YAPPING CAT STUDIO

Christmas Magnets

Here is another fun gift idea that is fairly inexpensive to do.  Magnets.

Using those rounded glass bubbles, that you usually put in a flower arrangement, that are flat on one side...that would be the bubbles, not the flower arrangement! 

...and an ordinary sheet of stickers and a pretty piece of paper, it is simple enough to do.

Stick your sticker of choice on to your pretty paper.  Lay an appropriate sized bubble over it and holding tight, trace around the edges.  Cut out your stickered paper on your traced line.

Place a few drops of Diamond Glaze onto the image (facing up) and press your glass bubble down onto the glue.  Pressing quite firmly to insure that the glaze spreads out evenly.  I usually let these dry overnight.  Once completely dry, I trim any edges that are visible.

Then using a craft magnet, making sure to NOT glue on the magnetic side, place a drop of glue (I use The Ultimate) and press bubble down upon firmly.  If you like, before adhering the magnet, place a piece of clear, packing tape over the back (paper side) to make sure it stays waterproof.  Trimming the edges on front as needed.  Then adhere you magnet.

If you buy a package of magnet, to get the magnets apart, twist firmly.  Do NOT use an exacto knife to pry apart.  Not a good idea, as we have previously seen here.

   
This would also make a cute, hostess gift as well, in a clear bag with shred, tied with a festive ribbon. 

And for even more fun, add one of these!  Makes a fun, chalkboard and memo board combined.

I've got more paper ornaments to show tomorrow.  As well as great vintage finds.

Happy Thursday.

Let's build a house!

OK, so we are not really building.  Just embellishing.  But that works, so let's go.

Start with a little, ordinary cardboard house.  I usually find mine at the hobby store.  You know.  The one with the lobby.  I cut the hanger off the top, cutting as close to the cardboard as you can.  Don't worry about the hole.  It will get filled in with paint and glitter.

I use a flat brush for the large areas and a round for the small, such as the trim and the door.  And I use a craft, acrylic paint, such as Delta.  They are inexpensive, about .99 a bottle.

Choose your paint color for the base.  I've used a soft, petal pink.  I've painted the main part of the house and the chimney.  You should be able to slide your flat brush under that trim. Don't worry about minor mistakes on edges.  Those will get covered up.  You could even base it in one color and let it dry and base another over lightly, for a shabbier look.  You could even lightly sand for an even more shabbier look. 

Don't forget your chimney.  And again, don't worry about minor splotches.  Ignore.  We can fix.

Now comes the trim, roof and base of the house.  Which I have done in white.  And I usually do about two to three coats.  The acrylic dries fast, so that by the time you've gone from front to back, you can usually begin a second coat by the time you get to the front again.

Don't forget under the edges of the roof.

A soft red door completes the front.  Don't forget to do your windows.  I know, you don't do windows.  But just the once, ok?

Now comes the real fun.  Adding the details.  I found this little vintage pic at our store for under $5.00.  I clipped off the pieces I wanted to use.  Like the snowman and the small tree.  The candy canes will go on another house and the rest I'll save for something else.

I use The Ultimate glue.  It holds well and dries fast.  Hold the piece in place until it adheres.  This is my favorite part...adding the fun.  It starts to get a little character now.  But, still needs a little sumpin, sumpin.  Hmmmmmm.

This will do.  I cut a small piece off, using wire cutters, not scissors!  Don't ruin your scissors cutting pipe cleaners.  Martha sez.  LOL.  Form a small circle for a wreath and lets put that above the little door.

Add a tiny red bow to your little wreath and we are done.  (There's goes the neighborhood!  Someone had to go and build modern!  That house looks just like a coffee cup!)  Sorry.  Had to have a silly moment there. 

But wait..one last thing.

GLITTER!  And lots of it!  This is my fave to use on the little houses cause it really looks like snow.  But you could use whatever floats your particular watercraft.  And you can get The Ultimate glue and this glitter from the Hob Lob.  I use my flat brush and put a thin coat of Mod Podge over the area and items I want coated.  Doing one side at a time.

Viola!  A little sugary, snow covered cottage!  I love it.  You can make em cutesy...

...or classy.  The sky is the limit.  Have fun.  Now go build some houses!

See you tomorrow for Pink Saturday.