December Art and Soul!

If you need to knock out some inexpensive and QUICK Christmas projects... December Art and Soul is where you want to be!

We'll be offering an encore of the CREATE Christmas projects.  These are all super fast and you can get several done in a short time.  Join us December 6th from 7:30 pm until 10:00 pm at Heather's house.

This isn't a good date for many of you--but then again, it's December?  So, you can also feel free to come by and grab supplies sometime so you can complete these projects at home.

While supplies last, we'll have:

Chalkboard mugs... 2 for $5

Chalkboard placemats...2 for $5

Chalkboard signs...2 for $5

Dry Erase signs (8.5" x 11")... 2 for $5

Stamped Tile Coasters...set of 4 for $5  

Um, yes.  In a bit of a chalkboard phase here.  Crafty friends--you will not beat these prices for some awesome teachers gifts or neighbor gifts or friend gifts or whatever!  And, they are super cute, too.  

Hope to see you on December 6th!  Or let me know if you want to swing by and grab supplies for your own craft day at your convenience.     

OCTOBER ART AND SOUL

Hey there crafty friends!  

We wanted to be sure and give you the information about the October crafting opportunity.  We will not be having Art and Soul in the traditional sense, as Jessica is teaching a craft at the Holiday How To event at Compass Church in Colleyville.  

Go here for more details.

Again, this event is October 18th.

6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

At Compass Church

"Join us and receive creative holiday ideas. Choose to attend three workshops from several choices plus enjoy a light dinner, all for $5.

Class sizes are limited.

Register during weekend services on October 6/7, 13/14 or by contacting karonarita@mycompasschurch.com."

Whether or not you've ever been to Art and Soul, hope you can join this great crafting and Girls Night Out opportunity!   

  

September Art and Soul: Recylcled Bottle Night Ligh

Hello there Art and Soul Crafters!  Y'all did a great job on these recycled bottle night lights at our September Art and Soul.  

We're posting the instructions for any of you who couldn't make or want to make another one.

Supplies:
--bottle (wine bottle, olive oil bottle, bottle purchased at Hobby Lobby--clear or green are fine)

--E6000 glue (Hobby Lobby or Walmart)

--flat bottom glass floral marbles/beads (Dollar Tree or craft store)--color of your choosing!

--OPTIONAL:  the cork to the bottle (or buy corks at craft store)
 
--strand of mini Christmas lights

Instructions
1. Take the label off the bottle if you want.  It's suggested if the label is large or dark in color.

2.  Work outside if possible or a well ventilated area.  The glue is potent in smell!
 
3.  Because both the glass and the marbles are slick, here is the suggested method for adhering the marbles to the bottle.  Put a bead of E6000 on the bottom of the marble and sit it to the side to dry a little bit.  Do several at a time, perhaps placing on a paper plate as you work.  Then, put beads of E6000 on the bottle.  Once the E6000 is a little tacky on both surfaces, place your marbles on the bottle.  You will likely have to hold each marble in place for a few seconds to help it set before you move to the next one.

3.  The marbles may want to slide right off the bottle--so be patient!  Allowing the glue get a bit tacky helps this--as does having the glue on both the marble and the bottle.  Another optional tip is to use masking tape to hold the marbles in place once you have a row of them down.  You can take the masking tape off the next day.  

4.  Work in small sections of a time.  Seems to help to let the bottle rest on its side rather than upright as you work.  You may wish to make a pattern with your marble colors--but randomly placing them is just as pretty and of course, faster.  

5.  Once you have covered the bottle in the marbles, set it aside to dry overnight.  Again, wrap masking tape all around the bottle to help the marbles set IF you want!  

6.  Optional:  take the cork and glue a marble to the top.  Your bottle does not have to have this finishing touch, though.

7.  Take a small strand of white lights and shove them down into the bottle.  Leave enough cord hanging out the back of the bottle to plug in wherever you intend to use your night light.

All of these projects were so gorgeous in the light they gave off--a real stained glass sort of effect.  This can be a tedious project to complete, but SO worth it.  One of our crafters decided to leave the blank space at the top of her bottle to switch out a seasonal bow.  Make it your own!  And happy crafting!        
   

