Thursday, December 22, 2011

Thoughts on Thursday...

I'm still wrapping...haven't had that AHHHHHH moment yet!

How about you? How's your Christmas list of "Things To Do" going?

Relax and have a cup of tea...if it doesn't get done...it doesn't get done!!

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Monday, December 19, 2011

Tool Time Tuesday...Easy Frosted Glass Projects

Happy Tuesday!! I've seen lots of frosted glass projects on the Internet, but they all use the acid etch cream. You know me...I need something quick and easy and of course from the hardware store.

Here's a quick look at two projects I made before I left for work Monday morning.



This is the magical spray I used to make them.


I found this in the paint section in Walmart and Home Depot.


semi transparent for privacy and decoration...the back of the can has full directions, but it's so easy.
  • clean surface with soap and water...dry
  • add stencils or stickers if using for decor
  • spray a few thin wet coats a minute or 2 apart
  • let dry 10 minutes
  • done, dry in 10 minutes!!!
  • stinks a little when wet, so spray in the garage or outside


use any glass...


use sticker stencils to create the look where the sticker is going to be clear and the object will be frosted. Use a hollow stencil where that will be frosted and the object stays clear glass. You need to block out the rest of the object with something if you just want the stencil to be frosted


I centered the stickers on the glass of an old frame




and used office dots to stick to a glass dish.


really press down the edges, so the spray won't go underneath the paper stickers.


10-15 minutes later the frosted appearance shows up.


peel away the stickers.


The top corners of this frame had some residue on there because I didn't wash it first. The frosting didn't fully take there, but still looks like a decoration.




difficult to capture the clear and frosted parts in a picture.


but super cute in person.




add a bow to the frame and it's a quick gift.


add a votive candle and the glow is very pretty through the frosted and clear circles.




here are a few suggestions and tips...
  • glass squares sprayed with a single monogram letter for coasters
  • personalized vase
  • use old jars and frost the names for sugar, flour, coffee and tea for a canister set
  • frost a big jar for pet treats
  • frost decorations on mirrors, windows, outside of shower stalls etc
  • can't be used on things that will be heated over 200 degrees
  • can't be used on things with constant water contact, but can be hand washed
  • you can remove it from glass with acetone or lacquer thinner
Have fun with this...it's so easy and fun to create and experiment. I have no connections with this product...just passing on something new I've found.

Have a great Tuesday,
~Karen~

No Reply...No Email Address...Can't Respond Back


Hello everyone...hope you had a wonderful weekend.

I thinks it that time again where I do my little shout out to all the wonderful bloggers and commenters who are "No Reply". I've noticed hundreds lately on my blog.

What is No Reply you ask? Well, if someone leaves a comment on any blog that comment goes to the email inbox of the recipient. When the blogger tries to respond back to the comment, the return email address says "No Reply" which equals "no email address, which equals "no reply back" :(

You may think your blog profile is set to show your email address, but it just takes 2 seconds to double check. I get so sad when I know people are blogging all over the world and there isn't an email address attached to their account to enjoy the communication back and forth between bloggers.

Go on...just check...for me!!

Go to your dashboard (I know sad me still has the old one, but shhh don't tell, I don't like the new one)

Click EDIT PROFILE


Under the first section called Privacy, make sure there is a check in the box that says...SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS.


Most important part...scroll down to the bottom and click the SAVE button!!



That's it...2 seconds and now you're open to the wonderful world of blogging.

If you don't want your regular email address to show, create a new email address just for blogging!!

Hope this helps to open up new conversations between bloggers and the commenters. Communication is the most important thing.

Have a great day,
~Karen~

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Sew Darn Crafty Party...Theme Week 45 Last Minute Gift Ideas


Happy Sunday...the last weekend before Christmas. I know we all try to get our handmade gifts done long before this, but it never ceases to amazes me how much I proCRAFTinate this time of year!! LOL...

Today's linking party may help some of us out. Link any project that you have from your blog, no matter how old, that we might use for a last minute holiday gift idea.

Could be anything from...
  • sewing
  • crafting
  • baking
  • wrapping ideas
If you want to add the button to your blog...Click HERE for a tutorial for adding a button


If you're NEW to Sew Darn Crafty, then grab a cup of something tasty, sit back and join in on the fun (starts Sunday and lasts all week long at Sew Many Ways).

WHAT IS SEW DARN CRAFTY...
  • "Sew" for anything to do with sewing,
  • "Darn" for anything to do with knitting. I always think of darning to do with knitting, but in my case "darn" usually is similar to the word I say when I mess up crafting!!
  • Let's not forget the word "crafty"...that can mean just about anything we do to create.

WHAT IS A LINKING PARTY...

So now we all know what Sew Darn Crafty means, let's explain a linking party again. I subscribe to a linking service, which provides the ability to link thumbnail pictures on my blog. The picture is a link that other bloggers provide to share their projects.

Two things can happen at a linking party...looking and/or linking
  • you can be greatly inspired by wonderful projects, ideas or vacation pictures (looking) and/or
  • you can share what you've been up to (linking)
If you want to be inspired by all the great ideas...just click on a picture and it will take you to that post from a wonderful blogger willing to share her thoughts and ideas.


HOW AND WHAT TO LINK TO THE PARTY...

Sew Darn Crafty is all about YOU!! Show off your projects, share a tutorial, show us your vacation pictures, share a family favorite recipe...share anything. Not only does linking inspire us all, it also brings lots of new people to your blog for a visit. Click here for past parties and lots of inspiration

Easy steps to join in on the fun...

  • link up to the specific project post, not your whole blog. Makes it easier to link right to that post and not  search through all your entire blog. To find the http address to a specific post, just click on the Title of your post.
  • link as many projects as you'd like...old or new
  • anything goes...cooking, sewing, knitting, crafts, organizing, remodeling projects, vacations, parties etc...
  • visit other links to share some blogging love! You know we all love comments!
  • grab a Sew Darn Crafty button for your blog (on my right side bar) or just link to the party in your post.
  • the more we share, the more people will join and then there's more inspiration to look at!
  • linking is open til Saturday night, so plenty of time to join in
  • just click the "click here to enter" button and follow the easy steps

Have fun linking up! Don't forget to come back and take a look at all the great projects during the week,
~Karen~

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