Saturday, March 31, 2012

INSPIRATION.................

These are a few things I saw this week while hopping around the internet.  I thought you might like them for inspiration.  Happy Saturday everyone. Thank you for all of your support and for all of your wonderful comments this past year.  I truly appreciate you.
The best use of plastic spoons I have ever seen.  Doesn't this make you want to start gluing spoons on a plastic jug? 
How about keeping the flies out of your drinks this summer?   
Crystal chain, pearls and antique brooches would make an amazing chandelier 
 Any object covered in text looks amazing to me.  Copy calligraphy pages and go to town!
Kind of an amazing lampshade made with an assortment of buttons.  My hot glue gun is already warmed up!

Thursday, March 29, 2012

These projects caught my eye today........

HOPPING around the internet today I found some really fun projects that I thought I'd share with you.  These caught my eye and I think you will be able to make versions of them quite easily.  Have fun!
 Thought these were really fun. Made from polyester zippers and a lobster claw for a closure.  You could use Dritz Fray Check for the edges or you could singe them carefully with a tea light.  Just be careful!  
 This, I found out, was made from a vintage Tupperware Jello Mold.  Great light fixture.  use a cool wastebasket from the 99c store for a similar project.  Just make sure to use the energy efficient cool light bulbs to avoid melting and burning!
Easter is here and it's time to stock up on those fancy little plastic easter eggs you see everywhere.  The day after easter they will for sure be half price.  This is a terrific centerpiece for summer lunch or celebration so grab those eggs now!


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

And the winners are..................
MY LIFE 101 *That's all I know about her! Won FISKARS FRIDAY!
AND
Heather Grontkowski is the winner of yesterday's GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY! Congratulations to you both!
Please contact me with your mailing information.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

THE AMAZING GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY IS HERE!

As promised, another
GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY!
It's time for you to enter to win a set of GLITTER BLAST spray paints with an ongoing contest every other Tuesday from here to eternity. Rock on Krylon!
Winners not only get my NEW book,
THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2,
they'll get all of the colors of glitter blast sent right to their front door.
 Just a few simple rules to enter.
GOOD LUCK!
And may the glitter be with you....
RULES
1. SHARE this on your FB page (by pressing SHARE)
2.  LIKE and COMMENT on the KRYLON FB page that I sent you!
3.  JOIN my blog.
BLOG LINK (Wait, you're here!)
4.  COMMENT here that you've done it AND what your favorite spray paint project is.
5. Join me on TWITTER if you haven't.
TWITTER LINK
Keep an eye out for the winner.  I'll post it here and on my FB page.  
It helps if you can leave a way for me to contact you, too!

Monday, March 26, 2012

NEVER BORED WITH CARDBOARD..............

As a kid we didn’t have tons of money for art supplies, but my parents were genius about utilizing whatever we had around the house for fun projects. One of my favorite things to use was cardboard. I’d repurpose a shoebox for an art project or make a cool fort out of several huge boxes with my five younger brothers (this was a daily event in my house). There wasn’t enough cardboard to go around!
To this day, cardboard remains a staple in my crafty house. I encourage you to save your boxes and make something wonderful out of them the next time you’re feeling inspired. Because trust me, you’re never bored with cardboard.  

YOU'LL NEED
Image of an octopus (or image of your choice)
Cardboard
Elmer's Glue
Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat
1" wide paintbrush
Phone book pages
X-Acto craft knife
Tape
HERE'S HOW
1.    Cut out 6 of the bowl side pattern shape in cardboard
     2. Cut out the base of the pattern in cardboard.       
3.    Using small bits of tape, tape the pieces together so they create the shape of the vase.
4.    Squeeze Elmer’s glue where the edges meet so that it’s nice and sturdy.
 
5. Cut out pieces of phone book pages.
6.    Using Elmer’s glue that has been watered down just a tiny bit so it’s easy to spread, start adhering your pieces of book pages to cover the entire bowl.  Put several layers of phone book pages on the bowl to give it strength. 
7.    When the entire bowl is covered let it dry. 
     
8.    Cut our your Octopus or the image you chose.
9.    Carefully paint the back of the Octopus with Elmer’s and glue in to place.
             
10. When your done gluing on the Octopus, coat the entire bowl in the Mod Podge or Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat to make it even more sturdy and to give it a nice finish.

This project and over 150 MORE in The Big Ass Book of Crafts 2

Friday, March 23, 2012

Our 2nd FISKARS FRIDAY!

Today is our 2ND official Fiskars Friday!  Make sure to enter because as you already know, FISKARS has incredible cutting tools and they might just end up in your craft room!  This contest is bi-monthly so look for our FISKARS FRIDAY banner and make sure to enter following our simple rules below.
Not only will you win fabulous Fiskars products, you'll get your own signed copy of

RULES
1.  LIKE and comment on the Fiskars FB page that I sent you!
http://www.facebook.com/fiskars
2. SHARE on your FB page about the contest.
3.  Leave a comment here letting me know what your favorite Fiskars tool is and I'm pretty sure we can get it in your prize package!
4.  Join my blog if you haven't
5. Tweet that you just entered Fiskars Friday on Mark Montano's blog (if you have twitter)
Good luck!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

YOU'RE PULLING MY.........DRAWER

 
 
 

DRAWER KNOBS AND PULLS
I found these simple knobs at Home Depot for very little money and thought they would be terrific for a project.  Here are some ideas that might inspire you to change out your drawer knobs and spice up your furniture. By the way, if you ever see an old dresser on the street, grab a screwdriver and take off the  handles for a future project.  You never know!

