How to use a holiday napkin to make amazing seasonal glass décor

 Did you know that ModPodge comes in a dishwasher safe formula?  And did you also know that you can use a holiday napkin to make amazing seasonal glass décor?  All sorts of holiday napkins are readily available at craft and party stores throughout the holiday seasons.  I found the most beautiful fall leaves accented with gold that is perfect for Thanksgiving.  

 

You can also use Christmas, New Year’s, Patriotic, Easter, and more napkins when they are available.  And if you use ModPodge dishwasher safe you can put your glassware on the top shelf of the dishwasher or hand wash as needed.  

 

Note: please be advised that Plaid Enterprises, Inc. has compensated Make it easy crafts by furnishing Plaid product at no charge in connection with this post.

 

Materials:

 

Glassware, plates, wine or beverage glasses, canning jars, etc.

Napkins in desired prints

Gold leaf pen

alcohol

ModPodge dishwasher safe formula

Small paintbrush

 

Instructions:

 

First, choose your napkin.  Then, separate the layers of the napkin so that you are only using the printed piece. 

Next, choose your clear glass item.  For plates and dishes make sure the right side of the napkin is showing through the glass, so you will have to apply the ModPodge to the wrong side of the napkin.  If using beverage or wine glasses, apply the napkin right side up on the outside of the glass, but about an inch or so from the rim so that your lips will only touch the glass when using.

 

Now, measure and cut the right size for the area you are covering with the napkin.  Then, using the small paintbrush, liberally apply some ModPodge to the surface.  Immediately place the prepared napkin piece.

 

Next, brush a coat of ModPodge on the napkin.  Wrinkles are fine and give the piece added texture. Let it dry for a couple hours and then apply two more coats of the ModPodge as necessary.  Let dry completely.  It will be dishwasher safe or you can hand wash after it cures for about 28 days.

 

How to easily change your style and paint on unusual surfaces

So, with the coronavirus keeping many of us indoors what have you all been doing to keep creative and busy?  If you have some paint stashed away it might the right time to think about painting on unusual surfaces.

Unusual surfaces to paint

Rocks are a great surface to paint on.  You might have some rocks right outside your door that would work perfectly. You can also buy a bag of smooth landscape rocks for a very reasonable price at a home improvement store.  Kids can get in on the action as well.  You can be as simple or as intricate as you see fit.  And the fun part is putting rocks in public places with positive messages for people to find.

Corks are another surface that you may have laying around.  You can recycle them into another great unusual surface to paint.  Again you can get detailed or simply decorative. Painted corks make great keyrings and ornaments.  It's never too early to think about Christmas!

When you think of unusual surfaces to paint on do you ever think why not a brick?  Bricks, when they painted, may great door stops and bookends.  Especially if you paint them to resemble a book!

Fabric is readily available.  Simply look in your closets and you will find unusual surfaces galore!  personalize them with some acrylic paints with fabric medium added.  Don't forget to heat set.

While there are many choices of painting surfaces none are more striking than painting on glass.  You can paint on wine glasses, plates, vases and more.  You will need to use paint that is specified for glass and heat set in an oven.  

This was sure fun, finding unusual surfaces to paint on.  Once you start looking though, you tend to find more.  So, this will be a recurring post for another day with more unusual surfaces to paint!  

Be sure and click on some of the images for full tutorials of a similar project!

See you soon!

How to make an easy indian corn tea light holder

      So it’s almost fall, my favorite time of year.  Who doesn’t love the crisp morning air, the pumpkin spice everywhere you look, and the colors of the season?  It is the perfect time to paint an Indian corn tea light holder on an upside down wine glass! 

      It's so easy to paint this cute Indian corn tea light holder!  Decorate it with some raffia and simply add a flameless or regular tea light candle for a décor piece that everyone will love!

Supplies:

Small and medium sized paintbrushes

Gloss acrylic paint, tan, gold, yellow, lt. yellow, red, purple, white, sienna, and orange

Brown sharpie marker

Raffia

Tea Light

Waxed paper or cardboard to protect your work surface

Alcohol

Paper towels

1.     Wash and wipe down your wine glass with a paper towel and alcohol.

2.     Using the brown sharpie marker, make a mark from the base of the stem to the rim on each side.  In essence you are marking half your wine glass.  

3.     On one side begin making small circles across with the marker continue making circles across and down until you reach the rim.  These are the Indian corn kernels.  See photo.  You will use these guidelines much like a coloring book and fill them in individually.

 

4.     Using the larger paintbrush and the tan gloss paint, cover the side that is not marked with kernels brushing with a downward motion.  Continue with tan on the stem and the base.  Let dry.  Turn rim side down and paint the bottom with tan and let dry.  Repeat with second coat.  When the second coat is dry, make some downward marks with sienna and white for a textural effect.  Repeat this step on the bottom of the base (which will be the candle holder) but brush the sienna and white in a spoke like pattern.

5.     Using the marks you made for kernels begin filling each one individually with the smaller paintbrush.  Use yellow, orange, purple, and red, varying the locations until you have filled in every one to the bottom.  Let dry and repeat with a second coat.

6.     Cute a 12-inch piece of raffia.  Cut and tie a six-inch piece of raffia onto the longer piece.  Continue adding raffia pieces until you have about six.  Trim up the ends.

7.     Tie the raffia strip with the fringe on the stem.  (See photo)

If you don't like how your marks are coming out when marking your glass, simply rub with some alcohol and start over.

Thanksgiving thoughts and craft tutorials

Thanksgiving is almost here.  Sometimes because of Christmas sales, black Friday and more materialistic pursuits, some of us have lost sight of the true meaning of Thanksgiving.  So today I would like everyone to sit back, take a breather and think about all we have to be thankful for.  I am adding my list in this post but I encourage you all to make lists of your own.  Read them aloud during your Thanksgiving celebration. Be thankful for the little things, the ones that don’t require a credit card or checkbook.  And since crafting is a relaxing and enjoyable hobby I am adding a list of free (as always) thanksgiving tutorials you can create quick and easy!  Just click on the photo for the full tutorial.

I am thankful for:

The colors and beauty of sunsets and sunrises – There are those who cannot see

Family and friends – There are those who are alone

The roof over my head and food on my plate – There are those who are hungry and cold

Childlike innocence and acceptance – There are those who judge unfairly

My dog – Loyalty cannot be bought

Good things that often follow the bad.  You see, they say when one door closes another one opens.  The key is to actually notice that other door and leave the past behind

Colorful fall leaves on the trees and piles to jump in – There are those who cannot walk thought the forests and fields

Healthy mind and body, there are others who are much, much worse.

Guardian angels – My husband fell off the roof last year and while he had a lot of pain he is alive and well and I know there are other who are not so lucky

My children – although they bring painful tears at times, they also bring tears of joy in abundance.  There are others who will never know that joy and pain.

My faith in god -which has never left me even in the worst of times.

My blog, my art, and my followers – you have taken me around the world

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Recycled floral napkin ring

Indian corn wine glass votive holder

Chalkboard place cards

4 painted wine glass tutorials

So you think you can’t paint?  You may think these wine glasses are difficult to create, but think again! You can paint these beautiful wine glasses for all your summer parties, weddings, and birthdays. The tutorials take you step by step all the way to the beautiful finished wine glass. They make wonderful gifts and it’s never too early to think about Christmas. Since you paint on the outside of the glass in layers, when you look inside the glass you will see the inside of the flower!  Just click on the photos for the tutorial.  If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

 Blue flower painted wine glass

Fourth of July patriotic floral wine glass

White floral wine glass

Red Day lily painted wine glass