{ crackle medium knock-off } supplies

Do you love the crackled paint finish for vintage or antique

looking projects!? Me too! But crackle paint is pretty expensive!

So here is a very inexpensive alternative using glue!

What you'll need:

1. White school glue (Elmer's)
2. Two paints in contrasting colors
3. Paintbrush

Paint your project in a dark color and allow it to dry.

Now use your white school glue. Paint a thin

layer onto the project over the first layer of dry paint.

When your glue is ALMOST dry, apply your contrasting paint

trying not to use too many brush strokes. If you wait too long

to add your second coat of paint, it won't crackle.

You want your glue to be tacky still but not really wet.
 Now just wait for it to dry! You should be able to see

cracks very soon!

This technique can be used on wood, cardboard, and even

fabric!  

{ wreath form } supplies

Wreath forms are expensive! And hard to find (unless it's

Christmas season). Here is a simple way to make your

own. Best part is that it only costs $1.50! Could be

cheaper on the mainland!

What you'll need:

1. Pipe insulation ( plumbing supplies)
2. Duct tape

Your  insulator looks just like a water weenie but it

is not as firm. It will bend much easier. You

can find it in the plumbing section at Home Depot.

There are a few different sizes to choose from, too.

Start by wrapping it into a circle the size you want

your wreath. Cut off the excess.

Mine has a split down the length of it but it does
have an adhesive strip.

Remove the plastic pieces and stick them together.

( some insulator won't have this)

You might need help with this part... Hold the two ends

together.

Tape with duct tape. Cover a wide area

so it holds well.

 That's it! So easy, so inexpensive, and you get

to choose the size!



{ mustache pumpkin } Halloween

I love these little mustaches that you see everywhere.

They're just so cute! And honestly... you can put a mustache

on ANYTHING! So here's one on a pumpkin!

What you'll need:

1. pumpkin (any size)
2. black card stock
3. paint (white or antique white)

I used spray paint becuase it really is so much easier! Turn

your pumpkin upside down and start with the bottom. This way

you don't scuff up the paint on the top (you'll actually see that

part). Paint the bottom.

Once the bottom is DRY, turn it over and paint the top.

I gave the top  two coats for good coverage. Let it dry

completely.

Now you can start woking on your mustache. I drew a rough

draft on a little piece of paper.

I then folded it in half and cut it out so that both sides

were the very same!

Add a small dab of glue to the center back of your

mustache.

Stick it to the cute side of your pumpkin!

Done!

{ framed ampersand }

Here is another simple accent project that looks

great with your Halloween decor, vintage inspired decor

or any other type of decor!

What you'll need:

1. Old book page
2. Frame
3. Printer

Set the margins on your printer to match the size of your

paper. Then pass it through your printer to get your

desired symbol. I used the font "Carbon".

Now cut down your paper to fit the frame you have.

Put it in your frame and enjoy!



{ pumpkin holder }

I finally got some of my decorating done after a

very time consuming project for someone else!

I have a 7 foot shelf that has been

begging to be decorated for Halloween!

I visited the Goodwill and got some

awesome finds!

Here is a very simple and easy way to

turn a second hand store find into a cute

decoration!

What you'll need:

1. Candle stick holders
2. Jute twine
3. Mini pumpkins
4. Spray paint (optional)

I found these candle stick holders for .99 a piece!

When I went looking for them, I intended on spray

painting them black anyway. Luckily I found them

already black and even rustic looking because the paint is

worn down naturally!

I simply tied a piece of jute twine around the

holder...

And added pumpkins on top!

Done! Now yo can let it stand alone or put

it into an arrangement of other cute Halloween

inspired things!



{ toothpick flag and candy corn cupcakes }

I love Halloween and fall and all the decor and cute

stuff that can go along with it! I can't wait to get

some of my festive projects done and posted

for all to see and do!

 

I found a really cool recipe for candy corn cupcakes

on www.sugarturntable.com, and had to make them!
She has so many cute things on there!
This is HER picture, not mine! Mine weren't nearly
as cute! hahah Use her advise on refrigerating after each
frosting layer or you won't end
up with cupcakes like this!


When I was done

I felt that I needed some toothpick flags to

stick into them! It's a simple project

that can be used for any reason! They are

cute in scrapbooks and on cards! You can

decorate deserts for any holiday or birthday by simply

using different paper!

 

What you'll need:

1. Pattern paper
2. Toothpicks
3. Liquid glue ( like white school glue)

First you'll want to either make a pattern on

scratch paper, or just free hand on the backside

 of your pattern paper,

the shape you want your flag(s).

Cut them out!

Use glue over the backside of your flag and

wrap it around the tip of your tooth pick.

That's it!

And the uses are endless! I just used up some

more of my scraps and made a bunch to

use on future scrapbook pages!

And look how cute they are on these candy corn cupcakes!

The cupcakes were yummy! lol

 

{ homemade magnets }

A house is not a home unless you have refrigerator magnets!

This may or may not be true but I can

tell you that the magnets I have are not a pretty sight! My

collection is mostly made up of those advertisement magnets from the

front of  phone books, ABC's and farm animals!

I know... yours are too!
ha ha.....I got a wild hair and decided that magnets

CAN look nice and even MATCH each other!

Does your fridge look anything like this? :)

Flower magnet

What you'll need:

1. Fabric & scissors

2. Hot glue

3. Magnet buttons (small round magnets)

I just made a shirt the other day and have these
scraps left over! The fabric will be perfect for my

kitchen!

Click here for instructions on how to make the flower! For

these flowers, I cut about 20 fabric circles for each.

I have shown these carnation type flowers once before on A Lott Of Ideas.
They are very simple! The only difference is that I have used a

magnet for the backing and it's much smaller.
Click here for full instructions

Clothes pin magnets

What you'll need:

1. Page from an old book ( or any patterned paper you love)
2. Magnetic sheet with adhesive backing
3. Mod Podge and small paint brush
4. Clothes pins
5. Ink and embellishments ( optional)

Place your wooden clothes pin on top of your

paper and trace it. Then cut it out and trim to fit.

Now place the clothes pin on the magnet sheet. Trace
and cut.



Use Mod Podge to attach your paper to one side

of your clothes pin. Allow it to dry 15 min. I used

some ink to add a vintage look to my paper edges at

this point.

Remove adhesive backing from your magnet

strip and attach it to the other side of your clothes

pin.

Once your Mod Podge has dried, add a layer of

Mod Podge on top of your paper to protect and

seal it.

I don't make very many things without embellishments

so I added a tiny rosette to the tops of each clothes pin!
For instructions on how to make these cuties, click here!

Now that I've replaced all of my old advertisement magnets

and given my kids back their ABC's and farm animals ( and

thrown out all the junk that didn't need to be saved), my fridge

looks so clean and organized!

And the kids are happy to have their stuff back! :)