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Miss Tweedle shows us the magic of spray paint with her Chalkboard Frame project. An outdated mirror is transformed into a fab chalkboard that would be perfectly darling in any home.
Eager to turn our own ugly finds into chic decor, we grabbed our spray paint and dove right in!
Please click here to visit Miss Tweedle and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 – Sarah
Mission: To create a fun piece of art for our home, which is also purposeful!
Details:
I really wanted to find a fun frame to repurpose for this project. I searched high and low in my house, while I was out and about at a few stores and finally landed on one at a local antique store that I liked. It was ornate and gold…super cute! And, it had a print in it from San Francisco, which I found inspiring, as I will be traveling there later this spring.
Once I purchased the frame, I went to our local paint store and picked up the chalkboard paint as well as spray paint.
- I chose a bright orange for the spray paint as I wanted something with pop and thought I may use this piece in the kiddos room.
Unfortunately, the frame I landed upon gave me some troubles. I couldn’t get the back of it off to figure out how I was going to paint it and finally figured out that it was set in place with large staples. After getting those removed with my trusty needle-nosed pliers, I taped off the plexy glass front with painters tape and a piece of paper and then set to spray painting the outer frames outside. I laid the frames onto an old beach towel I didn’t mind ruining and set to work.
This is where my second issue arrived – the paint was NOT adhering well to the frame. I am not sure if the frame had any coating on it due to being an antique, but it took me three coats of the spray paint to get to where it is now. I still don’t love how it looks, as the paint isn’t evenly coated on the frame, but I do like the added character it has. Or maybe I have to just succumb to the fact that it is what it is.
After the spray paint step, I then taped around the outer frame edges and set to work painting on the chalkboard paint. I used a disposable paintbrush for this step and later decided that wasn’t the best idea as the streaks are very visible and the painting did not go on smoothly. But, it still works like a chalkboard!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Really clean and wipe-off your frame before starting to paint – I learned this the hard way.
Pros:
This is a very purposeful project and a fun added piece of décor.
Cons:
A bit labor intensive based on my poor choice of a frame. You will have a lot of chalkboard paint left over, so you may want to do this as a group project or find another piece to create into a chalkboard.
Conclusion:
I want to give this project another shot – but will be even more choosy in my frame choice before I begin to make certain I know what I am getting myself info.
Reviewer #2 - Sheri
Mission: What a fabulous idea for an old junky picture frame! I love a good before/after project.
Details:
- I was excited to use some trusty spray paint again! The stuff is just fabulous. Easy to use and comes in all sorts of colors and textures. The boys wanted green, their favorite color. I did one quick coat on the frame and it came out great and dried really quickly.
- I removed the glass from the frame and was left with some cheap particle board, but it seemed to work just fine. I applied three coats of Martha Stewart’s chalkboard paint in black.
- I let it cure for 24 hours as instructed, put the frame back together, and it was ready for use.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Sponge brushes work great for this project.
Pros:
Really easy project, especially great for those who like to yard sale hunt.
Cons:
None!
Conclusion:
This was a really great project. I wish I had a more unique looking frame that needed revamping, but this turned out just fine. Better than tossing it in the trash, and the boys loved it! I feel the need to make one for my kitchen.
Reviewer #3 – Janet
Mission: I was so excited when I saw this project from Miss Tweedle because I have had an old framed mirror that I have been wanting to repaint since college! The only tweak I made to the project is not turning the inside area into a blackboard, I really wanted to keep it as a mirror.
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
LIQUITEX is BOMB.COM! I’m a failure when it comes to spray paint, but this stuff was so easy to use, the spray button was comfortable to press, and the paint came out smooth and even! I will for sure use this again for other projects requiring spray paint. It comes in a wide array of colors, so you can just go wild with it!
If you are painting outside, make sure it isn’t a windy day so the spray doesn’t go all over. Also, be sure to get all of the nooks and crannies.
Feel like the $12 is a little too spendy for spray paint? Get a free sample of Liquitex spray paint before having to buy it! Just go to their website and request one!
Pros:
Like I said earlier, Liquitex is glorious and made painting so easy.
The project gave me such inspiration to finally finish another project I’ve been thinking about for years!
Cons:
No cons here. The only bad thing is that I can’t figure out where to hang my “new” vintage mirror.
Conclusion:
I absolutely love how my frame turned out! I have the urge to search for another frame to paint, and I might even try my hand at a framed blackboard. Possibly something to use at the reception for my November wedding….hmmm something to add to the wedding idea list!
Whether you are wanting to redo a frame that you have had on hand forever or you want to create the ever popular framed blackboard, this project is so easy and perfect for the craft beginner.
Reviewer #4 - Alicia
Mission: I love the idea of turning junk into treasure. Ugly frame refashioned into a beautiful chalk board creation, I am totally in! I ran across a hideous frame at Goodwill that was perfect from this project.
Details:
Tools needed: Fugly frame, spray paint, chalk board paint and tools to remove backings of frame (if needed).
Did I mention the frame I used was really hideous??!!! I used the card board that was in the frame for my chalk board material. The cardboard did take a few coats of paint before it was completed ready for chalk. It worked really well.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I would recommend priming your frame before spray painting and let completely dry between coats.
Pros:
All the amazing color options in spray paint are endless. This project came together very quickly and was fun to make.
Cons:
I am not sure what is wrong with me, but this project almost took the entire can of paint. I did not prime the wood. Oops! The wood of the frame was about 100 years old, which was hard to cover.
Conclusion:
What an awesome project and the possibilities are endless. Very happy with the final look of my frame and it will be a nice addition to Lilly’s bedroom. I am now a crazy woman on the lookout for ugly frames to paint.
Reviewer #5 - Maren
Mission: In my quest to make our new home more “homey,” I knew that we needed a little something in our game room to encourage a little friendly competition. We needed a scoreboard! This project was that perfect “something” I had been looking for.
Details:
One look at the back of my Goodwill frame and I wasn’t even about to try and pry that sucker off. I decided to see what happened when I just painted right over the whole thing, glass and all.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Sometime’s it’s good to be a lazy crafter! The finish of my chalkboard is rock hard, just like the huge boards from my school days! The finish is actually so great, that it makes that horrible sound when you write on it… *shutter*.
Um, so be sure to be in a very well ventilated space. Cracking the garage door won’t cut it; open the whole thing. More on that later.
Pros:
Love this thing!
The project was easy to do and the spray paint products that I chose were all terrific!
Cons:
I may or may not have gotten a little loopy from the paint fumes.
Conclusion:
So, I wonder how many chalkboards one can have in their home before it gets weird… I can’t wait to make more!
In our last house, I painted the inside of our most-used cupboard with chalkboard paint for a special place for my honey and I to leave little notes for each other. After this project, I think that I’ll take it up a notch at our new abode by adding a bright and glossy frame! Can’t wait!
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Eat. Sleep. Decorate. has the perfect solution to the towel clutter in your bathroom with DIY Knob Organization. In fact, this project can be used to tackle messes all over your home and look good doing it!
Eager to tidy up and add beauty to our homes, we wanted in on this DIY Knob Organization action, pronto!
Please click here to visit Eat. Sleep. Decorate. and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Alicia
Mission: I have always loved the idea of creating a handmade and unique towel rack for the bathroom out of a few materials and there is nothing more empowering than a lady using a power saw, although I did not need to use one. Boohoo!
Details:
- Tools needed: Wooden board at any length, knobs or pulls, spray paint, painters tape if you are creating any type of pattern and power tools for cutting, drilling, hanging, etc.
- My Dad is an amazing wood crafter, although I wanted to tackle this project on my own. I found a scrap board in his workshop about 18” long and 7″ wide. Perfect!
- I also used my Dad’s power drill to make 4 holes. Now we are rolling!
- In the original project she used door knobs that were super long and needed to be cut. I was a little frightened by this. Sawing/cutting any type of metal is not my idea of fun. I found some beautiful (and short) drawer pulls at Menards that did the trick.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I originally painted my board white and thought it was a little boring for my taste and my spare bathroom with white walls. So then I added blue stripes and that looked terrible. I finally repainted over the white and blue with a soft gray. Still boring!!!
I finally decided on keeping the gray and adding a white chevron pattern.
Pros:
Fun project!!!
Cons:
PAINT! I had a heck of a time spray painting. If you do not use slow smooth strokes, the paint can look thick and goopy.
I used about 8 coats of paint all together, but I am nuts! When using painters tape, make sure you really push it down securely. With my first go around with the paint I was positive the painters tape was secure. When I peeled the tape back, the paint has bled in spots. Hence it took me 8 coats. LOL!
Conclusion:
This was such a fun project for me! I am super happy with the end result and very pleased with how my chevron pattern turned out. I scoured the web to find “creating chevron for dummies” and then determined THAT was too complicated, so I created my own pattern. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
Reviewer #2 - Maren
Mission: With a new home, I have been anxious to add little things here and there to help give this place a personal touch. I know that a home’s character grows with time, but I wanted to kick that plan into high gear. This project had perfect timing, as we had yet to have a place to hang our coats!
Details:
- We picked up a 56″ long 5″ x 1″ board from Home Depot to fit into our “Owner Entry” as our builder calls it! We lightly sanded the cut end and were ready to go!
- My husband and I painted the board with three light coats of White Dove by Benjamin Moore, which is the same color as our trim in the home. We have plenty left over!
- I then sprayed a coat of Krylon Satin Finish
over the painted board to keep the paint from getting worn down as easily by repetitively hanging up coats over time.
- We had some left over knobs from our build that I got at Lowe’s. I really love how chunky these knobs are and couldn’t help but think that they would be perfect for hanging our coats on!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Here’s a secret you may not know, Home Depot will make wood cuts for you! I learned this in college when I needed to get Masonite to paint on. That stuff only comes in huge panels, so they would always kindly cut them up for me.
Measure twice, pound the nail in once. Learned this the hard way hanging the overhead shelf just prior to this coat rack.
Remember to use a wall anchor that suits the weight of the item that you’re hanging. We went heavy-duty since this piece will get a lot of use.
Pros:
I absolutely love this!
The project was easy enough to do on my own, but also a great project to do with my honey… that is until we tried to hang it.
