An Ugly Picture Makeover!

The other day I got this great idea...I decided I needed something for all of my antique pins and other jewels, but of course, I couldn't just buy something already made, I came up with a brilliant idea. But then, I had to go thrifting at the Goodwill to find what I needed...an ugly picture, as for the other items, I had them laying around in my sewing room!

I truly wanted to make this a tutorial, but my camera was being ornery so I have a few photos and will explain the how-to the best I can!

My supplies:  an ugly canvas picture mounted on a a 2 inch wooden frame, 1 button, felt, antique handkerchief, antique trim, scrap of muslin, hot glue and hooks stolen from my husband's pole barn!

Kind of ugly right?

 

 Supplies

I cut the muslin about 3-4 inches larger than the frame, then traced the frame on the back side of the muslin for measurements.  I also cut 4 layers of felt the same size as the frame.

 

I folded the handkerchief, then using the markings on the muslin I determined where to sew it onto the muslin, I only sewed the bottom of the handkerchief, I attached the upper flap with a wooden button, which is now hidden by the brooch.  By not sewing the top, and with the way the handkerchief is folded it makes a nice pocket for bracelets!

Folded in half to form a triangle then turned the bottom of the triangle up to form a 'pocket'

Then I layered the felt onto the front of the picture, layered the muslin over it, then pulled the muslin tight and neatly hot-glued it to the back of the frame, I did the sides first, then the corners.  After that, I took my trim and laid it onto the muslin and hot glued it on as well. 

My last step was adding the 5 hooks on the bottom.  I measured it out to make sure they were evenly spaced, took a hammer and a nail to start the holes, then twisted in my hooks!

 

Voila.....here is the finished work of art with my antique jewel collection!

If you click on the photos you can see them closer up for a better idea of the trim work.  The little bit of gold on the bottom right of the handkerchief happens to be an antique bracelet peeking out of the 'pocket'!


....if you have any questions about this not so photographed tutorial let me know and I'll help you out!

Easter Bling: Tutorial

A few of my faithful followers requested a tutorial on the 4H project I posted over the weekend.....I took it a step further on Sunday and decorated Easter eggs using the same technique, AWESOME!

Here's the deal though, if you use this tutorial I would LOVE to see photos, so pass them along!!!

Gather your supplies:
1.  Glass paint, found at your local craft store or Wal Mart
2.  Enamel paints, I found mine at Michael's they are sold by the model cars, the brand is Testors
3.  Glass jar or vase
4.  Disposable paintbrush
5,  Bucket of water deep enough to submerge your vase
6.  Paper Towels
7.  Toothpicks, I tried plastic forks, you do NOT want to use them, the paint adheres to the plastic!
8.  Rubber Gloves, not needed but suggested!

Step 1:  Paint your jar or vase with glass paint, if you're doing this with kids it works great if you buy a vase with a large mouth so the kids can put their entire hand in the vase and tip it upside down to paint!

Step 2:  Let your vase dry, then apply a second coat, do this gently so the first coat doesn't come off.  It should look like the photo below.

Step 3:  Here's where it starts getting really fun and messy!  Shake up your paints real well, then put some paint in your water.  Tip the paint very slightly, it comes out fast and you don't need much!  The gold tends to sink, but don't worry, somehow it shows up on your vase!

Step 4:  Take your toothpick and swirl it through the paint droplets, just a few swirls will do, for little kids, I tell them to draw the letter M, or N through the paint!

 

Step 5:  This is where it's good to use gloves, I'll show you what happens when you don't!  Anyway, put your fingers in the vase and 'swoop' it through the paint.  The trick is to get the entire vase colored the first time, once it's wet and redipped it doesn't work as well.  So if you put the vase into the paint and give your wrist a twist, flick, or swirl it'll work great!

 

Step 6:  Once you've dipped, swirled and swooped remove your vase, this is how ours turned out, the paint dries very quickly, place it on a covered surface for the drying time.

 

Crafter beware:  This is what happens when you don't bother to wear gloves, we dipped the vase for these photos and 9 eggs and this is what happened to my daughter's hands...this was Sunday, today and 3 showers later she still is a bit blue around the finger nails, and not real thrilled with me!!!  Finger nail polish helps to some extent.  Also, if you get it on your counter or sink, steel wool does the trick, as for your bucket, well, you can see from the photo above how the sides will look!

....And here are my Easter Eggs, a little early to make them, but we couldn't help ourselves!!!
My paper mache Easter nest didn't turn out as cool as I expected, but it'll do until I come up with a new idea!

Have fun....and please let me know if something doesn't make sense and I'll help you out!