Patriotic Lamp with etchall dip 'n etch!

It is hard to turn on the television set without hearing something about the upcoming election.  We have had troops abroad for years now and the summer months are coming up.  EtchallR has this very cool lampshade that can make most bottles, jars, etc. into a decorative lamp.  Read on to find out how!

You can find the lampshade and etchallR products at http://etchall.com/lighten-up-kit/

You will need:

• etchallR:  Lighten Up Kit; dip 'n etch (pattern for shade in kit)
• 2 quart jar
• burlap: red
• fusible web
• iron and ironing board
• bead trim by the yard: red
• ricrac:  red and blue
• chalk paint:  red, blue, white
• painters tape
• paint brush:  1" flat
• cardstock:  vintage white
• clear glitter
• tacky glue
• 1" star punch or die cut
• glue gun
• milk jug, cleaned out and top cut off (or container the right size to etch your glass)
• scissors
• ruler
• pencil

Instructions:

1. Unpack the lampshade kit.  Remove the pattern from the shade.  Spread out.
2. Press the fusible web following manufacturers instructions onto the burlap.  Trace around the pattern onto the paper side of the fusible web using the pencil.  Cut out. Remove the paper.
3. Adhere the ribbon side of the trim to the (wrong side) bottom edge of the shade.
4. Adhere the ricrac to the bottom edge of the (right side) of the shade.  Adhere ricrac to the top edge of the shade.
5. Stars:  Punch out and apply glitter to the 1" stars.  Allow to dry. 
6. Etch:  Refer to manufacturers directions (and photo shown below) to etch the jar. Clean and dry.
7. Use the ruler to measure from the bottom of the jar and make a mark at the same measurement around the perimeter of the jar.  Wrap the painter's tape around the middle of the jar; following the marks.  It is easy to get the tape on at an angle and you want to keep it straight.
8. Paint the bottom of the jar blue.  Let dry thoroughly.  Remove the tape and apply another row of tape along the top edge of the blue paint.  Tape off any other area that you don't want painted.  Paint the top area white.  Let dry.
9. Remove tape; glue ricrac around the middle of the jar as shown in photo given.
10. For the shade:  Screw the lid back on the jar.  Adhere a wooden spool, dowel or candle cup to the top of the lid.  Make sure that it is the right size to fit in and activate the lamp.  If it is too tall, make a hole in the lid to shorten the length of the spool. Read the instructions for turning the lampshade on and off.  Adhere the stars to the shade.

Supplies

Refer to manufacturer's directions and etch the jar.  I turned the jar upside down and weighted the top to etch the top of the jar as my receptacle wasn't large enough and I used the entire bottle of dip 'n etch liquid.

**IMPORTANT:  Return the dip 'n etch liquid back to the original bottle after use.  It will turn a dark color but is still good for more use. 

Follow instructions given above to paint and finish the lamp.  Below is another photo of the finished lamp and shade.  It is ready for my summer activities on the deck.  This is the perfect little light to create some ambiance after dark.  I hope you are inspired to make one for yourself.

I hope you are enjoying spring and looking forward to a great summer packed with activities.

Make sure to take the time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and

Life Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

etchall provides product and a small 

stipend in exchange for my creativity.

Mini Wedding Cake for "Looks" Only!

Hello Friends!  We are nearing wedding season.  I have been looking on Pinterest at wedding cakes.  We have a wedding coming up this Summer and I have turned my attentions to wedding decorations, cakes, flowers, clothing, etc.  

I needed some mini desserts for some of the decorating I am creating.  I decided to use Smoothfoam and my hot foam cutter to create some of my own.  I will show you how I did it if you follow along!

You will need:

Smoothfoam:  3" block (for cake)

light modeling paste (gel medium)

acrylic paint:  light teal

paintbrush

craft stick or plastic knife

disposable plastic container

wooden skewers

paper flowers:  pink roses:  1", 1/4", 3/4" leaves

1/2" leaf punch

cardstock scraps:  green

faux rhinestone trim with adhesive back

hot foam cutter

glue gun

scissors

water

paper towels

Instructions:

1.  Mark off 1" intervals on the 3" Smoothfoam block using a pencil and ruler.  Cut into three 1" thick x 3" pieces.  Leave the bottom layer 3" x 3".  Cut the middle piece into a 2-1/2" square; the top piece into a 2" square.

2. Mix two drops of paint into a quarter cup of modeling paste.  Stir the color into the paste using a craft stick.  Blend thoroughly.

3.  Use a wooden skewer as a handle by poking the pointed end into one block of foam.  Repeat with the other two pieces.  Have a container handy that you can stand the skewer in until the modeling paste dries.  Coat each piece with the modeling paste.  Stand skewer handle in a container and let the modeling paste dry thoroughly.

4.  Adhere the layers using small pieces of toothpick as connectors.  The glue gun is recommended for this step. 

3.  Use a wooden skewer as a handle by poking the pointed end into one block of foam.  Repeat with the other two pieces.  Have a container handy that you can stand the skewer in until the modeling paste dries.  Coat each piece with the modeling paste.  Stand skewer handle in a container and let the modeling paste dry thoroughly.

4.  Adhere the layers using small pieces of toothpick as connectors.  The glue gun is recommended for this step. 

5.  Decorate the "cake" with the paper flowers, adhesive trim and leaves.  *Designer note: For the final touches on the cake; you can add your own touches.  Pearlstring, ribbon, jewels, and glitter are just a few of the embellishments you might want to use on your mini cake. 

