A Halloween Scene Candle Up-cycle Weekend Craft Project

Yesterday my friend Peggy came over and we played with spray paint and jars.  She had found this fun Halloween scene to put on jars and thought we could make them!

I had gotten this wonderful candle jar from my previous job.  I brought it home to recycle it and I had set it in the foyer closet and forgot it.  I'm glad I did.  When I went in there to get the cans of paint out I found this and thought I would upcycle it instead of recycle it!!!  Sometimes it does pay to be forgetful!!! LOL

SO, the first thing I did was removed the metal handle from the ring of the jar.  Then I needed to get the remaining wax out of the jar. A pretty simple task.  I just used a knife and pushed it into the wax and broke it up into pieces.  Then I was able to just shake the chunks out of the jar.  

Next I took some Dawn dish soap and cleaned out the inside.  I found a sponge with a little soft scrubby on the other side was extremely helpful!  

Then I filled the jar with water and set it in a bowl of water to soak off the label on the side and bottom.

Once that was done I dried the jar I wiped it down with rubbing alcohol and made a point to NOT touch the outside.  I didn't want any fingerprints on it.  I wanted it clean so the paint would stick. Once that was done and I made sure the alcohol had evaporated, I sprayed the jar with Krylon.  This color was a purple plum and then I had a can of blue metallic Rustoleum and I sprayed a little of it all over the jar to give it some sparkle and I added a lot more to the bottom to give it some dimension.  

Then the fun began!!!  We went to Adventures in a Box and downloaded the Halloween scene.  I used the witch for my jar.  There's a whole city scene.  You can do it all or in parts.  I also did a small jar with the car on the moon too.  It's not as nice as this is.  The jar was small so I didn't have room for a city at the bottom.  Go there and check out the designs.  Oh and there are also Christmas ones you can do too.  We opted not to do Christmas because we didn't like the idea of having glass outside in the winter.  Anyway, back to the jar. Once the image was downloaded and adjusted to the size needed it was printed out on copier paper and cut out by hand.  UGH!!  That took a little while but it is SO worth it.  Plus you can use the image over and over.  The original instructions have you putting the image inside the jar and tracing that way.  I found it too difficult, that is why we cut the image out.  I'm sure it would save a lot of time putting the image inside the jar and tracing that way.  You will have to experiment with yours and see which you prefer.  The paint on the bottom part of my jar is a little thicker than needed so I couldn't see the image anyway.  Plus cutting it out and taping it on the jar with removable tape was easier for me to do.  Like I groaned a few sentences back, I didn't like all the cutting, but it really was worth it.  I used an x-acto knife to cut out the windows. I did it while it was still on the jar.  Then I took the tip of the knife and scraped away the paint to make the windows look more like a window.   I did cut the witch out separately.  She was flying too high in the sky for my jar. So once I got her cut out I could place her anywhere I wanted in the sky.  I did not cut the broom handle or her thumb out. I cut them off.  I later drew them in with the marker.  The broom handle was done using a ruler to get it straight.  I didn't trust myself doing it freehand.  Anyway, it is done and I like how it turned out!

One more note here.  You do not want to use a Sharpe marker.  You want an India ink marker.  You want a waterproof marker.  You want a black marker.  I used a Faber-Castell artist pen 2.0mm  It has a nice tip to do detail but yet wide enough to color in the large areas.  I used my 50% off coupon from Michaels.  I'm sure most craft stores carry this type of marker.  

I just need to add a candle (probably a battery operated one) and I'm all set!!!  I have a shepherd's hook and I'll probably hang it from there on Halloween!!!  This was a fun project.  Though I don't see myself making anymore of them.  Mostly because I don't have any use for more!!!

Check here for more "Halloween Painted Jar Luminaries". There's 7 great ideas there.  Have fun!

Thank you SO much for stopping by to see my crafting stuff!!!

Wanda  

Gingham Garden Washi Tape Weekend Project

Today I ran across a candle with a glass top and thought I would see what I could do to dress it up a bit.  The candle originally had a paper label going around the space that the strip of Washi tape is covering.  Fortunately the glue they used on that paper was very easy to remove (or this project wouldn't have happened!!). 

When I added the tape around the bottom I did have to snip it a bit at the bottom to make it fit or there would have been little pleats all around it.  I suppose that would be ok but you can feel and see them because they stick out.  So I just carefully went around the candle snipping and pressing the tape in place.  I liked what I saw but what about the lamp part?

On the lamp part I decided to tape a piece of copier paper and add the Washi tape to it.  Then I took the 1/2" circle punch and punched out the cute circles, making sure I got flowers in each one.  Then I removed the copier paper and stuck the circles onto the glass lamp.  Cute, huh?  It's cuter when you light it up!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Stamping on a Candle Weekend Project

I just LOVE stamping on a candle!  You don't actually stamp on the candle.  You stamp on tissue paper and then heat set it to the candle.  

