Tutorial

The Easiest Glitter Pumpkins

Yesterday marked the first day of fall and so begins the annual PUMPKIN SPECTACULAR. This weekend I’m clearing off a credenza and filling with all the weird and sparkly skulls and gourds I have collected and made over the years. Maybe there will be a spooky movie in the background and a scented candle going and maybe some pie and holy cats it is going to be AMAZING.

Listen, I never said I was cool.

Speaking of cool – glitter pumpkins. I love a seriously sparkled up pumpkin but the Folks at Aeleen’s Tacky Glue asked me to come up with a super simple sparkle pumpkin that was friendly to all ages and skill levels, easy on the wallet, and capitalizes on the wonder that is Tacky Glue. You could do this with regular white glue but it will just drip into a one big mess, and that ain’t cute. You need the original. Pop on over to get the tutorial and make one for yourself.

Happy Weekend!

Chalky Finish Painted Furniture

by aunt peaches

A few years ago I started getting emails from product companies about chalk paint. Chalk paint this, chalk paint that. It was, dare I use the word; trendy. The advantage of chalk paint over other sorts of furniture paint was that, in addition to a soft matte finish, the application process was far more forgiving than regular paint. Minimal prep work, less-noticeable brush strokes, and some nifty self-leveling properties that made any paint job look professional. Neat stuff right? But the price tag for the trendy chalk paint ran around $40 for a quart. And even more if you bought the finishing wax. So, all-in, you were looking at $80 in supplies to paint a $10 thrift store chair? No thanks.

Granted, those emails were from people contacting me to offer free samples, but, when you are a blogger and you take stuff for free there is an expectation that you will post about it, and that puts the blogger in an awkward spot. If I hate the product and I post an honest review, it hurts the company and makes me look bad for whining in public. If I like the stuff and talk about it, people second guess the honesty of the review and/or it looks like I’m pandering for free stuff (which is hilarious because the last thing in the world I need or want is MORE STUFF). So, for the most part, the only time I take a product review or sponsored post is if I have already put my own hard earned money on the line to buy it. Because if I buy it and like it, I can tell you, with all sincerity, that it is worth the money. Which brings us to the product of the day: Deco Art Chalky Finish Paint.

I saw this on an end cap at Michaels earlier this year and grabbed a few pots. I liked the colors – muted and pale but not pastel. I liked the size – at 8oz they are bigger than regular acrylic tubes, smaller than a quart of house paint, large enough to dip a whole brush in the top. I liked the price tag – under $10. Way, way less than the $40 I had seen (and spent) on those other kinds of chalk paint. So I thought, why not give it a wirl? And you know what?

It goes on LIKE A DREAM. It has a sort of creaminess to it that you don’t find in acrylic paint. The color is opaque without being too thick, but dries smooth in a way you usually only get from thin house paint. So yeah, I’m a fan. So when the folks at Deco Art asked if they could sponsor a post wherein I overhaul a piece of furniture with their line of chalky paint I was like UMMM YES PLEASE.

Most people use chalk paint finishes for revamping old furniture – flea market-esque, antiquey looking things with distressed edges, which is AWESOME, but I wanted to see if it could use it for something for modern. Utilitarian. Functional, yet whimsical. And then I rolled over and saw my old Ikea dresser and an idea was born.

Back to the paint. For this project I needed three things;

Deco Art Chalky finish paint (Everlasting white and Artifact Grey)
Deco Art Creme Wax (clear)
Sponge Brush
Flat head paint brush
Soft cloth

First you paint the base. I’m thinking you know how that part goes. However, two things worth noting here. 1. You don’t have to sand furniture before chalk paint but I scuffed up the top because the surface of this piece gets used daily – so not only do I want to make sure it sticks, I want to even out any existing damage (the paint is forgiving, but c’mon, help a sister out!). 2. I like painting flat surface furniture with a flat sponge brush. The wider the better. It’s great for spreading thin, even coats, but is great for cleaning up the corners and edges were drips usually accumulate. For a more rounded or ornate piece I’d use a regular brush.

