Wednesday, May 5, 2021

Garden Flower Light

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Have you ever looked at something and thought, "I don't know what I'm going to do with that, but I'm getting it anyway!" Well that's what I thought about a couple of solar lights I found at Homesense last year. They were on clearance at 70% off - $3.60 to be exact - and since they were purple, you know I had to get them! Lol! But by that time, Fall was in full swing and I put the solar lights away in the garage and pretty much forgot about them. Then, for this month's DIY Challenge the theme is all about solar lights! If you're coming over from Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip, welcome! Wasn't her garden decor using solar lights pretty!

Well, for this challenge, I thought about the solar lights I had gotten and what I could do with them. Then it hit me, why not make the solar light into a flower with surrounding petals! I've made a few flowers using soda and beer cans - you can see some of them here, here and here - but didn't think the cans were large or sturdy enough for making petals to go around the solar light globe. It's pretty big and soda cans just wouldn't work!

So looking around the hub's workshop, I found sheet metal that was labeled 28 gauge. I knew the higher the gauge the thinner the metal and easier to bend, so I decided it would be perfect to make petals for the globe solar light - or so I thought! 

You might be thinking how was I going to bend the petals and attach the metal petals to the surrounding metal where the glass globe screwed in without welding.  I did some research on connecting metal to metal and found out super glue was at the top of the list besides epoxy glues (which I didn't want to mix). So I gathered a few supplies and got started.
  • Galvanized sheet metal
  • Heavy duty gloves
  • Petal Template
  • Tin Snips
  • Metal File
  • Primer and Paint Combo Spray 
  • Multi purpose acrylic craft paint
  • DAP RapidFuse All Purpose Adhesive
  • Painter's Tape
  • Globe Solar Light

Disclosure I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, this post may contain links. I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you! The affiliate money I earn helps pay my crafting expenses. Thanks so much for your support!

Here's how I made the garden flower light:

1. Draw a petal shape on sturdy poster board for a template .  .  .
and cut out.
2.  Trace your petal pattern onto the metal using a marker. 

3.  Then, cut out using tin snips wearing protective gloves.
Be careful! The metal can be very sharp!
4. Once all the petals are cut out, use a metal file to sand down the sharp edges. Then shape the petals by bending or curving them on a secure oval shaped surface. I looked around my home to see what I could use that was sturdy enough for me to shape the petals. I finally decided to used the safety bar in my bathroom to help curve the metal. I had no problem bending the metal (sorry, I couldn't take pictures while bending the petals) but the look just didn't seem natural enough for petals. 
5.  Once the shaping is done, spray paint the petals on both sides using a paint and primer combination spray can, allowing to dry between each layer.

6.  Add additional decorative designs on the area that would be the flower center using multi purpose acrylic paint and a brush and let dry. 


7.  To secure the petals to the base of the solar light globe, add DAP RapidFuse to the petal edge. The directions said this glue is better than super glue (which I know it is since I use it all the time in craft projects) but in this instance, it didn't adhere after 30 seconds or even a minute. So I decided to use hot glue to help it along. BIG MISTAKE - unless you wear a mask and do this outside. Immediately after applying hot glue to the RapidFuse, a puff of smoke shot up - wow, it didn't like the combination. Luckily, I was working right beside my open sliding door. I quickly pressed the metals together and went outside. Once the metals stuck - after a few seconds - I drank lots of water in hopes of flushing whatever that was, out. I didn't feel anything different and there was no lingering fumes that I could smell. However, I did go to the DAP website on hazards and the first thing mentioned was not to use with a heat source and to get fresh air if mixed with heat (which I did).

For the other petals, I  taped the two pieces together using painter's tape until the two areas bonded using RapidFuse.

8.  Continue gluing on each petal, one at a time, using painter's tape to hold together until secure. 



I had intended to add another layer of petals to the solar light, but it's  been very windy and rainy for a few days and time ran out for making more petals and posting this for the challenge. 
A finished four petal garden flower solar light.
Right now, the garden flower light looks pretty among the phlox and azaleas! But hasn't been outside long enough for the sun to power the cells to see how it looks at night.

