2013... Where did I go?

Hello, long lost friends!

(Or maybe that was just me...)

I'm back, and I've some recaps of projects from 2013.  I'm not going to write about each one as a separate blog, but I'll show you a collage and then give some links under it with more info as needed.  Let's get started!

1.  I actually finished my Swoon quilt last April and we've been enjoying it on our bed all year long.  I did a "quilt-as-you-go" method because there was no way I was going to fit this massive quilt into my machine; it finishes about 92" x 92", a very generous queen size.  I quilted each block separately and then added borders and sewed the blocks together.   I've previously posted in progress work here, here and here.

2.  I cure little pinwheel card I made for my niece for her birthday.  I used my Cricut to cut out the pinwheels.  I believe I used the "Just a Note" cartridge.


3.  A card for Mother's Day last year.

4.   This is the front of my picnic pinwheel quilt.  I found a great free tutorial here from SewMamaSew.  The fabric was Catalina by Kanvas for Benartex, I used a layer cake.  (There are a few extra scrap pieces with stars I threw in the mix).  I used just the red, white and blue fabric colors.  I used a white background, and then used extra pieces to create a "piano key" border.  I used stabilizer on the border.

5.  Here is the back of the pinwheel picnic quilt.  I used states fabric from Joann's.  I made up my own pattern for a tic-tac-toe board as well as a checker board.  I thought all of these would be great for summer picnics!  I believe the while quilt finished about 72(ish) inches square.  I also sewed ribbon on one side to roll up the quilt and tie it shut.

6 & 7.  I got these great patio chairs from my mother-in-law.  They weren't using them anymore, so I snagged them up.  I used several cans of spray paint by Rust-oleum.  I used Summer Squash and Midnight Blue, both in a satin finish.  I then used a clear satin to help seal on protect the chairs.

8.  I made water sponges to play outside with.  I found many tutorials online, but this is a great one that uses elastic hair ties instead of string to hold the sponges.

9.  I made a Kitchen Aide cover for my Artisan mixer using... an old bridesmaids dress.  Actually it was just the shawl, and the dress is still intact for another time of creative crafting.  I found a wonderful tutorial here.  It has a template as well.  I also made it reversible, with a black and white damask fabric, should I choose to change it up.

11.  (Apparently I can't count when I make a collage late at night!)  I made a sign for my laundry room out of a canvas frame, free Home Depot paint and a free cricut cut one week.

12.  My mom asked me to make a card for my grandfather to give to her dad for his birthday.  He used to make beautiful and amazing stained glass projects.  I so made the card with torn bits of paper to look like stained glass.

13.  Again my mom wanted a card to give to her brother for his birthday.  He was turning a big 60, so the card says, "Maybe a cupcake would help?"  I was amused at least ;)

14.  I made a pillow for my bed with the swoon quilt with the HST scraps left over.  I found inspiration for the design from this post.


Thanks for sticking withe the long post and thanks for rejoinging me after my long hiatus from blogging!

Keep crafty,
Jenny

Mystery Craft Revealed

Drum Roll Please.......

Here is the big reveal on the Mystery project I showed a sneak peak of the other day.

I made thread/bobbin holders.  I needed a place to hold my thread and wanted the bobbins to be able to fit on top so that I wouldn't lose them or mix them up.

Here are a few beginning pictures from the other day.  I started out measuring and marking my wood and making marks where I was going to drill my holes.  See my previous post for those pictures.

I then sanded down my 1/4 in dowel rods.  I had my hubby cut them at 4 inches in length.

I also had some ducks come and hang out on the back porch.  So make sure you have an audience if you are going to sand the dowel rods.  I sanded down the rough edges and rounded the ends that were going to be out holding the thread.

I then drilled the holes at 1/4 inch.

Here are the two boards that I made.  The one on the right has been sanded.  See?

