Glitter Glitter Everywhere

All glitter is not created equal.  That’s what I have discovered lately.  In the course of creating my Christmas Holiday ornaments for this year (yes folks, I did say Christmas!), 

Winter Egg Ornament

I have been glittering my little heart out.  After all – what’s not to love about a glittering egg ornament twirling on your holiday tree – right?

White Glitter with Gold Accents

There is clear glitter, big glitter, colored glitter and glue-glitter. In addition, there is big, regular, small, fine, ultra fine and ultra ultra fine.  There is white glitter that is enhanced with slight color enhancements so that even though it goes on and looks white or clear, it sparkles with gold, green and blue accents. 

Then there’s also vintage glass glitter that is larger, hard to find and available in only a few colors like copper and aqua. (I got mine from Martha Stewart YEARS ago!)  And the colors - - ARGGGHHHHH !     How do I choose?

Velvet Glitter on Eggs

During my last trip to the Eastern Ohio Egg Art Show I picked up some new “velvet” glitter. OMG – I am in love.  It is nothing like my regular old glitter and creates this beautiful velvet look to my egg ornaments. 

  

But can I simply ignore my old standbys while I use this special glitter and the glue needed for that velvety look – or do I mix it up and use both?  I’m SOOOO confused.

Colored Velvet Glitter

I have learned a trick however that allows you to glitter something and not have the glitter fall off.  After gluing and glittering your item, let it dry completely, brush off any extra then apply a second layer of glue or some Mod Podge over the entire item. It will seal your glitter in and keep it from attaching itself to everything and everyone in the area.  Try it and let me know what you think.

In the meantime – I’m going back to my craft room to make more glittering creations.  Have a craft sale coming up and I think these sparkly beauties will be a hit!

Remember - there's only 76 days left til Christmas!

Dani

Handmade Butler's Tray: Summer Collage Project

Summer in Wisconsin - and just about anywhere for that matter - means family and friends getting together for BBQ'd delicacies while enjoying the warm summer breezes with a cool drink.  This season those evenings may be few and far between with temps the highest they've been in 90 years, however they do present a unique chance to work some special magic and get all crafty!

At least - that's what I told myself when I decided that I needed a tray to serve drinks, food or just to carry things from one place to another.  Often called a "butler's tray" these wonders of convenience were, at one time,  made of silver and highly polished.  There's no way I can afford either the money to buy one of these or the time to polish it, however that didn't stop my wanting one.  So, I did some research, and some crafty designing and here's what I came up with.

You will need

Picture frame, 11-inch by 14-inch, 1-2 inches deep with glass

1/8" piece of wood - cut to fit the frame

Paint to match the frame

Screwdriver
2 handles
Screws
Cordless drill
Patterned Scrapbook paper
Scissors
Glue stick

The first step is to take the frame apart.  Set aside the back and glass - you'll need them later.  Put the handles against the frame so that they may be fastened at least halfway up the outside side of the frame. They should be easy to use - so you'll have to test them (I used painters tape to hold them in place until I was ready.) Predrill holes for the screws to keept the frame from splitting. Make sure the screws are only as long as the frame wood is wide. For example, if the frame wood is 1/2 inch then the screws should only be 1/2 inch long. Screw the handles in place - but make sure they don't go all the way through the frame.

Lay the paper or cardboard backing that you removed from the frame on a table.  Place your paper on the backing and cut it to size.  Get creative, no one said you just had to use 1 piece of paper! Glue it into place.   While the glue is drying, paint your piece of wood. I painted mine the same color as the frame - but you can use your imagination (or any leftover paint you may have).  Allow it to dry completely before assembling your tray.

Turn the tray upside down and place the glass in first, then the scrapbook backing, then finally the piece of wood.  Secure it all by placing screws or nails (at a slight angle) into the frame making sure they overlap the back to hold it in place.  Test it before using with anything heavy as you may need to reinforce it before using it to serve heavy items. 

There you go - you're very own serving tray.  Now if I just had the butler to go with it!

