Pin 56 Reusing/Repurposing Empty Beer or Soda Glass Bottles into Glitter Vases

My husband is addicted to a brand of soda called Ski.   Literally addicted to it,  I call it his "crack".   We special order this soda so he can get it in glass bottles still made with actual cane sugar.  He goes through a ton so we also have bottles and bottles and bottles and bottles and bottles and bottles (you get the picture, lol) in our recycling bin.   I reused some in a previous pin, Pin 33 tinting bottles with modge podge & food coloring, and wanted to try something different with a few more.  I'm sure if you have followed my blog you have come to realize that I LOVE glitter, so when I saw this pin I knew I was going to have to try it.

Source: thesweetestoccasion.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Supplies needed:

Glass bottles (beer/soda/whatever you want to try it with)
Fine Glitter
Modge Podge or other glue/adhesive
Painters Tape
Ruler
Marker

First pull any labels off your bottles.   I didn't bother to scrub off any of the sticky goo left from the labels since I was just going to be putting sticky goo back on the bottle  to hold the glitter. 



I then grabbed a ruler and a sharpie and measured where I wanted my tape to go.  It's not necessary to measure if you can create a straight line buy just eyeballing it.....I just don't have that ability.



If you mark your bottle make sure you place your tape just above the lines so the glitter will cover up the marks.   Tape around your bottle.



Now a smart person would have thought ahead and dished out some modge podge and mixed glitter into it, then brushed it on.   If you do this you will want a lot of glitter (at least I would, he he!)  I did mine by brushing modge podge on the bottles in strips.



Then sprinkle the glitter on to the area.  Then just repeat glue followed by glitter till you go all the way around the bottle.  I wanted a very thick coat of glitter so I actually put modge podge on top of the glitter that was already on the bottle and sprinkled on even more glitter.



Let the bottles dry.  Do not do what I did and forget about taking the tape off till they were completely dry.  You will get a much cleaner edge if you remove the tape while the glitter/paint is still damp.



My girls wanted to add some embellishments so I let them, but I actually dont' mind them plain.  These will be getting re-used as small vases.  They are good for lone flowers.  My girls have been wanting me try duct tape flowers so we might make some to put in these. (I wonder if I could glitter those?)



With a flower..



Since everything but the glitter came from stashes or the recycling bin this was a very economical project.....we spent $1 on the glitter at Michael's.  I would probably do this again and again but I'm not sure where I would put them all.

Pin 55 Using Glue Dots & Glitter To Upcycle old Glade Candle Jars

A little while back I showed how to clean out your old candle jars ( Pin 22).  It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do with them.  The bigger ones I knew I wanted to put in the kids bathroom for cotton balls & qtips,  but the smaller ones I figured would still hold candles.  I didn't want them to be boring, but couldn't figure out how to spruce them up.  I searched through my pins, but nothing really "spoke" to me.  So I sat staring at my screen, all my boards were pulled up, I was just staring and staring at all the board covers.....why was nothing moving me?!?!  I had been concentrating on my craft, upcycle and for the home boards.  Turns out I should have been paying attention to my Easter board. My poor Easter board only has one lonely pin, but turns out it was just the pin I needed.

Source: bhg.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Now I know that these are Easter Eggs, but they gave the inspiration to put glitter polka dots on my candle holders.  All you need is Glitter, which I love, and Glue Dots, which I love! 



Take whatever container you have that you would like to add glitter polka dots to and make sure it is clean.  Then just place your glue dots where you want them. Ignore the spray paint on my hand, and the glitter I already managed to get on the candle.....(What can I say, I'm just having a messy day!)



Now it's time to glitter......I LOVE glitter!  Fine glitter worked much better.   The easiest way I found to apply the glitter was to dip my finger in it then tap it onto the glue dot.  It wasn't as messy this way, and the glitter stuck better since I was pressing it into the glue dot.  This is a really quick project.



Ignore the fact that I didn't really brush the loose glitter off yet.......I was in a hurry to move on to my next one.   Trying to finish up crafting for the night so the kids and I can settle in and watch Ice Age Continental Drift.  Gotta love family movie nights, especially when they will be illuminated by my newest glitter polka dot creations.

