Girl on a Train: Wine Bottle Cover

"There's nothing so painful, so corrosive, as suspicion." - Paula Hawkins

Girl on a Train was this months book club pick. The book was filled with love, loss, and of course a murder.  It doesn't seem to be a book club pick without one. So, in the suspense you meet three woman each with flaws, yet relatable qualities. Rachel, who is trying to figure the murder out, drinks pretty heavily throughout the story.  See if you are able to guess who done it while making this wine bottle cover.  It's perfect to give to the host of this months book club meeting (as long as the bottle of wine in it is full).

Materials:
Burlap Ribbon
Thread
Scissors
Sharpie
Scrap Paper

Directions
1. Cut two strands of equal length burlap ribion.  Make sure it is long enough to fit a wine bottle in.
2. With the thread, connect the pieces of burlap together.  I tied off each of the fours sides at the top and works my way to the bottom.
3. Insert the scrap paper in the center of the bag. With a sharpie draw your image of a corkscrew.
4.  Insert bottle of one and tie top with a ribbon when ready to give away.

Cheers!

Big Little Lies Lollipop

"It had never crossed her mind that sending your child to school would be like going back to school yourself." -Liane Moriarty, Big Little Lies

Big Little lies follows the lives of Kindergarten mothers and their struggles with their relationships and self discovery.  The cover art was an exploding lollipop, which I think sums up the story, and inspired me to try my own hand at candy making.  These turned out lovely and delicious!

Thanks A. for helping make delicious lollipops!

Materials:

-Sugar

-Corn Syrup

-Flavoring (designed for candy making)

-Sprinkles

-Lollipop Sticks

-Parchment Paper

-Candy Thermometer

-Sauce Pan

Directions:

1. Cover counter with parchment paper.
2. Combine 1 cup sugar with 1/3 cup corn syrup and 1/8 cup water in the sauce pan.  Attach candy thermometer to the inside of the saucepan.
3. Boil the mixture until it reaches 310 degrees F. (Hard crack point).  Transfer the pan to a bowl of ice water immediately and swirl for 10-15 seconds.  Add 1 teaspoon of flavoring at this time.
4. Spoon circles of the mixture onto the parchment paper.  Immediately add lollipop sticks and sprinkles!  Let cool completely before removing from the parchment paper.  Store in air tight bag.
5. Enjoy!

Also, if you want try the recipe for Not a School Night cocktails.

Mix in a big pitcher (or bowl) 2 bottles of pink moscato, 1 can frozen pink raspberry lemonade, 1 bottle of lemon-lime soda, 1 container of raspberries.  

Not exactly the recipe from the book, but it will do in a pinch.

"Grape" Decorated Wine Bottle

"There is no sincerer love than the love of food." -Stella Newman, Pear Shaped

Pear Shaped, by Stella Newman was a fun summer read.  It touches on love, finding oneself, and good food and wine! In sticking with the theme, I created a wine bottle craft to fit the book.

Materials:

• Wine Bottle
• Purple or Green Gems
• Ivy Leafs
• Raffia
• E6000

Directions:

1. Clean and remove label from wine bottle. Let dry.
2. Glue gems onto the bottle to create a shape that looks like a bunch of grapes.  Over lap gems as needed.
3. Glue three leafs at the top of the grape bunch.
4. Glue the end of a piece of raffia at the top of the bottle neck. wrap down towards the bottom of the bottle neck and glue off.  
5. Using a few pieces of raffia tie a bow.  Cut off excess and glue onto the wrapped bottle neck.

This craft is simple and sure to please!

Recycled Monster Holder

"I may not be sure if monsters exist, but I'd rather live my life in doubt than be persuaded by a real experience of one." -Gregory Maguire, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

I am horrible at throwing away shampoo bottles from my shower.  Which is why I wanted to make a craft out of them.  These little monsters are adorable, and have multiple uses.  I use mine as a pencil holder, but attach a magnet and use it to hold things on your fridge!  Or attach it to a suction cup and use it to hold razors or other items in your shower.  The cutting should be done by an adult, but it would be a fun for a kid to decorate the monster in the way they would want. 

Materials:

• Shampoo bottle
• Scissors
• Sharpie
• Shipping labels
• Hot glue gun

Directions:

1. Remove label from shampoo bottle.
2. Cut bottle into the monster shape.
3. Cut arms and hands for the monster.
4. Attach them to the base.
5. Cut eye(s) for the monster out of shipping labels and add pupil dots.
6. Cut the mouth out for the monster out of shipping labels. Draw in teeth and color the mouth part in.  
7. Add labels to the monster.

