etchall(R) for easy Halloween glass painting!

 Trick-or-Treat!  Give me something good to eat!
October is just a few days away!  I love decorating the house for Fall and planning my Halloween treats and gifts.  It is always best to make more than one and luckily the supplies can be found at your local craft store or online!  I will be showing how to use etchall(R) dip 'n etch liquid to get a great paint job on glass!

I use etchall(R) products to etch my glass before painting. Preparing the glass for paint will make the job go much easier and you will be very happy with the results. The etchall(R) gives tooth to the smooth texture of the glass which grabs the paint.  This makes the paint go on smoothly and evenly.  Read on and I will tell you how I do it!  The picture below are the projects I created using etchall(R).  Batilda and her minions!

BATILDA AND HER MINIONS

You will need:

etchall(R):  dip 'n etch liquid    http://etchall.com/

2-Liter plastic bottle with top cut off

Glass Bottle:  Heart shaped with a cork (the largest here is 8" tall with the cork...the smaller ones are 5")

Acrylic Paints:  Orange, Black, Teal, Brown, Yellow, White, Fleshtone, Green

Paintbrushes:  3/4" flat, #3 round

Stylus or toothpicks

Smoothfoam:  1-3/4" ball (small bottles); 2" ball (large bottle)

Permanent Marker:  Black with a fine tip

Cardstock:  black and dark green

Pom-pom:  1" Black

Wiggle eyes:  two 1/8"

Jute twine

Joy embroidered letters:  1" spelling BOO

Hot wire foam cutter or knife

Adhesives

Scissors

Water bucket and paper towels

Marbles:  Smooth flat decorative (for weight)

5" tall bottle with 1-1/4" Smoothfoam Ball

Directions:

1. Remove the cork from the bottle.  Cut the rounded bottom off of the Smoothfoam ball.  Adhere the flat side of the ball to the top of the cork.

2.  Etch:  Fill the glass bottle up with marbles for added weight.  Set the bottle in the plastic liter bottle.  Fill with water up to the neck of the glass bottle.  Remove the glass bottle and make a mark on the outside of the plastic bottle at the waterline.  Dump the water.  Put the bottle back in the plastic container and fill it to the ink mark with the dip 'n etch Liquid.  Set the timer for 15 minutes.

etchall dip 'n'etch liquid, smooth marbles for weight and a converted 2-liter bottle

3.  When the time is up; remove the bottle from the dip 'n etch liquid.  Empty the stones; rinse and dry.

Pour the dip 'n etch back into the original container.  The product is still good even after it turns color from other uses.  The picture above shows how mine has turned darker.  It still works very well.

Pumpkin Minion candy container

4.  Head:  Paint the head and cork (neck) Fleshtone.  Allow to dry.  Paint small white circles for the eyes.  Apply a tiny black dip dot in the center of each eye.  Draw a nose and mouth using the black marker.  Outline the eyes with the black marker.  Paint the teeth white.  Refer to each image to copy details for the face. Paint the bottle orange and highlight strokes (float) of brown.

5.  Below:  Head:  Follow painting instructions given above; add eyelids and paint teal.  Draw the nose and mouth; fill in with black and paint the teeth white.

6.  Batilda Bottle:  Paint the bottle as shown; leave a clear space down the front to show the candy that is inside. Paint a black cape and apply white dip dots using the eraser of a new pencil.  Use a toothpick to dot the center of the eyes and for getting into small spaces.

Batilda candy container

7.  If you are new to drawing faces....practice first by drawing on a piece of paper.  The eyes are circles; the nose is a U and the mouth is like a crescent moon on it's side.  Use a light touch when you add the features to the face.  I will paint my hair on first; being careful to leave plenty of room for the face.  Use a pencil to draw on the features after the Fleshtone paint has dried.  This will help with placement and you will have success!

8.  For Batilda's head piece:  Fold a 3" x 6" piece of black cardstock in half, matching the short edges.  Draw one bat wing up to the middle fold.  Cut out; unfold and glue the pom-pom to the fold.  Glue the wiggle eyes to the pom-pom.  Glue to the top of her head.

Bespeckled Minion candy container

9.  Follow instructions #7 to draw this minions face using the photo given.

10.  Put your own special touches on these minions and their master!  I think they are fun and silly and I hope you got some inspiration here today.  I enjoy getting comments and questions.  Please leave them below if you have one!

We will all be raking up a lot of leaves this next month.  I hope you are enjoying your Fall weather!

