crayons...what to do with all those broken pieces

I admit to being obsessed with crayons and colored pencils.  My children are hard on their crayons, therefore they often break very easily.
So this project that Ive done with her is basically what kids did back in the 70's and 80's with bottle caps -- except we have made giant rainbow crayons!!!!
This project is not new for me, but this time around I used old plastic measuring cups in the microwave that will now serve as melting cups and molds.  I started doing this after getting disgusted with my overly-used crafting only pot and pouring the hot wax. 

Okay this is really easy and so much fun for the kiddies!  Besides making way cool new crayons, your creating art!  My daughter loved seeing the colors blending together (we even did some painting on thin wood with the melted crayon wax).

Here we go:
1. take the paper off your crayons (i use crayola- i like the texure better)
2. break the pieces in even smaller pieces (the tinier they are the easier they melt)
3. put them in whatever cup or bowl you are using and microwave them with a cover on (do this using small increments of time - think of melting crayons-- 30 seconds, check it do it for another 30) you have to keep checking, Ive had some ready in a minute and some in 40 seconds...you have to eye it.
THIS IS GOING TO BE SCORCHING HOT-- DO NOT LET THE KIDS TOUCH IT, IVE GOTTEN BAD BURNS FROM THIS MYSELF.


Next step is different for those using the measuring cup/mold combo and those using a bowl and then pouring into a mold.

4a. if you have melted th crayons in the measuring cup - let it dry completely!  when its ready flip it over and tap the top until it come out.

4b. if you are pouring it into molds, quickly do so as it melts rather fast.  when its dry pop it out

Wallah!!!  funky beautiful new crayons that your kids can hold in their hands and they aren't easy to break!

 

 

**** I had to post this pic as well...this is what happened to my pot... do you see the flower????

 

De plane! De plane! Stranger Islands Joanie Wolkoff welcomes you to her Oasis!

Stranger Islands . Joanie Wolkoff . www.strangerislands.com

AGE: 31. 

HOMETOWN: Toronto, Canada. 

CURRENTLY LIVES IN: Brooklyn, where she sings and co-writes for Stranger Islands.

How do you describe you own personal style?
SW: A harmonious blend of Dr. Quinn medicine woman and Tracy Lords!!!

LOL!!!! Who inspires you?
SW: A handfull of people that I know really well, and from a distance anyone who appears to be showing the rest of us how it’s done.  I’m inspired by the way Annie Lenox, Christine McVie and Alla Pugacheva sang at the beginning of their recording careers.  And I'm inspired by anyone who makes a living doing what they love!

What is your favorite beauty product?
SW: I/m so glad you asked because when I'm not fantasizing about natural disasters or the apocalypse I'm usually thinking about LIPSTICK & PERFUME!!!!!!!!

So then you must tell us what your faves are!
SW:  My friend Jelena gave me a wonderful rose scented Anna Sui sheer lipstick that I have worn down to a nub.  As the years go by I tend towards less shiny lip products but its good to do yourself up with a little gloss at night!  I’ve decided that I cannot wear powder anymore...looks MORBID on me!!!  I try to be honest and wear as little foundation as possible, but you will rarely see me without MAC  concealer on my East European eye circles!  I use to be loyal to one perfume for years at a time, but I went to the darkside and have a dozen! 

Tell us about your ethnic background
SW: Speaking of Polish Pigmentation I am half Polish/Jewish, a quarter Danish and the rest is a Euro Stew!

A quick little piece of advice from you before we end this babySW: Eyes Peeled, Ears Open!


Thank you to my dearest Joanie for this interview!  She is beautiful, talented and an amazing human being who I am proud to call my friend! xoxoxoxoxoxoxo Love You!

Jeannine

Our Photoshoot! 

Building with bits & pieces!

building with bits & pieces

After 4 years of art college, sculpting was never my forte but I do enjoy gathering scraps and building something!  I'm like a kid with Lego's!  

Even though I constantly frequent antique shops, Home Goods and other home interior shops for great finds, I still find myself making home crafts!  I wanted something for a mantel piece that I created myself.  This what I ended up with:

 

WHAT I USED:

2 octagonal wood trays

an antique glass lamp

6 wooden dowels

twine rope

1/4 " sewing trim

an old finial

metallic paint in bronze and antique gold

Martha Stewart crackle

and my old reliable glue gun! 

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!!!

A Crackle a day!

I have been obsessed with Martha Stewart Crackle paint for awhile now...using it is a habit that I cannot seem to kick!  

Project 1:

The first project I want to share is my candlestick makeover!

I found this is my grandmothers house.  They were silver and had crystals hanging but a few were missing so I completely got rid of them all together.

Here are my steps!

I painted a base coat of Martha Stewart Primer. 

When dry I painted one light coat of crackle followed by a thicker coat in which I used a putty knife.

The next morning I used a dab of light metallic bronze paint mixed with varnish.

After it was completely dry I took a blade and scraped off some paint on the edges for a rustic feel.

I decided to replace the crystals that were missing with antique swarovski crystals from a chandelier that my mother once had.  

Here is the end result:

Project 2:

My second project was a little more tedious and I found using the crackle more difficult than usual.
I had these cute pieces from Home Goods that I purchased maybe 10 years ago. I didn't want to abandon these so I left one the way it was and crackled the other.  Here it is!

I used Martha Stewart texture paint as a base coat and then used the putty knife for the crackle.  I put about 3 heavy layers on.

The Trashed Chair Project!

One mans junk is another mans treasure...I highly stand behind this saying!  

A couple of months ago I found this Gem of a chair in the trash by an apartment building in Brooklyn.  The cushion was ripped apart and it was a mess, but nothing a little TLC wouldn't fix! 

I brought this baby home and immediately brought it to the backyard where I performed upholstery surgery! I stripped it completely of all fabric, cushion, nails, springs and tacks.  It took me a good 2 hours to remove everything and bring it down to just the frame.

I purchased gorgeous fabric at $3.99 a yard.  I purchased 3 yards and probably used about 1.5 yards total on this.  I used about 200 upholstery tacks as well.  I made a template for the seat and had it cut out of wood.  

I painted the entire chair with antique black paint, I made sure I got every nook and cranny of the details.  When completely dried, I then used a dry brush and lightly painted with metallic gold paint and then metallic silver on certain spots. I made sure to only paint the outer parts of the wood so that the black would show giving that antique feel.

 I drilled the seat on, added foam cushion which cost about $2.00 and also I added a feather down pillow for comfort. The next day I sewed the material to the cushion for the top backing of the chair.  

This was such an easy and fun project to work on, and the end result made me proud!  In all I spent about $20.00 on this baby! 

I am very pleased with the end result and it is beyond comfortable!  I made an ottoman for it as well from an antique piece my mom had given me years ago.I will post that soon.

So the next time you see a great find in the trash and it's looking a tad dingy, take it, call it yours and re create it!

xoxo