Thursday, August 15, 2013

Rainbow of Mason Jars

Hi, again! Today I will be showing you how to color your own mason jars for a cute little decoration.

I will link this project to Rhinestone Beagle so you can view other fabulous projects.



Let's get started!

Materials you will need:
1. Prego/Pickle/Mason jars
2. Mod Podge
3.Water
4. Food Coloring

Step #1: Grab different sized jars.



These jars can either be actual mason jars, or you can use any sort of clear, glass jar. I used a pickle jar and two Prego jars. The only problem with the Prego jars is that sometimes the bigger sizes have the Prego name etched into the glass.

Step #2: Mix your mod podge with your color of choice and a little bit of water.




This step can become kind of tricky for various reasons. If you want your color to be a deep, dark color you should use less water and mod podge and more food coloring. (You may need to make a couple batches for one jar since you are using less mod podge.)



However, if you want a lighter, more pastel color I would use more water and possibly more mod podge to dilute the color.

Much of this is trial and error. If you do not like the color you may have to play with the ingredients to make the color of your choice.

Step #3: Once you have the right color, pour the colored mod podge into the bottom of the jar.



Step #4: Start twisting the jar and turning it upside-down to cover the whole jar with color.



Place foil underneath a sheet of wax paper on a cookie tray and place the jars upside-down on the tray so the color can reach the rim of your jar.



Step #5: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and place jars in for a few minutes.



You will know when to pull the jars out when the color is completely clear. If you end up not liking your jar color all you have to do is put soap and water on the inside and scrub.


If you do like your color, please please please don’t do the above because it will ruin your color.

Thanks for stopping by! If you have a question or comment feel free to leave it in the comment box below.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Ducks in a Row: Part III

It’s time to really get back to business. Many people have already begun to leave for college, and this is the last week for me before I go down. So the category for today is……Organize.

Start with organizing the closet and the bed. You have a range of options for both closet and storage space.

This includes anything you might need storage-wise. The list I am about to provide is certainly not anything and everything you might need. Some schools might require more or some might require less. It all depends on the school as well as personal preference.

Closet Storage:
Tip #1: Shoe Storage (Hint: either on the back of the closet door or as a rack)

Tip #2: Hangers (Hint: make sure they are the thin hangers, not the standard size hangars)

Tip #3: Closet rod for more space for clothes (Hint: make sure it is an extendable closet rod if you don’t know the exact dimensions of your closet)

Tip #4: Rubbermaid storage bins to store off-season shoes or sweaters (Hint: if you don’t have a shelf in your closet for this, then the next item will help)

Tip #5: Closet Organizers (Hint: these can be in cubes with pockets on the sides for ease of storage and can separate for you to mix and match)

Bed Storage:

Tip #6: Bedside Caddy (Hint: this is helpful if you decide to loft your bed)

Tip #7: Bed Storage such as various Rubbermaid boxes (Hint: if you choose to not loft your bed, you can store shoes and other items below instead of in the closet)

Tip #8: A safe!! This is extremely important for storing important papers, money, a computer, and any other valuables you may have.

Tip #9: A trunk is something that can be used to store the safe, extra bed sheets, and bulky jackets or coats so they don’t take up room in your closet.

General Storage:

Tip #10: Rubbermaid containers are instrumental for storing anything. They come in different sizes and shapes to fit your needs.

There is a tiered one with many drawers that can be used for food storage. Or separate stand-alone drawers that can be used to stack on your dresser if it is on the slightly smaller side.

Tip #11: Jewelry dress organizer. On one side it has Velcro straps to hang necklaces and on the other side has pockets for bracelets and earrings.


I will move on to the couple categories after I show you how to create your own colored mason jars. Further down the road I will be discussing formal recruitment (aka. Rush) tips and tricks. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Lettuce, Turnips, and Beets! Oh My!

First off I would like to apologize for my failure at posting anything new lately. I’ve been busy gathering those last minute college things so I would rather focus on something kind of fun than getting down to business.

Today I’m going to walk through the steps to make your very own sign for your room!





I received the idea to make this when I saw a similar sign at Good JuJu downtown. They had so many cute signs made with old wood that I wanted one of my own. Now I will warn you that this project takes a little time, but it’s well worth it!

Let’s get started!

Materials you will need:
1.       Wooden Boards  (at least 2-4)
2.       Nails (regular wood nails)
3.       Spray paint
4.       Frog tape
5.       Word Stencils

Step #1: Create the basis for your board.

This doesn’t have to be the exact same size that I used. It can be longer, shorter, or more vertical. I bought a few planks of wood from Home Depot that were about three feet long. Then I cut at least 6-8 inches so I could piece my board together.

As shown in the picture I have three boards put together, but (not shown) I have two boards nailed vertically on the back to hold my project together.

(Optional) Step #2: Stain your boards.

I used only a slightly darker stain than my wood, but feel free to go super dark or just make it the same. Make sure you let the stain dry before you start placing your stencils on there.

Step #3: Cut the words you wish to use.



Now I used the Cricut, again, but you can honestly do this a number of different ways. If you want to have your words filled in I would suggest finding a stencil of some sort. But if you want your letters to be hollow and just have an outline of the letter then you can easily print out from the computer and cut.

It might be a good idea though to leave a slight border around those words. You will see why during the spray paint step.

Step #4: Once you have cut out your words. Place tape around the edges.




I used Frog Tape because it peeled off the best, but you could probably use blue painter’s tape, too.

Step #5: Start spray painting your board!

When I spray painted my board I used a piece of cardboard behind the word I was painting so I wouldn’t get that color on my next word.

Just make sure to shake well before applying the spray paint. I used only one coat, but feel free to use multiple. Be careful that your paint doesn’t start to run though.




If you have any questions about this project feel free to leave a comment or question in the comment box below.

I'm linking this project to Craft-O-Maniac and Skip To My Lou

In my next post I will be discussing the next category on the college list and then teach you how to repurpose an old armchair without spending an exorbitant amount of money.


Thanks for stopping by!