Painted Glass Appetizer Plates

Hanukkah comes early this year. It actually starts on Thanksgiving. Inspired by some votive holders I made as a gift last year, I made some little appetizer plates this year in festive Hanukkah colors. These are for the same friend.

For this project you will need:

• Clear glass plates ( I got mine at Cost Plus)
• All purpose craft paint ( I used Martha Stewart Gloss and Glitter paints)
• An oven or 21 days ( will explain below)

You’ll be painting the underside of the plates so clean the bottom with alcohol to ensure your paints adhere. This is kind of a reverse process . Place your plate with the bottom side up. I found it easier to elevate the plate on something.  I started with the gold glitter paint ( Florentine Gold) and went around the rim. Let dry and went around with a second coat.

I didn’t want perfectly even coverage. I wanted a kind of mottled, watercolor effect so my painting was random. Once the second coat of glitter was dry, I used a sponge paint dauber and “spounced” one shade of blue (Martha Stewart High Gloss Pond) randomly around the rim. When that was dry, I painted over that with High Gloss Indigo.

Kind of looks like I taped it off with painters tape doesn’t it? Once that was dry, I used another sponge pouncer and more of the Florentine Gold glitter paint and went over the unpainted part of the plate.

Here’s where the oven comes in. You can either “cure” your plates by letting the paint sit for 21 days, or you can let them dry for an hour, and bake them in the oven. Place your piece in a cold oven, turn to 350 degrees ( the glass needs to heat up gradually), bake for 30 minutes and then let your oven cool down to room temp.  They are now top rack dishwasher safe and all the paint is on the underside so the tops are food safe.

This was a really easy, fun, and rewarding project. You could make a few of these as gifts, for your own holiday entertaining, and the only limit is your imagination on a color scheme.

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BFF Open House LInk Party #129 Better Late Than Never

Happy November all. Hope everyone had a safe and Happy Halloween. Time got away from me so the party's a little late and no features this week. Still, let's see what everyone's been up to !

Brown and Silver Paper Wreath

Mr. Chocolate and I were in a shop the other weekend and I saw a really simple but elegant wreath kit that inspired this project. He knows me so well because he said " I can see you thinking how you can make that". HA!

For this project you will need:

• Wreath base ( I cut mine from a scrap of cardboard)
• 6 sheets coordinating 12x12 paper
• Strong double sided tape
• Millinery paper roses

I cut the wreath base from a scrap piece of cardboard using a plate as a template and a lid for the inner circle.

I chose metallic brown, grey and silver and white patterned  papers from my stash and made a template to use so all the pieces would be uniform. While I have electronic digital cutters, I just felt like doing this low tech. Cut my 12x12 papers into 6x3 pieces, folded in half, traced my template on the fold and then cut them out. The fold in the middle gives the wreath some depth.

Using double sided tape, I went around the inner circle adhering the leaves as shown. You can see I wasn’t precise but it didn’t matter because you’ll add two more “layers” of leave which will cover the gap.

When I got to the third (innermost) layer, I folded the ends of the leaves through the opening and taped the ends to the back of the wreath form. I originally thought I’d stop there then decided I wanted some more depth. I had paper roses left over from my “Cheap to Chic Pumpkin” project and since this was the same color palette, voila! Hot glued those around the center.

Since I already had all my materials it’s hard to estimate a cost but fairly sure this was under $4 with the most expensive element being the silver patterned paper. I get most of my papers when there's a 5 for $1 sale at Michaels or JoAnns, so I'd splurged on that paper at a scrapbook show. Yes I do too know what's in my stash Mr. C!

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Catching Fire Inspired Halloween Costume

We are going out this Halloween for the first time since…ever I think. At least since before College Boy came along. 

Add to that  my excitement about the next “Hunger Games” movie “Catching Fire” coming out next month and I had an idea for my costume.  Unfortunately, the thing that gave me the idea proved the most elusive. Cover Girl cosmetics created a whole line called “The Capitol Collection” that I have been unable to find in stores. Nonetheless, I had this in my head ( and sorry CG, found some other makeup).

Normally, I’m all about black and white, or neutrals including neutral metallics. But it’s Halloween right? So I am going for color. I’m doing my own variation of the look on the right. My only dilemma was that in the Hunger Games trilogy The Capitol are the bad guys. But despite being called The Capitol Collection the actual looks honor each of the districts from the story who are the underdogs. Yes, I am a grown woman and I read this series! Don't judge.


Inspired by the colors of District 4 ( right picture) I went into my craft stash to see what I could come up with. In my Blue Moon Bead design team supplies I laid eyes on these:

Fun blue beads, turquoise and greens and gold leaf charms. Without a specific pattern in mind I just kind of played around and strung them on a choker, hen added some brightly colored variegated ribbon.

I made a matching bracelet using memory wire and more of the beads, leaves, and ribbon and of course had to make a matching pair of earrings!

I also went into my closet and grabbed a shirt that had seen better days and sprayed it with blue and gold metallic glitter paint.

Planning to wear with a black skirt and boots. If the makeup idea works out you may see pictures. If not, this never happened!

BFF Open House Link Part #128

Can you believe Halloween is a week from today? Guess what? I've got something even scarier. Two months from today is CHRISTMAS EVE eeek!!! Hanukkah comes early this year converging with Thanksgiving...barely one month from now. Scared? Mwaaaaaahhhhhhh. 

Now that I have you terrified, let's see some highlights from last week's party :) 

Amaranth and Kale shared these wonderful brown paper bag leaves. Would you have guessed that these started out as brown paper bags? 

Wouldn't this coffee filter and burlap wreath look great next to a garland of those paper bag leaves? Go visit Crafts a la mode for the how to. 

Still looking to add to your Halloween decor ( or pin for next year)? Check out these no sew pillow covers from 24 Cottonwood Lane. NO SEW!

And this week's chocolate feature is courtesy once again of Karyn from the aptly named Dieter's Downfall: 

OK now for this week's treats!

Cheap to Chic Pumpkin Transformation

So last week when I was playing with a foam pumpkin and wished that I’d bought another one, Mr. Chocolate heard me and went someplace he doesn’t ever go: Dollar Tree. I didn’t even have to ask. He surprised me and came home with a pumpkin. That’s what I call true love!
For this project you will need:

• Small foam pumpkin
• Acrylic craft paints
• Embellishments

I started with my diamond in the rough cheapo foam pumpkin.

I knew I wanted a non-traditional look so I chose a gray satin paint to base coat the pumpkin. Two coats.

I kind of liked it but what fun is just a couple of coats of paint? So I added a couple of coats of a coordinating glitter paint.

Almost left it alone after that but …nope!

I had a bunch of chocolate brown paper roses in my stash ( the kind you find in bridal supplies) so I popped the heads off the stems and hot glued them around the middle of the pumpkin.  I also remembered these funky Industrial Chic knobs I picked up on clearance at Michaels. One of those things you have no idea why you’re buying but know there will come a project and an aha moment.

I just pushed the knob right through the foam and then secured it with a dab of hot glue and added some more roses. Finished with some  copper wire wrapped around the stem. 

I may have to make yet one more trip to Dollar Tree. I may also have decided upon my Thanksgiving color scheme.

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

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.

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:

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

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!

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.

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”.

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.

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!

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

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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