Faux Mercury Tutorial -- Again

This is the week I actually get the holiday decorations up! I know ... I'm a bit late (ya think?). 
 

From what I see in Blogland everyone else's homes are beautifully decorated, their shopping is all done, gifts are artfully wrapped and under the gorgeous tree ....

 

I hang my head in shame.

 

But I finished up some ornaments for the shop over the weekend, worked a bit on some furniture pieces, did some re-merchandising today, and now I'm raring to finally get the house in order and decorated!

 

Ho-ho-ho!

So until I have something finished to show you, I thought I'd repost this tutorial from last year. It's my one and only post that's gone viral, and my most posted on Pinterest. :-)

When I first tried this last year I came upon my method by experimenting with someone else's way of doing it. I still like this way best because you spray the outside of whatever piece you're mercurizing (I think I just made-up that word!). I not only find that easier, but this way if you're doing something like a bowl or a covered dish, you can still use the inside for edible items such as candy or cookies if you wish.

 

A couple of tips:

 

• Another thing that makes this technique a little different is the blotting.  I discovered that by accident because of the drips, but it turned out to make it more realistic, in my view.

• I had to stop when I did these pieces because I wasn't in a well-enough ventilated area and I started to get a headache.  On later pieces I did more spraying, spritzing, and blotting, and the pieces turned out more like the Ballard look I was going for. Do your blotting randomly. I just used a paper towel.

• I still haven't found the paint at Michaels in Northern Virginia, although I've been told it's available in other regions, but's it's available at Hobby Lobby in-store and online.

If you haven't tried this yet, give it a go--it's easy!

Take a few of these ...

Thrift store finds - about $1.50 each

Add this and a spray bottle of water ...

I couldn't find this at Home Depot or Michaels, so I ordered online from Amazon.com.

The large size is around $17

And get this - faux Mercury Glass!

Here they are with some tea lights in them.

I first saw this done by Maury of A Fabuless Home. Mine didn't go as smoothly as hers -- I accidentally sprayed the front of my shirt with the paint (I blame a faulty sprayer valve ... not the fact that I'm basically a klutz!).

But it's easy. All you do is spray the glass piece with the Krylon paint, let it dry for about 20 seconds or so, then lightly spritz it with water. I decided to spray mine on the outside of the piece.

Because of the aforementioned issue with the paint sprayer valve, I got drips. But all I did was blot with a paper towel and spray again until I got the desired effect. Actually I should have done more spraying and blotting, but the paint fumes were giving me a headache (note to self and to you, make sure you do this in a very well-ventilated area).

The best thing about this project is you can't screw it up! The more you blot and respray the more realistic it looks. Well, maybe that's the second best thing. The very best is the fact that you can get the same look as this ...

Ballard Designs, $25 - $39 each

For a whole lot less. I'm trying it on glass ornaments next!


Sharing at the Crafty Christmas Link Party at Primitive & Proper

I think I may be turning into an elf ...

I've been busting my patooti making holiday ornaments and decor. The house looks like the glitter fairy molted all over it; and my hands ... my poor hands! 

 

 

They are so dried out from paper and glue and mod podge and glitter.

 

Do you think Santa springs for mani-pedis for his elves after the holiday rush?  He should also throw in some massages for their poor aching shoulders and necks from  scrunching over their work. 

 

This last batch of holiday craftiness was inspired by a few things:  First, a friend of mine had a holiday party last night.  We were all told to make an ornament that represented ourselves.

 

The idea was you all bring your ornaments, and then everyone has to guess whose ornament is whose.  So the concept was to make something that truly represents who you are. 

 

What a great idea! My friend gave prizes to the top guessers, and it was harder than anyone thought it would be. I did not even come close.  Another fun way would be to give prizes for the ornaments that get the most correct guesses. I wouldn't have won that way either but I came closer!

 

This is the ornament I made:

 

 

I used vintage images of a girl at a typewriter with a stuffed cat on her lap to represent me at the computer, where I spend half my life, with either a dog or a cat nearby; another of a girl laden down with shopping bags; a couple of dogs--I couldn't fit three dogs and three cats on the ornament--words, and music.

