Harry Potter Week, Make your Own Wand

This project was so simple and turned out amazing.  All you need is some paper and a hot glue gun and you have a blank wand.  Add some paint and this thing really comes to life.  This thing can be done without very much time or effort and the results are pretty astounding.  I have seen other ways to make wands if you have had some great results from any of those other methods let me know and maybe I can give it a try as well. 

Harry Potter Week of Projects, The Cauldron

This was one of my favorite projects to do.  I did not have particularly high hopes for how it would turn out.  This may have been because I have not used paper-mâché since I was in fourth grade to do a project where I created the solar system.  But paper-mache is pretty awesome.  You can really create something out of nothing.  Using a balloon and part of an egg carton for the shape, just some paper and modge podge to cover the balloon and egg carton to get the basics of the project.  Put some additional layers on to give it more structure.  Let it dry then pop the balloon.  after that you need to put a rim on it with some additional paper and modge podge.  After that dries it is ready for some paint.  Once the paint dries you have an awesome cauldron that is sturdy enough to use for candy or treats. 

Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Decorations

So this was another one of my pinterest fails.  But after having completed it I think I could do a much better job on this.  First off, I did not know what kind of string to use.  Either thinkness would have worked, but to look like the pin, it would require the thinner string over the yarn.  Most of what my attempt missed is a lot more string.  I was being far to conservative with the amount of string I was using.  Be incredibly generous with the amount of string you use.  It will help it to maintain its shape and look a lot better in the end.  Any ideas for another Nightmare Before Christmas project  let me know in the comments. 

Wine Bottle Jack-O-Lantern

This project was the start of my Halloween projects for the month of October.  There are so many options for projects for Halloween but not all of them require me to drink a bottle of wine.  So this is where I decided to begin my Halloween projects.  Some orange paint, a little tape and a marker and you are all set.  They used spray paint in the pin and I chose to be cheap, and buy the dollar acrylic paint, which was a regrettable decision.  When I pulled the tape up, the paint was coming off with it.  Spray paint was probably the way to go with this.

Filing Cabinet Transformation

It was about the time I did this project that I started to feel like I was getting the hang of doing these videos.  Now I know I still have a lot of room for improvement, but I was getting into the swing of things and making time every week to do these videos and make sure I was being consistent with it if nothing else.  This project was my favorite result that I have done so far.  I turned out great and looks awesome in my apartment.  It is a great project for anyone who has a filing cabinet that makes their office space look boring.  An hour or two of work and it really changes how a room feels.  I'm hoping to do more furniture transformation in the near future.  If you have done or found any awesome furniture transformations let me know.  I always love to fine more inspiration.   

Women's Duct Tape Wallet

So when I started the simple duct tape wallet I realized I should go above and beyond something so simple.  I figured it couldn't be much harder to do a woman's wallet.  And yes I was wrong, it is much more time consuming and more difficult.  The results I was able to come up with were also not as impressive.  There is a lot more room for decorative options, but I figured with my skill level I should avoid getting into that aspect of it.  

Simple Duct Tape Wallet

Watch the video here

I have seen some people do some amazing things with duct tape.  And now they make all these awesome decorative tapes, making me want to try these amazing creations.  So I thought I would start small.  A duct tape wallet.  Everyone and their moms have made one of these things at one time or another, or at least that is what it feels like with all the tutorials and images and ones you can buy online or at art walks.  So I figured this could not be that hard.  Now it not impossible by any means, but the medium is far less forgiving then I would have expected.  It is difficult to cut, keep it in a straight line and not get it stuck to anything.  Having said all that I would totally do it again.  The results are pretty decent and I always enjoy making something that can be used on a regular basis.  If you have any tips for working with duct tape or making duct tape wallets let me know.