Sparkly Stained Glass Jars

When you are a crafter, you see opportunity in every object - especially glass jars! I haven't exactly jumped on the mason jar craze, but I do love jars with different shapes and curves. Not only do they add a sense of beauty to a space, but can also be very functional. I gathered up the empty jars in my house and made a fun collection, yes, even a mason jar too! I used Collage Pauge, leftover Tulip One-Step Dye, and Tulip Fashion Glitter! Click below to see my full tutorial with lots of pictures!

Making Mixed Media Art With The Munchkins

Mason Jars - Cool2Craft TV

It's super cool! Cool2Craft TV July 23, 2012: Mason Jars! The Cool2Craft design team is sharing a fun collection of mason jar craft ideas this week! EcoHeidi Borchers is crafting a Fairy in a Jar featuring Aleene's Super Thick Tacky Glue and Aleene's Tacky Double Stick Sheets and Tiffany Windsor is Painting with Tissue to create pretty collaged party jars featuring Aleene's Collage Pauge, plus much more!
 

Learn new techniques, chat with us while watching the show and ask questions about all your favorite Aleene's products!  It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Airing Monday July 23, 2012 9am Pacific/10am Mountain/11 am Central/ Noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and you'll see the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday! Can't make the live show? No problem, you can drop by anytime 24/7 to watch the show!

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iLoveToCreate: Burnt Offerings Decoupage Necklace

iLoveToCreate Retrofabulous Crafts
Burnt Offerings Decoupage Necklace
Margot Potter

In 2009 I published a book called Beyond the Bead.  It is by far my favorite book.  I had a blast making beads and components out of all sorts of wonderful things I found in the aisles at the craft and hardware stores.  One of the projects in the book used old book pages, wooden craft stars and a wood burning tool to create the look of aged and burned charms.  I loved making it, I love wearing it and I thought I'd share it with you.  I've seen some similar projects making the rounds on Pinterest, but this is my version from a few years ago.  Aleene's Collage Pauge is an amazing medium with endless uses and here you can see how nicely it seals the old paper to create charms that look fragile, but are tough and durable.  Add a little Aleene's sealer spray and you've got a necklace that will last a lifetime.

Materials
Old book pages
Wooden craft stars
Traci Bautista Aleene's Collage Pauge Matte
Aleene's Spray Acrylic Sealer Matte
Tiny key charms
Crystal beads
Aged brass chain
Clasp
10mm gold tone or aged brass jump rings

Tools
Chain nose pliers
Bent nose pliers
Wood burning tool

Attach paper to star using Collage Pauge. Make all five stars at the same time, cutting the paper around them after they dry with scissors. 

Seal the top of the star with decoupage medium, after it dries repeat. Turn star over and repeat the process 

for the opposite side.  

Use a wood burning tool to CAREFULLY burn the edges of the stars and add some burned areas in the centers. Work in a ventilated area, take your time and be careful, the tool gets very hot. Did I mention it gets hot? Because it does. So be careful. After burning, spray with Aleene's Spray Sealer in matte.

If your stars are not pre-drilled, use a 1/16" drill bit to drill a hole at the top of one point on each star. Attach the stars and the charms and beads to the chain using jump rings and your bent and chain nose pliers.

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Magazine Holder for Mom

Moms and magazines go together like Sunbutter and jelly. Even though I adore Pinterest and faithfully follow my blog roll, nothing beats curling up on the couch with a new magazine. What mom would not like a subscription to her fave mag and a spiffy magazine holder this Mother's Day. SUPPLIES Cardboard Magazine Holder (mine is from Ikea) Crafty Chica Paint White Scissors Collage Pauge Matte Fabric Paint Brush As I mentioned I got my cardboard magazine holders from Ikea. However, you can easily make your own from an old cereal box. The first thing to do is coat your box with Collage Pauge decoupage medium. Wrap your magazine holder in fabric. Be sure to put the seam in the back. Also make sure there is some overage. Smooth out all the lumps and bubbles. After you wrap and trim you will have some rough edges on the inside of your magazine holder. At this point it is up to you if you are done. Truthfully, once the holder is full of magazines you will never see the inside. However, if you are like me and it will keep you up at nights go in with some white Crafty Chica paint and paint the inside white. All that is left to do is order mom her favorite magazine subscription to go along with her new fancy holder. If your mom is like me (or my mother) she already has a stack of magazines on hand ready to fill her new holder with. Visit us on Facebook!
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Mother's Day Creative Ideas - Cool2Craft TV

