Etched Mirror Vase

When the flowers have wilted in your floral arrangement it's okay to throw them away, but not the container! My mother-in-law often receives flowers and always saves the containers for me.  Look what I did with this one!

 

This a square glass vase, mirrored on the inside - perfect for etching!  Here's what I used and how I did it:

• etchall® etching crème                              
• etchall® etchmask and transfer paper
• Squeegee
• Pik tool

1. Cut 4, 2"  snowflake designs from etchmask.  I used an electronic die cutting machine.

2.  Trim the etchmask to 1" wider than the snowflake design. Use the pik tool to carefully weed the design while it is still on the mat. Always pull from the center of an area to be removed, not the edge. It is easier to remove one section at a time.  Pull up one part of the snowflake then cut away with scissors.

3.  Once the designs have been exposed thru weeding, cover the etchmask with a strip of transfer paper.  Use the squeegee to press the transfer paper firmly in place. (Don't forget to peel the backing sheet from the transfer paper first.)

 

4.  Remove the stencil from the mat then cut apart.  Working with one piece at a time, gently peel the backing away from the back of the etchmask then press firmly onto one side of the glass vase.  Gently remove the transfer paper.

5.  Cover any exposed area around the etchmask with pieces of the transfer paper, or masking tape.

6.  Pour a liberal amount of etching creme onto the stencil.  Without touching the glass surface, spread the creme until there is a thick layer over the snowflake design.  Use the squeegee, or the back of a plastic spoon.  Let sit for 15 minutes then scrape the creme back into the bottle.  Don't forget etchall creme and dip are reusable!  Rinse away any residue then remove the stencil.  Buff dry with a soft cloth.  NOTE: Do not rinse over a porcelain sink!  etching products will also etch the sink - this is a permanent etch!  If you haven't used etching products before, please read the directions on the container. You can also find more information at www.etchall.com

    

7.  Repeat this process to etch the design on each side of the vase.

  

I love the look of etched mirrored glass.  The mirror reflects the etched design, giving it a 3-D effect and also reflects any color that's around it.  Fill with potpourri, nuts, candy, fresh or silk flowers then give as a gift, or use to decorate your own home for the holidays!  

 

Enjoy!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,

Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Fall Floral

Creating a floral arrangement is easy with just a few things you probably have around the house. I had a square vase that I wanted to use, but it's hard to arrange flowers in it, unless you have floral foam; not something I had on hand, so - empty pickle jar to the rescue! 

I placed the jar inside the square vase to hold the flowers.  

Insteading of taking time to remove the label, I filled the area between the jar and vase with corn kernels. You could also layer with different colored dried beans.  Small pieces of candy look great too!  M&M's for example, and they come in all sorts of seasonal colors!

Pretty cool, right...  now all I had to do was fill the jar with water and flowers. Quick'n EZ.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Y'all come back now.......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorations

Need some last minute decorations for Thanksgiving?  These are quick'n EZ....

You'll need:

• Floral accent
• Medium size glass candle holder
• Small LED candle
• Popcorn kernels
• Wire cutters

1. Divide the floral accent into 2 pieces. It isn't necessary to unwind; just count the loops and cut the wire.
2. Fill the glass with popcorn kernels - about 2" deep, then place at the center of the loops.
3. Place the candle in the glass. Push to the bottom.  I used these on a sofa table, but they are an ideal height for the dinner table.

These floral accents are available each season and make Quick'n EZ candle rings.  They are easy to replace, so after Thanksgiving replace this one with a Christmas floral.  I usually buy three; one for the small glass candle holders, one for a larger glass candle holder on the coffee table and one to place at the center of my twig wreath - I told you it was Quick'n EZ! 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Y'all come back now................

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Paper Foil Blog Hop

A couple of months ago I received an email from a designer who had decided to import paper foil from Germany. She loved the product and wanted to make it available for US crafters.  She asked if I could take at look at it and perhaps make some projects.....  Are you kidding me!!! Look at what I've been keeping in my stash since 1967!!!

You may, or may not remember, but I lived in Germany from 1967 - 1976 and since I've always been a crafter, this was a product I was totally familiar with.  Needless to say I was all in and Diane sent me samples of Rinea® to play with.

   

I received two types of foil papers - double sided metallic and slightly thinner embossed foil. Both types are double sided in a variety of colors.  The colored metallic foil is either silver on the back, or gold. There is also a metallic with gold on both sides, or silver. The embossed foil is the same color on both sides.  They are so easy to work with. I used dies, embossing folders, a paper crimper, punches, and stencils for embossing.  It cut easily and scored with a paper trimmer and was easy to cut with decorative edge scissors. Here are a few of the projects I came up with.

 

 

 

The foil adhered easily with an extra strength glue stick, even to glass. It was so much fun! So much so, that I added an extra project for the hop, my "Accordion Star". 

You will need:

• 10 Pieces of 8.5" x 4" metallic foil
• 1/4" double stick tape
• Extra strength glue stick
• Tacky glue
• Small piece of thin poster board
• Embossing tool (for scoring)
• Paper trimmer
• 1" Circle punch
• 1/8" hole punch
• Optional: 1" round acrylic crystal jewel for center

1. Starting 1/4" from the short edge of the foil, use the embossing tool to score a line. Measuring from this line, score 3 additional lines 1" apart.  Turn the piece of foil around and repeat from the opposite edge.

