From everyone at Plaid – Happy New Year! Be safe and enjoy your day. We’ll resume regular posting this coming Monday. Happy Happy 2011!!
December 31, 2010
Happy New Year!
December 29, 2010
New Year’s Eve Candle Centerpiece
As far as I’m concerned, it’s kind of difficult to find good crafty projects for New Year’s Eve; yet it’s nice to have a little something for the occasion, especially if you are having people over. This candle centerpiece uses several ingredients that you probably have in your craft stash, and it all just comes together in a very posh presentation. A little FolkArt Extreme Glitter and some FolkArt Metallic paint adds just the fancy touch you need to bring in the new year. Visit the project instructions here.
December 28, 2010
Tuesday Huesday: The New Emeralds
I recently saw this emerald jewelry in the December 2010 issue of InStyle and I was like a kitten with a ball of yarn. Ooh, shiny things! Shiny AND pretty things. Emerald is a gorgeous gem, and it’s also a gorgeous paint color, especially when it’s “metallicized.” Yes, I made that word up. I was inspired to create a color palette using our FolkArt Metallics and some various shades of emerald. I’ve seen emerald go a little more blue and a little more green – I’ll let you make up your mind which you prefer. All of these shades are beautiful to me, and happen to look great together.
This palette was created using FolkArt Metallics (from left to right): Aquamarine, Emerald Green, Christmas Green, Pure Gold
December 27, 2010
Make It Monday: Kwanzaa Kinara Centerpiece
If you aren’t familiar with this candle display above, it is a Kwanzaa Kinara. Yes, today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration honoring universal African-American heritage and culture. It’s an interesting tradition and, like all holiday traditions, I encourage you to learn more about it. If you want to make your own kinara, here’s how.
Gather These Supplies
- FolkArt Acrylic Paint – Burnt Umber, Engine Red, Fresh Foliage, Pure Black, Teddy Bear Brown
- 6-7/8” x 1 ¾” wood candlesticks
- 6-Colonial style wood napkin rings
- Decorative wood candleholder
- 15” piece of old wood
- 16” piece of old wood
- Wood glue
- Piece of wax or white candle
- Sandpaper
- Gloss spray sealer
- Old t-shirt
1. Basecoat the small candlesticks and napkin rings with Burnt Umber. Basecoat the large candleholder with Teddy Bear Brown.
2. Using the candle rub the wax on the candleholders and napkin rings on the edges where paint would naturally rub off.
3. Paint the large candleholder Pure Black. Sand to show the basecoat coat color where the wax was applied.
4. Paint three napkin rings and three small candleholders with Engine Red. When completely covered and dry lightly sand the edges where the wax was applied to show the basecoat color. Repeat the steps with the remaining candleholders and napkin rings using Fresh Foliage.
5. Glue the small candleholders to the napkin rings as shown.
6. Add some water to Burnt Umber and with the t-shirt antique the two pieces of old wood and the small candleholders.
7. Glue the two pieces of wood together. Glue the candleholders to the top piece of wood as shown.
December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
From everyone here at Plaid, thank you SO MUCH for supporting us in 2010. You don’t know how much it means! Have a wonderful Christmas, and check out this video from 7-year-old Rhemea Marvanne. This song always puts me into the Christmas mood, and she’s amazing. Merry Merry Christmas to you and your families!
December 24, 2010
TGIF Project: A Stiffy Painted Snowman
Merry Christmas Eve! Aren’t snowmen great? I love them because they are perfect for holiday decor but they don’t have to come down when the big day is over. If you find yourself with some time this weekend, I suggest making this happy snowman using Stiffy and Apple Barrel paint. The technique with the paint is a little different; it’s used for stamping on the felt. The results are great and the project is so fun and cheery! It’s also fab for using up my felt stash – I have a ton of extra felt. Do you? Visit the complete project instructions here.
December 23, 2010
Recycled Bread Tag Snowmen
What a cute lil’ project from Amanda at Crafts by Amanda - because you know what, it’s those finishing touches that really make a great gift! Amanda suggests using some acrylic paint to make these bread tag snowmen (and who doesn’t use a million bread tags, so save them). They are easy and you can knock out several at one time. Perfect for decorating those Christmas thank you bags you’ll be making, right (uh-oh, I’d better get on that)? For the complete tutorial, visit Amanda here.
December 22, 2010
Vote for a Grand Prize Winner in the Plaid 12 Weeks of Christmas Contest!
YOU decide the Grand Prize Winner in the Plaid 12 Weeks of Christmas Contest! You can only vote once, and for one craft! Find the 11 finalists at the bottom of this link and come back to this blog entry and share your vote in the comments!
This post is closed for comments. Thanks for voting!
December 21, 2010
Tuesday Huesday: Handmade Doily Cards
Can you say “I love doilies?” I really do. They are so trendy right now – grandma’s favorite table topper gets a fun makeover in the craft world! I love it when old styles make a comeback. I found these from so charming that I had to turn them into a winter color palette. I love the pinks, blues and grays together. It works so nicely and is a nice change from the typical silver and blue.
This palette was created with FolkArt Acrylic Colors (from left to right): Sterling Blue, Blue Mist, Ballet Pink, Seashell Pink, Belle Blush
December 20, 2010
Make It Monday: Christmas Joy Vase
Did you know that you can make a beautiful Christmas decoration out of an old spaghetti sauce jar? You can – and you can do it with FolkArt Enamels! They paint beautifully on glass and are very durable. Plaid designer Kirsten Jones used them to create this fun and whimsical Christmas vase. Use it to display a sprig of holly or evergreen. It really brightens up a table and adds holiday cheer. Here’s how to make this project.
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