I got this fun battery operated candle at the Dollar Tree!!!  They have them in several colors too! What a nice inexpensive gift to give too!!  I bought a few of them and want to make some winter or Christmas ones too! Please read through all of the instructions before you begin this.

I used the "Gently Falling" set for my leaves.  I used an old spectrum pad though you can make your own by using a folded paper towel and some inkers.  Because this is a two step stamping set I used the solid leaf first.   Then I used the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the leaf outline.  I stamped that using Black StazOn.

Next you cut the images out to about 1/8" outside the edge.  I did cut some of mine right up to the edge because the ink went over the edge and I didn't like it.  

I also sponged in a bit of Old Olive ink on the leaves. There were some open white areas on the leaves and I wanted them filled in.  

Once I got everything cut out I set them in place on the candle.  To make them stay I just held my thumb there for a few seconds.  The heat of my thumb helped press the image into the wax.   After I got all the images set in place I took a piece of waxed paper and wrapped it around the candle and I held the candle by holding the ends of the waxed paper together in the back.  

I heat set the images. You can watch them turn "wet" as you are moving the heat tool around.  Don't hold it in one spot very long.  A build up of wax on top of the waxed paper doesn't mean your candle is ruined.  The wax on the candle can seep through the waxed paper.  What you need to do is make sure you let the wax cool off completely before removing the waxed paper.  If you remove it while those puddles or drips are still soft, wet or shinny looking your candle will not have the same smoothness all around. Just set it down and walk away for a minute.  It's tough to do but being too anxious to see the end result is not always good.

I have a very helpful tip for you here. This candle is really plastic with a wax coating.  A thin wax coating.  What you need to do is be quick with the heating.  The wax used here melts quickly so keep that heat tool moving.  I would not recommend using a lot of images on your candle.  The wax is just too thin for that.   You may be able to heat one and let it set up and then move to the next one.  I didn't like how mine set so I wrapped a new sheet of waxed paper over it and reheated it.  NOT a good idea.  I saw the white plastic holder below.  I am not sure how to fix it.  I suppose I could heat up some wax and brush it on top but it may make the leaves look cloudy.  I'm going to keep this one for myself because I do like the leaves on it.  But for my winter/Christmas ones I'm going to do just one image and heat once and quickly!!!  I thought I would share that tip with you.  I know it's only a dollar for the candle but you don't want to mess it up if you can avoid it!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Haunted Forest Candle Weekend Project

I was very careful this year with my Halloween stamps buying.  I bought the new "Haunted Forest" stamp and I also picked up one stamp at Michael's and I'll be making a card with that one in a day or two.  I don't want to fill up my days till Halloween with Halloween cards, candles or other items.  I want to keep it at a nice variety of "stuff!" 

For this fun project you will need the following items:
A candle

Rubber stamp(s)

StazOn ink pad

Tissue Paper

Waxed Paper

Coloring medium (I used markers and colored pencils for the images 

    and sponging for the moon)

Heat embossing tool

I stamped my image on the tissue paper using the StazOn ink pad.  I find the ink does not bleed and it has a crisper look to it.

Next I colored the the image in.  First I used colored pencils and then I came back with markers.  After I was done coloring I sponged in the moon with Daffodil Delight, then More Mustard and then I added a touch of Pumpkin Pie.  

When you are done with the coloring you cut the image out within an 1/8" of the edges.  Set the image on the candle and place a piece of waxed paper over it.  Melt the image into the candle by running the heat tool over the area.  Go slow and keep the heat tool moving.  If you keep it in one spot too long you will get a dent in your candle and a lot of dripped wax.  It's best to hold the heat tool away from the image and let it melt the wax slowly.  Once you get better at it you can move the heat tool in closer and melt the images in faster.  You can see the image melt into the wax.  The waxed paper gets wet looking and the tissue paper looks like it's no longer white.  You will know what a melted area looks like as you go by with the heat tool.  Once you remove the waxed paper you may see some tissue paper still showing.  You can either cover the area with more waxed paper (a fresh piece) or you can heat the area directly (but be careful you don't hold the tool in one spot too long.  It's easy to do it when touching up, keep the tool moving). It's really not as bad as it sounds.  Get an inexpensive candle to practice with if you are not sure of yourself.  Try using a small votive candle or go to the Dollar Tree and get one there.  You can always use it for an emergency or for when you want to have a candle.  It won't go to waste and besides, it may just turn out and you will want to keep it!!! It could happen!!!

Click here for more stamped candle items. 

