Monday, October 31, 2011

Macaroni Art

Great art made by kids at the Children's Museum over the weekend.















Friday, October 28, 2011

Hay-Bale Pumpkin

A rancher moved one of his hay bales to the south east corner of his horse pasture recently and added black, orange and yellow/green spray paint to create the pumpkin's face.  

Last year, the horses nibbled the art work until it was gone.  



Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Painting the Outside of His Travel Trailer

Recently I went to an estate sale not too far from the discount bread store on 44th.  As I was parking, I noticed a small travel trailer that was being rehabbed.  I knew I had to take a picture of it and talk to the owner, so I rang the doorbell.

The guy rehabilitating the trailer was eager to tell me what he was doing.  He and his wife had bought the trailer for short trips intending to upgrade if they enjoyed it.  I was surprised to learn their idea of a short trip was Yellowstone as I would have considered that a long one.

They weren't going to do anything to the inside as it was in pretty good shape.  The outside needed painting, and he had perhaps half of it done.

He said that he was using enamel as it gave him the best-paint value for his money.  He didn't like latex except for the inside of a house.  He was using blue tape to mark off the contrasting color.  He said the contrasting color required two coats.

The Rehab Guy said he was using skinny rollers perhaps six inches in length, and he was very pleased with them.  He got his paint and supplies from Sherman Williams.

unpainted side

painted front and side




Monday, October 24, 2011

Polymer Clay Beads - Part I - One Color

The trick for one-color beads is to get them the correct size.  If I must have them exactly the same size, I will limber up the clay, make a worm and measure off exact amounts.

Here is a tool I saw at clay class that helps do this, and it is called the Super Slicer.  It comes with one set of handles and several blades.  However, putting this tool together is DANGEROUS.  One of the crafters in class cut her finger attaching the handles.  My hubby put the straight slicer on the handles for me and is thinking of ways of putting handles on the other blades, so I don't have to take the handles on and off.  It was $14.99 before coupon and tax.



In making beads and after slicing off same-size blobs of clay, form it into any shaped desired - square, oblong ball or round ball.

Before I saw the next tool I had been using tooth picks, bamboo skewers or coffee-swizzle sticks to make the bead holes.  I saw this tool called the Etch 'N Pearl with three-sized instruments and decided to upgrade.  It was $7.99 before coupon and tax.



In class I made small beads and used the small-sized hole maker.  Be sure the bead holes are large enough for your wire or cord.

You may have to re-form the bead after you make the holes as the process can disfigure them.

All is left is baking.

Next multi-colored beads.


Friday, October 21, 2011

Polymer-Clay Beads Class

Back in early September, I signed up for Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts class after seeing bargain classes offered in the media.  After one class was canceled, my class was finally held earlier this week, and it was worth the wait.  For $22.50, I got three hours of instructions on making polymer clay beads.

These will make a nice addition to my paper mache beads.

The medium is inexpensive when coupons are used.  Many times Jo-Ann's has this clay half priced or there is a coupon in their flyers, emails or web site that gives a 50% discount.  There is one 40% off coupon for any supplies for any class.  Be sure to check the coupon's expiration dates.  And usually the coupon is good for only one item, so I usually snag the biggest size available.  Or use the coupon on the most expensive item.

This clay never dries until it is baked in a toaster oven.  The teacher had some her son used several years ago (didn't bake it), and when limbered up, it was ready to be made into something new.  However, once it has been baked, re-purposing the raw clay is no longer an option.

It didn't appear to shrink after baking.

A couple of years ago, I thought this would be great for the little cowgirls, but after I began collecting supplies learned that it is toxic.  Therefore, equipment that the clay touches must now be dedicated to crafting - not food.

I use an oil-cloth tablecloth and flexible cutting boards to make the beads.  I got these castoffs from garage sales or my own use.  When I am done crafting, I take them outside to brush off the craft dust - no mess, no fuss.  Then fold it up, put it in the craft cabinet, and it is ready for the next adventure.

I got a toaster oven off Craigslist under the "free" category.  When I was visiting my sister in Texas last year, someone had a pasta maker that had been previously dedicated to polymer clay, and I brought it back.  I wonder what the TSA thought when they scanned my luggage.  Perhaps, "Who brings their pasta maker on vacation?"

Getting the clay warm is an important part of limbering it up.  Then it will kneedable.  I have successfully used a craft pan covered by a towel in the folds of a heating pad.  I continue to use that heating pad because the clay didn't touch it.

During the class, I saw a couple of tools I could use with both paper machine and polymer, and I will check them out the next time I go to Jo-Ann's.  And I will take my coupons with me.

Like paper mache,  use medical gloves as there is some color transfer.   Change gloves when going from dark to light as the dark coloring on the glove may stain.

Don't throw away used/old clay when finished.  Randomly-colored beads are beautiful, too.

Polymer clay beads process:
  • limber up the clay
  • put it through the pasta machine if required
  • shape it into balls or worms
  • make beads
  • push holes into beads if necessary
  • reshape the beads
  • bake
Polymer beads should be baked for 30 minutes at 275 degrees.  If the beads are not firm, they can be re-baked for another 10 minutes.  Baking time depends upon the thickness of the object.

One-color beads next time.




Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Paper Mache Beads continued...

This medium has real promise to make necklaces and earrings for charity bazaars on the cheap.

However, here are some problems I need to solve with strictly organics before the spring competition:

  • beads are too light weight - solved see below
  • hemp cording needs a WOW factor - solution firming up
  • clasp in back needs refinement - still working on this
  • different paint (type, color) for variety 
  • beads need a protective coating

Hubby is an IT hardware kind of guy, and he has all these smallish screws and nuts that he saves for a rainy day.  Well one day last week, it was misting.  Does that count?  I decided it did; and as an experiment, I put three screws into the bigger beads and two into the medium-size ones as I finished up the last of the paper mache.  He has so many he will never miss my raid.  

