Sunday, April 17, 2011

PRINT MY WALL PRETTY

My final print. 
CREATION: Wall Art Prints

SUPPLIES:
  • Photocopy (Xerox print)
  • Acetone 
  • Graphite pencil
  • Rugged looking paper
  • Frame
  • Paper towels
  • Tape
DIRECTIONS: 
  1. Get your piece of rugged looking paper and place the photocopy face down on top of it on a flat surface.
  2. Tape down the sides of the photocopy so it doesn't shift during the transfer. 
  3. Grab a paper towel and pour the acetone on it, then press down firmly and rub the back of the photocopy with it. 
  4. Once covered with Acetone, quickly rub the back of the paper with the pencil (the back of the photocopy should be covered with graphite when finished). 
  5. Lift up a corner of the photocopy and make sure it transferred, if not rub it harder with the graphite. 
  6. Remove the photocopy and look at your beautiful print.
  7. Place it in a frame, hang it on the wall and smile.
  8. Pick out a picture you like and get it
    photocopied a couple times in case
    you mess up.
If you don't have a can of Acetone, grab a
little bottle of Acetone in the nail polish
remover section.




Once I finished, I put the print in a frame and added it
to my collection of frames on the wall.



You can also experiment with cardboard, I transferred
several prints to one sheet of cardboard
to make a montage.


Wednesday, April 6, 2011

SALT SCRUB FOR THE TUB

It's time to relax, take a deep breath, and make your skin silky smooth.

WHAT TO MAKE: Organic Lavender Sea Salt Scrub 

RECIPE:
  • 1 Cup Fine Sea Salt (don't use simple iodized table salt)
  • 1/2 Cup Grapeseed Oil or Sweet Almond Oil (i used grapeseed oil which gives it a green tint... almond oil won't give it a green tint)
  • 1Tbl dried lavender ( i got mine at Earth Fare for 46 cents)
  • 16 drops lavender oil 
  • Jar with sealable lid
  • Spoon 
  • Measuring Cups 
  • Scoop
This is what you need... You can find the sea salt at Earth Fare for $4, the oil for $8, and lavender buds for 46 cents. I already had the lavender oil but if you have to buy it, it costs around $8. And you'll have leftovers so you can double the recipe or make more later!

STEPS:
After you add the grapeseed oil, look at the
consistency and add more oil if needed.
  1. Grab your jar and add the sea salt.
  2. Now, add the oil.
  3. Stir.
  4. Add lavender buds.
  5. Add lavender oil.
  6. Stir.
  7. Seal the jar lid and let sit for one hour.
  8. Add the scoop, jump in the tub, and enjoy.


Add lavender buds, this will give the salt scrub more aroma
and color. I got the buds in the bath section of Earth Fare,
just get a tablespoon and it won't be expensive.

Add lavender oil for a soothing and relaxing
aroma.

 
I wrapped hemp around my jar to finish it off.

Add a scoop so you can easily scoop out the salt scrub.

HINT: I put hemp around my jar and tied a pretty bow. This gives the salt scrub and jar a complete and classic organic feel.

IDEA: You can use smaller jars, fill them completely up, tie hemp around the jar, and give the salt scrub as a gift... someone's birthday, mother's day, or if you are so excited you can't wait, you could be extra nice and give an Easter gift.

Have fun and enjoy.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

RECLAIM THAT FRAME

I have many old pictures frames stuffed away in my closet and they are stuffed away for a reason... they are old and don't go with my house decor... I think I found a solution!

So here is an idea... using the miracles of spray paint and adding water, you can finally take those old frames from the closet and make new sleek and rustic looking frames. With the technique I am fixing to show you, you can create a new look for frames, decorative plates, vases, or pretty much anything. This is a really simple craft so if you don't have much time but want to make use of those old frames, this is the craft for you!

Before.
CREATION: Rustic Picture Frames

SUPPLIES:
  • Two different colors of spray paint (I used black and gold) 
  • A frame 
  • A spray bottle filled with water
  • Paper towels or newspaper
HOW TO MAKE YOUR OLD FRAMES LOOK AWESOME:
Black spray paint, one of the first steps toward a new
picture frame!
  1. Get your old frame, dust it off, and head outside with your first spray paint color. Don't forget the paper towels!
  2. Make sure your frame is lying flat on the paper towel. Fully coat the frame with your first color.
  3. Let dry
  4. Once dry, spray the frame with water and then immediately spay the frame with your second color.
  5. Let dry
  6. Now, blot the water off with a paper towel.
  7. Yay, you are finished now but you can add different textures if you want!
My first attempt, only lightly sprayed with water.
If it doesn't turn out right the first time try try again... you have to experiment with techniques like this. You can add more or less water for different effects! 



After I sprayed it with gold spray paint , there was a slight
texture but not enough. So, I resprayed it with black spray
paint, let it dry, and sprayed it with more water which you
can see below.

Here, I sprayed it with much more water and it gave me
a more textured effect.

After the gold spray paint dried, I blotted the water off
with a paper towel.

I decided to add a little more texture to the frame so I got
a plastic grid sheet and lightly sprayed the frame with
  the gold spray paint.

This is what I did to make some added effects, but you can
use anything to make different textures on your frame.

After.
 Now I have a new addition to my room and I didn't have
to buy a new frame. Yay for saving money.


Sunday, March 13, 2011

FRIDGE DOOR DRESS UP

No need for a boring fridge door when you can have a fun one for free. Add some life to your bills and notes by attaching them to the fridge door with creative magnets. Take a little time out of your day, listen to some music, and start crafting away. Here are two different ideas for magnets... pick which one you like best or create both.