Cons:
Hanging it. Apparently just because your home is new, doesn’t mean that the walls are perfectly flat.
I will also admit that my husband and I don’t always excel at doing home projects together. For example, we have outlawed assembling any furniture together. But hey - you’ve gotta know what works for your own relationship! We eventually got this mother on the wall and it looks terrific!
Conclusion:
I am so happy with this piece! It instantly added character to our home and gives it a loved and lived-in feel. I think that I’ll whip up a smaller version for my closet, and even one for my grocery totes right inside the door to the garage!
Reviewer #3 - Kristy
Mission: Its multi-functional, keeps my jewelry organized and is a fun piece of art!
Details:
- I chose a fresh-cut of Poplar wood which cost me about 4 bucks.
- I went to Michaels and bought each variety they had. I got 4 for 5 bucks. Perfect!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Break out the ruler or a smaller measuring tape to mark your screw holes! My handy-dandy husband drilled the holes. Be mindful of this as each one of my knobs had a different screw width.
My poplar board was unfinished so I painted with the black spray paint I had on hand! I will admit I was lazy I just decided to spray without priming and hope for the best! Well it needed two coats, I may prime next time. Priming would probably help with a better finish, too.
Screws were too long on a few of the knobs preventing me from hanging the board so my husband had to assist again with bolt cutters.
Pros:
Looks great, definitely multi-functional and can be used to display and view your jewelry, handbags or scarves!
Also inexpensive – even less if you can find scrap wood and knobs from old furniture.
Cons:
Measuring! It seems no matter how much time I spend trying to get the screw holes straight, they end up not being exactly right!
Conclusion:
Very cute, needed help from the hubby on this project! It was easier to have him help hang, drill and cut the screws!
A client once told me, “Everything in your home should be beautiful and functional OR don’t buy it!” I love this motto and I am trying to live by it. This is a perfect example of one of those beautiful pieces!
Reviewer #4 – Sarah
Mission: To create a proper place for ourselves and our house guests to hang their coats!
Details:
Though this project was specifically purposed for a towel hanger, we just weren’t in need of that in any of our bathrooms. Instead, we needed a coat rack within our mudroom. This project was just the inspiration we needed to get that checked-off our house project to-do list.
I grew up on a farm in Iowa and recently, we had to tear down one of my grandpa’s barns as it was soon to fall over on its own. My dad and my husband gathered as much of the barn wood as they could so we could create a new life with it in new projects. This was the first project we got to use it for!
My husband helped pick out the best piece we had for this project – we needed it to be as flat and level as possible and we wanted one with some character. The one we ended up with is perfect in my book!- We didn’t do anything else to the piece of wood – just left it like it was on my grandpa’s barn and we didn’t even have to cut it to size – it was perfect.
- Because the piece of wood we used wasn’t the same width the entire board, we improvised on our hook placements and did our best to eye them centered on the board.
- My husband did all of the hard work of drilling the holes for the hooks and he helped screw them on the board as well. I was the “eye” for placement and of course picked out the awesome rugged hooks. I found those at Anthropologie and got them for a pretty good deal!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Find hooks/knobs that speak to you – such a fun project to really personalize!
Find a helper and put them to work – my husband was the perfect person to help me with this one! I could not have completed this without him…okay, maybe I could have, but there may have been some swear words in the mix then.
Pros:
Purposeful project!!!
Cons:
A bit labor intensive for the beginner.
Conclusion:
We absolutely love how this turned out and it is one of the best pieces of décor in our house as it has a fantastic purpose and a lovely history. For me, it is a great daily reminder of my grandpa and my family roots back in Iowa.
Next up we’d like to try creating a full-length mirror with some of the barn wood!
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A little birdie told us that we can refinish furniture without sanding, just the right primer! That little birdie is Just A Girl and she shows us just how easy it can be in her post on How to Paint Furniture.
Longing to spice up our homes, we were excited to dive in!
Please click here to visit Just A Girl and see the instructions that we followed!
Also, be sure to click on our photos for a more detailed look!
Reviewer #1 - Kristy
Mission: To give my old bedroom set a bit of pizazz!
Details:
Headed to the local hardware store to get the paint, I opted for:
I was really nervous the paint, I wanted a shine but not super glossy…the guy was very helpful and said the one I bought would be perfect! You just never know until you use it but I over think everything and stress out too much about color!
- Also picked up Liquid TSP Degreaser,
along with the gloves…this sounded scary, I didn’t want to mess up this mixture. Don’t forget to use the gloves and just follow the directions. I used an old rag to apply before applying primer.
- I primed using my handy dandy sponge brushes
that worked perfect for the small curves in the night stand.
- For the large spaces I used the Mini Foam Rollers
that stated it was best for smooth surfaces.
Next was the painting, now this was tough for me. I drove Mike crazy because I could not get the top surface smooth enough for my liking. The other sides came out good but the top just drove me crazy. So instead of using the Liquid TSP Degreaser again and mess up the already painted sides, Mike had the idea to just sand the top. He saved my sanity with this suggestion! We lightly sanded then three coats later it came out better.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Let the coats dry, it doesn’t have to be for days…even just an hour because doubling up too soon will mess up the smooth finish.
Be careful while spreading the paint, the best tip would be to have a light touch with the roller…it gave the best finish.
Don’t forget to watch for drippings, you don’t want to have to redo this for drips.
Pros:
Honestly, I stressed out about the finish but I LOVE, LOVE the finished product!!
It’s pretty inexpensive as well - just time consuming.
Cons:
I could not get the finish absolutely perfect, it drove me NUTS!!!!
Mike thought it looked fine but I am certain that’s b/c he didn’t want to have to help paint it again.
Conclusion:
Going into this project, I was nervous I was going to mess up my furniture but instead I learned it is such a great way to revamp old furniture and give it some pizazz! This is a perfect project for my job as well, for staging homes, this allows me to redo on furniture I have on hand to give life to a vacant home or to transform a feel of a room. I am already looking for my next project!
Reviewer #2 - Sheri
Mission: If furniture can be painted and look great without even sanding it, I want to know how to do it. The hard part was picking which piece of furniture to paint. I decided to give my mom’s little kitchen table an upgrade. The thing is ancient.
Details:
There is a process, and you need to follow the process.
- I was introduced to a fabulous product that I am now completely in love with. KRUD KUTTER.
I was going to use the TSP Degreaser as recommended, but this was more earth friendly and I figured any super power degreaser would do. This stuff was amazing. It took the years of grime right off the legs of the table with very little elbow grease.
- I headed back to mom’s another day to prime using Kilz Latex Primer & Sealer.
It’s important to use a primer that blocks stains.
Mom wanted the table done in a flat black. I was a little nervous that I would have to do a ton of coats seeing the primer was white.
- I used Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover. I must say it’s the best paint ever! It covered great. Just two coats and it looked great.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Those little sponge tip brushes work fantastic for the little nooks. Especially if you’re working on something with detailing.
Pros:
I didn’t have to sand anything.
Cons:
None really. We’ll see how well the furniture holds up to dings!
Conclusion:
I’m overall pleased with this project. The table came out great and I didn’t have to sand anything!
I’m just hoping that it stands up to everyday wear and tear and doesn’t chip. That’s the real test.
Reviewer #3 - Amanda
Mission: To turn a tired, poorly painted dresser into a new dress up closet for my kiddos. Yet another Pinterest-inspired project!
Details:
While I didn’t use the same paint I did stick with the suggested:
My paint choice may have actually caused the lack of coverage and streaks I experienced. My paint choice was suggested to me by a lovely and terribly incorrect hardware store sales associate who shall remain nameless.
Because I started with a four-drawer dresser and turned it into a one drawer dresser with an opening for hooks or a hanging rack my project required some additional materials.
- I used some left over particle board from another project that my hubby kindly cut down to size for me to frame out the inside of the dresser where the drawers no longer are.
- I tacked them in with finishing nails.
- I also needed to use some Elmer’s Wood Filler
to make the new wood look like part of the old wood. It is easy to use and you can sand and paint it so ideal for a project like this.
- I also added some chic and bold patterned paper to the inside of the dresser before installing hooks and a hanging rack!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Choose a GOOD and reliable paint not one you have never worked with. Have a fresh Foam Roller. Mine was a little mangled due to the texture of the particle board I used on the inside of the dresser.
Pros:
Not a ton of prep with this method. The Zinsser primer definitely helped with the texture of the wood and evening things out.
Cons:
Not so much a con but I really would have loved to have seen a before of the piece that Just a Girl used in her original post.
I feel like I may have had expectations that were not realistic.
Conclusion:
Stick with what you know! Use a good paint if you are starting with a darker piece that you plan to paint lighter.
I will definitely try this method again and may even venture into our local paint store to pick up the Benjamin Moore that was used in the original post. It sure looks great on her piece!
Reviewer #4 – Sarah
Mission: To give my kiddos’ dresser a new life so it looks new again.
Details:
Before my oldest child was born, my sister gifted me one of her old dressers to use in his room. It was a worn in piece of furniture, but I always loved it for its character and had dressed it up with some cute knobs from Anthropologie. It had lived up to its duty as a holder of clothes, though it was time for an overhaul on this lovely piece.
- When I started this project, I broke the rule of following directions right off the bat. I decided to go forward with using our hand sander vs. buying the degreaser that was noted. I wanted to save some money on this project (as I overspent on it later) and honestly didn’t want to make another stop at yet another store with my three children…the taking them in and out of their car seats gets tiring!
- I picked out a gray Benjamin Moore paint color at my local paint store and they tinted the Zinsser Cover-Stain Primer for me, as well as the Benjamin Moore Low Lustre metal and wood paint. I accidentally asked for the oil based paint though, which I highly regretted later!
While painting the dresser, I ended up doing three coats of paint total. The first was the tinted primer, the second and third were the topcoat. After the first topcoat layer dried, I could see areas where the primer was showing through, so that third coat was a must!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Use a paint roller and a small one at that! It was so easy to use, for both my son and I, and it really did a great finishing job. Also have some small sponge brushes handy for detailed areas.
