How To Add Glitter To Practically Anything: Tutorial

I have an eight-year-old daughter and we both love for things to be glittery!  I've always done the old school Elmer's glue and sprinkle glitter.  Shake off the extra.  Repeat.  It's a mess and it never quite completely covers.  I had a coupon for 40% any regular priced item at Michael's and decided to try something new.  It is glitter transfer paper!

I got the Martha Stewart brand of the medium and one pack of the glitter paper.  The medium is basically a really thick version of Elmer's glue.  You do have to squirt it out and paint it on with a paintbrush.  It is great because you can cover a very large area or get in those tiny spaces.

It paints on white - like this - and I do recommend that you follow the directions on the bottle and let it dry the full 10 minutes.  It's hard to wait!  We tried it a little early and it does not work until it is good and tacky.

Here's  my little girl putting the transfer paper glitter side down on the medium.  The she rubbed and rubbed and rubbed with the rounded end of the paintbrush to transfer the glitter from the paper to her painting.  They do sell sticks for this purpose.  Popsicle sticks, plastic paintbrushes, or really anything that's not sharp will work.  You do have to rub a while to get it really glittery!

Here's the finished detail of the glitter fireworks on her Cinderella's Castle painting.  This is just basic acrylic craft paint on a stretched canvas.  The transfer medium will work on lots of different surfaces.

Yay!  It turned out so cute!  Everything is better with a little sparkle!

Vintage Love

I've been working on some fabulous new items for an upcoming craft show.  I am super excited to be a vendor at Sweet Ila Mae's Barn Sale in Quebeck, TN.  It's the weekend of June 8 and I hope you all will make plans to come see us!

I've done a few signs on something other than canvas.  These three are on wood.  It's nice to get a different shape that a square or rectangle!

I've also been experimenting with different types of accents like pearls, flowers, burlap, buttons, and paper.  I'm so in love with all of these vintage looks!

I'm still doing tons of original painting, too!  Here's a new sunflower design that's perfect for summer.

Here's the link to Sweet Ila Mae's facebook page if you'd like more information.   Make plans to come and get your vintage on!

Show Us Your Life - Crafts for Kids

I'm so excited to be linking up with Kelly's Korner today to show off some great crafts for kids!  I am also really excited to go and visit all of you and get tons of new ideas!  I am an elementary school teacher and love to incorporate art into my lessons whenever possible.  I am also an artist and I'm starting some art classes this summer.  I am so looking forward to it!  If you'd like to check out the schedule, here's the link to my class blog.  Now, on to some crafting...

As you can see, I am an artsy-craftsy person.  Always have been!  Although most of my projects do involve painting, I've tried to dig up some variety for you.  My daughter and I painted these wooden boards to be mini chalkboards!  They turned out so cute!  Here's the link to see step by step instructions.

This is one of my favorite projects ever!  The Pottery Barn Kids flower covered lampshade that my daughter wanted was totally out of my budget, so I  made one!  Here's the tutorial for that one.

I am teacher at an elementary school and at our local college.  I tie-dye each year with both groups!  Here's the link to see more tie dying and to get tips on products to use and folding techniques.  Go get your hippie on!

One of my favorite projects that I've recently taken on is working with buttons.  These buttons were just purchased at the craft store, but how fun would it be to work with some vintage buttons or family heirlooms?  I can see some beautiful projects with a vintage feel.

I fell in love with the plain wooden owl cut outs and bought them without really having a plan.  Turns out that they made wonderful bow hangers.  I just painted them up super cute and used the staple gun to attach grosgrain ribbon.  Don't use the silky kind for this project - the bows just slide right off!

I've been experimenting with burlap lately.  I love using it my home because I like that outdoorsy feel and it is not very expensive.  We had our church youth group over for a dinner and I whipped up this little banner for the mantle with scrap burlap, ribbon, paint, and a little stitch witch.  Perfect!

I hope you enjoyed some of my past projects!  This is by no means all of them.  Please feel free to browse the blog and check out all of the others.  Have a great day!

New Spring and Vintage Items

I was feeling creative last weekend and spent some of my precious painting time painting some things that I wanted to paint.  I love painting for other people, but lots of times I have all of the ideas floating around in my head that I never get to try.  I left all of these blank so they are just waiting to be purchased and personalized.  Shipping is included in these prices, too!

I think they all would make great gifts for teachers or baby and wedding showers.  They would also be so cute for decorations!  

This fancy wooden plaque is about 8x10 and features pink trim, a large pink mesh ribbon, and a rose with rhinestones and vintage buttons.  It doesn't get much girlier than that!  This is currently available for $20.00.

This sweet little 5x7 oval has a nice burlap ribbon and rose.  I think this would be perfect for a doorknob...maybe a baby sleeping sign?  Available at just $16.00, you can put it just about anywhere!

This larger 11x14 chevron stripe with the sunflower center is perfect for spring and then on into summer and fall.  There's plenty of space below the flower for welcome, a family name, or a teacher's name.  It's topped off with an extra wide gold burlap ribbon.  It is available for $30.00.

This sweet little 6x9 gray and pink (a current favorite color combination!) is just right for your door this Easter or would make the perfect addition to a basket as a gift.  It's already got a cute little saying on it so it is ready to ship for just $16.00!  SOLD

This larger 12 inch wooden circle is perfect if you are looking for something a little different.  It is a pretty sage green with a sage and black trim and accented with a vintage lavender tine bird.  This is the perfect size for a front door, office, or classroom door.  With the black burlap chevron ribbon, it is just waiting to be personalized and shipped for just $25.00.

