While doing some cleaning and reorganizing, I came across several of my kids' graduation tassels and decided to put them to use as Christmas ornaments.
Originally I wanted to put the year charm inside the ornament but these were too big to fit through the opening.
Instead I removed the year charm to hang on the outside. Getting the tassel INSIDE the ornament proved to be the most tricky - go figure. But by twisting it first, it seemed to make it easier. I already had jump rings and these jewelry clips/clamps.
The year charm was then attached to the jump ring and the jump ring attached to the clamp and the clamp attached to the cord.
You could cut the cord off but I wanted to keep the entire tassel intact. I think this is a great way to preserve the graduation memory!
I don't REALLY want to save the mice (sorry mouse lovers) but using the traps to hang pictures seems a bit kinder anyway.
A few drawer fronts from the ReStore and some mousetraps create a fun way to display photos or your children's artwork. I spaced the mousetraps so that you can hang pieces as large as 8X10 as seen here. (These are prints I created for my son's apartment since he loves Billiards and Frisbee Golf)
A coat of flat, black paint was followed by using graphite paper to transfer the numbers onto the traps. I distressed them a little more after painting the numbers on.
These are refrigerator magnets. Tiny, high-powered magnets were attached to the backs using E-6000 glue.
I'll be selling all of these at an upcoming show I'm doing. I think they'd make great stocking stuffers too, don't you?
I'm getting ready to do my first 'craft' show in years so lots and lots of projects in progress. This is one of my favorites. It was the insert to my hubby's toolbox and he (gasp!) had thrown it in the trash!
A coat of Paris Gray Chalk Paint and this quote applied using this tissue transfer method . . .
A quick rub of some stain here and there . . .
and it's ready to go!
I have to admit I'm having to "gear" up my ego for this show. Have you ever done a show? If so, how do you handle the people who:
A. Want your hard work for nothing and
B. Ask you about every little detail of HOW you made this (often while taking pictures and copious notes!) and then walk away saying, "That is SO cute! I can make that."
This prize package is part of the book launch of Born of Persuasion by Jessica. I can so relate to this gal and her fascination with English society a la "Downton Abbey". In her own words she says she was "born in the wrong century--except for the fact that she really likes epidurals and washing machines". This is her first novel and I can't wait to read it!
I've been busy making more signs using my super, simple tissue transfer method. This one was claimed by my hubby for his office.
I love working with words from the old hymns and then pairing them with Scripture.
I'm quickly going through the reclaimed fence boards I have so I told my husband to be on the look out on trash day . . . he's such a good guy, I know he'll grab some from the curb if he sees them.
I also have a fairly good 'stash' of small, wooden plaques from thrift stores so I'm using those as well.
Most of these and a few others will be listed in my Etsy Shop this afternoon. All of the pieces are backed with fabric or decorative paper and come ready to hang.
I will be happy to do custom plaques as well if you have a particular verse, quote or saying you like.
Like I said, hymns are one of my favorite sources for quotes. Where do you find your inspiration?
I've been experimenting with using tissue to transfer graphics to wood. Rosemary at Villabarnes has a great tutorial that inspired me to begin working with tissue paper transfers.
I began by applying a paint wash using watered down, flat, gray paint onto some pieces of reclaimed wood I have. No real recipe here -- just more water than paint so you can still see all of the details of the wood.
I printed out the words on my computer (I had to play around with placement on some of these to work around the holes) to make sure they fit where I wanted them. The tissue paper is attached to the top of the paper (you can use any piece of paper, I just used the one I'd already printed on) using double stick tape (I have a 1/4" tape, tape gun). The tissue attached to the paper is run through the printer and then I gently removed the tissue. The third image shows the tissue with torn edges applied to the wood using the same water/paint solution. Work gently and then go over it distressing/tearing holes where you want them, etc. and let dry.
Once it dried, I GENTLY rubbed on some stain 'here and there'. Finally, I applied a matte, clear acrylic spray paint to seal everything. The paint wash adheres the paper for the most part but it would not stay on forever unless I sealed it.
I love to use music lyrics in my work as well as Scripture verses.
This one is for our son and has special meaning. He has gone through a rough year but has remained faithful to the Lord through it all. Recently when I visited him, I played this song for him. It speaks so clearly of how the Lord is with us 'even when the rains fall' and the 'floods are rising'. Isn't this Bible verse a perfect fit? The Lord is already changing our son's desert into pools of water -- AMEN!
I had to include this. My "little boy" made this handprint stone nearly 20 years ago. How comforting to know that the Lord knew all he would face even when this little hand print was so tiny and has promised never to leave him or forsake him! Please enjoy this video of the song:
I love creating things that can be used for multiple seasons. Taking a plaque I bought for pennies at a thrift store I created this artwork that can be changed out for four different times of the year.
Using 1/4" plywood, I cut pieces to fit on the plaque (which I painted black and distressed). For the lettering, I printed my quotes on paper and sandwiched graphite paper between the word sheet and the wood, tracing the letters with a pen. Using a FINE tipped brush and watered down acrylic paint, I painted over the letters.
Use any piece of metal (not too thick) and use E6000 glue to attach to the plaque. I bought these super strong, super small magnets on Ebay and attached them to the word pieces.
Each quote piece was lightly distressed after I painted the letters and then waxed with clear wax.
I was hard-pressed to find a quote I liked about winter since I absolutely DO NOT like that season so I thought the Winnie the Pooh quote was the best for me! Lots of possibilities with this idea -- seasons, holidays, Bible verses, etc. What would you put on them?
