Halloween Fun!

What screams Halloween more than witches, candy, and creepy castles?  It was hard for me to choose, so I did a little bit of all three!  Wood Creations sells a lot of pieces that come in groups of three, but also sold separately.  I decided to pick the small witch in the set, the medium candy corn, and the spooky castle that came by itself.  They turned out pretty cute, I especially like the witch.  I wasn't sure how she would turn out, after the battle with the burlap failed! (I wanted to work in some burlap ruffles, but it pretty much fell apart in my hands) 

 

The witch came unfinished in three pieces.  The main body, broomstick handle, and the hat overlay.

 

I painted her with black, leaf green, and wild iris purple.

 

I bought the paper, straw, spider, ribbon, and wire at Wood Creations.  I glued the paper and fringe down first.  I bought the fringe a couple years ago, and decided it would be great to use after the burlap idea was a total fail.  I thought it would spice her up a bit.  I finished off her fringe choker with a rectangle clear rhinestone.  The final thing was the straw hair and broom.  For the hair, I used a line of hot glue, and just shoved the straw in it.  Once both sides were glued down, I gave her a hair cut to even it out.  I did the same thing with the broom, a line of glue, wrapped the wire, then trimmed the broom.  I paint the eyes and chalk the cheeks last on every project, and viola! She was complete!!!

 



 

Next came the castle.  This was the easiest one to do.  It came from the shop unfinished in 8 pieces: 4 windows, the castle, a moon, a door, and a bat.

 

 

I painted the castle and door is wild iris purple, the moon is a light yellow, pumpkin orange for the windows, and black for the bat.

I used a yellow/orange glitter chalk to shade the moon, and purple to trim the bat. 

After gluing the paper down, I edged the castle with tuxedo black, and dark brown on top of that. I used a printed paper on each of the windows, and topped them off, as well as the door with a shimmer glue.  I added rhinestones for the bats eyes and the door knob.

The candy corn turned out too cute!  It came from the shop in 2 pieces.

I painted it light yellow, pumpkin orange, and wicker white.

I glued a printed paper on the molding and added some iridescent chuncky glitter on the top, and finished it off with some ribbon...p.s.  Wood Creations has the best ribbons EVER!

And...TA-DA!!!

 

 

 

Sweet Summer Time!!!

Wood Creations posted a few of their new summer items on FaceBook, and I absolutely fell in love with this one!  How fun is this!!!  It incorporates everything that I love about hot summers.  What is not to love about sweets?

The kit sold in the store includes each wooden piece and the chipboard overlay for the watermelon and ice cream cone.  I have all of the basic things as far as paint and glitter, but you can pick up everything you will need to complete a project at their store.  I love the convenience of it! 

I start all of my wood projects by sanding the rough edges off each piece.  If you leave them rough, it is harder to paint and doesn't look as clean when you have finished the project.  Once I have sanded my pieces, I paint them.  It is a personal preference of mine to paint all sides, even if I cover them with paper.  I think it also better protects the wood that goes outside.

After each piece is painted and dried, I apply any scrapbook papers I am using.  Be sure to trace your pieces out before you paint them so you don't leave pencil marks on your paint job:)  I also cut my papers while the paint dries to save time.  Modge Podge works great for papers and glitters.  I use foam brushes to apply my Modge Podge.  Make sure you apply it evenly and smooth down your paper right away so you don't get bubbles under your paper. 

Once the paper has been glued down and is dry, the fun begins.  I never really know how the piece will look until I am finished.  On the sign, I added the cherries in the corner to tie in the red with the pink...there is a fine line when you mix hot pink and red!  I used flat wooden circles, paper to cut out leaves, and a piece of spare brown wire as the stems.  I hot-glued the wire to the wood, then topped the wire with the painted (bright red), glittered cherries.  On the bottom of the piece, I added a strip of paper from the coordinating back of the paper I used.  Once it was all assembled, I chalked the outside of the leaves and the edge of the sign with iridescent green and aqua chalk.  The sign was painted with turquoise paint and the glitter I used was an iridescent tinsel cherry popsicle.  I like the fact that depending on how the sun hits it, the tinsel changes colors.   





The popsicle was fairly simple.  I added medium and small orange rhinestones to the orange poka dots on the paper.  The wood was painted crocus yellow, and I added lemon drop tinsel glitter to the popsicle stick.  The outside edge is shaded with iridescent yellow chalk.

The watermelon base was painted spring green, and the top piece is bright red.  For the base, I used sour apple tinsel, and mint fine glitter.  I added candy apple tinsel in the cracks on the top piece.  The edges are chalked with a red iridescent.  To finish it off, I curled black wire for the seeds.  Way cute idea shown on the store display.  Love it!

My favorite part was the ice cream cone.  Here is where the cherry idea came into play.  The store has half wooden circles, so I picked one up when I bought the set.  I played around with the idea, and to my surprise, it turned out just how I planned it in my head...that never happens!  I added the whipped cream with mini rhinestone sprinkles:)  I hot-glued the wire first, then topped with the glittered cherry.  For the wood, I painted the ice cream turquoise, and the cone royal fuchsia.  The cone is topped off with cotton candy tinsel glitter.



