Dishfunctional Designs

My Cup Of Tea - Teacup Crafts & Home Decor

2013-05-24T14:31:00.004-04:00

Teacups are great for repurposing into crafts and home decor projects!
They're inexpensive, colorful, interesting, and their unique shape can be
used to hold or store items. Check out these great ideas for repurposing
teacups and maybe you'll be inspired to create a similar project yourself!

I think my favorites are the simple planters. What could be easier?
I think they'd look great on a window sill.

Tea and coffee cups as planters

Teacup light by capitulumvii via Etsy

Use teacups and saucers to organize jewelry. Idea from Martha Stewart

DIY teacup jewelry organizer by Yesterdays Sweetheart

Teacup lamps from Pottery Barn

Teacup candles by By Wilma (I love the cups)

Teacup candles (above and below) by Heidi's Hubbub

How to make candles in teacups. Great for bridal shower favors.

Bracelet that I made from a broken antique blue bird china teacup

Coffee light via Apartment Therapy

Suet & birdseed teacup bird feeders for winter

How to make a teacup bird feeder from Intimate Weddings

Hanging teacup bird feeder by Country Musings

Teacups make great eco-friendly wedding favors

Teacup candelabra

Teacup light desk lamp

Teacup and silver lighting from Anthropologie

Teacup chandelier

Teacups as hooks for aprons - great for the kitchen!

Teacup organizer Yanko Design

Teacups with succulents

Mosaic teacup wall with succulents

Teacup nest decor - simple and pretty

Teacup clock

Teacup chandelier

Teacup lights from Domestic Instruction

Teacup chandelier Kathryn Brylinsky

Teacup chandelier of another sort

Teacup pin cushion by Anyone Can Quilt

What do you think?

Thrift Shop Find: Simple Antique Wooden Chair

2013-05-20T23:28:00.002-04:00

I was thrilled when I spotted this wooden chair at a local thrift shop a few weeks ago.

The timing wasn't right though, and I passed it by due to lack of time and thought.

I did think about it again over the next week and or two and when I returned to that

same shop it was still there, so I grabbed it. At $10.00 I thought it was a bargain!

I've recovered these types of seats before and they're relatively easy to do.

My tough decision now is whether or not I want to paint the wood. Hmmm.

At first I thought maybe turquoise or bright red, or even a lime (kinda neon) green.

But now that I see the how the wood is so nicely naturally worn, I'm having

second thoughts about painting it at all!

What would you do with it?

What do you think?

What would you do with this chair?

The Bohemian Chair

2013-05-17T10:04:00.000-04:00

I've always had a thing for chairs. I like unusual chairs, ones that are old and ornate.
I tend to gravitate towards jewel tones and luxurious velvet fabrics, styles that are
different, Bohemian. I love what is unusual and unique.

The Bohemian chair is the perfect stylish way to add color, texture, and interest to
a room. It doesn't have to be ornate or new, it only has to be interesting. Take a look
at a few Boho style chairs that caught my eye as well as my heart.

This peacock is just Etherial

1930's Art Deco French mahogany chair

What a beautiful shade of purple velvet!

Simple twig chair with cushion

I love this blue chair

Unusual fabric & pattern: Vintage Kantha Armchair from Ecochic

Two chairs made into a bench from Country Home

from Anthropologie

Peacock chair with cushions

Chair from Chichifurniture

Shades of blue and rust are and unusual but pleasing combination

Captivating ornate chair from 79 ideas

Aubergine velvet settee from Target

Looks like a cozy spot to read

Middlebury chair from ArtfulHome

What do you think?

Creative Ways To Display Jewelry On Gallery Walls

2013-05-10T14:28:00.003-04:00

Today I'm going to share with you the fastest jewelry display I have ever put together!

Rushing to get ready for Bethlehem PA's May First Friday celebration in my new studio,
I had only about a week to figure out how to get my jewelry up on my studio walls so that
folks could check it out when they visited my studio at the Banana Factory on First Friday.
I was still in the process of moving in to my studio (hence the rush!) but I was determined
to get my jewelry up on the walls! I knew right away that I wanted to use canvases, but I
had no idea how to go about putting it all together. After a little bit of brainstorming, I
came up with what I thought was a creative display!

