Photo Lantern

I've been fortunate to do quite a bit of traveling. My most recent trip was to Italy. It was fantastic! I took a lot of great pictures, but they usually stay in the cloud rather than being displayed.

So, I decided to do a project that would let me enjoy some of my favorite photos from my trip.

Converting these photos to black & white made them look like they could've been taken a hundred years ago!

I painted 4 frames using Dixie Belle Paint in the color Caviar then set them aside to dry.

I printed the photos on vellum...

I took the glass out of one of the frames, placed it over the pictures, traced around the glass, then cut over the traced lines.

 Once the frames were dry, I added a line of E6000 glue to the inside lip of the frame.

 I placed the vellum into the frame and then added another line of E6000 to hold the glass in place.

 I left the backs off of the frames & glued the frames together with E6000, then held them in place with painters tape until the glue dried.

 Finally, I placed a candle inside to create the perfect lantern.

Linking To:

Ginger Snap Crafts,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, DIY Showoff, Keeping It Simple, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,  Sugar Bee Crafts, Flour Me With Love,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,    Domestically Speaking,  The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Flutter Buster, Nap Time Creations, The Foley Fam,  Finding Silver Pennies,  French Country Cottage,  Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Savvy Southern Style,  Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Dabbling And Decorating

Preserve Your Petals

Before Summer comes to an end and flowers fade, preserve your petals with this easy project.

Grab a few flowers from your garden & place the petals between two pieces of parchment paper. I used petals from knock out roses and hydrangeas. Cover the parchment paper with a towel and use a hot iron to flatten out the petals.

 Working in small sections, add a generous amount of ModPodge to a battery operated candle.

 Place petals on the candle then cover with another coat of ModPodge.

 You can cover the entire candle, but I chose to cover only half of the candle.

 And, of course, everything looks better in threes!

 They're pretty when lit, too!

What is your favorite Summer flower? Will you preserve it?

Linking To:

Ginger Snap Crafts,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors, DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Keeping It Simple, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,  Sugar Bee Crafts, Flour Me With Love,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,    Domestically Speaking,  The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Flutter Buster, Nap Time Creations, The Foley Fam,  Finding Silver Pennies, A Stroll Thru Life, French Country Cottage,  Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, Our Hopeful Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, The Painted Hinge, Savvy Southern Style,  Yesterday On Tuesday, Confessions Of A Plate Addict, My Uncommon Slice Of Suburbia, Dabbling And Decorating

Fall Solar Lights

From the time I started blogging, one of the easiest projects I have shared has remained one of the most viewed posts. I first published my Upcycled Pickle & Olive Jars back in 2012...

So, when Southern Holiday Life asked me a year ago to contribute a DIY project for their magazine, I decided to incorporate a new version of my popular jars. 
With tomorrow being the first day of Fall, I thought it was the perfect time to share my Fall Solar Lights.

Here's what you'll need:
Clean Jars
ModPodge
Patterned Paper Napkins
Paintbrush
Scissors
E6000 Glue
Jute
Solar Lights
Paint

Cut the napkin to fit around the jar where it will overlap slightly.

Napkins are typically 3 or 4 ply. Separate the layers so that you are left with only the layer with the pattern. If you don't separate the layers, the napkin won't adhere well to the jar.

Add a coat of ModPodge (or other decoupage medium) to the jar. Then add the napkin...

Add another coat of ModPodge over the napkin...

Set aside to dry.

Add E6000 to the rim of the jar and wrap with jute.

You could stop here and use them as they are, or add a candle...

Or you can take it a step further!

Remove the top of an inexpensive solar light...

Paint the light being careful not to cover the solar panel...

You could glue the light onto the jar, but I didn't. I just set it on top. This way I can easily change it. 

My jars have been on my back porch for a year now and are still working!

