Showing posts with label Michaels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michaels. Show all posts

Monday, September 22, 2014

Halloween: French Gothic Coffin Boxes

Gothic Coffin Boxes

A couple of years ago I had so much fun altering these little coffin shaped boxes I found at Michaels. Darn if they don’t keep stocking them and darn if I don’t keep finding ways to play with them.

It helps ( or doesn’t help depending on whether you’re Mr. Chocolate) that I love digging through clearance aisles and 50-60% off bins which is where I found the embellishments that inspired this project.

Gothic Coffins Embellishments

The metal Fleur de Lis and Crown pieces were in the $1.50-$3 bins and were 60% off when I found them. On a previous hunting expedition, I’d found the Jolee’s Boutique embellishments on sale. 

We went to France several years ago and while there we toured the Catacombs which are not for the faint of heart but an amazing piece of history. The ornate metal embellishments brought back memories of that trip and the coffin boxes brought back memories of the Catacombs so voila. Gothic Coffin Boxes. Welcome to my brain.

Gothic Coffins Prep

I left a couple of the boxes unpainted and painted the others black. Using the boxes as a template, traced around them and cut out coordinating papers and Mod Podge’d them onto the boxes.

Gothic Coffin Boxes Back

I love it when  a plan goes awry. I intended to use the polka dot paper on the BACKS of each coffin and oops…one made it on the front. Oh well. Lemons / lemonade.

Gothic Coffin Boxes 3

You can’t really see it but I crumpled the skull and bones paper before applying so it would be a little wrinkly. And for once, I was patient and let the boxes dry overnight so the paper would be good and stiff when I sanded the edges.
TIP: Package of emery boards from the Dollar store work great for this

Gothic Coffin Boxes 2

I glued the metal embellishments to the front and added the Jolee’s embellishments as shown. Edged the boxes with torn pieces of  coordinating washi tape.

Gothic Coffin Box Skeleton

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Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Thrifty Finds at Michaels: Easy to Make Birthday Card


I've always loved the "used to be a dollar" section at Michaels ( yep...still bitter that it's now the $1.50 - $3 section). So when I find things there that are 50-60% off, I'm ecstatic. 

If you've been a reader of this blog you also know that I just shake my head at the price of cards when it's so easy to make your own. 

On a recent trip, I stumbled upon some finds from Spring. Papers and pre-made tags 60% off which turned out to be $.60 per package. So for a whole $1.20, you can make at least 16 cards from these two things. 


The paper pack had 12 8x8 sheets of 6 different patterns. The gift tags came in a pack of 16 and coordinate with the papers. 

For the birthday card I made I used :
  • Light metallic gold cardstock
  • White cardstock
  • Embossing folder and embossing machine ( I used my Cricut Cuttlebug)
  • 2 papers from package
  • 1 gift tag
  • Self adhesive  pearls
  • 3-D Cupcake , candles, metal sentiment stickers from stash
Cut gold cardstock to 7x10 for 5x7 card. Score down the middle
Cut patterned paper 4.75 x 6.75 , attach to card
Cut white cardstock 4x5 and run through embossing folder
Mat on solid paper as shown
Tear solid paper scrap, adhere to middle of white panel
Attach tag, 3-D stickers as shown
Embellish with self adhesive pearls 


Even if you don't have extra stickers in your stash ( a concept with which I am completely unfamiliar!) picking up a package of birthday themed stickers will still put you way ahead of what you'd spend on a single card. 




Monday, June 2, 2014

Yes I Made A Card for $.50

Hello Card

We all have those things that soothe us right? For some it’s a new pair of shoes. For others it’s a spa treatment or digging in the dirt. For me ( in addition to chocolate of course) it’s a stroll through Michaels. I just like wandering the aisles ( sometimes talking to myself…this is completely normal so don’t call anyone!). It doesn’t even take spending a bundle to make me giddy. Case in point, a recent trip where I was elated to stumble upon a treasure trove of $.50 finds. Yes you read that right FIFTY CENT finds!

