Stoned Picture Frame

These are based on a tutorial over at  Ruffles and Stuff for "Easy Fancy Pants Frames" and we made them previously  here.   They are inexpensive and very easy to make and add panache to a plain frame.

The only thing that is a bit different is I didn't find a frame in pink at the dollar store and used some hot pink spray paint I had on hand.   

•  Picture frame (with an edge wide enough to hold the stone you are going to glue on
• Small clear decorative stones
• Amazing Goop or other strong, clear glue
• Spray Paint
• Newspapers

- Put down newspapers

-Spray the frame with paint, allow to dry

-Check for missed spots, spray again, allow to dry

- Position stones on frame then glue down.

-Leave frame flat until glue is dry.

- Place picture in frame and it is ready for gift-giving.




The photo was Walgreens using their free software to create a collage and you can select up to 20 photos for the collage, but I only used 10 for the above.  I ordered it during a promotion and it was free, but the code has now expired.  From time to time they do offer this special and it usually posted on their photo home page.

http://30minutecrafts.com/2013/05/craft-lightning-week-2.html#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed

Pinball Necklace

This project is for Day 6 for 30 Days of Creativity and with a category of pinballs, so I chose to use a toy pinball necklace from a friend's party and craft it into a necklace.   I had all of the items on hand so it didn't cost anything to make.  
 


First, I made paper beads:

• Paper
• Scissors
• Gluestick
  
• Paintbrush
• Spray paint

  

I used old magazines and backed the pages with regular paper then cut into long sloping shape (see right hand photo).  The width and length along with whatever tool you use to wrap the "bead" around (I used a paintbrush) will determine the shape of the bead.  I wanted mine more eclectic so I used different widths and sizes.

You start at the wide end, apply the glue stick to the inside length then start rolling it tightly until you reach the end.

I also spray painted mine lightly to give it a more cohesive look, but instead a clear spray paint or Modge Podge could be used to seal them.



 
Rest of the necklace.

• Small toy pinball game
• Cap off of Axe Shampoo
• Hot knife
• E-6000 glue
• 24-26 inches of ribbon

On the Axe cap, I cut a hole in each end wit the hot knife and threaded the ribbon through and then secured it where I wanted with E-6000.

I cut off the top of the lid and the spigot towards the top so I had a smooth surface.

I glued down the toy pinball game and added the paper beads two paper bead to the top and the remaining paper beads at the bottom and tied a knot at the end.

LARGE DRAGON EGG

Welcome to the first day of Monster Madness Blog Hop running from May 1 - 7th.  Check out the other participants at the link at the bottom.
My first project is a dragon egg that you can make out of an empty 2 liter bottle. 

-  1 empty 2 liter plastic bottle, rinsed and label removed
-  Scissors, Xacto knife, hot blade or box cutter & Sharpie
-  Duct Tape
- Glue Gun and Hot Glue Sticks
-  Spray Paint (black) and Glitter Glue (gold)

I used this to hold a small present for my son for Easter - it does make a unique package!  He uses it to hold miscellaneous items. 

The first step in making it is to measure up 4 inches from the bottom of the bottle and mark using a Sharpie.  Cut the top off the top of the bottle (I used a hot knife) then measure 3 1/2 inches down and mark with a Sharpie.  Cut along the lines (I used a pair of scissors as it allows better control).  It will look like the pieces below when you are done.

Cut a small square of duct tape, enough to cover the opening on the top.

Put the top inside the bottle and an angle and wiggling it until it fits snuggly, the use the hot glue gun to give it texture.  On the very top I put swirls on the tap and down about and inch then made oval shapes all the way around and added other squiggles in the middle, but don't cross over to the bottom of the bottle.   On the bottom I mostly did different squiggles; on this too, don't cross over to the top of the bottle.

I used a few coats of black spray paint on the outside, allowing it to dry between coats, but you could use any color that strikes your fancy.

After completely dried, I also then used glitter glue on mostly on the "veins" created by the hot glue gun  to give it sparkley, mystical look, but it you could omit it if you wanted a different look.

Plastic Bottle Top Flower

Turn trash into a pretty Anthropologie inspired flower treasure!   

I saw this Anthropolgie window display http://mslk.com/reactions/anthropologie-store-windows/ and decided to give it a go. 

I am participating in the April Stash Bust over at Dollar Store Crafts and in this project used the top of a 2 liter bottle, the cap off a shampoo bottle and spray paint to create the above flower.

Items used:

• 1 2 liter bottle
• Craft or Kitchen Scissors
• Plastic bottle cap
• Amazing Goop Glue or Hot Glue Gun and Glue sticks
• Spray pain
• Plastic bag
• Cardboard

Rinse out the bottle and remove the label.  Pinch it on one side and cut where there is a ridge all the way around the bottle. 

Cut the approximately 1 inch wide strips all the way around the top of the bottle.   To make sure it was even I cut into quarters first, then cut each quarter into 3 sections for a total of 12 "petals".

Press the cut pieces down to form the flower.

I decided I wanted my petal to be rounded, so I opened up a plastic bag and rounded the edge of each petal over the bag then put the bag in my plastic recycling bin for easy clean up.

Next, I opened up an old frozen pizza box and spray painted the top and allowed it to dry, then flipped it over and painted the other side. 






















For the center of the flower, I used the top off of an Axe shampoo bottle, but just about any bottle cap would do.

Place glue around the bottom edge of the cap and place it firmly in the center of the plastic flower and allow it to dry.

Broken Keyboard Desk Tray to Garden Sign

The keyboard tray broke off of our computer desk about 2 years ago and like with most things, I held on to it until I came up with a craft application for it and when we decided have a mini flower and herb garden outside our door I decided turn the tray into "Our Garden" sign which functions as a decoration until the plants start growing and a barrier so the fella that mows our lawn doesn't mow over the budding plants (like he did last year).

Here is they keyboard tray before, but any old piece of wood could be used.

Items used:

• Piece of wood
• Colored spray paint (we used green)
• Clear gloss spray paint
• Acrylic paints
• Fabric paints
• Paintbrush
• Wire lawn edging (from the Dollar store)
• Newspapers or trash bags (to put down when spray painting)

First, my son put down trash bags outside then layed the board flat and spray painted the front with of the board (it started raining before it dried and had to set it upright under the awning is the reason it is photographed upright).

After it was dry, I used acrylic and fabric paints to paint the flowers on the board and wrote "Our Garden" freehand on the front.

My son then took the decorated board outside and used the clear spray paint sealant on both sides and the edges, allowed that coat to dry then put another coat on and allowed it to dry.

After the clear coat was dry and I put in the plants, I put the sign out in front of our mini garden, firmly placing the edge that had attached to the desk in the ground and secured the other side by putting in the dollar store decorative wire eding about 3 inches behind the sign.

The total cost out of pocket was under $4 as I had everything on hand except the wire edging from the dollar store ($1) and the clear gloss spray paint ($2.77 from Walmart for 1 can and it is still almost full and can use for other projects).