Happy New Year painted party wine glass tutorial

Ring in the New Year with an easy to paint confetti party wine glass.  Quick and easy to paint just like a coloring book and when you bake them in your home oven they are top rack dishwasher safe although I recommend hand washing. Having a party? Set your table with these party-centric wine glasses, put some noisemakers and a napkin in each one and your guests will have a party favor to use again and again.

You will need:

Wine glass

Alcohol and paper towels

Paint pen for glass in black

Various colors of enamel acrylic paint pots for glass (You can get them in paint pot sets of several colors) 

Small paintbrush

Home oven

1.  Wipe down your wine glass with alcohol to remove any oils.

2.  Using the paint pen draw little squares and triangles all around the wine glass.  In between         the shapes make some curl (Streamer) shapes. Add as many as you like.  (See photo tutorial for streamer step-by-step)  Let dry.

 Step 1:  Follow the steps on your wine glass to make the streamer, it helps to do it on a piece of paper to use as a guide

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Finished streamer, add little squares and triangles for the confetti

3.  Use a small paintbrush to fill in all the squares, triangles and streamers with different colors.  Let dry. 

Fill in the streamers with two colors.  Paint the top of the curl a darker shade on top and lighter under and then fill in the confetti with various colors all around. Just like a coloring book!

4.  Place your wine glass/glasses on a cookie sheet and set your oven to 350 degrees.  Bake for 30 minutes (no it will not melt) let the glasses cool in the oven. These glasses would be great for Birthdays too!

Recycled cardboard light string spool

Christmas 2013 is history.  And in a few days, after you ring in the New Year you will have to put away all the Christmas things.  But wait—remember when you took out those light strings at the start of the season and they were in a big knot?  Well a light string spool would solve that problem and using duct tape and recycled boxes from Christmas makes it cheap and easy. 

You will need:

Corrugated cardboard

Compass with pencil

Regular scissors and small pointed scissors

Duct tape in desired color

Ruler

Dried beans

Tube from the inside of a aluminum foil roll (They are smaller around much stronger than paper towel tubes.)

1.     Use a compass to measure and mark two 4-inch diameter circles on a piece of corrugated cardboard.  Cut out both circles.  Using the same center mark, place the tube on each cardboard and use a marker to trace around. 

2.     Cut out the center circles using the sharp pointed scissors.

3.     Insert the tube through the small center hole letting about 2 inches poke through.   Use the scissors to cut all around the tube and fold down spoke style.  (This is the outside of your spool)

4.     Use some duct tape to tape the spokes on the outside of the cardboard and cover the entire outside with more duct tape. 

5.     Insert the other end of the tube through the second cardboard and cut off to about the same amount as the first one, leaving as much in the center as needed.  Cut the ends of the tube around, fold down like you did on the opposite side. Set it tube side up and fill with beans. The beans give it a bit more body when wrapping the light strings.

6.     Cover the entire spool with duct tape.  You can also optionally cover the inside of the spool with duct tape. Use the spool to wind your light strings and keep them untangled.

Free kid's Santa Suit gift card pocket

Let's be honest.  Some people are just really hard to buy gifts for.  They have everything or you just can't think of something they would like.  And it's even harder for kids to buy for those adults on their list! For those people  that fit this description there are always gift cards.  But gift cards are impersonal and not that attractive.  So a gift card pocket--you can print out, cut out, and put together is the perfect solution.  Download the free gift card pockets you will be all set.  Great for those last minute gifts!

You will need:

Gift card pocket printable

Stylus or dried out ink pen

Scissors

Glue or double faced tape

Clothespin to hold pocket closed if using glue

White card stock paper

Printer and computer

1.  Download the free printable and print on card stock paper.  Cut out pocket.  Use a stylus or dried out ink pen to score around the curved lines, Use a ruler and stylus to score center line and tab lines.  Fold on the scored lines.  

2.  Use some double faced tape to attach the tab to the opposite side--or use tacky glue and a clothes pin to hold till the glue dries.  Insert your gift card and push in the curved tabs on both ends to close.