Michaels Finds

Well you didn’t think I was going to buy just one thing for $.50 did you? Silly.. They had this whole collection of coordinating elements and I may or may not have bought 1 or 2 of each.

I used one of the embellishment packs to make this just because card for a friend.

DCWV Lemon Stack

The colors went perfectly with a DCWV stack ( Lemon Flower) I had in my stash. I did have to will myself not to buy any more paper on this recent trip. SO hard.

Hello Card Elements

I chose a coordinating piece of paper from the stack and grabbed a couple of scraps from previous projects including a white embossed panel. Then I just sat and played and used up all the elements on the embellishment card. Should have thought ahead to include the card the embellishments were on since it matched but yes, saved it for another project TBD.

Hello Card

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Monday, February 17, 2014

Mod Podge Rocks Stencil Podged Box


My readers know that I love Mod Podge. I've joked before that if it stands still long enough I'll probably Mod Podge it.  I didn't think I could love MP more and then along came self adhesive stencils you can use with Mod Podge  and glitter! 

For this project you will need: 

Surface to decorate
Mod Podge ( I used my go to Matte)
Paper
Glitter


The stencils come in 6 designs and are available at Michaels: 

Mod Podge Rocks Stencils #chevron #ModPodge #Stencil


I used a little wood box in my stash for this project and  covered two sides and the top with black and white polka dot paper and left the other two sides bare wood. To stencil, peel the stencil from the backer and adhere to your surface. The adhesive on the stencil lasts for 20 uses. 


The easiest way to use Mod Podge with the stencils is to use a sponge spouncer. Dip lightly and then spounce your Mod Podge on.  For glitter projects,  the instructions say to peel the stencil away at this point but I decided to just plop my glitter on first. I thought I might get cleaner images this way and was happy with the result. 


When the stencil was peeled off, perfectly symmetrical glitter diamond shapes were left behind! The stencil (glitter and all) cleaned up nicely with soap and water so I could finish the other side of my box. 


While I used a flat surface, I love that the stencils are flexible and can bend to rounded surfaces like jars, bottles, vases etc. Possibilities are endless! 


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Monday, October 21, 2013

Zombie Cookies and Monster Fingers: This Year's College Boy Halloween Treats

Monster Mash Oreos

If you’ve followed my blog for the past few years, you’ll know that I usually do a Halloween care package for College Boy. Halloween always falls around mid-terms and if you’re the parent of a college student, you might be familiar with the “send your kid a care package” letters that usually come out this time of year. Some company will deliver a care package to your student but needless to say, I’d rather make my own.


I try to make these fun but keep the cost down especially since we have to mail these. Dollar Tree, Michaels, and stuff I had on hand came together. 

This year I went with a Zombie / Monster theme . We’re huge “Walking Dead” fans. While Zombies aren’t known for eating bones, I couldn’t find any candy brain sprinkles so bones it is.

Monster Mash Cookies

For this project you will need:
  • Oreos
  • Candy Melts ( I hadn’t yet decided between the green and the black but ultimately just used green)
  • Bone sprinkles ( if anyone finds brains, let me know!)

Dipped Oreos are about the easiest thing you could ever do. To start:

Wilton Green Candy Melts

Melt candy melts. I usually do mine in the microwave.

Melted Green Candy Melts

Once melted, dip. Place on wax paper. Sprinkle with stuff. Done. Seriously.
I had some green goo left over and I’d picked up a Halloween themed silicone mold at the Dollar Tree because I have wanted to try using them . I have had mixed results with the clear plastic molds. I’m hooked on the silicone molds!

Double Layer Crunchy Fingers

I made crunchy candy Monster Fingers! I spooned the leftover green melted candy into the mold until about half full.  I spotted some M and Ms and decided to sprinkle them on top of the green candy. Then went over that with melted dark chocolate. When you bite into the finger, CRUNCH, just like a bone. I know, I’m twisted.

Crunchy Fingers

For the bone shapes in the mold, I filled with dark chocolate.  Not a great photo but didn’t have time to worry about lighting when I was trying to “set my bones”.