YOU’LL NEED:
Basic flat drawer knobs from a major hardware chain
Large fabric flowers
Glass chips
Images the size of the glass chips
Elmer’s white glue
1” wide paintbrush
Large gems (a bit smaller than the size of the knob)
Household Goop Glue

HERE’S HOW
FOR THE GLASS CHIP WITH IMAGES
1.      Place your glass chip on top of your image and trace around the chip.
2.      Cut out the image just a bit smaller than the shape you’ve drawn.
3.      Paint a thin layer of Elmer’s on the image and adhere it to the back of the glass chip so that you can see it from the front of the chip.
4.      When it’s dry, use a generous amount of Household Goop Glue or E-6000 and attach the chip on the knob.  You’re done!

FOR THE FLOWERS AND GEM KNOBS
1. Glue the flowers or gems in the center of each knob with E-6000.  Done!

DECORATIVE  ROPE DRAWER PULL
YOU’LL NEED PER KNOB
10” of decorative rope per knob
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
E-6000
Transparent tape

HERE’S HOW
1.      Start at the center of the knob and hot glue the very edge of the rope right in the middle.
2.      Spiral around and around using the E-6000 until you come to the very edge of the knob.
3.      Tuck the end of the rope under the knob where you can’t see it and use hot glue to keep it in place.
4.      Dab a bit the Household Goop Glue on it as well so it really stays in place.
5.      Put some transparent tape over the whole thing to keep the rope in place until it dries.
For these projects and 150 more check out
THE BIG ASS BOOK OF HOME DECOR

Saturday, March 17, 2012

TEX MONTANA Wins Glitter Blast Tuesday!


TEX MONTANA won the last Glitter Blast Tuesday contest!  Finally!  She's entered almost every contest and I always recognize her name because there is one letter difference from mine!  Congratulations TEX!  Now where do you live? 

Thursday, March 15, 2012

BOOK PAGE COVERED WIFFLE BALLS......So easy......

BOOK PAGE COVERED WIFFLE BALLS
Usually I’m the guy who plays with the bowls of decorative balls sitting on top of the coffee table. I can’t help it.  I love to hear people tell me to “stop touching their balls!”  It makes me laugh.  Anyway, I thought these were quite beautiful in their simplicity and if you know anything about me at all, I love wiffle balls and book pages so this was a marriage made in heaven.  Now get some balls and make these fantastic table top accessories!  I mean, get some wiffle balls and make these fantastic table top accessories.

YOU’LL NEED
Elmer’s glue
Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat
1” wide paintbrush
Book pages
Scissors
Wiffle balls (99c store)

HERE’S HOW
1.    Cut your book pages in strips that are about 3/8” wide and about 4” long.  You can make longer if you want, but I find the shorter strips are easier to work with.
2.    Water down the Elmer’s glue just a tiny bit so it’s easier to spread and paint it on the wiffle ball and add a strip of book page to it.
3.    Continue this process until the entire ball is covered and then cover it some more.
4.    When the ball is dry, coat it in the Minwax Polycrylic Clear Coat for a nice finish.
This project and 150 more in 

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY! SO MUCH FUN............

As promised, another
GLITTER BLAST TUESDAY!
It's time for you to enter to win a set of GLITTER BLAST spray paints with an ongoing contest every other Tuesday from here to eternity. Rock on Krylon!
Winners not only get my NEW book,
THE BIG ASS BOOK OF CRAFTS 2,
they'll get all of the colors of glitter blast sent right to their front door.
 Just a few simple rules to enter.
GOOD LUCK!
And may the glitter be with you....
RULES
1. SHARE this on your FB page (by pressing SHARE)
2.  LIKE and COMMENT on the KRYLON FB page that I sent you!
3.  JOIN my blog.
BLOG LINK (Wait, you're here!)
4.  COMMENT here that you've done it AND what your favorite spray paint project is.
5. Join me on TWITTER if you haven't.
TWITTER LINK
Keep an eye out for the winner.  I'll post it here and on my FB page.  
It helps if you can leave a way for me to contact you, too!

Monday, March 12, 2012

STITCHED ENVELOPES.......From Pulp Fiction: Perfect Paper Projects

STITCHED ENVELOPES
One of my favorite things to do is sew paper.  My 2nd favorite thing to do is pick up damaged books on the street and try to give them another life. Pair those together and you get these lovely envelopes (which by the way also make a terrific gift in sets of 10) People will appreciate that you took the time to make them something special that they can actually use.  The bonus is you’ll definitely get one back in the mail when they send you a thank you card.  Is that so wrong?

YOU'LL NEED
4 book pages per envelope
Sewing machine with black or red thread (my personal favorites)
Pinking Shears (Fiskars is my brand of choice)
Seam tape in a color you like
Glue sticks

Here's my how to video!

 FOR THE PLAIN ENVELOPE
 1.    Cut out 4 book pages and trim them to all the same size. Each side of your envelope will be 2 pages thick so it’s nice and stong.
2.    Cut 2 of the 4 pages about 1 1/2” shorter than the other two.
3.    Stitch across the top shorter pages with your sewing machine. 
4.    Cut above that stitch with your pinking shears.
5.    Place that stitched page on the larger pages and stitch around the entire envelope.
 6.    Pink around all the edges.
7.    Fold the flap over and seal with a glue stick once you’re ready to send it off.

FOR THE RIBBON ENVELOPE
1.    Cut out 4 book pages and trim them to all the same size

 2.    Cut 2 of the book pages about 3” shorter than the other two.
 3.    Stitch on the top and bottom of the shorter pages and the top and bottom of the larger page.
4.    Pink the edges just above where you stitched.
5.    Stitch the seam tape down the center of the larger piece.
6.    Place the smaller piece in the middle of the larger piece with the seam tape on the outside and stitch down the sides.
7.    Fold the flaps over and tie.

This project and 30 more in