some things I've been doing...

15 years ago

I'm trying to slowly get my garage under control and organized, so that means a lot of glass needs to be dealt with. I made some things, and some are being donated back to Goodwill. My "good intentions" to make things and buy impulsively is just ridiculous. I need to stay out of Goodwill, that's for sure.

I finally found another piece to finish my first Lady Totem.

She needed a 'skirt', now I'm happy with her.

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I had made this last year, but had some pieces that were left over. So I just made a matching birdfeeder.

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I bought these mini bottles off eBay, there were 15 in all in the set. I finally figured out I could "pot" them and make a miniature bottle tree! Now to find a place to put it.

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Comments (20)

mzclassic
15 years ago
Well you HAVE been busy. Love the totem lady and also the mini bottle tree. I would love to find some of those bottles and make more bottle bugs. My friend love them. Thanks for sharing.

Donna in Florida
debby_md_z7
15 years ago
well karen
you have been busy
love your lady
and tree keep up the
good work.
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I've been busy making things
Q
Comments (15)
Good morning! So fun to share my projects here, you gals all make me feel so good. Let me answer a couple of questions. These blocks are just various lengths cut from an old 2x4 board. The 2x4's work well because they stand easily and you can do a different design on the back--so two sets from one like these are. You could use any size wood really. 4x4 blocks can be decorated on all sides and flipped. (Nice with photos on each side.) You can also just decorate a length of wood instead of blocks. I use DH's "chop saw" so it is fast and easy to cut them. Then I take the electric sander to them because they are usually pretty rough. A quick coat of acrylic paint and let it dry. Then just cut pieces of scrapbook paper and Mod Podge it to the face of the block. Let me just add that I "could" just decorate them by painting--but using the papers is fun, easy, and faster. I've been cutting letters with my Cricut--but you can buy sheets of letters in all sizes and colors, stencil letters on, etc. Some of the things I added were dimensional "stickers" that I bought for the summer theme. A whole sheet of them on sale at Michael's for $1.49. I also use small silk flowers or layered ones cut from cardstock, ribbons or strips of contrasting paper, leaves cut out of cardstock, buttons, rick rack, etc. That's the fun part and a great way to use up scraps of things since it only takes small pieces. The Mod Podge is great, goes on cloudy but dries clear and fast! Later I will try cutting some vinyl letters, but it is more pricey, so doing the paper letters is good while I'm learning. You can also use thin boards for signs to hang on the wall, and I've seen some "stacked" blocks and boards that are so cute too. Lots of this stuff being created on some of the blogs I've found on the Cricut message boards. And Grandma Bonnie on the Crafts forum here on GW does the vinyl designs for walls and even cars! Once I invest in some vinyl, I'll be able to adhere words and designs to plates, jars, the refrigerator, etc. Really any flat clean surface! (The vinyl can be damp wiped and easily removed--the Mod Podged paper would be difficult to remove.) It does take "time", mostly because I try this and then try that before I decide what to glue where! But it is one of the easiest crafts I've done and just so many possibilities! I've seen some words or names on the glass in a frame and would like to try that too. I've been collecting and saving ideas for things to make, Karen has sent me some good links to blogs and things that she has run across during her nighttime "surfing". (thanks Karen, love it!) OA, the painted sign can certainly be painted on both sides. I often do that if I plan to use it where only one side can be seen. Doesn't work so well if you plan to display it on an easel on the table for instance, so keep that in mind. Hope I've explained things well--if not, just ask--or email me if you'd like. I get so much inspiration and encouragement from all of you, would love to give some of that back as well. Luvs
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Here's some things I've been working on...
Q
Comments (15)
Cheri - those arrangements are beautiful and what a great idea to give them BEFORE the holidays so they can use them as part of their holiday decor. I did that one year with sets of Christmas dishes for my daughter and DIL. I always get mine out on Thanksgiving to kick off the holiday season so I figured they would like to use them ahead of time also. We have some very very talented people on this forum - keep the pictures coming...... Lynne
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Here's some of what I've been working on.
Q
Comments (16)
Thanks, all. Bluebars~ The shower curtain is just top & backing. I brought the backing around to the front so didn't even have borders/binding to deal with. The buttons serve as the 'quilting', though I did consider quilting bubbles or sea grass. Instead I just wanted it done. I did put stiff craft interfacing along the top to give substance while hanging. The holes are just button holes. My hangers don't even require me to take them down to remove so they just slipped through the button hole.
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some of the stuff I've been doing lately.
Q
Comments (15)
Here is another thing Cindy made, I had scrounged the mold for free and here is one of the molds, the 1/2 head, there is a full head too, that I hope she posts about!(It is about the same size of a real person's head...I perm markered his eyes to make him more creepy!lol!) Here is a link that might be useful:
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susiewantsroses
15 years ago
Karen,

You made a precious Little Chyrstal Princess!!! I LOVE HER. The teapot totem and matching birdbath are bright eye catchers!!!! Very Summery. The bottle tree pot is unique and also eye catching. LOVE your creations. susie
jeannespines
15 years ago
The skirt is perfect, purplemoon... and I love your birdies & birdfdr...is that for your "Alice in Wonderland" or tea garden? What did you use for bottle stems? And what did you put in the pot to hold them up like that? I like it...and think it would be cool anyplace where the sun will shine thru them! Nice work! Jeanne S.
nanagrandma
15 years ago
I love everything! Your Lady Totem is so well put together! LOL
Your colorful totem and birdfeeder are what can I say but "colorful".
Great mini bottle tree!