Because my jewelry is made from antique and vintage china, I wanted my wall display to
reflect that, so I stuck with a neutral, vintage theme. The elements I used on the canvases
were; neutral acrylic paint in a shade that resembled old yellowed book pages, an old map
page, antique photographs, a vintage doily, a torn page from an antique ledger, and of
course, some broken antique china plates. Check out how I put a few of them together!

Vertical jewelry displays are important. Jewelry displayed at eye level is comfortable to view
and allows the viewer to see things close up and right in front of their eyes without them
having to look down.

Old grungy broken china plate + hot glue gun = creative display!

I love the contrast between the incredibly damaged plate and the new jewelry.

This canvas turned out to be one of my favorite displays, and it got a great deal of comments.

For this canvas, I stretched an old doily across the canvas and secured it to the frame on
the reverse side with a staple gun. Then I ran over the front of the entire thing with a few
wide brush strokes of acrylic paint.

For this canvas I painted most of it with acrylic paint but left a corner unpainted. Once it dried, I
pencil sketched my jewelry design directly onto the canvas. I would have liked to tear a page from
one of my design sketchbook journals and adhered it directly to the canvas, but I could never tear my
jewelry journal apart, so this is the next best thing. It gives the viewer a glimpse into what my design
journal looks like when I am sketching out ideas for a piece of jewelry.

I created three photo canvases. First I did a light wash over the canvas with a wash of acrylic paint
mixed with water. After it was completely dry I attached a vintage photo to the canvas with Mod Podge
(by coating the reverse side of the photo with Mod Podge). I should have taken a photo before I sold the other blue pieces that were on this canvas. It looks a little bare now but it was really pretty when it
was filled up. Back to work!

I took this photo when I was working on the display at home. I think the key
necklaces look great on this display!

I created this map canvas by adhering a torn map to the canvas with Mod Podge.
Then I painted over it with a light wash of paint mixed with water to allow the map to
show through. I wanted folks to see the map but I didn't want it to distract from the jewelry.

For a few of the canvases, I hammered small brads into the tops of the frames to hold the chains.

For this canvas I adhered an old torn ledger page from 1890 to a blank white canvas.
I displayed a vibrant piece on this display made from antique materials. Anything lighter
would have gotten lost in the background. I still may wash over this canvas with a wash
of paint to dull the background a bit. Still deciding.

Beginning to fill them up with jewelry...

I should have mentioned earlier - this cost me next to nothing to do. I bought the
inexpensive stretched canvases on wood frames at Michael's and they were on sale
for 50 percent off, so I think I paid $10 per pack of seven canvases. I bought two
packs, so I got 14 canvases for $20.00 USD

Which do you like best?

What do you think?

A Peek Inside My New Art Studio At The Banana Factory!

2013-05-05T22:41:00.000-04:00

This past Friday May 3rd was "First Friday" in Bethlehem PA, a community
celebration that is held on the first Friday night of the month, every month - when
shops and restaurants open their doors and loads of people fill the streets to take part
in all types of festivities. The hub of First Friday is in the Banana Factory, which is
where my new art studio is located (as well as the studios of over 25 of the other
resident artists of the Banana Factory.) On First Friday inside the Banana Factory all
of the resident artists are "in the house" and open the doors to their studios and
welcome the public to come on in and see all the exciting things that are going on,
view their artwork and current works in progress, as well as purchase art. There are
also glass blowing demonstrations and all other types of festivities.

I worked like crazy to get my new studio furnished and in order in time to greet the crowds! Here is a little sneak peek at what I've been up to!

These photos show only one side of my studio - I will show more next time!

I still have lots to do - I plan on installing a pegboard on the wall above the work
table in the corner to hold many of my tools and goodies. Some things can't be
rushed though, and I really like to do a good job at whatever I am working on, so it
will take me a little time until it is just right!

One thing that was a challenge to me was to figure out how to display my jewelry
on my walls. I think I came up with a pretty creative solution to that challenge and I'll
share it with you in my next post!

