My first annie sloan chalk paint project... Is it suppose to look like this?

So if you are like me and addicted to Pinterest you can't miss all the annie sloan chalk paint rage. I could not wait to try it. From the dozens maybe hundreds of things I read it seemed full proof and exactly the kind of shabby chic look I was going for. I was so excited when I found out a store in the next town to me was selling the stuff. I was preparing myself for the price of the stuff because I had read it was rather pricey but from all claims it last forever and if it was the miracle paint everyone was talking about it was sure to be worth it. I have to tell you though I almost had a heart attack when my bill was $148! (I bought 1 quart of pure white, 1 can of dark wax, 1 can of clear wax, 1 french linen tester, and two wax brushes because the lady told me you would need one for the dark and one for the clear). I am a pretty cheap thrifty person and for what little amount of product I got I was pretty shocked at the cost. I will tell you it was more than I paid for the table! Well the purchase was done now on to the application. I think I got so excited to use the paint I plain forgot to take a before picture but the piece was a very dark brown stain. So I put two to three coats and did some light sanding and applied the clear wax. I opted not to use the dark wax on this piece. So I don't know how I feel about the piece. I am not crazy about it. Is it suppose to look like this? I would love some feedback. Am I a painting drop out if I messed up this full proof paint? What I think I do not like about the finish is that its kinda blotchy if that makes sense. I tried to point out one particular area. but its like that all over. Here is what I am talking about

Please tell me what you think! 

Shabby Nest Print on Drop cloth

I am so excited about this project. When I put stuff on my walls I want them to mean something to me. What could be more special to me than my 3 little eggs! I used my printing of fabric technique to make this. I framed it using a thrift store frame I spruced up with white paint. If you would like to have your own copy of this with your kids or grand kids names I made a auction for it. I am only charging $5 to customize it for you with your names. Here is the Auction

Printing on Fabric using glue stick & printer paper

I discussed printing on fabric in another post using heatbond cut to size and your fabric. Now I want to tell you about a cheaper faster short cut. I got this bucket at the thrift shop but it has 2000 plaque on it.

                                                             I pulled off the 2000

 I knew I wanted to print a E for our last name initial  for the bucket. I hated to waste a sheet size of heatbond and even a sheet size of fabric just for such a small thing. This is what I did. First I cut a piece of my drop cloth material. I did not measure and I did not even cut a full printer size sheet. Just random like me ;-)

Then I took a regular piece of printer paper. I even used one I had wrote on to recycle it. The I took a regular glue stick and I put glue just around the border of the fabric and glued it to my paper.

Then I found a E I liked using a google search. I just put it Letter E and went to images and found the letter. I then put that in a regular word document. I center it from top to bottom on my paper to make sure it printed in the center of my paper. Then I put it in my printer tray. Put the fabric side down. (Sorry for the bad photo)

Fabric face down in printer tray
Then I just hit print and DA DA! Magic

Upside down photo! Ha!
Then I took my 2000 plaque and traced around my fabric E and cut and glued it to my bucket.  This is where I wish I would have spent a little more time because I could have cut it a little bigger. I get so excited when I do crafts sometime I rush steps. Don't Do this! 

I used mod podge on the back of the fabric to glue in place but you cold probably use a glue gun or even maybe your glue stick. I wanted to make sure it would stick and I know mod podge will do the job!

So as you can see you can literally use stuff you have around the house to print onto fabric. You do not need any fancy tools just a piece of printer paper, a printer, fabric scrap and a glue stick!

New Wine cork cross Creation

After I published the first wine cork crosses my mom did the response was overwhelming!

We have been getting so much feedback and interested we have decided to make up a few and see how they will go over on the market. This one came out sound cute. It is definitely my shabby chic style so if we don't sell it I will keep it for myself! Check it out and tell us what you think. We are still working on a tutorial but the process is kinda long for this craft that we have decide it might be better to do a video tutorial. 

Here is the link to the listing:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122074349/handmade-rhinestone-wine-cork-cross

Wine Cork Cross

Today I want to feature a craft done by my mother. I don't have step by step directions from her yet but I will add those later. I know she uses wine corks, wire and beads and then embellishments  I think they are really unique. What do you think?

threebsinsanity: Grandma (Honey) Washer Stamped Necklace

threebsinsanity: Grandma (Honey) Washer Stamped Necklace: Still working on getting this blog thing figured out. There is so much to learn. Today I want to showcase one of my new crafting passion...

Grandma (Honey) Washer Stamped Necklace

Still working on getting this blog thing figured out. There is so much to learn. Today I want to showcase one of my new crafting passions Stamping Washers! This is so fun. I read about stamping washers on Pinterest but I was a little skeptical. I mean it seemed too easy. I went to Harbor Freight and bought my little stamp set. I used a 20% off coupon so it ended up being $7 and a few cents. Then I was off to buy my washers. I went to Lowes. So this is what I discovered there are many different sizes and some have different size holes. They sell them individually or they sell them in packages that have 6 or 8 for $1.18 or so and they sell boxes of 100 of them. I went with the bag for $1.18. So this is some things I learned in this process that are keys to your success:


1. This is the most IMPORTANT tip also this was the hardest for me stamping is not something you can get perfect. There is no way or at least I could not see how that you could apply the exact same amount of pressure to every letter stamping and it is almost impossible to get the letters exactly lined up and spaced evenly etc. I like things perfect so it this was very hard for me. I went through a lot of washers because I would feel like one letter was more heavily stamped than the other or one letter was slightly to high compared to the next etc. I finally just stop worry so much with this and realized each piece was a one of  kind piece of art and there would never be another one exactly like it and I just let it be.

2. You must stamp on concrete. Supposedly there are blocks made for this but I did not buy one. What I did try is stamping on top of a brick. This scratched the back of my washer badly. Then I tried various other things but what worked very best is placing the washer directly on hard but smooth concrete. I used the floor in my garage.

That is basically it. I used a regular hammer my $7 stamp set and regular zinc washer. This necklace featured is one I did for my mom. She has 3 children and 6 grandsons. I stamped the first washer with the name they call her which is "Honey" then next washer I stamped with my first and middle initial and then each one of my 3 sons first and middle initial  Then I stamped on the next washer my sisters initial and her son. The last washer I stamped with my brothers initial and then his two sons initials  The heart on the necklace is a something another family member made her and she included. on the necklace. She told me this was her favorite Xmas present of the year. Not bad for a cost of maybe $2 worth of supplies.

What do you think?

P.S. I just made this December 2012 my mom took the pictures and I don't think she knows how to change the date on her camera! HA!