Rubber Dipped Vases {Tutorial}

Are you guys ready for the simplest project ever?

Today I'm going to tell you how to make rubber dipped vases. 

I know it sounds weird.  Rubber?  Well... yeah.  From pictures, it looks like it could be dipped in paint but it's actually rubber.  The rubber gives a unique texture, feel and security.  It won't chip off, fade or crack like paint would and would also repel moisture.  Plus, it's just cool to work with new materials.

My dear friend Mary was cleaning house and gave me the teeny little vases and the rubber so I thought it was fitting to put them together.  I used them as part of my Ombre Ambiance table setting {though technically they aren't ombre} and I liked how they added to the table without overwhelming it. 

So here's how to make your own rubber dipped vases:

SUPPLIES:

- Plasti Dip

- Vases

- Disposable bowl or cup

- Stir stick or plastic spoon

Plasti-Dip Create Your Color

First, let me explain what Plasti Dip is.  The men in your life have probably already heard of it.  It's rubber coating that is used for coating the handles of tools.  You can purchase it at most hardware stores in the paint section.  It comes in a mini paint can and costs between $10 - $20 a can though you certainly may find it for less.  A little goes a long way.  The most common color that it comes in is black {that's all they had at Lowe's.} but they have a new product called Create Your Color which Mary found here on Amazon.  The rubber in the can came clear and I simply mixed the supplied colors until I got the color I wanted.  The rubber is liquid in the can but firms up once dried.  I still have a lot of rubber left and can't wait to get started on more projects.   {P.S. this post isn't sponsored by Plasti Dip I just thought I would keep you informed on the product.}

TUTORIAL:

Step 1:  In a well ventilated area, open your can of Plasti Dip and pour desired amount into bowl.  Mix in colors until you reach your desired color.

Step 2:  Dip vase bottom into rubber mixture slowly according to instructions on can.

Step 3:  Allow any extra rubber to drip off and let dry.  Repeat process if you want additional coats.

I really love the charm these teeny glass vases now have.

Now it's time to scour the house for more things that should be rubberized!  Can you imagine the possibilities?

$2 DIY Cake Stand

I've been loving all the cake stands I've been seeing on the internet lately.  And I've been drooling over painted glass.  So darling. 

The only thing better than cake is cake on a fun stand. 

I call this the $2 cake stand because the main supplies cost exactly $2.  The plate and the martini glass came from the Dollar Store.  All the other supplies I had on hand.  If you carft ever you will probably have these supplies.

Step 1:  Clean glass using glass cleaner and remove any stickers.

Step 2:  Lay plate face down on table.  Place fabric on top and trace around the edge to determine size of fabric.  I did it this way because the plate had a lip and I wanted to make sure I had the exact size of fabric.

Step 3:  Coat entire bottom of plate in Mod Podge.  The more the merrier.  If there is a spot you missed with the Mod Podge it will show up so coat that sucker good!

Step 4:  Lay fabric (right side down) on plate and smooth out any bubbles.

Step 5:  Coat the entire bottom of plate again with Mod Podge to seal the fabric.  Let dry.  It may looks splochy for a little while but once the glue dries completly it will all look great.

Step 6:  Trim any excess fabric with scissors.

Step 7:  Pour paint into martini glass and coat the inside generously.  Let dry.  {You can leave it like this or you can cover the paint with Mod Podge too to give it an extral seal}

Step 8:  Turn martini glass over and put your strong glue on the bottom.  Place plate on top and let dry.  *** This step is optional.  You don't need to glue it for it to stay in place.  I chose not to glue mine together to make it easier to store.

The top of the platter is completly food safe since you only added stuff to the bottom.  Wipe top to clean.  Do not soak.

Simple as that.  Can you imagine all the posibilites?

Now, who's ready for a doughnut????

Antique Week: Delicate Flowers

It's Antique Week at my mom's house.  It's not possible to show you all the pretty delicate floral things my mom has.  She has quite an extensive collection of tea cups and gorgeous china.  Some of these items are not antique but definitely weren't purchased yesterday.  These are just a tiny sampling of some of my favorite pieces.





Leaf cup and saucer, and heavily floraled sets that make me oh so happy.

Love this English tea tin and seed packet tin.

Teeny tiny kerosene lamps on a crocheted doily.  Mom's Royal Albert tea pot is in the back.  She has nearly every piece in the set.

The tiny little white plates with pink flowers and gold plating on the rim are so delicate.  My mom has a large set of this pattern.  We are very lucky to done with them at Christmas.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. 

What's not to love?

Antique Week: Crafting

Continuing on with Antique Week, I had to include some antique craft supplies!  I know that there are so many more little treasures in my mom's house but after rummaging for just a short while I found all of these little beauties.

Hand cross stitched table cloth.  Maybe done by my grandma???

What's more swoon worthy than an antique jar filled with antique buttons?  The lid is to die for.

Tiny ivory crochet hooks perfect for making doilie after doilie.

A very heavy little iron.  This is how it used to be done folks.  You know, when women actually ironed clothes instead of shoving them in the dryer 15 minutes before leaving the house.

A tiny leather knife box lined in blue velvet, a gorgeous, ornate brass lantern to light up your craft room and {gasp!} a wooden thread carousel with wooden spools of antique thread.  And what's that on top?  Why it's a tiny little bowl to hold even more little treasures like these gorgeous lion crest embossed buttons.

