Cheap Antique Bronze Elephant Statue

This project is about as easy as they come. I'm only posting it because it's the perfect way to introduce the new projects that I'll have coming up. Hopefully soon, I'll be moving into my own place and in order to decorate it, I'm going to have to make a lot of the stuff myself. So, my blog will be filled with DIY for the home and such from here on out. I will have some of the kids' crafts as well but most of my things will be things for the home.

I found this elephant at target for under $5. I've seen plenty of over priced ceramic elephant statues and a real antique bronze elephant statue was out of the question, especially with my budget. Finding this was perfect. I think I'm going to get the bear statue and paint it as well.

This is the finished project. I just painted it bronze with my DecoArt Elegant Finish Metallic paint that I bought at JoAnn's (and the same paint I used for my bowls). I love the finish of this paint. It's smooth and not tacky at all which is good because it gets pretty humid here.

Overall, this project cost me less than $5 since I've had this paint for a long time. Any kind of paint will work. I just used what I had.

Air-Dry Clay Bowls

These air-dry clay bowls are ones I made about a month ago. I posted them on my Instagram around then, I just forgot to write a post on them. This is just a craft I did to see how I liked it. I didn't buy anything expensive to use for this project, just Crayola Air-Dry Clay in the color white. I bought it in the tub for really cheap. The girls and I played with the Terracotta colored clay and that was a disaster. It was so unbelievably messy.

It was simple to form with my hands and when it was starting to dry out on my hands, water easily softened the clay again. It took about two to three days to dry. It really depended on how thick it was. The little bowl on the left took longer than the one on the right.

When they finished drying I put a layer or two of paint on them. DecoArt's Elegant Finish Metallic Paint worked wonderfully on the bowls. It set evenly and isn't tacky. I used the color Rich Espresso. The inside of the bowl on the left was colored in acrylic paint. I watered it down just a little so it wouldn't have a weird rubbery texture that easily came off the bowl.

This was just a project that I wanted to try. I've never made bowls with air-dry clay before but it's something that I'm going to do again in the near future just as a little craft for myself and for some practice until I get better at handling this form of clay. I'm so used to oven-baked clay which isn't always as soft as air-dry clay/paper clay.

Summer Crafts With The Girls

It's the start of summer vacation for the oldest girl, Aubrey, and we decided on crafts to do during the summer. I'm going to have to limit it to one craft per week because it would get too expensive if I let her have it her way. Some of our activities will be on the free/cheap side since I don't have a lot of money to begin with.

Last week, Aubrey, Brynna (Little One), and I painted rocks. I need to get working on making the house for her rock family. The picture above is of the rock I painted.

This is just the start of our summer crafts. This week we are doing a big project that might take both days I work to finish. I hope to post that on Wednesday.

These New Projects Keep Coming!

Newest Bracelets

I've been working on a few new items for my shop Glass Wire Studios because it is in need of something new, don't you think?

My sister and I went to the craft stores today and the other day where I bought a few new items to add to my shop. You've already seen some of the items that I'm going to post now it's time to add a few more. I also think it's time for a few new clay items. I've got a couple idea in mind but I haven't created much. Sure, I have my cactus and I'm working on my sister's desk tree from a little inside joke we made back when we both were in high school but that is all I have going for me right now.

I also have a few pending projects that I want to do. A lot of these a resin coating a thin coating so I will have to do these at around the same time. I'm rather excited to show everyone my latest projects.

And those are just for my shop. I have a few personal projects that I'm working on as well, like my smash journaling. I want to catch up with that soon.

Creative cubes

Have a wonderful day.

Crafting Clean Out - Jewelry Supplies (Part 1)

My steampunk creations.

Over the last couple years, I've collected a lot of beads, clasps, charms, etc. I mean, a lot if stuff. So, I'm making it a goal to try to get rid of everything since I only use some of it, not all of it. I use findings all of the time but how often do I use beads? Not very.

Some of the things, I'll be giving away. If I have a lot of the same stuff, I'll be making kits to sell/give to others.

I already started this yesterday when I made a few steampunk pieces for the 100 Themes Challenge. But I'll be sure to try to use some of it every day until everything is gone.

I managed to make a few things today. Nothing really special or anything I can wear but I'm getting through things slowly.

 This project of mine is going to take me weeks. Possibly months. But, since my sister, Vanessa, and I craft everyday, this shouldn't be a huge issue...I hope.I think the thing I'll have the most trouble with would be not having enough chain or the right kind of chain to go with what I want to make. I guess I could just gather everything and see where it goes.

There are a few items that I'm altering. Like the gray hearts (pictured below). I'm painting them black before I paint designs on them. It should be fun. I have a few wood beads that I want to paint as well but I want them to be bright and colorful...I've been really attracted to the color yellow lately. I'm not sure why.

Well, since I'm rambling, I'll just stop writing and let you have a look at what I've been working on tonight.
 

Some earrings

Some more earrings

That heart is actually gray. I made this for my sister.

