Mixed Media Cookie Tins

       As my girls are getting older I'm finding my crafty self again. These girls have me busy and forever looking for new ideas to engage their ever curiosity. Life changes constantly. This past year I went from our MOPS Creative Activities Coordinator to a regular member and that alone has freed up even more time. I began participating in swaps both local and online.

      

       The swap I would like to share today is my first mixed media project in a very long time and I might have gone a little over board. I'll find out once the projects are delivered. We were given three small empty cylinder cookie tins and told we had to have at least 3 types of media and they must be all alike. We were given 4 months to complete Jan-April. No other requirements, seemingly no rules. These cookies are a favorite for my husband so I bought a few more filled ones to have on hand in case of a mishap. After a couple weeks and thinking of option from the basic of basic, sexy can style, and even a thought of making it a clock. Clock wasn't going to work sadly as I the tins are so tiny the mechanism to fit inside.

 

       I thought I had a plan when I walked into hobby lobby one day and it all changed. I found these gorgeous little antique brass bird cages and inspiration struck. I asked my husband about cutting the tin open to make a window. Once I had that step worked out, I went back to purchase the cages, little knobs and trim. J cut the rectangles out using a dremel and bent back a flaps with pliers insuring that no sharp edges would be exposed. I then painted the cans in and out with a turquoise Krylon primer & paint. I cut down burlap paper to fit the tins with a rectangle also cut out. Making the seam in the back of the can once I wrapped the burlap did not seem like it would look as flawless, so I went with eyelets and ribbon making a corset back.

 

 

       From there I worked on adding the trim and embellishments. I embellished the lids with paper doilies and thin gold washi tape. Using my crop-a-file I punched holes in the center of each lid. The in tire birdcage and bird were antique bronze but I wanted a bit more color to bring out the bird. Using alcohol ink and q-tips I colored each bird a dark pink. Once tray I added machine chain to allow the cage to hang lower. Then attached the chain of the bird cage to the screw of the knob onto the lid. Inside the tins I opted for a pearl shimmer embossed paper to line the inside just inside the lip of each side of the rectangle. Once attached I then used liquid glue to attach plant moss to the bottom of each can. From there I placed the cages inside the tins and glued the lip down.

 

 

       On the bottom of the tins I adhered glass candle sticks from the dollar store using E6000. It was a fun project and one I fell in love with and almost sad I wasn't able to keep one for myself, though I find more joy when it's going to someone who is crafty and will appreciate the time and effort that went into these creations.

 

 

MOPS Feather Key Chain Tutorial

After sharing our welcome gifts with fellow MOPS Leaders I've been asked to make a tutorial on how to make them. Below in the supply list I also have links to where I bought our Feather Key Chain supplies. 

 

-Supplies Needed-

Key Rings: http://tinyurl.com/kkhzpeo

Split Rings 7mm: http://tinyurl.com/mh7bd7t

Feather Charms Lg: http://tinyurl.com/ohthlxu

Aquamarine Gem Beads: http://tinyurl.com/q2m9zq3

Head Pins: http://tinyurl.com/mf9q78j

Spacer Beads (Can be Found at any craft store.)

-Tools Needed-

Clockwise

Paper Piercer

Small Round Nose Pliers

Wire Cutters

Chain Nose Pliers

Split Ring Pliers

 

 

The Split Ring Pliers are not necessary but they help quite a bit.

Open the split ring enough to get the loop of the key ring on.

 

Once the key ring is on I move to a pair of chain pliers for a better grip. 

From there you can attach the feather charm.

 

All Linked.

 

Add your beads to the head pin.

 

Using your fingers as your guide, put your thumb just above

the top bead and right above your thumb cut the wire. 

 

After being cut.

Next loop the wire using the Small Round Nose Pliers.

 

Hook on the the split ring of the key chain.

 

Close the gap using the Chain Nose Pliers.

(I apologize for the blurry photo.)

 

Completed.



I made my image on http://www.picmonkey.com/#.

Printed it out on card stock at 3.75" x 5.75".

I placed a key chain on top to measure

where the key chain should be attached.

I poked two holes and used floral

wire to twist tie the key chain on.

 

The back.

 

The finished card and key chain fit

perfectly into a 4" x 6" jewelry zip lock.

Most craft stores including Walmart sell these bags.

 

You should be able to save this photo if you right click. 

Use http://www.picmonkey.com/ 

to add text with your MOPS Name.

 

Please comment or contact me if you have questions.

Happy Crafting!





Nest Center Pieces

This years logo and theme for MOPS is beautiful and inspiring.

Our Co-Coordinator and I first started talking about eggs and

birds nest in April though our complete idea was not quite there.  

 

 

Mommy alone time is VERY rare

for me, especially in a craft store.  

If I am alone it means I'm on a mommy mission,

groceries or other toddler supplies for the house.

But I finally had that rare moment and went to a

local craft store to let my mind wonder and hopefully

find some inspiration for our MOPS center pieces.

I had an idea of what I was looking for in terms

of supplies and inspiration struck pretty quickly

once I saw what was available..  

Soon I had text messages going back

and forth with our co-coordinator and we had a plan.

 

I painted the rims of terracotta pots in the colors of our groups.

I pour plaster into each one to keep the branches up and give

our pots weight as we didn't want them to tip over easily.  

Later in the week a few of our Steering Team

Members came over to help me assemble them.

We lined the inside of the pots with moss and greenery.

We pleated burlap on the outside each

planter and embellished with ribbon.

We added eggs and birds to the nests in colors to match the

pot rims and arranged and glued them on to branches.

 

 

We are so pleased with the final centerpieces and

can't wait for our MOPS group to see them in August.

 

Happy Crafting!

Busy Bag Activities

The girls are growing so fast.

I'm having trouble keep up, 

keeping them busy and helping 

them progress to the next 

stage of learning.

 

Be You Bravely

MOPS - Mothers of Preschoolers has been a true blessing over the last two years. Not only have I a found a group of women that are supportive, but also share the same ups and downs of being a mother. It is my second year as the Creative Activities Coordinator and I'm getting excited about our upcoming projects.

This year our theme is "Be you bravely".

Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

I wanted to surprise our leadership with a gift to help boost our excitment for the up coming year. Our retreat is this weekend and I would like to present them to everyone then.

 

 

 

Our groups have already been determined so each leaders necklace has a pearl of thier group color and a burlap bag with their initial ribbon also in their group color. 

 

In our MOPS welcome kit this year each of us are sent a Courage Key so an extra jump ring has been added for the learship memebers to attach thier keys. My complete necklace is below. 

 

You can find the bottle cap tutorial here.

 

I'm hoping to share more this year.   I have some amazing projects lined up. 

*Where did I find my supplies?*

The bottle cap tutorial is here:http://craftasticlife.blogspot.com/2009/06/bottle-cap-magnet-tutorial.html?m=1.

I found 100" inch chain at Joann's on sale.   Each necklace is 25".   I found the feather charms, medallions and findings (head pins, lobster claws, jump rings, decorative thick chain) at hobby lobby.   Hobby Lobby carries burlap bags in the jewelry section but they also carry same in the wedding section.    I found mine in the wedding section much cheaper & on sale.   

I bought the bottle caps years ago on ebay and they now sell a tool to punch a hole in the bottle caps.   Sadly I'm not sure what it's called but it was around $10 or so.   

In the tutorial link I used glossy accents, but I used Diamond Glaze this time.   Same idea.   

I have plenty of left over supplies for future projects:).