Oz-Inspired Birthday --- Bottle Of Oz

As I continued through my path to bringing a special friend a special bit of "The Wizard of Oz" for her very special birthday - I wanted to give her a piece of the Emerald City to carry with her (and not just as earrings). (And glitter is the way to a girl's heart - at least some of them. It makes the day better. It puts a smile on a girl's face. It sparkles and it shines and lets it be okay.)

I made her a bottle necklace full of bits of Oz. (Magic pieces of sparkling green bits.)



 
Supplies:
* Small glass bottle (from my stash of little glass bottles).
* Chord
* Craft glue
* Loose glitter - I used a fine silver glitter for the lettering and larger flakes of green glitter for inside the bottle.
*Paper or whatever to protect the work area.

I attached the chord to the bottle with a secure knot. Then using the end of a paint brush, I carefully painted the letters "O" and "Z" down the front to spell "OZ," then sprinkled liberally with the loose fine silver glitter. Then let dry. (Completely!)

I made a thick layer of glue to the top of the lid then covered the glue with a thick layer of the silver glitter to match the letters. Then I let dry. Shake off the excess glitter.

After the glue on the glittered letters and top dries - I filled with the inside with loose green glitter.

Celebrate the little bit of Oz and the Emerald City in all of us!

Crash Box - Make Some Noise

Crash. Bam. There is an often used theatrical prop that the audience doesn't see, but is more likely to hear. For those who have ever sat in the theater and wondered about the crash heard offstage. More than likely its a Crash Box, an easy to create box that contains objects to make the crash sounds without shards of glass going everywhere.

Collect discarded or broken dishes and/or knick knack type things. (I had a couple broken dishes and a few broken Christmas ornaments to use.) Whatever it is make sure it IS NOT something that is good beause it will get broken and beat up. I added the broken dishes and ornaments with a couple empty and cleans cans from my recycling bin.

Place the broken dishes and whatever else you have to make noise inside a sturdy cardboard box. (Easy, right?) You want enough to make noise inside, more or less can be used depending on what you are doing.

Secure the ends of the box and sides with a sturdy tape like duct tape. Don't be stingy as you don;t want little shards of glass to escape. Secure and wrap to make sure all the seams and openings are taped well. (Then tape again to make sure.)

Once everything is secured drop. (I always writer "Crash Box" on the side to make it clear what it is) Eventually after enough dropping and crashing the bits will get so broken up that it will be tie to discard and start all over as needed  Usually you can get at least a show run or so out of the without any problems.

Make some noise.

Bottle Amulet on Beaded Necklace

Yes, another beaded project from cheap little set of beads and wire I go not long enough. This time it's a beaded necklace with a small glass jar amulet.

I used one piece of wire of desired length, the beaded a small section in the central point to wrap around the top of the bottle. (It's held in place by wrapping it around the narrow point, leaving the wider sections above and below.) I secured with a twist, then beaded the sides of the necklace. Using a small section of jewelry making chain and a clasp I finished off the necklace.

For a little more flair I used extra pink seed beads (like the ones used in the necklace) to embellish the lid, attaching them with my mini hot glue gun. I'm a bit torn on how I feel about the lid, but for now it stays.

It's all ready for perfumed oil or a "secret potion." It is that time of year again to think about Ren. Festivals.

Flowered Bottle Necklace

Happy First Day of Spring!

In honor of this wonderful time of year, I was inspired to find a new project for some things I had sitting around here. Recycling some little bottles I had on hand I came up with this flowered bottle necklace that I am considering filling with wildflower seeds to wear carry with me. (Or to give to a friend to carry with them.) Sometimes, a person just needs to have some flowers to share with then world, even in the most powerful form of a seed. This is a super simple project that definitely helped me celebrate the coming of Spring and all it's beauty.

 I started with small glass bottle, I had left from candy making at Christmas time. (Every year I made hard candy for Christmas.) I have a small stash of these small bottles that the flavorings for the candy come in, cleaned and the labels removed. (So don't be surprised to see more projects utilizing these.)

Using acrylic painted I attacked a couple of these small bottles with greens and flowers, letting them dry between layers and then again at the end. (Of course, any theme could work.)

Once dry, I attached hemp cord securely around the neck of the bottle, knotting. (It has a nice earthy look and feel.) Using a bead pattern, I knotted the cord every so bit and added earth tone pony beads, securing the beads with the cord. I finished the end with a knot, leaving the cord long enough to slip over my head without needing a latch. (You could use any jewelry making technique, macrame knots, braid, or selection of beads. The one pictured is just the one I chose this time.)

Now, they just need to be filled with flower seeds and are ready to go. (Maybe give Mother Nature a bit of help spreading her colors.) Bring on Spring! Bring on the flowers!

(Of course, it also could be used for scented oils or something.)

Bottles of Irish Spirit

Still in the prep work for my St.Patrick's Day dinner I knew I needed some festive centerpieces for the table. So, I came up with these festive Bottles of Irish Spirit.

Using an empty and clean green bottle, I removed the labels, then dried thoroughly. (In this case I used bottles from Hard Cider that were in my recycle box.) Using a white and shamrock ribbon I attached a "label" with my hot glue gun (a wonderful invention). Then embellished the bottle by attached a fabric white rose I made before hand and ribbon to the front, again with the hot glue gun. (Find the instructions for the Fabric Rose here.)

Inside the clean bottle (no cider remnants here), I stuffed some green shamrock decorative wire I had left over what something I wore to a St. Patty's Day party last year. (Don't worry there was more involved than just the shamrock wire.) Then topped the bottle off with a green felt circle and a little bit more of the white ribbon with my hot glue gun.

The whole project cost nothing extra, using things I already had here, empty bottles for recycling, and scrap fabric from the place mats I already made and took very little time. And they are going to look great with the rest of the St. Patty's goodies for my table.