Two Early Morning Projects: A Door Hanger and a Paper Feather Plaque

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It’s been awhile since I’ve had an early morning project, but today I have two.

I often do early morning projects. If you don’t see them here, you should see them on my Instagram account. https://instagram.com/sharsumpaint

Project 1: Front Door Hanger

I saw a neat idea for making a door hanger using a canvas tote. I didn’t have a canvas one, but I do have an awesome cotton one I bought as a souvenir of Amsterdam when we visited on our Viking Riverboat cruise several years ago. It was just hanging in the basement. Why not use it and be reminded of an awesome time every time I walk in the door. You could use just a plain one, too, or maybe stencil a design on one.

I used white plastic grocery bags to stuff the bag.

I tied a knot in the back handle close to the top of the bag and wrapped it through the hole it created several times until I had a short hanger. Then I tied a looser knot in the front handle and wrapped it through the hole until both loops were the same. I took a pic after the fact, do hopefully, the pic will help you understand my description.

I then decided I might as well start thinking of fall and so used greenery and fall sunflower colors inside. The orange sunflowers really brought out the orange in the bike.

Project #2: Paper Feather Wall Plaque:

I printed feather shapes with a French script (from The Graphics Fairy – https://thegraphicsfairy.com/french-script-paper-feathers/) on black and white printer paper. I cut this one out and used a watered down antique wax on it. I just dabbed the wax on here and there with a sponge. Once dry, I cut fringe slices around.

Interesting note: Once I applied the antiquing wax to the black ink jet text, it turned green. I really like that look, although I didn’t plan it. Lol

I had a white shiny 4×4 tile. I first sprayed it with Mid Podge sealer to help the paint adhere well. I sprayed it with black hammered spray paint. When dry, I applied antiquing wax, let it set awhile, then buffed it. This kept it from being so black and gave a bit of a brown look to it.

I then gave the feather a few light folds and super glued it to the tile, giving it a 3D look.

I finished it off by tying a bit of twine in a knot and then superglued it to the base of the feather. Will add a hanger to the back.

Now to come up with more ideas for paper feathers. I’d love to see projects others have done. Just add photos to the comments here if you have!

Closeup of how the black ink jet script turned green after applying wax.

Decoupage with Fire? Who knew?

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I happened upon a video tutorial that shared the technique of decoupaging with fire. Really? So of course I had to try it.

Here’s the original tutorial shared by Studio MD. I suggest you watch it before trying this technique. https://youtu.be/75b6NXJ0FIMhttps://youtu.be/75b6NXJ0FIM

My experiment kind of worked, but I think it would have worked better if I had used a glue stick or a decoupage medium, but I didn’t have a glue stick. I decided to give it a try on this little Dollar Tree photo frame. I painted the front of the flower with our paint brand Missouri Limestone Paint Company chalk-style paint, color “January” first to help make the print of my napkin stand out. I think the napkin I used was also from Dollar Tree.

DO NOT DO THIS! Instead of the glue stick I, unfortunately, used Dollar Tree spray adhesive. I should have known better. I haven’t found it to work on anything I’ve tried. I think it got the paper too damp and I had to keep relighting it as my fire would go out almost immediately.

The lady in the video showed using this technique on several cut out letters. I think her technique worked great on them.

One more time….decoupage with fire

I salvaged my project, though I needed to sand the edges. I had no idea what to do with the little Dollar Tree photo frame, but then decided to turn it into a pin cushion. It’s kind of cute and functional, too!

Front
Back

What did you say?

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It’s a thrill a minute in a house with retired people. Take this morning, for example.

After reading this PSA, stay tuned. The YouTube tutorial I was watching before being interrupted was very interesting and I am going to try it.

So, sit back and prepare to be entertained.

We interrupt our regular every day routine for this PSA.

Danny…..as the tv is blaring and I am concentrating on listening to a you tube tutorial on my phone…..

Danny: Dhofar fffgg gi~<> bvb fgg gggf gggh?

Me: Huh?

Danny: Do you know what will date you? (Meaning that I’m old, not that a serial killer or something would be thinking of dating me.)

Me: No.

Danny: Dhofar fffgg gi~<> is 100 years old today.

Me: Who? I leaned in to pay more attention to him.

Danny: Winnie the Pooh is 100 years old today.

Me: Oh. I thought you said Juanita Pool.

Danny: Who’s Juanita Pool?

Me: 🤦🏼‍♀️ I went back to my YouTube tutorial. But, Happy Birthday, Winnie the Poo!

Drop Cloth Cover for Flower Pots

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I used a left over piece of Redesign with Prima transfer this morning on a little “bag” vase I made with painters drop cloth. (6” w x 8” h with the faux lambs ear plant added)

I hot glued the sides and bottom of the drop cloth to make the bag and turned it inside out. I took out strings along the top for the fringe. And stuffed any extra fabric inside the jar. I added a jam jar I had and a sprig of lamb’s ear from Walmart.

I then added a bit of stuffing along the sides and back (a trick I learned from a video) to make it look more like a slouchy bag. I didn’t add any under the transfer side as I wanted the transfer to stand out.

I decided not to seal the transfer as I burnished it into the cloth really well and it won’t be handled much.

The possibilities for these bags are endless!

Pottery Barn Inspired Metallic Gold Cloche and Pot

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I decided I would go shopping in my basement this morning. I found some treasures, so I created a little cloche covering a pot of flowers.

1) I had a shade from a fan light. The beveled glass in it is beautiful. I left it metallic gold because I’ve been seeing metallic gold trending lately.

2) I also had this little white tea light holder so I gave it a little metallic gold paint here and there (just like Pottery Barn would) and added a few faux flowers.