Welcome to our monthly DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! On the first Wednesday of the month, Terrie hosts a DIY Challenge with a group of talented bloggers who love to create budget friendly décor for their homes. For the month of May we were tasked with a Solar Light Challenge! 

 Next up is Tammy @Patina and Paint sharing how to make a solar lantern! 
To see more solar lights ideas click on the blog titles below to check out their awesome solar light creations!

 

                                         
DECORATEANDMOREWITHTIP                    PURPLEHUESANDME

                                        
 PATINAANDPAINT                                        THEHOUSEHOUSE
 

                                          
PAULASHANDMADESPACE                                         B4ANDAFTERS

                                        
SWEETSOUTHERNGRACE                                 KSOLYMPICNEST

Thursday, April 22, 2021

DIY Mother's Day Plaque

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Celebrate the special Mom in your life with a beautiful handmade Mother's Day plaque that she simply will fall in love with! How could she not once she sees it!
This is a lovely way of using spring flowers and pretty decorative trim. If pansies aren't her favorite, use any type of flower you wish to add colorful blooms. Plus, the trim is extra special with sparkly silver accents, too! And the best part, you can switch up the saying to one of your choice - maybe something sentimental like a love poem for mom! 

This Mother's Day plaque is so versatile, e 

Welcome to our monthly Creative Craft Blog Hop created by Chloe @ Celebrate & Decorate and Andrea @ Design Morsels!  I've teamed up with a talented group of creative bloggers to bring you lots of wonderful ideas, projects and inspirations! 


Let's begin with what you'll need to make this awesome Mother's Day Plaque!

Materials:
  • Cardboard
  • Printed message
  • Chalkpaint/spongebrush
  • Pencil/Scissors
  • Fabri-tac glue
  • 3ply twisted cord trim - 10mm
  • Faux flowers
  • Hot glue gun/glue
  • Parchment paper and clamp

Instructions:
First, find a plain oval shape to print - I'm using Word - and enlarge it to cover most of a 8x11.5" printer paper. Then, using a text box, create a message you'll want to say to your mother. Since my mom is no longer living, I'm just using the generic "Happy Mother's Day" greeting. But here's a chance for you to say just about anything you want to your mom. It can be something sentimental or even comical - whatever you like! Then print and cut it out.

Next, using the oval print-out as a guide, increase the size of the oval shape, leaving a generous border to wrap the cord trim on a piece of cardboard. Here, I'm using the back of a pizza box to draw and cut out the oval shape.
Then place the oval shaped wording on top of the cardboard to see how it looks. Cool, right!
Next, paint the cardboard using white chalkpaint and let dry.
Once dry, it's time to glue on the print-out using Fabri-Tac glue or one made for use with paper.

Then begin gluing on the cord trim at the top, using hot glue, following the outline of the oval shape.
It's best adding hot glue in increments to secure. You don't want the glue to dry before you have a chance to connect the trim.
As you near the beginning of the cord trim, apply hot glue close to the edge of the trim and .  .  .

hold the two pieces close together for a smooth fit until dry.

Then continue gluing on the cord trim close to the first row as possible .  .  .
adding hot glue and holding trim together as you add more trim rows around the oval shape.



Decide how many rows of trim you'd like to add. I stopped at five. I didn't want the trim to over power the piece. So I ended the trim in the same area where I started - cutting it at an angle and .  .  .
adding Fabri-Tac fabric glue to the end to seal the fibers. I wrapped the end with parchment paper and secured with a clamp until the glue dried.
Once the glue is dry, seal the end securely with hot glue to the final trim row.
Cut off the excess cardboard closely around the cord trim, following the oval shape.

Now to dress it up!


Begin gluing on faux leaves .  .  .


and flowers for a pretty decorative look .  .  . 


first, around the bottom and then .  .  .

on top!

What a beautiful and creative way to honor your mom with this lovely piece!

If you're coming over from Carol's @Blue Sky At Home, Welcome! I know you loved how she repurposed an old table! Up next, after me, is Mary @Home is Where the Boat Is sharing her adorable Bee Happy Wreath

Be sure to have fun and get inspired by all of the wonderful creations this month by clicking on the links below!