Have fun with these. I LOVE making these candles and I plan to make some Christmas ones for the craft boutique this fall.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Technique Page Time!

Have you ever stamped on a candle? Well, it's a very simple technique! Oh and it's even fun too!

First you stamp on a piece of tissue paper. Color in your image. Cut the image out and place it on your candle. Place a piece of waxed paper on it. Pull the waxed paper tight and heat it up. The important thing to always remember when doing these is keep the embossing tool moving. If you keep it in one spot too long you will melt a dip in the candle and it won't look good.

Once you think you have it all melted on, remove the waxed paper. If you see white spots of tissue paper still showing, just heat it up a little (without waxed paper) and you can see it melt and blend in.

As simple as all that!

The image I used here is from the Stampin' Up! "Gifts of Christmas" set. I didn't have to color mine. I just stamped it in Melon Mambo ink. I saw this on someone's blog a while back and I apologize but I don't know who to give credit to. I try to add a name and website with the images and I probably did but can't find it. So if you know who did this, please let me know and I will give them the credit they deserve on this FABULOUS candle!

These are a great Stamp Camp item, Christmas gifts, Hostess Appreciation Gifts, Customer Appreciation Gifts and a fun Craft Fair item.

This is #2 in the 4th set of technique pages. I still have some of set #3 available. They should be available in my web store soon. And you can always email me about them too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Faux Frost Weekend Project

Here's a VERY fun and easy way to make your glassware look like it's frosted. No need for those chemicals. This is something even the kiddies can do too.

This post started out to be just the basket with the leaves on it and then it moved into the votive with leaves on it!!!

I had gotten these adorable baskets from my sister. I did use nail polish on the leaves to add some color. I was just playing around to see what I could do with it to jazz it up a bit. And since it was metal and I had a bunch of colors of nail polish I thought I'd run with this idea. I colored the metal leaves and set them aside to dry.

In the meantime I found a leaf stamp I liked and stamped the image on tissue paper using black StazOn. I cut the leaves out close to the edges, somewhere between 1/16" and 1/8".

Then I brushed on some Crystal Effects and set the leaves in place. After I got the leaves where I wanted them I covered the whole votive cup with Crystal Effects and then rolled it in super fine micro beads. I had bought these beads at Deco Bead Depot. They are the .15 to .25 size in clear. It feels like sand because they are SO small. I messed up my first one because I didn't cover the votive well enough with the Crystal Effects so I was able to experiment a bit more with the stuff.

Once you are done rolling the votive in the beads it will be HEAVILY covered. Just take a soft bristle paint brush and brush off the whole thing. Set aside and allow it to dry completely. This should take about a 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.

When it is dry place a candle inside and enjoy it. For mine I placed it inside the leaf basket. It did cover the leaves that I colored on the votive but that's OK, it's like having two gifts in one!!! The basket thing can have a candle (non-flaming one) all it's own as well as the glass votive.

It's just a fun cute way to brighten up someones day. I think it would add great decoration to your holiday table as well.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Hold the Grease!!

Ok, this time I knew I was going to play with rub-ons so I didn't put any greasy lotion before I started. Actually I didn't put any on at all. Maybe if I didn't use so much lotion the letters would still be visible on my keyboard!!!

My older sister (the much older one!!! - hope she reads this! She's only 3 years older than I am but I LOVE to tease her about it!!!). Anyway, this candle was in a box with some other stuff for my birthday. It is from JoAnn's and let me tell you, I have not lit it yet but the smell in the air from it as it sits is WONDERFUL!!! I can't wait to light it. And I am going to light it under supervision. No, I don't need to be supervised around flames!!! LOL I mean I need to keep an eye on it to see if it is safe to use rub-ons on a project like this. I suppose you could always remove the glass lamp before you light it and put it back on when you are done. I'm hoping that it will be fine. The lamp sits on this wire frame which I would think should absorb some of the heat and the shape of the lamp should deflect heat and direct it to the top. And of course at the top is where I put some rub-ons too. I'll let you know if there is a problem with it on another post.

As I stated the lamp is made of glass, a frosted glass. I did wipe it off with rubbing alcohol. And yes, I do have a little left!!! LOL I did let it dry a little longer because frosted glass is not smooth and it could hold a bit more alcohol than you can see. Besides I needed to decide which items from the package I was going to put on the lamp. After I got them cut out I began rubbing them in place. It is pretty easy to do. I do with I would have cut the top small flowers out individually or at least in twos so they would have going around the top more evenly. I chose to use the white ones instead of the black because I wanted it to have a more delicate look. Black was just too harsh for the frosted glass.

This is a great way to dress up and give a personal touch on a gift for someone special!!! Plus it doesn't take all that long to do either.

I have some fun projects coming up for you so stay tuned!!!


Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda