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.



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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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

A New Home For Your Matches

CREATION: Match Holder

WHAT YOU NEED: 

• A small glass (about the size of a shot glass)
• A piece of cotton fabric with a cool design (Hint: You can use the fabric from an old shirt or an old scarf... it doesn't need to be much fabric because you only need a little bit to cover the glass)
• Matchbox with strike paper
• Paintbrush 
• Minwax Polycrylic Finish
• Tape Measure
• Scissors
• Glue

WHAT TO DO: 
1. Measure your fabric to the glass, leaving room for the strike paper. Cut the fabric to the exact measurements
(Hint: Measure the strike paper so the fabric fits perfectly around the glass with room for the strike paper)


2. Glue the strike paper on the glass vertically

3. Using the paintbrush, cover the glass with the Minwax Polycrylic Finish making sure not to get any on the strike paper

4. Once the glass is covered, wrap the fabric around the glass. Start the fabric on one side of the strike paper and wrap it around until it is flush with the other side of the strike paper

5. When you finish getting the fabric evenly wrapped around the glass completely cover the fabric with the Minwax Polycrylic Finish
(Hint: Make sure not to get the Minwax Polycrylic Finish on the strike paper)


6. Let it dry completely and the fill the glass with matches with the red tips up

7. Now you have a pretty place to put your matches

Wall Art

Craft Idea: Wall Art

What you will need:

• An old piece of fabric with a cool design (You can use an old tablecloth, old curtains, old blankets – whatever has a cool design that you would like to hang on your wall)
• An old picture frame or canvas … big or small. But bigger is better.
• Small nails or a staple gun if you have one
• Hammer
• Pushpins

What to do:

1. Get your piece of cloth and iron it (Hint: Make sure your fabric is large enough to stretch across the frame or canvas but not too large… measure then cut the excess but leave a little extra to work with)
2. Lay the fabric on the floor (on a hard surface) with the pattern facing down
3. Get your frame and center it on top of the fabric (Hint: If the fabric has a certain pattern make sure the pattern is centered
4. Now grab some pushpins and put them in each corner and in the middle of the frame to make sure the fabric stays in the right place (Hint: Make sure the fabric is stretched very tight!)
5. Once everything is in place grab either the nails or staple gun and go to work.
6. a.     Start on the top, nailing or stapling the fabric to the inside of the frame (the inside edge)
   b.     Next, nail or staple the bottom
   c.      Flip the frame over and make sure everything is right and in place
   d.     Finish nailing or stapling the two sides making sure your fabric is stretched tight. 
7. Flip it over and you have a new piece of art.
8. If it wasn’t an old picture you might have to attach something to the back so it can hang. Use either a wire or a wall hook. 

Good Places to Look for Fabric:

Salvation Army

423 West Walnut Street

Johnson City - (423) 926-5088

Look on the back wall for an old piece of fabric… It will probably be a hit or miss so always go back and look a second time a couple days later if you don't find anything the first time

Your grandma’s closest

Find some old clothes she doesn’t want anymore and make a series of little square frames.

Clothespin Mirror

WHAT YOU CAN CREATE: A Clothespin Mirror

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

•  Old or rummaged beveled mirror of any size
• A piece of plywood (needs to be bigger than your mirror, about 6 inches bigger than your mirror on every side)
• A bunch of wooden clothespins
• Wood glue
• Household Goop glue
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Bowl (for clothespins)

WHAT TO DO:

1.         Start taking apart the clothespins by taking out the metal center. Put clothespins in a bowl and set aside.

2.         Grab your mirror and put it in the center of the plywood.

(Hint: Make sure to measure it so you don’t end up with a crooked mirror)

3.         After you mark where it should go, glue the mirror down with the Household Goop

(Hint: Make sure you apply plenty of glue to the edges and center)

4.         Now it's time to start applying clothespins! Grab the bowl of clothespins!

• Start at the top left of the mirror moving toward the top right
• Overlap three clothespins end to end, gluing them down with the wood glue as you lay them
• Lay the first clothespin flat on the plywood closest to the mirror and continue gluing the others, overlapping each clothespin by one inch (three clothespins make one row, you still have a long way to go)
• Lay the clothespins closest to the mirror and work toward the edges
• Now glue clothespins across the bottom using the same steps
• Finish it up by gluing clothespins down both sides using the same steps 

5.         Let dry

SUGGESTED MEASUREMENTS:

12”x12” Mirror

2’ x 2’ x 1/2” piece of plywood

HINTS:

It is okay if the clothespins come off the edges of the plywood, but if you decide to do a big mirror that you want to set on the ground make sure the clothespins are flush with the plywood for the side you are going to rest on the floor.

COOL IDEAS:

Paint the clothespins and add some color to your mirror

Stain the clothespins to give it a final touch

Alternate each row of clothespins when laying them down, it will give the mirror a different texture

Add some funky beads where the clothespins meet the mirror, this will frame the mirror nicely

To find mirrors look at:

Big Lots

3110 East Oakland Avenue

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 282-2144

Bargains on Broadway

128 South Broadway Street 

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 928-7095

To find beads look at:

(Collect some old necklaces and use the beads to frame the mirror)

Goodwill

2405 South Roan Street

Johnson City, TN 37601

(423) 928-4332

Beadworks

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