Thursday, November 29, 2012

Easy DIY: Painted Pine Cones


This is so ridiculously easy there's almost no reason for me to write a tutorial for it! Although there is a trick to making tipped pine cones look more natural.

You will need:
  1. Pine cones (I got mine from the tree in my yard but you can buy them for cheap in craft shops)
  2. Paint in whatever colors you wish.  I went with white tipped, gold, silver and copper.  Craft paint is pretty cheap or you can probably use spray paint if it's not freezing where you are outside.
  3. Small and cheap paint brush, unless you use spray paint.
  4. Glitter glue, optional.  I tipped the gold and silver ones with glitter glue for some sparkle without the mess.  Most dollar stores carry this if you need some.
  5. Paper towels and water.  I make giant messes, I need lots!
Lovely copper!

Before you start painting think of how you want to do them.  There's oodles of ways.  You can tip them with color, paint the whole thing or make them multi-color.   I wanted a variety, like I mentioned so I tipped some with white, and painted the rest solid in copper, silver and gold.  If you paint them solid, make sure to get in all the little nooks!

Mr. Birdie says...
If you want to paint just the tips there is a little trick to make it look more natural.  Hold your pine cone sideways and using a light hand, paint just the outer tips, your brush stroke will gently brush the top part giving it a dusted look as you see in mine.  Let it dry before flipping it over and doing the rest.  Then give it a light brushing underneath for a gentle highlight once the rest of it dries.

I tipped the silver one with silver glitter glue for some sparkle

If you'd like to glitter them then of course let the paint dry first if you want them painted.  I used glitter glue and applied it just to the outer tips like I did the white tipped ones.  Glitter glue is easier and less messy but you can always put glue on them and sprinkle or roll them in a glittery mess.  Have fun cleaning that up! Haha!

All done and piled neatly in my little wicker wagon basket!
Now you have a bunch of painted pine cones, what to do with them?  Put them in a basket, bowl or large vase for a festive winter display; hot glue a bow and ribbon to make them into ornaments; hot glue them to thicker knotted ribbon or twine for garland; or glue them to pretty wrapped presents with some ribbon for a lovely presentation!  The sky is the limit!

Feel free to pin this using the Pin It button below!


Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Treasury Thursday on a Wednesday

Since Thursday is Thanksgiving I figured I'd post this day early.  These are my favorites from this past week!  Also, don't forget that I'm having a 20% off sale in my shop now with code 20OFF!

'Rainy Day Jewelry' by KLHoey

Rainy Day Teardrop Earrings,  Polymer Clay - mcclouddesigns
Rainy Day Teardrop ...
$13.00
Grey mum earrings - charcoal gray flowers on titanium studs - NICKEL FREE for sensitive ears - LazyOwlBoutique
Grey mum earrings -...
$13.00
Long oxidized sterling silver necklace with 3 large interlocking oxidized sterling silver rings. - HollyMackDesigns
Long oxidized sterl...
$75.00
Glass Dome Earrings 12mm Black and White Flowers - gristmilldesigns
Glass Dome Earrings...
$11.95
Trio Orchid Flower Necklace, Bridal Wedding Jewelry, Birthday, Bridesmaid Gift - CrinaDesign73
Trio Orchid Flower ...
$20.00
Long Gray and Black Necklace - Double Strand Gray and Black Beaded Necklace on Gunmetal Chain - ChathamsCrossing
Long Gray and Black...
$22.00
Hypersthene Ring - Wrapped with Black Wire - Made to Order - JbellsGems
Hypersthene Ring - ...
$15.00
Abstract Picasso black and white polymer clay Pendent, Black Friday Etsy - ClaydeLys1
Abstract Picasso bl...
$15.00
Ammonite ON SALE - WildwoodBeadworks
Ammonite ON SALE
$18.00
Layered Embossed Brass Boho Earrings - FromEarToEar
Layered Embossed Br...
$21.00
Flower Bracelet, Gray Two-Tone Czech Glass - BiddysBeads
Flower Bracelet, Gr...
$18.00
Blue Coral Tassel Brass Necklace in Vintage Style - Cobalt Coral - heversonart
Blue Coral Tassel B...
$20.00
Orthoceras Fossil Earrings - LittleChickiesCrafts
Orthoceras Fossil E...
$18.99
Double wrap leather bracelet 2x beaded leather wrap chan luu style platinum swarovski pearl black leather cording - mvtreasures
Double wrap leather...
$40.00
Handcrafted Beaded Earrings in Black and Silver with S.S. Ear Wire- Made to Order - creationsbymarci
Handcrafted Beaded ...
$12.00
Black Gold Plated 4mm Beads, Brushed Faceted Nugget - BeadsofCambay
Black Gold Plated 4...
$19.00