Check out the Banana Factory on Facebook!

Click here for the tutorial for how to make the letter word wall
plates that I made for my wall!

What do you think?

Custom Letter (or word) China Plates Tutorial

2013-05-01T15:39:00.001-04:00

This project was actually created out of my need for signage for my new art studio

at the Banana Factory in Bethlehem, PA! Having lots of great wall space to fill, I needed

a way to display my name on my wall so that when folks visited my studio they could get

an idea of who I am and what I do. I'm never one to go the traditional route, so I didn't want to use standard printed signage. Instead, I put my brain into creative overdrive and

created my own unique signage by working with what I'm most familiar with: plates!

I love how they turned out!

I thought I'd share with you how I created these word plates in case you'd like

to create your own. Just imagine the word possibilities that you could create with these!

You could spell out anything that you could imagine and hang them anywhere in your home.

A few ideas: EAT or DINE (for the kitchen), RELAX or DREAM (for the bedroom), FAMILY

or HOME (for the living room or family room). You get the idea!

This really is a great DIY home decor project that costs next to nothing (and its fun!)

Check it out!

My finished letter plates, ready for hanging! This entire project only cost me $6.00!

Materials Needed

A collection of old plates, all similar in size
Black Sharpie marker
Large sized paper clips (you will need one for each plate)
E6000 adhesive
Toothpick or craft stick to apply adhesive
Paper plate (to rest the adhesive on while you are working)
Vinyl stick on letters (the repositionable type)

Instructions

1. The first thing you have to do is collect a bunch of different pattered plates. I used dinner-
sized plates which were all similar in size. Each was about 8" across (20.3 cm) give or take an inch or so. They do not all have to be exactly the same size, just close in size. I thought the
large sized plates packed a punch and made a nice impact, so I went with those. You could also use smaller plates if you prefer. Just make sure the plates that you choose are all
around the same size. It just looks better that way!

Where to get plates: thrift shops, yard sales, flea markets, friends and family. These are
the best places to find plates. You want to have a variety of different plates, so start
collecting them now and stash them away until you have a nice selection. How about sharing
this project idea with a friend? That way, you can give each other your duplicate plates (since
you will often find a few of the same pattern for sale at one time.) Once you have your plates,
wash them in warm soapy water and dry them, making sure they are very clean.

Repositionable vinyl peel off letters. These are the bomb!

2. The next thing you are going to do is get your paws on some repositionable vinyl letters.

These are sold in different sizes. The size you will use will be determined by the size

plates you are using, so you will want to collect your plates first and then purchase your

vinyl letters afterward. I used the 4" (10.2 cm) vinyl letters. These are available from

craft stores, some hardware stores, as well as online. I bought mine at Dick Blick Art

Supply because that was closest to where I live. One pack of the vinyl letters cost me

about $6.00, and I thought that was a bargain! I was lucky that I only had to buy one

package of letters. Depending on what you are going to spell out, you may need to buy

more than one package, so plan ahead! There are only so many of each letter included in

a package. For example, the character count of letters in the package that I bought was

as follows: A-2, B-1, C-1, D-2, E-3, F-1, etc., so check the package!

Before you apply the letters, lay all of your plates out on a large tabletop and turn them

until you are pleased with the positions of the patterns on the plates. Position the plates

on your table top in the some order that you would like them hung on your wall. Next, carefully peel off your first vinyl letter and starting with the top of the letter, position it on your plate (either centered or not, your choice). Slowly apply the letter to your plate, starting with the top of the letter and working down. Go very slow to make sure you don't get any air bubbles or wrinkles in you letters when you are applying them. Yes, they are repositionable, but they also stick really well! You do not want to have to reposition them unless it is absolutely necessary! The first time that you apply them is when they have the best adhesion! Once your letter is applied, smooth it out with your fingers and then move on to the next one.

There you have it! Isn't that cool?

3. Once you have all of your letters on your plates you are ready to attach hooks
to the reverse side to hang them with. You can buy those wire plate hangers if
you prefer, but my way is free! Yay!

