Sea Glass Craft

After a week long vacation in a charming little cottage on the coast of Maine I had collected enough sea glass to do quite a few crafts. Here is the first one I've come up with. :-) My brain is still contemplating the possibilities available to me. 

To do this craft you need:

2 Embroidery hoops (same size)

paint

strong thread

sea glass

Duco Cement Glue**

Wood Glue

**After a week of this sea glass hoop being placed on display a couple of pieces of glass fell off the strings. It may have had to do with the fact that it was placed over my kitchen sink and it was humid....but, I thought it would be good to tell you. I used the Duco Cement because it was the least harmful out of all the glass glues I could find at the store. Quite a few of the options were really volatile, and with my Munchkin around I wanted to use the least aggressive choice available to me. So, you might do better with another glass glue, or you could just try placing it in a less humid environment. I am content with the way it came out....I reapplied the glue to the fallen pieces and I have not had any problems with it. But, if you are going to be placing this around any small children or animals I want you to be aware that the glass pieces could possibly fall off and become a choking hazard. See what I mean about having OCD?? Yikes. I'll stop rambling now. :-)

There are probably many different ways to put this project together, but the way I did it went like this:

~Cut thread to fit embroidery hoop in different spots. I didn't measure to make the distance even, this has all been done with the finess of my eye. :-) Don't look too closely. 

~When you've placed the thread in the spots you'd like glue one end of each thread with wood glue and let it dry.

~ Now, line the rest of the edge of the hoop with wood glue and place the opposite ends of the threads in the places you'd like them to go. Pull them tight and let the glue set but not completely dry.....you can add glue to the rest of the outer edge and lay the other hoop on top of the first one (matching up the metal tightening screws). Let that piece dry.

~Paint the hoops and try to stay away from the strings. 

~Now you're ready to glue the sea glass using the duco cement. I laid the hoop down on a table n placed something underneath the strings that made it so that the string laid loosely on the object. Then, I slid the sea glass under the strings and placed a dot where the string touched the glass. I let it dry (5-10 minutes) then added another dot to make the bond strong. Fill up all the strings with sea glass.....I added a piece of pottery in the center that I found on the beach as well. Giev the whole thing time to dry and then find a place to put your work. I recommend a window or somewhere that the light can truly catch it.
If you would like to read more about my lovely vacation, click HERE !!!!

Here are the parties I have linked up to, visit them and be inspired!!!!

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays

Thrifty Thursday

Benchy-goodness and a Beautiful Blogger

Thanks to my In-Laws, we now have a piece of lawn furniture!! Up until now my guests have had to be content to sit at our picnic table or on the lawn. I'm an on the lawn, butt with the beetles,  kind-o-girl....but I have been wishing recently that I could make my company a *little* more comfy. This piece does the trick with some serious style. Take a look at this bench:

Isn't she gorgeous??!! This is an old park bench from about 1875. When we got her she needed a lot of work but,  hey, that's what spray paint is for. I would have used a metal bristle brush on her but I was concerned about lead paint AND....she was in really great shape for her age.  I gave her two coats of primer and two coats of glossy satin finish spray paint. I am in LURVE.

Speaking of style, I have just been awarded the Beautiful Blogger award from Robin at the T-Shirt Diaries. Cool beans, huh? Thanks Robin!!

For this award I need to tell you 10 things about myself....

1. I'm a middle child.

2.  I turn to sappy romance novels for a pick me up. 

3. Big-time picky eater. Go ahead, TRY and make me eat that tuna casserole.

4. I mow the lawn while singing Disney songs at the top of my lungs.

5. I have no compunctions about speaking my mind.

6. I usually put my foot in my mouth in social situations.

7. My favorite Blizzard is Chocolate Extreme with twist ice cream.

8. I once stabbed an ice skate into my leg by accident.

9. During my first ever slow dance, I was so nervous I was trembling. He told everyone the next day. :\

10. Okay.... I really **DO** think your Tractors sexy.

I'm Passing this on to:

Melissa @those northern skies 

Heather@ My Frugal Family 

Annie @ Adorkable Annie

Sarah @ Nap Time is Craft Time

Congrats!! Hope all of you have a lovely 4th!!

Here are some parties I linked up to:

Frugalicious Friday
Frugal Friday 

4th of July Craft Collection

Disclosure: I receive payments for referrals from social spark... and you can too if you sign up! See below!

I've been busy as a bee making some 4th of July Crafts, wanna see?? 

Rag Wreath and Ra Ra

 

Tin Can Craft

 

Iris Folding Star Craft 

 

 Here's a simple Betsy Ross-ish flag ( I made 12 stars instead of the traditional 13). For this craft all you need is:

Small rectangular piece of wood

red, white, umber, and blue paint

paintbrush

I just found a good picture of a Betsy Ross flag and went to town. I sketched it briefly with a pencil and then painted the stripes area all white and the stars area all blue, letting the areas dry before adding any more. Then, I added red stripes and white stars. I did this on all sides of the wood block for some consistency.  When everything was dry, I did mixed some raw umber and water and did a light wash over the whole piece to give it some aging. I let is dry and Voila!! All done.

 

 

Just today I made a little 3d star garland. Simple and easy. HERE is the link for the 5 point star pattern. It's really basic and if you have the time I am sure you can do something A LOT better than what I did. Still, it's fun!!

 

Last but not least is a fun one for kiddo's. I currently host a craft time at my local library and this was our most recent project (that we'll finish this week).  What you need to make it is:

Crayons

Card Stock

Black Paint

Color a piece of card stock with as much crayon color as you can like this:

You want every bit of paper showing through covered with crayon. Once finished, paint it entirely with black paint and let it dry. Once it is completely dry, use something pointy to scratch your design on the surface. I went for fireworks to go with the 4th of July theme.  The trick to this craft is that the paint cannot adhere to the wax from the crayons, so it is easily etched away. Fun, eh??

I also wanted to tell you about the awesomest blog advertising company out there:

Social Spark is great. 

I totally recommend it!

Disclosure: I receive payments for people referred (and you will too if you use Social Spark!)

Here are the Parties I linked Up To!! Check them out and be INSPIRED!!

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays
Thrifty Thursdays
Frugalicious Fridays
Frugal Friday