Pin 46, 47 & 48 Felt Wreath and Felt flowers and keeping Pipe Insulation from bending or being odd shaped

Pin 46  The Felt Wreath

I am totally into wreaths right now.   I'm not sure why.  Could be that I just am happy to cover some of my bare walls, or the fact that I have been really pleased with all the ones that I have tried so far (probably both).  The kids have their own TV area upstairs in the loft.   It is a good size room and one of the remaining areas that I haven't really decorated.  I wanted to make something to hang on the walls.  While there are a few thing up, they still look pretty empty.   I came across this wreath and thought it would be perfect.

Source: kimmccrary.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I wanted to do the wreath in Ohio State colors, which I already had on hand.  So I went and grabbed my Scarlet and Grey felt, and tried to make sure I had enough.  I used the 8x11 sheets you can grab at Hobby Lobby because I had a ton of them already.  If you have to go out and buy felt for this project I would suggest buying it by the yard in the fabric department.  2/3 of a yard should be about what you need  for one wreath.....If you are using the sheets you will need at least 12-15 sheets, maybe more depending on how tightly you place your circles.

For this project:

Felt
3" Circle Template
Sharpie
Scissors
Pins (General purpose, the "normal" silver ones)
Wreath Form
Any Embellishments you might want to add
Ribbon to hang your wreath
Hot Glue Gun/ Glue Sticks (for embellishments)

I traced the bottom of a soup can onto a piece of cereal box that was heading for the recycling bin, and used that as my template.  Then I spent what felt like the next 20 years of my life tracing circles onto the felt.  I was doing enough to make two wreaths.



Once you get them all traced you get to cut them all out.   When you are cutting them out, cut on the inside of the black line so you don't see any of the black marker on your circles.  I thought tracing felt like it took forever, well then cutting out the circles felt like it took an eternity.



Once you have your million or so circles (about 120-150 actually per color) It's time to gather your wreath form and pins.  I used pipe insulation from a home improvement store to make my wreath forms. 



Take a felt circle and fold it in half



Then fold it in half again.



Place your folded circle over the wreath form and use your pins to attach.  I found if you put your pins in at an angle they hold more securely..  I started filling in my wreath in the middle and outsides first.


 Just keep pinning in your circles till your wreath is full.  Halfway through mine I realized that I didn't like the red and grey together in the wreath.   I took mine apart and started fresh, making one all red and one all grey.  This time I didn't fill in middle and outside first.........




and the finished product



I really kind of like these.  I need to pick up a few more pieces of grey felt to fill in a few gaps, but that won't take long.  If your looking for a simple project I would suggest giving this one a try.

Pin 47  Felt Flowers

I have seen the felt flowers all over, and thought they would be the perfect embellishment for the felt wreath......plus I already had the circles cut! 

Source: projectwedding.com via Nicole on Pinterest

or

Source: saifou.com via Nicole on Pinterest

I folded my circles the same way I did for the wreath.  I glued mine, I did not sew them.   Follow the directions and just glue instead of sew.   If I had been making these for something that might be handled on a regular basis, like as a hair accessory or a pin then I would have sewn them.  These were going on the wreath so hot glue was fine.



Because the felt is thicker then the material used in the first pin, this only took 6 circles.  4 for the base and two in the middle, and they fluffed up and made it look full.   If anyone would like more detailed pictures just leave a comment. 

Pin 48  Keeping Pipe Insulation used as a Wreath Form from Bending & Creasing.

Using Pipe Insulation can be a little tricky.  It doesn't always like to cooperate and stay in a circle.  It likes to bend and crease, and many times look more like an oval than a circle.   If you have tried it and got discouraged, please read this next pin and give it another try!

 

Source: gailmade.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

 Following her method really does make a difference.  If you haven't tried using pipe insulation as a wreath form,  I love it.  It is much cheaper, and once you get the hang of it, pretty easy to work with.  If you have tried it before,  please don't be afraid to try it again.

Pin 24 Re-Visited The Coffee Filter Wreath

I was never totally happy with the first coffee filter wreath that I did.  It wasn't just my trimming...Lol!  That was just BAD!  There was just something off about the whole thing.  Don't get me wrong, I liked it enough.  I mean, it's still hanging in my Dining Room above the hutch.  Granted we don't use that room much......ha!  I decided to try it again.  Why not,  I still had everything I needed.