If he wasn't made out of plastic, I think I would hug him!  

Onomatopoeia Comic Book Wall Decoration

"This. This is what I am.  This is who I am. Come hell or high water if I deny it, I deny everything I've ever done. Everything I've ever fought for." -Green Arrow, Green Arrow Vol. 2 # 51

Shout out to free comic book day this year! My little cousin experienced free comic book day for the first time this year, and I think he enjoyed it.  We have a standing invite for next years event.  Using some of those books I made a fun wall decoration of comic book inspiration. (And who doesn't love a word that is associated with how it sounds?)

Materials:

• Cardboard
• Comic books
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Paint brush
• Paint

Directions:

1. Cut strips of comic books and glue to a cardboard base.
2. Paint on a jagged boarder around the outside of the picture.
3. Paint the comic book onomatopoeia of your choice in the center of the painting. Let dry.
4. Frame and hang!

Make a set of three and you have a perfect decoration for a children's room or library!

I even like it before the paint was added.

Cactus Ring Holder

"Cinco De Mayo is an important day. The Mexicans had to defend themselves from the French.  It is historically significant, but it is not Mexican Independence Day." -Kuno Becker

I tend to forget that Cinco De Mayo comes after Star Wars day, which is why I haven't crafted for it before.  However I have wanted to make this ring holder for awhile, so I thought it was a perfect day to do it.  It does take some sculpting patience, but I think it is worth it.

Materials:

• Brown, pink, yellow, and green polymer clay
• Premade tiny pot (or make your own)

Directions:

1. If you don't have one, make a tiny planter out of clay.
2. Create a cactus using green clay.  Put into pot.
3. Craft a tiny pink flower and attach to the cactus.  Add a tiny yellow piece of clay to the center of the flower.
4. Make tiny spikes for the cactus and attach them.
5. Bake according to the directions for your clay.

Rings can go on any of the cactus's arms.  

May the 4 planters (R2D2 and Darth Vader)

"Only at the end do you realize the power of the dark side." -Star Wars

These are not the planters you are looking for, well, actually they might be.  I love my garden, and this droid and Vader helmet defiantly are going to add some flair.  Enjoy making these planters on the most famed of days in the Star Wars universe, and May the 4th be with you.

Materials:

• Ceramic Planters
• Paint Brushes
• Black, gray, white, blue, and red paint

Directions:

1. Paint the pot the base color (black for Vader and white for R2D2). Let dry.
2. Add gray to rim of R2D2 and create lines for R2D2.  Add gray to form Vader face. Let dry.
3. Add blue, red, and black details to R2D2.  Let dry.
4. Plant in them what you want and see what grows better the Empire or the Rebels.

(More) Comic Book Flowers

"Life was so much easier when I just smashed tanks and beat up abominations for a living." -Hulk, The Incredible Hulk #9

I love paper flowers because they last forever and are bright and glossy.  I found a post over at Lia Griffith that gave directions on how to make paper gardenias.  I replaced the frosty paper with a page from a comic book (Hatter M in this case).  I have not yet perfected my centers to make them as beautiful as Lia's but the at least look like something.  I think they make perfect card/gift toppers.  I would wear that on my head after opening the gift.

If these seem too hard to make, I suggest trying a simple bloom like the comic book flowers from my 2013 Earth Day post. Any of the flowers are great to make with comic books, and/or to give to Mom for upcoming Mothers day.

Rolled Comic Book Bracelet

"Our roles are nothing more than how the times choose to cast us." -Magneto, AVX Consequences #4

I love wearing any jewelry that I make.  It makes for a fun discussion piece and shows off some personality.  These bracelets can be made out of any rolled paper, not just comic book pages.  So get creative and make some to fit your personality.  

Materials:

• Magazines
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Embroidery Floss
• Clasp 

Directions:

1. Cut equal sized triangle strips.
2. Roll strips to create long shaped beads.
3. Cut a long strand of floss and fold it in half.  Tie a knot to make a small loop.
4. With the two pieces of string, place one string through the bead. String the other piece of floss through the other side of the bead.  Pull tight.
5. Continue until the bracelet is to the size desired.
6. Tie off bracelet and attach the clasp.  

WEAR WITH PRIDE!

Comic Book Magnets

"A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy's shoulder to let him know that the world hadn't ended." -Batman, The Dark Knight Rises

Although the post title says magnet, this could also be adjusted for pins or coasters.  It makes this a very versatile project. I turned mine into magnets, because who doesn't love teaching interjections through comic books?

Materials:

• Comic Book
• Scissors
• Card Stock
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Cup
• Pencil
• Magnet (or Craft Foam or button making pieces)

Directions:

1. Find an image you like and trace the cup around it. Cut out the image.
2. Trace the same cup onto card stock.  Cut out the circle.
3. Find a word or phrase you like and cut it out.
4. Paste this on card stock and cut out as well.  Double up on card stock depending how much you want this to pop from the background image. 
5. Attach image to card stock using mod podge.  Attach words in the same way to where you want them. Let dry.
6. Attach magnet to the back.

Another simple and easy craft to count down the days before Free Comic Book Day!  (Btw: 4 more days!)  Also, I am having a lot of fun with Batman '66.  It uses fun colors, great art, and and interesting story line.  Plus, classic Batman and Robin.

Comic Book Bangle

"All the best heroes are ordinary people who make themselves extraordinary." -Gerard Way

This weekend is free comic book day!  Which means that I will be making comic book blog posts all week.  Get in to the spirit and join me (or show me your comic book love).  This bangle is easy to make and fun to wear to the right event (like free comic book day!).  

Materials:

• Water Bottle
• Scissors
• Comic Book
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush

Directions:

1. Cut the water bottle so it makes a cuff or a bracelet.
2. Cut out the comic so it fits the band.
3. Attach with mod podge and cover in mod podge.  
4. Let dry and wear it with pride!

Willow Tree Painting

"I hear the wind among the trees playing the celestial symphonies." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I promised to share my painting from yesterday.  It was great to have a reunion and paint with an old friend.  It had been way to long!  It was very enjoyable.  I felt that the bottom piece was missing something, so I added the Longfellow quote. I hope to go back soon. Enjoy and keep on painting!

Earth Day: Rolled Paper Cross

"I believe in God, I only spell it Nature." - Frank Lloyd Wright

With it being Earth Day, and with confirmation and first communion time right around the corner, it was time to share the rolled paper cross.  It is fun and super easy to do.  Plus it is made out of the glossy newspaper advertisements, so it is recycling! 

Materials:

• Glossy Newsprint 
• Glue Stick
• Hot Glue Gun

Directions:

1. Roll a lot of newsprint discs.  See my tutorial from a rolled paper bowl on how to do this.  
2. Lay out into the shape and size of a cross you like.  If you need more discs make enough to finish your project.
3. Hot glue the edges of the discs to each other. Add hot glue to the empty parts if desired for extra hold.
4. Create one long tube by making four (or more) separate ones and attaching them together. Flatten the tube and hot glue around the entire outside of the project.

That is it!  I didn't need to buy a single thing to make this project!  Totally recycled base materials (plus a little, or a lot, of glue).  

Maze Runner Shirt

"Maybe you should just press the button." -James Dashner, The Maze Runner

So, this mess is what happens when you try to screen print a shirt in 30 minutes or less.  Don't do that!  Otherwise follow one of my other screen printed shirt tutorials to learn how to make one.

My boyfriend's boot camp is called WICKED and he has wanted a WICKED is good shirt. We will see if this has been what he has been looking for.

Also, check out my blog post about how to make a terrarium of Maze Runner. 

Sharing the Love of Crafting

"If you do what you love, it is the best way to relax." -Christian Louboutin

I recently went with a group of friends to a pottery painting, canvas painting, and glass fusing place.  It was a wonderful time!  A couple and I worked on painting some pottery and an other couple worked on a glass photo frame.  Everything turned out amazing!  (And I am going back this weekend to do a painting with another friend, so be waiting for that post).  

I painted a small yarn bowl.  The awesome thing about the yarn bowls are that they are made by a local pottery place!  They are stunning pieces to begin with, but painting them makes them breath taking.  Add some yarn and a handy crochet hook, and I might be coming out with more crocheting projects, or at least have an amazing center piece for my half finished works.

My Funky Yarn Bowl

An awesome wave platter

A lovely glass frame

Easy Bird Feeder

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings." -J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird

Look no further for a simple craft to make with kids this spring. It will have the birds chipping!