If you love to travel like I do, then this 10x10 is perfect for you.  I love the stamps from all around the world as the border.  There's also a green vintage tin bird and a collection of vintage buttons.  It has been distressed for an even more rustic look.  The black burlap chevron ribbon is so cute on top.  Ready to personalize with a name for favorite saying for just $20.00.

I'm crazy about the fleur-de-lis design that is so popular right now!  This one is even better because it is covered in polka dots!  The basic black and white with the super cute gingham ribbon would work with any color lettering on top...red for Centertown, gold for the Saints or Vanderbilt, pink just because!  SOLD

Finally, this sweet little 5x5 is perfect for a wreath or any little nook where you need extra something.  It has a measuring tape border, pearls, a rose, rhinestones and vintage buttons.  Even with all of that, there's plenty of space left for whatever cute saying you'd like.  It's cream and khaki with a chocolate brown ribbon for hanging.  $15.00

If you see something that you have to have, just let me know and I'll mark it as sold.  I am also currently accepting custom orders.  Some of the elements used are one of a kind and the design cannot be repeated.  Please check when ordering.

Burlap Beauties

I am loving the burlap trend!  I have a huge burlap snowflake on my front door right now that I'm going to hate to take down very soon.  I am shopping for something cute for spring to replace it!  I did my Christmas tree with burlap garland and bought new burlap stockings.  I use burlap for my table decorations anytime we have a party or get-together.  

I decided to experiment with some burlap and canvas.  I painted the canvas a taupe/tan color and then wrapped it completely in burlap.  All of the staples are on the back and don't show.  Next, I painted whatever lettering I wanted.  I do have to use more paint than usual.  This stuff really soaks it up!  Finally, I added some burlap flowers using a good fabric glue.  Viola!  Burlap beauties!

This one is a surprise for my Pay It Forward participant #2 - Lindsey Chambers!  It has already shipped out to her and I hope she loves it!

This was my very first burlap experiment and I am so happy with how it turned out - sweet and simple.  It shipped out to my Pay It Forward participant #1 - Brittney Hodges.  She got it, loved it, and blogged about it here.  I was so glad to hear that I made her day!

How cute would this little 5x5 be in a wreath?

I am taking burlap canvas orders.  They can be done on any of the sizes listed in the sidebar and those prices apply.  Thanks!

Caroline

Jennifer Brooks had a plain music stand that she had picked up along the way.  She wanted it custom painted for her daughter's room.  Caroline is really into music so this was a perfect gift for her.  I don't normally paint things that aren't on a canvas.  It's just too hard to store and I don't enjoy doing all of the prep work.

Jennifer agreed to sand it and paint it the solid cream color that she wanted if I would paint the designs to match her bedding.  Okay...I can do that!

I chose little elements from the beautiful bedding pictured below.  It's so pretty that the only hard part was what to use!  I love the little detailing around the bottom.

I continued the hot pink and gray swirls over the edge and onto the back just to give it interest all of the way around.

Here's the bedding from Pottery Barn Teen.  This beautifully patterned bedding with dark gray walls, cream trim, and, of course, the custom music stand will be so pretty!

Thank you, Jennifer!  I hope Caroline loved it!

Owls

Holly Ressel ordered this cute little 5x7 owl canvas.  She snapped a picture of a greeting card to use as inspiration - great idea!  I think it turned out so cute!

Holly also ordered an owl bow hanger for her new baby's room.  She snapped a picture of the owl bedding in the store and sent me that.  Don't you just love technology?

Here's a close up of Holly's owl - so cute and a perfect match to the bedding!

This owl bow hanger was done as a big sister gift for Kara Best.  Her mom ordered a canvas for the new baby brother's nursery and I decided to fix something special up for Miss Kara.  I am now officially out of owl plaques!

Patterns

Ann-Alan Callahan sent me three gorgeous photographs.  She wanted me to use the patterns to create a trio of 5x5's.  

At first I was really intimidated because the photos are so nice and artsy.  The patterns in the photos are also very intricate.  I knew I could do it, but I wanted to do it really well.

I am so happy with how they turned out.  They were first painted very carefully.  Then they were fairly heavily distressed.   Finally, they were sealed with two coats of a gloss sealer.  I wanted them to look like polished stone.  They do, but it is hard to capture on film!

Look at that amazing floor!

The pattern continues around the side.  They will be great to hang or they are thick enough just to stand alone.

My personal favorite - the surfboards!  I hope I did all of this amazing artwork justice.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be creative and try something different.  Thank you, Ann-Alan!  Enjoy!

End of the School Year

Well, the end of the school year is here and I have to admit that I am feeling sad.  Usually I can't wait for summer, and don't get me wrong, I still am!  As many of you know, I made a school change this year.  My first year at Centertown has been wonderful and it was just the boost that I needed.  I had a super sweet, super smart class and I will miss them.

The good news is that I have a very nice, restful summer planned and will spend some much needed time with my own children.  Then I am moving up with my fifth graders to the sixth grade!  I won't have all of the same homeroom students, but I will have them all again for Science.  Yay!

Here's proof that I have been painting!  All of these are finished and have been shipped.  I'll blog more details and color pics soon!

I really wanted to share my end of the year gifts.  I got the idea from pinterest, but took it and made it my own.  I ordered the tags and bags from this etsy shop.  They were printed and delivered in record time at a great price!

The friendship bracelets came from this etsy shop.  They were so sweet to work with and threw in one free bracelet to make my numbers work out.  I thought this was perfect for boys and girls.  I can't wait to hand them out tomorrow!

Here's the crew!  I love you all and hope you have a safe and happy summer!