Paint and Beaded Pumpkins

These pumpkins are a great example of how you can take dollar store merchandise and turn them into cute accessories for your coffee table or book shelf. I also love them because they will last throughout the season. Follow the instructions below to make your own.

Paint your pumpkin, I used black and bronze acrylic paint. A useful tip is to use push pins on the bottom so that the paint doesn't touch anything as it dries.

Paint faux leaves to match your pumpkin.  

Then you can embellish them with sequins and beads. I used clear drying glue to make them stick.

You can even make a black and gold pumpkin to support Saints football! 

 Enjoy!

DIY Wood Block Christmas Cards

I know it's early for Christmas cards, but you could use the same technique to make Halloween, Mother's Day, Thank you cards etc...  I like these cards because all you have to do is create one block design, which can be used over and over again with different colors. 

This is the kit I bought at a local arts and crafts store

Create your design on a piece of tracing paper

Transfer your image onto the wood block. If you are creating numbers or letters, make sure to transfer them reversed. That way, they will be the right way round when you print them

Carefully carve your design. I made an intricate design so it took a while. 

Once your design is all carved out, you can start printing!

Lay your block down so that the design is facing upwards. 

Lightly dab acrylic paints onto your block

Use enough paint to cover the block, but make sure not to get paint in the crevices

. 

Place a piece of card stock over the wet paint and use a roller to transfer the paint.

Let the paint dry. You can even use you block print on fabrics and walls. 

T

Enjoy!

I

DIY Bubble Wrap Stamped Fabric

Samba is the color of fall. What better way to incorporate this Fall's color into your home decor then by recycling and reusing bubble wrap? Follow the instructions below to make your own bubble wrap stamped fabric.

What you will need:

• Bubble wrap
• Fabric paint
• Foam roller
• Fabric (I used drop cloth)
• Rolling pin  

 

Roll paint onto the bubble wrap.

Place painted side down onto fabric.

Use a rolling pin to evenly distribute paint. 

Let paint dry. 

Use your custom fabric to make your own custom pillows or drapery.

Enjoy!

DIY Bastille Day Photo Transfer

This is a great DIY if you like antique prints. Photo transfers are also quite an inexpensive way to create your own art.

All you need for this DIY is:

• A piece of light colored wood. I bought mine at an arts and crafts store, but you can buy a single piece of wood at a home improvement store and have them cut it down to your specifications.
• Gel Medium. I bought regular matt.
• A laser printed photo. Make sure you use a laser printer because inkjet will not work. If you want to add text to your art, print the text in reverse.
• A plastic spoon.
• A wet sponge.

Use the spoon to scoop out some gel medium, then use your finger to spread the gel out. Make sure you use enough to coat the entire piece of wood, but too much because the photo will not transfer correctly. 

Place your photo on the wood and smooth out as well as you can. Let dry overnight or until completely dry. You MUST be patient. 

When completely dry, run water over the wood to dampen the paper.

Now you can start to scrub off the paper.

If took a couple times of scrubbing to take off all the paper.

Voila! French art!