Before you attach a hanger on the reverse side of your plate you need to eyeball it
and make a marker mark on the reverse side to indicate exactly where you will be
gluing the hanger. You want to do this so that your letters will not be crooked when
hung on the wall. With one hand, hold your plate in front of you, perfectly centered
(facing you), and with your other hand make a small marker mark on the reverse
side at the top center edge. Just estimate as best you can where the top center
is on the reverse side of your plate. Then draw a line going down the back of
the plate from the marker mark that you made towards the center and over the
foot (ridge) of the plate. That is the spot where you will glue your hanger.

This line indicates the top center of the plate from the reverse side

4. Open up a large paper clip as shown in the photo below. Use your fingers to bend the

paper clip so that it sits relatively flat against your plate. It doesn't have to be perfect,

just try to make it flat if you can. I positioned the small end of the paper clip towards

the center of the plate so that the large end of the paper clip would serve as the hook

for hanging.

I recommend this adhesive. I would NOT recommend using a hot glue gun!

5. Now you are ready to glue the clip to the plate. Use your craft stick or toothpick to

apply a thick, generous coating of adhesive to the small end of the paper clip, traveling up

towards the hook/large end. Coat the entire small end of the clip to the plate. Do not

be stingy with your adhesive! Spread it around the clip with your toothpick or craft

stick. Make sure it is really well coated with a nice thick coating of adhesive.

Allow to dry 24 hours or at least overnight.

Clip with dried adhesive

6. All you have to do now is hang them on your wall. I used regular nails to hang mine,

but depending on what your wall material is made of (and especially if you are hanging

large, heavy plates) you may need to use reinforcements for your nails, such as mollys

or anchors. If you are unsure of what type of nail to use, ask for advice at your

local hardware store.

That's it!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!

What do you think?

What would your plates say?

Disclaimer: Please use your best judgment when completing this or any craft project! Always remember that safety comes first! Use good sense when choosing where you will hang your plates and always use the correct length and type of nail and/or supports to hang heavy items. When completing this or any project you do so at your own risk.

Exciting Announcement: My New Art Studio At The Banana Factory

2013-04-29T18:14:00.000-04:00

I'm thrilled to announce that I am a new resident artist at Bethlehem PA's Banana Factory!

Located in the south side of Bethlehem at 25 W 3rd St. in Bethlehem Pennsylvania, the

Banana Factory Arts Center is a visual arts & education campus run by ArtsQuest that features over 30 resident artists who have studios in the building. The building is also

home to three award winning art galleries and features a ceramics studio, the ArtsQuest

Glass Studio, and the Olympus Digital Imaging Center. Just minutes from Steel Stacks

and Sands Casino, the Banana Factory is a true gem of Pennsylvania art and culture!

Click here to check out the Banana Factory's resident artists

And yes, it actually was once a banana distribution center, in case you were

curious about the name...

image via

Even more exciting: First Fridays at the Banana Factory

On the first Friday of every month from 6 pm to 9 pm the Banana Factory and South Bethlehem come alive for a community celebration where local merchants, galleries

and restaurants open their doors to celebrate Bethlehem's awesome community. During

First Friday inside the Banana Factory, all of the resident artists open their doors to their

studios to the public and you can stop in and say hello, as well as view and purchase

wonderful artwork. This coming Friday (May 3, 2013) will be my very first First Friday

as an artist in residence at the Banana Factory, so if you are around town, stop in

and say hi!

My New Studio - First Floor, room VA-A

Here's a sneak peek at my new space, which I am filling up as we speak!

I love the two large windows...and there's plenty of room for me to teach

all kinds of workshops right in the studio, which is an added bonus!

I've already started moving in, though it is a little bare right now because I am in the

process of packing up all of my tools and getting ready to ship them out to Cincinnati,

Ohio for a week-long photo shoot for my new jewelry instruction book, but I will have the

space filled up soon enough! I hope one day you will have a chance to stop in on a First

Friday and say hello, or perhaps take a workshop!

What do you think?

Repurposed Vinyl LP Record Album Art

2013-04-27T16:10:00.000-04:00

Today's post combines two of my very favorite things: music and creativity!