If you are refinishing a piece of furniture that requires knobs, have some fun with finding the perfect ones! I went the route of Anthropologie – one of my favorite retailers – and found some great knobs that are darling and work well in my kiddos’s room.
Pros:
A fantastic finish – it honestly made this dresser look like new again and like it is worth some bucks!
Refinishing my kiddos’ dresser also motivated me to work with my very talented mother to design new quilts for my kid’s beds. We went with a gray, orange and teal color palette. I’ll share a photo of the finished update when we are all wrapped up!
Cons:
DO NOT use an oil based paint…unless you want to clean brushes over and over in paint thinner. I was cursing myself for doing that the entire project!
Conclusion:
I absolutely LOVE the end result and am inspired to do this on my dresser as it also needs a facelift!
Reviewer #5 - Maren
Mission: Learn how to revive an old piece without the pain in the tuchus of having to sand it down first!
Details:
Since we are currently “displaced,” I didn’t have the space to refinish a large piece of furniture… and just about everything we own is in storage, I decided to try Just a Girl’s technique on a vintage shelf that I grabbed at an antique store.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Those little sponge brushes were not working for me. I used my favorite nylon craft brushes 
instead.
On a super old piece like the one I had, be prepared to apply extra coats of primer. The wood just sucked it up, leaving little brown pits that I knew would show through the top coat. I ended up applying over 2 coats of primer in some places. Yuck.
Speaking of primer, if you push too hard with the roller, you will remove it. Oy!
P.S. Before getting fancy and painting the sides of a drawer, make sure that the drawer has some wiggle room. I did not follow this advice and ended up having to sand my pretty purple paint off the sides of the drawer when it couldn’t fit back into the shelf, aka “total waste of time.”
I got little bubbles! I think that this may be from my foam roller not being 100% dry from washing it. Or maybe because the wood was so old? I was freaking out. Everyone else seems to think that it looks perfectly fine, but the OCD weirdo in me just can’t get over the fact that it doesn’t have that “factory finish.” I’m not entirely positive that this is even possible, but I won’t stop until I find out!
Pros:
It really looks great and was relatively inexpensive to do!
I am really glad that I tested the technique out on a smaller scale first; I now feel confident diving into one of our bigger pieces!
Cons:
Frustrating. Why can’t I do things perfectly on the first try?
Conclusion:
This was a great, simple tutorial that was a great first lesson on painting furniture. I am anxious to try it again with the things that I learned the first time around.
I also imagine that a piece with a nicer starting finish would be helpful (or even a very light amount of sanding), so that makes me feel excited about the to-be painted furniture that I have around our home!
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While searching for terrific gift ideas, we stumbled upon The 36th Avenue’s darling Number Stenciled Mugs! This terrific tutorial looks like it has truly gift-worthy results!
We couldn’t wait to give stenciling a try!
Please click here to visit The 36th Avenue and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Amanda
Mission: Throw my hat in the ring with all the other fools and make myself a mustache mug (numbers are cool but mustaches are cooler).
Details:
Products that I used:
I knew from the start that I wanted to create something quirky and fun. Morning coffee just better with a chuckle! I was inspired to create my own stencil from this post on Young House Love. They were making their own stencil for a glass etching project but I figured this would work similarly for this project as well.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Be prepared for a little clean up. Also, don’t hold your breath as you pull the stencil off. You might pass out! It gets a little intense for a moment as you peel the tape back but as I learned, using a pin head or the end of your X-Acto knife you can clean up any mess in no time at all.
Pros:
You could seriously customize anything with this method! I love the idea of creating a simple gift on the cheap.
The 36th Avenue did a fantastic job on writing up this little DIY so I didn’t encounter anything unexpected.
Cons:
Not really a project con but my own personal con. I used a Martha Stewart paint that essentially self-cures in 21 days. This is way too long for me! I already went out and purchased a new ceramic paint and plan to use that on future mug projects.
Keep your fingers crossed that my mustache mug doesn’t get some serious grooming on its first wash (in 21 days of course).
Conclusion:
The next stenciled mugs are already in the works! I plan to make one for my daughter’s teacher, my grandma and also one for my sister. Mug love all around!
Reviewer #2 - Sheri
Mission: I thought this would be a great way to personalize our mugs, and an even better idea for a holiday gift with a personal touch. A personalized mug filled with chocolates!?
Details:
I read the directions. And then I read them again. I really didn’t want to screw this up, but somehow I managed to screw it up on the first try.
- I cleaned the surface of the mug and applied the stencil. I think the key is to have an adhesive stencil. I used these great stencils by Folk Art.
I can’t imagine trying to do a curved surface any other way. Make sure it’s applied very well to prevent any bleeding.
- Next, dab the paint. I purchased the same paint used by The 36th Avenue. As Desiree says, “tap, tap, tap.”
- Remove the stencil IMMEDIATELY. Yeah, I was too busy reading the back of the paint bottle and tending to the whining dog. When I removed the stencil…the paint came up with it. Darn it! (that’s not actually what came from my mouth)
- I got it right with my second go around. Seriously easy.
- The pin trick – super awesome. Works great, but you really need a steady hand.
- It only takes 30 minutes in the oven at 350° to cure it. Then it’s washable!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Rubbing alcohol works great to remove the paint from the mug. If you make a mistake, you can quickly fix it and try again.
Pros:
Easy, inexpensive, and didn’t take much time at all.
Cons:
Not really any…unless the paint bleeds under the stencil. Working with a little pin can cramp your hand.
Conclusion:
Overall this was a pretty quick and easy project, aside from my little mishap of course. I must admit I was a little nervous about washing them, but they turned out just fine. I’ve added a little laughter and love to my morning coffee. I’m thinking of getting some more mugs and putting dinosaurs on them for the boys to enjoy with their hot chocolate! I think they would just love it.
Reviewer #3 - Maren
Mission: Whip up some cute, personalized drinkware to enjoy some holiday cheer! If this project is a winner, guess what you’re getting for your next gift… everyone!!
Details:
DIY Stencil a la Young House Love (Amanda told me about this great tutorial after I told her that I was longing for a doxie mug):
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Okay, so since I did this project a couple of different ways, I have a few tricks to share for each variation!
Sticky stencil: These work the best when you rinse them off after each impression. A pain, but you’ll love the results!
Non-sticky stencil: I don’t recommend it! Even when securing with painter’s tape, it didn’t work. Boo. If you don’t believe me, check out the “snowflake” blob example at the right.
DIY Stencil a la Young House Love: LOVED this! Such an awesome idea! It worked like a charm, but make sure that you use your fingernail to super-press down along the edges of your design. If you don’t do this, the paint will bleed out of the perimeter of your design.
ALL Methods: While The 36th Avenue’s pin trick worked well, I preferred to clean up my edges with a small, lightly dampened angle brush.
I was able to remove goofs as well as sort of “push” the goofed paint back where it belonged!
Less is more! You’ll get more bubbles in the paint the more paint you use, as well as the more that you “Pounce”! Go easy on it!
Clean your surface first with rubbing alcohol, as we learned from our Enamel Vase project! Having said that, it is really hard to keep from touching the mug all over after you clean off the surface. Fingers crossed that my paint doesn’t peel off.
Pros:
Any way you try it, this project is awesome! It didn’t take very long and looks great!
These suckers are gift-worthy!
Cons:
As my first go-round with stencils, I biffed the sticky stencil method about 4 times before it passed the OCD test.
This isn’t even a “Con” because you can just quickly wash the paint off, wipe with more rubbing alcohol and try again!
Martha! Why do you make me wait 21 days to wash this? I sure hope that they really are dishwasher safe!
Conclusion:
I love stenciling! I can’t wait to make more mugs and stencil all sorts of things for our new house!
Also, as a huge fan of the monogram, I am really looking forward to making some truly personalized gifts for housewarming parties, wedding showers and new neighbors!
Reviewer #4 - Kristy
Mission: To spice up my boring white coffee mugs with a little simple design.
Details:
- Headed straight to Michaels with my 50% coupon on hand for vinyl stencil stickers.
Yay! Now the hard part, I loathe making decisions….Martha had a huge stencil selection 
so I stayed for about 15 minutes trying to decide which one! I decided on letters that match my cute monogrammed kitchen towels. Luckily I had the coupon, those vinyl stencils were $16.99. Ouch!
- I went to my handy dandy stash of black Folk Art paint in Licorice
and a small paint brush.
- Stressing again on my design, Mike suggested using both our initials. So I ended up with an E and an H. We will both be equally represented in this household!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Use rubbing alcohol on the mug before painting and to clean your stencils after painting. We learned this very important trick when we tried and failed and tried again at our Enamel Painted Vases.
I wasn’t the best at removing the stickers so I had a few mess ups. Quick fix: once dried…just take a paper clip end to remove extra paint. Now be careful when painting don’t put too much or the paper clip may take off more than you would like.
Pros:
Simple, quick and cute! Loved it!
Cons:
I am a dishwasher type of gal and I think these mugs may no longer be safe for this.
Despite the baking, I am nervous they make scratch so I’ll be sure to hand wash.
Conclusion:
Overall this was an easy project and quick to complete. The most time consuming part was centering the initial. Now I am considering doing Christmas mugs for gifts! This would be perfect gifts for my clients, as well as, friends and family. Being a Louisiana gal, I think some cute Fleur de lis mugs would be my next project for my place…maybe even on bowls! Just a thought!
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Calico Skies has shared a super neat tutorial on how to create your own DIY Screen Print Tee. With simple materials, your own design can grace your garb!
Always searching for new ways to inspire our inner fashionista, we were ready to give screen printing a try!
Please click here to visit Calico Skies and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Amanda
Mission: Create a semi-professional looking screen print for my dino loving middle child.
Details:
- 6″ Plastic Embroidery Hoop
- Mod Podge Original Gloss Finish
- Martha Stewart High Gloss Beetle Black
- Bing image of T-Rex
In the original post she used nude panty hose but all I had was black and with the help of a metallic pen that worked out just fine.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
The Mod Podge application goes on the side of the embroidery hoop that will lay flush with the item you are printing on. I think that doing a couple of coats may help make the image a little more clear too.
I would suggest picking a basic shape for your first attempt. I think the image I chose was a little more advanced for this amateur screen printer.