Monster Mash Cookie Cups

To package everything, I used these purple chevron striped cups I got last year from Pick Your Plum. I stacked the cookies and wrapped them using clear cello bags. Same for the fingers.

Star Bags

Paired the cups with these black and white star bags I picked up on one of my dig through the clearance stuff trips to Michaels. 75% off!

While I was at the Dollar Tree, I also picked up some pumpkin decorating kits. No carving required, the pieces just stick to the pumpkin. Last year I recall he and his friends went in search of no carve options so hopefully they still want to do this!

Vampire Pumpkin Decorating Kit

Filled the paper star bags with the cookies, finger, and additional candy and stapled the kits to the outside.
Zombie Outbreak

Dollar Tree also had some Zombie Outbreak tape that went well with the theme so added that. All packed up and ready to go!

2012 Halloween Treats  "Fangtastic Treat Bags"

2011 Halloween Treats  "Reverse Trick or Treat"

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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Halloween Crafting With Martha Stewart Decoupage: Glitter Finish Stars and Pumpkin

Martha Stewart Halloween Decoupage

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Plaid, Martha Stewart Crafts, and The Blueprint Social. Project ideas and opinions are my own.

I have three words for you: Martha Stewart Decoupage.  It is no secret that I love to decoupage things. The dog runs away when she sees me with decoupage medium in my hand. Martha and Plaid have taken decoupage to a whole ‘nother level with a new line of decoupage formulas that can be used on surfaces such as glass, fabric, paper, metal and wood to create a lustrous finish and are dishwasher safe, machine washable, non-yellowing, dry hard with no tack, and can be used indoors or out.


I was so excited when the wonderful folks from Plaid sent me some of these new goodies to play with, but I was beside myself with the kind of  joy that usually only chocolate brings when I saw that included in my box was GLITTER FINISH DECOUPAGE. 

Martha Stewart Decoupage Supplies

While the glitter finish caught my eye immediately there are some other mind blowing finishes including glow in the dark, matte and gloss. But back to the GLITTER! I had some wood stars in my stash I’d been wanting to play with and an idea was born.

Martha Stewart Decoupage Star

I chose Black Nickel Metallic paint from the paints that came in my box and painted the stars. I went over some sections of the stars with Onyx glitter paint and left others with just the Black Nickel metallic.

Martha Stewart Halloween Supplies

Using some of the decoupage papers that were also included, I cut out pieces to cover some sections of the stars. The papers are a great weight and texture to absorb the decoupage mediums. Since the glitter finish has the glitter mixed in, you just coat your surface, the back of your paper , adhere, and then coat the top of your paper. It works just like other decoupage mediums. Except of course for the fabulous part where it dries all glittery and you’re not covered in glitter! Also with the glitter being part of the medium you get a consistent all over glitter finish without bare spots.

Glitter Stars Closeup

You can do one coat or more depending on what effect you want. I was happy with just one coat. I punched circles from scraps of the paper and using the glitter decoupage glued them into flattened bottlecaps and went over the top with more decoupage medium.

Martha Stewart Glitter Decoupage Stars

Stars and Pumpkin

I was having too much fun to stop. Since the products say they are multi-surface, I decided to see what I could do with a foam pumpkin from the dollar store. Guess what? The paints cover EVERYTHING.

Dollar Tree Pumpkin

No prep, no primer. Just painted the pumpkin with the Black Nickel, let dry and added one more coat. Then I cut some leaf shaped pieces from more of the decoupage paper and added to the pumpkin using the glitter finish decoupage medium.

Martha Stewart Decoupage Drying

You can see that even before the decoupage is dry, the glitter starts to appear!  I didn’t use glitter paint on the pumpkin but just slathered the whole thing with the glitter decoupage.

Martha Stewart Decoupage Pumpkin

Dries to a clear glittery finish.

Black and White Pumpkin

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I am so in love with this. I can’t wait to play with it some more and put it on everything! The full line is available at Michaels.  In the meantime, be sure to check out these links for more inspiration: