Decoupage Plates - Part 2 of 2

At this point we found it helpful to go ahead and put your plate on the empty can or jar so you can be sure the edges of the fabric are pressed down.

After washing your hands it is time to trim off the excess fabric. Regular scissors will work but if you happen to have a pair of applique scissors they work really well, just be sure to clean them off immediately afterwards.

One last coat of Modge Podge mixture to be sure all edges are sealed and no air bubbles are present.

Set the plates, on the cans/jars out to dry. Time depends on temperatures and humidity. But be sure they are thoroughly dry.

The dry plates ready to be finished.

Spray the back of the plates with a clear acrylic sealer like Krylon. Several thin coats are always better than one heavy one. Allow to dry completely.

These plates are hand wash only. But they are so much fun. Imagine Birthdays or special occasions... Enjoy! We sure did.

Decoupage plates - Part 1 of 2

I neglected to add to the list of supplies that you will need scissors. Applique scissors if you have them but regular sharp ones are fine and a can of clear acrylic spray sealer. I broke this into two parts as I took lots of photos but be sure to read both parts before you begin.

We began by cutting fabric to fit over the back of the plate with a little extra for good measure.

Pour out some Modge Podge into the bowl and add a few drops of glycerin. Stir to mix and then apply with the sponge brush to the back of the plate.

Next you lay the cut fabric over the plate with the right side of the fabric down. If there is a pattern that you need to center be sure to do that as you lay it down.

Working from the center out smooth out any air bubbles.

Now brush on another coat of the Modge Podge mixture.

Here is where it gets messy. Once again smooth out the fabric so there are no wrinkles or air bubbles.

Don't forget to come back and see how these turn out. You're gonna love them!

Crafting Together Sept 30, 2011

We met again for lunch and crafts. This time I was not as prepared since we were busy shopping for supplies the day before so lunch was just Swiss Chicken and a Fruit Salad. As usual we included 'Darlene'.

Oh and apple pie for dessert. That was eaten when we took a break as you can tell by the change in table covering.

We had a couple of last minute changes in what we were working on but ended up with decoupage plates. We were all totally excited and happy with how they worked up.

To make them we used small clear glass plates, cotton fabric, Modge Podge with a few drops of glycerin mixed in an old bowl and some sponge brushes that we threw away when we finished.

This is a MESSY project. I recommend covering your work table with plastic and having a sink full of soapy water came in handy for washing up. I also set up a card table in the driveway where we set them to dry. An empty jar or can for each plate to set on is also helpful.

I will post more photos in a few days... This is so fun and great for all holidays or special events so check back!

Crafting Together Again

We met again today for food and crafts. Nikki came early, ate, and had to rush off to make up an exam at college, but came by afterwards for seconds before rushing off again for work. She is 20 so rushing is her middle name. But we were happy to see her and besides she was my taste tester on the new recipes. Must be keepers since she came back for more.

Then when Kristy arrived we tried the Italian Grinder Sandwiches and agreed they were good. Potato salad is potato salad but the cookies... they were worth the extra effort of frosting them! And yes that is Darlene's Fiddlestick joining in, although Stacy had to work. Her loss and we ate her cookies!

We had several things to work on today but decided to crochet the napkin rings. Kristy caught on really fast as I showed her how although we tried three; the heavier red yarn in the background first and the thread which was the original design before going back to this medium weight yarn. So Kristy will be buying some red yarn tonight since she really wasn't wanting orange ones and I will be looking for some purple I think but am happy with the green for now.

Now we just couldn't leave Darlene out so here she is just so excited over Kristy's accomplishment. (You can't even tell how much she missed actually being here to learn to crochet. Maybe some day...)

Scraps of blanket into blankets

Remember the baby blanket my granddaughter made for her new cousin back on Aug 18Th? Well, the construction required cutting off all four corners of both layers. I just could not bring myself to just throw them away so today since I had my serger set up I decided to practice my flatlock stitch. Well, either I still need more practice or this fleece really needed some stretchy thread in the loopers as the seams just did not lay as flat as they should.

Be that as it may I do not think the baby's two half sisters will mind using these little blankets for their baby dolls.

Oops forgot mine!

I finished these two after Stacy left. Fun for Halloween.

The one on the left was made last week but the apples were done this week. The single sided paper does let the light shine through better.