Each piece is assembled with black wire.  I curled the wire and let 2 inches hang in between each piece. (I bought 2 yards just in case, but 1 yard would cover this project) Once they were all together, I added ribbon and toole to finish it off.  Once you finish a project whether it stays inside or goes out, make sure you seal it.  I use a matt finish spray seal.  You can pick this up at Wood Creations as well.  This will allow you to clean your pieces if they get dusty inside and protect them from the elements outside.  Be sure to follow the directions on the can so you don't mess up all that hard work.  I will usually seal mine after all glitter and before I place any rhinestones.  It tends to make them look cloudy.  Always put extra coats on anything that goes outside.

This was such a fun project, and looks even better on my front door!!!  Thanks to Wood Creations for giving us such fun, cute projects to make!  Homemade is better any way you look at it:)

EMB

Guest blog!

The lastest project I have completed was part of a guest blog from the handy dandy wood shop where I get all of my wood pieces. Check out there blog Wood Creations;)

Last Bit of Easter:)

Before this year I only had two Easter pieces for my house. Both are ceramics that my grandmother made, one in 1982 and the other in 1996. I was definetly in need of a few things. This is the last Easter project, and I think I am set:)

This project is a kit that is made for a shelf. You would switch out the cutesy pieces depending on the season or holiday. I didn't really like the idea of putting this huge box shelf on the wall, but it sure does make for some pretty cute stand alone decorations:) And you get 5 for the price of one...I always like a good deal.

The set included a carrot, bunny, chick, and 2 eggs. Pretty simple but turned out better than I expected...especially since it doesn't have any glitter...and I really likes the glitter:)

Here are the unfinished pieces:

I painted each piece and decided to use bright pastel papers for the eggs.  I used a light brown ink to edge each of the piece.  Seemed to make the pieces match my house...and as much as I like the glitter, to much can be a bad thing:)

Here are the finished pieces.  I added some ribbon ( I did get some ribbon with glitter poka dots on the little bunny), and a few rhinstones on the chicky.





And that is the last of the Easter crafts...for this year that is!

Swedish Folk Art Take 3!

Not sure why, but I think turquoise should be in any folk art painting...This is probably just my opinion, but so what.

I painted this one Turquoise and Moroccan Red.  The other colors used were Antique Gold, Hunter Green, and White.  Right side:

Left side:

Finished!

Swedish Folk Art Take 2!

This mini bird house turned out great.  Hearts and roses. 

I used Midnight Blue, White, Moroccan Red, Hunter Green, Leaf Green, Couscous Yellow, and Antique Gold.With this type of painting, there is a lot of color mixing going on.  It is much easier to paint traditionally on a smooth surface.  The floating doesn't turn out nicely on these rough surfaces, so no floating was done.  Here is the right side:

Left side:

And here is the finished front. 

Swedish Folk Art Take 1!

I bought these little unfinished bird houses at the local craft store when they went on sale (70 cents a piece!).  I got one of each style, six in total. 

I LOVE Swedish folk art and have painted it here and there over the years.  I wanted to buy these mini bird houses and try my hand at some free hand.  Here we go.  I love these little buds, so this first house is just that...



I used Ivory, Wedgewood Blue, Poppy Orange, Antique Gold, Leaf and Hunter Green.  All free handed, NO line art...which is what I usually do.  I will sketch lightly in pencil on my piece before I ever put paint to anything.  It is a comfort thing for me...I HATE having to redo anything, and I am the pickiest person I know.  And I think it turned out quite nice.  Simple.  Love it...Wonder who will end up with this cutesy little birdie house???

Is It Summer Yet?

I really wish it was...I am tired of the snow on the ground...and the cold...and the kids cooped up in the house...So I was rummaging through my bin "o" wood in my craft room when I came across a "Summer" I bought a few months...or maybe two years ago...but who's counting.  Having five days off from work can get you caught up on your bin "o" wood...especially if you don't visit the handy dandy wood shop.  This one is really simple, and for once, no glitter...sad...

The set came with the wooden letters and the three wooden knobs.  

I started by painting the letters and knobs.  If you want a washed look, you can add a bit of water to your paint.  You will be able to see the wood grain though the paint.  Here's another hint...If you have pieces that are round (like wooden knobs), you can place them in a round paint tray to dry.  If you don't have a paint try, you can use an egg carton.  Ok, moving on... 

I used garden themed papers that were double sided.  It makes it easier to coordinate your papers if you get them in a set.  I always trace my letters before I paint, and cut them out while my pieces are drying.  Pencil marks get on the wood and then you have to touch up if you have already painted.  I used a chalk ink to distress my paper before I glued them on the wood letters.  It is easier for me, and also I tend to mess up when I ink stuff...it is really hard to get paper off wood when you use Modge Podge... 

To dress up this set, it was pretty simple.  Hot glue the peas (knobs) on top of the "U" or pea pod.  I must insert here that Noah at first thought this was suppose to be watermelon...and was wondering what the wooden balls were for.  And before I am too harsh, it totally could have been a watermelon slice....

Three paper cut flowers, a heart, and a button for the flower.  I inked each flower and used glue dots to assemble them.  You can bend the petals for a 3D look. Cut your heart in half to make the flower's leaves and top off with a button on top.

I tied a cute little spade on the "R" with a thin piece of twine. 

And then whala!

Materials:

-Garden scrapbook papers (double sided)

-Acrylic paint:

     -Ivory

     -Christmas Green

-Gingerbread chalk ink

-Twine

-Garden tool charm

-Button

-Paper flowers (small, medium, and large)

-Paper heart