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.

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}

Whiteboard

Again, no photoshop so I couldn't do a detailed tutorial, but honestly

this totally cute whiteboard didn't need it. It is so darn easy and I

believe an essential for every college student. My roommate and I write notes

back and forth to each other. And I love me a handwritten note.

Here are the directions:

1) Purchase yourself a frame. I bought a square one from Porter's Craft

for about $8. Make sure you have glass in it.

2) Using Modge Podge, I just cut out some scrapbook paper I liked and

glued it on. In the corner, for the flowers, I just did the same thing I did

in this tutorial and glued them on.

(Tip: these flowers are also adorable to glue on headbands.)

3) I put a piece of scrapbook paper on the back and closed up the frame.

4) And now the fun part: write away on the glass with dry-erase markers.

I freakin love our whiteboard. It adds a lot to our apartment.

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

Quick and Easy Footstool

I haven't painted for a while and I've been feeling the urge.

This last semester I wasn't able to take an art class because I

was getting done with all my history classes.

And how I have missed it!

It makes me all the more excited for my student teaching

because I'll be doing nothing but ART!

I feel challenged when painting, but also so free. No one can tell

me that my painting is wrong and I didn't learn right, because it is mine.

It is a puzzle that only I can figure out and there is no guide to help.

It is my responsiblity to contribute something that didn't exist before.

I love watching the piece emerge as I use highlights and shade

to create shapes. It is so relaxing and satisfying. I just love it!

This is the watercolor I did yesterday.
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{In advance: I apologize for the low quality of pictures.

I am still trying to figure out how to take pictures of myself

while doing the actual project.}

Here is a quick little, easy project for ya all!

I painted this cute this stool in elementary school and

lately I've been hiding it in the back of my closet. It isn't something

I'm really liking. It definitely needs a new update.

I first sanded all the old paint off I could and painted it all white.

I then added a coat of black on top. Taking a fine grade sandpaper,

I roughed up the edges to let some of the white come through.

I have these two bottles of medium that work handy.

Pick a brush that you aren't afraid of getting ruined.

I picked some scrapbook paper that I liked and cut it to fit the

top of the stool.

I prepared a thick coat of Matte Medium on the surface of the
stool and let it sit for about five minutes to let it set up a bit.

Starting at one end, set the end of the paper onto the stool

and I used the Varnish Medium to adhere it on the top.

Avoid just setting the whole paper onto the top of the stool.

Doing this will create bubbles that will be difficult to get out.

Roll it down adding more and more medium on top with a brush.

Don't be afraid to add quite a bit of medium, though adding too much

will make the scrapbook paper a bit murky.

Let dry. And enjoy.

I am excited to put this in the new apartment.

Laptop Cover

I have struck again.

I use to say that every genius needed a place to make a mess,

(This was usually my excuse for the disaster in my room.)

but I think its just me.

Scissors, tape, glue, pins, spools of thread, and bits of fabric are

inevitably everywhere when I try to get in touch with my

"crafty side." Usually by the time I'm frustrated and have thrown

the "craft" across the room it is held together by duct tape.

(No real crafty person would dare touch the stuff, but I find solutions.)

Yes, I can't sew and you won't find me on Etsy.

But, I am proud to present:

My Laptop Cover.

After a miserable first attempt, I did finally finish the second.

I like it a lot. I was going to have instructions on how to make one,

but I really honestly don't know how I did it.

So, I did use a combination of this one and this one (hehe) and

I wish I'd found this one before I started.

Knock yourself out you ultra crafty people.

I did do something on purpose.

Maybe you noticed how cute these little lovelies were:

They are so easy too.

Cut out a large circle. Proceed to cut out smaller and smaller

circles until you have a small little stack.

I like to have my circles a little lopsided and bumpy.

It makes them more fun to look at.

Run your needle up the middle of the stack and back down again. Repeat.

Decide how many beads you want in the center. Thread them on.

Now the tricky part. Pull your needle through one or two of the circles.

Pinch them together and pull a stitch through the pinch. Do this
in a few different places throughout the bundle to fluff it up a bit.

The more you do it the more 3-D your flower will look.

Tie off your thread and sew the flower onto your case. Be careful not

to sew your flap closed. Learning is a process right.

And walla! you can be just like me.

I apologize for the terrible pictures, I'll work on that.