Make It Monday: Mustache Mugs

Mustache's seem to be greeting me everywhere I go lately. Even post-Movember they are still out and about, but seem to be taking on different forms. I decided to jump on the bandwagon and create my own tribute to the mustache by creating some mugs depicting facial hair styles. Here's a written tutorial using two different ceramic paint types.

What you'll need:

Ceramic mug
Pencil
Ceramic paint pen or pots
Paintbrush (if using paint pots)


Step 1. Trace or draw a mustache onto your mug. Keep in mind you'll need to choose the correct side depending on if the beverage consumer is right or left handed.

Step 2. Paint over the sketched mustache. If you're using the paint pots and a paintbrush you'll need to do a couple of coats.

Step 3. Allow to dry according to the directions of your paint product. The paint pen I used required at least 4 hrs to dry and at most 8 hrs before heat curing in the oven. The paint pots I used required 4 days to dry before heat curing.

Step 4. Heat cure the mugs in an oven according to the paint product directions. Both products I used required placing the mugs in a cold oven, setting the correct oven temperature, baking for the allotted time once the oven reached the set temperature, turning the oven off, and opening the oven door slightly to allow the mugs to return to room temperature slowly.


Note: The heat cured finish for the mugs I made using ceramic paint pots was not dishwasher safe even though the directions say it should be. I didn't test the ceramic paint pen mugs in the dishwasher. I'd recommend hand washing your hand painted ceramics.

I created this set of "famous" mustache mugs to contribute to our work silent auction fundraiser for the United Way. It brought in a whopping $75. I used the paint pen to make this set.



 

I made this set, including a "his" and "hers" pair and 4 personality mustache mugs, as a secret Santa gift for a coworker. I used the ceramic paint pots and a fine point paintbrush to make this set.  

With these mugs anybody can sport a stache!


Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Animal Figurine Ring Holder

 

Do you ever set your rings in random places in your kitchen while you're washing dishes or kneading dough? I do. And I often forget where I put them. This funny little elephant figurine has now become the new home for my rings when I'm working in the kitchen.

What you'll need:

Plastic figurine

Acrylic paint

Varnish gloss 

Paintbrush

Medium terracotta pot base

Spray paint

Felt

Scissors

Hot glue

Directions:

Step 1.  Spray paint the terracotta pot base with a high gloss black spray paint or your colour of choice. Re-coat as directed and allow to dry completely.

Step 2. Paint your plastic figurine as desired. Once it's dry apply two coats of a clear varnish gloss to seal the acrylic.

Step 3. Trace the bottom of the terracotta pot base onto felt and cut out. Hot glue the felt to the bottom of the terracotta base.

Step 4. Hot glue the feet of your figurine to the terracotta pot. Now it's ready to guard your jewellery while you slave away in the kitchen, hooray!

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Bathroom Tiered Storage

This was a fun little project I decided to put together to store the random bathroom accessories that occasionally clutter my counter. Fun fact: It's also a dollar store creation that cost me a total of $2 to make.

What you'll need:

1 medium terracotta pot base
1 small terracotta pot base
1 mini terracotta pot
Black spray paint
Black felt
Scissors
Hot glue
Optional: 1 miniature plastic animal
Optional: Acrylic paint

Directions:

Step 1. Spray paint both terracotta pot bases and the mini terracotta pot with a high gloss black spray paint, or whatever colour you prefer. Re-coat as directed and allow to dry completely.

Step 2. Trace the bottom of the medium terracotta pot base onto the black felt. Cut out the circle of felt and adhere it to the bottom of the medium terracotta pot base with hot glue.

Step 3. Using hot glue adhere the bottom of the mini terracotta pot to the centre of the medium terracotta pot base. Then run a small amount of hot glue around the top rim of the pot and secure the small terracotta pot base on top.

Step 4. Optional: Using acrylic paint jazz up your miniature plastic animal. Once it's dry hot glue it to the centre of the top of your tiered storage unit. This ugly red and black rooster got a lovely coat of cranberry acrylic paint before being deemed suitable as a tiered storage topper.