This is a gift to my niece, Kearstin. She asked me to make this for her when we went Black Friday Shopping.

I have a bunch of these and I have no idea what to do with them. Any suggestions?

 I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.

~Tracey

New Items

This is a rose ring I made a few months ago. The rose is hand painted. I really like these metal roses but I can't find any more. I'm going to have to hunt some down or make my own.

 This is Scotch. One of my new characters for On the Rocks. This is Scotch, the Mayor of On the Rocks. He will be in my shop soon but not right now. I have to get some good lighting for him and find my SD card. I misplaced it somewhere.

 This is a pocket watch that will be in my will be in my shop soon.

I saw this bracelet on Pinterest and decided to give it a try. I'm wearing mine right now. I think it's an easy enough project to do with the girls. I'm going to see if they want to try it.

New Projects

Altering my train case.

This is a trail and error thing. I've never done this before. Today I'll be working on cleaning it and making a design for it that I'll probably end up painting. I might also do research on how to fix up the inside. Mine isn't so bad but I want it to be different. I have no idea what I'll be using this for but I can never have too much storage. It would be perfect for if I decide to go to J-fax as a vendor. I can put my charms inside.

Another project, that I might have mentioned before, is my diorama for a contest on DeviantArt. I just need a shoe box and I can get started. Unfortunately, no one has a shoebox I can have. I'd best get looking or start making the diorama out of the cardboard around here.

How To Make Cold Porcelain

Cold Porcelain is an air-dry clay that is cheap and easy to make. There are two ways to go about making it - by using the microwave or the stove. I used the stove but I think next time I will used the microwave. But in the end the results are the same so it really doesn't matter.

Here is what you need to make cold porcelain:

1 cup cornstratch
1 cup glue (two 4 oz. bottles)
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
2 tablespoons of baby oil (I read it can be substituted with olive oil)
Saran Plastic Wrap and/or wax paper
Non-greasy or oil free lotion

Mix the glue and cornstarch together in a microwavable bowl or a sauce pan (depending on how you are going to make it). Then add the lemon juice and baby oil. Don't worry if the mixture doesn't look smooth. The heat will help with that.

For microwave:

Put your bowl of the mixture in the microwave in 10-15 second intervals.

For Oven:

Mix your ingredients in the sauce pan and put on low or medium low heat. I cooked mine on low because I was a bit nervous about making it.

For Both Microwave and Oven:

The mixture will become soupy and then it will thicken again. When it thickens, start testing it to see if it sticks to your hands. If it does, then the mixture still needs to cook. If not, then set it down for a moment and lay out a piece of Saran plastic wrap (or wax paper).

Squirt a bit of lotion onto the Saran plastic wrap (or wax paper) and spread it all around. This keeps the cold porcelain from sticking. Also make sure your hands are lotioned.

Pour the mixture on the Saran plastic wrap (or wax paper) and knead. It may be hot so be cautious about that. You can let it set for a few minutes to cool down but once it's cool enough to touch, start kneeding until it is completely cool. It doesn't take long and you might not need to wait for it to cool down at all.

To prevent cracking, put your cold porcelain in some lotioned plastic wrap and store in an air tight container (or a Ziplock bag) for 24 hours. If you are using a Ziplock bag, please take the air out of it and make sure that there are no holes. That is a sure way to lose your cold porcelain.

**Note: Cold Porcelain is air-dry. This is why you need an air tight container.

DO NOT add water to the mixture at all. This causes cracking.

After 24 hours, you can play with your cold porcelain and create things out of it. Cold porcelain shrinks when it dries so your creation will be smaller than how you make it.

Cold porcelain is degradable in water and heat due to the ingredients. Use a glaze to protect it. I would suggest something like Sculpey Glaze (but it's expensive depending on where you are). There is also Triple Thick by DecoArt. I've never tried it but some people really like it and one coat is all you need. There are some varnishes you can use but whatever you do, DON'T use Mod Podge. Mod Podge will not protect it from water since it is a water base glue. It will just end in a mess.

Have fun with it. Cold Porcelain is perfect for making things with the children. I wish I would have tried it when I was a nanny. The kids would have adored it.

Chalkboard Project

So, on Pinterest, I saw a ton of postings on how to make chalkboard paint so I figured...why the hell not? I bought this table a few years ago at target. I use it for a crafting...or piling things up because I'm too lazy to put it away. This is what it looked like:

It's just a simple cheap table that is in serious need of cleaning or repainting. One of the legs is loose too but I'll have to figure out how to fix that later.

Anyway, I mixed up some chalkboard paint (1 cup of acrylic paint + 2tbs of unsanded white grout) and turned it into this.

A closer look. Sorry about the awful lighting. My room only gets enough light during certain parts of the day. Unfortunately, it isn't the time.

This project cost me under $10.

• Unsanded White Grout from Lowes - $4
• A bottle of acrylic paint from Hobby Lobby - $2
• Sponge Brushes from Hobby Lobby - $1.50
• Chalk from Walmart - $0.47