DIY Seashell Lamp

DIY Seashell Lamp 5998

Oh…to be by the ocean listening to the waves and picking up shells.

Lately, I’ve been dreaming of summer vacation and relaxing on the beach.  (it’s my happy place!)

Like most people, I love to walk the beach and collect shells.

During the summer, I like to display my shells in a large clear vase on the mantle.

It reminds me of fun summer family vacations.

Last month, when I received the Lighten Up Kit from Etchall®, I thought…

“wouldn’t it make a cute Seashell Lamp to put on the patio to use on those

warm summer nights?”

I used shells collected during our trips to South Carolina.  (some even from the Isle of Palms)

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Here’s what I used to make the DIY Seashell Lamp:        (*affiliate link)

Seashell Lamp Collage 2

The shade measures 4″ x 7″.

Directions:

  1. Clean mason the jar to remove all dirt, fingerprints and oil.  Dry with a coffee filter, paper towel, or lint-free cloth.
  2. Mask off a 1″ area around the mason jar with removable painters tape.
  3. Apply a heavy coat of etchall® etching crème to the masked area using the etchall® squeegee.  Leave etching crème on for 15 minutes.  After etching time has elapsed, use the squeegee to return the crème back into the original container for later re-use.
  4. Rinse etched surface with hot water to remove any remaining crème.  Remember to keep crème away from porcelain or ceramic tiles.
  5. Dry mason jar and apply the “relax” peel and stick stencil onto the middle of the first side.  Mask the sides of the stencil with removable painter’s tape.
  6. Using a stencil brush and the multi surface paint, fill in the open areas of the stencil.
  7. Carefully remove stencil and clean before stenciling on the other three sides of the jar.
  8. Fill Jar with sand and shells.
  9. Using the plastic sleeve template, trace onto a piece of burlap. Cut the burlap leaving a 1/2″ allowance around traced template.  Craft Confession:  I tried using a “stick it adhesive sheet” on the burlap first before cutting it out.  It didn’t work.  (see next step)
  10. Use spray adhesive to coat the back of the burlap.  Apply onto the lampshade and trim.
  11. Glue twine around edge of lampshade.

Optional:  The top of the shade is removable so I spray painted it black.

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The Lighten Up Kit is pretty easy to customize.  Lots of possibilities.

It comes with a self-illuminating lampshade with LED lights, template and instructions guide.

It uses 3 AA batteries so it’s portable and can be used almost anywhere.

The DIY Seashell Lamp was created for and sponsored by Etchall®.

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*Disclosure  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!

Making a place for Dad’s coffee

Making a place for Dad's Coffee 5605

Dad comes over every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings for dinner.

It’s our weekly ritual.

He arrives at 5:30, sits in the leather chair closest to the television, in time for the evening news.

While he watches the news, I make dinner.  That’s the routine.

Dad sits in that particular chair so he can read the closed captioning.

Unfortunately, that’s the one chair that doesn’t have an end table.

Occasionally… he’ll give me a hard time telling me I need a table so he can put his coffee

cup down.  Problem is there’s no room to put one there.

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Problem Solved…

I noticed this old stool down in the basement, paint splattered and water stained.  (a little ugly)

A make-over was in order and I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I wish you could of saw the smile when I told him why I did this.  (I had to sneak the first picture)

He thought it was perfect.

Easily put away when not in use.

*Disclosure:  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!

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Old Stool Make-0ver Products Used:                                                   (*affiliate link)

*FTC Disclosure… “This is a sponsored post.  I have been provided product in exchange for my creative ideas.  The views and opinions are my own.”

Old Stool Make Over Steps

Directions:

  1. I gave the top of the table a quick sanding with my palm sander to smooth out the paint splatters.  (I could of sanded the legs but I was lazy.)
  2. I used Tattered Angels Decor and DIY, Ebony*, I love that you don’t need to do any sanding or priming.  I love the smooth matte finish that it gives.  I gave the table 2 coats of paint and some touch ups.
  3. Allow the paint to fully dry and cure before starting the stenciling.
  4. I custom mixed Americana Décor Chalky Finish paint relic and everlasting for a light contrast to the ebony black finish.
  5. Center the stencil onto the middle of the stool and tape down the edges with removable painter’s tape to keep the stencil from moving.
  6. Use stipple brush to apply Chalky Finish paint inside open stencil areas.
  7. Remove Stencil.
  8. For the time being, I’ve decided to leave the stool as is.  You may want to apply a finishing wax to help protect the paint.

   

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The Beautiful Monochromatic Colors of Colorways

If you love beautiful monochromatic colors and patterns…

then you’ll love the new paper collections from Paper House Productions called ColorWays.

