Monday, June 15, 2020

Twisted Patriotic Napkin Vase

I love working with paper napkins! There're some really beautiful designs available and they come in the prettiest patterns that can be used to transformed just about anything - furniture, bottles, jars, boxes, frames, and dishes, you name it! So many ways to use napkins for craft ideas in home decor! Like this patriotic vase! It's made out of twisted paper napkins using plain water. Can you imagine?

Let's start with red, white and blue patriotic napkins - perfect for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday!

Cut in half, along the fold and remove all plain layers from the print side . . .

then spritz with water (pattern side down) on a waterproof work surface like a glass cutting board.

Next, roll the napkin together lengthwise (pattern face out) You can apply additional water if needed, although these napkin colors bled . . .

and begin twisting the ends in opposite directions with fingers.

Once the napkin is completely twisted, stretch to straighten and lay on parchment paper to dry. I made about 40 napkin twists for the first section of the vase and put the twists outside in the sun to dry for about 45-60 minutes.

While the napkin twists are drying, cover a round bowl in plastic wrap. Use masking tape to secure the plastic to bowl. Mark on the bowl where you want to stop wrapping the napkin twists. Once the twists are dry, place a generous amount of fabric glue on the center outside bottom of bowl and begin twirling the napkin twists around the bowl. Apply fabric glue along the base of the twists, as you wrap.

Continue wrapping and adding napkin twists while adding glue around the base of the napkin twist, as you wrap the bowl.

Be sure to wrap the twists as close together as possible, while keeping the rows evenly pushed together.

Stop wrapping where marked and smooth the end of the last napkin twist into the previous row using glue to blend together and make less noticeable. Remove the entire napkin twist vase by loosening the plastic wrap and place on parchment paper until dry (outside in sun).

For the second bowl, allow space for the vase opening before beginning to wrap the bowl just like with the first bowl.

Continue wrapping and gluing as before, ending where marked. Gently remove the napkin twists section from the bowl, removing plastic wrap and let dry.

To connect the two napkin twists bowls together for the vase - place the open bowl on top of the closed bowl, adjusting fit, then apply a generous amount of fabric glue around the top edge of the closed bowl. Pinch the two bowls together. holding in place for a few seconds to secure as you move around the edges. Once the fabric glue has dried, apply several coats of Modge Podge to harden and seal the napkin twists. Let dry.

What a fun way to make a decorative patriotic craft!

Celebrating the red, white and blue! PS - The flowers are made out of toilet paper - my tutorial can be found here on FaveCraft

Thanks for stopping by

and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

DIY Twine Wrapped Tin Can and Top

It's fun to recycle/upcycle ordinary household items like tin cans that you've rescued from trash, especially in these trying times! I created this diy twine wrapped tin can and top especially for FaveCrafts' "Entry for Stay Home and Craft Challenge." A big "Thank You" goes out to everyone who voted for my entry! I won third prize of a $50 Amazon gift card! I truly appreciate your sweet comments and votes!

I love collecting tin cans and finding new ways to re-use them! It's unbelievable all the things you can make using cans. Some very useful and decorative, like this twine wrapped can with top! Perfect to hold or store craft supplies - or whatever you want! It's all hidden with the top! And the best part, you probably have everything you need to make one!

Materials

Tin can
Cotton twine - asst. colors
Tacky glue
Large styrofoam ball
Clingwrap
Scissors/pencil
Tape measure
Round wooden ball/ super glue for top
Clear plastic sheet/flower pattern

Instructions

Start with a clean can free of dirt and grime. Make sure there are no sharp edges, too!

Smear on a generous amount of tacky glue just under the top lip edge and begin wrapping twine around the can.

Push the twine rows together and tight. Apply additional glue along the way while wrapping until reaching the end.

Cut off excess twine making sure the end is secure with glue.

For the top, Measure across the opening (4") and take a large styrofooam ball (I had half a ball) that fits just inside the top. Make sure it sits straight and level. Then draw a pencil line around ball where top of can meets.

Next, wrap the ball in plastic wrap, securing it at bottom and then place a dollop of tacky glue on the center top. Place end of twine in glue and begin wrapping tightly around styrofoam.

Continue wrapping twine around the styrofoam, adding tacky glue to twine as you wrap. Be sure to keep the rows straight and together until reaching the pencil line. Cut off excess twine and secure with additional glue. Let dry.