I let it dry for an hour then added a second coat. One coat probably would have worked on an older piece, but I wanted it to look new-ish. Two coats was best.

Now for the fun part: dashes. Did I also mention I’m nuts about dashes?

Dashes are the new polka dot. Polka dots were the new chevron, and chevron was the new stripe…but that’s all yesterday’s news because dashes are in. Not just dotted line dashes, but imperfect, non-symetracl, floppy dashes. Footprints in the snow kinds of dashes. Dashes with crooked edges and uneven spacing. Dashes are a DIY’ers dream because they require very little skill and look best when slightly sloppy. What?!

I know. Dashes are fantastic!

After everything dried overnight, I went over it with the cream wax. You can use a brush but I just smeared it on with an old rag. Initially it deepens the color slightly, but it dries clear. Not shiny, not matte, just a soft wax finish like you would expect on good quality furniture. An hour later I added the knobs and put the whole piece back my bed where it belongs and BAM. Here it is!

It look the better part of one pot to do the base coat of this dresser, but I saved the rest for other purposes. It’s high quality enough that I used it on some of my flower paintings – you can see the grey here in this one…

And there again are those dashes.

Dashes today, dashes tomorrow, dashes forever!

You’ll find a variety of Deco Art paint pots at your local Michaels store. This project speaks specifically to their chalky finish, but I also like the satin enamels. Haven’t tried their metallic line (yet) but I have plans for it and some Christmas ornaments. They are going to look seriously cute together.

Have you joined the chalk paint parade? Join in the fun. And let me know how it turns out!

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In the spirit of full disclosure, this post is sponsored by Deco Art. All opinions expressed within are my own and my praise for this product is unbiased – the stuff is just that good. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this site possible.

Homemade Bleach Stamped Bolster Pillow

by aunt peaches 9 Comments

Bleach and I are not friends. For one thing, the smell nauseates me. For another thing, there was this time I tried to bleach my curtains, went overboard, and everything tasted like pool water for a week. And for another thing, regular liquid bleach and accidents like to happen waaaaaaay too often. Have you ever accidently splattered bleach on your clothes and grumbled loudly as your red shirt suddenly turned white? Of course you have. Sometimes, it’s a spot, and sometimes it’s a splatter. Well, now that the weather is warming up enough to do projects outdoors – let’s embrace liquid bleach’s slightly more predictable cousin – gel bleach – and do something creative! Let’s turn bleach’s color-altering properties into a tool for homemade textile production.

I know what you are thinking; Is that toilet bowl cleaner?

Yes honey, it sure is.

And you are literally going to craft the shit out of it.

Materials

Gel bleach (usually found in the bathroom or laundry cleaning section)
Leaves
Natural fiber fabric
Rubber gloves
Paper plate
Scissors, needle and thread (or sewing machine, depending on final project)

Note: Fabric choice will impact the strength of the bleaching effect. Fabrics made from a combination of natural and synthetic fibers will change color, but may not lighten as much as others. And no matter what your fabric source, wash and dry the fabric first to remove any sizing or fabric softeners as they will dull the final outcome.

Safety first: While this project is very easy, it is not for small children. Bleach is a chemical substance and should be kept out of reach of little ones until your fabric is washed thoroughly.

Working outside or in a well-ventilated area, pour ½ cup of gel bleach into a paper plate and drench the leaf completely. You will find that sturdy, rigid leaves will be easier to handle, but lightweight leaves may generate the most interesting shapes. Consider using a leaf picked up on vacation or from a favorite location – that way, not only will your fabric look cool, it will have a special story as well! No matter where you source your leaves, experimenting on a scrap piece is a good idea.

Same as with a rubber stamp, apply the leaf to the surface of the fabric, pressing on it with your fingers to be sure the leaf leaves a mark on the fabric. Don’t worry about dribbles, they only add to the charm!

