Inside A Makers' Studio
DIY Gilded Splatter Pumpkins
Follow the steps below to create these chic, gilded pumpkins! These will look gorgeous in your home or on your front porch.
Supplies needed:
- A Good Man is Hard to Find - One Step Paint Sample
- Vintage Affliction - One Step Paint Sample
- Bauhaus Buff - One Step Paint Sample
- Sponge Paint Brush
- Gilding Size
- Gold Leaf
- Artist Brush
- Chip Brush
Additional supplies needed:
- Pumpkins
- Cardboard box
Instructions
1. Clean the surface of your pumpkins with a damp paper towel and allow to fully dry.
2. Apply 1-2 coats of Rescue Restore Paint, using long smooth strokes and always painting into a wet edge.
3. Once the paint dries, move the pumpkin into a cardboard box or protected area. Dip the artist brush into the size and begin to flick the brush, creating splatter patterns onto the pumpkin. This is abstract and there is no right or wrong way, so have fun with it and be creative! You may apply as much or as little of the size as you like. The more splatters you make, the more gold leaf will stick to your pumpkin.
NOTE: If you notice large globs start to form, wipe your brush off and then use it to soak up the excess size.
4. Once the size has come to tack (let sit for 10-15 minutes until slightly sticky to the touch) and has become translucent you can apply the leaf. Holding the spine of the leaf booklet with one hand, pull back the tissue with the other hand and lay the leaf down covering the area with size. Try not to touch the leaf with your fingers, but burnish (rub) into the size using the orange paper.
5. After burnishing (pressing and rubbing down firmly), lift the leaf packet up and begin removing excess leaf using a chip brush. This may take time since many of the splatters are so small, so keep at it until you see all the fun drops appear!
6. Continue to roll the pumpkin and repeat steps 3-5 until fully covered with leaf as desired.
7. Using the same artist brush, apply size to the stem, then repeat steps 4-5.
Finally, once you're done you can enjoy your newly created gilded pumpkins! Put them outside or inside your home and enjoy the compliments you will receive!
DIY TOWEL DIP DYEING
In this two-part tutorial, learn how to transform inexpensive, plain-looking tea towels into colorful items that are not just lovely to look at but can lift your spirits too.
These custom towels are great to use around your home or to give out as presents at any time of the year.
PART I: TOWEL DIP
STEP 1: PREPARE THE PAINT
This project uses Summer Nights - Rescue Restore Paint.
2 ounces of Rescue Restore Paint mixed with 20 ounces of water should be enough to color at least 3-4 tea towels.
STEP 2: DIP YOUR TOWEL
Hold your towel up and, coming from both sides, gather it towards the middle.
Dip half of the towel into the paint and let it soak up some color.
STEP 3: SQUEEZE OUT EXCESS PAINT
With one hand gripping the dry half of your towel, slowly pull the colored half out of the paint.Squeeze the excess paint out by letting the colored half of your towel pass through between the forefinger and thumb of your other hand.
Do this slowly to avoid splashing paint on yourself and make sure that your towel is not dripping with paint after this step.
STEP 4: MOVE THE PAINT
In another container with clean water in it, dampen the colored half of your towel.Use one hand to hold the towel up, with the colored half at the top.
With your other hand, squeeze your towel from top to bottom, helping the paint move downward, effectively covering the lower half of your towel with lighter shades of Summer Nights.
STEP 5: DRY YOUR TOWEL
Open your towel up and lay it on a piece of cardboard to dry.PART 2: STENCIL APPLICATION
STEP 1: PREP YOUR TOWEL
Lay your dry towel down flat.Have a cardboard underneath it to prevent ink from staining your work surface.
STEP 2: APPLY THE STENCIL
This project uses the Bless the Lord Mesh Stencil.Peel the backing off to expose the adhesive side and apply the stencil on your towel.
STEP 3: SPREAD YOUR INK
This project uses Hold Your Horses Gel Art Ink.