CREATION: Refrigerator Magnets

WHAT YOU NEED:
Use round or shaped beads... just make
sure they are clear so you can see the
image through it.
  • Clear circular glass chips rounded on the top (get large ones) or Beer caps for IDEA 2
  • Magazine clippings ( you can use different themes... here are some ideas: use small antique portraits from an old book, use letters from the alphabet so you can spell out words, use all back and white for a cohesive look)
  • Magnetic disks or magnetic strips
  • Glue 
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors
DIRECTIONS FOR IDEA 1: 
  1. Cut your images into circles... slightly smaller than the back of the glass chips
  2. Apply the glue with the paintbrush to the front of the image ( you can slightly water down the glue if it is too thick)
  3. Apply to image to the back of the glass chip so you can see the image through the front
  4. Let dry and then cover the back with glue again to make sure the image stays glued to the glass chip
  5. Now glue the magnetic strip or circle to the back of the image
  6. Let dry
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 to make more fun magnets 
  8. When your finished, go make your fridge look pretty
DIRECTIONS FOR IDEA 2:
With a cool image in the center, the
beer cap gives the image a nice frame.
  1. Cut your images into circles... just large enough so they will fit inside the beer cap
  2. Apply the glue with the paintbrush to the back of the image
  3. Apply the image to the inside of the beer cap
  4. Re-coat the image with glue
  5. Now glue the magnetic strip or circle to the back of the beer cap
  6. Let dry
  7. Repeat steps 1-6 to make more fun magnets 
  8. Now make your fridge a creative piece of art

Friday, March 11, 2011

Soap for my Mason

Here is a cute and simple way to reuse a Mason Jar and make a soap dispenser. This will give your bathroom a clean and classy look. 

WHAT: Mason Jar Soap Dispenser 

SUPPLIES: 
  • Mason Jar
  • Mason Jar lid
  • Soap pump 
  • Liquid soap
  • Ruler 
  • Pencil 
  • Drill 
DIRECTIONS:
  1. Grab the Mason Jar lid and measure and mark the center of the lid.
  2. Get the drill and drill a hole in the center of the lid where you marked. Make the hole about 1/2 an inch wide, just wide enough for the soap dispenser to fit. 
  3. Put the pump through the lid.
  4. Fill the jar with soap.
  5. Twist the lid on tight.
  6. Now pump, pump, pump and clean that dirt away.
COOL IDEAS:
  • Tie some ribbon around the jar for a different feel 
  • Wrap and glue hemp around the jar... you can cover the whole jar in hemp or just a section
SOAP PUMP:
  • Salvage a pump from an old soap dispenser

Sunday, February 27, 2011

PhotoLine

Here is a simple craft and a great way to display your photos. There are many variations for the craft and I will show you the different substitutions along the way. Here we go.

WHAT YOU CAN CREATE: Clothespin line for your pictures

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

  • Clothespins (3 or more)
  • Hemp (or ribbon)
  • Paint
  • Paint Brush
  • Something to make texture on the clothespin like lace (or you can just paint a cool design)
  • Photos
  • 2 Nails or 2 Pushpins 
WHAT TO DO:


PAINT THE CLOTHESPINS
  1. Once you figure out how many photos you want to display, grab the same number of clothespins and lay them out to paint
  2. Pick a base color (or various colors) to paint the clothespins with and paint the side face up... don't forget the edges!
  3. Once dry, flip the clothespins over and paint the other side
  4. Let dry 
ADD TEXTURE
  1. Now it's time to add texture (or paint your own design)
  2. Pick out a different color and start adding a cool texture (if you're using lace, lay the lace on top of the clothespin and softly paint over the lace... don't use too much paint because you want to make sure the paint doesn't run under the lace... and make sure the lace is firmly in place)
  3. After painting over the lace slowly remove the lace
  4. Once dry you can add texture to the other side but you probably won't see the other side if it is hanging against a wall
ADD FINISHING TOUCHES
  1. Tie a knot at both ends of the hemp or ribbon 
  2. Now put the clothespins on the hemp or ribbon and attach your pictures!
  3. Find a good place to hang it 
  4. Put the nails or pushpins in the wall and hang your beautiful creation!
Good luck and have fun!

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Bye Bye To Condensation On The Table

FUN CREATION: Coasters

SUPPLIES:
  • Four 4x4 tiles
  • Glue
  • Beads (with a flat surface on at least one side)
    • (Hint: You can also use broken glass instead or a mixture of beads and glass)
  • Felt 
  • Ruler 
  • Pencil 
  • Scissors
WHAT TO DO:

1. Start with one tile and figure out how you want to lay your beads on it 
(Hint: Think of different patterns and different beads to use to make each coaster unique)

2. Cover the tile with glue 
(Hint: Depending on the size of the beads it might work better to apply only small amounts of glue at a time)

3. Start applying the beads in a cool pattern 
(Hint: Cover the sides of the tile too)

4. Once all the beads are applied let dry

5. Now finish coasters 2, 3, and 4

6. Measure out four 4x4 pieces of felt and cut them to the correct measurement

7. When the coasters are dry flip them over, cover the bottom with a thin layer of glue, and cover the bottom with felt.
(Hint: This will prevent them from scratching any surfaces)



To find beads look at:
(Collect some old necklaces and use the beads to top your coasters)

Goodwill
2405 South Roan Street
Johnson City, TN 37601
(423) 928-4332

257 West Market Street
Johnson City, TN 37604
(423) 434-0850

Beadworks
257 East Main Street
Johnson City, TN 37604-5707
(423) 979-0323