Gift card pocket printable

Recycled clothing label gift tag ornament

As they say in the song, “Greeting cards have all been sent.”  Now it’s time for wrapping presents and labeling them.  If you’re like me, you save all sorts of labels and tags, some of them are made with very sturdy tag board.  And what can you do with that extra Christmas card or two?  With little bit of sparkle magic you can make unique gift tags that also double as ornaments!  And if you don’t have any clothing labels lying around don’t fret you can easily substitute some heavy cardboard.

You will need:

Clothing label, any shape (or heavy cardboard cut to a pleasing shape)

Small cuticle type scissors

Tacky craft glue

White glitter

Small paintbrush

Christmas card with small motifs or designs

Spray or brush on chalkboard paint

Double sided adhesive foam dots (for dimensional effect)

6 inches of gold or silver cord

Hole punch

White colored pencil, chalk or sharpie marker

Brown paper bag to protect your work surface

Cardboard box if using spray paint

1.     Apply some chalkboard paint on one side of the tag and let dry.  Turn over and do the same to the opposite side.  Spray paint dries quickest but you will need to spray it in a well ventilated area in a cardboard box. If necessary apply a second coat to both sides.  Let dry. If you use brush on chalkboard paint use a small brush to apply letting each coat dry completely.

2.     Cover one side of the tag with tacky glue and then sprinkle some white glitter to cover. Add some extra glue and glitter in the center area. Let dry completely.

3.     Cut out a motif from a leftover Christmas card with the small cuticle scissors.  (I used a small horse and sleigh)  Remove the backing from one end of a foam dot and attach it to the back of your cut out. Repeat for another dot depending upon the size of your motif.

4.     Remove the backing from the foam dots you attached to your motif and stick it on the glittered side of the tag.  You may use some extra tacky glue if you desire for better adhesion.

5.     Turn over on the chalkboard side and write your greeting, message or label with a white sharpie marker or chalk.

6.     Punch a hole in the top of your tag if using cardboard or use the hole from your label to attach a 6 inch piece of gold or silver cord.  After use you may hang on the tree.

Elf on the tree brown bag ornament tutorial

You may have an elf on a shelf but probably not on your tree.  This is an easy project that uses a recycled brown paper bag, some paint and fiberfill. So he is inexpensive and easy enough for the kids to make!  This little elf has probably been into Santa’s cookies though!

You will need:

Brown paper bag

Star pattern (download)

Acrylic paint in red, white, black, blue, brown and flesh

Scissors

Pencil

Small paintbrush, flat and liner

Tacky craft glue

Clothespins to hold together while the glue dries

Small amount of fiberfill

Paper plate to use as a paint palette

6-inches of 1/8” wide gold ribbon

Graphite paper for tracing your pattern

1.     Transfer the star pattern on a heavy weight brown paper bag, one for the front and one for the back.  Use the pattern for a painting guide.

Elf on a tree pattern

2.     Begin painting the elf by following the photo tutorials.  Using the flesh colored paint in the top star point paint a curved shape for his face.  Add some white at the forehead area for the brim of his hat.  Fill in the top with red paint.  Let dry.  Acrylic paint dries quickly. Add some brown paint under the brim for his hair.

3.     Paint the side tips of two star points white. (Gloves)  Paint triangles all around the edge of his chin. (Collar)  Let the paint dry.

4.     Fill in the rest of the star with red paint. (Body)

5.     For the second star (back) repeat all the steps above except instead of flesh under the brim paint it all brown for the his hair on the back of his head.

6.     Go back to the front and make two small eye shapes with white paint in the center of the face using the pattern as a guide. (Eyes)

7.     When the whites of the eyes are dry add a dot of blue in each one and then add a black dot in the center.  Make eyelashes with the black paint and some black lines on his bangs for his hair.

8.     Use some red paint thinned with water to paint the cheeks in a circular shape on each side.  Make a red curved line between the cheeks. (Mouth)  Let dry.

9.     Cut out both painted stars.

10.  Cut a six-inch piece of 1/8” wide ribbon and make loop. Add some tacky glue to the inside top point of the back star and attach the ribbon.  Run a bead of glue all around the edges leaving the bottom center points unglued and attach the front star.  Make sure they are lined up properly and painted sides are facing out. Use some clothespins to hold together while drying.

11. When the glue has dried fill with a small amount of fiberfill and glue the open area.  Use a clothespin to hold while drying.