Renegade Craft Fair – Chicago

Posted by Khris in Opportunties

Hey, crafty peeps. If you’re in the Chicago area this weekend, do check out the Renegade Craft Fair for all kinds of delightful, handmade goodness. There will be over 100 incredibly crafty vendors with wares that’ll knock your socks off. Click on the banner below for the full details.

Fancy Schmancy Napkin Folding

Posted by Khris in DIY Projects & Tutorials, Miscellaneous Projects

I’ve been a long-time admirer of the napkin arts. I honestly really love artfully folded napkins. It’s just a really sweet touch, a nice detail.

The folks at CRAFT magazine pointed NapkingFoldingGuide.com today, and lemming that I am, I popped over to check it out. OMG! The site features 27 creatively folded napkins complete and step-by-step instructions on how to do them. Cool!

Sales

Posted by Khris in Steals + Deals

Hey, bargain hunters! There are a couple of great sales going on you should know about.

Joann’s: 40% off

Kate’s Paperie: 80% off Envelopements (select styles in packs of 25)

The coupons/links:

Project: Chalkboard Votive

Posted by Khris in Decor, DIY Projects & Tutorials

Is it ..

… could it be …

… wait … oh yes!

It’s a PROJECT!

A bona fide, real life, DIY Bride project!

I bring you the first project I’ve done for this site in a long, long time. And it’s an easy one for all of you craft neophytes.

Behold, my DIY disciples: the versatile, simple, and cheap chalkboard votive.

What’s a chalkboard votive, you ask? It’s a glass votive cup that’s been sprayed with – get this – chalkboard paint. Genius! (And utterly inspired by some pricey but wonderful chalkboard vases found elsewhere.)

These little guys can be used to house candles or candies or even small bunches of flowers. The cool factor is that you can write whatever you’d like on the outside. Great for place cards, no? Or how above little love notes to your guests? A word of thanks?

Supplies Needed

1. Chalkboard paint (found at craft stores and home improvement centers)
2. Votive cups
3. Newspaper or other covering to protect your work surface
4. Well-ventilated work area (do this outside if at all possible)
5. Chalk

Instructions

1. Cover your work surface with newspaper.
2. Wash and thoroughly dry your votive cups. This removes any gunk and fingerprints to ensure you get a nice, even coverage of paint.
3. Turn the votive cups upside down on the work surface. (So you don’t spray inside the cup.)
4. Spray the votives with chalkboard paint. Hold the paint can about 8″ – 12″ from the cup and spray lightly. Too much paint will leave runny marks down the side of the glass.
5. Let the paint dry per manufacturer’s directions. (About an hour should do. Your time may vary.)
6. Add another coat, if you want. Sometimes it takes a 2nd to cover any spots you may have missed or to get a good base on larger pieces.
7. After the paint is dry, write your message on the votive. Voila!

Notes

1. The paint is seriously stinky! I highly recommend spraying outside.
2. Really let the paint dry completely between coats and before using. If the paint is even the tiniest bit wet, it’ll peel away from the glass when you try to write or you’ll leave permanent chalk indentations.
3. Terra cotta pots work well for this as do larger pieces like vases, bowls, wine bottles, jars. You can use stone, wood, tile — just about any hard surface.
4. Mask off parts of your project to create little areas of chalkboard instead of spraying the whole thing.
5. Don’t spray inside the cup if you’re going to use it for food. The paint is not non-toxic.
6. I that the big pieces of chalk (like for sidewalk art) that had a pointed end were easier to use than the standard skinny chalk sticks.

(the supplies)

(turned upside down and painted)

(the final product, complete with smudgy fingerprints from yours truly)

30% Off at Denver Fabrics

Posted by Khris in Steals + Deals

One of my favorite online fabric shops, Denver Fabrics, will soon be changing ownership. The current owners are offering 30% off their entire fabric inventory to prep for the new owners. (I’m not sure how long they’ll be offering the discount. Sorry! Please ask them directly if you have any questions.)

Here’s the code: Use coupon code: ALLFAB%30.