3) I had a plastic lid that fit perfectly on the shade, but it was white, so I painted it a metallic gold to match.

4) The lid needed a knob to lift the cloche, so I found the perfect knob in my collection that coordinated with the flowers. I super glued it to the lid then super glued the lid to the shade.

And there you have it…my Pottery Barn inspired cloche and pot. Place the cloche over the pot of flowers, or if you don’t want to display flowers, just remove them and add a battery operated tea light or votive. I wouldn’t use a real candle since this is enclosed and the lid is a plastic.

A 4th of July Tiered Tray

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This display shows that tiered trays don’t have to be elaborate and how you can use items around your house to create themed tiered trays. The display will be available at our booth at The Gray Wall in Sullivan, Missouri, just in time for the 4th of July. I also will have quite a bit of cobalt blue depression glass from my own collection that will be available. It is so beautiful, but I just don’t have room for it anymore. And how perfect for your July 4th celebrations!

Once I gave this little garden gnome a patriotic outfit with paint pens, I had to go on a hunt around my house to find things to display with him.

The tiered tray was a bronze color until I gave it a hammered black spray paint makeover.

I love this tray as you can change out plates on it. Right now it holds two plates from my colbalt depression glass collection.

The USA and July 4th are just stickers that will come off and you can reuse the little cup and teapot for other holidays. Dollar Tree carries a variety of letter/number stickers.

The colbalt blue vase from my collection on the left is perfect for this theme. It has an eagle design on one side and George Washington on the other. And the goblet with the stars and the colbalt blue insert and red flower inside is perfect!

I’m still working on a red/white/blue bead garland, but it will be ready when this display and my colbalt blue collection goes to the booth this week!

Update: bead garland is finished!

A Few Early Morning Projects

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I hope you enjoy seeing some of my early morning work. It’s my favorite time of day to create.

I have tutorials on some of these on my blog here. You can do a search to find the post. Others I have explained more about on my Facebook https://Facebook.com/sharsumpaint, Instagram https://instagram.com/sharsumpaint and Pinterest https://Pinterest.com/sharsumpaint pages.

Drop Cloth Meets a Microwave Plastic Ring

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Our microwave quit working. We got rid of it, but not before I salvaged the plastic ring with rollers that goes under the glass plate.

Ok. I saved the glass plate, too. I’m sure it will become a project at some point.

Yesterday, I had an idea for the ring.. 💡 I used it as a frame for a wreath!

I cut the little rollers off and cut strips of drop cloth about 6” long. I tied each strip onto the frame, fraying them as I tied. I pushed them together as tight as possible.

It made a 12” wreath.

I love it hanging from a vintage window I have. Sorry about the pics. It is rainy and overcast today and I was having trouble with the reflection in the window glass. I smudged out my reflection as best I could (you’re welcome), but hopefully you can see how pretty it is anyway.

Hanging Canvas Print DIY

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I’m on a kick of creating early morning projects lately. Today’s came to me out of the blue, thinking of supplies I had on hand. I love when inspiration strikes and what’s in my mind actually works out!

However, it should actually say “The earth laughs in snow in Missouri in late April.” Missourians all over hurriedly covered budding plants the last few days in preparation for the snow and freezing temperatures. So this image made me feel better at looking at snow in my yard still today.

Step 1: I had a couple of sheets left of this stiff canvas paper I bought several years ago. I knew I wanted to print an 8×10” sign out on it. I did a search for you and found, at this time, you can purchase the canvas and water color combo for a good price on this site on eBay. It isn’t easy to find, but I’m sure you can find it or something similar other places, too. This Printworks brand I used is made for ink jet printers.

Step 2: Next I went in search of an image to print on my canvas paper. I found the perfect free image on this amazing blog “Harbour Breeze Home”. Thank you so much for sharing. It printed out perfectly on my canvas paper. It looks like it is a water color painting on canvas!

Step 3:

I made the wooden slats for the top and bottom by cutting a balsa wood slat from Hobby Lobby to size (with scissors), sanded, and then stained it with the brand of chalk-style paint we produce “Missouri Limestone Paint Company” paint. I added a bit of water to “River Bottom Dirt”, painted it on, then wiped it down with a paper towel. This really helped enhance the grain in the wood.

Step 4:

I then used Gorilla Glue Clear Grip to glue the paper onto the slats and the jute rope for hanging.

And there it is …. hanging on my wall next to another DIY I did, using a Oui Yogurt jar, a macrame hanger and a banana stand. But that’s another project! 🙂

Painting Wooden Beads

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I searched and found an easy way to paint wooden beads that worked for me.

I also used our brand of chalk style paint, Missouri Limestone Paint Company which we produce for our small business. In this project I used the colors “Field Corn” and “Coal Shovel”.

I used two of the little throw away plastic containers that come with some of my Home Chef meals. I wash them out and store them away to use as needed. But any little container with a lid would work. I choose to use ones you can throw away after use. Who wants to wash out paint containers?

My first project was to make a small “bee” garland, so I wanted yellow and black beads.

I poured a little yellow paint into one of the containers and added the beads. I put the lid on securely, the shook and rolled the beads around inside.

I then threaded the beads onto a bamboo skewer from Dollar Tree. I took a small artist brush and smoothed the paint out a bit and then, holding them on the skewer, I made sure they were separated.

I held them with one hand and with the other, I used a hair dryer to dry them, turning the skewer as I dried them. This took just a few minutes. I alternated between heat and air drying.

I then sealed them by spraying them with Mod Podge matte sealer, holding the skewer and turning it as I sprayed. I dried them again with the hair dryer.

I did the same with the black beads.

And here is my finished project, shown with another project I made. I have enough beads painted to make another.