Canvas + Lamp Project

I was leafing through the DIY Magazine and I found this awesome project where you drip acrylic paint on a spray-painted canvas.  

The directions recommend you use 3 acrylic paints, 3 recycled shampoo bottles, grey spray paint, an old shower curtain, and a canvas.  

It has been REALLY windy lately-- so my spray-painting wasn't so easy!  I didn't have a shower curtain laying around, so I used a kids table cover from Michael's-- 20 cents baby!

I dripped my first color.

Then I flipped it upside down and dripped my second color.  It was windy and my canvas flipped over into the pooled paint on my table cover.  It got "messy" but I just went with it!

And then finally flipped it again and dripped my third color.

I decided to take this project a step further and make John's night stand lamp match the canvas.  I spray painted the lamp shade grey.  It wasn't easy to drip the paint on the lamp shade because the fabric is more porous than the canvas.  Live and learn!

After I painted the lamp shade I realized it didn't match the lamp base.  To remedy this, I primed the base and then painted it using a full tube of Martha glitter paint in Antique Silver.  (I think that's the name!)  Here's a little before and after:

Side note: Have you seen the paint ball swatches at Michael's that show you what the paint looks like?  The glitter one is SO glittery.  Not at all what the glitter paint looks like when you use it!  After what felt like my 90th coat of paint I imagined Martha making Joey (from the Martha Stewart Show) paint all of her paint swatch balls.  Joey's crying, "Martha! My hands are so tired!  I've been painting this ball forever and it still has bald spots!" and Martha snaps at Joey, "If you want to come to Orlando with me for the Pillsbury Bake Off then you better keep painting and hush!"  Ha!  I'm such a craft dork :)

I wanted the glittery base to look like the ocean when it's sunny-- you know, the diamonds on the water!  John says it looks "fabulous" and thinks it's a little too effeminate for his night stand.  I understand that being the husband of a craft addict can be trying sometimes, so I tackled the clutter on my night stand and made the lamp a new home.

P.S.  I'm basically using "candle safety" when I use the lamp-- just until I'm positive that it's not going to combust :)

The first image is from bhg.com and the rest of the images are my own.  

DIY: Yarn Tins and Jars

"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." 

-William Morris

Well, with that said... My craft space is out of  control.  It is quite possibly overflowing with items that are not useful or not beautiful-- and quite possibly both.  I'm working hard this week to organize my craft space.  Once it's looking good I will post a before and after picture.  

I first saw this craft on Pinterest-- but it's popping up everywhere!  This is a great project for organizing my space because the vintage drawer set that I keep my pens and markers would much better hold something else.  Plus, the colorful jars will now add an extra pop of color to my desk!  

 source

You will need:
Recyclables-- tins, jars, cans, etc.
Yarn-- You could also use rope or string
Glue-- I used Tacky Glue but you could use about any kind I'm sure...

Turn your item upside down and draw a line of glue around the bottom.  Then run your yarn around the glue.

 Continue wrapping the yarn around your container.

 Keep wrapping until you completely cover your container.

When you're finished use a drop of glue at the top to attach the end of your yarn to the container.  I used a little extra to smooth it down and make sure it stayed.

Hope you had a great weekend!

xoxo,
Ashley and Mister G

Turn An Old Sweater Back Into Yarn Tutorial

Hi Friends!  Hope y'all are enjoying the holidays and spending some quality time with your loved ones!  

My friend Jessica once told me that you can turn a sweater back into yarn!  I gave it a try and it's true!  You can turn almost anything back into yarn to make something new.  This is fantastic news for thirfters because you can salvage some really great wool yarn from inexpensive, ugly sweaters!  

I made this shawl two years ago with really lovely baby alpaca yarn.  I wore the shawl once to cut down a Christmas tree.  It's just not right to waste such amazing yarn on something that receives so little love.  

I'll show you how to deconstruct your sweater back into yarn.  

Gather your supplies-- an old sweater or previously knit item and a pair of scissors.    

Snip the edge where the sweater was cast on or binded off.  You will want to snip stitches along the edge of the garment.  You don't need to snip every stitch-- maybe one stitch ever half inch or inch along the edge.     

Very carefully, stretch the area where you snipped and the yarn will begin to unravel.  Short pieces of yarn should come loose and you will discard these pieces.  Once you have broken up the entire edge, you will be able to tell where to begin unraveling.  

Pull the yarn and continue unraveling your sweater.  Your yarn might get tangled while you unravel.  It's fine-- just snip your way out of the mess and tie the ends together to make a continuous pice of yarn.  You can roll your yarn into a ball as you unravel or wait until you are finished.  

Have fun "making" your yarn!