Of course, with the screws inside I had to make the beads with holes as my Dremel tool doesn't drill through metal.  When they dried, they were just heavy enough.  If they weren't the right weight, I could have added or subtracted the number of screws on the next batch.   

Since the screws are inside the beads, there would be no problem with the rules for jewelry made from organics this spring.




Monday, October 17, 2011

Paper Mache Beads



Here are a string of beads and earrings I made for Jan Maynard's class in Longmont recently.  As everything visible had to be some type of plant material, the necklace was strung on hemp cord.  The metal pierced-earring posts were hidden by the paper mache beads.  On the necklace, there is a knot before and after each bead to keep it in place.

Paint is not organic, but there was no penalty for using it.  I used gold paint and then covered it in spots with a chalk paint used for furniture.  Because of the flash and black background, the paint doesn't show up as well as it does with the human eye.

The beads and hole will shrink as they dry.


Paper Mache beads process:
  • make paper mache
  • form the balls with big-enough holes
    • a couple a day until firm, reform beads and holes
  • sand if necessary
  • paint
  • seal

To make paper mache, use any kid's recipe - torn up newspaper and water.  Us a large pot and spoons no longer needed for cooking as the printer's ink stains.  Bring the mixture to a boil with the lid on, and let it cool naturally.  Stir occasionally.

I tried several ways of getting it pulpier - small pieces of newspaper before cooking as well as blending, mixing with hand mixer and letting it sit overnight after cooking.  I was happiest with small pieces and letting it sit overnight with an occasional stirring.

Before making beads, add white kid's or school glue (I used Elmers).  I have used a lot and a little glue, and both worked fine.  Last time I made them, I used a fourth of a cup for four or five cups of pulp.

I made the beads using medical gloves as the pulp also stains your hands and nails.

To make the beads,  the mixture should be wet but not too wet.  If it looks on the dry side and falls apart when making the beads, it is too dry.  If it looks wet and droops immediately when you set it on wax paper or tin foil, it is too wet.   To change consistency, one can add more water or squeeze the pulp.

The practically difference between just right and too wet is that if it is too wet, you will have to reshape the beads many, many times during first couple of days of drying.  Otherwise, you will have to reshape them only many times.

Holes are another issue.  Obviously the earring beads do not need them.  They will be glued to the posts.

The beads for the necklace will need holes.  I used a combination of tooth picks, coffee swizzle sticks and k'bob sticks.  I found that if I made the holes when I made the beads and didn't leave the sticks in the paper mache, I had to remake the holes as the bead dried.  If I did leave the sticks in, I had to move them around while the bead dried so they didn't become permanently embedded.

There will be a competition in the spring at the Home and Garden show, and if I work out my issues will probably enter.

More on the issues later...



Thursday, October 13, 2011

Why Both Internet and Public Library?

From my research on crafts I found more often than not, the internet gives me a general overview while books from the public library give more depth.   Sometimes, I will bookmark those good sites.   Other times, I will check out the book.   Occasionally I will buy it.

Speaking of public libraries, ours in Golden is implementing an automated check-in process.  When I first saw it a couple of weeks ago, several very young boys were standing at the viewing window watching books go down the conveyor belt.  Soon they were asking patrons if they could check in their books.

I had a couple of car-repair books with pictures on the front, and they were delighted to do mine.


outside book return

inside book return




very fast




Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Crafts from the TRASHion Exhibit

Some of these crafts were inside the exhibit (made with trash), while others were in the lobby, hallway and stairway.

Paper mache interests me because it is shredded newspaper, water and a little glue.

For the fashion-made-of-trash portion of the exhibit, click here.




boxes with black & white photos?

paper mache bowl with sticks for feet

feathers and bead bowl 

more feather and bead blow with twigs for feet

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Crafting Information - Internet First; then the Public Library

When ever I get an idea for a craft project, I want to find out everything I can - potential problems, using cost effective supplies, what others have done, etc.

One of my favorite places to find out more information is the internet.  I will query ehow.com and ask.com as well as search google and yahoo.  Sometimes, terminology is the stumbling block - I may have to learn the language of that particular craft.

And I look on the internet to see what books are available.  When I find a title, author or major subject category, I search the local library system online for books I can request.  Getting these book takes a few days.

If the book is check out or there is a waiting list, I will be put in the queue.

If the local library doesn't have what I want, I can expand the search to other libraries; and these books can be requested to my local library, but it may take longer.

When my books arrive at my local library, the librarian will send me an email to pick them up.

After this posting is done, I am headed to my local library to pick up a couple of books I requested earlier this week.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Recovered Love Seat by the Front Door

Earlier this summer, I went on a recover-the-outdoor-furniture binge.

First it was six cushions for one of the swings under the grape arbor, then it was two rectangle cushions - one for the arch chair near the "Hell Strip" (no water) the north and the other for the wicker papasan chair for the front patio.  Then it was the wicker love seat's turn.

I got the fabric at a local fabric shop for $6 a yard on sale (naturally).  I picked the best of the lot at the store, but when I brought it home and draped it over the lawn furniture; I wasn't happy with it.  It was too bold for The Place.

So I thought about it for a couple of days.  That is a lot of fabric to change my mind, I thought.  But I knew I wouldn't be happy with it unless I did something different.  Then I got an idea and draped it wrong-side up, and it was perfect.  It gave me the muted green I wanted.