Craft Lightning Scout Crafts

I was a Girl Scout and so was my daughter.

I actually spent a summer in college as a Girl Scout Camp counselor.

It was a great summer.

I made friends from all over the world since we had international staff from countries such as England, Australia, Greece, and Denmark .

I recall learning more that summer than I suspect each of the campers did.

So I was totally on board with this Craft Lightning of Scout Crafts.

Let's make a Paint Dot Pendant.

Gather your supplies:

Paint

Q-Tips

toothpicks

cork circles

drill

Piece of scrap wood to drill on

paper plate

Squirt a little paint out on the plate and begin to make dots in a pattern on your cork circle.

I started out with the Q-tip to make bigger dots as bases so I can add smaller dots on top when they dry.

If you want fairly even concentric circles, start in the center and as you add the next round, do your dots at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions first and then fill in the rest.

Next make dots between the dots you just made.

Continue to add colors.

Set aside to dry.

Time will vary depending on your humidity level, the temperatures and the sizes and thickness of you dots.

Add more smaller dots on top of your first dots.

Set aside to dry again.

Drill hole in the top of the pendant.

Add silk cord, leather cord, ribbon or a chain.

Ta-Da!

This could be done on rocks instead or you can cut a slice of a cork from a bottle for a smaller pendant.

Hope you are going to give it a try.

Head over to see all the other great projects this week.

Thanks for stopping by...

Craft Lightning Valentine's Edition

One of my favorite things to be a part of is the Craft Lightning Challenges.

Today I am tickled to be a part of the Valentine Edition.

I made these sweet love rocks.

Let's gather some supplies.

It is bitter cold here so some of my photos had to be done inside where the lighting is not as good...

You will need:

rocks

paint brushes

paints

paint markers

paper plate

You can gather rocks from outside or buy a bag from the craft store or the hardware store.

I have some rocks from the craft store and some from the yard.

Wash them and allow them to dry thoroughly.

Paint your designs right on the rocks.

I like to do the larger parts of my designs with paint and then the details with paint markers.

You can personalize them.

I made this sweet little collection in about a half hour.

I plan to do a few sweet art abandonments with these...

Have you heard of art abandonment?

Artists all over the world are making beautiful things and leaving them places for others to find and enjoy.

You can leave them in a public place like a restaurant, hotel, park, shopping center, etc.

There are groups you can join.

I belong to this one on facebook.

You can print tags found on the page and add them to your abandoned piece.  

That way, the person that finds the art can comment on it.

I have some plans for these...

The local radiation center.

Parking lots.

On the ground outside a variety of stores.

Because everyone can use a little extra love....

Thanks for stopping by...

Starting an Art Journal...

Last year I decided I wanted to start an art journal.

I traded on Etsy for a set of old medical encyclopedias.

They were exactly what I wanted for my journal.

I went through and tore out pages for tabs so I will be able to add lots of goodies.

I glued the other pages together where I wanted to to make the pages stronger.

I gessoed a few pages.

And then it sat.

Nothing.

So this summer I got it out.

I started to play with a few pages.

Are they great?

No.

But I love it.

Each page is a chance to play and experiment.

This is my first art journal so there will be lots of bad pages as I learn my style.

I am ok with that.

After these pages were photographed, I actually added more.

I think I like them better here.

Live and learn.

I have never really been a stencil person but I am trying it out in here.

I like the layering.

I used DecoArt Media Misters...

Man, are they awesome.

Such rich, saturated color in a spray.

I have been known to make my own spray alcohol inks but they are a lighter series of color.  

It can be good.

But so are these misters from DecoArt.

I have a feeling that this first journal is going to be a series of experiments.

I am ok with that.

If I am not liking the page, I can gesso over it and start again or just go to the next page and see how it goes.

Have you ever done an art journal?

I will show you pictures every now and then so you can see how it is going...

Thanks for stopping by...

                 Linking up with these great blogs.

Outdoor Candle Holder DIY Makeover

A couple years ago, I bought this candle holder at the thrift store.

I knew I would do something with it for an outside DIY project, but I did not know what.

I recently decided it was time.

I gave it a couple light coats of pretty spray paint.

I often use an old bucket turned upside down out in the grass to elevate the item I am painting.

Next I took a solar light from the store.

I removed the base and the clear plastic.

I covered the lightbulb with painter's tape.

And I cut a piece of painter's tape to fit on the solar panel on the top.

I gave the solar light a  couple of light coats of spray paint as well.

I used some electrical tape to wrap the solar light so it would fit snugly into the candle holder.

Then I scuffed it gently with some sandpaper to give it the look of wear.

I was not crazy about it all black or all painted, but I do like the scuffed look.

All done.

Now I need to find where to put it....

Thanks for stopping by...

Linking up with these great blogs.

Grubby Primitive Hearts for Your Valentine's Day

I think most people have a defining style...

Contemporary...

Modern....

Primitive...

Country...

Cottage chic...

Funky....

Up cycled...

When you see their work, you know immediately that it is them.

I am not sure if this is true of me.

I like all the styles listed above and make things that fit all of those categories.

My daughter describes what we do as "eclectic".

I think she nailed it...

So today I wanted to share these sweet primitive hearts for Valentine's day.

I have made them for years but I still love them.

I start with inexpensive muslin.

Draw your desired heart shape on a piece of card stock.

Cut it out.

Trace the shape on a doubled piece of muslin.

I usually do a whole bunch at the same time.

Use your sewing machine to sew the shape.

Leave about an inch open to stuff it.

Cut out the heart and turn it right side out.

Stuff it with polyfil.

Hand sew the opening closed.

Then comes the fun part.

Paint the fabric with latex or acrylic paint.

I like to buy oops paint wherever they mix paint. 

 This used to be very inexpensive.

That is no longer true in my area.

It is still cheaper than having your paint mixed and if you find a color you like, you are lucky...

While the heart is still wet, roll it in a pan of ground cinnamon.

Set it to dry.

Once it is dry, brush off the loose cinnamon.

Add a little homespun strip and embellish.

I like to use naturals: cinnamon sticks and rose hips are favorites.

Then you can fill a bowl or send them in an envelope as a sweet surprise for someone you love.

You can also paint them with other colors before you roll them in cinnamon like the brown one below.

A little primitive love for you this winter day...

Thanks for stopping by....