Now it's ready to take on the task of holding the bathroom counter clutter.

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Cardboard Tube Pumpkins

These sweet little pumpkins are simple and inexpensive to make. A great fall craft for preschoolers.

What you'll need:

Makes two pumpkins

Empty toilet paper roll

Scissors

Hole punch

Orange paint

Paint brush

Green pipe cleaner

Directions:

Step 1. Cut the toilet paper roll into 6 equal rounds. Punch one hole in each round. Paint the rounds orange and allow to dry completely.

Step 2. Cut the pipe cleaner into two 2" pieces (stems) and two 3" pieces (leaves). Curl the end of each 2" piece up like a snail (See picture above).

Step 3. Insert 2 cardboard rounds into one other one so the punched holes line up. Insert one 2" curled pipe cleaner through the holes from the inside out, forming the stem (See picture above).

Step 4. Wrap one 3" length of pipe cleaner around the stem to form two leaves. Repeat steps 3 & 4 with the remaining cardboard rounds and pipe cleaner pieces.

 

These can be displayed in a vase as a fun table centrepiece or strung up as festive garland on a mantle or in a window.

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Paper Bag Puppet Puppy

One for the kids! A classic paper bag puppet. At Sophie's request this one's a pink puppy named Sophie of course.

What you'll need:

Paper bag
Construction paper
Pencil
Scissors
Glue stick

Directions:

Step 1. Using construction paper, draw and cut out ears, eyes, a nose, tongue, belly and tail.

Step 2. Position and glue your cut outs onto the flap side of the paper bag. You're done! It's that simple. 

Put on a show.

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Bamboo Frame Jewellery Display

Keeping in line with my recent organized life theme, here's a project I put together to display and organize my jewellery collection, in hopes that it will allow me to easily jazz up my work outfits when my office time increases in the fall.

I was inspired to create this display after seeing a few photos of large picture frames used in a similar fashion. I wasn't able to scrounge up a large, empty picture frame so I opted to create my own using dollar store bamboo.

What you'll need:

4 pieces of bamboo - 40" in length

Hand saw

Sandpaper

Spray paint

Hemp

Hot glue

Picture tacks

Hammer

Wall mount hooks

Directions:

Step 1. Measure and mark two of the pieces of bamboo at 15". Cut with a handsaw and sand until smooth. Spray paint in a colour of your choice. You will end up with two 15", two 25" and two 40" pieces of bamboo.

Step 2. Align one 40" length of bamboo at a 90 degree angle over top of one 25" length of bamboo, overlap as a cross 2" past the intersection. Knot a string of hemp, approximately 3 arm lengths long, around the bamboo and create a crisscross wrap. Finish with a knot, secure with hot glue, and trim the excess hemp.

Step 3. Repeat step 2 until you have a rectangular frame with two 40" lengths of bamboo on top of two 25" lengths of bamboo.

Step 4. With the frame laying flat, position one 15" length of bamboo at a 90 degree angle on top of one long side of the frame, 3.5" above the corner intersection. Once again with a 2" overlap. Cross wrap, as before, with 3 arm lengths of hemp.

Step 5. Repeat step 4 using the remaining 15" length of bamboo. Position it at the opposite corner of the first 15" length of bamboo as shown in the above picture. 

Step 6. Turn the frame over so the back is facing you. Hammer picture tacks below each of the two short bamboo posts, this will prevent them from sliding downward. Reinforce the two short bamboo posts with a loop a of hemp tied around the outside end of the short post and the frame, see image below. This will give the post the necessary sturdiness to hold heavy bracelets.

Step 8. Mark the height that you want your jewellery hanging at. I tied one directly below the top of the frame for earrings and two others midway down to hang necklaces. Tie a piece of hemp from one side of the bamboo frame to the other as tight as possible at your desired height and tack in place from behind to avoid the string from sliding downward once your jewellery is hanging.

