Workshop Wednesday: Rub-On Vase

Ok, that title is really bad. Forgive me – I’m nursing a post-bday celebration weekend brain. (Why does it take so long to recover from fab parties? I didn’t even get tipsy and I’m weirdly out of it days later.) Enough about me. Today’s project uses rub-on transfers and a clear glass vase to create a fun, simple decorative piece. Perfect for centerpieces, a wish bowl, toasting flutes, or even votives this is a quick ‘n’ easy project ANYONE can do. Don’t think you’re crafty? No problem! The rub-ons provide all of the creativity. All you do is … rub. What you need:

• Clean glass vase with a smooth surface.
• Glass cleaner, paper towel
• Rub-on transfers (available at nearly every scrapbooking shop and craft store.)
• Scisscors
• Rub-on tool. (Most rub-on sheets come with a little popsicle stick to do the transfers with…that’s perfect.)

How to:

1. Clean the outside of the glass with the glass cleaner. Dry the glass completely. Rub-ons don’t work well when there are body oils or dirt on the surface.
2. From a sheet of rub-ons, cut out the design you want to transfer to the glass.
3. Place the cut design, face (sticky-side) down on the glass.
4. With one hand, hold the transfer paper in place. With the other hand, use the transfer tool (popsicle stick) to rub the back of the design. Firmly pressing down as you rub will transfer the design to the glass. Sometimes it takes several passes to get the transfer to stick. Don’t worry. That’s normal.
5. As you rub an area, pick up the edges of the paper just a little bit. You’ll be able to see where the transfer isn’t sticking. Just go back and rub, rub, rub.

Notes:

• Rub-ons are available in hundreds (thousands?!) of different designs.
• Most are available in black or white but many manufacturers also have them in full color. Cool, right?
• The bummer is that most packages have only 1 sheet per package with several different designs/motifs per page. If you need to have all matchy-matchy vases, you’ll need to buy several packages of rub-ons and that can get spendy.
• The package used in this project, from Tinkering Ink, cost $6.99 at my local scrapbook store. Not outrageous, but definitely something to consider when you’re budgeting.
• Rub-ons can be used on paper, metal, class, tile, wood … nearly any smooth surface. And they work on any color surface, too.

Resources: Rub-on designers to check out…. Doodlebug (Great alphabets, pretty colors) Basic Grey (Awesome designs, sophisticated patterns) Bo Bunny (Fun, whimsical, trendy) Cosmo Cricket (Great sentiments) Fancy Pants Designs (Great colors, fun designs) Foof-a-la by Autumn Leaves Hambly Screen Prints (Trendy, hip, fun) My favorite online places to buy rub-ons: Two Peas In A Bucket Lifetime Moments