Remember last year when I mentioned that I would share my brother Troy’s painting tips? Well, now is as good a time as any to follow through—especially because Sherwin-Williams has proclaimed this National Painting Week.

All this week Sherwin-Williams is offering design, color, and painting ideas at NationalPaintingWeek.com. Each day has a designated color with a fun project idea to try in your own home. Best of all, in honor of National Painting Week, Sherwin-Williams will provide one lucky Crafty Nest reader with five gallons of FREE paint! Keep reading to find out how to win.

I paint a lot of furniture, so I’ve offered advice on that subject. But I’m far from an expert when it comes to painting walls. Instead of giving you the same canned advice that we’ve already heard over and over: fill nail holes, paint in a W shape, etc. (yawn), I interviewed two pros who aren’t afraid to name the best tools and colors.

First Becky Ralich, a Sherwin-Williams color and design expert, will share her paint color advice. Then Troy Ewing, a builder and house painter, will share his best painting tips and favorite tools for getting the job done fast—and right the first time.

Tips and photos after the jump!

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My grandmother and great-grandmother were crafty too. My great-grandmother specialized in tatting, crochet, and ribbon roses. My grandmother dabbled in many handicrafts, including painting china, sculpting clay roses, découpaging, quilling, welding, and making 3D pictures (I’ll teach you the latter someday). She even made adorable miniature Play-Dough Christmas scenes inside gilded duck eggs. Oh, how I wish I had a picture of them.

My grandmother made these decorated plastic ball ornaments for us grandkids one Christmas, and we received another one year after year. She made these for me when I was in my peach faze. Before that was my lavender faze. I soon learned not to choose a favorite color because every gift she gave me (bless her heart) was my favorite color. I got tired of my “favorite” color quickly.

My grandmother intended these ornaments as Christmas decorations. I loved them, but I never hung them on my tree because they didn’t seem Christmasy to me. They’re perfect for Easter, though. You can hang them on an Easter tree, set them on candlesticks and group them as a centerpiece, or dangle them from a a gossamer garland. Any way you display them, these clear Easter egg ornaments are fun and easy to make. Click “Read more” to see a two versions of the entire Easter garland. Happy Easter!

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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Can you believe it? I finally took my Silhouette CAMEO^™ out of its box and fired it up last week. I seriously don’t know what took me so long. I have lots of projects I want to try, but I decided to start with this square clock idea that I was hatching.

Inspired by Crate and Barrel's Embossed Numbers Wall Clock

As soon as I saw this Embossed Numbers Wall Clock at Crate and Barrel, I wanted to make my own. It’s made by Karlsson, a Dutch clock brand. One of Karlsson’s best features is the chunky numbers that they use in many of their clocks. I couldn’t find a font to match, so I created my own pattern that’s close.

In addition to the numbers, I adored the white-on-white. My plan was to make my clock white too. But my friends are always encouraging me to break away from all-white-all-the-time, hence the orange. I admit that I like the bright color better than the all-white clock now.

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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You probably remember this lamp. Its first makeover was four years ago. Frankly, the fabric-covered lamp shade was a disappointment, and brass just isn’t my thing. When I found an eBay store that sells nickel-plated lamp parts at unbeatable prices, I almost cried tears of joy. Then all I needed was a new lamp shade to paint. This off-white fabric drum shade was perfect.

This isn’t my first time rewiring a table lamp either. Last time I used a lamp kit and didn’t go into much detail. This time I’ll show you how to assemble the individual parts, which should be of more use to you.

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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Lately I’ve been working with wire and wire mesh. First I made jewelry holders, then a jingle bell ornament, and now this decorative light fixture. I have two more wire projects planned, but not until later this year. Next week I’m switching back to paint.

When I tell you what it took to make this Snowball light, you’ll think I’m crazy. So I’m not going to tell you right away. Just know that its basic components are basket-style coffee filters, a sheet of hardware cloth, and a string of LED lights.

I call it the Snowball light because its size reminds me of those giant cartoon snowballs that terrorize characters such as Scrat, the acorn-obsessed saber-toothed squirrel in Ice Age. But if you look closer, the delicate ruffles of the coffee filters look like carnations. I thought it would be fun to dye the coffee filters or dip the tips in paint to mimic red-tipped carnations. Maybe silver paint? In the end, I kept it simple.

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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When I blogged about my wire mesh jewelry holders with beads, I mentioned that I planned to make a Christmas ornament out of wire. Here it is. But instead of 1/4-inch hardware cloth, I went with chicken wire. Apparently, it’s called poultry netting these days, but my family raised chickens when I was growing up, and we called it chicken wire. We also raised pigeons, doves, and ducks—including a Mallard named Donald until a neighborhood cat killed him. This is one reason I don’t like cats. But I digress.

I got the idea for this ornament from an old issue of Marie Claire Idées, my favorite French magazine. As best I can tell in my limited French, they hung their diamond- and heart-shaped chimes in a cherry tree to keep birds away. I thought they would also make excellent Christmas ornaments or jingly door bells, hence the bell shape. This is my first one, so it’s a little lopsided. I show you how to not repeat my mistake.

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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Remember when I told you three years ago that I was going to make an advent calendar the same way I made my hanging postcard collage? Well, I finally did it! Apologies for posting so late in the season. You probably already made or bought an advent calendar this year. But you can start saving Christmas cards to make one next year. The beauty of this design is that it rolls up and stores easily to be used year after year.

Slip a thin, wrapped piece of chocolate (Ghirardelli Squares work well) or note behind each card for a daily Christmas treat. I cut out a square from the inside of each card, including the signature, and pasted it on the back so I will always remember who gave that card to me. You could also decorate the cards with glitter, brads, eyelets, ribbon, etc. All you scrapbookers know what I’m talkin’ about.

Tutorial and photos after the jump!

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