How to use nature for easy acorn Thanksgiving décor

Nothing looks more autumn-y than this acorn Thanksgiving décor!  It’s so easy to use acorns to decorate and for craft projects.  You will need to clean them and then heat in the oven for 10 minutes or more at 350 degrees before you use them but after that the skies the limit!

These are so easy to make look like zentangle designs and even pop on a face or two as a cute little surprise.  Set them around the table or in a centerpiece with a candle and your guests will fall in love with your acorn Thanksgiving décor. 

Materials:

·      Acorns and caps  (Many times the caps separate from the acorns which is fine because you glue them on after painting anyway.

·      Corrugated cardboard piece to work on

·      Acrylic paints in chosen colors

·      Sharpie markers, black, white, silver, and colors of choice

·      Fine sandpaper

·      Duct tape

·      Gloss acrylic finish

·      Small paintbrush and paper plate for palette

·      Aluminum foil

·      Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks

Instructions:

1.     First wash and dry all the acorns and caps.  Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place the acorns on it.  Set your oven to 350 degrees and heat for at least 10 minutes.  Remove and let cool before working with them.

2.      Next, fold pieces of duct tape so that you have the sticky side up and attach to a piece of scrap corrugated cardboard

3.     Now use the fine sandpaper to lightly sand the acorns so that the paint will adhere. 

4.     Then attach the acorns wide side facing down to the sticky tape on the cardboard to hold it while you paint them.  You don’t need to paint the top areas since you will cover that area with the caps.  At the same time apply a coat of gloss finish on the acorn caps.

5.     For the next step, apply some paint into a paper plate or palette and using a small paintbrush paint each acorn.  Let dry and apply a second coat.  Let dry completely. 

6.     Now to make the design use a sharpie marker.  First, make a line all around the acorn close to the top.  Second, draw loops all around the bottom of the line.  Then make another line all around closer to the bottom. Now make small circle in between both lines centering between the loops.  Next draw lines from the circle to the center of the loops and the bottom line.  Continue all around. It will look like an X from the small circle.  (See photos)

 

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

7.     Now make larger loops under the bottom line all around.

 

Step 6

8.     Turn the acorn with the bottom semi-pointed end is facing you.  Draw a circle on the bottom and then attach with lines to the loops you just drew. (See photo)  Easy!

Finishing

9.     Attach the cap with some hot glue.

10. For an alternate fun surprise draw a face on a couple of acorns.  Use silver or white on the darker painted acorns. (See photo)

11. Place the acorns around the table or surround them around a holiday candle centerpiece.

Patriotic duct tape long stem rose

Decorate your 4^th of July table with this quick and easy to create patriotic duct tape long stem rose.  Make one or make a bunch. The grapevine wire bends easily and allows you to use them in lots of ways. Lay them on your table, twist them around bannisters or put one in a bud vase for a centerpiece.  The applications are limitless. 

Supplies:

Patriotic duct tape

Green duct tape

Grapevine wire

Self-healing mat to work on

Scissors

Ruler

Wire cutters

Marker

X-Acto or other craft knife

Flower pattern

Printer and paper

flower pattern

Directions:

1.     Cut three pieces of duct tape about 3 1/2 inches each more or less. (It just needs to be the width of the flower pattern) Attach them together lengthwise overlapping each to make one whole piece.  Repeat this procedure again and then attach the sticky sides together. (It doesn’t matter if they are uneven) 

2.     Repeat step 1 two more times so that you have three pieces of usable duct tape sheets with the print on both sides.

3.     Download, print and cut out the pattern.  Place the pattern on top of one of the duct tape sheets and cut out.  Cut a slit to the center on one of the petals and fold over the petal beside it and secure with a small piece of duct tape ½” x 1” on the inside.  (See photo)  This is the largest petal group.

It's easier to show on the pattern piece where you cut the slit on the duct tape sheet to attach one petal to the other

4.     Use the same pattern piece cut and remove one of the petals. (See photo)  Use the pattern on top of the other duct tape sheet to cut it out.  Fold the end petal over the one beside it and secure with a small piece of duct tape like you did before.  You will have the second largest petal group.

5.     For the last and smallest petal group, use the same pattern piece but cut out another petal so that you have two petals removed.  Place on top of the duct tape sheet and cut out.  Fold the end petals together laying one on top of the other and secure with a small piece of duct tape.  (See photo)

6.     Use one of the petal shapes for a pattern to cut out a piece from duct tape with the sticky side still usable.  Cut a small piece of duct tape to cover the top portion. It will resemble an ice cream cone with the sticky side at the bottom. 

7.     Twist the petal piece around a 12-inch stem cut from the grapevine wire.  (See photo) This is the center of the flower.

8.     Cut a tiny slit in the pointed bottoms of all the petal groups to make a hole. This is where you will insert the wire.

9.     Starting with the smallest petal group insert the wire through the bottom and slide up to the top.  Secure around the stem with a ½” x 1” piece of green duct tape that is cut to a point on each end.  Repeat this step with the second largest petal group and end with the largest petal group.

10. Add some extra green duct tape at the bottom and stem if needed. Use a small paintbrush end or a pencil to curl the petals.  Slit the petals a bit so that you can curl the ends easier.

Bride and Groom etched wine glasses tutorial

It won’t be long before there will be lots of weddings.  Why not make a personalized set of etched wine glasses for that special bride and groom?  It’s easier than you may think to etch.  And wine glasses are readily available at most stores. I found these glasses at the dollar store!!  Follow this step-by-step tutorial and you will have a wonderful wedding keepsake.  Decorate the stems of your wine glasses with bows that coordinate with the wedding colors or tie on some silk flowers and tulle.  The sky is the limit.

You will need:

Wine glasses

Etching cream (sold at most craft stores)

Small paintbrush

Computer and printer

Piece of glass from an old frame

Clear contact paper

Tweezers

X-acto craft knife or wood-burning tool

Alcohol

Paper towels

You will need to be near a water source to neutralize the etching cream

1.     Work on a piece of glass to cut your stencil. Print the words for your wine glasses on in the font and size of your choice.  I made mine 48 pts.  Place your printed word guide under the glass and tape down so it stays stationary. 

2.     Cut a rectangle of contact paper to cover the size of your words (Work on one word at a time) Attach to the top of the glass over the words.  Use an X-acto knife or a wood-burning tool to cut out the words.  Remove the cut out sections, saving the center parts.

3.     Prepare your glasses by wiping with alcohol to remove any dirt and oils.  Attach the prepared stencil on the glasses making sure you press out all the air bubbles.  Use the tweezers to attach center sections in the O’s and D, B and e.

4.     Using a small paintbrush, add the etching cream to the stencil and leave on for five minutes. 

5.     After you have left the cream on for 5 minutes wash it off  to neutralize it.  You will have permanently etched words. 

6.     Decorate your wine glasses with bows, florals and more.

For complete instructions to make the white bride bow and black tie groom bow for the stem visit Bowdabra blog!