Sylvia
Purplemoon
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks, Everyone.
Jeanne, yes the birdfeeder totem will go in that area I call My Secret Garden (thanks to a sign made for me by Luvs saying that). Its the gnome garden, and some of you dubbed it the Alice in Wonderland garden cause of the teapot totems. That colorful teapot and matching candlesticks used with it were found at GW. Then I saw those plates at Dollar Tree and picked up two tho didn't have a plan for them at the time. Also had bought two of the green ones "just because". Then found the colorful vase at GW on a later shopping trip. The little birds came from Michaels Crafts, and the base of the totem is ceramic planter bowl I had for years.

Those bottles are mostly very small. Just about 3" high, except for top two, which are about 6". I bought thin metal rods at Home Depot that were 3 ft long, then cut them to different heights and sprayed them dark green. I glued a thick piece of styrofoam in the bottom of the bowl, added dried moss, and stuck in the bottles.

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kirkus
15 years ago
Karen, BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL! You have been busy...along with getting your gardens back in order after the painting of your house! I visited your photo site and loved seeing all of the things you've been doing in your gardens! YOU ARE SO DOG-GONE CREATIVE! MY INSPIRATION! I love your colorful creations and that bottle bush is calling my name!!! :o) So well done! Bear Hugs! Kirk
mrsdutchy
15 years ago
I love them all!! I have some glass pieces that I'd love to use to make a totem or something. Thank you for inspiring me.
huntermom
15 years ago
Karen....what can I say WOW!! I'm redoing some stuff for my garden. Made it ALOT bigger, so front looks cluttered back looks naked. Donna, American Science and Salvage, I think it's called has LOTS of little bottles, some blue ones too, gonna order some for me. They have everything we need. I think I need to join Goodwill Annonymous (sp?) just can't stay outta there. :) So many projects, so little time
Purplemoon
Original Author
15 years ago
Huntermom, if there's a Goodwill Anonymous, PLEASE SIGN ME UP too!!! I'll never get my garage under control if I don't stay out of that place!

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leveta
15 years ago
Oh I love them...Wish I could find such things around here...
concretenprimroses
15 years ago
Karen your lady is so well balanced! The skirt is perfect.
What do you guys mean! I thought this forum IS Goodwills Anonymous!
kathy
luckygal
15 years ago
Love everything you've done! Those tiny bottles are adorable.

I've found it's almost impossible to finish with totems, there's always some pieces left over and more pieces calling my name at yard sales or thrifts!
luvstocraft
15 years ago
You have been busy and really creative. I love it all! Your crystal lady looks fabulous now, and that was very clever to make a bottle bush. I've always love your colorful teapot totem, and now the matching birdbath is just perfect too. Good job, Karen, doesn't it feel great to actually get projects completed? ;o) Luvs
cait1
15 years ago
GAWJUS!!!! I'm so jealous that you can find such colorful plates. Went to several charity shops this weekend and NOTHING! I just LOVE that birdbath. And your garden lady is put together perfectly!! Love your mini bottle tree.
But I agree with the buying glass addiction. I have tons of it but never make totems. It's a lunatic addiction!! But I can't stop!!
Marlene Kindred
15 years ago
I'm just getting to see all of the posts from the weekend and Karen...you have really been busy!! LOVE, love, love your garden lady! And your miniature bottle tree is just great...I may have to "borrow" that idea since I have some small bottles myself. And the colors in your teapot totem and birdbath are wonderful!!! Too cool!!
akup_a
15 years ago
Your lady is so elegant in her best finery. Any garden would be grand to have her sitting in it. Love the colors in your bath & feeder. I really like the potted bottles. One of a kind!
Vickie
tennesseetrash
15 years ago
Really love the clear lady! She's especially pretty. ~tenderlee
luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
It is all so beautiful, Karen! Thanks for the idea for the small bottles. I got pretty cobalt blue ones from American Science & Surplus and was trying to figure out how to make a small bottle tree. I might have to borrow your idea. I love all your things!
Purplemoon
Original Author
15 years ago
The more I look at the photo of the mini bottle tree, the more I wonder if I should remove the two larger bottles.
Opinions, please? They are twice the size of the others and now I'm just not sure they should be used with them.

I've been busy making totems today. Hopefully I can take some photos tomorrow. I need a red vase to finish one tho. I never see red here for some reason. Anyway, I did a green and crystal totem. Another cobalt (with crystal) totem. One with some lighter blue glass that I found a plate, saucer, and vase all same color. I'm also making some small totems. I had put together several pieces for TOPS of totems and decided I like them just fine as they are, LOL. Mini totems. I can't remember who (my apologies) but one of you did this and put them in plants I believe?

Thanks again for all the kind comments, I sure won't hear any from family on my garden junk creations. LOL.
{{gwi:76417}}

some things I've been doing...

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