504 Main by Holly Lefevre

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

DIY! A Trio of Silly Bunnies

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I hardly ever decorate for holidays...but I have had a few ideas that I had to try out...and quick - like I-better-move-my-tail-quick!! Awhile back I purchased some of those paper mache eggs at the craft store...just to paint...but then I thought I needed to try something different...and so came about the Trio of Silly Bunnies.

Supplies (all bunnies)

Paper mache Eggs (craft store)...I suppose you could use plastic eggs and cover them in paper mache too. 1 per bunny
Plate Joining Biscuits (from Rockler or the local hardware store) - 4 per bunny
Foam brush, Rockler
Craft knife or other utility knife

Supplies (chalkboard bunny)

DecoArt Chalkboard paint
Paint brush
Chalk
Hot Glue/Hot Glue Gun or Gorilla Glue
Optional: White Paint Pen

Supplies (book page bunny)

DecoArt Decoupage, matte finish
Book pages, torn
Buttons/lace, rhinestone/whatever trim you want

DIY - Chalkboard Bunny

Paint egg and 4 biscuits in chalkboard paint - all over/both sides and let dry
Paint a second coat.
Let cure????
Once dry, rub chalk all over egg and biscuits
NOTE: You can leave your bunny plain and draw different faces on him - I did this for awhile and finally just drew a permanent face with white paint pen
*see DIY ALL BUNNIES Below for finishing

DIY - Book Page Bunny

Apply a thin layer of decoupage on a small area of the bunny, let dry slightly.
Apply pieces of torn book pages, overlapping the edges on that area - and applying decoupage on top of the freshly laid book pages; then continue onto other areas, until the bunny is covered.
Make sure the entire bunny is covered in book pages and a layer of decoupage and let dry.
*See DIY ALL BUNNIES Below for finishing

DIY ALL BUNNIES

Cut 2 slits in the top of the egg for the ears - I simply cut a slit...I did not make anything more than a slit...then pushed the end of each ear into the slit. I did not glue the ears in the stayed fine...you can glue the ears if you wish.

Position two biscuits on the work surface so that the ends on one side are touching. About 1/2"in from the back point apply glue; place egg on the biscuit feet; let dry.

Add embellishment:

For the chalkboard bunny, I simply drew in ears and a simple face. I eventually made a permanent face with a white paint pen.
For the book page bunny, I used small lace flowers for the ears and eyes and a button nose; and for the other, just two buttons for eyes...and of course don't forget the tail!

Note: glitter would be awesome on these little guys either for the ears, eyes, etc., or mixed into the decoupage! You can decorate these little guys anyway you want...I just stayed simple.

So...are you ready for Easter or

do you need to get your tail movin' too?

Link up to the WHITE Party!

Strut Your Stuff Easter and Spring Party at Somewhat Simple

Monday, April 18, 2011

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! A Birthday Chandelier

I made this Birthday Chandelier last year for my hubby's big b'day and just recently made one for a dear friend who turned 40 (did anyone make one for me...no...but I am not bitter at all!). I have also had many readers make their own versions of this chandelier - from a decorative chandelier with vintage goodness to a learning tool for kids with special needs.

The possibilities are endless...

and this beauty can be made with things you already have in the house!

My original inspiration for the birthday chandelier came from the

book and burlap wreaths that were (and still are) all over blogland…

but as far as I know this is my own “creation.”
{as of 2/2010 I had not seen a similar creation}

Even as I was making this and especially
when I saw the finished project,
I could totally see this becoming so many things…
baby and bridal shower decor...
made in colorful paper as party décor...
made out of a children’s book for a nursery...
Endless possibilities {and I will milk it for all it is worth}!

DIY Birthday Chandelier
SUPPLIES

Wire coat hanger (or wreath frame) and wire snips/cutters if you use the coat hanger.
Exacto knife {or preferred cutting/ripping tool}.
Ruler (metal)
Scissors
Hole punch (I used the small hole punch)
Glue sticks (glue dots could probably work well too).
Old book (you will be tearing it apart) or scrapbook paper cut to size.
Ribbon (I used ¼” ribbon and a thin string to complete my chandelier)
String or fishing line
Cardstock in preferred color (You could use double sided scrapbook paper, but I found it helpful to use solid color cardstock…anything you can utilize both sides of the paper is good, so that you do not have to cut double mats to cover up the back side of the paper).
Photos

INSTRUCTIONS
NOTE: For my purposes I will be referring to a wire hanger and an old book – {I have made one with a wire wreath form and scrapbook paper}
1. Cut the hanger part of the hanger off on both sides

2. Using the wire snips or pliers make hooks at each end of the hanger. Hook them together and them use your hands to form a circle with the hanger. It does no have to be a perfect circle…but it should resemble one.

3. With an exacto knife, cut the pages from an old book. The size of the wreath and the size of the folds you do in the next step will determine how many pages you need.