Materials:

• Juice or Milk Carton
• Paint
• Scissors
• Paint Brush
• Twine
• Bird Seed

Directions:

1. Wash the carton and let dry.
2. Cut out two panels so that birds will be able to get at the seed.
3. Puncture four holes into the top of the carton near each corner.
4. Paint and decorate the carton to you taste. Let dry.
5. String the twine through the holes.
6. Add bird seed and tie to a tree branch, porch, ect.

Shrinky Dink Wine Charms

"Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup.  All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle." -Paulo Coelho, Brida

Shrinky Dinks are fun to turn into almost anything, but when a friend of my mothers decided to throw a Disney themed bridal shower, the princesses were ready to make an appearance. By making them into wine charms everyone was able to harness their inner princess while never losing their glass.  (Plus, it's a great take home trinket as well). However, be careful who you have help color in the images.  Some people think Rapunzel and Ariel are the same person.  (FYI: They are not).

Materials:

• Shrinky Dink Paper
• Black Permanent Marker
• Colored Pencils
• Images to turn into the Charms
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Jump rings
• Wire
• Beads

Directions:

1. Start by tracing the images (from the internet) on the paper with a permanent marker.
2. Color in the images.
3. Cut out the images.
4. Punch a hole into the top of the images.
5. Bake in the oven according to packaging.
6. Let cool. Thread a jump ring through each punched hole.
7. Thread a piece of wire through each jump ring.  Add beads and form ends of wire into loops.
8. Bend the wire so that the loops can interconnect as needed to fit around a wine glass.

For everyday use, I made myself a set of DC superhero themed charms.  I am feeling the Wonder Woman tonight!

Easter (Grocery Bag) Basket

"If anyone or anything tries to curse or kill the Goodness at the Center of all things, it will just keep coming back to life.  Forever Easter." -David Housholder, The Blackberry Bush

Easter is just around the corner.  To recycle an old paper bag I had, I decided to make a brown paper bag basket.  I learned how to make this years ago through a 4-H event, and decided with Easter coming it was a perfect project.

Materials:

• Paper grocery bag
• Scissors
• Glue
• Paperclips or clothes pins
• Ruler

Directions:

1. Measure out strips to be 3 inches wide.  Cut out 20+ strips.
   
   
   
2. Fold Each strip in half.  Then fold the sides into the center, so that each strip is folded into 4ths. 
   
3. Weave 6 strips into another 6 strips leaving open space on all sides to create the base of the basket.  Glue the edges down and hold in place while drying with paperclips.
   
4. Fold the edges of the strips up.  Starting behind a strip, glue another end of a strip behind it and start the weaving process to build up the basket.  Use glue on each strip and paperclips (or clothespins) to hold it in place.  If your strip does not make it around, glue another strip to the one you are working with.  
   
5. When you get to the end of a row, glue the end of the strip to the same place you started and clip off remaining strip.
6. Start the next row again behind a strip.  I suggest moving one over from where you started to get the alternating weave pattern.  
7. Continue until you reach the desired height of your basket.
8. Trim edges of left over strips.  
   
9. Glue a rim around the outside by opening up a folded strip once, adding glue, and gluing it folded back onto the basket.  Use the paperclips to keep it in place.  
   
10. To add a handle take one of the strips and glue it to one inside of the basket. Arch across the basket, cut of excess, and glue the other end down to the opposite inside.  Hold in place with paperclips.  
    
11. Remove all paperclips.  For Easter fill with paper grass or tissue paper and your favorite treats.  My boyfriend is getting one filled with Recess Eggs.

Children's Book Birdhouse

"A bird doesn't sing because it has answer, it sings because it has a song." -Maya Angelou

I grew up reading Little Golden Books.  From the Pokey Little Puppy to Sesame Street books, they were short easy reads for a beginning reader.  With spring being here, I decided to pay homage to these books by making one into a bird house.  

Materials:

• Bird House
• Book
• Scissors
• Mod Podge
• Paint Brush
• Hot Glue or E6000

Directions:

1. Carefully cut the pages away from the cover.
2. Cut pages to fit the sides of the bird house.  
3. Use the Mod Podge to attach them to the pages to the house.  
4. Attach pages to the underside of the book cover with Mod Podge as well.
5. Once all surfaces are covered in pages, go over once more in Mod Podge. 
6. Using hot glue (or E6000) attach the book cover to the bird house.  (Hot glue didn't hold the best.)

I love Winnie the Pooh!  I think my bird house might just end up staying indoors.  This would be very cute in a play room or nursery.  

