Sunday, November 15, 2009

Dare to DIY...Be Thankful

Dare to DIY

I'm so excited because it's Week 1 of Kim at NewlyWoodwards Dare to DIY Blog Party! The challenge for this first week was to make a Thanksgiving-themed craft. Anything related to Thanksgiving. Anything at all. Hmmm.

In thinking of what I might do, I first decided that I wouldn't spend a penny on this challenge. Bad economy, gotta be responsible, blah, blah, blah. Luckily, since I like to craft now and then, I have a lot of craft supplies on hand. So I pulled out some of my stuff to see what I could put together.


I had seen some pretty Fall-ish votive holders somewhere (possibly ZGallerie) that were $6 each. They sort of resembled mercury glass, but painted an orangey-gold. I had clear votives and little tubes of craft paint, so I made some for free!

I painted the outside of the votives orange first, then went over them with a bronze paint. I used only a little paint so that you would see the texture when the candles were lit, like the ones in the store. Then I sprinkled a little bronze glitter on them while they were wet, because when is something not made better with glitter? This is them alone:



Then I decided to glam one up a bit with a jewelry bead and some glittery string I had:



Then I found some of these mini vine wreaths I had stashed in a drawer:


So I clipped some bits off of different garlands I had and stuck them in. I didn't even use any glue because I didn't want it to be permanent:



Cute, but the more I looked at it, the uglier that little pumpkin became. So I sought the help of my old friend, glitter.


Ah, much better.

Then I found some pinecones in one of my craft drawers and I had a stroke of genius. I would make a pinecone look like a turkey, and use it as a place card for the table! Had no one else ever thought of this? Why haven't I ever seen it before? Man, I'm clever and original, I thought.

Until I googled "pinecone turkey" and saw page after page of them. So with ego fully checked, I give you my version of this not-so-original craft:




Pretty self-explanatory. Pinecone, feathers, bead eyes, and felt.

Week 1 was fun, and now I'm off to see what everyone else has done, and start planning for next week's challenge!

16 comments:

  1. I L-O-V-E your votives! So sparkly and pretty- they look so luxe. The pine cone turkeys are super cute too- and they aren't anything I've seen before, so in my book, you are clever and original.

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  2. Cute votives! And the turkey! Adorable! (And I would have totally believed you if you said it had never been done before... I haven't seen anything like it!)

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  3. I love it all! The votives totally look like something you would spend some big moolah on. And, I'm totally laughing my ass off at you thinking you were clever with the pinecone turkeys. Hilarity! Do you know how many times I've done that? I've posted something thinking I was a genius.... haha. Love it all. Thanks for joining. =)

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  4. Those votives are great! Great color and texture...plus anything with a miniature wreath is bound to be terrific.

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  5. I love that you bought nothing and were able to make multiple things. I the paint on the votives looks awesome and does resemble something you would spend tons of money on.

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  6. You are so right--the glitter definitely makes the pumpkin! Really beautiful votives and adorable turkeys. I totally would have thought the turkeys were an original--I've never seen them!

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  7. ooohhh Martha glitter, it makes everything better! Seriously, these votives are gorgeous. Take off the wreath and I'd leave em out all year long!

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  8. I love it all! The turkeys are great, no matter whose idea it was first!

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  9. WHOA! You totally win a cookie from me. Those votives are gorgeus!

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  10. Hehe, yes, we are not often as clever as we think we are. Your votives are beautiful. What a great idea. I am impressed that you made everything without spending any money!

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  11. Thanks everyone! You're all so sweet! And I've checked out all your crafts, and you're so talented. Yay for Week 1!

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  12. I love how you made your votives! So clever of you.

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  13. Adorable! Love the votives, but the turkeys are really spectacular. I'll be trying that one out with my little girl! TFS

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  14. I love these - the glitter is really something special!

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  15. What a gorgeous turkey! Seriously! Just wanted you to know we featured your idea on howdoesshe.com. :) Thanks for your idea! :) -Shelley

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