Craft: Faux Stained Glass

Craft #4

Today I've got a shiny winey thing I call 
"faux stained glass".

(creative name, I know. lol)

All you need to make it is Elmer's glue and acrylic paint!

Step One:  Gather your ingredients

• a sheet of glass 
• acrylic paints
• white glue
• clear glue
• brushes 
• something to stir with

For the glass, you could use cheap picture frames from Wal-Mart, or even an old window like I did. Also, firmer brushes work best to keep bubbles from forming. I recommend acrylic brushes if you can find them.

Step Two:  Mix your colors

To make the black lines, you'll need black acrylic paint, and white Elmer's glue. Squirt some of the glue out to make room in the bottle. Then pour the black paint into the glue drop by drop, mixing after each drop until the glue is completely black.Make sure not to leave white on the inside walls of the bottle, it must be mixed thoroughly.

For the colored areas, pick or mix the color of your choice in paint. Fill a small (preferably disposable) container with glue, then drip a drop of paint into it and stir. The average ratio should be a drop of paint to a Tbsp of glue, but I've learned the hard way it's not nearly so simple. In truth, you're probably going to have to go through some trial and error before you find the mixture that's just thick enough. Remember it should be consistent in color, and thin enough to see silhouettes through at least. It's hard to tell while the mixture is in a container, so I highly recommend finding some broken glass or something to test it on.

Step Three: Make lines

You can do this part freehand if you'd like, or you can draw a design on paper and trace it. Either way, you'll need to take the bottle of black glue and use it to "draw" lines on your glass. Beware: It tends to *glob* at the ends. This one could probably use some practice as well. 

Step Four: Apply color

Now's the part where you take your brushes and brush/dab all of your pretty color in between the lines. The color needs to touch the lines. If your color is too strong it may show on top of the black, but if your mix is thin enough it should be more or less invisible. Even so I've found it's easiest to just display the glass from the opposite side. (lol lazy me XD) If your mix turns out to be too thin, feel free to apply several layers. 

And there you go.

Of course mine doesn't look exactly like stained glass, but I wasn't trying too hard for that either. Next time maybe I'll use a reference? I dunno. As usual I dare you all to top me ( which shouldn't be hard) and let me know about it. 

Now go out and make something beautiful!

P.S. This piece has been chosen for the state fair! Wish me luck!

Craft: Make-Your-Own Chalkboard Paint

Craft #3

Homemade chalkboards.

This one is unbelievably simple.

First you find a surface to paint ( I used wood scraps left over from one of my dad's projects), then you mix some simple ingredients in a disposable container.

1 Tbsp unsanded grout

1/2 C  acrylic or latex paint 

Brush the mixture evenly over your chosen surface, let it dry, and TADAAA!

A wild chalkboard appears!

And if you want to dress them up, you can do what I did and brush another color on the sides. They would look fine either way, but I thought the green made them seem more complete.

So there you go, another simple, low cost craft for you! Just remember to use a disposable container to mix it in, and to rinse your brush immediately after you finish. The grout makes this combination dry incredibly fast, and once it's dry there's no removing it. (Or at least no way I know of, though I haven't tried very hard. ) 

Of course, wood scraps aren't the only things you can paint. (Well, DUH! Silly Heather, feeling like to have to mention the obvious. tsk tsk.) Anyway, my brain is too lazy to come up with more creative applications for the paint, but I'm sure my incredible readers will go on and make something brilliant with it! If you do, please link it back here and let me know!

That's all for now then. Until tomorrow ~ <3

~Heather

Craft: Rainbow Dash Shoes

Craft #2

Craft time again! 

This one is specially for my good friend 

DJ Shamrock! 

You may know him from Celestia Radio?

http://ponify.me

shameless plugging FTW

Made these for my little sis on request. Unfortunately I didn't get my picture until after she'd worn them, so they aren't quite as sparkly as they were...

But here they are anyway.

And a blue ribbon W000000!!!                                                    

Craft: Duck Tape Wallet

Craft #1 

Craft time! First off is a simple craft... 

drumroll

The duck-tape wallet!

Unfortunately I can't claim this idea. The only reason I made this one is because my lovely friend Caroline made me one nearly a year ago. It's still holding together nicely and the stickiness hasn't run out on it's strap yet. It's been my favorite for a long time, and it's almost always sure to catch someone's attention. (Not to mention it's gorgeous and much nicer than the one I made.) 

Anywhoooo. Here's my attempt at mimicking her genius.

Snazzy patterned duck tape...

You know those tin pie pans? 

You know the clear plastic lids they have? 

You know how scissors work?

Yup. instant I.D. sleeve right there.

Aaaaaannnnddddd inside pockets for those handy little cards that I could use in place of money if my account didn't have about as much green in it as a desert and just as many tumbleweeds.

And to wrap this up, here's the shiny blue ribbon it won at County Fair.

You know the best thing about this project? 

It didn't cost anything! :D

P.S. There's a link to my Etsy shop near the top of the page hint hint.

Love you all 

~ Heather

Fair week is over...

(about a week ago) and things are starting to fall bak into order. You know what this means?
INCOMING CRAFT POSTS YAY


This will be fun. 

busy busy busy bee

So, the County Fair is fast approaching, and as usual I will be utterly consumed by it for the next week. I do apologize for the lack of recent posts. I also apologize that this sad lack of posts must continue for a while longer. When fair week has passed expect a flurry of interesting new things (read: Heather will show off her shiny trinkets that she made herp derp).


Until then, I wish you well and a happy week.
God Bless

ReBlogging from CYM - God Bless America!

The Catholic Young Woman: Freedom 101: I love this holiday. Love it. Love it. Love it. But more than that, I love this country. Fiercely. What we were founded on, what we stand for, the diversity of the land and the people..It is truly “America the Beautiful.”
But I love this beautiful America too much to sit by quietly as the government threatens to uproot her foundational value of freedom. 
____________________________________


You really want to read this. 
Trust me you do. 
Just click the shiny little link and read it. 


Happy Independence Day everyone! 
God Bless our nation and guide her leaders through the storms to come.


P.S. Hope you all have a blast today! Post a comment and tell me about how awesome your 4th of July was! Love to hear from you guys! :)




~Heather