Tuesday Tutorial {home decor} with Megan!

Hey! It's Megan from Brassy Apple! It's not just clothes that scream at me to be refashioned but furniture and odds and ends do to! 

A little Mod podge, decorative paper napkins and a second hand store find and I created this: 

Supplies: 

Statue, vase, decorative piece to makeover

Decorative paper napkins

Mod podge

Brush

scissors

Step 1: I loved the shape of the piece I found but it looked off. Then I noticed it was broken on the top.

So before I bought it I searched for a piece to add to the top of it to balance it out. I found a wooden egg shape and it was perfect! A little glue (and dry time) and my I had a new shape to makeover!

Step 2: Unfold a napkin and apply a layer of Mod Podge to a medium sized area. Lay the napkin on top of the Mod Podge and start to smooth out and mold it to the under lying shape. 

Continue the process until the entire thing is covered. 

Step 3: Apply a layer of Mod Podge over the top to adhere the napkin well and to seal it. Smooth out with your fingers. I loved the folds, wrinkles and texture the napkin made. I did NOT try to make it perfectly smooth - you won't get it to do that with a napkin. 

Also - if your napkin tears just cut or rip a piece of napkin and apply over the top. The design on mine made it easy to add layers and over lap without it being obvious. 

Let it dry, place it and enjoy it! This entire project cost me UNDER $5.00! So next time you are thrifting or yard saleing, try to see the shape of the object and how it could be transformed!

Thanks Megan for joining us today and sharing this fabulous project! Can y'all believe that's a napkin?! Genius! Now I want to head to Goodwill and see what I can find to Mod Podge! Be sure to check out Megan's blog for other fabulous ideas and her shop for super cute sewn products and patterns!

Tuesday Tutorial: Valentine Heart Wreath

I've never been one to decorate for holidays (except Christmas) but in the past year I've really loved making wreaths so I decided to make a heart Valentine wreath for my front door. Today I'm going to show you how to make your own as well! I got all of my materials from Hobby Lobby and it was $10 for supplies, which made two wreaths.

You'll need:

- wire heart wreath form

- thick yarn (or ribbon)

- ruffle trim (2yd)

- hot glue gun

- scissors

- cardboard (for wreath #2)

Start off by tying a long strand of yarn to the bottom of your wreath form.
I used about a 5 foot piece, any longer and it'll be hard to wrap.
Simply weave it in and out of the inner two wires of the form.
Push the yarn together making it a solid color, hiding the wire.
When you need more yarn, just knot it together until you get to the end.
This took me a little over an hour, so put in Bride Wars &
enjoy a quiet naptime (oh wait, that's what I did)!

The bottom of the heart will be left open, so just take a scrap piece
of yarn and fill it in by wrapping it around the wire and knotting it.

The ruffle trim is perfect for the outside edge.
Simply open it up and add a line of hot glue.
Don't do too long of a line, about 1-2" at a time.
Press it around the outside of the wreath form,
squeezing the two edges together.

You'll see in the top left picture how the front ends.
Turn the wreath over (top right picture) and tuck in the end of the trim.
Fold it over and hot glue it to the back.
Use a few scraps of yarn to create a handle.

vinyl from Uppercase Living

I had enough trim and yarn left to make a second wreath,
so I decided to use some cardboard to create #2.

You can free-hand a heart, or do like I did and use your Cricut Expression
(or Silhouette) to cut out a 9" heart. I then measured 1" along all edges
and cut out the inside. It doesn't have to be perfect, it'll be covered with the yarn.
Knot the end of your yarn and using your hot glue gun, glue the end of the yarn to
the back of the heart. Then wrap, wrap, wrap around the heart, gluing every few
inches. If you see the cardboard through it, simply double up on the wrapping of the yarn.
This wreath takes less than 1/2 hour to make, so it's definitely the easier of the two.
For the points of the heart, glue and wrap until you can get it covered.

Hot glue the trim around the yarn-wrapped edge.
When you get to the end, simply wrap the edge of the trim
over and hot glue, making a clean edge.

Use another short piece of yarn and hot glue it (be generous with the glue)
to the back side. Since this is cardboard based, it'll be a wreath that I'll only
use for this year because of the moisture that will get in the cardboard.
I know I'll be making a new wreath next year anyway so that's fine by me!

Happy crafting! If you have any valentine crafts, feel free to leave them in a comment!

Tuesday Tutorial: Shell & Seaglass Pendants {{Memorialize Your Beach Trip}}

When we were in Mexico we found a TON of seaglass and some cool shells for the kids. I also found a shell with a hole in it that I knew would be a great pendant. Then I got to thinking, what better way to remember your beach trip then by being able to wear it every day? Don't think of the gaudy shell necklaces that you find at the tourist shops; you can make this completely your style because you're the one picking the shells & glass and wire wrapping it. Want to learn how to make one yourself? You'll be done in 10 minutes or less - let's get started!

Shell Pendant - you need a few feet of 24ga wire (I use sterling), jump ring, shell with a hole and pliers.
1. Start a wrapped loop at the end of your wire with about 2" excess at the end.
2. Finish wrapping the excess around the long end of the wire.
3. Take your loop and put it behind your shell, then wrap the long end of the wire through the hole as many times as you want. I did mine three times on each side.
4. When you've finished wrapping through the hole, wrap the end a few times again around the loop, securing it. Cut the excess wire and attach a jump ring and you're finished!