Getting the nylons really tight on the embroidery hoop is key! I feel like my first attempt it was a little loose. I plan to correct this issue the next time I try this.
Pros:
Not too many supplies needed that you may not have. I did have to purchase the embroidery hoop but that was it. Not bad for creating a unique looking t-shirt.
Cons:
Live and learn. Sadly if you LOVE the shirt you are printing on you may be disappointed with a less than perfect result. I felt better after doing a little test print on a piece of paper before making it “happen” on my little guy’s shirt.
Conclusion:
I already have a unicorn in the works for my daughter and niece. I can’t wait to see if my little adjustments make a difference. This could be an addicting craft for sure…I may run out of surfaces!
Reviewer #2 – Sarah
Mission: To doll up some plain T’s and try my hand at screen printing!
Details:
- I was racking my brain as to what I should do for a t-shirt design and finally landed on going with a CrossFit inspired design. If I haven’t mentioned before, I CrossFit and I am OBSESSED!!! After a bit of research, I landed on a design with a kettle bell – I love me some kettle bell!
- Outside of purchasing the embroidery hoop, the Mod Podge
and the t-shirts, I had the remaining elements on hand.
- I used the Martha Stewart Crafts satin all-in-one paint
and my favorite Martha Stewart paint brushes.
- Maren had lots of panty hose handy (don’t ask!) so she supplied those.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
A few of us Crafty Collaborative gals got together to start this lovely craft, though we weren’t able to finish them together since it was a bit of a time suck. I tell you – that Mod Podge takes a hell of a long time to dry!!! And, if you want your edges to be PERFECT…you better plan on doing a few coats.
After completing this craft, I’d recommend using a fabric only paint vs. an all-in-one paint. The Martha Stewart Crafts all-in-one paint is fantastic, but I had a bit of trouble with my red heart bleeding (no pun intended!) after the first wash.
In addition, I would recommend not putting the paint on super thick if you are using a thin shirt/fabric as mine bled through causing it to become rough and folded when I was wearing it.
Make sure when you are doing this that you put the Mod Podge on the side of the hose that will be lying flat against your fabric surface. AND, most importantly, if you are doing any sort of typeface, make sure you place it on so that when you screen print, it will read correctly and not backwards – this took me awhile to figure out.
Pros:
A fun way to dress up an old t-shirt or show off your favorite things in a wearable form!
Cons:
This project took longer than I had planned due to the application of many layers of Mod Podge as I was pretty finicky in applying it wanted to end up with clean edges.
Conclusion:
I was excited about this project and enjoyed doing the process, but wasn’t as excited with the outcome as I had hoped. I’d love to try this again sometime, but will modify a bit. And, if I for some reason I plan to do a lot of screen printing in the future, I may just find myself a Gocco screen printer online!
Reviewer #3 - Janet
Mission: First thoughts on the project: Looking at the instructions, I figured that Lauren on Calico Skies was making it look way cooler/easier/beautiful than it really was going to turn out. Honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to this project.
Details:
- I had an embroidery hoop, but thought it would be too small for my project. I purchased a humongous one, which I actually didn’t even end up using, because the small one worked perfectly.
- Thanks to all of the other TCC projects, I already had acrylic paint (Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cake in satin),
Mod Podge, and brushes on hand.
- I used a green tee that I already had in my closet from this summer and Maren provided the hosiery at our TCC gathering!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Figure out your design before you buy an embroidery hoop so you know what size to get.
I suggest three to four layers of Mod Podge so you don’t miss any spots.
Don’t select an intricate design…you will drive yourself crazy trying to get the Mod Podge on just right.
Pros:
Actually was very easy (though I didn’t believe it would be from the looks of the instructions) and had minimal mess.
Cons:
The lines didn’t turn out as crisp as seen on the blog. I think if I would have put a little more time into painting the Mod Podge on smoothly, it might have helped.
Not sure how well the shirt will go through the wash, but it was so cheap to make that I won’t be upset if it doesn’t make it out alive.
Conclusion:
Gotta love not having to spend 1 penny on a project! (blessing in disguise that I didn’t have to make yet another trip back to the craft store…I never come out of there without an impulse buy!) This is a great way to spice up an old T, or even make a festive outfit, like my shamrock that I will be rockin’ on St. Patty’s!
Reviewer #4 - Maren
Mission: To learn how to screen print! This seems like a really neat and cost effective way to transfer images at home.
Details:
- I’m from Minneapolis where some of the bad-a$$ kids have “612″ tatts, which is the area code. Since I’m more of the “work-from-home” bad-ass, I decided to emblazon one of my favorite sweatshirts with the digits. LOL
- I found a great neon orange fabric paint called Neon Fiesta Orange. So… it’s glittery. How did I not notice that when I bought it? This might hurt my street cred.
- I used a Small Wash Brush
to paint on my Mod Podge Hard Coat in Satin Finish.
- I happened to have a lifetime supply of those knee-high panty hose that you buy in the little plastic bubble at the drug store for a buck from my days in the salon (I would stuff them to use to fill out elaborate updos. These came in handy for our project!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
It took me an embarrassingly long amount of time to figure out which way to draw the design on. I way over-thought this step. Just make sure that you are able to put the nylons down flat against the transfer surface.
It also took me a couple tries to get the nylons really taut. I think that this proved to be really crucial in getting a good print, as Lauren from Calico Skies mentioned in her instructions.
I think that I applied 5 or 6 layers of Mod Podge to make sure that the edges of the design were perfect. You do need to wait a few hours in between coats, so be prepared.
When I was done transferring my image, I hustled to the sink and gently rinsed the paint off with warm water. The Mod Podge looked a little gummy, but I let it dry out and it’s ready for the next 612 screen print!
I washed my beloved sweatshirt inside out in cool water and dried on regular for the first time and it the design held up perfectly! It may have even looked better!
Pros:
LOVE IT! I also really like the way the fabric paint turned out!
This project was easy to do and super inexpensive!
Cons:
To get a crisp print, you’ll need to take the time to get it right. This project took me a total of about 4 days.
Conclusion:
I really liked this project! Even though it took a few days to complete, I was very happy with the results. I am already thinking of other projects that could benefit from a little screen print action!
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Ever wish your pretty little pumpkin wouldn’t end up as squirrel food? Crafts by Amanda has shown us a fun new way to create a Halloween masterpiece with her Halloween Painted Jar Luminaries!
A cute project that is said to be a hit with the kiddos? We’re in!
Please click here to visit Crafts by Amanda and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: Okay, let’s just get it all out on the table. I have a major love/hate relationship with Holidays. The love part… decorating! I get so excited about making my home feel festive and cute! I also love the warm glow of a glass votive or luminaire, so I was really excited to try these little lanterns out.
Details:
After my first attempt at this project, I had to start over. I then used the following products:
To finish my festive little darlings, I dropped in a few LED Flameless Tea Light Candles and screwed the lids back on!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
If you are anal retentive, just admit it (I hear that’s the first step) and use spray paint. I did really love this look in the end, but if you are doing this project with kids, that would sort of take the fun out of it for them.
Be careful with your jar before spraying with the clear gloss, as the paint can easily scratch off.
Pros:
Fricking love these things. They are so cute!
A super plus – acrylic paint washes easily off of glass, so if you screw up you can just wash it off and start over.
Cons:
None, unless you think you have the ability to paint without brushstrokes.
Conclusion:
Despite my initial frustration with the brush stroke situation, I really liked this project! I am already excited to put these out next Fall at our new house. I also really like that you can put an LED Tea Light inside and forget about them!
My mind is already thinking of other cute jars to paint such as snowmen for Winter (would be super fun for kids on a too-cold day) or even American Flags for the 4th!
Reviewer #2 - Amanda
Mission: Make a great Halloween craft with my kiddos.
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Don’t fret! The paint really does look best when it is sort of rugged and imperfect. My kids did a great job at achieving this. Only one coat was needed.
Also, I didn’t have them do the faces (the Type-A in me couldn’t let the entire project go) so I waited a solid day before painting on the faces. I didn’t draw the outline first though. Just threw caution to the wind and freehanded it.
Pros:
Simple. Truly easy to create and a really fun project to do with kids.
Cons:
Don’t expect perfection when working with kids and remember these are glass. VERY breakable.
Conclusion:
I plan to make some myself that are a little more detailed! This could be a great project for every season and with a flameless candle in them they are ideal for use around kids or pets.
Reviewer #3 - Sheri
Mission: A fun Halloween project to enjoy with the kids. Enjoy being the key word. Some are just easier to do together than others. It is also a great opportunity to use up some of the mason jars that we discovered in our basement when we moved in.
Details:
- A simple project really. We painted the exterior of the jars with acrylic paint, and they dried surprisingly quickly. Maybe not quick enough for a five year old, but not to the point where I was completely annoyed.
- We then drew faces on the luminaries with a Sharpie.
- A quick spray of Krylon Clear Spray
and they were done. Time to wait till dark to light them!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
A little tip…use a sponge brush. Works so much better than a regular paint brush. I got a bag full of them for only $1.50. I just tossed them after the project.
Pros:
Super easy and the kids can each do their own. No arguing!
Cons:
None!
Conclusion:
The whole family enjoyed doing this project together. We planned it all out together. We wanted a pumpkin, a ghost, a witch, and a bat. We truly had a ton of fun. There was no arguing about who’s cracking the eggs, or who gets to lick the last bit of batter. We each had our own jar and did our own thing. It was super easy and our neighbors love them! The kids were thrilled! Another great thing, we can pack them away and use them again next year. We also talked about making reindeer and snowmen in winter.
Reviewer #4 – Sarah
Mission: To deface my beloved Mason jars…in a fun way of course!
Details:
- A few of us Crafty Collaborative ladies did this craft together as well – it’s always more fun in groups!
- I have a TON of Mason jars in my house – I always keep them around, they are great drinking glasses. Did I mention that I love whiskey and it goes great in Mason jars?!?!?Anyway, the jars I have on hand are pretty standard Mason jars with lots of ornate design on them. Since we were to be painting these, mine weren’t really of use as there was not a flat surface on any of them. All we needed were some “clean” Mason jars, and luckily Kristy was on her way over so she quick grabbed those up for us!