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Today I’m sharing a couple of cards I made using the ColorWays collection for the Paper House

Productions Design Team.  My “beautiful Memories” patchwork card was made using the “Atlantis”

collection of lovely turquoise and blues.

Beautiful Memories Card:

Paper House Pink Birthday Card 4312

This next card is a birthday card I made for my niece using the “Flamingo” collection.

A fun loving pink collection.  It’s so easy to make cards with these perfectly coordinated patterns.

Tori’s Birthday Card:

Tori's Birthday Card 4337                                                                                                               (inside of Tori’s card ↑)

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

Nick’s Garden Caddy (for Easter)

Nick's Garden Caddy 5510

As soon I walked into Target, a few weeks ago, I was stopped in my tracks by their adorable gardening

supplies for kids.  (in the one spot area)  I am a sucker for cute little things.

Sweet little metal tools and polka dot gardening gloves (oh my) and when I found the plain wood

caddy…  I knew exactly what I wanted to use for Nicholas’ Easter basket.

Nicholas, as you may know, is my gardening buddy.

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Instead of leaving the caddy plain (what fun would that be), I decided to paint and personalize the

caddy with a chalkboard on one side and his name on the other.

(I used Deco Art Urban Ink Stencil, 6″ by 9″, Sea Dogto stencil on his name.)

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I went back to Target last week to see if I could find another wood caddy but sadly they were all out.

If you happen to spy one at your Target make sure to grab one, they make wonderful paint caddies.

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Along with the Gardening supplies, I added tie-dye chalk (for the chalkboard), jelly bellys, a light up

ball and of course marshmallow peeps.

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And… I didn’t forget little brother Warren.  (I picked up all these goodies at Target)

Warren's Easter Bucket 5545

In case your wondering… No this isn’t a sponsored post for Target.  (but I wish it was)

 

*This post uses Amazon Affiliate links.  I am a Amazon affiliate.

Speckled Eggs for Spring

Speckled Eggs for Spring 4927

Now that I only have a teen-ager at home, we don’t do the dyed eggs anymore.  (he’s no fun)

But… I still needed some soft pastel hued Speckled Eggs for Spring.

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So… I grabbed a few of my Smoothfoam Eggs.

I gave the eggs a light sanding to remove the ridge and painted them with a soft chalky finish.

Like the name suggests, these eggs have a smooth finish making them perfect for painting.

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The best way to paint an egg…

Use a small glass or candle votive to hold the egg.  Paint one half of the egg at a time.

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I especially like the look of speckled eggs, so I grabbed an old toothbrush for speckling.

  • Speckled the eggs by lightly rubbing the old toothbrush into brown paint and gently flicking the paint onto the eggs.
  • Make sure to wear an apron to protect your clothing.  Flicking can be quite messy.

This project was created for and sponsored by Smoothfoam™, The Crafters Foam.

Paper Sculpting made easy…

Another Fun Blog Hop!

As a Deflecto Design Team member, I am super excited this week to play with our friends over at Stampendous.  With two amazing teams joining in the fun you will want to check in everyday of the hop.  There will be some fabulous projects and we’re going to be showing them off all week long.

Make sure to scroll all the way to the bottom for a chance to win some awesome prizes.

Deflecto Stampendous Blog Hop Logo 2

 Paper Sculpting made easy…

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Years ago, when I still had my store, we had a Paper Sculpting Card Class

using of all things a sunflower stamp.  (oh, my…cutting all those petals!!!)

While the end look was beautiful, I thought the ladies were going to revolt.

They held that card over my head for years.  (it was not for the faint of heart)

Matter of fact, I was reminded of that card not that long ago.

   

Do you love the look of paper sculpting but hate all that fussy cutting?

With this stamp and die set from Stampendous, there is minimal cutting and the flower assembly

goes together very quickly.

The Cling Rose Bouquet Rubber Stamp Set from Stampendous comes with various sizes

of flowers each meant to be used separately or layered together to create one large dimensional flower.

When used with the matching die set, you get amazing results.

