Thrift-It Thursday: Crackle Finish Frame

Today I am going to show you how to create a crackle finish without buying an expensive kit.  I bought some wood picture frames at our local Habitat Restore for 50 cents and was originally going to spray paint them with a metallic paint.  But then I thought, why not find a thrifty way to crackle paint them.

Here is what I used:

wood picture frame

Elmer's Glue-All

acrylic paint, 2 colors

paint brush

First, you apply your base coat.  You generally want to apply a darker color as your base coat so that your lighter top coat has good contrast when it crackles.  Let it dry completely.

Next, working in sections, apply glue to frame.  Using your finger works best.  You want to work in small sections because you need to apply your top coat of paint while the glue is still tacky.

After applying the section of glue, using a brush, apply the top coat paint.  Use a light stroke going one way.  You don't want to use too heavy of a hand because you don't want the paint to mix too much with the glue.  After each short stroke, put more paint on the brush.

Let the paint dry completely and you should have a nice crackle finish. 

Here's the breakdown on what my frames cost to make:

     1.  frames - $1.00 (for 2)
     2.  glue -  $2.00

     3.  paint - $1.00 (for 2)

    
I got all my supplies at Hancock's Fabrics and K-Mart.  So my frames cost me $4.00, or $2.00 per frame.  Plus I have enough paint left over for another project and plenty of glue.

Last week, I posted the Elmer's Glue YouTube video where I got this idea.  Here it is again:

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha

Whip-It Up Wednesday: One of my quick and easy stand-by dinners.

So, I was feeling pretty lazy about cooking (which has been my attitude a lot lately), so last night I made one of my super easy stand-by dinners that doesn't take any thought at all.  My freezer and pantry is getting low, but I usually always have the ingredients for this meal.

Tilapia, rice and a veggie!

Here are my ingredients:

For the tilapia, I melt a tablespoon of butter in a skillet and add a swish of olive oil.  I sprinkle the fish with lemon-pepper seasoning.  Right now my favorite is Weber Zesty Lemon Pepper, but you can use your favorite.  You can also change up this meal by using cajun spice, italian, etc.

Rice:  I usually use the instant rice that cooks in 5 minutes.  I know, it's not cooking from scratch, but sometimes a girl just ain't got the time or the inclination.  Plus, the instant rice always (well almost always) comes out nice and fluffy and my son loves it.  I add a couple of tablespoons of butter to the water and a pinch of salt.  Here's where you can change thing up easily again, just by adding garlic or parsley, whatever suits you at the moment.  When I use the lemon-pepper seasoning, I always splash a little lemon juice on the fish before serving.

Last night's veggie was a stir-fry mix.  I used a little olive oil and voila!

There you go!  One of my all-time quick, and most importantly, yummy meals.

P.S.  I forgot to tell you, you can also substitute your favorite fish:  catfish, salmon, etc.

Thanks for coming by,
Natosha

Try-It Tuesday: Box Fold Felt Flower

Today's Try-It is a box fold felt flower.  I followed the tutorial at iCandy.  You can find it here.

I used the inexpensive (read - cheap) felt you can buy at craft stores sald by the sheet.  A more expensive felt would make a better looking flower, but I am pretty impressed with mine.  I hot-glued it onto a bobby pin.  It's a little hard to get in my hair.  The next one I will put on an alligator clip or a clamp.  Well, it is:

The tutorial was easy to follow and I didn't have any trouble making the flower.

Thanks for stopping by,

Natosha