Squeeze some ink out along one edge of your spreader and apply the ink all over your stencil, holding your spreader at a 45-degree angle as you do so.
STEP 4: REMOVE THE STENCIL
Carefully peel your stencil off and rinse it right after use.Let it dry on a flat surface with the adhesive side up.
STEP 5: DRY AND HEAT-SET
Allow your towel to dry for at least 2 hours.
After which, heat-set your newly applied design. Place a lint-free rag on top of it and go over the rag with an iron for about 5 minutes.
Replicate this project and create your own customized tea towels with these products:
Summer Nights - Rescue Restore Paint
https://amakersstudio.com/products/summer-nights-rescue-restore-paint
Mesh Stencil - Bless the Lord - 8.5x11
https://amakersstudio.com/products/mesh-stencil-bless-the-lord-8-5-x-11
Chalkart Spreader
https://amakersstudio.com/products/chalkart-spreader
Gel Art Ink - Hold Your Horses
https://amakersstudio.com/products/gel-art-ink-hold-your-horses
Other Products Mentioned in the Video:
Gel Art Ink
https://amakersstudio.com/collections/gel-art-ink
Goodness Gracious - Rescue Restore Paint
https://amakersstudio.com/products/goodness-gracious-rescue-restore-paint
Mesh Stencil - Adventure - 8.5x11
https://amakersstudio.com/products/mesh-stencil-adventure-8-5x11
Mesh Stencil - Birds - 8.5x11
https://amakersstudio.com/products/mesh-stencil-birds-8-5-x-12
CREATIVE & CUSTOM CHALKBOARD CALENDAR
Calendars are necessary if you want to keep your family on schedule, but that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with pinning something unattractive on the wall or creating a scheduling binder from scratch! Instead, make your own customized calendar with an old frame and some Rescue Restore Paint. In this fun Maker Monday video, Amy Howard walks you through how to create your own one-of-a-kind chalkboard calendar using A Makers’ Studio’s new Chalkboard Calendar Bundle. Once you’ve got the tools you need, you can check out the Maker Monday video below to start crafting:
MATERIALS YOU’LL NEED
For this chalkboard calendar project, you’ll need the following items, all of which you can find in the Chalkboard Calendar Bundle:
- Peace and Joy ChalkArt™
- Gathered Rescue Restore Paint (2oz)
- Little Black Dress Rescue Restore Paint
- Calendar stencil
- Sponge brush
- Spreader
You’ll also need a frame in whatever size and material you prefer (the bigger the better, though)! Also, don’t forget the chalk.
CREATE A CUSTOM CHALKBOARD CALENDAR WITH AMY
- Take your frame apart by removing the backing and the glass.
- Paint the backing of your frame with Little Black Dress Rescue Restore Paint and allow it to dry.
- Cut the days of the week and month you want to use out of the calendar stencil. Before you apply paint to your stencils, decide where you want them to go, as this will determine where you place your lines.
- Cut out the line stencils on the right side of your stencil sheet, making sure to cut only the line closest to the other stencils. Then, lay the stencil down to do your first line horizontally (across) your backing. Apply Peace and Joy ChalkArt™ with your spreader. Continue this until your line is finished, washing your stencil when needed.
- Lay your vertical line and repeat Step 4. Then continue the horizontal lines that will separate your days of the week, completing the grid.
- Stencil in your days of the week in their designated “boxes” with Peace and Joy ChalkArt™, and then add your month at the top.
- Season your calendar by turning your chalk sideways and rubbing it across the backing of your frame. Then, your chalkboard is ready to use!
- Optional: Paint your frame or dry brush it using the Gathered Rescue Restore Paint. Let the paint dry and then put your frame back together.
In no time at all, you’ve got an adorable chalkboard calendar you can wipe clean and re-customize each week or month! Best of all, it’s a one-of-a-kind calendar you can’t find anywhere else.