Linking To:

Coastal Charm,  Someday Crafts, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings,  Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive, Made In A Day, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember  DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,   Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Domestically Speaking,  The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home,Cedar Hill Ranch, Flutter Buster, Nap Time Creations, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam, Our Home Away From Home,  Remodelaholic, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, A Stroll Thru Life, Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, DIY-Crush, Charm Bracelet Diva,

Ball Jar Lantern

If you've never seen a mason jar clamped onto a board and used as a candle holder or vase, then you must live under a rock. And, even though you've most likely seen it done before, here it is again. I made my version last summer and completely forgot to post it!

I'm sure you know the steps, but I'm sharing them again. And, I added my favorite go to crafting item...napkins!

I first painted a board with white paint...

Then I used ModPodge to attach a pretty patterned napkin. Make sure you separate each ply so you are left with only the top layer of the napkin.

The napkin tore easily along the edges of the board. I added a coat of ModPodge over the napkin to seal it.

I screwed a metal clamp into the board...

I painted a Ball mason jar with Florida Orange from The Dixie Belle Paint Company, sanded the high spots, and inserted the jar into the clamp.

I added a hook to the back and it's done!

These are also a great place to hold your paint brushes or pens & pencils. Mine will soon be filled with zinnias from my garden!

Linking To:

  Someday Crafts, Sew Much A Do, Ginger Snap Crafts,  Creations By Kara,  Rae Gun Ramblings, Ivy & Elephants,   Seven Thirty Three,  The Shabby Creek Cottage, Seven Alive,  Bear Rabbit Bear Crafts, Made In A Day, Katherine's Corner, Redoux, Chic On a Shoestring,  Simply Sweet Home, The Shabby Nest,  Momnivore's Dilema, Somewhat Simple,   Live Laugh Rowe, Have A Daily Cup Of Mrs Olson, Truly Lovely,  The Cottage Market,  Funky Junk Interiors,  Tatertots & Jello,   Blissful & Domestic, A Vision To Remember, Boogieboard Cottage,  DIY Showoff, Craft-O-Maniac,  Under The Table and Dreaming, Keeping It Simple, Homemaker On A Dime, I Should Be Mopping The Floor, The Dedicated House,   Coastal Charm, Reasons To Skip The Housework, Sugar Bee Crafts,  Nifty Thrifty Things, Cherished Bliss, A Bowl Full Of Lemons, Mad In Crafts, Flour Me With Love, Not Just A Housewife,  Today's Creative Blog, Tip Junkie,  Homework, Kammy's Korner,  I Gotta Create,  Thrifty 101,  Domestically Speaking,  C.R.A.F.T., The Answer Is Chocolate, Skip To My Lou, The Thrifty Home, Adorned From Above,  Cedar Hill Ranch, Classy Clutter, Flutter Buster, Twelve O Eight, Nap Time Creations, The Shady Porch, JoJo And Eloise, Hope In Every Season, The Foley Fam,  House Of Hoff,  Our Home Away From Home, Living Well Spending Less, Remodelaholic, A Lived In Home, Flamingo Toes,  VMG206,  Finding Silver Pennies, Mad Cap Frenzy,  Gingerly Made,  Pink Heels Pink Truck,  Minnette's Maze,  Made To Be A Momma,  Start At Home,  Lil Mrs Tori,  Homecoming,  The Vintage Farmhouse,  Pink Recipe Box,  Sweet Haute,  Table For Seven,  Be Betsy,  It Happens In A Blink,  One Dog Woof, 4 You With Love, A Stroll Thru Life,  A Bright And Beautiful Life,  Crafty Goodies,  Live Love Create,  The Koenigs Create,  Bloom Designs,French Country Cottage, Daisy Cottage Designs, Orchard Girls, Elizabeth Joan Designs, The Scoop, Stone Gable, Knick Of Time, Lou Lou Girls, Karen's Up On The Hill, Friday's Furniture Fix, DIY-Crush, Patina Paradise, Charm Bracelet Diva,