 

Here are some of the ornaments people brought.  You can see it was a creative bunch!

One of my favorites was the one my friend Lynn brought.  It's a pill bottle filled with her prescription for happiness.  When you open it up you find little charms of things like children, hens, horses, a shell from the beach, a raffle ticket to indicate her good luck, a little woman doll to represent the women she helps through her various charity work, her dog's tag, etc.  This one was easy for me to guess because it was so original and so Lynn!

 

 

Other crafty inspiration came from Janet at the Empty Nest and Cassie at Primitive and Proper.  They both made cute Christmas Tree holiday decorations using brush trees.

 

I first saw Cassie's on one of her blog posts, and she made hers with tea cups.  Then I went to Janet's shop to pick up a rug and some paint and saw ones she made with wine glasses.

(And by-the-way if you live anywhere around the Warrenton, VA area, be sure to stop by The Empty Nest if you haven't already -- the store is all decked-out for the holidays and filled with goodies.  I felt like a kid in a candy store!)

 

I stole adapted their ideas ...

 

 

 

 

And then added a couple of my own with some vintage low candleholders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These were fun to make to make, and could be a good project with kids, as long as you did the hot glue work. 

 

Not that that's any insurance there won't be any accidents!  I burnt the heck out of my left index finger and I still don't have any feeling at the top of it. (Yes, I am a klutz.) The kids could help with deciding what trees go with what holders, decorating and glitterizing.  

I also made these sparkly little banners ...

 

 

 

And some cones and ornaments for Mr. P's Emporium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a couple more ornaments to make as gifts, then I'm packing the craft stuff away and moving on to decorating the house. 

 

Yes that's right ... it's December 2nd and the house has not been decorated yet.  Unless you consider glitter-covered floors, furniture, and dogs with a few speckles decoration.

 

I should be thrown out of blogland.

 

At least I got the Thanksgiving decorations down over the weekend.

 

Sigh.  An elf's work is never done!

P.S. As always, I'd love it if you'd like Mr. P's Emporium's Facebook page! <3

Sharing at:

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Elizabeth & Co: Be Inspired
Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphis Monday

 

Oh Christmas Tree!

Sing along with me to the tune of "Old Christmas Tree"...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, we never made it to the Christmas Tree farm ...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, and the prices at the lots were just ridiculous ...

So we bought you at good old Walmart, you cost the same as the lot but at least you'll last more than one year ...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, and your needles won't drop all over the floor.

~

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, your shape doesn't look realistic ...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, well what do I expect? You're a fake tree.

But after I got you decorated,
I think you look pretty good ...

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, I'm just glad you're finally done!

I don't know about you, but I think this little ditty is destined to become a holiday classic!

On to a few details on the tree:  Since I'm changing to a silver, green and white theme this year I couldn't put all my ornaments on the tree.  And since I didn't want to go out and buy a bunch of new ornaments (especially since I ended up buying a lot of things for my mantle decoration), I just went with what I had. 

This meant the tree isn't as loaded with  decorations the way I usually like it.  So to fill in, I added some silver ribbon I had picked up at Ikea at the end of last year's season and tucked it in through the branches.  Then I cut off the white silk poinsettias I bought at the thrift store as part of my thrifty decor challenge and placed them in some of the empty spots.

Since our tree skirt is maroon to match my former color scheme, I just used a white tablecloth for now, and I'll get a new tree skirt at the after-holiday sales.

I like the green, white and silver everywhere else in the house, but it just isn't popping enough on the tree for me. So next year I think I'm going to add some purple back in.

You'll notice there are no presents under the tree yet.  That's because I sent all the gifts I've wrapped off to family and friends in Michigan and on the West Coast, and I haven't even started wrapping the gifts for my husband, sons and pets yet. (Yes, we give our pets Christmas gifts too ... otherwise we'd have to look at our dogs' sad eyes as they stare at us while we're opening our gifts and then listen to them sigh all Christmas Day. Not to mention the cats.  They may act like they don't care ... then you come down one morning and find your favorite chair shredded to pieces!)

To be perfectly honest I haven't finished all my shopping yet. So I'd better stop blogging and get to Best Buy!

P.S. Thanks to those of you who left me nice comments and sent me messages after my last post! 