It's super cool! Cool2Craft TV April 30, 2012: Creative Challenge! The Cool2Craft team is celebrating Moms this week!  EcoHeidi Borchers is creating an Embossed Craft Foam Flower featuring Aleene's FunCraft Foam Glue, Candace Jedrowicz is sharing a Hex Photo Box, Tiffany Windsor and Savannah Starr are crafting with Aleene's Collage Pauge and Linda Peterson is crafting a Mother's Day Wire Basket.

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Airing Monday April 30, 2012 9am Pacific/10am Mountain/11 am Central/ Noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and you'll see the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday! 

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iLoveToCreate Teen Crafts: iLoveMom Glass Vial Necklace 
Margot Potter for Avalon Potter 
“Mom crafted, teen approved.” 

I’ve used these glass vials in a variety of jewelry making projects over the years. They’re like miniature works of art. You can put all sorts of things inside of these, beads, glitter, printed messages...whatever makes you smile. This is the perfect way to tell Mom how much you love her with a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted wearable work of art! It’s so easy to make these with Tulip Fashion Glitter and Aleene’s glue; you’ll find yourself looking for reasons to make more! I made some matching earrings using some smaller glass vials using the same techniques for a fun, fast and fabulous jewelry set just for mom.

Materials 
Miniature glass jar with cork top
Thin ribbon for accent
One large puffy and four small flat felt hearts in pink and white
Tulip Fashion Glitter in multi medium crystal
Screw eye
Ball chain necklace
2 ear wires
2 jump rings
Aleene’s Quick Dry Tacky Glue
Aleene’s Stop Fraying
Aleene's Collage Pauge Matte

Tools 
2 small paintbrushes
Chain nose pliers
Scissors
Computer and printer

Pour a small amount of glitter into vial. Add felt hearts, use end of paintbrush to position them in vial.  Add a small amount of glue around edge of cork stopper, insert into vial top. Use paintbrush to remove any excess glue.

Add a small amount of glue to screw eye, use chain nose pliers to screw into center top of cork stopper. Allow all glue to dry.

Take a small ribbon and tie in a bow around rim of jar. Use Aleene’s Stop Fraying on ends of ribbon. Allow to dry.

Use a typewriter font to print xoxo, x and o in 10pt. Cut out using scissors and decoupage to front of jars with Collage Pauge and a small paintbrush.  Thread screw eye with ball chain necklace.  Use smaller jars with glitter and ribbon to make matching earrings. Attach a jump ring and ear wire to top of stopper, repeat for second earring.

(Blogger was compensated for this post.)

Learn new crafting techniques! Cool2Craft TV Monday January 23, 2012: Mixed Media

Cool2Craft TV for January 23, 2012: Mixed Media - Join host Linda Peterson for a new episode of Creative Life TV on the Cool2Craft TV network. This week's show theme is Mixed Media. Linda is creating a No-Sew Cellphone Pouch featuring Aleene's OK to Wash-It Glue. Next up, it's a Mixed Media Embossed Frame finished with Aleene's Collage Pauge and she will craft a vintage inspired Baby Wipes Flower Tag. It's a terrifically tacky and creatively cool show!

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Airing Monday January 23, 2012 9am Pacific/10am Mountain/ 11 am Central/ Noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and find the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday!

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The 'Put a Bird on It' Brooch - An Ode to Portlandia

If you are looking for some stellar television to add to your list of much watch shows, might I suggest Portlandia. I was skeptical with a dude from Saturday Night Live and a chick from Sleater Kinney - and then I watched it - and then I fell in love. I have always heard that Austin and Portland are sister cities and after watching the skits on this show I believe it. One of my fave segments was entitled "Put a Bird on It". As we all know good craft trends die hard and this feathered favorite appears to be here to stay. In celebration on Portlandia's second season starting I am making my ode' to the show. The 'Put a Bird on It' brooch.