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

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

Note:  I receive a small stipend for sharing my

creativity to showcase etchall(R) products.

Corner Shelf Make-over!

Hi everyone!  I just finished a fixer-upper project that I have been procrastinating on for several years.  My corner shelf was plain and served it's purpose; but it was not pretty!  Here is a picture after I cleaned it up and before I got my paints out.

See?  It is a cute shelf, but very blah!

Here is what I did to transform my shelf!

Supplies:

Waverly Inspirations Chalk Acrylic Paint:  Agave #60685E; Ivory #            ; Matte Varnish or Wax

Waverly Inspirations laser stencil 6" x 6":  Damask #60530E

Waverly Inspirations stencil brush:  5/8"

FolkArt Milk Paint Brush by Plaid:  1-1/4"

Painter's Tape

Paper plates

Paper towels

Water container

Instructions:

1.  Sand and wipe clean all wooden surfaces.

2.  Base paint the entire shelf and allow to dry.

3.  Position and tape down the sides of the stencil.

4.  Apply the Ivory paint with a pouncing (up and down) motion to apply pattern to the top shelf.

Repeat with the remaining shelves; lining up the pattern.  Allow to dry.

5.  Seal with Varnish or Wax.

Enjoy your "new" piece of furniture!  If you have comments or questions; please leave them below!

I hope you got some inspiration on the blog today.  If you would like to try out the new Waverly Inspirations Chalk paints; they are available at your local Walmart store.

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

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

I received free product in exchange for

my creativity on this post.  There was no 

financial gain.

Wedding Preview and More!

August was a month of joy and tears.  We had a wedding for my daughter and a memorial service for my beloved mother. 

I am going to focus on the joy of the wedding in this post and share some pictures from the process.  These are photos taken by attendees at the wedding. We have some professional photos coming but I think it is fitting to show the spontaneity of the photos I show here today.

My daughter; Lauren Ashley Gossett, who is our only child, married Matthew Ivan David White on August 13, 2016.  The planning started a year before the wedding took place.  The venue was the Filbert Farm (the home and property of her in-laws, the Goodwins) and everything was fixed up and rearranged for the wedding.  And...since it was DIY, I had a large part in the decorations; the dance floor was Lauren's idea and the families made it come to fruition with elbow grease and lots of talent.  Lol.

The photo shown below is the woodshed as it is being converted into the Bar.  You would not believe the transformation.  It was a great success...we had 2 lovely bartenders and this was the cool spot to hang out!

Before picture of the Bar:

After photo!  A little magic by Jim Goodwin and Matthew White!

The next photo was taken next to the woodshed.  This became the fire pit area with chairs circling the fire area.

Next is another shot of a side yard just to show you the before....all the hard work!

The next photo was taken right after the dance floor was finished and the lights put up.  The Kereoke disc jocky set up right in front of the side we are looking at here.

Whoops!  I am getting ahead of myself....but I had to show the contrast between the preparation and the real deal!  It was sweet!

The next photo is of the open area where the reception took place.  The flowers weren't on the tables yet.  I hope to get a picture of that!  They were beautiful.  The roof to the right is the bar area that was shown in the other photo.

Below is another contrast photo!  Here is part of the crowd that filled up the tables.  The food was wonderful and all prepared by dear friends.  The service and food were absolutely A+!

Here is Matthew at the alter (so to speak) with Pastor Rob.  Looks like pastor is giving him some last minute instruction and/or bravado!  That is the Wisteria overhead and it was beautiful!

The procession has started and here comes Harmony, the flower girl!  I think this may have been our only glitch in the whole day.  We forgot the real rose petals from my house  and she threw the fake ones.  Oh, well....

I don't have photos yet of the bridal party coming down to the alter; but then....HERE COMES THE BRIDE!  Lauren's dad walked her down the isle to the tunes of a special song....of which I can't remember the title.  It was a Disney tune with a dramatic impact.  I will have to check on that one!  My girl was radiant!

Here they are with Pastor Rob, saying their vows which they both had written.

The ring exchange......and a prayer of blessing......

The KISS!  Well, one of them anyway.......

Bobbie is the family cake maker and she didn't disappoint.  Lauren's colors were teal, black and white and pale gold.  We had cake and cupcakes and they were beautiful!

Cutting the cake...and first bites.  They both behaved themselves.  I think they had a prior agreement.  No cake in the face!

