Just a little post, nothing important, just sweet.

Take a peek at Daphne Nicoles blog - Beautiful Giveaway - wouldn't you love to be the winner? I know I sure would!!!

Sorry I haven't been blogging, I can't seem to get into it.

I'll try again soon. In the meantime, here is what I am working on today - pillows

And in making my pillows, I had to make my little angel a new lacey something to put around her neck. She's such a little doll.

Have a beautiful day my freinds.

Ciao

Jen & Gracie

I'll try to keep current. And I'll try to post as often as I can. I invite you to follow me and leave me comments.

To start, I will attempt to show you how to create your own Garden Lantern.  Taking an ordinary glass jar and make it look old.



I love it. I am making many to sell at The Expo Show. Here is a sample, and I do hope you enjoy it and follow along with the tutorial.

Here are all the items you need to get started.

You will need rubber gloves, disposable paint brushes, paper towels, possibly some sort of adhesive remover (I prefer Citra Solv), Etching Creme, Modge Podge, Varnish.

The first step is to remove the label from your jar and wash and dry.

The next step is where you need the gloves. The Etching Creme is very hazardous. And I do it with the fan on and in front of an open window.

I use the cap to pour a little of the Etching Creme into, it makes a good space to dip my brush into. Brush all the way around the jar in one direction with a good coat.

Then once you are done, brush another coat on going the opposite direction. So I started going all the way around the jar in  a sideways brushing, then finished with a second coat going up and down. All the way around. And to top it off, I rubbed my brush along the rim of the jar to get the excess creme off my brush and to get a little etching on the rim too.

Be sure you read the Etching Creme label. It is some serious stuff. I am most careful with it. And I always do it on a paper I can throw out immediately.

WAIT about 10 minutes and let the jar set.

THEN,

Then give it a good bath, remember to use your gloves!!!

I like to set mine upside down to kind of drip dry a little.

Then I stand them upright in the window sill to get a good air dry.

When they are nice and dry it's time to get your labels. I always go to Karen at The Graphics Fairy. She has the best images there. Of course you can go where you want, but she does offer them free. And sometimes she picks people for projects they did and puts them on her site :)

I printed these images using my MS Publisher, regular printer paper, my inkjet printer set on BEST and print away!!!

Using your modge podge, I first brush a little on my jar, then I smooth my image over top. Then brush on more Modge Podge lightly over the image making sure all the edges are nice and tightly adhered to the jar.

Then just let it dry on it's own.

While you are waiting for it to dry you might want to start figuring out how you want to finish it all off.

Here are the items I used to do just that:

wire, clippers, decorations of your choice.

Figure how much you need to make a complete circle around the lowest part of the rim. Leave room for making your loops. You'll see what I mean.

When you cut it the length you need, then twist a couple times.

Cut off the extra.

I like to try to tuck the ends in so I don't get poked. (cuz I always do )

Then with more wire, figure how much you need to make a handle.

This is where the loops come in. When you make the ring around the rim, you will also want to make a little loop on each side. Push the handle wire down into the loop and twist again.

It looks so cute filled with flowers.

And this is where I brush on a dab of the Polyurethane. It's really strong so I never do it indoors. Just dab a little over the image. That way if you leave it outside, it may last longer.

So which do you like better, BEFORE or AFTER???

I so look forward to your comments and would really love to know if you dare try this at home!

Ciao Bella's!!! Until next time, happy crafting!!

Complete list of items and where to get them:

Citra Solv - buy here

Modge Podge - Buy Here

Polyurethane - Buy Here

Etching Cream - Buy Here

Disposable Paint Brushes - Buy Here

Rubber Gloves

Paper Towel

Newspaper

Images - Get Here

glass jars of any sort

I am linked to Graphics Fairy - Brag Monday