January Art and Soul--Coupon Binders

You asked for it--so we're doing it!  Coupon binders!

Come join us January 19th at 7:30 pm at Heather's house as we put together coupon binders.  We'll provide supplies for you to create a cover--free of charge.  And, we'll be sharing some couponing tips! 

Here's what you need to bring (besides a snack or drink to share):

1. Binder of your choice

(1" or 1.5" work great--with clear plastic cover for inserts)

2.  Tabs/Dividers of your choice

(I like the plastic pocket dividers)

3.  Plastic sleeves for 4" x 6" photos

You should be able to score these items at Staples, or another office supply place.  IF you don't have these supplies--come anyway and get some money saving tips to start the new year. 

November Art and Soul--Table Top Christmas Trees

Tis the Season 

(not exactly, but we don't meet in December....)

Check out these LIT table top Christmas trees!  They are about 18" - 20" in height.  I made the green one for our entry way...my son made the blue one for his room.  Yes, a project so simple even a fourth grader could make it.  


Join us November 10th at 7:30 pm at Jessica's.  Cost is $15 per tree.  


IF you have any wire coat hangers or hot glue gun--bring 'em!  Each tree requires 6 hangers that are the same.  We'll have hangers & hot glue guns available, too.  IF you are particular on a color scheme, bring your own thick garland (2-3 strands) and ornaments. 


Grab a friend and a snack or drink--and come get in the holiday spirit. 

OCTOBER Art and Soul

Coming SOON...October Art and Soul

Join us on October 6th at 7:30 at Heather's house to make these ADORABLE paper pumpkins!  Great for decorations and centerpieces all the way through Thanksgiving.  They will be $2 each.  Oh, yes!  Cute AND budget friendly.

If you have the following supplies, they would be quite helpful to bring along:

Scissors 
Circle cutting tool (such as Creative Memories version) 
Glue Gun

If you don't have those supplies--no worries!  We will share.  Lauren Sparks will again have her t-shirts, bookmarks and bracelets for sale to benefit Dravet Syndrome research.  

And, don't forget a snack or drink and a friend!  Comment or reply to our Facebook group if you plan to come and how many you plan to make!  

September Art and Soul Project

September Art and Soul Project

This one was a huge hit--and you girls did some amazing projects.  As always, we LOVE seeing how you take the project and put your own twists on it.  Again--if you missed it, this will be one of the projects at the CREATE Christmas event at Church at the Cross in Grapevine on November 5th, from 9 am - 1 pm.

SUPPLIES:
6" x 24" x 1/2" MDF or wood--from Lowes (they have pre-cut wood available or can cut MDF for you)
         
4 1/2" square wood pieces--you will need 4 for each project--from Hobby Lobby  OR order 4" squares from Woodworks Ltd website

Miniature clothes pins (Hobby Lobby) 

Scrapbook paper--12" cut in half and trimmed to fit

Acrylic paint 

Mod Podge

Ribbon (about 12-14" long)

Hot glue and gun

Gorilla Glue or Wood glue (Lowes or Hob Lob)


INSTRUCTIONS:
1.  Paint the edges of the long board.  You MAY want to paint on the top too so that you can cut your scrapbook paper to go on top without having to fit all the way to the edges.

2. Paint the 4 square wood pieces--OR you could decoupage them with the scrapbook paper and Mod Podge.

3.  Paint the clothes pins.  One of our handy crafters clipped hers on the edge of a plastic cup to paint.  PERFECT!

4.  Using the mod podge--decoupage your scrapbook paper on top of the long board.  your paper is 12" and the wood board is 24"--so you will put 2 pieces on top, therefore having a seam in the middle.  You can trim the edges to fit and/or use sandpaper to help you get the edgest trimmed perfectly.

5.  Using the gorilla glue, adhere the square wood pieces to the long board.  Now, some girls only did 3 wood squares, or put their squares down as diamonds or even staggered them a little crooked, alternating directions.  ENDLESS possibilities!