Seaglass Pendant
1. Make the same wrapped loop around a piece of wire.
2. Put the loop and the wire behind the glass.
3. Wrap it in any direction you want. For the white glass, I did one vertical and two horizontal wraps. The last step is to wrap the end of the wire again around the loop and attaching a jump ring.
4. For the turquoise glass I just did two wraps since it was more of a triangle. You can wrap it as much as you want (or as little, as long as you do enough to make it secure). Then you can layer the pendants or wear them alone! (shown before I added the jump rings)

Attach a freshwater pearl to remind you even more of the ocean. These would also make great, inexpensive gifts for your friends...all you have to do is take some time to find the perfect pieces of glass or shell and take a few minutes to wrap them. An easy, quick and inexpensive gift that is heart-felt and special. I love that I'll always think of our anniversary trip to Mexico when I wear one of these pendants!

who doesn't love glitter?? (sparkle ornament tutorial)

It's been crazy busy here in the studio, so you'll forgive me for posting a Tuesday Tutorial on a Friday, right?! Yesterday & today I had time to craft and I had some fun with Martha Stewart glitter making these pretties...

I know that you're super busy this time of the year so I won't dilly dally, let's get to how to make your own!

 All you need is some blank glass (or plastic) ornaments, Christmas rub-ons, glitter & diamond glaze (or other thin glue). Spread out your rub-ons (if you're like me you have too many to ever use) and pick ones that are appropriate for your ornaments. I used my Christmas ones from StampinUp! but also used some "friend" phrases for an ornament for my best bud. Being very careful, place your first rub-on onto the ornament.

Carefully rub on the rub-on (that sounds funny) with a plastic tool or Popsicle stick. Make sure you don't squeeze the ornament too hard, you don't want to break it and shatter glass in your hands. Keep adding rub-ons until you're happy with how it looks. Be careful not to drop your ornament...not like I know from experience or anything. Create a funnel with a spare sheet of paper.

Here's where there are two different ways to glitter the inside. First I'll tell you how I did it on my sample, then later I'll explain how I did it for the other 3 that I made. Take off the top of the ornament, pick out your glitter colors and add them to the inside of the ornament. You'll only need about a teaspoon or so at first. 

Then, drip your diamond glaze on the inside...you'll need quite a few drips. Covering the opening with your finger (or your finger and some paper towel) shake, shake, shake to cover the inside. You'll add more glue & glitter until the inside is as sparkly as you want. Allow it to dry upside down so that the excess glue will fall out. Then finish it off using tulle or ribbon and hang it on the tree!

(Alternatively, for the rest I made dots of diamond glaze all over the inside of the ornament as my first step. Then I put in a few sprinkles of each color while turning around the ornament. Then I shook them, adding more glue and glitter. Both methods will have the same result.)

If you're a person who does NOT love glitter (what?!), here's another easy way to make a beautiful ornament and it's super easy. Cut scrapbook paper into 1/4" strips. Curl the paper around a pencil and then put the paper curls inside the ornament. (and if you want you can add a little bit of glitter to the bottom for sparkle when you shake it). Add some tulle or ribbon to finish it off. 

Pretty ornaments for your tree! Happy crafting!

Linking up with:

Tuesday Tutorial: Leather & Lace Belt

When I was in California a few weeks ago I got this great dress on Balboa Island. I knew I'd want a belt to go with it so I made one! It was really easy with some hot glue, lace & leather and I'm going to show you how to make your own today.

Did you know you can dye things with tea and coffee? Well, you can! One of the laces I wanted to use was too white so put it in some espresso for about 1/2 hour and then washed it with the laundry. It gave it just a slight tint and matches perfectly now!

You'll need the following for your belt (all can be purchased at a local craft store such as Hobby Lobby):
leather strip
3 pieces of lace
small piece of felt for flower
pearls
hot glue & gun
snaps & snap setter (w/ hole punch)

1. First, cut the leather to your waist size with about 1-2" of overlap.
Round one edge of your leather.

2. Also round the edge of the large lace.

3. Zig zag stitch along the edge of the lace (optional).

4. Start hot gluing the large lace to the back of the leather strip.

 

5. Don't be afraid to be generous with the glue, just don't burn your fingers like I did!

6. When you get to the end, cut off the excess.

7. Great start! So pretty!

8. Glue the end of the smaller strip to the back in the middle.

9. Glue the small strip to the front of the leather in an inconspicuous place.

10. Leave about 1" and glue it to the back of the leather.

12. (I have my pics flipped) Cut a circle of felt the size that you want the flower to be.

11. Start hot gluing the lace around, moving into the center.

13. Here's what the back looks like.

14. Taking about a foot of lace, continue around the backside, hiding the sides of the felt.

15. Just keep going!

16. Almost done!

17. Flip the flower over, put a large dollop of hot glue and add some pearls.

18. These are the snaps you'll need.

19. Punch a hole on both ends, making sure first that it fits your waist.

20. I wanted mine adjustable, so I did 2 snaps on one side.

21. 2 snaps, perfect for any outfit! It'll fit over cardi's now, even if they're heavy.

22. Another large dollop of glue...

23. And attach it to the center of the flower. I made sure my flower would overlap the second snap when closed.

24. DONE!!

necklace found here

Thanks for joining me today - what are you creating this week??