OLD MILK CAN PORCH DECOR

This was an easy project using an old milk can.
All you need is
 an old milk can
burlap
raffia
gingham or any other country material you like
some pip berries
rusty star
hot glue gun and glue sticks

First measure around your milk can so you know how much burlap and material you will need to cut the length. Then measure how much you want to cover of the can for your width. I cut the material smaller than the burlap leaving about inch and half space on top and bottom to allow for my burlap to show. But you could cut any way you prefer, this is just how I liked the burlap and material to look.

Ok now after the burlap and material are cut I then attach the burlap first by hot gluing the one end piece to what would be the back of my finished milk can. Then as I was wrapping the burlap I also hot glued here and there so it would stay in place finishing up at the back of the can meeting my starting pieces. Do the same then with the material.

Take raffia wrap around the neck part of the milk can. I wrapped several times til I like the way it looked. I just tied it off but you could make into a bow if that's what you like.

Next took the rusty star, mine had a hole in the one point, added a piece of wire and then wrapped the wire around my raffia in the center to hold star in place. 

Finally took a hand full of pip berries and wrapped their ends around the raffia to secure them in place.

And that was it for my old milk can decor that I kept on my porch. Pretty simple and easy project to do with an old milk can.

***I do recommend that you display anything with the berries in a place that does not get wet.*** 

As always happy crafting.

How to Make a Saltbox House from a Box

Recently learning how to make a saltbox house from a plain empty box.  I decided I would like to share how I made my Saltbox house from a Box.

Primitive Faux Bread Using Spray Foam

Some primitive looking breads I made using Spray Insulation Foam. They are fairly easy to make.

You will need:

Spray Insulation Foam (Touch 'n Foam, Great Stuff or any kind)

A pan or dish that you will be using. (see note below) 

for mine I used cinnamon, nutmeg, Epson salt, oatmeal, small beads, brown colored paints, and Mod Podge. White caulking. 

Use things in the liking for decorating the tops.  There are many ideas on Pinterest.

Take your spray foam and start on one side of your pan and fill about 1/2 to 3/4 full slowly working your way to the other end of your pan. I have done it also by filling the bottom first working my way to the top.  It will give you a different look. I found it to have a smoother look working from one end to the other and a lumpier affect fill bottom first. Just work with the foam and have fun trying different variations. If you fill too much it will puff all up and overflow.

Let it dry.

Once dry you can begin decorating to your liking.  Some I painted then mod podged. Some were mod podged and then my spices added. For my white topping I've tried white paint and glue, puffy white paint, and white caulking. I found that the white caulking worked the best for me.

Be creative. 

**Note** you will not be able to use this pan or dish again so make sure it is not one that you will want to reuse for cooking or eating from.

 Before 

After spice and paint 

 Finished 

I showed a friend my breads and explained to her how to make them and her creativity just went wild with them.  She had posted them on Facebook for sale and people were just loving them. She has done an excellent job at using her creativity and experimenting with the spray foam.

  

Here are a few examples of the creativity one of my friends have using the Spray Foam to create faux breads, pies and cupcakes..

 Tosha's Cherry Pie

***All pictures belong to Gotta have projects.  Please do not claim as your own. Give credit where credit is due.  As I do the same.***

Toilet Paper Roll Candles

Candle made from Toilet Paper Roll

I did not make this Toilet Paper Candle and these are not my instructions but I am giving credit to the one who did.  See below I hope she doesn't mind that I put this out to the world to share.  I don't know if she even has a website or blog as I got the information from one of my Facebook groups.  They are so many talented people out there with so much talent.  This is one project that I have tried but have come to realize that wax and me just don't mix to well.  I have tried several projects with candle wax beginning to think it just doesn't like me.  The directions are easy enough for anyone to follow so I thought I would share with others that might not have a problem working with wax.

So now for the instructions

What you need

Roll of Toilet Paper

Black or White or Tan Spray Paint (depending on light or dark candle)

Paraffin Wax

Double boiler or can  that can sit in a pot or crock pot (she uses regular pot)

Fragrance (spices or oils)

Coloring from (colored candles, crayons, food coloring, etc..)

Tongs

Wax paper

Electric Tea light

Elmer's Glue or Mod Podge

other embellishments (oats cinnamon, cloves, etc..)