Step 7. Measure and mount two hooks on your wall to hold the frame. Hang and populate with jewellery and photos.

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Chalkboard Front Door Accent

I've been wanting to put something together for awhile to adorn my now super fun Yellow Door. In the past the only thing I've hung on my door is a wreath during Christmas season, but I love the idea of having something year round. A chalkboard seemed like a great, versatile adornment to carry us through the seasons.

What you'll need:

Metallic plastic serving tray - $1.25 at Dollarama

Chalkboard paint

Foam brush

Nail

String

Wreath hook

The Simple No-Knot Gift Bow

Directions:

Step 1. Using a foam brush, paint the centre of the serving tray with 2 coats of chalkboard paint, let dry in between according to the directions on the can.

Step 2. Once dry, pierce two holes in the top of the serving tray with a nail.

 Step 3. Thread string through the holes and create a loop for hanging. Hang in place on a wreath hook.

Step 4. Attach the The Simple No-Knot Gift Bow or other accessory to add a little pizzazz.

Step 5. After 3 days condition the chalkboard by rubbing a piece of chalk on it's side over the entire surface and wiping it with a dry chalkboard brush or paper towel. Now it's ready to go!

Time for a little front porch sitting...

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: The Simple No-Knot Gift Bow

Ever have a project or gift that requires a finishing touch with a little extra pizzazz? Well this sweet little bow may be just the thing. If it wasn't ridiculous to have a super long title I'd be tempted to call it The Simple-No knot-stay put-sweet-versatile-loopy-gift-bow.

I'm one of those people that tries to perfect everything, but tying a bow is definitely not my strong suit. So hot glue to the rescue!

What you'll need:

Ribbon
Scissors
Hot glue

Directions:

Step 1. Cut your ribbon into 4 strips 8" long and 1 strip 3" long.

Step 2. Hot glue the ends of each strip together, forming 4 medium sized loops and one small loop. See image above.

Step 3. Put a dab of hot glue in the centre of each of the 4 medium loops directly on the seem and press the loop together creating a bow shape.

Step 4. Glue one "bow" on top of another "bow" forming a cross. Repeat with the remaining two "bows" so you end up with two crosses.

Step 5. With one cross rotated into the 'X' position and the other in a '+' position glue the two together.

Step 6. Glue the small loop into the centre of the bow.

Step 7. Depending on what you're using the bow for you may be finished at step 6. I added tails to my bow. Cut one strip of ribbon 24" long and one strip of ribbon 14" long. Fold each strip at the centre on an angle and glue the overlap together. Simply glue to the back of your bow and it's ready to go.

Now what to put it on...

Happy Monday!

Make It Monday: Wooden Bracelets

I was inspired to make these sweet little bracelets after stumbling across a similar project on Suzy's Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom. Her designs used a wide Popsicle stick and showcased her intricate artwork abilities.

What you'll need:

Wooden coffee stir sticks

Water

Drinking glass or other cylinder - in your desired size

Acrylic paint or markers

Directions:

Step 1. Simmer stir sticks in a large skillet of boiling water for 30 minutes. Allow to cool to touch.

Step 2. Curve stir stick into a drinking glass or other cylinder. Note: to make the kids bracelets I used an empty paper towel tube.

Step 3. Place the glass or tube in the sun, allow to dry completely before removing.

Alternate Step 3. If you're impatient like me you can bake the glass in a 200 degree F oven for about 30 minutes until dry. Make sure you use an oven safe glass if you do it this way. A shot glass may be an alternative if you want to make small bracelets.

Step 4. Be creative and decorate to your hearts content with acrylic paint or markers or whatever medium you decide. Be aware that if you coat the entire bracelet in paint it may soak into the wood and cause it to release it's shape slightly. If you plan on coating it completely it may be a good idea to make your bracelet smaller than you want it.

I made matching bracelets for the girls.

Sophie also got a ladybug bracelet at her request. The little girl can't seem to get ladybugs off her mind since her birthday party.

Happy Monday!