- I used the Martha Stewart Satin Acrylic All-In-One Paint
for this project, as well as my handy dandy Martha Stewart Paint Brushes. I am a sucker for great packaging…it will get me to buy a product over another any day.
- Because I always like to put a spin on things, I opted to do my jars as more of a fall feel vs. the jack-o-lanterns. I painted my jars in a reddish-orange tone and a yellow and then painted them with freehand leaf patterns. This is NOT my best quality…freehand painting that is. My leaves look like crap, but it was all in good fun.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
If you desire a very clean paint job, you may want to try cleaning the Mason jars before you start painting them. I opted for the more “rustic” look so did one coat of paint on each of my jars and honestly didn’t even think about cleaning them prior.
Have long matches (the kind you use to light fires in your fireplace) on hand to light your tea light candles once your jars are dried and ready to adorn your home. I tried using regular matches first and almost burnt my hand!
Pros:
Cheap, easy and could be a great kid project – though I opted to do these on my own.
Cons:
If you like perfection in your projects, this project just might drive you crazy!!
Conclusion:
Cute way to add some décor – but I don’t foresee myself doing this one again. It was easy and fun, but not my favorite end result.
Reviewer #5 - Kristy
Mission: I couldn’t pass up more décor for Halloween! Loved the ghost and pumpkin ones!
Details:
Fun group project! I love it that I live close to a couple of the Crafty gals so we can have a girl’s night with booze and crafts…perfect combo!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I recommend only one coat of paint to have a more translucent jar for the light to shine. If you decide to do two coats…let dry overnight before adding the second coat of paint.
I used a sponge brush for one jar and then I used Maren’s awesome paint brushes which I think turned out the best! The brush gave the jar a more even application of paint! Loved those brushes!!
Don’t travel with them before spraying with gloss or glaze as these scratch too easy. They need that protective coat!
Pros:
Easy and there so many ways to change up this project with various pumpkin or ghost expressions! Just be creative!
Cons:
Scratch easily before the clear coating so be careful! Also very streaky and I want it to look perfect!
Conclusion:
Perfect way to dress up your house for the holiday! Line the pathway to your front door to light the way for your little trick-or-treaters!
Happy Halloween!
The darling Halloween Painted Jar Luminaries and their photo by Crafts by Amanda
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Prudent Baby has gone and done it! A totally cute DIY Tray with a million uses and a bajillion ways to customize!
We love great gifts, we love tidying up our homes, and we love totally doable crafts! Let’s do this!
Please click here to visit Prudent Baby and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: I love to be organized, and I have wanted to try out a project with Mod Podge - I have never used it before! By the looks of it, this tray could be personalized in so many ways, I was really excited to dive in!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I started with a unfinished tray from Michaels. First, I painted it white with enamel acrylic paint in White
. I then added a coat of acrylic paint in Pearl Finish
that I have fallen in love with after our Faux Zinc Letters! Lastly, I added a coat of my other new favorite thing (discovered when we turned Ugly to Chic!), Martha’s Sprayable Gloss Enamel Finish
. A lot of steps, but I love my shiney, pearly white tray!
One thing that I would do differently, would be to lightly sand the tray before painting. I did have a few rough spots that would have looked much nicer if I had smoothed them out first.
I have a Fiskars Rotary Cutting Set which is PERFECT for any fabric cutting – not just quilting (which I don’t do). A quick measurement and I had a perfectly fitting piece of fabric!
I applied the Mod Podge a little at a time, so that I could make sure that I was placing my piece of fabric evenly onto the tray. I then smoothed out as I went along and it worked out great! I then added a couple more coats for good measure! The cool thing about the Mod Podge that I got, is that after letting it “cure” for 21 days, it will be water resistant! AND the Gloss Enamel Finish is suitable for outdoors! Perfect for the clumbsy gal who will probably spill the drinks that she’s carrying on it more than a couple of times!
Pros:
Frickin’ LOVE this thing. There are SO many ways to make this project your own!
Future house guests be warned, there may be one in every room.
Cons:
Nada
Conclusion:
I am a huge fan! With all of the differnent ways that you can customize this crafty little number, this project would be the perfect homemade gift. You could add a monogram for a hostess gift, use coordinating colors for a friends new home, or just fill with goodies like Prudent Baby did for a new mom! I’ll be making more!
Reviewer #2 - Amanda
Mission: Create a lovely little tray my kiddos could enjoy.
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
ALWAYS read instructions. I did not read the instructions on the Watermelon Krylon Spray Paint and regretted it immediately. I pulled the little plastic piece out of the nozzle thinking it didn’t belong there only to realize after spraying a coat that it MOST DEFINITELY belonged there. I ended up with this horrible, thick coat of paint that wouldn’t stick which was strange. Thankfully coat two SEEMED to cover that ick up.
Things went horribly wrong when I applied the Spray Mod Podge however. It looked fine at the time but when it dried it became cracked and bubbly. Really disappointed me but my kids thought it looked great.
Pros:
Fairly simple craft with great end results if done correctly.
Cons:
Can get expensive so try to use up old spray paint you have lying around instead of starting from scratch.
Conclusion:
I will definitely make this again even though my results were a total bomb (and not like “da bomb” either). I would definitely use craft paper next time and would probably not choose to use the Spray Mod Podge either. It really seemed to create more issues than convenience like I had hoped for.
Reviewer #3 - Sheri
Mission: My first thought for this project when we found it on Prudent Baby was that I have the PERFECT tray for this. Our Friday Night Movie Night tray was in dire need of a facelift. My second thought, “What the hell is Mod Podge?”
I’m a Mod Podge virgin.
Details:
I already had a tray that needed a little bit of love. All I needed to get was Mod Podge and some pretty paper. I didn’t paint the sides of my tray because they have a good finish and I like the natural wood with the leather handles.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Get an entire piece of paper that fits the tray properly…unless you don’t mind seams. The seams made it harder for me to get all the bubbles out.
Pros:
Easy and cheap little fix. Mod Podge is fabulous!
Cons:
None, unless you count you have to wash a paintbrush.
Conclusion:
Mod Podge has just found a new fan. My wheels are turning on all the other projects I could do with this stuff! This was an easy little upgrade to my tired looking tray. The boys are all excited to have “new” tray for Movie Night. I’m just a little bummed that I couldn’t find paper that fit the size tray I had. I don’t like seeing the seams. I am actually contemplating going right over it all with a piece of wrapping paper. We’ll see.
Reviewer #4 - Kristy
Mission: When I saw this tray, I knew I wanted to create one for myself. I also think the trays would make great gifts!
Details:
- I searched Michaels and Joann for an unfinished tray and I didn’t find what I was looking for. I ended up finding a tray that was already decorated at Joann and making it my own.
- I had originally planned to paint the tray sea foam green but then I had decided to leave it. This tray is great in the original wood stain and would go nicely with paper that I chose.
- When at Michaels, I chose 2 hard stock custom sheets of paper to use for the project. There were tons to choose from so get creative!
- Since I had to combine 2 pieces of paper to cover the bottom of the tray, I also purchased a dark contrasting ribbon to cover the lines.
- Of course, don’t forget the Mod Podge, cutting board, ruler and x-acto knife!
- Instead of a paint brush, I used a Sponge Brush
. I scored 20 brushes at 5 cents each from Michaels! Awesome, they are great for all projects!
Tips & Tricks Learned:
The best way to cut the paper is by using a professional cutter with the grid lines, I have one at work because I just wasn’t getting my lines straight and I was impatient. Go figure!
Follow the directions! Ha, I am terrible at this. I was in such a rush to see the final project that I didn’t slowly place the paper on the Mod Podge while pressing the air bubbles out. Once it’s stuck, it’s pretty much stuck. I had to lift mine to get it straight and remove air bubbles. By doing this I had to add additional Mod Podge and I was worried the paper would tear from being soft.
Pros:
Simple and cute! It’s is such a multipurpose project! You can make a tray for so many reasons and in so many creative ways!
Cons:
This project may drive the perfectionist types absolutely crazy, as I even found myself going a little crazy trying to get the paper to fit just perfectly and trying to remove all of those air bubbles.
I wish I had found the unfinished wooden tray from Michaels that was on Prudent Baby. Instead of $3.99, I paid $14.00.
Conclusion:
Loved it! If I had the need for more trays then I would definitely make more! Will make a perfect gift… especially to my clients for house warming gifts! I am already thinking of creative ideas to personalize them for the new homeowners. When I decided not to paint the tray, it’s because it will be perfect to hold one of our upcoming projects! You absolutely don’t want to miss what we have coming up this Fall!
Reviewer #5 - Janet
Mission: To make a cute and handy little tray that is as cute as it is functional.
Details:
Also… I couldn’t help myself after looking at all of Martha’s craft goodies! I grabbed a few more items to add a little something extra to my tray:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
If I were to do it again, I would use a fine grade sandpaper to smooth out the handles and edges of the wood before painting. One 2 oz bottle of paint is enough, unless you really want to coat that sucker.
Don’t be afraid to slather a lot on the first coat on Mod Podge before laying the paper down, and be sure to smooth out the paper when you do put it down. Put about 3 topcoats on, allowing each coat to dry before applying the next one.
Pros:
Simple project, allows for creativity and added touches, and actually will get some use out of it.
Cons:
If you’re looking for something more fancy or expensive-looking to decorate your home, this isn’t the way to go.
Conclusion:
I really liked this project! I forgot how awesome Mod Podge is…definitely going to be using it on other projects. I can see myself making this as a gift for a friend or family member. Thumbs up!
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Finding a great kid-friendly project is always a win-win, so we were excited to test out Homemade Finger Paints by Easie Peasie!
Please click here to visit Easie Peasie and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 – Sarah
Mission: To do a fun craft project that both my kids and I could enjoy!
Details:
- This project started out great – the ingredients and finishing items were inexpensive (less than $8) and it seemed to be going great from the beginning.
- We followed the recipe exactly and I ended up making two batches (each separately) so that I could fill up the four darling Ball Jars
I had purchased.
The mixture firmed up quickly and was ready for the food coloring to be added soon after it was done. I opted for yellow, green, a vibrant orange and a deep purple shade.
We waited until the next day to try out the paint – my kiddos didn’t nap the day we made them, so were both down for the count by 7:00 pm. They were pining to try these out since I mentioned making them!!- When we opened up the paint to get going, it was very apparent that it was going to be clumpy. I did try thinning one of the colors out at this point, but that only made it more clumpy and didn’t do what I was hoping for – turned more into a mashed potato type texture. Needless to say, this was frustrating, but I honestly didn’t know what to expect for the final texture.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I used the gel food coloring tubes and they worked great – the colors were vibrant and we had no problems with staining.
Due to the final texture of our paints, we tried using Sponges
for painting, which worked fairly well.
Pros:
Looks beautiful and we were so excited to give them a try!
Cons:
Ended up being very clumpy/goopy and didn’t work like actual paint. We were really bummed.
Conclusion:
I want to love these, but have to say that I can’t. I do want to try this again and maybe cut the amount of cornstarch a bit or add some additional water during the initial preparation process. The colors are great and the idea is fantastic – my kids were going batty just wanting to try it out!! All in all, we had fun giving these a try!
Reviewer #2 - Sheri
Mission: I must admit I was a little apprehensive with this project. I usually have to put my brave face on when doing a “messy” kids project. However, after reading the simple ingredients I figured how hard can it be? My kids normally don’t finger paint; we’re a tempura and watercolor kind of household, so I figured this would be a fun change.
Details:
- Simple ingredients. Heat them up together. Stir, cool, add color and transfer into jars.
- Well! Very simple but the consistency is Vaseline goop.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Cut down on the corn starch so the consistency isn’t such a goopy mess.
Also, transfer the mixture to a separate bowl to speed up the cooling process or your kids are going to drive you bananas!
Pros:
It was fun and they look cute in the little jars.
Cons:
They don’t work well. The consistency is goopy and slick. The kids weren’t too pleased.
Conclusion:
Well I think this project was a fail for me. Although we had fun, the resulting product just isn’t what I imagined it would be.
Cutting down the corn starch produces a better consistency, but it’s still not the consistency I expected. The boys basically ran some colored Vaseline on the paper and then walked away. Deacon looked at me crossed and said, “Mom this is NOT finger paints.”
On the flip side, my boys now have an obsession with food coloring and want me to color everything! Last night’s request was for green and blue ice cream.
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We’ve seen the real deal at Flea Markets and pricey Antique Shops, and we’ve seen the reproductions at trendy stores like Anthropologie. We could hardly contain ourselves when we saw the DIY version by Sugar and Charm!
We were ridiculously excited to make our very own Zinc Inspired Letters!
Please click here to visit Sugar and Charm and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 – Sarah
Mission: To replicate the adorable zinc letters found at retailers like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, etc. as a cute way to add some décor to my house.
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Since I had a free moment while my husband watched the kids, I painted the first coat of the black paint the night before to guarantee that they would be dry and we’d be ready to rock and roll with the pearl paint the next day.
In addition, I used the small sponge style paint brusheswhich worked well for my painting style.
A group of us got together to craft on this project, which made it even MORE FUN! My favorite thing about this project is that everyone’s turns out slightly different – it is all in your paint strokes and style.
Pros:
Awesome project and really happy with the outcome!
Cons:
A little messy (but nothing some newspaper and a wash cloth can’t cure) and a little difficult to do with my young tikes running around.
Conclusion:
Love it! Now I just need to decide where I am going to put my word “Hello.” I’m toying with my nursery for baby #3 or our future home office space!
Reviewer #2 - Maren
Mission: I almost peed my pants when we found this project on Sugar and Charm Blog! I couldn’t wait to test out this neat faux-zinc technique!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
As I mentioned, I embraced my very distinct brush stroke (the reason I was fired from painting my own kitchen) to get that textured look that you see in vintage zinc and galvanized metal. I really like how it turned out!
These are SUPER lightweight, too! You could easily hang them on your wall using a 3M Command Strip!
Pros:
Incredibly easy to do! Gorgeous results!
Cons:
None! I didn’t even think that it was messy!
Conclusion:
I couldn’t have loved this project any more! Not to mention, a few of us gals did this one together which made it a million times more fun! Everyones turned out fantastic!
After doing this project, I went home and painted “Zinc” rooftops onto my birdhouses!
Reviewer #3 - Kristy
Mission: Enjoy a day with friends making a cool project and learning to paint!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
My gal pal, Maren, taught me on the job that using random strokes with the second coat of Martha Stewart pearl paint gives that zinc like finish.
The pearl paint is white in appearance, AND YES, this is what you are looking for. I had purchased a metallic silver acrylic paint thinking that this would work for this project but you need the pearl! My amazing friends let me share.
Pros:
So much fun, especially with a great group of gals to complete the project with!
Very quick, it took just a few minutes to dry between coats. The cardboard seams give the allusion of welding seams.
Cons:
Overwhelmed by the paint selection, there are soooo many paint options!
Conclusion:
Great fun and will do these again for sure for a gift! Very versatile, can use the letters in any room of the home.
Reviewer #4 – ???
Who could this pretty lady be? Our newest contributor, that’s who!
Join us next week for the official meet and greet!
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Always on the search for personalized gifts and unique home decor, this project seemed nearly too good to be true!
Please click here to visit Shannanigans and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Kristy
Mission: This was a perfect addition to a closing gift I gave to my clients when we closed on their first home!
Details:
- Instead of acrylic for the stamp which is pricey I used the glass from a picture frame
- Black charcoal fabric paint
- Pack of simple white kitchen towels from Target
- Reusable stamps (rustic looking)
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Be sure to practice on a paper towel first! What a frickin mess I would have made! Originally, I strayed from the instructions and dipped the stamp into the paint but it turned out to be a gob mess on the paper towel. I found painting the stamp with paint worked the best for me. It still didn’t leave the desired thickness of paint so I had to go over my strokes with a paint brush.
Pros:
It was super simple!
Cons:
Truth, it wasn’t as simple as I expected, I thought I’d dip and stamp. It took a little more time to paint the stamps each time then touch up.
Conclusion:
Makes a great gift and there so many things you can stamp! Great way to personalize a gift by adding an extra special touch!
Reviewer #2 – Sarah
Mission: To create some darling stamped dishtowels for a useful craft that I can use in my own home, or gift to friends!
Details:
- To get this project going, I had to do some serious searching for the letter stamps – they were HARD to find! I ultimately found them at my local JoAnn Fabrics and did have to splurge a bit…good thing they have their frequent coupons! I think I ended up spending about $25 for the stamps, paint and acrylic forms. I had the kids in tow and didn’t feel like heading to another location to find the acrylic cheaper, so just went with it.
- I purchased my dishtowels at Target and honestly bought the cheapest ones I could find. They ended up being $1 each.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Have fun with this! Use any color of fabric paint you want and be creative with the words you use. I tried using upper case with a mix of lower case and enjoyed adding in some punctuation.
Pros:
A useful outcome! And, pretty darn cute – you could get really creative with your stamped words.
Cons:
Slightly expensive to get all of the materials, but if you took the time to shop around enough, I imagine it can be done for much less.
I do really wish I would have done this on a canvas bag – which I could have easily sewn first. I think I personally would have found that the most useful – like for our library book bag, produce, etc. But, dishtowels are always handy and make cute hand-made gifts!
In addition, I did have a hard time getting the paint to press evenly when transferring from the stamp to the cloth, but all in all, they can’t be perfect 
Conclusion:
Great project to do – easy and fun! And, the tools to do this project will be utilized again and again, so well worth the initial cost
Reviewer #3 – Mandy
Mission: Come up with an easy, cute holiday gift. (Yes, I’m one of “those people” that make my presents… ha.)
Details:
- I went to Michaels and JoAnn Fabrics and could NOT find acrylic letters. I even asked around. This may be an item you have to search around for (or maybe I just had bum luck…) or you may want to consider shopping online for some.
- I ended up buying some wooden letters and shapes that I thought might work as well. Just call me MacGyver.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Give yourself time to find the correct items and do the project. I always try to do thing fast and, therefore, couldn’t get quite what I had in mind.Although they did still turn out cute. The wooden letters worked just fine – maybe just not the “stamped/blocky” look I had in mind.
Pros:
Didn’t take a ton of time and could end up being super cute gifts!
Cons:
Finding the letters. My fingers were covered in fabric paint, so a tad messy.
Conclusion:
Love the concept. I just need to find these letters so I can see if I can make some super cute worded towels!
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After much frustration on our first try, we felt even more determined to get this gorgeous glassware into our homes!
A second attempt was born! Kristy and Maren went for round 2, and lived on to tell the tale…
Please click here to visit Sugar and Charm and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: Get it right! I want to nail this technique so that I can recreate on a much larger scale for our new house!
Details:
In accordance with my last vows to myself, I tried to find a thinner paint and a Surface Primer.
- Surface Primer… I must be a complete idiot. If I would have had my thesaurus with me at JoAnn, I would have realized that “Prime” and “Prep” are basically the same word. Surface Primer MUST be Gesso!!! I felt like a genius. (please be sure to read on to “Tips & Tricks”)
- I used another one of my vintage jars dug out of our property.
- Thinner paint? We’ll see, I guess. I chose Americana Acrylic Paint in Indian Turquoise
. I also added a little pearly paint that I have on hand for an upcoming post.
- Alcohol. Yes, I first first cleaned the interior glass surface with it; I also drank some.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
You may recall my “Frustration Scale” from the last post. I wasn’t entirely out of the water here.
With zen-like calm, perhaps mostly alcohol induced, I began my second attempt at the coveted Enamel Painted Vase.
Feeling like a freaking genius, I began by first applying my Gesso. Fail. It’s F-ing white. Start over. Count 1-2 F-bombs.
I attempt to chill the hell out as recommended to myself in the previous post.
Starting fresh, I applied my first coat of paint and walked away for 15 minutes to let dry as instructed. Upon my return, same problem as before. The paint wasn’t dry enough and when I went to smooth it out, I only picked it up and moved it around. Also, my new paint was only slightly thinner than my Martha paint, and therefore never dripped out like it should have. Oh boy. I let it sit over night and returned to apply my second coat in the morning.