Meanwhile....back at the dance floor; first dance was being performed and the bridesmaids and maid of honor are in the background.

It was a hot day and Jamie escaped his dress clothes before I could catch him!  Here are Lauren and Matthew dancing with their Dad and Mom.

Jamie (Lauren's dad), surprised everyone with a song he sang called "I Loved Her First."  Have you heard it?  We had to listen to the recording of the song numerous times before we could stop getting teary eyed.  I told him he had better learn it forwards and backwards before he actually sang it to her.  He got a little choked up while singing...but made fast recoveries.  We heard a LOT of sniffling going on.  It was a beautiful and bittersweet place in time.  Lauren has always been a daddy's girl....I am attaching a few old photos just to show you some of what was going through my mind as he sang.......

Of course there are many more; but I think you get the idea.  Sniff....sniff..... This has continued throughout the years...to this day, in fact.  Well...let's say she still depends on her dad to be there for her!

This is all I have to share about the wedding for now.  I will create another blog with the pictures that were taken by our dear friend and professional photographer; Brian.  It helps to have BFF's who are the best at what they do.  Brian's wife Cindy....my BFF; put all of the flower arrangements together for the tables.  Also Lauren's bouquet of dahlias.  The dahlia fields are very beautiful this time of year.  But, that is another story.

Did you happen to miss the blog for her Bridal Shower?  It was DIY and the theme was The Mad Hatter's Tea Party!  If you would like to see it too....here is the link! 

http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/08/laurens-bridal-showera-mad-hatters-tea.html

NOW!  For my crafting friends.....don't leave and I will show you some of the DIY projects I put together for wedding decor, etc.  I will give blog links for instructions if I have them!

Blog link for T-shirts:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-t-shirts-for-wedding-party.html

For the Bag:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/06/a-bag-of-joy-for-bride.html

For the Candy Bins:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/07/diy-t-shirts-for-wedding-party.html

For the Candy & Nut Caddy:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/06/build-treat-station-with-deflecto.html

No instructions for my wedding invitations....they had pockets inside with all of the info......

Table Markers:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/06/build-treat-station-with-deflecto.html

Mr. & Mrs. Sign:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/05/a-perfect-o-deflecto-diy-wedding.html

Tied the Knot Banner:  http://marilyngossettdesigns.blogspot.com/2016/06/our-diy-wedding-tied-knot-banner.html

Box with etched lid:  http://marilyngossett.blogspot.com/2016/02/3-d-etched-lid-for-wedding-card-box.html

Luggage Tags:  Blog post with instructions not available to view yet......

Thank you for taking the time to share in these highlights from the wedding and a little slice of our lives.  It has been a wonderful time!  If you have any questions about the projects or something we did at the wedding I like getting questions and comments and you can comment below.

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

Live Life with a Flourish!

Marilyn

A special thanks to Caron & Traci for sharing all of your photos!

And of course to everyone who was involved in any way to

make this the best day of our kid's lives......and ours!  xoxo

"YOU ARE MY SUPER HERO" Refrigerator Magnet

I have a Super Hero!  My husband!  I think he needs to be reminded once in a while.  Do you have someone you would like to honor?  Here is a project you might enjoy.

You will need:

Joy(R) embroidered letters:  3/4", 1", 1-1/2", 1" star.  Here's the link: http://joysa.com/letters.html

deflecto magnetic sheets:  #5901

acrylic paints:  Blue and Yellow

paintbrushes

scissors

electronic die-cut machine (set on high pressure with deep cut blade)

die of choice

water bucket

paper towels and paper plate

Instructions:

1.  Adhere the magnetic sheet to die-cutter mat.  Set the dial to maximum pressure and preferably use a deep cut blade.  After cutting, fold the sheet on the cut line until it breaks open.  Then, carefully punch out the shape.

2.  Paint the first layer blue.  You don't need to paint the entire surface; just the border.

3.  Paint the top layer yellow.  Allow both to dry thoroughly.

4.  Adhere the top layer to the bottom layer.  You won't need a lot of adhesive.  Just enough to keep them from falling apart as the magnetic surfaces will stay together when applied to metal surface.

5.  Position the letters on the yellow layer.  I used a long tweezers to help pick up and place the letters.

Remove the release paper on the larger letters.  Use a strong holding tacky glue for the smaller letters.

6.  Once you apply all of the embroidered letters, the magnetic plaque is ready to hang on the refrigerator!

Let's celebrate the Super Hero's in our lives!