Hello! How is everyone today? I can’t tell you how much I appreciate everyone’s support of this 31 Days of Easy Holiday Paint Projects – dropping by, leaving sweet comments here and at The Hive (hi Deb!), and even pinning some the projects!
I’m winding down on the Halloween projects, looking towards Christmas and while I wanted something else to go with the spooky runner and burlap candles, I didn’t want it to be completely creepy.
A Dollar Store glass vase called out to me . . . “Paint me! Paint me!” What – you don’t hear inanimate objects talking to you? Huh. Aren’t you the strange one. {!}
I figured I might get some double duty out of the vase and I’ve been wanting to try Martha’s adhesive stencils too.
These flexible adhesive stencils came in my goodie box last summer and since my last stencil attempt wasn’t a complete craftfail, I thought I’d give them a whirl.
Now, Martha’s paints are multi-surface and will work on glass, but I wanted something that would work all year. I loved this Frost Etching when I painted the spooky goblet so I wanted to try it without any paint mixed in.
Now – these stencils are flexible – which is great, and self-adhesive – which is great BUT they are flexible – which means they bend all over the place, and self-adhesive – which means they stick to everything they touch. It’s hard enough to paint on a round surface but when you have a sticky, bend-y thing too . . . well I almost ditched the whole project.
But I didn’t. Basically because I needed an 11th project for this dang wonderful challenge.
After a few attempts, here’s what worked for me – start from the middle of the stencil, pressing down all the little cut-outs first, then work towards the outside.
I won’t lie – it took me some practice, and being a person with CDO tendencies (OCD in alphabetical order – the way it should be) it was a bit challenging not to line up the stencils perfectly. But would I buy some more of these stencils? Absolutely.
For me, that’s the litmus test – whether or not to spend my bongo pennies on craft items.
The Frosting Etch Effect on the other hand is awesomesauce. It looks white and opaque when it’s wet, but when it dries it looks like etched glass. Love it.
If you’ve ever used the acid-based etching cream you’ll totally appreciate this stuff. I got big plans for it for Christmas, lemme tell you.
One more thing about the stencils – I thought they’d be a pain to clean, but no. I wiped them after each use and then washed them with soap and water when I was done. They clean up great and the adhesive is still sticky. Just be sure and stick them back on to the backing so they stay sticky. (If you’re over 50, break out your strongest glasses! I’m just sayin’ . . . )
What d’ya think? Not bad for the first time, I’d say. Now, what to fill it with so it works for Halloween . . .
Thanks to yesterday’s storm, some oak branches fell down and made for easy pickin’s. But the branches alone weren’t enough.
So I snagged some pinecones from the cabin and of course some Dollar Store gourds, that I sprayed white – just so I could feel all trendy and up-to-date this year, ha!
Not bad, not bad. Now the etching shows up a little better.
And maybe a Dollar Store raven too?
Or up in the branches. Yeah, that’s it.
ahem. The raven in the background? That was just a fluke. I didn’t notice him when I snapped the pic. Hey, I’m not Eddie Ross so I’ll take lucky flukes when I get ‘em.
Yay! That wraps up Day 11! And it’s not even noon on the west coast yet. There may be hope for me yet.
So how do you do with stencils? Have you ever stenciled on glass? Have you tried any of Martha’s new decorative paint line? Let me know!
Drop by and see what Kelli is up to on her 11th day!
Linking up to these awesome parties!
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