Ringing Out 2013 With Thanks and A Look Back

I'm still not sure how the heck it got to be New Year's Eve 2013 already. Blink and a year goes by it seems. As with all years in our lives there are somethings I will be more than glad to say goodbye to in 2013 but thankfully much more I'll look back on with fond memories.

First a thanks to all who continue to hang around my little corner of the blogosphere. When I started blogging almost four years ago, I had no idea what I was doing ( not sure that still isn't the case) or where it would lead. I've seen some of the blogs that started out when I did come and go; others take off into huge blogs; others remain, like me the tortoise and not the hare: slow(er) and steady. I think I'm just fine with that pace.

I've had some amazing opportunities to work with incredible brands and sponsors. Definitely want to continue that into the New Year. I've shared laughs and some tears with readers and definitely want to continue the laughs in the New Year but life being what it is, there will be some tears and those are easier to bear when shared. I've been honored beyond measure to have some of my work featured at blogs like homework, Someday Crafts, and curated sites like LooksiSquare.

It was fun to take a look back at some of the posts that resonated with my readers in 2013 and sharing some of them here. Again, thank you for being part of the chocolate fueled fun here at The Answer Is Chocolate. I hope you find a reason to continue in 2014! Happy New Year chocoholic friends.

Top Posts of 2013: 

I love playing with coffee filters and in January made this "medium time" coffee filter wreath which resonated with readers:

Still one of my favorite projects ever, this one was popular with readers too: Eggshells Under Glass: 

The most viewed project of 2013 was this silkscreened box and votive ( thank you Plaid and Blueprint Social):

Some jewelry projects were popular too like this copper and silver birds nest necklace and bracelet: 

and another post that gave me an opportunity to work with Plaid, Martha Stewart, and The Blueprint Social:

Halloween crafting is one of my absolute favorites and you also liked these projects: 

Bewitchingly Vintage Witch Hats

and

Glitter Finish Stars and Pumpkin using Martha's new decoupage finishes.

You also liked these painted appetizer plates made as a Hanukkah gift for a friend ( she liked them too!)  and most recently, these little bleached bottlebrush trees were a hit. 

Wishing you all a very Happy and safe New Year's Eve. Looking forward to more fun in 2014!!

Plain Frame to Snowflake Tray Transformation with Martha Stewart and Plaid !

I recently had the opportunity to play with some of the Martha Stewart Craft paints and stencils from Plaid. I’m still swooning over the amazing selection of goodies Plaid sent me to work with. Work? No. PLAY!!!

I have a surplus of frames and love using them for things other than well, framing things! I decided I needed a holiday tray.

I started off with a plain frame:

Took out the glass and set it aside and then painted the inner portion of the frame with Sterling Glitter from Martha’s paint line. These paints are great because they are multi-surface and they go on everything. I love the glitter paints and you can get different effects depending on how you use them.

For the inner portion of the frame  I used the Sterling on its own. For the red around the edges, I used a coat of the Satin finish (Habanero) and went over that with Garnet Glitter. This makes for a great opaque but sparkly combo!

I cleaned the glass  frame and got out a snowflake stencil and used the Pearl finish for this. Right on the glass. No primer or additive. And I love the end result because it looks like etching. I covered the whole surface with snowflakes.

After checking to make sure I was liking my progress by laying the glass on the frame, I forgot to take pictures as I finished up the red edging but you get the idea!

I think the silver glitter looks like frost which goes perfect with the snowflakes! For the legs of my tray, I used old thread spools painted with the Habanero / Garnet Glitter paints.

I  had so much fun with this that I had to do some other things . So I made a snowflake plate to go with my snowflake tray. Just a plain glass plate from Dollar Tree. I painted on the underside of the plate, again using the snowflake stencils.

I used  the Pearl again, and a Satin paint called Wedding Cake for the snowflakes. The Wedding Cake shows up better in the pics but the Pearl has that etched look and we know no two snowflakes are alike right?

Stenciled these on the underside of the plate then when dry, went over them with the Sterling Glitter and around the rim of the plate with a couple coats of the Sterling Metallic. Went over the Sterling Glitter with Metallic Yellow Gold.

And I still couldn’t stop so I had to play with a mug I picked up at Dollar Tree because now I have a treat  plate on a tray and of course I’m going to need something to drink!

The “25” is for December 25 ( hubs didn’t get it so just in case) . I made my own stencil from contact paper because I wanted it big and then used the Habanero Satin and Garnet Glitter paints for the numbers and on the handle.

I kinda boo boo’d so I outlined the numbers with gold paint pen and then freehand added some dots. And did I mention that you can bake these in your oven if you don’t want to wait 21 days for the paint to cure and then the paint is dishwasher safe?

While the wonderful folks at Plaid provided the amazing Martha Stewart supplies used, the opinions are 100% my own and these are products  I will definitely be buying more of!

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