I still have ALL of my old record albums and I would never part with them,

but I couldn't think of a better use for old scratched records that are no longer

playable than to transform them into some unique and useful artwork & accessories.

Want to try your hand at creating some of your own record album art?

Vinyl is pliable when heated and can be reshaped and molded into

all sorts of different forms. Check it out!

Record album skeleton artwork from 1017

Recycled vinyl record wine rack by HandmadeMolly via Etsy

Record album faces

Record album art faces

Vinyl record LP bookends from Vinyl Village

Recycled vinyl record glasses by TiptonVinylize via Etsy

Vinyl record flowers by TheVinylLeaf via Etsy

Laser cut vinyl record bird clock by Pavel Sidorenko

Vinyl record notepad and cufflinks (below) by When The Music Is Over via Etsy

Recycled vinyl record curtain by outourdoor via Etsy

Recycled vinyl records desk organizer by Retired Records via Etsy

Record album wall art via Pinterest

Recycled record roof by Matt Glassmeyer via Greenmuze

Record mobil from HGTV blog

How to make a vinyl record bowl from Solveigen blog

Recycled record wall shelf letter holder

Recycled album and leather belt by BRVC via Etsy

What do you think?

Life Is Like A Roller Coaster...

2013-04-22T20:42:00.003-04:00

Truth!

You Could Make A Wish Or You Could Make It Happen

2013-04-15T18:21:00.001-04:00

Piano Key Lamps

2013-04-14T22:09:00.000-04:00

While perusing Pinterest I came across this lamp made from piano keys by
Once Upon A Time and I just had to share it! Made from old salvaged piano keys,
bicycle rims and an old speaker stand, this lamp is perfect for the music lover!

Piano key lamp from Once Upon A Time

Visit Once Upon A Time here

Soon after discovering the previous lamp, I stumbled upon this hanging
lamp made by Keys In the Round (below) This lamp is made from old
keyboard parts and an old drum.

What do you think?

New Uses For Old Bird Baths

2013-04-07T20:12:00.001-04:00

I love old birdbaths. I just think they're so pretty.

But what if your old birdbath will no longer hold water?

Then why not turn it into a unique piece of garden decor?

Check out these ideas below and be inspired!

Use an old birdbath to hold candles and add a glow to your garden

Paperwhites planted in a birdbath

Birdbath turned mini garden from BHG

Place an entire planter on a birdbath for a topiary look

Faerie garden birdbath

Stack two birdbaths for a unique piece of garden art

I love mushrooms. I think this woodland themed one is so cute!

Birdbath turned planter

Fairy path

What do you think?

Upcycled Garden Wrought Iron Bed Frame Planter

2013-04-03T09:19:00.001-04:00

Here is another upcycled garden idea, this one is from deco marce and

features a section of an old wrought iron bed frame that has been

creatively turned into a planter. You could create something similar

with a section of old garden fence (such as a garden gate) and wire.

I think this would be so pretty hung against a garden wall

or shed, perhaps against brick for contrast. Imagine

some climbing vines...

Image by Marcela Conti via deco marce

What do you think?

More Creative Ways With Chalkboard Paint

2013-04-02T08:57:00.002-04:00

Last year I wrote about chalkboard paint and how to use it in your home.

Now that the chalkboard paint craze has swept the nation, check out some more
ideas for how to use chalkboard paint in your home!

Tall chest blackboard

Beautiful bottles from My So Called Junky Life

Framed chalkboard by RevivedVintage via Etsy

Old door with chalkboard paint

Chalkboard painted table from Design Sponge

Nice pantry door chalkboard by Loriandfam

Blackboard painted range hood from This Old House

Chalkboard cake pan by Becky from Beyond The Picket Fence

Chalkboard made from a vintage garage door by LovePaintandBurlap via Etsy

Dustpan blackboard from Country Living

Dresser from Romance under The Stars

Kitchen sink chalkboard backsplash

Cabinet door with chalkboard paint by Shabby Chalks via Etsy

Playroom wall

Chalkboard painted dresser via Apartment Therapy

Cute suitcase by Becky from Beyond The Picket Fence

This blackboard area on the kitchen wall is the perfect height for kids

Silver serving tray with chalkboard paint from Chicks Picks

From Little Emma English Home

Mirror turned blackboard from Shabby Art Boutique

What do you think?

