Gingerbread Week: Gingerbread House Storage Jar

 

I hope you've enjoyed this Impromptu Gingerbread Week! This is the last project for that, since my weekly link party will go up this evening. I have a feeling it's not my last Gingerbread project for the season, though!

This was a simple project that started with a "steal deal" find at a JoAnn (RIP) going out of business sale (still angry about that!). You might find similar this season at other craft stores, or thrift shops. It doesn't have a suction closure that cookie jars come with so I won't use it for that, but it will be perfect for storing utensils and things for my hot cocoa bar!

Supplies:

• House Themed Jar
• Acrylic Paint (Nutmeg)
• Paint Pen
• Puffy Paint
• Embellishments

This one was an unfinished ceramic surface. I almost left it white, but then I got on this Gingerbread kick! I got it for 80% off, so it was a no-brainer impulse buy. Better than thrifting even. 

I painted the lid and the main body with Apple Barrel Nutmeg Brown acrylic paint. I wasn't going for opaque coverage since real gingerbread has variegations. 

I used a white paint pen on the windows and raised details. The surface wasn't completely even so the painting isn't meticulous but it work with the vintage look and frost isn't perfect anyway. 

Then I grabbed some Tulip Puffy paint and went over the roof lines, chimney, etc. 

And of course...had to add some rhinestones!

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Sundays on Silverado #276

Gingerbread Week: Gingerbread Nutcrackers

 

Welcome to Day 2 of my impromptu Gingerbread Week! It's clearly a theme this year everywhere I go. Today I'm sharing what I did with some plain ceramic Nutcrackers I found on sale at JoAnn (RIP!) after Christmas last year. 

Supplies:

• Ceramic or Wood Nutcrackers
• Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint
• Acrylic Paint Pen
• Puff Paint
• Misc. Embellishments

I found these at JoAnn for 70 or 80% off after last Christmas. This technique could just as easily be done with wood Nutcrackers or thrifted ones. 

At the time, I had yet to find the viral Rustoleum Nutmeg spray paint, nor could I find the exact color I wanted in brush paint so I did what we Makers do and mixed my own! Added some of the Espresso to the Fawn until I was satisfied. 

I covered everything but the edges of the base using a sponge spouncer. 

Then, I grabbed a white acrylic paint pen and just doodled my way around my Nutcrackers! The thing I love about these Gingerbread projects is, there's no one way. No right or wrong. 

For no particular reason, I painted the edges of the bases gold. Then I grabbed some Tulip Puffy Paint and added more detail to my Nutcrackers. 

And, of course...these weren't complete until I added a little bling. My tried and true Creatology Gems (Michaels) for the win! To finish, I added a white pom-pom to the top of their hats. 

Come back tomorrow for another fun Gingerbread Project! 

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Welcome to Vintage Charm Party #517!

Jewelry Making: Silver and Grey Owl Earrings

 

I had a "hoot" making these. Couldn't resist. But I did have fun and what's great about being able to make your own jewelry is when you get tired of something you can switch out parts and make something new! I had a different pair I didn't love so I took them apart and can repurpose the parts. I used the tops for these. 

Supplies

• Charms to use as earring posts* 
• Jump Rings
• Head Pins
• Silver Ball Beads
• Jewelry Pliers
• Owl Ceramic Beads (JoAnn)

I don't have pierced ears, so I'm always on the hunt for charms or small pendants to which I can glue clip-backs. You could do the same with post-backs or skip this part and use fish hook earring wires. 

JoAnn is having a LOT of great sales lately. For your fabric crafters, I just got an email that they have a whole selection of fabrics priced as low as $2 per yard! I picked these beads up when they had all Hildie and Jo beads 3 for $10 and now they have them 4 for $10! Yes, I'm going back.

I love owls and couldn't resist these cute little guys. I grabbed some silver ball beads from my stash along with head pins and jump rings and strung a silver bead, an owl bead, and another silver bead onto a head pin. 