I then gave them two coats of paint.  (I painted the back too).
I used ACE Hardware brand paint: Clark + Kensington.  I used the color cannon ball black.  I also got this paint for free one of the days they had the free paint Saturday.  :)

 

After the paint dried (I hate to watch paint dry!!) I the placed my dowel rods into the holes.  I drilled the holes at a bit of an angle so that when I hag it on the wall, my thread/bobbins won't slide off. I used a little bit of wood glue to help hold the dowels in place.  I also had the world's cutest helper.  He wanted to put the "sticks" into the holes.

"Helping" mommy

Here's a quick view again of the finished thread holder.  I glued some black ribbon to the back and added a cute pink bow to give it some color. 

Here's the cost run-down.
Wood... free
Tools...on hand
Dowels...$4
Glue...on hand
Paint... free (yeah, ACE hardware)
ribbon... on hand

So, this whole project cost my just $4, the cost of dowel rods.  I don't just have random dowel rods on hand.  Lots of other things... just not dowel rods.

Happy Crafting! :)

Etched Glass Tutorial

For part of my Christmas gifts I made personalized mugs with the first initial of some of my family members.  I had fun making this simple, but gorgeous mugs.  I even made one for myself, as a "test run", of course! :)

Just a warning... this post has lots of pictures in it to help explain the process.  It's very easy!
Here is what you will need:

• a glass mug ( I found mine at Wal-Mart for $2.50 -our Dollar Tree doesn't have much selection or I would have gone there)
• vinyl or contact paper (I used contact paper from my days as a teacher)
• a die cut machine or a way to cut letters in your contact paper
• etching cream: Armour Etch is what I used... it's very powerful and works well.  You can find it at most hobby stores. 
• sponge dauber

You are ready to go!

Step 1:
I cut out the initials using my Cricut Expression 2.  I love my Cricut, so many great uses... I taped down the contact paper so it wouldn't move while cutting.

Step 2:

I took out the initial, you want to be left with the negative image cut for this project so that you can etch the actual initial onto the glass.  Before I peeled off the negative, I actually covered the letter with a second layer of contact paper.  This helps hold all the little details in place to lay it over the mug.  I know you can't see it in the picture, but there is a second layer here!  You'll see what I mean in a minute.

 

Step 3:

Now you peel off the backing of the contact paper, or vinyl so that you are left with the sticky side.  Peel off all the little pieces, but make sure none of the second layer comes off, very important!  I had a few little pieces peel off for me, and I had to stick them back on.

Step 4:

Carefully place your initial onto your mug.  Carefully line it up and make sure it is straight.  After you have it on there, peel off the top layer of contact paper.  You will leave the letter layer on the mug.  This is your stencil.  Make sure you don't peel up any of the tiny pieces from inside the letter. ( I did a few times and had to put them back!)

Step 5:

Now you are ready to put on you etching cream!  (You'll see different letters because I made several of these at one time- but it's all the same process)

Step 6:

Add the etching cream with your sponge dauber.  You'll need to add a very thick layer.  But make sure you don't go outside of the contact paper or you'll have random spots on your glass.  (I did that to mine, the "test run", see why I made one for me? :)

The cream says to wait about 5 minutes for the etching to take places (essentially it creates a frosted look on the glass by taking off a top layer of the glass).  However, this was a very thick glass mug, so I gave mine an hour.  I've used this cream before and had to wait about 30 minutes for it to set.  I gave it 1 hour this time.  I'm glad I did.

Step 7:

After the 1 hour, use the sponge dauber and scrape off the excess cream.  Save it!  You can use it again for other projects, just put it back in the original container.  This cream is expensive, you don't want to waste it.

Step 8: 

Rinse the mug under the water and get all the excess cream off.  Give it a good scrub to make sure it all comes off.  You don't want any residue.

Step 9:

Dry off the mug just a little bit, and then peel off all the contact paper, even the little tiny pieces. :)  They can be hard to find...

Step 10:

Now you have a beautiful handmade mug ready to gift (or keep for yourself!!).  This can be put in the dishwasher, it won't ruin your hard work.  It's scratches off the top layer of the glass and frosts it, remember?  You can't undo this! :)

Now enjoy some hot tea, or hot chocolate!! You deserve it! :)