This is a bookmark I made with the scraps from the first shade. I trimmed the scraps from yesterday's session but have not made them into book marks yet. I may save that for yet another craft with the girls. I think Stacy and Kristy are right, we will have to meet every week!

Candle Lamps Revisited

Our get together began with Kristy giving Stacy the copies of the Pelican Photos she liked so much.

Then there was lunch, broccoli salad which of course Kristy did not even try since it was after all a vegetable. Stacy and I enjoyed it though and the new recipes I tried were keepers, Cordon Bleu Appetizers from Taste of Home and Rocky Road courtesy of A Creative Dreamer.

We decided to revisit the Candle Lamps so Stacy could make hers and because I found Halloween paper which Kristy and I wanted to try. We missed Nikki today but college takes priority. This is Stacy's first try and she is HOOKED!

Kristy started with a fall design that is very cute.

Her first Halloween one came out like my first apple one - upside down. We both thought it did not look directional but turned out it was.

We got better though. Check out the wiggle eyes on this one. Stacy's spiders also had wiggle eyes if you can see them.

Family Tree Service

Many of my neighbors have been losing branches and even entire trees lately no doubt aided by this drought and it was my turn.

I noticed this broken branch as I was leaving for my mother's three weeks ago so when I returned I asked my family to remove it for me.

I am not sure if you can see it in this photo but there are lights on the brick gate posts one of which was in direct line with this branch.

Therefore this removal required redirecting the branch. My son did this by first tossing a monkey's fist over the branch.

Here he is pulling down the rope. You can see the lights better here too.

As he used the knot tying he learned from his dad and in the scouts he was being watched by a very concerned squirrel who later leapt from the roof onto the other tree for a better seat.

All rigged up and tension applied by moving his pickup forward a bit.

The branch was still hung up on a smaller branch from the tree the squirrel was perched in. Hope he was staying higher up. So a little trimming of that branch...

another gentle tug, and down she came, missing the light - thank goodness!

My son left the cleanup for my grandson and his friend who arrived after work. I intended to photograph them as well but they finished by the time I got out there. I was pleased though that I was able to find a saw made in America when I went to get one for them. Isn't it sad that that is so rare these days that it makes my day?

Candle Lamps

Here is the surprise craft from yesterday!

Supplies needed:

wine glass

battery tea light

scrap booking paper (we used double sided)

double sided tape

pattern from

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/crafts/candle-lampshade-craft

decorative scissors, rhinestones etc. optional

First we traced the pattern onto double sided scrapbooking paper.

Next we cut them out using regular scissors and some decorative edging scissors.

Then came the fun decorating part. Lots of rhinestones went into these beauties!

Don't these make lovely night lights?

And so pretty during the daytime too.

Crafting Together

It seems like I have been wanting to have some friends and family over for crafts and food for years but my house was never clean enough or some other silly reason. I finally decided Erma was right. Just do it. Invite them over. Have some fun. Do it now! So I did.

I invited my daughter and granddaughter and a friend of ours over for lunch and a surprise craft. Turns out they were as excited as I was. Unfortunately at the last minute our friend had to cancel. I think she is really sorry.

It was just a simple light lunch of chicken salad sandwiches and Ambrosia Salad. (Note to self - Nikki doesn't like coconut. How did I not know that?)

And fresh lemonade to drink.

We ended with chocolate cupcakes. Gotta have that chocolate! Did you notice the milk glass dishes on the table to not match? Erma Brombeck would be proud of me. I did not let the lack of a perfectly set table stop me. Martha Stewart could take a lesson from Erma. Life is short. Enjoy the people in your life now! Don't wait for the perfect time/setting.

After clearing the table it was time to get started. They did not have a clue as to what craft I had planned for them.

Oh and if you look close you can see that we moved Stacy's chair over and brought up the stool. The white one with the CUTE boots. Since Stacy did not make it we decided to let Darlene take her place. But Darlene lives in California so we would just let her fiddlestick (see the Aug 9th Flat Stanley goes 3D post) fill in for her. Just one little problem. My daughter and I took 'Darlene' to California with us and I found the CUTEST boots out there but not everything fit in our suitcases so 'Darlene' got shipped home. (The real Darlene is such a good sport. She understood just how important those CUTE boots were to me!) And UPS hasn't delivered the boxes yet so we let the CUTE boots fill in. So I guess Stacy 'got the boot'. HMMMM So glad my friends are understanding.

But as to the craft session which was the whole point of this day, you'll just have to check back tomorrow to see what the surprise was.