Repeat the drenching and stamping process over the surface of the fabric following a loose, grid-like formation. The longer the bleach sits on the surface the lighter and brighter the fabric will become, though, it will usually turn red or orange before turning white. How long to leave the bleach will depend on the fabric and personal taste, but you can usually expect anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. If you like the look of the reddish leaves, above, rinse the fabric as soon as you see fit.

When the desired bleaching effect has been reached, rinse it in the sink for two minutes then treat as regular fabric; wash, dry and iron flat. Now the fun begins!

Simple sewing project ideas; a tablecloth, napkins, curtains, or throw pillows. A bolster pillow like this makes a terrific project because it changes the whole look of a couch or a bed, and, it can be made out of one yard of fabric and sewing three simple straight lines. This particular body pillow fit into a 18”x48” bolster, but size will vary depend on how the length of the pillow and how stuffed/overstuffed you like your cushions to feel. Target sells a nice thing they call a ‘body pillow’ for $12. I highly recommend.

So, objectively speaking, do the spots look the leaves as I originally intended? Not really.

Do I like it even better this way? You bet!

It’s sort of a cross between a dot and an ikat. And it is one of a kind, that is for sure. A friend recently gave me her old sewing machine so I’m on the hunt for simple sewing projects I can pair with homemade textiles. If you have any ideas, holler!

Flat Flowers Gone Wild

by aunt peaches 3 Comments

I went to a crafternoon with some friends this last weekend. There were flowers, and Tacky Glue, and Miss Patty’s dinosaur cheese dip. Hurrah! Fun was had by all, particularly me, because I didn’t have to make any of it. I did supply the idea though – making three dimensional floral arrangements out of two-dimensional flowers. Looky here!

The flowers are simple watercolor flower doodles with a little marker on top. Anyone can make them, no special skills. Perfect for a party craft. Then you just glue/pin them to a foam wreath form. Simple ingredients make the most impressive results.

Giving credit where it is due, I got the idea for the wreath from Pam Garrison’s Painted Petals class, so you won’t see instructions here (if you are getting serious about painting florals it’s an awesome class).

…However, because the universe allows us all to sip from the same stimulus soup, I actually made a semi-similar project from the folks at Prime Publishing back in January, only it’s not a wreath of watercolor flowers but a stand up vase made with oil pastels and drinking straws aimed at kids:

Nifty huh? You’ll find the tutorial over here.

No matter what the coloring medium or level of expertise, I am really digging the concept of paper sculptures. A year ago Brittany from The House That Lars Built did the opposite, using a 2D flat vase with 3D flowers.

Isn’t that is cutest thing you have ever seen? And the vase is a printable. You could load it with all the paper flowers your heart can handle and mom could keep it up on the fridge like you are seven. Isn’t that the coolest?

The coolest!

High Impact Paper Flowers – The Easy Way

by aunt peaches 11 Comments

If there is one thing I know, it’s paper flowers. Literally, I wrote a book on it (coming to you September 2016!) (< that was a subtle plug) ( > this is my not so subtle plug in hoping y’all will buy a copy when the time comes, and not just because it’s mine, but because I’m tired of the internet telling us that making paper flowers requires 35 steps and a $46 shipment of Italian crepe paper, and I wanted a book that demonstrated otherwise – THIS IS IT!). But I digress…

The good folks at I Love to Create asked me to share a simple, straightforward paper flower craft you can make in a matter of minutes. And you know what? This honker will impress your pants off. It’s large here, but you can make it teensy, or blow it up bigger than your coffee table. I worked hard to get the formula right and the steps are simple enough for a kindergartner.

Mothers Day. Cinco deMayo. Birthdays. Tuesdays. Everyday is a great day to make paper flowers!

Get your tissue paper ready and head on over for the tutorial!

Watercolor Wooden Bead Necklaces

by aunt peaches 17 Comments

Despite the fact that I own twelventytwo thousand necklaces, I want more. Specifically, I want a bunch of these trendish-y bohemian summer, extra long wooden bead and tassel necklaces that are everywhere, but nowhere that I can find. I keep seeing metal versions in the store but who wants a metal chain around their neck when it’s hot out? No spanxs.