Spray paint your tp with flat paint and let dry,  I use black spray paint for dark colors and white/tan for light colors..
Melt your wax or paraffin. I use a regular pot and I set on a bit above low.  Some ppl use crock pots or double boilers. At this time you can add your fragrance (spices or oils) and colors (colored candles, crayons, food coloring, etc).
When the wax is completely melted use some tool (I use tongs) to hold your toilet paper and dip your tp roll into the wax to add a thin coat of wax on it. Set it on a plate, wax paper or paper plate.
Let it cool.
At this time you can add a label or picture to the candle.  Simply glue it on.
Now you have to decide the look of the candle you want to make.  If you want a smooth candle, spoon the wax onto the candle and smooth it out. If you want a frothy candle continue on. Let the wax cool until it begins to form a crust.  Then skim a spoon across the top of the wax and transfer that to your candle.  If you have a label, be sure to put the wax around the label first. Then keep spooning until the candle is covered.
You may have to reheat the wax and let it cool again to finish.
Cover your tea light, too. Don't cover the bottom of the tea light. Let it all cool.
Then decorate. You can add oats, cinnamon, cloves.. well, anything you want to your candle. Just use Elmer's (some use mod podge, but Elmer's is cheaper... a lot!!).
To protect my candles I put a coat of Elmer's glue and water (half and half) all over everything except material. However, if you put this mix on material, it will stiffen it, so it's up to you.
Your candle is ready to be plated. Burn away! Well not really burn but turned on.

Hope you enjoyed her instructions



Picture and instructions are by Diana Hammond please do not use as your own. Give credit where credit is due.

Tobacco Stick Shutter Projects and a Few other Tobacco Stick Projects

Shutter projects from tobacco sticks and a few other tobacco stick projects I've done. Very easy and simple to do.

My husband started making these unfinished shutters to sell. They are 6 in x 24 in.  

When I seen them I starting thinking about what I could do with them. So I grabbed myself 2 unfinished ones and went to work. I made myself a set of shutters with crows stenciled on for my bathroom. Our bathroom mirror was just so plain looking, which so is the whole bathroom, not really decorated the way I want yet. Anyway above my sink is just a flat large mirror on the wall. Plain Jane, (YUCK).  But after painting two of the shutters Brick Dust Red and stenciled a black crow and stars on it now not so plain.

Before hanging them

After I hung. (Don't mind the rest of what you see, as I said bathroom not done yet)

 Americana with Old Glory handwritten on and a metal star with pip berries.

Using same unfinished tobacco stick shutters he made I painted this Americana Shutter. Adding my metal star and pip berries gluing on with E6000 glue.   Got this idea from a smaller one I seen on Pinterest.

Basically same concept as my Old Glory shutter but this time stenciled on America and added a raffia bow.

This shutter is just painted black with a star in middle. For the star used a stencil I made from contact paper and dry brushed my antique white paint on for a more worn look for the star. Then stapled pip berries across the top.

Flag drilling holes with a very small drill bit to attach my sticks together with wire. Twisting each section of wire to hold in place and then a hole also drilled in the top on both ends to attach twine for hanging.

Tobacco stick basket with twine handles

Welcome sign fence with pip berry wreath with metal star.

Grapevine and battery operated lights tied on to this tobacco stick ladder with some homespun material.

Decorative window from tobacco sticks. Simple looking, just some raffia and homespun bow.  An 

Old Glory sign made from a piece of scrape wood  and a grungy battery operated candle.

Tobacco stick ladder with homespun, a rusty metal star and some pip berries.

My hubby staining this trivet he made for the pans and silverware.  He

made this so our table wouldn't be affected from the heat from the pans.

                                                  Top view showing where the silverware go

                                   Front view with the pans and silverware in place on a table.

And this is the view with  the trivet hanging on the wall when not in use.  I added the homespun 

material to it for a more decorative look while it is hung up.

Hope everyone else loves my Tobacco Stick Shutter projects as much as I do.

Faux Brown Egg-Tutorial

Faux Brown Egg Tutorial

 I know its late for this tutorial but save for next year or if you could get a hold of some of these faux eggs.  I purchased mine from Wal-mart at Easter time.  The faux eggs came in little egg cartons with no seems and are dye able.

Basically all you need is the faux eggs, brown shoe polish (I used the kind in the small round container) and brown paint mixed with a little water and an old tooth brush. **Don't have paint and water mixture too watery or it will run.  I suggest testing the platter on paper first.

Take old rag and wipe on shoe polish covering whole faux egg and wipe off. I did whole dozen at a time. 

Then mix a little water with the brown paint dip tooth brush in paint and rub your finger across bristles to make it splatter off.  Let dry and turn eggs over and repeat the process with the paint and tooth brush. 

There you have it your Faux Brown Eggs that will look great in your country, primitive kitchen.

Other Tutorials Here

Primitive Night Lights

Primitive Night Light
These night lights give a nice glow when turned on. On off switch. Choice of color, each one also includes a rusty primitive star

Color- Blue Red Green

FAUX FARM EGGS

I seen on one of my facebook groups that Wal-mart had some faux eggs that came in little egg cartons with no seems and are dyeable. So I had to go grab myself a few packages. 

Tutorial to follow later in bit of a hurry right now but just had to share the pics of my DYI #FauxEggs

**UPDATE** Tutorials 

Brown Egg 

Primitive Eggs using Plastic Eggs