I wonder how it will go over when I tell my husband that I now need two craft rooms?  My functional modern one and my display craft room to show off little gems just like these. 

Yep.  Definitely need two craft rooms.  Sorry babe.



Glass Etched Bake Ware for Wedding

This past weekend we were able to attend another wedding.  You should have seen it.  Gorgeous.  1,000 yards of tulle, wooden ovals with pink and black silhouettes of the bride and groom and tea cups and saucers glued to brass candle sticks of varying heights as centerpieces.  I wish I had taken pictures to show you because I know my description is terrible.

For their gift I made glass etched bake ware.  You can view the tutorial HERE.  My computer is broken so I can't use my Sure Cuts A Lot software this time.  I used my Plantain Schoolbook Cricut cartridge for the letters and Accent Essential cartridge for the scroll design.  You can't see it in this picture but the same design is also at the end of the name.  I cut out two stencils (since I was making two dishes) of the regular image and then hit the "flip" button on the Cricut and cut out two more. 

Because I wanted this

< name >

and not this

< name <

Does that make sense?

Since both of the cartridges I used come with most Cricut Expressions, if you have one you can make the exact same bake ware yourself. 

The Lace Vase

Are you ready for a simple project anyone can do?

Introducing...

It's so simple even a three year old can do it.

Seriously.

This three year old crafted this darling vase.

 

Do you let your kids craft with you? 

I hope you do.

Crafting with your kids doesn't have to be all finger paints and pipe cleaners.  Every time I craft I usually have one of my kids by my side.  Sometimes they have important helper jobs like handing me pins when I need them, or sorting out the colors of my button collection, or sitting on my lap as I sew.  They love it.  I love it.  Sometimes you can even hand over the reins and let them take charge.  I bet they'll surprise you.

This is the vase before. 

My wonderful, thoughtful friend Mary gave me a beautiful boquet of flowers when Jackson was born and they came in this tall blue vase.  {I'm officially declaring blue (especially navy) the new IT color.}  This vase has been sitting in my window sill since then and I got the idea to add a little lace to it.  I got some random scraps of lace from Great Grandma Cutts and I'm pretty sure it's vintage.  I wanted to use it in a pretty way so the Lace Vase was born.  I love combining beautiful things.  Plus, it makes me think of Grandma and Mary and that just makes me smile.


Supplies:

• Glass Vase
• Lace
• Mod Podge
• Foam brush

Step 1:  Cut lace to fit your vase.  My lace was in sheets and not on a spool so I had to cut around the flower design to give me a strip of lace with a nice decorative edge. but you can purchase pre-trimmed lace at any craft store.

Step 2:  Place lace on a piece of plastic (I jused a grocery bag) and cover the entire piece of lace in Mod Podge.

Step 3:  (Here's where mom steps in) Place the lace onto your vase and work it until it lays the way you want it to.

Step 4:  Dab Modpodge on top of the lace until the entire piece is completly coated.  Let dry.

{I would consider this project to be semi-permanent.} 

 You can rinse it to wash it and the lace is stuck on pretty well.  However if you ever decide that you want your vase back, sans lace, than you can soak it in water and scrub the vase back to its original state.

 

Crafting with your kids is SO worth it.  Look at this proud and excited face!

Your vase is fabulous, Maggie.  Simply fabulous.

Nice work baby girl!

Personalized Glass Etched Bake Ware

Remember yesterday when I showed you the handmade bag for a wedding present? 

Well, here's what's inside:

Personalized Glass Etched Bake ware!

What a perfect way to welcome Rachel into the world of pot lucks!  I'm sure they'll be attending a few over the years.  Plus, we live in the south.  If something doesn't have a monogram on it we don't want it. Haha.

I know it might be a little hard to tell what's what.  I'm no professional photographer.  After all, I take all my pictures with my iPod.  There are 3 pieces of bake ware (9x13, 9x9 & loaf) and they go with the pear theme from the card I made.

The loaf pan has three pears on one sides and "Downs", Drew and Rachel's last name on the other.

The square pan has a pear and "Downs" on just one side.

The 9x13 has "The Downs Family" and two pears etched onto the bottom.  The etching is on the outside of the pan.

Want to know how to make your own?  It's really easy.  I use my Cricut to cut out the images but you could use a variety of other ways including just a plain ol' exacto knife.  Do what works for you.

Tutorial

Step 1:  Cut out image onto cheap vinyl.  (No need to waste the good stuff) 

I use the cheap kind that you can buy for covering books.  You can find it in the school supply section.  I have a fabulous program for my Cricut called Sure Cuts A Lot.  If you don't have this program you need to get it.  You can cut out anything.  And I mean anything with it.  A picture from the Internet, a drawing you made, any font in your computer.  Anything.  I'm not paid to brag about Cricut or Sure Cuts A Lot I just really love them.  The image above is what the program looks like.  I line up what I want cut out in the program, press the cut button and my Cricut goes to town.

Step 2:  Place your vinyl onto the glass and smooth out any bubbles.

Step 3:  Generously apply Armour Etch (you can find this in any craft store for about $8) to the empty spaces of your vinyl.  Let it sit according to the directions, approximately 15-20 minutes.

Step 4:  Rinse off etching cream with water and remove vinyl.

All done!

Note:  If you want to etch the bottom of the pan you'll need to flip the words of your vinyl backwards like in the picture above.  There is a button on the Cricut to do this as well as in the Sure Cuts A Lot Program.  If you do this, when you look down into the pan the words will be the correct way.