Tagged with crafting …

Nov 14 2011
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Crafts, DIY

11.14.11 – Cork Craft Ball Centerpiece / Ornament / Kissing Ball

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Have you ever heard of a kissing ball?

Neither had I!

Apparently, it involves the origin of kissing-under-the-mistletoe tradition. In the eighteenth-century, the English credited the mistletoe with a certain magical appeal. They would create a ball out of a tree branch, put a sprig of mistletoe at the bottom, hang it up and call it a “kissing ball.” At Christmas time a young lady standing under the ball, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect not to marry the following year.

In modern times, kissing balls can be made out of almost anything! I’ve seen some beautiful kissing balls made out of flowers at weddings, and was recently inspired by one that I saw that was made out of – you guessed it – cork!

I used a reflective Christmas ornament ball and glued my halved corks all around the surface. I left the wire hoop on the ornament exposed so that these may double for tree ornaments come December. But as for now, they are simply funky centerpieces keeping my hedge apples company.

They are also the latest addition to my Etsy store!

I’m so excited to share this creation with Etsy and my readers here!

Do you have any cork creation ideas for me? Leave it in the comments below!

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Nov 13 2011
5 Comments
Crafts, DIY

11.13.11 – A Cork Trivet, why not?

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One of the most popular crafts to make out of used corks are trivets. For weeks now I’ve been resistant as these are already everywhere online. But then I remembered the lonely picture frame sitting in my dresser. One of the cats knocked it over and broke the glass out of it about a year ago. For some reason, I held on to it! I knew that it would be good for something someday and after browsing online for some corkspiration (should I trademark that, or what!? haha) I noticed that many of the trivets use old picture frames as a base.

I thought, why not?

It only took five corks sliced roughly in half and a little hot glue. It was a tad time consuming finding the right sized and marked corks and getting them all to fit perfectly into the small frame.

 

Here’s the finished product. Not a bad little trivet, if I don’t say so myself. I left the picture frame stand on the back in tact just in case a future buyer would like to use it as a funky little art display instead. ;)

Click the pictures to be directed to my Etsy shop where you can see my little trivet on display!

In other news, I may have found an old window picture frame! Keep your fingers crossed for me readers – that’s one project that I would just love to take on! I know you will anyway – you’ve got to be sick of all the corks and pallets by now! I need some fresh material to play with!

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Nov 12 2011
3 Comments
Crafts, DIY

11.12.11 – Cork Magnet Crafts!

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One evening a few nights ago, a terrible thing happened to this crafter; I ran out of hot glue.

It happens to the best and most prepared of us. More often to me, as I fall into the “least prepared” category most of the time. But there was no need to fear – a trip to town for more glue sticks was less than 24 hours away.

In the meantime, I still had a box cutter and several boxes of corks at my disposal. Turning one of the corks on its side, I sliced into it and created a few disks from a single cork. Even alone, I thought the cork disks were very cute and had massive potential, so I saved them.

A few Google searches and a failed trivet later, I stumbled upon a group of cork magnets on Etsy. It was a wonderful idea, but poorly applied. The cork magnets already listed were, frankly, a little bit boring.

I knew I could spice the idea up and take some great photos to boot, so I gave it a shot. The collage above, in no particular order, is the result of that effort!

I decided to divide the magnets into sets of four that each had 1 long half cork and 3 disks each.

I then named the sets and listed them for sale at my Etsy shop!

Go check them out if you’d like – as for me, the homemade chicken soup is done and The Big Bang Theory just started so I’m signing off! :)

 

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Nov 11 2011
3 Comments
Crafts, DIY

11.11.11 – More Recycling Art!

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I couldn’t resist the opportunity to write a post that I got to title with “11.11.11″!

Happy Veteran’s Day, everyone. While you’re thinking about it, go grab your phone or log on to Facebook and thank a veteran you know for their service.

Now, if one of the veterans in your life delights in saving money, make them smile by decorating your home with one of these charming recycling art pieces. I found these online and while I would love to make them immediately, we are (1) not currently in possession of any rustic old window frames, and (2) out of pallets. ;)

Hopefully, you guys aren’t too sick of my obsession with pallets yet. But c’mon, how cute is this room divider?

 The only hesitation I have is wondering how stable something like that really would be since it is surely extremely heavy. But with a crafty husband, I suppose we could find some way to secure it so that it couldn’t fall. The other problem would be finding pallets that had that nice light brown color and were in great shape, too. But once those problems are solved, it doesn’t look difficult to put together. Buy a couple of metal hinges from Home Depot and you’re ready to go! ;)

You can click here for the original link but I couldn’t find any directions there. I’m thinking we’d have to wing it if we wanted to try this one!

 

The second inspiring piece is a picture frame idea that I stumbled upon yesterday.

How “Etsy” is this, really!? Here’s the original link.

I’ve actually got a whole stack of 4×6 black and white photo prints of close up flower shots that would look fantastic here! I’m thinking that I could scour the net (Craigslist, maybe?) for old french doors.

OR, I could buy a new pane at Home Depot (with or without the glass), stain the wood a dark color, then paint it white. Hubby has a tool in the garage that looks like a cheese-grater for wood that would scrape chunks of the white paint off nicely.

Surely, readers, if this project ever comes to fruition, you will be the first to see how it turned out.

Again, happy Veteran’s Day to all of you and a happy weekend as well!

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