'let go' by PetCollage

SAMPLE SALE 50% Off Pin up Leopard Dress Featured in Bella Morte Magazine Rockabilly Wiggle Minidress Sexy Leopard Print Faux Fur Small - MGDclothing
SAMPLE SALE 50% Off...
$117.47
Time to drink champagne (or your drink of choice) typography - Black and white or you choose the colors -celebrate holidays - new year's eve - ModGenesDesigns
Time to drink champ...
$26.95
Steampunk Fascinator (2 parts) with brown/Black pheasant feather Goth headdress - NinielChan
Steampunk Fascinato...
$35.00
Guinea hen Feather False Lashes for Party/ RED /Burning Man/ TREASURY ITEM - OaktopiaDesign
Guinea hen Feather ...
$9.00
Ooh La La  Full Length Red Velvet Gloves With Leopard Velvet Cuff - 2Tango
Ooh La La Full Len...
$55.00
Let go. ID bracelet. Personalized. Brass bracelet with rustic stamped name or monogram linked with 14K gold fill chain. - minusOne
Let go. ID bracelet...
$28.00
Horse Art Print A3, Black and White Art, Wall Art Home Decor  Large Minimal Watercolor Print - Mysoulfly
Horse Art Print A3,...
$20.00
red okapi shrug, Paris fashion 2012 - okapiknits
red okapi shrug, Pa...
$65.00
Feather Hair Extension Clip In - Wild One, long beaded hair barette grizzly feather red copper warm tones Pirate hairpiece Hippie - BlackLodgeJewelry
Feather Hair Extens...
$33.00
Vinyl Wall Art "Swirly Vine" 12"x24" - everythingvinylcuts
Vinyl Wall Art &quo...
$9.99
Passions - PattyVicknairARTIST
Passions
$562.00
Wild Cat - Munkadelic
Wild Cat
$15.00
Oh Happy Day // original collage. - theVerdantGarage
Oh Happy Day // ori...
$45.00
Sexy Mary Jane Style Strap Up Pumps - ATTITUDEBOUTIQUE
Sexy Mary Jane Styl...
$125.00
Romantic Hammered Wire Heart Necklace Copper Wire Wrapped - Swirly Heart - heversonart
Romantic Hammered W...
$34.00
Sexy Pin Up Glamour Girl Handstamped Birthday Card For Him - awkwardmoment
Sexy Pin Up Glamour...
$3.75

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DIY Project: Felt Poppy Bobby Pins


You all know I'm a DIY gal and if I see something I love (or can't find what I want) and know I can probably do it at home, then dang-it, I'm gonna do it!  Recently I was on the hunt for some cute hair pins because I'm basically obsessed with them.   For the same reason I sell jewelry on Etsy, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I decided to make my own hair pins.  This little project turned out so cute I thought I'd share it with you all!  Although I do have what my husband considers to be an unhealthy love for Pinterest (is there really such a thing?), I didn't find this one there, I thought of it myself.

I forgot to include the seed beads and marker in the photo...

What you need:
  1. felt in whatever colors you want
  2. scissors
  3. pen or marker
  4. hot glue gun
  5. bobby pins (I'm sure you have some around, they come in packs of a billion)
  6. little black seed beads (I used size 11/0)
  7. black thread
  8. thin needle that will fit through your beads
  9. a nickel and a dime or two buttons of similar sizes for tracing
I had everything I needed already at home since I'm always making felt crafts but all of these items should be fairly cheap at any craft store if you don't have them at hand.  If you don't have bobby pins laying around, I do not believe you ;)

First, take your coins or buttons and trace equal numbers of each on your felt pieces.  Make a million of them, it's fun once you get going!  I had fun mixing and matching the colors along with some solids as well.

I made lots in cute color combos!

Now cut out all one million little circles you made, if your hands get cramped don't blame me.  You shouldn't have taken me seriously when I said make a million.  Make sure when you cut them that you cut inside your marked lines, you don't want that showing on your hair pin when you're done.  It also doesn't have to be perfect, real poppies aren't perfectly round anyway and more interesting that way.

Once you've sworn you'll never cut a million tiny pieces of felt again, match one big and small circle for each set and center each one.  Thread your needle and knot the end of the thread.  If you cannot find a needle thin enough to go through your beads you can always hot glue them to your flower, but take extra care not to over do it or it will look like a nasty glue mess.

Bead one, and yes my nails are way more awesome than yours, be jealous

Bead two

and then there were three

Stick your needle in slightly off center in the middle of your flower through both felt circles.  Stick a bead on your needle and sew it in place, putting your needle back through very close to where you came out.  Do the same for the second and third beads to form a little triangle pattern.  I did two passes through each bead for extra security.  If you're gluing the beads instead of using thread make sure to glue the two felt circles together as well.

Center your bobby pin on the back

put in a few stitches to keep it in place

Now place the rounded end of a bobby pin in the center of the back of the flower.  Make sure your pin is facing the right way so you're not attaching it on backwards.  I'm sure that would be pretty uncomfortable in your hair.  You don't necessarily have to do this, but I sewed my pin in place before gluing it.

flip up your pin and put a little bead of hot glue where it was laying

carefully lay the pin back down, making sure it adheres well too

After sewing it in place, flip the pin up and put a bead of hot glue where it had been laying and gently roll the pin onto the glue bead and hold till it dries.

tada, look they multiplied!

There ya go, one down and only 999,999 more to go!  They're rather addicting to make if you ask me and the best part is they make super cute gifts!

Feel free to pin this using the pin it button below!