So, when the folks at Michael’s asked me to share a Mothers day project that could be made for moms or by moms or by dads for moms…I thought, this is a winner. Oddly enough, my own mom was not much of a crafter but I do recall her making a wooden bead necklace with me on a piece of leather cord. It was with those rainbow abacus beads and I would slide the beads back and forth to learn addition and subtraction. It is nice to think my earliest math skills are rooted in rainbow jewelry. Surely an omen of good things to come.

Anyhooters, back to the Mothers Day project, looky here!

I think I’m supposed to give them to a mom, but I’m probably keeping them for me. Cat moms count!

These are crazy easy to make, especially if you like projects that embrace randomness. I don’t want to pitch this as a strictly kid project because I think the end results can look pretty sophisticated, however, I’m confident the results will come out better if you can embrace unpredictability with kid-like, wild abandonment.

You in? Let’s go!

Materials
Wooden beads. Varying sizes. My smallest here is 5mm, largest is 20mm. The big ones look good but whoa can they get heavy! Be sure to buy the unfinished beads as anything pre-varnished will not absorb the pigments.
Water colors. I’m using Dr. Martin’s liquid brand here because that’s what I have on hand and I know the quality is supreb, but you could use any brand of watercolor. Even the stuff they sell in the cheapo travel pallets. Generally, the cheaper the paint the lesser the pigments, which will give you a more pastel color. I happen to like the chalky finish here. You do you.
Embroidery floss. I’m using this for the tassels, but you could certainly sub with yarn or ribbon.
Necklace cording. Michael’s sells a huge variety of colored cords but I like this stuff because it’s smooth. I love the look of the hemp and twine cords but I’ll only wear them with a collared shirt, so this smoother stuff is great.
Plastic or styrofoam egg carton. This is to provide little pools for dyeing the beads. If you don’t have a waterproof egg carton laying around, a deviled egg dish does nicely, or just a selection of disposable cups. Your call!

Mix your watercolor paint with a small amount of water. Maybe a tablespoon. Hard to say how much exactly depending on the density of your paint and the porousness of the beads so you’ll have to experiment a bit. Like I said – this project is best when you embrace the unpredictable!

Let the beads soak about 10 minutes. Some dye will absorb almost instantly (like the hot pink) and some will take a while and still look awfully subtle (blue). You can also take them out in phases and/or mix the dyes to get a whole variety of hues and saturations. When you pull them out, just set them on paper towels to absorb the extra liquid. They won’t dry 100% for a few hours but if you get them dry to the touch you can string them up within a few minutes.

Also. Warning: wear gloves.

Use gloves, or a plastic spoon, or just give in to the elements. If people ask you why your hands look odd, tell them purple fingers are all the rage in Ibiza.

Because everything is a trend in a Ibiza, eventually.

Now all that’s left to do is string them up!

If you want to know how to make a simple tassel, I wrote an in-depth post on that a couple years back. I also threw in a few black and white beads from Michaels for good measure. That’s my never-fail tip for color and pattern mixing: throw in something with a graphic black and white pattern to ground the crazy and it will always, always, always look good.

Or you can skip the tassel and extra beads. It looks mighty swell on its own! And no fancy clasps here. These necklaces are meant to be worn long so you just tie a knot off the top and call it a day. Bam!

Although the beads are laid out randomly, sometimes I’d find that it did not lay evenly because there was too much weight on one side, so I went and added an extra large bead to the opposite side. If I was a serious beader I’d weigh this stuff on a scale first, but I don’t think anyone is calling the bead police here.

This one is the simplest but it might be my favorite! I also like this one…

Michaels sells this twisted cord stuff that is super cute, although a bit too big to thread through the holes of most beads. Darnit!

This makes a terrific project for kids of all ages (that means you) and if you decide to not give it to a mom, that’s cool too. Happy crafting!

An InLinkz Link-up

Quick and Easy Pompom Lampshade

by aunt peaches 3 Comments

One of these days I get tired of pompoms.

Is it today? NOT LIKELY.