4. Fan or accordion fold (lengthwise) each page. A large fold will make a fuller look, a smaller fold will be a tighter look (see photos for example). I used a larger fold for my chandelier. {If you are going to pink, tear or dip the edges* do it now}

5. Once the page is folded, fold it in half, and run a glue stick along length of folded paper.

6. Sandwich the hanger between the folded page…the hanger should go right into the crease of the page. For extra hold, I stapled mine too. You can use two lengths of pages for a different style rosette - you will have to test out your rosettes on the type of paper you use to determine the fullness you desire.

7. Continue placing and gluing until your wreath is full.
8. Before fanning out your folded pages, cut 3 lengths of ribbon approximately 36 inches long (you may want more lengths to add some flourish to the wreath like I did). Visualize a triangle on your wreath and tie (knot) a length of ribbon in these places. I liked placing one of the ribbons at the closing point/hooks of the hanger. Leave long tails so that you can take the 3 lengths and tie them together (hold them up and visualize the lengths being equal and tie a knot).
NOTE: For Step 8 and for step 9, I am showing your the ribbon placement without the paper attached to the wreath frame. It is much easier to attach the ribbon with the paper already on the wreath...as it hold the ribbon in place.

9. If you are going to be hanging photos or anything else from the chandelier, you may want to attach the fishing line now as well. You can do as many lines as you want. I did two, dividing the wreath frame in half, each way. See NOTE from step 8.

10. Glue The top of the folded paper and then fan out and glue the two halves together.

11. With wreath still flat (or…I actually found it helpful to hang the wreath for this stage of creating), glue the top of the folded pages. Then open the folds to create a rosette and glue the sides together. Repeat as many times as necessary.
NOTE: Top, a larger accordion fold. Bottom, a smaller accordion fold.

12. When the glue on the wreath is dry you can hang your photos.
13. Tie photos to the wreath frame and along the strings you crisscrossed across the frame. Hang them at different levels for interest. Stand back every now and then to reassess positioning. You will also have to balance out the photos so the chandelier hangs straight at this stage.

Photos

On the computer, print out your photos. I found it helpful to print them all out in the same size using Microsoft Picture Manager, wallet size photos.
Cut mats out of cardstock or paper. I found it helpful to use solid color cardstock and then I could put photos on both sides.
Cut photos out and affix to mats (I used glue, but you could use scrapbook tape runner)
Punch a hole in the center top.
Cut lengths of ribbon or thin string (I cut them about 36” long…enough to play with) and then tie to mounted/matted photos.

Add Some Sparkle!
Dip the edges in glue and then glitter for some sparkle!
Hang a few crystals for some glam!
Pinking shear or tear the edges for some additional detail.

Oh yeah, did I mention the best part...

this cost N-O-T-H-I-N-G! And how FAB is it!

If you want to see a gorgeous and different version,

go check out Pretty Paper Book. It is beautiful!

Happy DIYing!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

A DIY Guest Post! Number Bean Bags Tutorial and Giveaway from Craft Buds

Hey peeps! It was whirlwind weekend...and I can hardly believe it is over...but to start the week off on the with foot, we I have Craft Buds here today. I first discovered Craft Buds when they linked up to Tickled Pink...and was blown away by their site. So with no further adieu....

Hello readers, this is Mary from Craft Buds, a site I co-host with my friend Lindsay. We're so excited to be on 504 Main and meet all of you! At Craft Buds we feature tutorials, fresh ideas for promoting and running your handmade business, and a weekly list of craft giveaways around the web. (More on that in a minute!)

Below you'll find my tutorial for a set of numbered bean bags. It's a great gift idea for kids. You can further personalize it with different colors and putting the letters of the child's name on the backs.

To make these, you'll want to download my pattern (free!) that includes the numbers and square for the beanbags. I didn't use a number zero but my husband was concerned that someone might want it, so it's included in the pattern.

First, print out the pattern and cut out all the paper numbers and 9 fabric squares for the beanbag fronts and 9 fabric squares for the backs. I did brown for the front and different colors and patterns for the numbers and backs.

Next, cut out nine fabric rectangles a little larger than your numbers. Iron those to a strip of fusible web. On the back, trace each number backwards, then cut out each number.

Peel the backing off the fusible web and iron the numbers to the centers of your beanbag fronts. If you want more details on making the number appliques you can see my post on appliques here.

Next I did a loose zig zag stitch with my sewing machine around each number. The curves got tricky so I had to turn the hand wheel for some parts and stitch very slowly.

Then put right sides together of your beanbag fronts and backs and stitch them up leaving a 2" opening at the bottom. When you are done stitching, turn them right side out.

I tried to fill these with a funnel but my funnel opening was too small so I used a rolled up paper plate to fill each bag with dried black beans. I filled each bag until it was 3/4 full and used a pound and a half total for all nine bags.

Next I sewed the openings up using a slipstitch. A slipstitch is a (mostly) hidden seam. To do this you'll first fold the raw edges inside. Then knot your thread and starting at one end of the opening, you'll alternate between the inside folds of the fabric stitching about 1/16" inch of fabric on each side and then pull tightly.