How to Make a Glass Tile Pendant

      So, today I'm gonna tell you how to make your own glass tile pendant. Super easy to do, though I must say getting the supplies can be a bit of a challenge. If you have a paypal account (with $$ in it) then, not so hard. Just go to etsy.com and search glass tile pendant supplies. They have such a large selection to choose from I'm sure you will find what you need. Most of the supplies you need for this project can be found a your local craft shop. However, the glass tile might be harder to find. I suggest you check with a bead store, though it took a few months before my bead store started carrying any. So, online is the best place to find your glass.
    There are ways to make these pendants without using glass, I will be making a different post for that soon :D

Okay, let's get started...Oh, and if this is too much to read..lol...I posted my video for this project at the bottom :D



How to Make a Glass Tile Pendant:
Glass tile pendants seem to be all the rage lately. There are a few reasons for this. They are easy to make, you can put almost any picture you want on them, and it is a craft that you can definitely make money with! If you go to www.etsy.com and type in the words glass tile pendants you will see all the different types of glass tile pendants there are. Vendor's at etsy.com also sell all the supplies you could ever need for this project! You can make them for yourself or make them as a gift, or even make them into a business!  I love to take pictures and to make these pictures into something that I can wear is just too cool!


Step 1- Take a clean glass tile (make sure there are no finger oils or other debris on it) and put a few drops of rock hard drying glaze (Diamond Glaze) on one side of the glass. (I like to do kind of a zig zag across the tile so I am sure to get all four corners sealed.

Step 2- Press the the glass tile (glaze side down) firmly onto a picture that you like. Let dry. Usually a day and a half or so for drying time. Be sure not to use too much glaze or it can leave bumps on the back of your pendant and usually will show up in your picture too. Also, press firmly but not too hard. Pressing your glass too hard tends to make it slip and then you have to start over.

Step 3- After glaze has dried, cut the picture edges around the the tile so that the picture is flush with the edges.

Step 4- Take a piece of crafting paper or card stock, and secure the paper to the back of the pendant, using  a permanent glue stick. Let dry..

Step5-  Cut the paper around the tile so that it too is flush with the edges.

Step 6- Put a small bead of glaze around the edge of your tile, slightly covering the edges of the paper. This will seal the edges of the paper to your tile. Let dry....again...lol

Step 7- Put a small drop of glaze onto the back of the tile and spread around using a paintbrush or you finger. This will seal the back side of your pendant. A thin coat of glaze on the back is plenty.

Step 8- Glue a medium size bail onto the back of your pendant with E-6000 glue. I like to use a glue on bail that has a larger opening so that I can change out the style of necklace chain easier. (It is good to have an opening that is large enough to fit a clasp of a chain through.) Let dry.....

Step 9- put an second coat of glaze onto your pendant to give it extra protection and let dry...

You're done! Now you have your own glass tile pendant. :D

Side Notes: If the piece of glass that you are using has a side that is foggy it is a good idea to put the glaze on that side.
   Also, a lot of people advise that you should use actual photo paper to do this project. I have tried this and found that regular copy paper works just fine. Almost better in my opinion. Photo paper tends to be too thick and sometimes separates from the glass while you are trimming it.
   If you can't find Diamond Glaze at your local craft store Try to find Triple Thick Glaze. It works really well. I am sure that there are other options too so ask a store clerk they might know of another product if you can't find either of these. So far I have only seen Diamond Glaze sold online...
   If you do mess up, or have an air bubble in your pendant that's okay. These are NOT water proof! Simply soak your pendant in water for 30 minutes or so and you can reuse your glass. your picture will not survive though.

See you next time,
-Winney

Make a Pop Bottle Greenhouse

     So, today I really wanna share what I think is the most awesome project for anyone who wants a greenhouse but, needs a more inexpensive way to do it. It is a greenhouse made of recycled 2 liter pop bottles! As my aunt was telling me about this idea the other day I thought to myself , "no way totally, won't work" but after a quick goolge search on the subject I found out I was wrong. You Can Build a Greenhouse out of 2 liter Bottles!!
     Okay, bring the excitement down a notch..for a 8'x8' greenhouse you will need approximately 2,000 2 liter bottles...no that's not a typo..lol and you still will need wood for the frame and some wire to help secure the bottles. Still, I believe this is a remarkable idea! Recycling at it's best! Definitly a project I want to do myself. However, it is a big undertaking and with the busy home life, time is not always on my side. So, instead of making you wait until October (lol) for me to finish making my own greenhouse out of 2 liter bottles, I thought I would share the link of how to do it instead.
 
So, here's the link to the instructions on how to make a greenhouse out of 2 liter bottles...
http://www.squidoo.com/plasticbottlegreenhouse
This one has held up well to the weather for 4 years!

Side Notes: You could get creative with this a little too! You could build a smaller greenhouse for a child to practice gardening, which would use less bottles, and be a great learning experience for them. I have considered making one just to be a gardening shed, by changing the pattern a little maybe this idea could be used to make a sun room or the roof to a gazebo...who knows!

Have a Great Day Everybody!
-Winney

Two Words.. Mod Podge!!

    Mod Podge can be found at any craft store. Or, you can make home made mod podge yourself at home. The recipe for homemade mod podge is so insanely simple..All you need is a glass jar with a lid, some school glue like elmer's, and water. I'm sure this is not how real Mod Podge is made, but this recipe is a good runner up.
     If you are an old school crafter then you already know about mod podge. I have played with mod podge many times, but really, almost forgot about it until recently. I was surfing the internet looking for crafting ideas to share with you and there it was. Mod Podge! Being that spring has finally sprung I thought mod podge would be a great way to do a little crafty spring decorating!
     I find it amazing how this sticky milk like substance can give a boring object a little extra flavor. I guess that's why I like it...Or maybe it's because of how it feels on my fingers..lol like a kid playing in mud...kinda lol Which reminds me, this is also a great craft for kids to do too!
      So, for the newbie crafter, or the old school done it all crafter....May I present....Mod Podge!

How to Make Homemade Mod Podge:
Put equal amounts of glue and water into a jar.
Mix until well blended...
lol yep, really, that's all you have to do :D
Be sure to label it so that people know what it is... safety first :D


      Okay, so now that you have your mod podge, it's time to get creative! There are so many things you can do with mod podge the possibilities are just endless. I myself decorated one of those cheap plastic flower pots to put my chick and hens in. Pretty simple to do. All you will need is a flower pot, a page of newspaper, a paint brush, some sort of decorative paper (I used  paper streamers), and mod podge, homemade or store bought. So here's how to decorate your own flower pot using mod podge.

How to Make a
 Mod Podge Flower Pot:

Step 1-  Take your newspaper and place it on the surface you will be working on cause this is gonna be messy...lol

Step 2-  Tear your decorative paper into little pieces.

Step 3-  Using a paint brush spread your mod podge on one side of  a peice of decorative paper then stick to the side of your flower pot. Do several peices of paper overlapping a little and every so often go ahead and put a thin coat over the pieces already placed on your pot. Be sure not to place the paper on the bottom of your pot, and only around the top edge not too close to where the dirt will be. That way the water can't get to it.

Step 4-  Make sure that all of your paper peices on the pot are completely covered with mod podge then let dry.

It's just that easy!!

Side Notes: 
You can also use fabric instead of paper! Just be sure that it is rather thin material. Thick material doesn't always come out too good.

Some other projects you can do with Mod Podge are...

Decorative eggs: Blow out an egg and cover with decorative paper.
Use a pop bottle to make a vase
Wall Decor: take a picture you like, cover both sides with mod podge and place on a piece of board.
There are just so many different things you can do.

If you like the idea of working with Mod Podge be sure to check out this site. They have some really cool ideas there :D  http://www.modpodgerocksblog.com/

Well that's all for now, thanks for reading :D
 Make a Great Day!!
-Winney

How to Make a Miniature Thermos

       Today I want to show everyone how to make a miniature thermos. I know, I know, another miniature idea. ..but, I promise this miniature idea is a good one! lol Who wouldn't want a tiny thermos for their dollhouse collection. The neat thing about these is that you can make any style or color. So far I have found Two different ways to make them. So here goes...

Miniature Coffee
Thermos:                             

First way to make a miniature thermos: ( To make the black thermos and red thermos)


Step 1-  Remove the metal part of a pencil (the harder the wood the better). I do this by using two sets of pliers. One set of pliers holding the metal end of the pencil and one set of pliers turning the wood of the pencil.

Step 2- Cut off the eraser flush with the metal, or you can remove it completely. Depending on the pen cap you use, you might want to only make the eraser into a cone so the pen cap will have something extra to stick to.

Step 3-  Cut the end of a plastic ink pen cap off about 1/4"  (a pen cap that has a clip on the side will look like it has a handle when you cut it)

Step 4-   Using super glue or crafting glue, attach the cut ink pen lid to the metal of the pencil.

 Step 5- Let dry and paint or cover with your favorite craft paper design.




Second way to make a miniature thermos: 
Personally, I think this way is much easier and less frustrating to make than the first one. lol

Step 1-  Take an ink pen cap (use a color you want for your thermos lid to be), and cut it to the length you want your thermos to be.

Step 2-  Cut out a small piece of crafting paper and wrap it around the pen cap. Hold the paper about 1/4 in down from the top of the cap. ( The top of the pen cap will be your thermos lid) Trim  the piece of craft paper to fit around the bottom part of the pen cap.

Step 3-  Put a thin layer of crafting glue on the back of the paper, then wrap the paper around the pen cap. Let dry.











Side Notes:  If you don't have an ink pen cap that has a clip on the side to make a handled look, you can simply cut a small square off the extra pen cap and glue it to the side of your thermos lid.

        And there you go. All super easy and all made out of what you probably have laying around your house. Feel free to check back often, as I will be adding even more crafting ideas! They won't all be miniatures all of the time, but I promise I will find time to squeeze more miniatures in every so often. :D

Now go get creative and make something!

Hope to see you here again real soon,
-Winney

Shelf Hanging Trick

  So today I have a lot of to do's on the list. Busy busy day, but I thought I would share this helpful shelf hanging trick with you.While going through the ol' chicken coop, I decided that one of the old roost shelves would make a pretty neat shelf to display some of our old mason jars. I love the rustic look of old wood. Anyways, since it was gonna be heavy (30 lbs ish) I decided to find an easier way to hang it. I know this is not a craft, but it is a Krafty way to hang a shelf. So here goes...
      If you are hanging a shelf that is heavy, or if you don't have 6 hands..lol, it is almost always better to hang the brackets first. That way you don't get stuck holding the weight of the shelf while you decide if it's level.  Hanging the brackets without the shelf can be pretty easy if you have a few handy  items to help you out.

    1st- decide where and how high you want your shelf to be.

    2nd- Secure one of your shelf brackets to the wall at the height you wish it to be.

    3rd- Take a small level and secure it to something long using scotch tape. Now this is where it gets tricky. I happen to have a small level that has a magnet on the bottom of it. So, by using something metal I can just stick it on without tape. ( I'm using one of those cheap adjustable curtain rods.) Whatever you decide to use, it is a really good idea to secure your level. This way the level doesn't fall off and break.

                                (Yes I realize that my brackets don't match..lol Just used what
                                 I had. I plan on covering them, so it won't be noticed later)


    4th- Lay your new "longer level" on the secured shelf bracket hold it across to where you think the second shelf bracket should be. Take the second bracket and hold against the wall while letting your "longer level" rest on it. When the level shows your second bracket is level, mark one of the screw holes with a pencil.

    5th- Secure the second shelf bracket to the wall.

    6th- Remove the level and place your shelf onto the brackets.
                                 
    7th- Secure the bottom of your shelf to the top of the brackets.
       
                                                    And you're done! Yay!

Side Notes: If the shelf your are trying to hang is too heavy for you to lift by yourself. Don't! Make sure to have someone help you. It is not worth getting hurt over!

    So there you go...an easier way to hang a shelf. Hoped this helps you in the future.

Have a great day!! :D
-Winney

Easy Way to Etch Glass

       Another cool handmade gift idea that I think every crafter should know about is etched glass. And before I tell you how to etch glass the easy way, first let me give you a tidbit of information on the different ways there are to etch glass.....
    There are three basic ways to etch an image onto glass. First there is sand blasting. There are several ways to sandblast an image. Sandblasted etchings look very professional, however there is a good amount of expensive equipment  you need to etch glass this way. The second way to etch glass is by engraving. Engraving an image onto glass is rather easy. All you need is an electric engraver tool and a talent for drawing. Now, I have the tool, but the drawing talent...not so much. lol   The third way is to use etching cream to etch an image onto glass. In my opinion, using etching cream is the easiest of the three. All you need is a bottle of etching cream and a piece of glass. You can find etching cream at almost any hobby store, a small bottle costs around $6 or $7 and will get through several etching projects. 
    
   Easy Glass Etching:

 And here is how to use etching cream to etch glass. This is not a new idea by any means. But there are a few people out there that still don't know how easy it really is to do. The finished product looks like you took a lot of time on it, but really you can have a piece of glass etched in a matter of minutes! 
Hope you like :D




Step 1-  Find a piece of glass to etch. This can be an ashtray, a vase, a bowl, whatever you think you would like to dress up with a design. Make sure it is clean and dry. I suggest using something unimportant to you while you are practicing.

Step 2 -  Make a stencil of the design you want to use.  (This is probably the hardest part of this project, I personally use contact shelving paper.) There is a special vinyl paper specifically made for this, but it can be a little expen$ive. Secure the stencil to the piece of glass.

Step 3-  Cover the entire piece of glass by securing paper around it with tape. This is very important. If the etching cream touches any part of the glass it WILL etch it! Covering you glass will ensure that you don't end up with unwanted etching on the glass.

Step 4-  Using a medium size paint brush spread your Amour Etching Cream all over the stenciled area. Be sure not to get the etching cream anywhere else on the glass. (covered in step 3)  Let etching cream sit on glass for 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 5-  Rinse etching cream off of glass with water. Peel off the stencil and dry.

 
Side Notes:
-If you are going to use contact shelving paper to make your stencil, be patient and gentle with it or it will stretch and mess up your image..
- How long you leave the etching cream on your glass will decide how dark your image will look.  So, if you want it to be barely there, only leave it for 3 minutes maybe. Want it darker? Maybe try for 10 minutes....
-I have seen etching where people had painted on the back of the image to give it highlights doing this can make your image look pretty cool.
-Also, you can use etching cream to etch on colored glass and even on mirrors, so keep that in mind when your being all creative!

Quick video tutorial to show you how easy using glass etching cream really is :D
Now, in this video they use a stamp technique instead of a stencil, but still pretty helpful.

This is a video of How to Etch Glass using a Dremel Engraver

Have an Awesome Day!
-Winney

Personalized Glass Jar Candle Holders

    Good morning everyone! As I sit here drinking my coffee, trying  to wake up... lol  I figured today would be a good day to tell you how to make a personalized candle holder using a glass jar and your own awesome imagination. :D  These glass jar candle holders would make a great handmade gift. Btw  I think they would be a good handmade craft to sell too. I haven't seen them in a flea market yet, but I could see people willing to buy them. Just a thought..lol

Glass Jar 

Candle Holder:

    So making one of these is pretty simple, all you need is a used clean jar. You can use a pickle jar, mayonnaise jar, jelly jar whatever you have handy...some glass paint (craft paint doesn't seem to stick very well)..I suggest visiting this page http://www.artathomestudio.com/tips-painting-on-glass.html or doing a quick search of which paint to use, as there are a few options. Also you'll need a small glass candle holder these are usually a dollar at wal-mart I found some for a quarter each at the local flea market...and a small candle....Oh yeah and something cool to put in the jar!

    Step 1- Start with your small glass candle holder. You'll need this first so you can pick a jar that will work. place it down in the top of the jar. You don't want it to go to the bottom but for it to rest in the opening of the jar. Some jar opening will be too big and some maybe too small so try a few...

    Step 2- After you have your candle holder and your jar picked out, you need to come up with a theme for your candle holder. You'll need to find something small to put in the jar that works with your theme.  This can be anything so long as it fits in the jar! lol  A toy tractor, horse, race car....

    Step 3- Place your small trinket into the jar and decide where in the jar you want it. If you want your trinket to be higher in the jar you can put a little box or something under it to give it some height. Also keep in mind where the seam line is on the jar. You don't want the pretty side to have the seam line in the middle of it. I suggest using kitchen tongs to get it in place. Put some hot glue on the bottom of your trinket and secure it to the bottom of the jar.

     Step 4- Paint the bottom of the jar with something to along with your theme. Be sure not to make it too busy, something simple that won't hide your trinket in the jar. Example: You use a small tractor, maybe put a basic fence line around the jar with some grass.

     Step 5- If you like you can wrap a piece of ribbon or something around the top of the jar to give it a little something extra. Place your small candle holder in the top of your jar with a candle and Voila! You have a unique candle holder! 

Side Notes:  I made one of these with a flamingo in it to give to my niece. Seeing as how she is still a kid I decided to forego the candle and just make it for her to put her small jewelry and stuff in so that's an idea too..

I have also thought that if your jar has too wide of an opening, a small glass bowl or ramekin would maybe work. 

So that's how to make a personalized candle holder for you or to give as a gift. Hope you like it :D

Have a Good Rest of the Day!!

-Winney

How to Make a Miniature Basket

      Since as far back as I can remember I have always loved miniatures.  The best part of miniature making is that you can use almost anything to make them. Simple items around your house that you would normally not think about. So, if you have a dollhouse or a miniature shelf that needs a few new additions, then you came to the right place. :D  I love thinking up new ideas of miniatures to make. And as I come up with ideas I'll be sure to share my ideas with you. So that you can make your own miniatures too.  :D Here is one of my favorite miniature ideas. A simple miniature basket! Making a miniature basket can be hard to do and very frustrating! Well, for me anyway. One day while strolling through my yard I thought of the perfect basket!! So, cute, almost free to make and most of all easy!  So, now I want to show you how to make a miniature dollhouse basket too. I hope you find this little mini treasure to be as cool as I did.

Miniature                    
Acorn Top Basket:     

This one is so cute, and so super easy!

To get started, you'll need an acorn top. Most of you can find these around your yard. This was better for me to do right before spring because there were a lot of acorn tops already separated from the nut and laying on the ground. You will also need a few leaves with long stems. (get a few just in case the first one breaks) Oak leaves will work, but you will have to take some of the leaf part off to make your basket handle long enough. Maple leaves work really well. Almost any leaf will do the trick!

Step 1-  Take your acorn top and clean out any dirt that may be in it.

Step 2-   Pop of the stem of the top so that it will sit flat on a surface.

Step 3-  Cut off the long stems of your leaves and soak in water for 5 to 10 minutes.

Step 4-  Slowly work at bending the stem into a horseshoe shape. Bend it some then let soak and bend again. Until it's ready to be a handle for your basket. (5 to 10 min)

Step 5-  Dry off your bent stem and trim the length to fit your basket.

Step 6-  Dab a little bit of super glue on each side of  the inside of your basket.

Step 7-  Place the ends of the stem into the super glue and hold it there until it stays up on its own.

Step 8-  Reinforce the  stem by dabbing a small bit of crafting glue over the super glue.

Step 9- Let dry.

Viola! A miniature basket made out of an acorn top! :D
Told you it was easy..lol

Here's another miniature idea that is super easy to make and would be a great addition to your dollhouse kitchen. Hope you like it. :D
Miniature
Acorn
Serving Dish :
Since we're on the acorn theme, I thought I would add this
easy miniature how to also. All you'll need is a couple of acorn tops. Make sure one is smaller than the other.


Step 1- Clean out any dirt that may be in or on the acorn tops. Pop off the stems of the acorn tops
.
Step 2-  Put a dab of crafting glue on the outside of one of the tops where the stem was. Place the other acorn top against it and squeeze. Making sure the acorn tops are attached where you want them. Let dry.

  After the acorn tops have dried you will be ready to paint!

I painted this serving dish white to give it that fancy "milk glass" look.

That's all I have for today Thanks for looking. Be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Now go get your Krafty On! :D

Hi folks..
    I'm not new to the idea of blogging, but I am pretty new to actually doing it. So I wanted to do a small post just to introduce myself and get acquainted. Here goes...
My name is Winney, and I love crafting! I decided that through the years of learning how to do all these crafts that there may be someone around just looking for a new crafting project to do. It's because of this That I wanted to start a blog. I want to share my crafting ideas and experiences, and all the lessons I've learned along the way with other people. And hopefully learn a few new ones too! I will show you how to make a wide arrangement of crafts that I have learned and tell you some tips and tricks that I hope will be helpful to you.
     Please bear with me as this is my first real try at blogging. I will do my best not to make my How To's too confusing lol. I would love to hear from you. So be sure to leave me a comment if you feel the urge :D  I would love to know what you think of my projects, any ideas that you think I should cover in this blog, or if you know of site or blog that you might think would be worth looking at..but please try to keep the spam under control...lol  I look forward to sharing my new blogging adventures and my crafting ideas with you.
Thanks for Reading,
-Winney