Check out some other variations using Smoothfoam as the base for the cake.  I will be adding these to another project I am working on.  Stay tuned!

Hope you have enjoyed this tutorial.

Make sure to take time to appreciate the small blessings along the way and,

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Chibi Challenge - Light up some LOVE!

Wedding season is approaching and it just happens that I will be the mother of the bride this summer.  My daughter and I have been working on her DIY decorations for the wedding and it has been so much fun!

                 

I used the Chibitronics mini LED lights to light up the Love sign on the cupcake display! Follow along to see how I did it!

You will need:

Chibitronics: a package of Chibi Lights

Cardstock:  Colors of your choice

Banner Die - (3 sizes of banner)

Trim:  faux rhinestone self-adhesive

Die-cut Machine

Rubber Stamp

Ink Pad

Hole Punch

Scissors

Adhesives

Deflecto:  3 tier dessert display; 

                                                                                     Versagrip sign holder

Instructions:

1. Cut out the banner as follows:  Black, 4"; Teal, one 3-1/2" & one 3"; Vintage White, 3".
2. Center and stamp the sentiment on the 3" banners. 
3. Punch holes in the top of the stamped letters.  Place the white banner over the teal banner and mark on the teal banner where the punched holes are on the white piece.
4. Follow the instructions given in the Chibitronics kit.  There is a little learning curve to creating circuits.  
5. Create the circuits wrapping the copper tape ends to the back of the banner.  Secure the battery by crossing the + copper tape piece over the + side of the battery.  Secure with scotch tape if needed.

6.  Adhere the banner layers together with the CHIBI LIGHTS shining through the punched holes.

7.  Apply trim around the edges of the dessert display.  Assemble.  Use the versagrip sign clip to clip the        banner sign to the top of the display.

We are planning to have a wonderful wedding.  I will have three 3-tiered dessert displays for our decorated cupcakes.  I haven't frosted the ones shown here yet.  We can't eat them but they will sure look pretty!

Thanks for taking time to stop by today!

Make sure to take the time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and 

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Shop here!  http://chibitronics.com/

By the way, I love comments and questions!!

Bling for Spring! Decorate a Deflecto Pencil Holder!

Spring has sprung!  Out comes the sun, colorful flowers, everything green and some bling!

You will need:

Deflecto pink pencil holder

Deflecto sign tags 

Deflecto wet erase marker

roll of faux rhinestone trim

adhesive backed faux rhinestone trim

die-cut black flourish

glue (I used "Tack- it over and over"....for permanent adhesive choose a strong tacky glue.)

scissors

*optional:  

pencils

black acrylic paint

black craft boa; 1" wide

pencil erasers; pink

low melt glue gun

flat paint brush; 1/2" to 3/4"

Instructions:

1.  Cut the faux rhinestone sheet to fit around the outside of each side of the pencil holder.

2.  Lay flat; wrong side up and lightly apply glue to the cut pieces.  Let dry until tacky.  *Designer note:  I recommend adult supervision if you use the Tack-It glue.  For young crafters; use a regular tacky glue.

3.  Adhere to the outsides of the pencil holder.

4.  Open the pencil holder.

5.  Measure and adhere the self-adhesive faux rhinestone trim around the opening where a picture can go. Apply the sides first; then fit the smaller top and bottom pieces so the ends don't overlap.

6.  Cut 2 pieces of the sign tag to fit in the picture openings.  Leave 1/2" extending above the top edges of the holder.  Using the wet erase marker, write pencils on one; write pens on the other.  Write a message on the wet erase sign tag and insert where you would normally put a picture.  You can always put a picture or two in those slots if you like!  Let the ink dry before re-inserting into the slot or handling.

7.  Pencils:  If you decide to decorate some pencils; you will do it as follows:  Paint the pencils with the acrylic paint and allow to dry thoroughly.  Glue a piece of the faux rhinestone sheet around the pencil.  Glue a piece of boa around the top of the pencil.  Place the pink eraser over the regular eraser.

The pencil holder is ready to go!  I love the bling!  I shopped at my local Michaels store for the trims I used on this project.

Remember to let your imagination be your guide!  There are lots of crafty options for decorating these cool pencil holders from Deflecto.  I hope you enjoyed the project and got some inspiration here today!

Remember to enjoy the small blessings along the way and

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Disclaimer:  I exchanged my original design for product

compensation from Deflecto Crafts.  

April showers bring May flowers ...Paper or not, here they come!!

What instantly comes to mind when you think SPRING?
The rain showers  keep me indoors crafting; therefore I create flowers of my own!  By the time Spring arrives, I have a whole plethora of projects ready to go!

I, like most crafters, have a project of one kind or another going all year long.  I love flowers on my projects.  Inspiration for embellishing these projects comes from the colorful flowers of nature; however, much of the time I am creating the flowers for myself out of scrapbook paper that I have in my studio.

Maybe you will get some inspiration from the projects I am showing here.  This is a smattering of Spring projects from the past few years.  Happy Spring!

 

This one was for fun!  A dual purpose Easter basket....made from Smoothfoam, paint and paper!  

I hope you enjoyed perusing through the projects from Springs gone by.  They do go by fast, don't they?  We are getting some sunny days by now....and I am ready.  I have been creating my flowers during the April showers.  My new Spring projects are ready to go!  Until next time.......

Take time to enjoy the small blessings along the way and

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

**I am a member of the Designer Crafts Connection Team