Bobble Heads

"And will you succeed?  Yes, you will indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)." -Dr. Seuss

Today, I am celebrating the end of my Dr. Seuss themed blogs.  I originally saw the idea for a "spring chicken" in Family Fun Magazine.  I liked the idea so much after making one of my own that I decided to make my own bobble head, but shaped like the fish and bowl from the Cat in the Hat.  It could be done for almost anything.  Maybe I will make a Horton Hatches the Egg inspired one for next year.  

For the Goldfish Bobble Head:

Materials:

• Orange, White, Blue, and Black Polymer Clay
• Spring taken out of an old pen

Directions:

1. Using the white polymer clay shape the bottom of the fish bowl.  Add a lip to the fish bowl by rolling out a long snake of clay and wrapping it around the top of the bowl a single time.
2. Add blue to the bottom to create the water in the bowl.
3. Shape the fish out of orange clay.  Add fins and tail.
4. Shape two small circles for eyes out of white clay. Add to the fish
5. Shape two smaller circles for pupils out of black clay.  Add to the eyes.
6. Attach the fish to the spring and then attach the other end of the spring to the bowl.
7. Bake in the oven at 250 degrees for 20 minutes.

Enjoy your bobble head!

Cat and Bunny Planters

"It is better to know how to learn than to know." -Dr. Seuss

I found these lovely cat planters on pinterest.  I decided to make then and try making my own into a bunny. 

Materials:

• Empty, Clean Soda Bottles
• Paint
• Paint Brushes
• Permanent Markers
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Cut the top off the bottle.

2. Cut the bottle into a cat or bunny shape.

3. Paint the Bottles

4. Draw faces on the bottles.

5. Add dirt and plant into the planter.  (Add a Cat in the Hat, hat to your cat if it is Dr. Seuss week!)

Truffula Tree Pencil Toppers

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope.  Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." -Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss's birthday was yesterday.  Happy Birthday!  Thanks for making reading fun and teaching so many children to read.  (Also, Happy National Craft Month)!

Materials:

• Pencil
• Sharpies
• Poof Ball
• Hot Glue

Directions:

1. Glue ball on top on the pencil. 
2. Decorate pencil with the sharpies. 
3. Add circles to the tree top if wanted. 

Aviator's Wife Inspired Wall Art

"And this was the greatest gift that aviation could ever give me; not the sense of freedom but the sense of permanence, coupling, being absolutely worthy, absolutely necessary to the one person in the world who hadn't needed anyone. Before." -The Aviator's Wife, Melanie Benjamin

I have love flying since the first time I was in an airplane.  And flying a plane, well there is nothing like it.  That is why I chose The Aviator's Wife for book club, so again feel what is was like to fly.  The Aviator's Wife tells the story of Anne Morrow Lindbergh and her marriage to her famous husband.  Most people know bits and pieces of their story but this piece of historical fiction ties the information together into a fantastic work of art.

To celebrate Anne Morrow and the love of aviation, I made wall hanging (which also fit my Valentine's Day decor).

Materials:

• Biographical Dictionary
• Picture Frame
• Pencil
• Black Permanent Marker
• Red Permanent Marker

Directions:

1. Find a page in the dictionary that matches the picture you want to make.  I chose my page to be Charles and Anne Lindbergh (imagine that!).
2. If needed sketch (or print) the desired image onto the page.
3. Go over the image in black permanent marker.
4. Add hearts (or color) using the colored permanent marker.
5. Frame the creation.

If you look closely enough you can see I put Anne's name in a heart.

I was also inspired to do one based on the movie UP! Still aviation based, right?

Tea Stained Flowers

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." -C.S. Lewis

This craft was inspired by a tea mishap, when I accidentally made a cup of tea that I was allergic to.  (Spice allergies and tea do not always go well together).  These flowers smell good and were easy to make.

Directions:

Lay paper down in a flat container. Cover the paper with a layer of tea. Let sit over night and then dry the paper.  Cut the paper into two inch squares.  Follow the directions from my paper flower post to finish the flowers.  

Valentine's Day Couple Painting

"Falling in love is so hard on the knees." -Aerosmith

Although Valentine's Day has pasted, there is nothing like planning ahead for next year.  My significant other and I went to our local art center and participated in a diptych couples painting.  It was his first time painting, but I think it turned out really well.  Check out your local paint bars, art centers, and studios to see what couples paintings are available to you.

Happy painting (and belated Valentine's Day)!