6.  Using hot glue, adhere a clothes pin to the middle of each square--at the top of the square.

7.  Also using hot glue, adhere the ribbon at the top of the long board for hanging.  Be sure and glue all the way to the edge of the board to help it hang straight.  I did my ribbon, and then went back and tied a bow halfway in the ribbon.

8.  You can trim your photos to fit within the square--or not!  You could also use this board for recipes or Scripture cards.  AND, if you wanted to--you could do a second board, and attach it to the bottom of the first one using ribbon!


ENJOY!!!

Fall Dates: Mark Your Calendars!

Hello Art and Soul girls!  We are proud to announce our fall 2011 dates for Art and Soul.

September 15 at 7:30 @ Jessica's

October 6 at 7:30 @ Heather's

November 10 at 7:30 @ Jessica's

Keep looking at our Facebook group page and/or this blog for details on the projects and costs.

Aside from Art and Soul nights, we have two other crafting opportunities for y'all this fall.

October 20th Holiday How-To with Jessica

@ Compass Church

November 5th CREATE Christmas with Heather

@ Church at the Cross 

(multiple projects available)

So, get your craft on, ladies, and we will see you all soon!

May Art and Soul

Earrings, Earrings, Earrings!

It's an Art and Soul FIRST! We are going to make earrings--either hoop or dangle as shown above. They will be $3.00 per pair. These make great graduation gifts, or wedding gifts, or gifts for yourself.

Join us Thursday, May 12th at 7:30 at Jessica's house. Bring a drink or snack to share. Feel free to bring your own beads if you have a particular preference--and bring your own needle nose pliers if you have them!

Comment here or reply to the Facebook group invite to let us know you're coming and how many pairs you plan to make.

April Art and Soul

Decoupaged Wall Crosses

SUPPLIES
--16" x 24" crosses (etsy.com--Mr. Woody's shop)
--scrapbook paper
--Mod Podge
--small wooden crosses (Hobby Lobby--in VBS crafts)
--acrylic paint and paintbrush
--scissors
--hot glue gun

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Paint the edges of the cross with the acrylic paint. (You might want to paint the edges of the TOP of the cross, too--if you want to leave a border of paint on the top rather than mod podge the paper all the way to the edge).

2. If you want to place a smaller cross in the middle, then paint it with the acrylic paint as well.

3. Tear the scrapbook paper of your choosing into pieces. Paint a thin layer of mod podge on the cross, and begin placing your scrapbook pieces down. Paint another layer of mod podge on top. Use your fingers or the edges of a gift card to smooth out wrinkles.

4. Once the cross is covered in scrapbook paper, you can hot glue the small cross in the middle.

March Art and Soul

Well, due to to technical difficulties, I cannot seem to get March's project up on the blog right now. But, it was a darling little jewelry holder! Due to Spring Break and Open House, we moved March's Art and Soul to March 3rd. It seems Facebook is adding to our technical difficulty--so if you did not get the invitation, we apologize!

February Art and Soul

FEBRUARY Art and Soul

Pendant Tray Necklaces

Supplies:
1" pendant trays (round, square, diamond shaped)--Etsy.com
Scrapbook paper
Mod Podge
scissors
paintbrush
Various silver charms--Etsy.com
E6000 glue--Hobby Lobby
EnviroTex Lite resin--Hobby Lobby
Ball chains and black cord necklaces--Etsy.com

Instructions:
1. Cut your scrapbook paper to fit into the pendant tray. Then, adhere it with a thin layer of mod podge you brush in the bottom of the tray.
2. Choose a silver charm that you'd like to layer over the scrapbook paper. Glue it into place with E6000.
3. Mix up the EnrivoTex Lite--it's a one to one ratio from each of the 2 bottles. I mix in a clear plastic cups, stirring with a plastic knife for about 2 minutes.
4. Using a medicine syringe, gently pour the resin into the pendant tray over the paper and charm. Let it cure for about 24 hours, and slip it onto your ball chain or necklace.

January 2011 Art and Soul--We're BACK!