The second coat did the trick. I was done after that! Yay! I did blob some extra paint into the jar and knock around by tapping the side of the jar onto the bottom of my palm. This helped to satisfy my anal retentive side and get a smoother coat on the bottom, even though no one will ever see it.
In the end, It’s great! I’ll still do this project again. #1 thing for me to plan for – letting each coat dry overnight. That’s it. Simple as that.
Pros:
Easy. They look great, no matter how you get there!
Cons:
Requires multiple coats of paint; each coat needs to dry overnight. This can be frustrating.
Conclusion:
I love the end result of this project.
They look great when finished and I truly am excited to recreate on a larger scale once we decorate our new home!
Reviewer #2 - Kristy
Mission: Attempt to redeem myself from the first attempt at the enameled vases. Looking forward to create new staging piece for my home.
Details:
- I read the directions again and noticed once the interior vase is painted, only hold over for minutes not over night as I did before. Ha!! Focus!
- The project called for surface cleaner and I still did not find this so I did without again!
- Used Folk Art enamel paint in Folk Art Enamel Acrylic Paint in Lemon Custard
…perfect color for my décor. I mixed it with the Folk Art Enamel in White Frost
to achieve a frosted look (I honestly have no idea if it made a difference.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Get extra paint, maybe swirling the paint in the vase instead of painting with a brush could work better.
Pros:
It’s pretty cheap to decorate! Great impact of color!
Cons:
It’s fully streaked so I have to put this up on a shelf so no one can peek in the inside.
It took a while to dry and the paint wasn’t flowing out.
Conclusion:
Second attempt was better than the first but nothing like the website. This is a bit too advanced of a craft project for me! Ha!
It does look pretty great but only if you don’t see it from the inside! I most likely won’t do this project for a 3rd time!
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Sugar and Charm has shared the trick to getting vibrantly colored glassware for less in her tutorial for Enamel Painted Vases.
We love the chic and modern look of these colorful, and functional pieces.
Please click here to visit Sugar and Charm and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: I really love the look of these vases. I see them all the time on Pinterest, and I just can’t get enough! I am really excited to learn this technique, as I think that it will be a fun way to add pops of color to our home decor.
Details:
- I decided to start on a smaller scale, so I used 2 vintage jars that I [no kidding] dug out of the dirt in the back of our property! The existing home that was torn down was built in 1904, so they had their own little dump in back. We found all sorts of weird shit; bowling balls, rusty bikes, beer cans… and tons of little glass jars!
- Of course, I used Martha Stewart Craft Paint. I love you Martha.
- I didn’t know what the H surface primer was. Is it Gesso
? I also couldn’t find anything called “Surface Primer” at JoAnn… so I skipped it.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
#1 use a craft paint with a thinner consistency. I love you Martha, but the paint was too thick to drip out as I expected. Also, too thick to dry within 15 minutes – when I went to even it out I just picked up the paint that was drying and moved it around 
This was extremely frustrating. Perhaps this was the purpose of the “surface primer”…
After screwing up my previously painted interior several times since the first coat wasn’t totally dry, I decided that I should probably create some type of “Frustration Scale” for you. Example: This project resulted in 3 F Bombs, 2 S.O.B.’s and an undocumented number of “sh*ts.”
I needed to step away… Rosie and I made our Salt Dough Paw Prints.
The only way this was going to work was for each coat to totally dry. I left them sit overnight. The following morning I was a little sad to see that the deep ridges from my thick paint and brush strokes had dried in tact. Whatever, no one will be looking inside. I proceeded to apply 2 more coats, waiting about 12 hours in between each. Yes, this project took me 3 days to complete.
In the end, I LOVE them! They’re great! I know that I’ll do this project again with the lessons learned – use thinner paint, apply a surface primer – I will use Gesso, and chill the hell out.
A total plus to using Martha’s Paint… if I leave them alone and wait 21 days for them to “cure,” they’ll be dishwasher safe!!! WHAT!! See, I knew I loved you, Martha.
Pros:
They look great!
Cons:
Not exactly the most relaxing project on the first go for an OCD wreck like me, but will be much better the next time! I think that I’ll add vodka first… to me.
Conclusion:
Even though I nearly had a nervous breakdown trying to get these to look perfect, I definitely intend on doing this project again. I truly love the end result. Although they might be rough on the inside… they appear perfect on the outside so no need to fret!
I can’t wait to recreate on a larger scale once we decorate our new home!
Reviewer #2 - Kristy
Mission: I was hesitant to do this project but I knew it was one I would enjoy learning! I am redoing my bedroom décor and I know yellow vases would be perfect. I will start small then I may do a few more pieces for my office.
Details:
- I chose a glass container with a lid as it cost me .60 cents helping keep the cost down and I didn’t want to ruin the glass vase I purchased. This was my tester for color and to see the results before continuing on other pieces. I did not purchase any frost or the surface conditioner so I am crossing my fingers that this project turns out.
- For color I chose Apple Barrel Acrylic Paint, in Bright Yellow
, which cost me $1.00.
- To start the project, I cleaned the jar well then squeezed a generous amount of yellow paint into the container.
- I snapped the lid on to more easily swirl the paint around the container. I was extremely generous on the paint, as a result, it was quick and easy to coat. I did not have a small paint brush on hand so I needed the extra squeeze of paint. The edges were more difficult to cover so I simply used my fingers to spread paint to cover the edges. I did notice a couple of tiny bubbles but so small that I don’t think anyone will notice.
- Once painted, I flipped the container over on a stack of paper towels and let the paint drip out to begin the drying process.
- Being the impatient person that I am, I decided to see how much paint had drained out. A TON, so let it sit. Just walk away or you will have a huge mess!
- Get ready for the extra paint; it looks like most of it will drain out while I have it sit out over-night.
- The finished project did not turn out as expected. I guess having the glass sit out in 107 degree weather with humidity was a very bad idea. Sad, all of the paint dripped out.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Don’t move the vase or container after flipping it, as it makes a huge mess. It’s best just to fold several napkins and set the container directly on top and let it be until it dries.
Be prepared, have the paint brush on hand so you won’t have to use quite as much paint or your fingers. I was a little nervous that the brush might make the glass streaky. You would likely use less paint if you could paint the inside with the brush instead of my technique.
Keep the bugs away; I had little bugs join in the paint party as I was completing my project on the ground.
Beware of the temperature, set it inside if it is too hot or too humid outside.
Pros:
It was cheap and makes such an impact of color. This project cost me under $2.00!
Cons:
It’s a little messy and the unknown of how it will turn out.
Conclusion:
This project did not turn out as expected but I will definitely do again! Next time I will be conscious of the weather as that will play a role in this project. There are so many varieties of colors and textures that can be used. I want to try the frosted acrylics and create white vases for my offices. This is a cute idea for gifts, too! It is an easy project to make such an impact on your home décor, I hope next time the heat doesn’t destroy the finished project.
Stay tuned as I will be redoing this project as time permits!
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Intrigued by the allure of a personal and thrifty gift, the girls of The Crafty Collaborative rolled up their sleeves and dove in!
Please click here to visit The Imagination Tree and the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 – Mandy
Mission: Bond with my nephews and make a cute (and cheap) keepsake that they can give to mom, dad, grandma and grandpa!
Details:
- I followed the recipe as written except for being strict on the time. Well, actually used Kosher salt as that’s what I had available.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I used more water than the recipe called for so make sure you plan accordingly.
Mine didn’t look as smooth as the photos in the original recipe did. Maybe it was the Kosher salt?? It is a bit grittier than normal table salt.
Pros:
Easy and kid-friendly! Plus, when I put my pup’s (Ruthie) paw in it, she totally didn’t mind as I think it tasted good to her when she got to lick it.
Cons:
Takes awhile to cook. Make sure you are not in a rush and can be at home while it’s cooking. Also, don’t forget about it like I did.
With such a long cooking time, I totally spaced on watching the time! Whoops.
Conclusion:
When I finally remembered to take the creations out (which I still think ended up being around 3 hours later), they cooked up just fine and didn’t burn at all. They could have maybe even gone longer as the centers were still a little moist. Definitely will make these again with my nephews for fun, affordable gifts for the fam!
Reviewer #2 – Sarah
Mission: To create a keepsake of my children’s footprints with salt dough.
Details:
- Salt
- Flour
- Water
- Darling kiddos!
- Acrylic paint
Tips & Tricks Learned:
You have to push the kids hand or foot into the salt dough a bit firmer than you may think to make a good impression of their print.
Pros:
SUPER easy to do and we had all of the materials on-hand.
Awesome keepsake for yourself or a gift for a loved one.
Cons:
My kids are a bit young to really understand the acrylic painting technique – but it all turned out great.
This project is somewhat time consuming – due to the bake time and then paint and dry time. We did the project over the course of two days.
Conclusion:
The kids and I had a great time making the salt dough forms – they turned out really cute too!
This is a sweet family project that you can cherish for years to come – and you could even do this as a yearly project. It would be a great project to do as a new mom with your infant as a keepsake of those cute tiny hands and feet
Reviewer #3 - Amanda
Mission: To turn dough into art! I am creating shapes for my kids to paint on a rainy day.
Details:
- I went into this craft knowing there would be some things I would change and may do differently.
- I decided that I would use my KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer
instead of doing the work manually. At first this seemed like a great idea but then I could tell that no amount of mixing, adding flour and water was going to make it smooth. So I opted to take the dough out of the bowl and knead it like bread dough. This was the trick!
- I lightly floured the counter and kneaded for about a minute and then used the roller to make it smooth and about 1/4 inch thick so I could cut out shapes.
- I used small cookie cutter in various shapes. 3 of each to keep it fair with my kids of course!
- I also used Kosher salt since the recipe didn’t call for specifics. I wonder if that may make a slight difference in texture.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Hand kneading is key and adding just a little water and just a little flour at a time is best. I only ended up adding about 1 tablespoon of water and about 2 tablespoons of flour to get the desired texture.