For a decorative look, cut lengths of colorful twine, measuring across top, end to end. Slather a line of tacky glue across top and place twine down on the glue, smoothing it down for a good connection.

Continue adding glue and lengths of twine along the top, evenly spaced until the area is covered in twine lines.

Next, add glue across the twine in a slanted pattern at the center top.

Continue placing glue and pieces of twine down and across the first lines until the top is covered in a criss-cross design. Let dry.

Measure around the base of the can and top, adding a few extra inches for overlap to braid the twine. For this, I cut off three strands of three colors of twine to braid.

Once braided, saturate the twine with tacky glue where it starts and ends around the top base and can bottom so the braid won't unravel when cut. Let dry. Glue on the braid at the base of top and also on the base of the can.

Then loosen plastic wrap from styrofoam and remove top. Cut off excess twine strings around the base.

The criss-cross design on top really creates a beautiful effect!

Wrap a wood ball with twine starting in the center the same way as the top and let dry.

Glue wrapped ball on top with super glue or a permanent quick drying glue.

To add a decorative twine flower, take a simple flower paper pattern and place under a clear plastic sheet. Add a generous amount of glue around the petal shape (on plastic). Cut strips of twine and form petal shapes in the glue.

Continue alternating twine colors and glue together, around the petal until filled in.

Repeat for each petal and let dry.

Remove petals from plastic.

Glue petals on twine wrapped can in a flower design.

For flower center, add glue to the end of a eight inch piece of twine and begin swirling around in place until satisfied with a round shape. Place in center of petals on top of a dab of glue and let dry. Ta da, it's done!

A super decorative storage solution!

Monday, June 8, 2020

Foam Flower Multi Color Light

7:00 AM Gail @Purple Hues and Me craft blog hop, foam flower light, foam paper 19 comments

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!

Welcome to our monthly challenge blog hop! I've joined a group of creative bloggers to bring you a themed monthly challenge blog hop on the 2nd Monday of each month! For June, it's

Summer Crafts/Projects!

Have I got a fun summer project for you! Perfect for outdoor celebrations, cookouts, and parties! A foam flower multi color light! It's a pretty way to decorate the patio, porch. or outdoor area! Creating a cozy atmosphere by casting lovely soft, calming glows in different colorful hues! You've probably seen huge paper flowers similar to this, as I have, but most don't light up, are attached to electrical lights or use led tea lights. And since I already had a remote control twinkle light set, I wanted to see how cool it would be to create my own smaller version using foam sheets.

Materials

Foam Sheets (thin)
Electric Griddle/Iron
Styrofoam Ball
Bubble Ball 4" Glass Vase (Hobby Lobby)
Scissors/ruler
Hot glue
Remote Control multi-color string lights

Let's begin by cutting templates from cardstock in 3, 3.5 and 4 inch squares. Then, cut out five, 3" squares, five, 3.5" squares and nine, 4" squares from 1mm foam sheets.

Create petals by rounding off three of the corners in each square using scissors to form a petal shape with a pointed end.

Then place each petal on a low heat griddle or iron for a few seconds until the edges curl under . . .

and immediately place on a styrofoam ball . . .

gently stretching the middle and edges over the ball . . .

shaping the petal into a rounded . . .

curve shape.

Repeat for the remaining 3" petals. For the larger 3.5" and 4" petals - when the edges curl under from the heat, turn the petal over before shaping on the styrofoam ball so that the edges are flaring out - like flowers!

Begin shaping the flower by taking the first petal and applying hot glue to the bottom following the v shape.

Turn the bubble vase upside down and lay the top of the petal over the bottom while securing the petal tip to the side. Continue adding petals, overlapping . .

going around the glass until reaching the beginning petal of the first layer.

Start the second layer of petals not quite midway down with the edges flaring out by staggering the first layer and overlapping while gluing each petal on.

Continue adding petals, overlapping and allowing the petals to lean outward.

For the last layer, place and glue petals so that the tips are hanging over the opening, covering any glass that shows . . .

Once done, trim foam even with glass vase opening.

Insert twinkle lights and battery into bottom of flower (vase) . . .

and place in a decorative setting . . .

turning lights on using remote control.

Outdoors during the day - the lights are on but you can barely see them. It's been raining in the evening these past few days so I've been unable to take any pictures at night.