Happy Easter!

2013-03-31T09:21:00.003-04:00

Happy Easter to all of my readers!

I made this Ukrainian pysanky (Ukrainian Easter egg) from a regular chicken egg.

It is done with a multi-step wax-resist process similar to batik.

To see how they are made, or if you want to create your own, check out my

previous post, How To Make Pysanky

Happy Easter!

Spring It On! Interesting Things Made With Old Springs

2013-03-28T20:35:00.002-04:00

Metal, rusty, curly, bouncy, creaky, squeaky, bouncy springs!
Check out what some creative folks have done with old
metal springs from chairs and beds and be inspired...

Chair springs candle holder by noodleandlouvintage via Etsy

Old springs as little pot holders

Springs to hold old flatware for crafts via French Larkspur

Bed springs pendant lights by Urbanhardware via Etsy

DIY bed spring and test tube from Free Pretty Things For You

Bed springs as a wall display

Antique springs from Knickoftime via Etsy

Hanging spring vase holder from Rural Events

Cross wall hanging by Coastal Chram

Wreath by My So Called Junky Life

Truck spring stools from Architectural Salvage

Gate made from old bedsprings

Bed spring display

Spring candle holder from Charming Christmas

Garden trellis from wahoolb via Junk Market Style

Ice cream holders from The Farm Chicks

Spring frame wall hanging from Chez Renee

Made from a bed spring and an old insulator

Bed spring trellis from BFG

Bed spring wreath by Anita Sprio

Wheel of springs

What do you think?

Look! Mom's Dishes! ...Connections To Our Past

2013-03-27T23:12:00.000-04:00

Sometimes I think I have the best job in the world, getting to work with beautiful

china pieces day in and day out...sometimes it actually feels more like a privilege

than an actual profession. After all, each of these plates and cups and saucers

and other dinnerware pieces all have history behind them. They come from

many different countries, from all around the world, and their beautiful

patterns and colors give them a unique appeal that brings them to life

unlike other ordinary household objects.

We remember dishes.

They're a part of our family in some ways, a part of each of our own personal histories.

Have you not once in your life been somewhere, maybe an antique market or

thrift shop, and come across an orphaned plate or cup that you instantly

recognized from somewhere in your own past?

At that moment of recognition, it isn't just "a plate" or "a cup," but mom's plate,

or grandmother's cup. There is a connection. Often when that connection is

made we find ourselves flooded with memories of family from long ago,

or of our childhood, or of holidays and times past. If you're the

sentimental type like I am, it can be a comforting experience.

I've been working with dishes for so long now that I know the patterns by name.

No, I don't talk to them, but in a way, they speak to me. I see them as

valuable, not monetarily valuable, but valuable in a way that fills your

soul with warmth and peace just as memories of loved ones do.

This was, after all, someone's grandmother's plate.

Someone just like you.

Bohemian Beaded Colored Mason Jar Tutorial

2013-03-26T12:37:00.000-04:00

In my last post, Colored Glass Mason Jar Tutorial, I demonstrated how to

create extremely cool and stylish colored jars with Mod Podge and food coloring.

Now, take it a step further and dress up those pretty jars with some wire

and beads and turn them into beautiful Bohemian hanging jars...

First, gather your supplies.

Here is what you will need:

One finished colored jar (here's the DIY tutorial for coloring the jars)

Craft wire (I used 20g around the jar and 26 g for the beads)

Craft chain (I used jewelry chain) and Jump rings (5-6mm)

A variety of coordinating beads

Jewelry pliers - any type, small

Directions for adding wire & chain hangers to the jars:

1. Cut a 3 foot length of 20 gauge craft wire and wrap the wire around

the rim of the jar below the lip. When you get to the end of the wire,

twist it together with the beginning end of wire until both ends are

secured together, and then snip off any excess wire. Tuck any pointy

wire ends against the jar with a pair of pliers.

