Crafty Days & Crafty Nights: Coasters

Rolling

Twisting

Please note, I wrote these a while ago and they've been sitting in my draft file.  I'm so sorry that it has taken a move and the holidays for me to finally get to them.  Please read on!

So I've been in need of something to do during the evening to keep my mind busy.

I figure it's better to keep my hands busy, because then I won't be tempted to eat empty calories.  Snacking when you're bored is a REALLY bad thing.

So I wanted something fun that's kind of just for me.

So I perused the internet.  That in itself can take a LOT of time.  I've got lots of things pinned on Pinterest.  It's high time I started trying some of these out.

Roll into ball

So here we go.

I can't remember which site I actually got this from, so I apologize for not giving credit where credit is due.  I shall endeavor to do better in the future.

Roll flat

My first project is coasters.  Who couldn't use some coasters right?  I'm forever breaking the ones I've bought from the store.  My animals may or may not also help with the breaking of coasters too close to edges.  And that can get pretty costly after a while.

So let's get cracking!  No pun intended.

What you need.

Sculpey Clay (you can find this at Walmart)
Parchment Paper
Metallic Paint Pen (I like gold)
Round Cookie Cutter (make sure it's bigger than you cup bottoms)
Sculpey Gloss Glaze
Rolling Pin

Cut with cookie cutter

First you cut your clay into 1/2 inch pieces.  You'll need six pieces for one coaster.  I like to use 2 - 3 different colors for a really cool marbling effect.  In the photos I've used blue and yellow.  Navy theme going here.

You then roll each piece until they are 8 - 9 inches long.  Twist the strands together and then roll them into a ball to mix.  To get a color block look, twist once.  To get a more intricate marbled look, which is what I did, continue to twist multiple times.

Ready to bake

Roll until 1/4 inch thick.  You don't want it any thinner, believe me.  If you don't like the look of the colors, roll into a ball again to blend.  Roll again if you need to and then cut with cookie cutter.  If they are too thin, then the edges will be wavy.  Not at all conducive to being a coaster if it won't lay flat.

Be sure that your cookie cutter is wide enough for your glasses to sit on.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.  I didn't have parchment paper at the time, so I used my cookie sheet liner.

Bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  I went for the longer time because I wanted them thoroughly baked.

Let cool.

Paint the metallic color around the edges.

Coat with gloss glaze.

Let dry.

Then. . . Use.  Use.  Use!

I hope you have as much fun making them as I did.  Quick, easy & fun.

*Note: I might use a bit more clay for each coaster so I can make them thicker.  I like my coasters thick.  This would also mean that I need to bake them longer.  Live and learn.

Crafty Days & Crafty Nights: Mosaic Mermaids

Starry Nights

One of the groups that I was involved with is the Tidewater Officers’ Spouses’ Association (TOSA). TOSA has two charity boutiques in the Hampton Roads area: The Tidewater Collection on Naval Station Norfolk, and the newly opened Tidewater Collection Too at Naval Hospital Portsmouth. Once on base, anyone can shop at the boutiques where the unique line of handmade mosaic mermaids are sold. 

Nearly Finished

The mermaids come in several different sizes with each one is hand-crafted and donated to the boutiques by members of TOSA’s Mosaic Mermaid Club. The boutiques are run by TOSA volunteers, and all profits generated from the boutiques’ sales are donated to charities that support military families. Because the volunteers donate their time and materials are donated and purchased through a generous donation from USAA, TOSA is able to donate 100% of the proceeds from the mosaic mermaids to military charities. 

Needed Materials

I'm sure you're thinking to yourself how is this relevant to the blog title.  Read on!

Design In Progress

Each month, Mosaic Mermaid Club members meet at the Armed Services YMCA on Independence Blvd., and spend four hours creating mermaids to donate to the Tidewater Collection charity boutiques. Armed with brown-bag lunches and creative ideas, the volunteers select a wooden mermaid form (a licensed replica of the Norfolk mermaid) and begin picking out the glass they will use. There is a table full of tools to score, cut, break, and shape the glass into the perfect pieces. Some mermaids have incredibly intricate designs, reminiscent of the painting technique, pointillism. Others are more like a watercolor, awash with brightly colored glass in a fluid design. The group has just started making multimedia small ornament-size mermaids to complement the growing collection of 15- and 24-inch wooden mermaids. Once the mermaids are complete, they are displayed for sale in the boutiques, and all the proceeds benefit military families.

Ready For Grout

Once the tiles have set, the mermaids are grouted (my least favorite part) and taken to the boutique for sales.

So this is one of my favorite crafts.  It involves being 'artistic', socializing and just being out and about.  

What's not to love?

I really miss this group of creative and wonderful ladies!

Crafty Days & Crafty Nights: Color Me Mine

So this is a combination of my crafty stuff and my '757 Bucket List'.

I've been wanting to go to Color Me Mine for quite some time.

I just needed an actual project to take me there.  I am not one who can meander and find inspiration.  Well, actually I am but I am on a bit of a time crunch so I didn't feel I could do this now.

So the hubby and I had been bouncing around an idea for about a year.

We are big fans of the comic strip Peanuts.  So we were so tickled when The Peanuts Movie came out.

Linus and Sally are our favorites and we thought it would be so neat to have a 'Linus mug'.

I've seen Charlie Brown ones.  Where the shirt and a sliver of the pants are painted on a mug.  Cute right?

Only problem?  We couldn't find a Linus mug anywhere.

Hmmm...

So here is the perfect opportunity to blend two things into one.

I went to Color Me Mine in downtown Norfolk this Monday to work on this project.

Bonus?

Mondays they waive studio fees for military.  Yay!

So I painted and in a few days they will remove it from the kiln and I will have a 24 oz. coffee mug for my darling hubby.

This mug is huge!

Not perfect, but just what I was hoping for.  More along the lines of a Charles Schultz drawing.  My inner perfectionist was NOT happy with this, but I think it's cute.  And that's all that matters.