Decoupage Pot Fix

A few years ago, before I really knew my style or what a style even was, I bought a pot. This pot was facing away from me and I was under the impression it was a plain white pot.  When I got home, I realized it wasn't a plain white pot but this.

Instead of returning it I decided to simply turn it around, no biggie.

Three years later and my poor little plant was growing lopsided!  So, I took a scrap piece of pretty paper and used mod podge to decoupage it over the not-for-me tile.

Now it's more colorful, happy, and matches our style more than the vintage wine label did.

See Into Our Linky Parties for sites I link up to regularly.

If At First You Don't Succeed, Try Try Again

I didn't succeed in my first try...or my second...or my fourth. Luckily I kept trying and am able to say that I painted some bottles. I know what you're thinking and you can go ahead and say it, "Painted bottles, that's the easiest thing in the world." I know and I'm still not sure why this craft and I don't get along. Maybe if I show you my journey you can tell me where I went wrong, because I'm still not sure.

The journey began two months ago when I was not quite satisfied with my spray painted wine bottles and realized that I missed the shiny, glossy look of the glass. I decided to try pouring some paint into an old spice jar and allowing the outside to remain clean and glossy. I didn't have any enamel paint, but I did have leftover latex paint and used that.  I left it upside down for several hours checking it periodically to wipe away the excess paint.  All was looking wonderful so I decided to do some more spice jars. When I went to bed that night, they were looking beautiful.  The next morning I discovered what would come back to haunt me time and time again:

This was actually the third try, but you can see the horror.

Overnight, as they dried, the paint ran completely down the glass and left areas paint-free. I thought perhaps it was the type of paint I chose so I tried craft paint next. All looked well, until 12 hours later when I'd see the streaks.

Looking beautiful before bed

I tried pouring more paint in and recovering the naked areas, but that left the bottles with visible streaks in the sunlight:

Streaks after trying to fix

I also struggled with the paint bubbling at the bottom of the jar after I started alternating upside down and right side up every hour in an attempt to keep naked areas from appearing. I tried keeping the lid on, keeping it off...


A few times I ended up peeling the paint completely off and starting again. I began to think maybe I should just give up, but then I saw others with their own jars painted around the blogging community and it just fueled my crazed mind. Why could others do it and I couldn't?

In the end, I spent days painting and repainting with a teeny paint brush to cover over the naked areas that appeared each night that I slept. After four days the paint finally dried and stopped running around the jar.  Let's just say, until someone can tell me their secret, I am done with these beautiful, shiny, amazing glass jars.

Only three out of 9 turned out

So, what's the secret?!? I desperately want more faux white milk glass!





Linking to:
A Crafty Soiree
Paisley Passions
A Glimpse Inside

Grown Up Etch-a-Sketch

This weekend was a big crafting weekend and I wish I could share my completed projects with you.  Unfortunately they were mostly birthday gifts and, given how the soon-to-be receivers may read this post, I can't ruin the surprise.  I can show you my new and improved coin jar, though!

During the Christmas season I became a bit addicted to etching glass. I etched glass ornaments, vases, hurricane glasses, tea lights - basically, if it was glass and looking a little plain I etched it.  I've tried lots of tricks, materials, and stencils and I'll show you my tried and true method.  There are a lot of etching supplies you can buy at the craft store. There's sand etching, cream etching, stencils, vinyl....oh so much! Really, all I use, though, is some etching cream, paint brush, and masking tape.  Wait, are you surprised? Remember, my motto for crafts and decorating is to create for less than it would cost to purchase.

There are a lot of very cool stencils that you can purchase, but I tend to like drawing my own art (of course, if you're trying to etch words, it would be easier to by a stencil - I speak from experience!).  Don't mind my little doodles above, I always end up trying out different drawings before I settle on the perfect one.

In order to make a "stencil", I make a layer of masking tape to take the place of vinyl. A word of caution - use at least 2 layers of masking tape right on top of each other so that the "homemade vinyl" holds up the to etching cream.  Notice that I made it larger than my drawing so that I can tape my drawing on top of the tape and cut out my stencil.

Here it is taped in place over the masking tape. I have tried many different instruments to cut out the stencil: knife, box cutter, exacto knife...but the thing that I think would best is a teeny pair of scissors.

I very carefully cut out the drawing.  Masking tape works well because it's not too sticky so it's easier to handle than you would think.

I made sure to clean the jar very well so the cream would go on evenly.