Flower Close Up 5015

Here’s what I used on my frame:

Paper Sculpting made easy

Directions:

  1. Stamp the flowers and leaves onto the patterned paper.  (see above image)
  2. Die-cut the shapes using the thin dies and big shot die-cutting machine.
  3. Cut the leaves off the rosebud and the bottom portion of the second stamped rose image.
  4. Use a gray marker to go around the outside edge of each image to hide the white core of the patterned paper.
  5. Using a foam mat or mouse pad and a large ball stylus, turn the shapes over onto the mat and gently rub the shapes with medium pressure on the back of the shapes.  This will give the shapes added dimension.
  6. Using thin foam mounting squares, adhere the flower sections together in this order: large rose, medium rose, rosebud and bottom section of medium rose to create one large rose.
  7. Cut out the 4″ x 6″ What a Wonderful World section and adhere onto a 5″ x 7″ polka dot paper layer.
  8. Add layers inside the clear acrylic beveled frame from Deflecto.
  9. Mount dimensional flowers and leaves onto the front of the frame using thin foam mounting squares.

You’ll want to get your commenting fingers ready!  Each comment on a post this week will enter you to win a fabulous prize package! (one comment per post, per person)  Contest open to USA residents only.  We have three prizes, and each will have a 3 Tiered Cake Stand from Deflecto AND the Stamp and Die Sets from Stampendous.

Cupcake StandCRS5087_DCS5087_SSH57

Now click on the links below and get to hoppin’!  Remember to comment on each blog and then return to the Deflecto Blog and leave a comment there for your chance to win.

Are you social? We are too! Please check us out at the following locations…

 

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.”

*This post uses Amazon Affiliate links.  I am an Amazon Affiliate

all things are possible if you believe…

EasterBlogHop

Today, I’m joining the Paper House Design Team for a Easter Blog Hop.

For this hop, we were all given adorable Easter stickers along with the Faith Paper Crafting Kit.

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I was racking my brain trying to come up with a cute Easter Bunny layout

(ready to steal pictures from my daughter-in-laws Facebook page) when it hit me.

Why not make a card instead.

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Easter’s so much more than candy and eggs.

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The Faith kit came with lovely white puffy words that wasn’t quite right for this card.

So…. I used my Tsukineko StazOn Midi Ink Pad, Spiced Chai(which is permanent)

along with an ink applicator and rubbed brown ink onto the white letters.

I used the “HOPE anchors the soul” sticker and stuck it onto a small scalloped

circle.  I mounted the circle onto the corner of the card.

A simple card of encouragement.  (who doesn’t need that?)

PH_25_Gift_Card

Would you like a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Paper House?

EasterBlogHopTOENTER2

Good Luck and Happy Hopping!

 

*This project was created for and sponsored by Paper House Productions.

 

At the Lake…

At The Lake Title Page

I recently asked my daughter Stephanie to send me some pictures for a family album I was working on.

Stephanie sent me these lovely pictures of her and her husband Zach at the lake.

His parents own a little place by the lake in Conover, Wisconsin that they love to visit.

I love these pictures.  It looks so peaceful there.  (I want to visit.)

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I find it hard to believe that she took these beautiful pictures with her phone.

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The “At the Lake” layout is my first Design Team project for Paper House Productions.

When it comes to scrapbooking, I consider myself to be fairly simple.  I like layers and clean lines.

I used a variety of Paper House Products from several different collections on this layout.

I love how the Paper House collections work well with each other.

Here’s what I used for my “At the Lake ” layout…

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This project was created for and sponsored by Paper House Productions.

Stitched Sampler

Stitched Sampler

I hate throwing anything away that might possibly be used on a project later.

In an effort to make room and not become a hoarder,

I actually threw these little scraps of fabric away.   (It was hard, I love these prints.)

But…Only minutes later, while I was making a permanent home for my new sewing machine

that I got for Christmas,  (thanks Nick and Bonnie) I got the idea to make a stitched sampler.

What a great use for little pieces of fabric.

Now, bear in mind that this is my first real project on my new machine.

Stitched Sampler Close Up

I misted the iron-on embroidered letters from Joy SA and the white decorative trim with

Tattered Angels Ruby Slipper Chalkboard Mist Paint and stitched to my hearts desire.

I cut a large die-cut square out of premium gray felt using my Accu-cut machine.

I’m pretty please with the way it turned out.

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This project was created for and sponsored by Joy SA.

When your Spring Mantel needs a pop of Red…

Spring Mantel

With the beautiful days we had in February…

My Spring Fever has set in big time.

Last week-end, I removed any and all remnants of Winter Decorating and re-did my Mantel for Spring.

little red racer

Inspired by a picture a friend posted online,

I ran upstairs and grabbed my little red racer from my office.

Gumball machine

There’s been a lot of serious jelly bean eating out of this old gumballs machine.

I added a second bag this week.  This could be a problem 🙂

Spring Mantel

Any one who knows me even just a little knows my decorating philosophy…

“Every room needs a pop of red.”

Now, I’m wishing and thinking warm thoughts.