Upcycled wool sweater mittens

This weeks craft project is a pair of Upcycled wool/fleece mittens.  If you are not sure what "Upcycled" means see my earlier post on the subject.  Great way to recycle that favorite sweater that you hate to part with!
Materials needed:
100% wool sweater - washed/Dryed on hottest setting
Pattern for mittens
Micro-fleece for lining
sewing machine or needle and thread (if hand sewing)
Cut out your pattern and sew together per instructions. 

Holiday gifts - Candy Jars

This weeks first Holiday gift project is a painting project using canning jars or better yet recycle jars that don't have to be sent to the landfill. 

Directions:  Clean jar thoroughly, wipe down with alcohol to remove any grease spots from fingers, cut out an oval from contact paper and center on your jar.  This will be the unpainted area of your jar allowing a peak into what is inside.  Basecoat your jar let dry for 24 hours.  Paint over the basecoat with your background color and let dry.  Remove the contact paper and paint the design of your choice.  Primitive designs work well as do roses and most other flowers.  I will try to showcase more of them as we get closer to the holidays.  I do use FolkArt enamel paints.

One person's trash is another person's treasure........Recylced bottles as art pieces

 Decorative art pieces can easily be made from bottles that one might normally send to the landfill.  These bottles are easy and fast sellers at art and craft shows and I always get orders for more.  So, as you enter this holiday season, look around your home and see what you can re-use and turn into an art piece instead of sending the item as trash to a landfill. 

My next post will be a Recycled Ragu jar that I have made into a beautiful candy or treat jar.  Come on back and check it out in the next day or two.  These bottles here are booze bottles from the local restaurant/bar where I was cook on Friday nights.  They have been drilled for lights and I have painted the outside of the jars with a glass or enamel paint - sponged on and allowed to dry.  I have then painted my design and decorated them further. 

 The cardinal bottles are wine and champagne bottles and they are topped off with some beautiful birds.  Note:  if you put birds on just about anything, it will sell!  Guaranteed! 

Don't be afraid to try new ideas and designs.  I find the ones I like the least are usually what sells first. 

The three bottles below/left were done for 2009 class on wine bottle painting at Western Technical College.  The bottle in the center (Amber) is not painted but actually a sheer material covering the lover portion of the bottle with twine/jute wrapping.  This one didn't last long at all on the market.  Check out yesterday's post for the method used to make these bottles.

These Angel dolls are made from juice bottles.  Sponge painted with enamel paints then designs applied.  A wood ball tops off the bottle for the head, doilys or lace can be used for the cape or top and crocheted arms were used.  The picture in the center was from my first year of painting and it was done on art glass and placed in a frame.  Not my best piece of work, but I keep it to see how far I have come in the designs.Any questions, email me at rundle@centurytel.net and I will be happy to answer or try to answer your questions.

Decorative Wine bottles

• Painting on Wine Bottles is the theme for tonight's FolkArt painting class at Western Technical College this evening.  This is the 5th season this class has been offered and it generally is a full class.  I have posted a picture here of another form of decorating and that is with:
• Decoupage
• Designed fabric
• jute cord,
• 20 - 30 strand of lights or a stopper and wick

If you are using a strand of lights be sure to drill your hole in the glass first (instructions are posted further back in this blog).  Cut out your material, apply decoupage glue to glass, place fabric over glued area and be sure to smooth out bubbles as you go.  Apply more glue and lay more fabric down.  If you don't apply the glue and fabric in stages, I find that the glue often dries in places before you get the fabric adhered.  Once you have the material glued on, apply a liberal layer of glue (using a paint brush) to the top of the fabric covered area, being careful not to get the glue on the glass.  Let dry.  Apply a second coat and let dry.  Once that is dry, wrap jute or twine cording around the jar again using the Decoupage as your glue as you go.  Once all of the jute has been applied, let dry.  Apply a very liberal coating of decoupage over the twined area and again let dry.  Add your lights or wick and you have a decorative piece.  Email me if you have any questions.