of Pillow Forms, Batting, Poly-fil®… and a whole lot more.

After a little good natured trash talking between the designers, the challenge was dubbed the

“Pillow Fight” and with that it was game on.

Not being much of a seamstress I knew I had to take it in another direction.

Hopefully, what I lack in sewing skills I’m making up for in quantity and possibly inspiration

for other non-sowers like me.

If you happened to see my post, “Tie-Dying with Nick” then you’ll know I’m on a little bit

of a tie-dying kick. (why stop now? oh… and make sure to check out the bonus project at the end.)

Here are a couple of pillows I made for my grandsons using a one-step tie-dye kit

and the Ombre Technique. (see instructions below)

It was such a fun and easy project that I let my grandson in on the fun.

Thanks to canvas pillow squares and pillow forms there is no sewing involved.

(The red pillow above also uses the ombre Technique only with one color of dye.)

Iron-On embroidered letters allowed me to easily personalize the pillows for the boys.

For my No Sew Pillows I used: (*amazon affiliate links)

12″ and 18″ Canvas Pillow Squares from Canvas Corp Brands
Fairfield Crafter’s Choice Pillow 12-Inch*
Fairfield Poly-Fil Soft Touch Square Pillow, 18-Inch*
Tulip One-Step Tie Dye Kit, Mini, Neon, 2-Pack*
Red Tulip Brand dye
Paintbrush
DecoArt Americana Mixed Media Stencil, 12 by 12-Inch, Doily*
Apple Barrel Barn Red Acrylic Paint*
Stencil Brush*
Iron-on Embroidered Letters

These are the instructions included with the Tulip dye kit.

Apply dye.
Dip brush into dye and apply.
Dip brush into water and apply.
Cover dyed fabric with plastic wrap to keep damp.
Let set for 6-8 hours or longer for intense colors.
Rinse well with water until excess dye is removed.
Fill washer to “large load” setting with hottest water suitable for fabric and a small amount of laundry soap. Wash and dry separately. Wash separately for the first few washes.

Directions for Stenciling:

The pattern on the Red Pillow was made using the 12″ Doily Stencil*.

Lay protective paper layer inside the canvas pillow square before stenciling.
Center and tape stencil onto pillow with removable painter’s tape so that the stencil won’t move.
Stenciling is a “dry” brush technique. Using a stencil brush, dip just the tip of your brush into the paint. Tap off excess paint before applying to prevent the paint from seeping under the edges of the stencil.
Apply paint with stencil brush in a straight up and down motion called stippling.
Stuff pillow with pillow form or Poly-fil®.

And for an added bonus… Tie Dyed Socks!!! (Someone stop me)