Block Photo Frames--January's Project

Here's what we tackled, thanks to Shanty2Chic

Supplies
2 x 8 x 8 pieces of wood, cut into 12" lengths
(Lowe's--they will cut for you at $0.25 per cut)
Finials (screw-in type at Lowe's or Hobby Lobby for glue-ons)
Mini clothes pins (Hobby Lobby)
80 grit sandpaper (Lowe's)
Muslin and/or burlap fabric cut into about 1" strips (JoAnns)
Felt (also JoAnns or Hobby Lobby)
Hot glue gun
Acrylic paint of choice (Hobby Lobby)
Paintbrush
Distress stamping pad (Hobby Lobby, JoAnns, Michaels)
Scissors
MAY need a drill

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Screw in your finial in the middle of the top of the block. If you have trouble, you may need to use your drill. If you have the glue-on variety finial from a craft store, hot glue it on.
2. IF the ends of your wood block feel rough, you may want to sand them a bit. ALSO, if your wood block has staples in it, you may wish to remove them with pliers.
3. Paint the block, finial, and clothes pin (or clothes pins if you choose to do more than one per block) the color of your choice with the acrylic paint. TIP: 2-3 thin coats should work great!
4. While your paint is drying, cut a circle from the felt that will be the base for your fabric flowers. Somewhere about 2-3" in diameter.
5. Grab your strip of muslin and/or burlap, and tie a knot in the end. Hot glue that in the middle of your felt circle. To create your fabric rose, twist the fabric as you wrap it around the knot, and hot glue it down as you wrap--every little bit as needed. CAUTION--your fingers might burn a bit from the glue! Low temp hot glue guns can help a little with this.
6. Once your paint is dry on your wood pieces, distress the edges by rubbing your sandpaper on the edges of the block and the finial.
7. To add more of a distressed look, take the stamp pad and rub the ink on the edges. And, as much or as little as you want, brush it in streaks along the main surface. You may want to have a rag to rub it in/off a little as you go.
8. Hot glue your clothes pin(s) onto your wood block where you want them, as well as your fabric flowers. You can distress ink your clothes pin a bit--especially if you used a lot of the stamping pad on the wood block.

Additional ideas: (1) buy some roof flashing at Lowes. With tin snippers, cut it to the desired size. E600o it on the front of your wood block, and use decorative nails in each corner. VOILA! A magnetic AND dry erase surface. (2) Cut some scrapbook paper and mod podge it on the front of your block. Use a clothes pin or a bulldog clip for your photos. You can use ribbon on the top of the block instead of the finial. (3) Using your cricut, cut out your last name or some other phrase and mod podge it onto the front of the block. Or do it in vinyl on your cricut. (4) Use scrapbook embellishments, rub-ons, etc. to decorate your block instead of fabric flowers.

November Art and Soul

Christmas Advent Countdown

November 4, 2010
7:30 to 10:30 pm
at Jessica's House
$15 for project (all supplies included)

Come join us to create these Christmas Advent Countdowns. They are made on 16" x 20" canvases. Each day will include a slip of paper with a Christmas activity for each day of December. Bring a friend--and a snack or drink. Comment here, or reply on the Facebook group if you plan to attend.

NOTE: This is a craft where the hostesses will be preparing part of the craft ahead of time. An accurate headcount will help ensure enough--but not too many--supplies are prepared. THANKS!

OCTOBER Art and Soul

BEADED SERVING PIECES

Instructions

SUPPLIES
Serving pieces (Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, Target, World Market)
Heavy gauge jewelry wire--it's on a spool (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's)
Jewelry needle nose pliers
Jewelry wire cutters
Beads (Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's)
Optional: charms

DIRECTIONS
1. Cut about 7 lengths of the handle of the serving piece from the jewelry wire with the wire cutters.
2. With your pliers, create a swirl with the bottom of the wire--twist it to create a "curly q." (See the photos above if you need help envisioning this).
3. Place this swirl at the handle near the serving part, and twist the wire 3-4 times around the handle.
4. Time to begin beading! Add a bead, then twist the wire one full time around before repeating with the next bead. (the handle will be bead, wire, bead, wire). If you chose smaller beads, you will need several in a row to go across the width of the handle.
5. At the end of the handle, you may wish to add a charm for an extra touch.
6. If you have too much wire left, cut it down a bit. Create another swirl, and wrap the wire at least 3-4 times around to finish with the swirl at the other end of the handle.

