I found my new place, and knew that I was moving on September 2nd, I began packing the next day and moved 3 weeks later. Since then I've even unpacking and preparing for the week long visit from my British friend . .. I had a lot to do, and no time for art, or any creative fun. I did squeeze in a few hours to begin a new painting one day...to me, that's like a drop of water for a desperately thirsty person . And of course, Shirley and I created the Tuscan Bottles while she was here.
Shirley returned to the UK on Tuesday and I went into a full cleaning and organizing frenzy after she was gone, determined to complete all of the half finished things I'd left undone before she arrived. I went room by room, and was done yesterday with everything, including cabinets, my closet , laundry, and even outdoor areas.
That meant today I was free to create!
My mind, body and soul just feel complete and full of peace and joy when I create...it doesn't matter what kind of creating I'm doing-- but I feel happiest when I'm free to completely do my own thing with no pattern, rules, or preconceived concept . When my creativity can just flow unfettered, I feel like I could fly!
I put music on...and away I go...to my happy place...to where my soul soars, and my heart heals... and I seldom really am aware of much else until I return of the real world. It's just art, music, me and my muse there... thank God I get to go there often, it's my happy, happy place.
I hope you find yours too.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Beautiful Tuscan Bottles- Glass Bottle Upcycle
This week I've had a very close friend visiting from the UK. We have known one another for about 5 years, we met on Facebook; but we've never met in person until now. It's been great, we've talked and talked,cooked and eaten, went out for my Domestic Violence Awareness art event, laughed so much, shared many stories,tomorrow we're spending the day out shopping and going to lunch. I invited her to do a creative project with me. I thought it'd be nice for us to do a project together, then we'd each have a tangible object to look at to remember this time we shared...Something we made together.
For this you'll need :
A glass bottle, jar, or vase with a lid
white glue
acrylic paints of your choice--in light and dark colors.
paint brushes
twine or jute
plastic dishes for paint and glue
single screw drawer pulls of your choice
Pliers
Optional:
sponges
drywall filler and putty knife
beads, rhinestones, etc
Start with a clean dry bottle or jar with a lid. If you want it textured, cover the bottle with the drywall. You can use the putty knife to apply it and create textured designs as you go, or use the dampened sponge for another texture.
Let dry, for faster drying, use a hair dryer.
Once the drywall filler is dry, or if not using it--- paint your bottle with a dark colored paint---leaving random areas open. Brush paint on lightly, no need to cover thickly or cover all of the bottle or all of the drywall filler. Let dry. You can dry with hair dryer to speed this up.
Once the darker color is COMPLETELY dry, brush on a good layer of white glue. Elmer's glue is fine. Cover the whole bottle.
Wait only 2-3 mins, then begin applying the lighter paint color over the glue, quickly. Use a large brush, and wide strokes to apply as fast as possible. It is not important to cover every little spot, or to be perfect.
Let dry. Drying with the hair dryer now, will give you a more crackled look and more rustic look. If that's what you want, use the hair dryer.
When dry, measure your twine or jute by wrapping around the neck of the bottle, then cut to size. Apply glue to bottle neck with brush, then wrap twine, and brush glue over top of it to adhere.
Repeat with bottom of bottle.
Let dry.
For corks or bottle/jar tops:
Take apart drawer pulls so that you have only long screw with handle left together. Use a long wood screw and begin a hole in the cork, then screw it into the cork as far as you can. After a bit, you'll need to use some pliers to turn it the rest of the way. Unscrew it and remove it. Replace the screw in the cork with the end of your drawer pull, screw it into your cork, slowly. It will go, but you;ll need the pliers to go all the way to the end. Be sure to go straight through your cork or top.
Once in your top, thread drawer pull hardware back on and tighten. For corks, tightened pulls need no hardware,discard these pieces.
You can decorate your bottles anyway you'd like. Add additional embellishments....beads, coins, ribbon, stamp art, fabric, etc but now you know that your jars and bottles can be beautiful art!
Have fun and I'll see you again, real soon!
For this you'll need :
A glass bottle, jar, or vase with a lid
white glue
acrylic paints of your choice--in light and dark colors.
paint brushes
twine or jute
plastic dishes for paint and glue
single screw drawer pulls of your choice
Pliers
Optional:
sponges
drywall filler and putty knife
beads, rhinestones, etc
Start with a clean dry bottle or jar with a lid. If you want it textured, cover the bottle with the drywall. You can use the putty knife to apply it and create textured designs as you go, or use the dampened sponge for another texture.
Let dry, for faster drying, use a hair dryer.
Once the drywall filler is dry, or if not using it--- paint your bottle with a dark colored paint---leaving random areas open. Brush paint on lightly, no need to cover thickly or cover all of the bottle or all of the drywall filler. Let dry. You can dry with hair dryer to speed this up.
Once the darker color is COMPLETELY dry, brush on a good layer of white glue. Elmer's glue is fine. Cover the whole bottle.
Wait only 2-3 mins, then begin applying the lighter paint color over the glue, quickly. Use a large brush, and wide strokes to apply as fast as possible. It is not important to cover every little spot, or to be perfect.
Let dry. Drying with the hair dryer now, will give you a more crackled look and more rustic look. If that's what you want, use the hair dryer.
When dry, measure your twine or jute by wrapping around the neck of the bottle, then cut to size. Apply glue to bottle neck with brush, then wrap twine, and brush glue over top of it to adhere.
Repeat with bottom of bottle.
Let dry.
For corks or bottle/jar tops:
Take apart drawer pulls so that you have only long screw with handle left together. Use a long wood screw and begin a hole in the cork, then screw it into the cork as far as you can. After a bit, you'll need to use some pliers to turn it the rest of the way. Unscrew it and remove it. Replace the screw in the cork with the end of your drawer pull, screw it into your cork, slowly. It will go, but you;ll need the pliers to go all the way to the end. Be sure to go straight through your cork or top.
Once in your top, thread drawer pull hardware back on and tighten. For corks, tightened pulls need no hardware,discard these pieces.
You can decorate your bottles anyway you'd like. Add additional embellishments....beads, coins, ribbon, stamp art, fabric, etc but now you know that your jars and bottles can be beautiful art!
Have fun and I'll see you again, real soon!
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