~ Dani

Bind Your Life: Homemade Scrapbook /Journal Covers

I spent some time wandering the "Inspire Me Monday" blog hop and can honestly say I was definitely inspired by the sheer scope of the creative talent that is out there.  All I can say is WOW!   From cooking to freehand design elements - how in the world did all these wonderful people connect before the internet!  And what incredible ideas are floating out there to latch on to!  Which brings me to my "inspiration" of the week!

Once more, my other half and I traveled to the north woods of Wisconsin last weekend.  It's great now that he's retired that he can do the driving after I've worked a full day.  Gives me the chance to do some closed-eye creative thinking.  All weekend long - while hanging drywall and laying subfloors (we'll talk about that project sometime later) - I was thinking about what I could do to creatively capture this huge long-term project.  I've already got a "building book" that holds the plans, color squares, ideas, measurements, and photos - but I wanted something more.  Something that tells the "story" more than the details.

Not long ago I wrote an article for an on-line help site on creating a travel journal.  How you take a blank notebook and as you travel you make note about what you've done, seen, experienced. Complete with some sketches (if you are artistically inclined) and special small mementos, this then because your trip "story".  Similar to what the old Banana Republic catalogs featured (for those old enough to remember those really cool catalogs).  Could I create something like this for the happenings we experience at our home away from home?

I'm thinking to include not just the humorous stories that happen (like holding a piece of drywall on my head as Leo screws it into the ceiling) but written expressions of amazement at the sight of a triple rainbow arching over the house, or the doe stopping in the center of the orchard to look in my direction and standing there, perfectly still, for all of 5 minutes before taking off down the forest path.

Not content with keeping my artistic slant inside the pages of this journal, I also want to capture it on the outside as well.  The question then becomes how?  I could create a free-form beaded cover similar to this one found at www.why-not-art.com.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Or I could create a felted cover like this one created by Barbara Potoczny  (http://www.barbarapotoczny.com/classes-detail.php?ID=6).  

 

 And if I want to personalize the outside, am I doing an injustice to the book itself by using plain old paper or should I create my own book by binding together different types, colors, styles and sizes of paper and thereby make something uniquely mine.  And if I make one for me - should this be my gifts for the holidays for my more artistic friends and family members.

I'm giving myself a headache!  So much inspiration - so little time!

 

~ Dani

Animal Charms: A Quick and Personalized Gift Idea

I freely acknowledge that I tend to stay away from anything too cutsy.  I'm an adult and don't need to clutter my brain with the "my kitty" syndrome of small cute charms of animals that can adorn everything from jewelry to cell phone covers.

That being said... what do you do when someone you know has a birthday and happens to LOVE those things.  If you are an ATA Girl - you bite the bullet (or in this case the bead) and you make them a bunch of animal charms.   It was so easy - of course I had to make several... after all - who knows when I might need them.

Now who would have thought the there were so many animal "bead caps" to choose from - all with little matching bottoms.  There are bears and frogs and cats (oh my!).  I picked up a bunch of bear heads and bottoms while at the bead show and went to work.   All you need to make these is:

A multi-piece bead cap in an animal shape - make sure it has a post.

1 6 to 10 mm round or bicone crystal for each animal

E60 epoxy

toothpick

Play with the beads to see what "fits" best with your animal head and bottom. You can change the look of the animal by switching up the size and shape of the bead you will be placing in the middle. You should make sure that whatever bead you use fits over the post on the animal head.

Start with the head of your animal charm - and place a small amount of the E60 in the post and the underside of the head. This is the tricky spot... you don't want to apply so much that it will ooze all over your bead - but you do want it to hold the bead in place.  

Slide the bead in place, making sure it is seated tightly to the top, then immediately wipe away any excess adhesive.  Allow to dry for a few minutes.

Place a small amount on the feet section and place the feet on the bottom of the bead, making sure the feet are facing forward.  If the post is long enough - it will actually fit into the indentation or hole in the feet allowing you to line the two pieces up easier.  Press together until the glue sets - then let sit overnight before attaching it to anything.

Ok - -so I admit - they are cute. Maybe I need to make myself a whole zoo!   Hmmm.

~ Dani