Inspiration Pins

Source: lowescreativeideas.com via Nicole on Pinterest

 

Source: thenester.com via Nicole on Pinterest

This time I went with White filters instead of Natural.  Not really because I liked the look any better more because when I bought supplies the first time around  I bought two packs of each, and white was what was left.  I also knew this time I needed to be more careful as I placed the filters so I wouldn't have trim.  I just knew if I had trim this one, I would probably ruin it too! 

Supplies Needed:

Coffee Filters  (2 packs)
Wreath Form (cardboard cut in any shape you want would work)
Hot Glue Gun/Glue Sticks
Any Embellishments you might want to add
*Hanger

*I didn't use anything to hang it with.  The form itself sat just fine on the nail in the wall.

I used a MDF flat wreath form that I picked up at Micheal's.  A piece of cardboard cut in a circle would work well also.  The Coffee Filters barely weigh anything at all.



I decided instead of folding them in half, then half again like I did last time that I was just going to fold them in half once.  This way I could just use one across the whole wreath instead of trying to lay two next to each other just right.


The hardest part for me was keeping the same space between each filter.  If you have the ability to trim things evenly then this wouldn't be that big of deal.  I was just determined to not trim this wreath. I had my doubts that this one was going to be better......


 Just keep going around the whole circle.  It will feel like it is taking forever.   I caught up on a few episodes of Dexter and did a couple loads of laundry while making mine.   Once they are all glued on you can decide if you want to keep it plain or add any embellishments.   I decided to add some glitter (which I still need to even out) and a few embellishments.  





This is a bigger wreath then  the first one I did and I used less coffee filters for this one.  It went pretty quick and once I even out the glitter I will be happy with this one.  Best thing was that I didn't have to trim this one at all!  Woot!  Woot!

Pins from the Past - Super Simple Topiary

Last year I was surfing through Pinterest, dreaming of all the pins I might try....this one officially peaked my interest, and was the first thing that I ever made from an idea found on Pinterest!  This one started it all!

 

Source: simplydesigning.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

Now I changed it up a bit....I didn't have a star paper punch at the time, so I used a flower shape,  I didn't have the tin pails, so I used some small wooden planters that were just sitting in the garage, and I didn't use the paper "grass", I used moss.  Still the same idea though......

Items Needed for this Project:

Styrofoam Ball
Scrapbook Paper
Paper Punch of your Choice
Stick Pins (pearl tops preferably)
Dowel Rod
Floral Foam (for base inside pail/pot)
Hot Glue Gun/Glue sticks
Moss or Paper "grass"
Anything you might need to decorate your base

First since my pots already had designs on them I needed to paint them, first step was cleaning them and priming them.



Now I had to decided what I wanted these to look like.  I chose to go with a crackle finish.  So first I had to paint my base coat (color that would show through the cracks) then my crackle medium, then the top coat.

I did four of these, 2 rust and 2 blue.  Once the paint was dry I decided they looked a little boring and stenciled some stars.  I went with a tan/mustard color for the stars.


Next get your scrapbook paper.  I mixed and matched a few different sheets.  Start punching out lots and lots of punches.  I went with a punch that was sort of a flower shape.

Once you have what will feel like a million of punches done, take your Styrofoam ball, push pins, and punches and get to sticking.  You are just going to take a pin and put it through the middle of your circle (or whatever shape you used) and stick it right into the Styrofoam ball.  I didn't even take the plastic off of mine.  Leave some room at the bottom to stick in the dowel rod.

Take your dowel rod and push it into the bottom of the Styrofoam ball, then take your floral foam and push the other end into it until it comes through the bottom.  Put some hot glue on the bottom of the dowel rod and stick it into the bottom of whatever container you are using as your base.  The glue will give it a little more stability.  Your moss or paper "grass" will come next, spread it liberally to cover the floral foam.  Because I truly believe glitter can be added to just about every project, I sprayed my balls with a quick coat of glitter.  I also tied a ripped piece of fabric as bow at the base of the ball.  It helps hide any gaps that might appear where the dowel rod was inserted and I just liked the look of it.


And not the best pic, but all four sitting on the ledge above my kitchen sink (ignore the mess all around the kitchen)  These weren't hard at all.  And a year later they are still sitting in the same spot.  They have held up well, and I love that I get asked all the time where I got them.