(Note: if you are going to add beads to your jar, do this before adding the chain hangers)

2. Measure and cut four equal lengths of chain. I made each of mine 8

inches long. Attach lengths of jewelry chain to the wire with jump rings.

3. Gather together the four lose ends of chain and attach together

with another jump ring or with a piece of wire and close.

To decorate your jar with beads:

4. Now cut another long piece of thinner, 26g wire (long enough to wrap around

the neck of the jar a few times) and do the same thing you did before, wrap the wire

around the neck of the jar, but this time, first secure the beginning of your wire

to the wire that you already wrapped around the jar. Now add beads to

the wire as you go along.

I strung about 4 to 5 inches of beads and then stopped and wrapped my wire

around the existing wire to secure it, then I continued, adding another 5 inches

or so of beads, then again stopped and wrapped the wire to secure it, then added

more beads, and so on. When you get to the end of the wire, wrap it around

the wraps and tuck in any pointy ends with a pair of pliers.

5. You can also use additional pieces of wire or headpins to

create beaded drops and attach those to your jar.

6. Now attach your chain hangers as described above in step 2.

That's it! Hang in a sunny window.

You can use this as a candle holder, but do not put the candle directly

into the jar. Instead, place a candle inside a glass votive and then place

the votive inside the jar. Not made for holding food or water unless you

use some type of liner inside the jar.

This was my inspiration photo...

New Broken China Jewelry In My Shop Today

2013-03-25T20:45:00.002-04:00

I haven't had time to make much new jewelry lately because I am

busy working on my first jewelry instruction book (yay! fun!) but I

managed to make a few new pieces this week and wanted to share

the photos with you. Once my work on the book is through, I'll have

lots of new pieces to share with you. Hope you like!

What do you think?

Colored Glass Mason Jar Tutorial

2013-03-23T14:21:00.001-04:00

What could be prettier than colored glass?

With this tutorial, I'll show you how to easily turn any

ordinary glass jar into a colorful work of art with just three

supplies that are available at your local craft store.

Ready? Let's go!

First, gather your supplies.

Here is what you will need:

Glass jars. Any size or type will do.

The jar above is an 8 oz. standard jelly jar.

The jar below is a larger standard shaped canning jar.

Make sure your jar is clean and dry!

Food coloring. I used gel icing color from Wilton in Rose, Teal, and Violet.

Mod Podge Gloss

Note: You can use Mod Podge Matte for this project but be advised

that once it dries the results will be semi-transparent, or cloudy.

Use the Mod Podge Gloss for a transparent, stained glass look.

A paper plate or large piece of waxed paper. Craft sticks for mixing your mixture.

Directions for coloring the jars:

Note: The amount of Mod Podge that you use will depend on the size of your jar.

The directions below are for a standard medium-sized (8oz) jelly jar.

1. Pour about 4 - 6 Tablespoons of Mod Podge Gloss into your jar and using a craft stick,

mix in a small amount of food coloring, adding more food coloring until desired

shade of color is achieved. I used about 1/8 teaspoon of food color in an 8 oz. jar.

Mix well, until the food coloring and Mod Podge are completely combined.

Be careful not to mix so vigorously that you create air bubbles. Easy does it!

2. Your mixture will be opaque while it is wet, but will dry transparent.

3. Once mixture is completely combined, remove the craft stick and slowly roll

the jar with your hands to distribute the mixture over the entire inside of the jar.

Do not use your craft stick or a paintbrush to help spread the mixture.

Allow gravity to do all the work.

4. Once the inside of the jar is completely coated, pour out the excess mixture

and wipe away any drips around the mouth of your jar. Turn the jar upside down

and onto a paper plate or piece of waxed paper to allow any remaining mixture

to drain from the jar.

5. Once the excess is drained from the jar (I drained mine for about an hour),

turn the jar right-side up and set aside to dry. Drying time varies depending

on your room temperature. I worked next to a hot pellet stove, so my jars

dried in about 4-6 hours. In normal or damp conditions, it could take 24-48

hours for your jar to completely dry.

Finished jar made with teal coloring

Didn't like your results? Simply soak the jar in warm water
to remove the color, wash the jar and try again!

