Silhouette Plates Tutorial

It has been a while since I've done a tutorial.

I have the best one to show you! We are making these
in my Crafts Class:

Silhouette Plates

I LOVE silhouettes. I love the classic look of them and the
simple beauty they have.
Someday when I am not in such a funky, young, single gal decorating
faze, I am going to decorate my house like this:
They are so fun.
Look at some of these:

I love that peacock one and it would be so
fun to do for Thanksgiving. (I am really into
the birds right now.)

Instructions:
1- I went to the D.I. and grabbed some cheap white
ceramic plates. You could probably find them some at
any discount/secondhand store. Wash them good.
2- Find a silhouette that you just enjoy and would want
to hang up. I love this little owl dude and can't wait to
hang him in my kitchen.3- Enlarge it or shrink it to the size you want it to appear
on your plate.
4- On the back of your picture take a #2 pencil and darken
the whole back. Tape the print to the plate.5- Using a tough pencil or pen, outline the shapes of your picture
to transfer it onto your plate. You will need to press hard.
The transfer will be light and lead.

6- Use a black fine tip sharpie marker to go over the outlines
left by the pencil.

7- After completed with the outline, use acrylic paint to paint
between the lines of the marker. I had to repaint mine about
three times to get rid of all the plate showing through. Paint
it a good solid black.
8- Once the paint is dry, apply three coats of Minwax Polycrylic
Protective Finish to the top of your plate. Let it dry about a
half an hour between each coat.
9- You're done! Hang that puppy on the wall and enjoy it often.
I found my plate hanger at Wal-mart.

Tip:
If you want to eat on the plate you can do this whole process
on a clear plate. Make sure though that you on doing it on the back
or bottom of the plate. Paint your silhouette and once all dry,
spray paint it white over the silhouette. You will still be able
to see the silhouette when you turn the plate over. Be sure to apply
the Protective Finish and you will have to hand wash the plates.
But they would be gorgeous to eat on, right?

I'll be showing you it in the kitchen when I have it all hung up.
It is going to be so cute!
And I'll show you what my little 8th graders made.

Light Painting

{This is me and Mr. Friend in Mario Land.
I am sitting quite comfortably on a mushroom.
Mr. Friend is defeating the evil turtle shells.}

I loved this and I never knew how to do it before.
It is called light painting and you can do some crazy,
fun stuff. (Go google it and look at the images. It is fun!){Reminiscent of Star Wars}

We did this for FHE. It would be an awesome date.
I wish I'd had more time to play with it.
{I'm playing the drum quite poorly. Mr. Friend has the guitar
down pat.}

What you need:
SLR
Tripod
Glow Sticks and flashlights
Lots of crazy people
and a dark, dark room

Settings on your SLR camera:
ISO: 1600 or 3200
Needs to be on Bulb
Low Aperture between 16-22

Then the fun begins. Hold down the button while
people in front of the camera go crazy with glow sticks.
My camera counts the seconds. I usually tried to keep it around
15 seconds per shot. If you want to see the people's faces flash
them with a flashlight right before releasing the button.
We were laughing hard. Definitely good times.
Maybe next time, we can be a bit more creative.

Look in my Room, I Invite You

It is time for another DIY!!!

How I love apartment living. Definitely something everyone
should try at least once. You get to leave a lot of crap at mom and dad's
and get the humbling experience of shoving lots of items into a small place,
become an expert at make the tiniest holes useful,
dealing with other attendant habits (like smoking in the hall),
mysterious noises and smells,
strange stains on the walls and carpet, trying to find all the last renters
nail holes so you don't have to fill more in when you leave,
and the fact that the smallest of messes will take over the whole room
are all attributes that contribute to the wonderful opportunity of
living in an apartment.

When I was at college my favorite was looking
through the windows of other apartments. I was really trying
hard not to be freaky, but I was just so curious how they decorated,
who was there, and... they did leave their window open (it wasn't my fault.)
But this time I live
on the top floor and my window is high.
So... in the spirit of apartment living I give you my little
hole in the wall (known in other terms as my bedroom.)
It is little but cozy for me.
(Who can find Van Gogh?)

And I want to tell you about this little piece:
(It is hanging to the right in my room picture.)

Easy as pie to make (I don't know why they
say pie is easy to make because it really isn't.)
I had an extra canvas lying around so I cut out different
strips of scrapbook paper and simply Modge Podge them to my
canvas. It was so much fun. I think this idea would be great
with a large canvas and use it for a headboard.
Good luck. If you do it, let me know.

{click on tutorial on the sidebar to look at my other ideas}

That Thing You Always Wanted (SERIOUSLY)

You know those neck pillows that are so handy

when you are flying or going on long trips? I love them.
But...

I also love my rice bag that my sister made for me a few years

back. Heat it in a microwave and it is perfect for those aches, pains,

and cramps that we all get. The rice holds the heat for quite a while.

My two loves have come together to make this genius heating neck

wrap that is going to be my new best friend. (I don't know about you

but by the end of the day my neck is killing me and this lovely is going

to make my life wonderful.) It is very easy to make too!

I'll show you:

1. I drew a pattern based on the pillow on some fabric. I traced it

about 1/2 out from the outline of the pillow to give room for the

stitch and the filling. I used fleece. I think thicker fabrics will

be more beneficial to the overall heat of the pillow.

(I think I probably should have ironed it. I really hate ironing.)

2. Pin the first cutout onto more of the fabric and cut out a back.

3. Sew it all together. Remember to leave a hole to turn it inside-out.

and to fill the bag with rice with.

4. Turn the pillow inside-out so you no longer see the stitch.

5. Fill with rice. I added some oatmeal and some herbal tea bags.

The herbal tea masks the smell of the rice and makes it heavenly to

heat this baby up. I used ginger and peppermint and it smells very
much like Christmas; it's wonderful.

6. Hand stitch up your hole.

7. Throw it all in the microwave for a few minutes. Remember if it is

too hot for your hand it is too hot for your neck.

8. Love it. Use it. Thank me. :)

It is like getting a warm, cozy hug on your neck.

Cost: Nothing. I just used stuff around the house.

Time: about an hour

Ode to Earrings

I was super excited to get my ears pierced when I was younger.
Mom kept telling me I was too young to get them done, so

on a day in town with my sisters we rebelled and got them done. My older

sister signed the permission slip as my mother (she's only 10 years older than me)

and I went home a little sore but happy and feeling very mature.

I love earrings, especially when my hair is shorter.

I've collected quite a few in my life (I just wish they were cheaper) and

I never knew how to store them. They end up all heaped together

in a cup on my dresser.

This idea solved all my problems, and I love it:

I started with a $1 frame I found at the D.I. , sanded it down, and painted it a fun lime color.

At about any craft store they have plastic mesh. Mine was only a dollar.

I measured out the mesh and hot glued it to the back on the frame where normally the glass would go.

I don't have a craft stapler, but if I did I would have used fabric for the back on the frame. I used paper, measured it out and just taped it with double stick. It works wonderfully.

I added a scrap booking flower I had and some ribbon to hang it with.

I stuck my earrings through the mesh and hung it up.

I love the color and how it grabs attention. Fun, fun, fun!

Total spent: $2.00