Just place the tape onto the glass item and you're ready to start etching! You can also tape down the bird itself and etch the negative space around it to leave a clear bird.  A hint if you're doing that is to cut out a circle to place around the bird so that you have a stencil while painting on the cream.

At this point follow the directions on the jar of etching cream. I used Armour Etch which calls for a thick layer to sit for five minutes. A thick layer is key to ensure your area is uniform.  I like to flip my item over and make sure I can't see any light through the cream - sometimes I find a pin-sized spot that I missed.  I also tend to leave it on for 10 minutes because I like more contrast.

After you wash it off, voila!

Now we just have to wait for a rainy day to use our rainy day fund!

I'm linking to:

Motivate Me Monday
The DIY Showoff
Tip Me Tuesday 

I Don't Recycle - I Decorate....With Wine Bottles

Wine bottles. Spice jars. Olive oil bottles. Salsa jars. The most common food is often stored in the prettiest little bottles. When a bottle is empty, I gaze at it, clean it, and then use it to decorate my house.

Don't you?

Wait, are you telling me not everyone has empty wine bottles around their home?

Oh.

At one point, my collection of wine bottles was getting a little out of hand. You may wonder why I didn't recycle them or even just toss them in the trash. That, my blogging friend, is a very good question. You see, I think I may have a problem. It stems from my inability to fathom spending inordinate amounts of money on pretty vases and other decorating items when I could use what I already have. A problem arises, then, when I pour the last drop of wine...or olive oil. When I shake the last flakes of dried spices or scoop out the last of the pesto I think to myself, "Wow, that's a pretty bottle. If my husband were to ever give me flowers, I could put one in this little spice jar and put it on my bedside table." That is how my out of control collection began.

I have been trying to part with my pretty little bottles, but it's hard! So, instead, I'm attempting to re-purpose them, make them appear a little more sophisticated, a little more in tune with my decorating style. For example, in the above picture of my living room I have three wine bottles on the end tables. I like to think they work better spray painted, etched, and hot glued.

Here are some examples of my re-purposed bottles:

I'm also in the process of altering some spice jar by making faux milk glass vases...more on those later.

Is there anyone else out there who hoards glass jars and bottles or am I the only one?

Revamp!

I stumbled upon this quote today while google searching painted furniture images. It completely matches the last post I wrote regarding my DIY and crafting philosophy. Love it! 

"Reuse. Repair, repaint, reinterpret, revive, redeploy, or simply relish the things you have. The idea that we can dispose of things easily weakens our links with the stuff we own...Revamp, reupholster, and rearrange. If you do offload, find a way to recycle or redistribute. Someone will love what you have grown tired of."
- Ilse Crawford, Home is Where the Heart Is

Just this afternoon I began experimenting with some old spice jars I have been collecting. Tomorrow I'll post pictures of the end product!

Work With What You Have

I never thought of myself as an artsy or crafty person. I don't own a ton of paper, stickers, glues, or paint brushes. I don't own every color of glitters, paints, markers, or yarn.  Sure, I liked to tinker, decorate, and make things...but I always thought it was because I was thrifty and cheap. You see, when it comes to making something, my philosophy is "make something beautiful for cheaper than you can buy it."

While I don't have a closet full of stencils, die cut machines, or beads, I do have spice jars, olive oil bottles, old greeting cards, and wrapping paper.  I have wine bottles, corks, acorns, and pine cones. Being a newlywed, I don't have the means to binge on beautiful items at Pottery Barn, but I do allow some drool to drip as I think to myself, "I could make that!"My inventory of bottles and jars, natural elements and candles allows me to recreate scenes and tablescapes right out of a magazine...for free!  As I explore my decorating style and crafting skills, I'm realizing that just because I can't buy Anthropologie's beautiful owl cookie jar or Pottery Barns sparkly vases, I don't have to stare at blank walls, tables, and counters. I just need to be creative, willing to get dirty, make some (or a lot of) mistakes, and think outside the box.

Past apartments I've lived in with roommates never felt completely like home. With our mismatched furniture, my uneasiness about decorating the living room the way I wanted to in case the roommate didn't like it, and unwillingness to invest much time, the apartments were always sparse, plain, and white. Now that I look back, some of the apartments were full of character, 100 years old, and awesome. How I wish I could go back and decorate the open kitchen shelves, emphasize the huge living room windows...

Now, as a real, live grown up with a place to make into a home, I am embracing the possibilities and the commitment necessary to fall in love with my home.