Use jar as a candle holder by inserting a glass votive with a candle inside the jar
(do not put candle directly inside the jar.) Because the color is water-soluble, you
can only use this as a vase if you insert a liner.

Finished jar made with violet and rose coloring
(above and below)

The dark areas on the jar above were still drying.

Finished jar made with rose coloring

Wait! Come back!
Be sure to check back soon for the second part of this post,

Bohemian Beaded Mason Jar Tutorial,

where I'll show you how to decorate your jar with wire and beads!

What do you think?

Salvaged & Repurposed: Vintage Lockers

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What better way to add extra storage to your living space than by upcycling old,

salvaged lockers? Paint them whatever color you choose, or add some chalkboard

paint or mirrors and you have an instant one of a kind showpiece for your home!

Check out this collection of vintage salvaged lockers that have been revamped and

restyled, and maybe you'll be inspired to add some locker love to your home too!

The casters and mirrors are what make this piece special. from Olsson & Jensen

Horizontal row of vintage lockers - just add casters!

I love the butter yellow. Perfect color, perfect spot, just all-around perfect!

Vintage sixties storage locker from Sundance

Pink lockers

Antique lockers from French Country Corners

Recycled lockers

Repurposed vintage steel lockers from nuji

Bright green lockers via In My House Blog

Steel lockers

Light teal lockers from GUFF

Lockers by the The Lettered Cottage

Chalkboard painted lockers

Beautiful verdigris green lockers from Belgium

Locker room meets farmhouse with these grungy lockers

What a great table!

Industrial chic metal lockers from Rocket Century

Lime green lockers image via Pinterest

Image via Pinterest

What do you think?

Decorating With Home Depot Industrial Supply: Unexpected Style

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Recently I was visiting the Home Depot website, looking to buy two new shelves for my workshop to store my dishes on. I have tons of dishes, and believe me, once people find out that you make jewelry and artwork from old broken china plates, cups, and saucers, the donations start pouring in, and the china starts piling up. Storage can be a problem!

I had bought two industrial storage shelving units at Home Depot a few years ago, and I
was just checking to see if they still sold the same type I had bought there before because
I've always liked them, and now I needed two more. While on their website, I clicked on the cabinet shelves section on a whim, just to see what they had to offer, and this yellow steel cabinet immediately caught my eye! Check out these Industrial decor inspirations and maybe you'll be inspired too!

(Sandusky free standing steel cabinet)

Found at Home Depot: This yellow metal cabinet provides a bright pop of color!

What a great way to add a burst of life to a steely neutral Industrial color scheme!

Check out these other pop-of-yellow inspirations:

A simple stack of sunny yellow chairs

This yellow table brightens up the entire room.

Yellow table and chairs from Melbourne Cafe

Table made out of an old steel sign. From The Boiler Room

(Sandusky 43" by 65" cabinet)

Found at Home Depot: There's no denying that a pop of bright red makes a statement!
This red fire cabinet with its yellow decal caught my eye right away.

Here are some other red industrial inspirations:

Red industrial stools from Rejuvination

Kitchen island devised from six tool boxes from Burr & McCallum Architects

Quindici metal cabinets from Napa Style

(Freestanding Steel Cabinet in Black)

Found at Home Depot: I love the futuristic yet retro look of this 24" by 36"

steel cabinet and right away I thought nightstand or bedside table. All steel construction!

I love the look of these lockers. They are perfect!

Metal cabinet from Rockett St George

What do you think?

Springtime Inspiration - I'm Ready, Are You?

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It's time for some springtime inspiration!
(as if the first rise in outdoor temperatures isn't already enough to
get us worked up and prepared to welcome the season!)
Hurry up Spring, we're ready for you!

Slide into Spring!

Lovely centerpiece

Greenhouse made from salvaged windows

Baby rabbits play in the English countryside by Andy Rouse

Nature's glory

Centerpiece from BHG

Musical

Caged candle image via

Beautiful spring wreath by AnExtraordinaryGift via Etsy

Pink blossoms

We wet our plants image via

Create a branch vase. Idea via Martha Stewart