Pros:
This recipe requires cheap ingredients in small amounts so it is extremely economical and fairly readily available if you need a rainy day project.
Cons:
It is clear that you need to perfect the amounts and your kneading technique to make this a “quick” project.
Plus the amount of time it has to bake might make the waiting unbearable for little ones.
Conclusion:
I still think this will be a fun project to surprise my kids with and I KNOW they will love decorating them. I even cut out some small shapes that we could add magnets to.
I will definitely try this again but may try heating the water and salt together to make the dough smoother. Much like you would with a playdough recipe.
Reviewer #4 - Maren
Mission: The second I saw this project there was just one thing was one my mind. Pawprints! I couldn’t wait to stick my pup’s paw in some dough!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I don’t think that there really is an exact recipe to make this stuff. Having said that, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how to make it work. You just have to wing it. I tried to keep track, but in the end, I have no idea how much salt, water or flour was in the bowl. I did use warmer water though, in hopes that it would help the salt dissolve.
After over-thinking everything, I finally just approached the dough as if I were making cookies. I floured my work surface, and rolled the dough out to an even thickness.
Make sure that you wipe your pups paw off after pressing into the dough. I think that Rosie’s paw was like a mini salt-lick in the end.
My paw print ornaments were not more than 1/4″ – 1/2″ thick, however they felt moist and soft in the center of the underside after baking for 3 hours. I decided to bake for another hour, and then leave in the oven overnight. The following morning they still felt damp on the underside’s center (I wonder if it’s because I used parchment paper?). Since the top part was totally dried out, I flipped them upside down and baked them for another hour at 200 degrees. Wa-lah! Perfect!
When they were done baking, the ornaments looked like they were a little grainy, but they were totally smooth to the touch.
Upon painting my little paw prints, I noticed the dough sucking the paint into tiny air holes, the surface was pretty porous in some areas. Lightbulb! A porous surface should be sealed first with gesso! After this brilliant idea, and after trying one with and one without… it was determined that they looked almost exactly the same in the end. Damn it.
In terms of these bad boys being kid-friendly – it should be noted that I dropped one of mine [unpainted] onto the granite countertop from about 2 feet above, and another one [painted] from my hands onto the wood floor and neither one of them broke. Yay!
Pros:
Totally easy. Super cute!
My doggie was a good sport. We were both happy about this being a pet-safe activity.
Cons:
There was a lot of guesswork in the bake time, but since it was such a low heat – it wasn’t a scary thing.
Conclusion:
This was an easy, fun project! I am happy with how my puppy keepsake turned out, too! I am already thinking of other things that I can make with this quick and easy dough! I think that I might have to steal my nephew’s hand or foot to make a keepsake like The Imagination Tree’s!
Reviewer #5 - Sheri
Mission: Okay here’s that word that I’m not too comfortable with… “Dough.”
Dough needs the right flour to water ratio to work right. Dough gets sticky. You add more flour and then dough get crumbly. I often have a problem with dough. This project should be interesting…especially seeing the boys will be helping me.
Details:
- After reading the instructions I was a little more at ease. 1 cup salt, 1 cup of flour, and half a cup of water. Easy. I let the boys help. They were super excited.
- You simply combine the three ingredients and form a ball of dough.
- The boys flattened their dough and of course wanted to make dinosaurs instead of handprint keepsakes.
- We put them in the oven at 200°F for two and a half hours.
- Logan decided to get creative and make a dinosaur egg fossil. Seeing he put plastic bones in it we couldn’t put it in the oven. I think it’s going to take weeks to dry.
- The following day, they painted.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I found that the dough was a little too sticky. The predicament I hate to be in. I added a quarter cup of flour and the consistency was much better.
Also, don’t use your kids tempera paints…you really should use acrylic.
Pros:
First and foremost the kids had fun. Clean-up was easy. Only 3 ingredients!
Cons:
Kids asking if they’re ready yet 50 times over a span of 2.5 hours.
Conclusion:
I have to admit it was a really easy dough to make. They boys had fun. Big bonus was that the clean-up was easy. I’m already thinking of things we can make with the stuff as gifts.
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We can’t wait to try this project out!
Please click here to visit House of Earnest and see the instructions that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: To make super cute color block cooking utensils that make me feel like a cooking fashionista!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Sand your [cheap] utensils before you paint! Also – be careful to keep them away from each other after spraying with the shellac – they’ll stick together! I also re-taped prior to spraying with the shellac. I did this to make sure that there wasn’t a big ridge of paint that would look bad, and make it so the tape couldn’t totally come off.
Pros:
Super easy and cute – I think that they would be a cute way to color coordinate a hostess or shower gift.
Cons:
None – I loved this!
Conclusion:
It was easy and they turned out super cute! Now that I have the huge can of the Shellac Spray, I am looking forward to making these for every housewarming and shower gift for the rest of time! I hope my friends and family are as excited about these as I am!
Reviewer #2 - Sheri
Mission: When I saw these on Pinterest I fell in love. They’re adorable and looked easy to do.
Details:
- First I grabbed the kids’ paints and tried painting the utensils. That was a quick fail. The paint did adhere very well. I then broke out my acrylic paints and made some progress. I tried getting fancy…another fail. It just wasn’t one of those creative kind of days for me
Tips & Tricks Learned:
What I learned while making these today…stay with simple, and don’t leave wet painted spoons out where the three year old can reach them. Be cautious when removing the painters tape. Don’t apply the paint too thick there.
Pros:
Really not that difficult to do.
Cons:
Not something to do when the kids are around. All kids love to paint!
Conclusion:
They’re cute. Although I had a few fails and my three-year-old ruined a couple of them before they were dry, I think I would still make them again…Minus the peanut crew. I think these would pair really well with a cook book wrapped in a table cloth (another Pinterest fave) for a shower gift. Just stick these on top.
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Balancing Home has shown us that a little spray paint can go a long way – turning undesirable items into fabulous and chic pieces of home decor that are sure to wow! Check out the gems that we found, and sprayed to glam!
Please click here to visit Balancing Home to see the post that we followed!
Reviewer #1 - Maren
Mission: To see if my little pink Buddha can be given new life with a few coats of paint!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
I desperately wanted to use my new Martha paint… so I didn’t use a spray paint. This would have been a bad idea had I not used the AMAZING Martha Stewart Gloss Enamel Finish to shellac my little Buddha man at the end. The super glossy spray covered every brush mark and made my little buddha look incredibly chic! Yay!
Pros:
Super easy and the result is so much fun! I can’t wait to spray some more stuff!
Cons:
Non – I love this guy and this project!
Conclusion:
I love this project! I love Martha’s craft paint and I can’t wait to transform more items from our home! This gives me a whole new perspective when I see weird things at garage sales, or the Goodwill! I am totally inspired!
Reviewer #2 – Mandy
Mission: I love spray painting stuff and just bought a new home to decorate. “Old crap” to mod décor… here we come!
Details:
Tips & Tricks Learned:
Find a spot where you won’t be permanently painting the driveway. Lay down lots of old newspaper or paper bags! Also, exercise some patience and don’t paint too many layers on before fully allowing the previous to dry.
Pros:
So easy! And so cute and economical!
Cons:
Messy. The paint is also hard to get to stick on some surfaces, resulting in flaking paint. I was finding myself having some issues with drippy paint streaks as well.
Conclusion:
It’s a lovely way to utilize the old, ugly stuff you were going to get rid of or throw away. I hate being wasteful and this is a fun way to revive that stuff.
Reviewer #3 - Kristy
Mission: Paint can do wonders to change the look of furniture and accent pieces. I have used spray paint once before on cabinet knobs so I was very interested in using it again for this project. I went shopping at the Goodwill and I found a couple of pieces I wanted to paint, but decided the best item was this gold plastic mirror frame.
Details:
- Picking out spray paint was a bit overwhelming with so many options….glossy, textured, flat, matte, metallic, etc. I also noticed, each can was specific for the material it was be used on. Since mine was plastic, I purchased a plastic friendly spray paint. As for the color, I was considering a color but didn’t find one that I loved love so I went safe with glossy black.
- Next step was protecting the mirror from the tape. I used painters tape and newspaper to frame the perimeter of the frame.
- It was a windy day, so probably wasn’t the best day to do this project but I moved forward. My finance came supervise and informed me that I was applying the paint too thick. Light and short sprays would have been better for the finish
- Finish project, let dry!
- Yikes, bubbles had formed on the edges of the frame. Not too noticeable but depending on where I decide to hang the mirror, I may have to consider sanding the paint off and repaint.
Tips & Tricks Learned:
It’s easier to take the screws off the frame and detach the mirror if you are able to. It’s easier than taping first…wish I had learned this first. Thanks to my fiancé, I finally figured this up.
Don’t spray on a windy day…not sure if this is what caused the bubbles, but it could have potentially caused it.
Use short, light strokes for even finish!
Don’t forget to clean the surface, wipe it down!! This will help for a clean finish.
Hang to spray paint; I think it might have been easier to spray on more evenly.
Pros:
It was super simple! The taping was the hardest part, well most time consuming!
Cons:
Bubbles, unsure of how it occurred. Did some “googling”…it might be from the wind, heavy strokes or because I forgot to clean the surface! Its just on the edges so it looks find from the front.
Conclusion:
Overall, the project was super easy. I definitely will consider spray painting other objects but I will be bold and try more color next time! This is a perfect way to transform an old piece to give it new life. Giving a room a pop of color with a cool piece, can make all the difference!
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as a substitute. I noticed that the label said to not use it on wood, and then learned that this is because it will strip the stain right off! Holy crap, this stuff was powerful.
I’m not kidding. It was awesome for being able to see into each nook and cranny to be sure that I didn’t miss a spot! lol
for creating my stencil (you wouldn’t need this if you had one that was pre-made).
as recommended by 
I was inspired by 
to keep the treaded part of the jars from getting painted.
It worked well and I bet I will find more uses for this spray!
instead of the traditional paint-on version. I am not saying this was wise, just saying.
As far as I’m concerned, any brand would do the trick for this project. I am just a sucker for darling packaging!
- Only used one coat!
Only problem with these brushes is that you occasionally have to pull a hair out of the object that you’re painting!
with 
