43rd project completed! - Gift jars

With Christmas fast approaching, I am already looking for gift ideas.

Rather than discard all these glass jars I thought I would have a go at making some gift jars! They are decorated with a clue to the item inside. These are a very effective way of creating your own unique gifts.

Materials

• Old glass jars
• Computer
• Printer
• Paper
• PVA Glue
• Varnish
• Scraps of fabric
• Coloured rubber bands
• Small scissors
• Pinking shears

Instructions

1. Start by removing the labels from your jars, I soaked mine overnight in a bowl of washing up liquid and hot water. The labels easily peeled off in the morning!

2. Cut a circle of fabric the size of the top of the jar plus 2cm all round. This will make the jar cover.

3. Print off some pictures from the internet to correspond with the items you are going to fill the jar with. For example I printed off some pictures of some beautiful Victorian baths for a jar to hold small bath bombs, and some crayons for a jar to be filled with crayons for a nephew who loves drawing!

4. Cut the pictures out really carefully and glue them onto your jar. Once dried, cover each picture with a coat of clear varnish to protect them.

5. To finish fill your jar, pop the lid on and cover the lid with your circle of fabric. Secure with a rubber band.

There we go, a very simple way of making unique gifts for all the family. Why not make one for everybody this Christmas reflecting their interest?

I have actually been very busy this week with another project. My Daughter is on the Hollycombe float at the local carnival. The theme is 'Ivor the engine' and she is posing as Idris the little red Dragon! Being 14 1/2 she is not best pleased but I have been relishing the making of her outfit all week - those of you with Teenagers will understand how great it is to get your own back sometimes.

The Dragon outfit was made from some left over sweatshirt material given to me by my Stepmother after a clear out and it was stuffed with some more of the pillow stuffing from the other week.

32nd project completed - A beautiful garden light

The weather has been so warm here for the last few weeks we have been eating a few meals outside. What we don't have are any night lights to light up the garden. So I thought I would try making some. This one was based on a Tiffany style lampshade that I own, covered in dragonflies it is colourful and so on trend at the moment and is designed to hang outside.


Here it is....

A dragonfly night light


Materials needed

• An old jam jar
• tissue paper in assorted colours
• PVA glue
• Varnish
• Beading wire
• A few beads
• China-graph pencil / permanent pen 
• Black permanent marker pen

Instructions

1. Remove the label from the jam jar and clean thoroughly. 

2. Draw out your dragonflies around the base of the jar using the china-graph pencil / permanent pen

2. Paint a layer of PVA glue all over the jar and start laying down layers of torn tissue paper to make a background leaving the areas where you have marked out the dragonflies.

3. Once completely covered, allow to dry then fill in the dragonflies. Allow to dry

4. Add details such as wing markings with a black permanent marker.

5. Add a couple of coats of varnish to weather-proof your creation.

6. Twist a couple of pieces of wire together and incorporate some beads to make a hanging handle.

7. Twist a length of wire around the jar and hook the handle to it. Place a tea-light inside, light and hang up. Please take care when handling the jar whilst and after the tea-light has been lit the glass of the jar will become hot when in use.

32nd project announcement

Well, yet another very busy weekend is over. I have been playing with Dad's Clayton wagon all day up at Hollycombe which was fun. I took a lovely picture of it that I thought I would share with you all as you are probably wondering what on earth I am talking about when I refer to the engines!


Here she is.....

Anyway I should really get round to announcing this week's project. I always recycle my glass jars but I thought I would see what I could make with one of them instead so this week I will be using an old mayonnaise jar.

See you all Saturday for the result!