If you're using ear wires, you can make a wrapped loop and attach to the ear wire. Since the clip backs were already attached to these, I just attached the two parts together with a jump ring. 

I think I saw these owls came in blue too so now that beads are on an even better sale...

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Sundays on Silverado

Jewelrymaking: Filigree Silver Heart Valentine's Earrings

 

I often buy supplies for my stash without having a specific project in mine. In this case, JoAnn was having a great sale on beads when I bought the silver heart beads I used in this project. Something like 70% off during one of their sales last year. So when I decided I wanted some Valentine's themed earrings...into my stash I went!

Supplies:

• Silver Heart Beads (JoAnn or Bead Stores)
• Head Pins and Jump Rings
• Black Crystal Beads 
• Hammered Links (Bead Landing,Michaels)
• Floral Charms and Earring Backs for Clips
• Jewelry or Strong Bond Glue 

Since these beads were such a great deal on sale, of course I bought two sets! I chose the filigree design for my earrings. Since I wear clip-on earrings, I chose some floral charms (Shipwreck Beads) big enough to accommodate my clip earring backs. 

I like the Loctite Gel Superglue. It's low odor and holds as strong as jewelry glue. Put a little dab on the earring back and then position on the back of the floral charm. If you have pieced ears, skip this step and use a fish hook ear wire. 

I love these little clamps I found at Dollar Tree which are the perfect size for small projects. I always clamp my glued earring backs to ensure the strongest bond.

Next, I grabbed a couple of pins from my supplies, along with some black Czech glass beads. I strung the black and heart beads on the pins and made a closed loop.

To put things all together, I used some hammered silver links and jump rings I had on hand to connect the earring clips and the heart pins.

Connect the jump ring to the link and then using regular jump rings, attach the heart pins and floral sections.

The best part is, these don't scream Valentine's Day to me so I can wear them whenever but they also work for V-Day!  Come back to see what  I did with the remaining beads! 

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Jewelry Making: Spooky Season Jewelry

 

I recently made some birthday gifts for fellow September babies and since Spooky Season would soon follow their birthdays, made them each a coordinating pair of earrings and a bracelet. 

Supplies: 

• Hildie and Jo Witch and "Jack" Beads (JoAnn)
• Bead Landing Coordinating Beads (Michaels)
• Fish Hook Ear Wires (Michaels)
• Jump Rings, Head Pins (Michaels)
• Stretch Jewelry Cord (Michaels)
• Jewelry or Super Glue (Walmart)

I found the Halloween-themed beads at JoAnn over the Summer and got them in the off-season. The other beads are ones I keep stocked in my stash. I hit the Michaels and JoAnn sales or use coupons! It's what we do, right? 

The process is the same for each set. 

For the earrings, string desired beads onto a head pin, then make a wrapped loop. There are a ton of tutorials on You Tube that can show you better than I can. I've linked one here but I find that I have to look for tutorials that make sense to my brain so watch a few different ones.  You will need a pair of small round nose pliers like the ones shown here which are available in jewelry sections of craft stores, bead stores, or online. 

Once you've completed your loops, attach to the ear wire using a jump ring (and here's another video on how to open and close jump rings) and you're done!

For the bracelets, cut a length of stretchy jewelry making cord longer than you need. Some people measure precisely. I don't. I cut about 12 inches for a bracelet because I like having the ends longer for knot tying. Use a clamp (they sell specific ones for jewelry...I use a binder clip or a cheap plastic clamp I found at Dollar Tree). String beads in whatever pattern you like. I just string, do a checkpoint aroung my wrist for size and when I'm good, tie a tight basic knot and add a tiny dab of jewelry glue or I like the gel formula super glue. 

This stuff is great and you really only need a tiny bit. I always make another knot with another dab. Give the glue a minute to dry then trim as close to the knot as possible with wire cutters or sharp scissors. 

I used extra beads and related charms to add a little dangle to my bracelets. String the bead on the head pin as shown for the earrings, close the loop, use a jump ring to attach to the bracelet. Same with the charm. 

Happy Haunting! 

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