One of my goals for 2016 is to quit taking my phone to bed. It’s so bad for you, but I have become so dependent on it. It’s the last thing I see before I go to bed, and the first thing I see when I wake up. That is sooooo not how I want o start my day! Anyway. Getting past this means giving myself an assortment of bedside reading options, which means a really good reading lamp. Not to bright, not too dark, and not too tall. I like a short and squatty, ambient lamp for reading light. And dontchaknow I found one at the thrift store, and dontchaknow it needed some dazzle dazzle to fit in with its new family. Enter pompoms.

It took ten minutes. You gotta see it for yourself over at IlovetoCreate!

Holiday Upcycle: Leftover Glass Ball Ornaments

by aunt peaches 8 Comments

Here is something I would like to know: Where on earth do all the little ornament toppers go? You know the crown things that let you loop in a hook? They always, always disappear. But where do they go? Probably the same place as all the stray socks. They are probably partying hard together in the Bahamas.

So what do you do with all the *topless ornaments laying around?

*Yo: Not that kind of topless.

I say, make them into vases. Make them into place card holders. Make them into whatever your little heart wants desires. Because it’s Christmas and you can do that if you want to! Get the details in my post over on Etsy.

Metallic Leaf Love

by aunt peaches 1 Comment

Turkey day is nearly here, huzzah! As someone who has never been big on football, one of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is to keep busy with easy craft project after the meal is over (or if you are lucky enough, before the meal is up because some fabulous family member is doing all the cooking). When I was a kid this meant stringing popcorn, but now we have moved on to much snazzier territory: metallic leaves!

These look lovely scattered around the harvest table, or spread in a bowl. If you are lucky enough to have access to magnolia leaves (still green and sturdy this time of year) you can hang them all over the Christmas tree too. All you need is a the right marker and a little imagination. Get the details from Pentel!

Craft Lightning: 60 Second Candle Cozy

by aunt peaches 4 Comments

If I have said it once I have said it a thousand times: Candles are everything. Candles are pantyhose for your home – they make everything look good. I’m not saying they will put away the the dirty socks on your floor, but they will make those socks less noticeable. And probably smell better too! Candles are my favorite gift to give. They are budget friendly, semi-useful, and they are still considered a small luxury and many will not buy for themselves. Oddly enough, my ALL TIME most widely viewed blog post is all about how to remove candle wax from glass containers (it’s worth a gander btw), so that tells me that other folks love a good candle too. However, sometimes candles come with weird labels on the outside and I’m too ~~lazy~~ impatient to soak and scrub. Having a little sweater sleeve not only makes the candle look a little more special, it doubles as gift wrap. People, it’s time to make your candle a cozy!

Materials
Old Sweater. If it’s been natural fiber and run through a hot wash/dry and slightly felted, that’s better. Not necessary, but better.
Scissors. The sharper, the better.
Candle. My favorite is Fresh Balsam, but I’m not about to tell you what to do. However. If you have not tried Fresh Balsam, you are missing out.

All you need to do is cut off the cuff of the sweater. The size will depend on the height of your candle, but I suggest you start at the elbow and work backwards, as you can always snip off more. Most wool sweaters will not unravel (especially if they are slightly felted from hot water), but if your sweater is mostly acrylic, you might need to finish the edge with a little fray check or white glue.

Slip candle into the sweater cuff.

Roll over the cuff, making sure to keep it completely clear of the rim. You do NOT want some little hair to catch fire. I have done this before, and although it does not trigger the whole thing to flame up (weird right?), it will smell like burning hair. And no good smelling candle can counter the badness of burning hair.

Speaking of fragrance…you know the best candle smell of them all? Blown out candle. When is someone going to start selling that?

Well there it is. A candle cozy for all ages. And here you were thinking your candles didn’t need sweaters. Silly you!

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This marks the end of Craft Lightning week. Special thanks to Angie and Carolina for inviting me to take part. Are you looking for some more quick and easy holiday craft ideas? Me too! One Artsy Mama is kicking things off with this adorable reindeer ornament.