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 Thursday, August 18, 2011
Teaching Thursdays: Dorm Decor
By: Candie Cooper (See more by Candie on her blog, Candie Cooper's Journal)
This morning I was listening to a story about the movie, "American Grafitti" on NPR. American Graffiti is about kids living in a small town one more summer before shipping out to college. My story is pretty much the same, except I didn't race cars at the end. It seemed like it took forever for orientation day to come. I also remember picking out things like a twin size comforter, crates, a futon and shower caddy for my dorm at Purdue. If you have someone heading to college this year, this is a great send-off gifty for the recent grad. They are stackable nesting boxes that can be tucked anywhere and hold everything from chewing gum and shots of espresso to flashcards (at least that's what mine would've held).
These are the boxes---see how they fit together so cute?
Pick out the die cuts and lay them out in the boxes. It helps to take a picture before painting so you can see how you arranged them when it comes time to Mod Podge.
Base coat the boxes in whatever colors you like---school colors would be fun too! If you look at the brushes above, you'll see a flat, angled and then another flat paint brush. The angled brush is key for getting into corners. I used Apple Barrel paints for this project because they are a little thinner than Folk Art. The boxes soaked up the paints and dried really fast.
Dry brushing is my favorite surface painting technique. It's easy and looks cool when done. Try some Silver Anniversary Folk Art paint for this step. My mom actually painted while I took pictures. Insert me saying, "now, hold still"....."ok, hold still"...."i REALLY need you to hold still." We have fun. She's the queen painter in the family.
The key to dry brushing is using a really coarse haired brush, dipping it in paint and removing most of the paint off to the side. Soft bristle brushes don't work. Run the brush along your wood surface in whichever direction you like. You can always practice on a scrap surface first.
Use Mod Podge gloss to adhere all the die cuts---this is where the photo that you took earlier comes in handy to figure out placement. Photos or school mascot bumper stickers would also be great embellishments.
Now you'll need the small and large flat brushes (see photo above) to make some stripes around the top of the boxes. The inner and very outer boxes get tiny stripes and the middle large stripes. This looks really cool when they're all together.
A tip for making stripes is to have your brush fully loaded with paint to create really solid stripes. Less paint makes for brushier stripes.
Seal all of the boxes with Folk Art Gloss acrylic varnish. This makes everything look nice and finished. Let's take a look at all the boxes....
 
As usual, I want a set of these for holding instant coffee and teas, tubes of seed beads and lip gloss. Looking at that list, I still feel a bit young at heart.
Wishing you a great back to school season, I am...Candie
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Web Wednesday: The Pumpkin Stud
Halloween believe it or not is right around the corner. Here is a great new fun project from Cathie and Steve. Pumpkins are probably one of the most popular items to decorate during the Halloween season. They are so versatile, can be decorates with several things. Cathie and Steve created this studded pumpkin that is sure to be a hit with kids and adults. By simply using some FolkArt paint and Mod Podge you too can recreate this fun studded pumpkin. To learn how to make this pumpkin stud, click here.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday Kids' Talk: Budget Crafting for Families
Many people don't realize it, but crafting can at times be costly. All the supplies you use begin to add up. The glue, trim, paint, and tools, can all begin not only to clutter up your home, but also clean out your bank account. Don't worry there are ways to be more budget conscious when it comes to crafting. Below are some helpful tips that will lessen the strain on your spending.
Use found objects from your backyard
There are several resources to use as craft supplies, just in your backyard. Are you in need of pine cones, stones, sea shells, or sand? Well your in luck many of these natural resources are simply just a few steps away from you. Before you head out to craft store, just look outside first to see what supplies maybe right at your fingertips. Recruit your kids to help you look for craft supplies outside. Reuse and Recycle
With the recent economy being in such turmoil the past few years, many people have begun to reuse and recycle many items. Why not do the same for crafting? Like most people, you probably clean out your closets, and gather up old clothes, nick-nacks, jewelry, and other things to donate. Well that's great, but before you get rid of anything take a second look, and check to see if you can use any of these items in craft projects you plan on making. What else can be recycled for your
crafts? Old magazines are perfect for scrapbooking. Old Christmas and
birthday cards can be cut up to create new greeting cards, gift tags, or
even special wrapping paper. Take a look at these old items with a new
eye, and you’ll be surprised at what you can save. Make A Shopping List I am sure you have heard this one before, mainly mentioned when people go to the grocery store. Well the same can be said when going to craft store. If you plan before you go shopping, it will help you stick to your plan and be less tempted to get off your initial shopping list. Thus you will not make any impulse purchases, that could make you over spend on necessary items.
Discounts One of the best ways to save money on almost anything is to never pay retail. Always look for coupons, or shop when discounts are going on at your local craft store. Also don't be afraid to shop online. There are huge savings you can get in on, online. There are several online discount codes and coupons. We here at Plaid offer several online promo codes and discounts. Click here to see what's on sale now.
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