September Art and Soul--Wall Paper Wall Art

WALL PAPER WALL ART DIRECTIONS

Supplies:
16" x 20" canvas (any size works)--Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's
Textured paintable wall paper--Lowe's (we used ceiling tile pattern)
Staple gun
Acrylic paint--I like Anita's brand at Hobby Lobby
Optional: second acrylic paint color for "glaze" (black, dark brown, metallic)
Big paint brush
rags
water in a cup
Cross or letter embellishment--Hobby Lobby (we love 50% off)
E6000 OR gorilla glue

Directions:
1. Unroll your wall paper and cut to size to cover your canvas, plus some overlap for the back to staple. Using your staple gun on the back of the canvas, TIGHTLY staple the wallpaper to the canvas. Order doesn't matter--but doing top and bottom, then the sides--or the sides then top and bottom helps. Handle the corners by wrapping like a package--hospital corners.
2. Paint the canvas in the color of your choice. Use a big brush! You can cover completely (working hard to get in the crevices) or cover lightly, using multiple colors. Your choice! Keep a cup of water near by to help you wet your brush slightly--makes the crevices easier to cover. Don't forget the sides of the canvas.
3. If necessary, do a second coat. (especially important if using red or another similar color)
4. Once that is dry completely, you can do a "glaze" by using a second color. Water your brush a LOT, and paint the second color on all over. Using your rags, rag off the top color to your taste.
5. When that coat is dry, adhere your cross or letter with E6000 or gorilla glue. If you have a heavy cross, you may need to purchase an epoxy to adhere.

Note: if you purchase a wood letter, you can paint it or mod podge it with tissue paper or scrapbook paper before you adhere it. Another alternative is lightweight metal words such as "faith" that can be found at Hobby Lobby.

MAY Art & Soul- Altered Clipboards

ALTERED CLIP BOARDS
Brown clip boards with metal clip (Staples, Wal-Mart, Target, Office Depot)
Scrapbook paper of your choice
Ribbon
Mod Podge
Scissor
Any other stickers or embellishments of your choice

1. Cut your paper to size, according to the look you want to create. Mod podge the paper on the front, and if desired, the back of the clip board. You may want to cut squares, as above right, or strips, as above left. You may want to cover the entire surface with one paper--or tear the paper up and create a collage look. (TIP: you can also use photos! Use the actual photo, a color copy, or an image from a laser printer only).

2. At the top of the board, near the clip, cut your paper and mod podge up to the bottom. Also cut your paper to fit along each side of the clip--and if there's space, at the top. You can wrap your paper around the edges--or not!

3. Add any ribbon, stickers, or detailing to your clip board.

4. For the clip, cut ribbon into lengths, and loop it to go around the clip (create a loop, put ribbon around clip, then loop the two loose ends through your loop). Keep going to create the great look above.

5. For boys, you can skip the ribbon over the clip, of course!

APRIL Art and Soul

MAGNETIC BOARDS
12" x 18" (or 12" x 24") sheet metal, pre-cut at Lowe's (I prefer the thinner metal, about $5)
Fabric of your choice
Glue gun
Ribbon
any embellishments you want to add

1. Cut the fabric to wrap around the metal sheet. With your glue gun, secure the fabric on the back of the metal, wrapping the metal like a package.

2. Cut your ribbon to allow enough length to hang your board. Secure with the glue gun on the back of the metal. Be sure and glue all the way to the top edge on the back.

3. Cut another piece of ribbon for the front of the magnetic board. Tie a knot in the middle, and cut each end to look pretty--with a "V" sorta look on the end. Using hot glue on the knot and each end, secure to the front of the magnetic board at the top.

4. OPTIONAL: you can add a button over the knot, ribbon or ric rac along the bottom--or an iron-on letter--any other idea to make it pretty!

5. You can buy magnets OR use glass beads with scrapbook paper mod podged behind the glass and a magnet hot glued to the back. You can also mod podge scrapbook paper on the front of a clothes pin and hot glue a magnet on the back to create a magnet.