2.  The 1/4" line is to show where the ends will overlap. Fold the strip back on the next line, then up then back. Repeat at the opposite side. Overlap the ends then glue in place. Fold and glue each strip in the same manner.

 

3.  Flatten the folded pieces then adhere a 4" strip of double stick tape down the center of each one and a 2" piece across the bottom.

 

4.  Remove the backing from the pieces of tape. Working with 3 or 4 pieces at a time stack together, then starting about 1 1/2" from the bottom, cut diagonally across to the center point at the top.

5.  Stack more pieces together, then stack the cut pieces on top. Using the cut stack as a guide, cut the next stack. Repeat until all the pieces have been stacked together and cut.  Press the stack gently along the center and across the bottom to make sure they are firmly stuck together.

 6.  Carefully pull the point of the top piece and the stack will start to unfold. Gently pull the top piece around to form a circle and adhere to the bottom piece.

 

7.  Punch 2, 1" circles from poster board,  cover the back liberally with thick, tacky glue, then place over the center.  While the glue is still wet you can separate the star points evenly around the center.  Let dry then repeat on the other side.  You can cover the circle with a different color of paper foil, or add a large acrylic crystal sticker as shown on my sample.

8.  Use a hand punch to punch a small hole at the tip of one of the star points for a hanger.

    

I loved working with paper foil again, it brought back many happy memories of the years I spent in Germany.  

Don't forget to check the other designers projects then comment here, or on their blogs and on the Designer Crafts Connection blog for a chance to win your own packages of paper foil. Use the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of the DCC post.  Good luck!

You can find more information about Rinea® Paper Foil and a gallery of ideas on their website. Enjoy! Y'all come back now............

Yours truly,

Julie :)  

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Fall Scarecrow

There once was a scarecrow name "Boo"

Made from bunches of straw, clothes and glue

He went trick-a-treating

And now he is waiting

To share all his candy with you.....

Supplies:

JOY iron-on letters

Small Scarecrow (on a pole)

Pumpkin (craft pumpkin used here)

Lo-temp glue gun

Knife to cut pumpkin (adult use only)

1.  Peel the backing away from each letter then adhere to the front of your scarecrow.

2.  Using a zig zag pattern cut the top from the pumpkin then cut a hole at the center of the bottom half of the pumpkin to accommodate the pole.

 

3.  Place the scarecrow in the bottom half of the pumpkin, pushing the pole thru the hole.  Glue the top of the pumpkin to the scarecrow's head.  Fill the pumpkin bowl with candy.

My outdoor table has a hole at the center, so I placed the pumpkin on the table with the pole thru the hole.  When using indoors, remove the pole, or cut a hole around the stem of a second pumpkin and place "Boo" on top......   Not just for Halloween, we use our pumpkin candy bowl up through Thanksgiving.

   

Enjoy!  Y'all come back now......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Pillow Pals

My grandchildren enjoy spending the night at Nana and Papa's house - I think it's because we always make pancakes for breakfast.... LOL   The boys have their own room and enjoy seeing their names on the decorative bed pillows.  Now I need to add one for Connor!

 

The pillows are easy to personalize. I started with two ready-made pillows then used individual letters to spell out their names and a sheet of smaller letters for numbers for the dates. You will also need some fabric glue.

1. Peel off the waxy paper from the back of each letter to reveal the adhesive. 

2. Position the letters on the pillow then press into place. For positioning, it's easier to place the center letter first, then work out to the left then the right.

3. Gently peel the numbers from the small monogram sheet then glue to the pillow.

4. There weren't enough "0"s for the date on the second pillow, so I substituted the letter "O" instead. I think it looks great!  Now I need to add one more pillow for Connor!

JOY embroidered letters are available in a variety of sizes, fonts and colors.  There are also letters that can be dyed any color with fabric dye, markers, paint and sprays - all available at your favorite craft store!  Enjoy!   Y'all come back now.......

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!

Personalize the Baby's Room

Since the baby shower, I've been working on projects for my grandson, Connor's nursery.  I started with the letter "C" written in shades of blue buttons, glued to a painted gray canvas with white stars. Then I spelled his name in small wood letters on painted blocks. Really cute, but we needed more!

My daughter-in-law found a galvanized metal container at a local yard sale; perfect for all kinds of baby knick-knacks. I wanted to add his name to that too, but wood letters don't work too well on a curved surface, so it's Joy to the rescue!

Supplies are minimal - all I needed was Joy embroidered letters and Krylon® Spray Paint.

  

Step 1 - Paint the bucket. I turned it upside down over a stack of large paint cans then lightly sprayed the outside with 2-3 coats of blue. The paint dried really quickly, so it only took about 10 minutes, then I sprayed the inside.

Step 2 - Peel the waxy paper backing off of each letter to expose the adhesive then place around the rim of the container.

TIP:  For names with an even number of letters, mark the center of the container's rim then adhere the last letters of the name to the right, then, working backwards, add the first letters to the left.  If your name has an odd number of letters, place the middle letter over the center mark first.

These letters worked perfectly on the curved rim!  Seriously, how cute is this?
Plus it's quick'n EZPZ!

You can find JOY iron-on embroidered letters in lots of colors, sizes and fonts at your local craft store.  Y'all come back now.....   Enjoy!

Yours truly,
Julie :)

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON CRAFTING!