Link to a giveaway...

I want to share some information about a giveaway. Don't you just love that word, I do!

http://www.crafttestdummies.com/ has a great givaway going on.
Hit the link to find out more.

(I *think* I just entered - if I added the link correctly or not.)

Even if I wasn't entered into the contest, I'm more than happy to share the info with you. It's just the kind of gal I am, always willing to share information with others.

Have a crafty day and good luck with the giveaway!

Today's Project... a wooden spoon!

Yes, a wooden spool is being repurposed today. It's growing up to be a tree with character! I'll know in a couple days, or weeks, whether it turns out or not. And you will find out, too!


More later...

Santa Ornament - recycled pull tab tin top from a peanut can

My second paper clay ornament is done. Yeah, I know it's not the right time of year to make Christmas things, but it just turned out that way.

As you can see in the photo, I turned down the corner of the peanut can lid.
The gray blob is the peanut tin top covered, except of the tab, with air dry clay.

Then I started to sculpt... something. I molded a face from a store bought mold, and tweaked it just a bit with a toothpick. Then, I grabbed a pair of hands I had cast in plaster months ago and popped them on the blob of gray clay. I didn't know he'd be a santa until I put the collar on his coat, and cuffs on his sleeves in order to cover the wrists.

Suddenly, he started to appear. After some more sculpting, he dried over night and I painted him today. He needs a few clear coats of acrylic to seal him properly for years of enjoyment.

Now, unto the next thing...

Go Nuts... you heard me... go nuts!

Just this once, ignore proper eating habits and eat some nuts in the name of art.

I have recently repurposed the pull off tab from a can of peanuts in order to attempt a new project. The way I saw it, the tab would act as a built-in hanger.

The project began by turning the edges of the lide inward, as shown in the photo. Then I covered the front and back of the tin with a thin layer of air dry clay. I used a face mold to start the face shape, and tweaked it to make it more to my liking. I mounted the face on the lid, so that the head would cover most of the tab, and used a toothpick to blend the sections of clay. I made hearts with cookie cutters, used an old piece of jewelry to emboss the center of each heart, and mounted them onto the piece.

The whole thing was allowed to dry overnight. Then the paints came out, as did the glitter. The clay was still a bit moist when I started painting which worked out well for me. That way, I could use the toothpick I was painting with to scrape areas that were a bit more textured than I wanted them to be. After I scraped an area, I blew it off gently and painted over it. After all the paint dried, I glued the areas I wanted to glitter. Sprinkle, sprinkle... glitter added zing to the whole thing.

My first ornament was created!!! She turned out alright (although I'll probably jazz her up a little more later), and onto the next item I can recycle!

Rehab dresser to match existing...

Today's project is to rehab a dresser I found on Craigslist so that it matches an existing dresser in the house. The previous owner had already freshened it up with white paint, so I'll be able to skip a few of my normal steps.

The existing dresser, cherry wood colored, is a family 'heirloom' that won't be omitted for sentimental reasons. So, I bought this white dresser with similiar shape, legs, and general structure at a fair price. The trick will be trying to do a faux technique so that the two pieces match, or at least have the illusion of matching within the same room (they won't live side by side so any variation will be less noticeable than if they were to be placed side by side). How faux can I go? GOOD question! I haven't done a lot of faux technique, so I don't have the answer...yet.


The PLAN (After removing handles and knobs)is:

Step 1. Lightly bleach interior and exterior of dresser and let dry completely.
Step 2. Lightly sand exterior.
Step 3. Raid my paint shelf, mix satin interiors to create a *Reddish* base color.
Step 4. Use a foam brush and apply paint in LONG strokes for streaked appearance.
(The photo shows I've started this stage already)
Step 5. Let dry completely - overnight.
Step 6. Raid my stain shelf and mix a *Reddish-brown* stain blend. I'll use cherry and mahogany stains for reddish tint, and I'll avoid walnut so my blend doesn't get too dark.
Step 7. Put on rubber gloves (stain stains skin!).
Step 8. Take a deep breath!
Step 9. Apply stain with bristle brush, very, very lightly.
Step 10. Let dry and repeat step 9 until I get desired tone.
Step 11. Let dry overnight - no I don't plan to wipe the stain off.
Step 12. Once cured, apply polyacrylic coat.
Step 13. Let Polyacrylic dry, sand gently. Apply second coat of Polyacrylic.
Step 14. Let Polyacrylic dry, sand GENTLY. Apply third coat of Polyacrylic.
Step 15. Enjoy for years to come.

Time will tell if it goes according to plan or not. Wish me luck!!!

Finally, it's February and I'm done with the project. I'm okay with the outcome but it sure took a few tries to get the color I wanted. I also oopsied when I tried to clean the hardware with lacquer thinner, it took the finish completely off them! I bought some metallic bronze spray paint to repaint them and it turned out fine.

What ya think of the dresser now? Hmmmm

Recycled packing foam to make wall art

Yep,



styrofoam that comes in hundreds of kitchen and electronic items (among other items!) we all purchase throughout the year.

Any shape and size of styrofoam can be used. Use toothpicks, popsicle sticks and other scrap wood (if it came from food make sure to clean it off before using it) to attach chunks of foam together. Then cut the shape (or shapes) needed to create what you have in mind.

I love sunshine, so that was my choice.

In this case, I cut out two 1/2" think rounds from the foam. I also cut 5 triangle-ish shapes for the rays. I covered the round with several layers of concrete patch (refer to my previous blog Shoe Planter for tips on applying patch) and letting each layer dry overnight. I also covered the triangles with patch, letting each dry.

Meanwhile, I used polymer clay to create, and bake, the hearts, using a cookie cutter to get equal sized hearts.

Once all the main pieces were dry, I dry fit the triangles and hearts to determine placement and spacing. Using craft glue and toothpicks, I attached the triangles to the base. Another coat of concrete patch was applied to cover the seams. Again, allowing it to dry completely.

The hearts were glued on and marble eyes were embedded into the foam. Lips, nose and eyelids were shaped with clay, foam and spackling compound, respectively.

Finally, the piece was painted and sealed (multiple times) with a clear polyacrylic.

Give this project a whirl! Use your imagination and see what you come up with!

Tips: Intended for sheltered exterior or interior spaces. It's a good idea to wear latex/other gloves while working with concrete patch.