Sharing at: French Country Cottage: Feathered Nest Friday

My Oh Mantel

I need some elves.  The decorations aren't done.  I haven't finished shopping.  And I apparently lost my mind sometime ago, because I decided to make a lot of my gifts this year.  Now it's December 10th, and I haven't even started them.  I don't know what I was thinking.  Oh yeah, I wasn't.  I have no brain.

One thing I have managed to get done is our mantel decoration.  As you may recall, I decided to change our holiday decor color scheme to silver, green and white this year.

Last year I didn't do that much to the mantel.  But this year I decided to go all out.

I hung a silver pine cone wreath over the mirrors that are always over our fireplace.  Then I put a large silver urn I had on one side of the mantel, and put a big silver ornament in it that I used to hang in the living room . Next to that I put a large mercury glass candle holder from Home Goods, and one of the green hobnail goblets I showed you from one of my thrift store forages.

I sprayed some pine cones silver and tucked them into the garland placed along the mantel.  I added a couple of my faux mercury pieces and some fancier pieces I picked up from Michaels.

On the other side I placed the large urn with a big glass jar I got from HomeGoods, (I got this on a "Blogger Blind Date" with Connie from Hartwood Roses.  We realized we lived just an hour apart and decided to meet for brunch.  Of course, a shopping trip was also on the agenda!).

I filled the jar with green and silver ornaments.

I added more mercury glass and the other green hobnail goblet-turned-candle holder to balance out this end.

Under the mantel I hung a silver bead garland and a white star.

Down below I added a couple of silver lanterns from Ikea that I've used outdoors, and a silk poinsettia to some candles that are usually there, and an urn that is usually in the foyer.  The poinsettia is silk because we have dogs and cats.  I read on someone else's blog (can't remember whose), that the idea that they were harmful to animals is a myth.  However, according to the ASPCA and my vet they are toxic to cats, and will make dogs sick. So as much as I love the real ones, I don't keep them in our house.

I love the green and silver.

So that's it.  Now on to the hundreds of other things I need to get done.  Since Santa doesn't seem to be sending any elves my way, I'm thinking about seeing if I can train the dogs to put the ornaments on the trees.  It's about time they started pulling their weight around here!

Sharing at:

Funky Junk Interiors: Saturday Night Special

The Girl Creative: Creating Christmas

Debbie Doo's Newbie Party

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You're Talking Too Much: Meet Me Monday

My Crazy Beautiful Life: 18 Days 'Til Christmas

Between Naps on the Porch: Metamorphis Monday

Coastal Charm:Nifty NiftyThrifty Tuesday

It's Overflowing: Christmas-scapes

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia: Tuesday Treasures

Type A Decorating: Anything Goes

The Best Laid Plans ...

I had planned to spend all weekend working on holiday crafts and decorating.  But I came down with a sinus infection on Friday, and spent the whole day Saturday in bed.  I'm feeling better today, but although I managed to get the house in some semblance of order; I'm behind on all my projects.  It seems like no matter how hard I try to get my life organized, something always comes up to throw a wrench in my plans!

So although I don't have anything finished to show you yet, I wanted to tell you about a challenge I came up with for myself: Since I decided to switch my decor scheme from primarily maroon and jewel tones to white, silver and green this year, I knew I was going to have to get some new pieces to mix in with the silver and white pieces I already have.

But being the cheap ... er... thrifty gal I am, I decided to see what I could come up with just using things I bought at a thrift store or a dollar store.

This is what I found at the Dollar Tree:

Two little white wreaths, silver ribbon and bows, a silver brush tree, plastic white and silver ornaments, faux snow, mini silver packages, two glass candle dishes, a green plastic bowl, a clear plastic bowl, some tea lights and some taper candles.

This is what I bought at my favorite local thrift store:

Silver tinsel garland, a baggie of silver snowflakes, two rolls of ribbon, silver beads, and some glass pieces.   

And this is what I bought at Goodwill.

Two bunches of silk poinsettias, two candlesticks, a long tall vase, and a candle holder. 

I have some ideas, but I don't know exactly what I'm going to end up doing with my finds. So check back and see what I come up with!