SUPPLIES
Wooden Disc
Scissors
Aleene's Liquid Fusion Glue
Collage Pauge
Forest Picture
Hot Glue Gun
Collage Pauge Decoupage Medium
Faux Bird
Faux Eggs
Embroidery Thread
Aleene's Fabric Stiffener and Draping Liquid
Vasaline
Small Bowl
Pin Back
Ribbon


This whole idea came to because I started thinking about making a nest out of embroidery thread. I used a small plastic bowl and lubed that sucker up with petroleum jelly to act as a release. Next I cut long strands of brown embroidery thread. One by one I began dipping the thread in fabric stiffener and wrapping it around my bowl. Once you have it looking like a nest leave it to dry.


While your nest is drying you can work on the backdrop. I used a small wooden disc. I found an image from a vintage book of a forest that I cut out and decoupaged onto the wood.


Next I cut my nest in half. At this point I was not sure if I was going to go with shoe clips or brooch. I only had one bird so brooch won. I'll save the other half of the nest for another project.


Using a combination of Liquid Fusion Glue and a Hot Glue Gun I attached the half nest to my collaged backdrop. Once the nest was in place using Liquid Fusion I put my bird and her eggs in the nest. I also added a ribbon around the edge to cover up some messy glue spots. Last but not least, I glued a pin back to the wood.



I am totally smitten on the way everything turned out. Portlandia was right everything looks better when you put a bird on it.

I leave you with the video clip that inspired it all - Put a Bird on It!


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Cool2Craft TV for December 19, 2011: Last Minute Holiday

Join host Tiffany Windsor for a new episode of Cool2Craft TV. This week's show theme is Last Minute Holiday. Tiffany creates a Scrapbook Paper Looped Wreath featuring Aleene's Original Tacky Glue, EcoHeidi Borchers crafts a vintage Aleene Angel of Light Candle Cover with Tulip Beads in a Bottle and Aleene's Collage Pauge and special guest Candace Jedrowicz crafts a Dollar Store Holiday Centerpiece with Aleene's Tacky Dots. It's a terrifically tacky and creatively cool show!

It’s easy to watch the Cool2Craft TV Channel right from your computer. Airing Monday December 19, 2011 9am Pacific/10am Mountain/ 11 am Central/ Noon Eastern. Go to http://cool2craft.com and find the Livestream player and chat box. See you Monday!

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Recycled Reto-Style Jewelry Box

This is not my first time at the jewelry box re-vamping rodeo. Once upon a time I even sold them on my website. Lately, I have spotted several cute recycled jewelry boxes on Pintrest and Etsy that have my creative juices flowing. Flowing so much in fact I decided to revisit my stash of vintage jewelry boxes and see if I couldn't come up with something new and improved. My jewelry collection is always overflowing and I can never have too much cute storage for it.


SUPPLIES
Jewelry Box
Crafty Chica Paint
Scissors
Paint Brush
Aleene's Tacky Glue
Fabric
Collage Pauge
Rick Rack
Pliers



At least every other trip to the thrift store I spot an old jewelry box begging for a face lift. I happen to have a small stockpile in my studio of a few that have called my name through the years. I opted for a large dark brown dude from the 1960's to re-do.


The only priming I did was to remove the drawer pulls. I needed a pair of pliers for this.


The first thing I did was using Crafty Chica Paint and a sponge brush applied several coats of green paint. Allow your paint to dry completely between coats.


Once my paint was dry I used Collage Pauge to apply my fabric. I re-covered the drawer in my vintage fabric and added a large rectangle of fabric on the lid.


Paula Deen thinks everything is better with butter and I happen to think everything is better with rick rack. I applied the rick rick with a combo of Fabric Fusion and Quick Dry Tacky Glue depending on what surface the rick rack was touching.


My new and improved jewelry box houses my Bakelite collection perfectly. I like the idea of being able to color coordinate my jewelry with my jewelry box. Ya, I've been accused of being too matchy matchy in my day - so what.


Check out more I Love to Create posts here. Be sure to check out my series on jewelry displays and boxes - Journey Through a Jewelry Box Flickr Faves, How Ya Hanging - Jewelry Displays of Crafty Ladies, Jewelry Displays in Books and Making Your own Jewelry Display.


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