Teaching Thursdays: Elegant Witch’s Hat Centerpiece

This project was created by Holli Long. To see more of Holli’s work visit her blog, Every Days A Holli Day.

I’ve always wanted to paint a witch’s hat for my yearly Halloween decorations.  I found this little baby at Michaels and couldn’t resist!  I decided to use the beautiful new Elegant Halloween trend to paint it.  It’s a quick project, this one taking me just a couple of hours one morning.

I decided to basecoat the hat with Licorice to begin with, but definitely wanted the hat to be glittery silver when I was finished.

I double loaded a large flat brush with Light Gray and Silver Sterling and coated the entire hat.  Every so often, I would pick up a little bit of Gunmetal Gray to add to the mix.

When it was dry I painted three light coats of Silver Extreme Glitter over the entire surface.

I freehanded these swirls with a liner brush, using Metallic Sequin Black.  This paint is thin enough that I didn’t have to add water to it to make these beautiful swirls.

I used hot glue to add the ribbon and bat as embellishments.

Elegant Witch’s Hat Centerpiece Supplies:

Folk Art® Acrylic Colors: 424 Light Gray, 928 Licorice

Folk Art® Metallic Colors: 662 Metallic Silver Sterling, 667 Gunmetal Gray

Folk Art® Extreme Glitter: 2787 Silver

Paper Mache Witch’s Hat, large flat brush, liner brush, orange sheer ribbon, black rick rack, black bat with glittery wings embellishment

Paint Me Plaid’s Halloween Giveaway

With Halloween right around the corner, we would like to help out our blog readers by doing a Halloween Giveaway. There are so many great Halloween crafts to make, and in case you are still looking for ideas, make sure you check out Plaid’s Halloween page. We are giving away 2 prize packs to 2 lucky Paint Me Plaid readers. The prize pack will include the following:

A 4 pack of Apple Barrel Glow in the Dark Paints

A bottle of Glo Away

A 8oz. bottle of Stiffy

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below, telling us what Halloween craft you would create using any of these items.

For extra entries (leave a separate comment for each):

Check out our sister blog, Plaid Kid’s Crafts, and let us know a project you find there that you think is cool

Like Plaid on Facebook and let us know you entered the giveaway

Follow @PlaidCrafts onTwitter

Entries will be accepted beginning today, and end on Friday October 7th at 12pm EST. We will announce the 2 winners on Friday afternoon October 7th.

Web Wednesday: Magnetic Bookmark Using New Martha Stewart Stencil

So many of our craft friends have been making wonderful crafts with the new Martha Stewart Craft line from Plaid. Here is another craft we wanted show off. This adorable bookmark came from our friend Nikki, from Nikki in Stitches. This glitter bookmark, is a great craft for any level of crafter, and Nikki gives great instructions to follow. This project was created using scrapbook paper, Martha Stewart adhesive stencils, and glitter transfer paper. Click here to learn how to make this. Have you seen the new stencils from the Martha Stewart Craft line? If not don’t wait another minute, check them out now!

Save The Tatas: Plaid Supports Breast Cancer Awareness – Libby’s Story

Last week we here at Plaid kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month a little early. There was a celebration for one of our Plaid family members, Libby Kelley, a breast cancer survivor. Read more about Libby, and her story below.

You may wonder why would a breast cancer survivor throw a celebration party?! Well, if it wasn’t for my Plaid family and friends, I would never had made it through my surgery and cancer treatments. I wanted to bring everyone together, and thank them for all their support. During the party I had two cakes this time, and one was in the shape of a ladies breast. Thanks to another Plaid employee, Laura Brunson, for sharing her cake decorating talents. I have been breast cancer free for 5 years! 5 years is a mile stone and I am looking forward to the next 5 years, along with  another celebration. They say after 10 years you are cancer free, well I’m half way there.

On September 27th 2006, I received a call here at Plaid from my doctor telling me I had breast cancer.  I took the news like most women I know. I became a raging lunatic with a my truck drivers/sailors mouth. Within minutes I was surrounded by my Plaid family offering to help. That’s where my journey began. From that day forward I was blessed with a great support system. I received calls from everyone including, our CEO/ President Mike McCooey, and his wonderful Wife Sandra. They were always offering to help and checked up on me. One thing about our Plaid family, you will never go hungry or be alone.

I made the decision to work while going through chemo and radiation (It was my personal decision). To tell you the truth I didn’t want to be miserable alone.  Everyone was very supportive and understanding during that difficult time in my life.  My friends and co-workers even made sure my wigs were on straight, and my false eyelashes were never askew.  I would change wigs and confuse everyone. They never knew what I was going to look like 🙂  I just made the best of a bad situation.

Here’s a little advise, don’t just trust your yearly exam, and check your breast often. Cancer isn’t always a lump, it can be a red mark, it can be drainage, it can be the feel of calcification under the skin.  Just don’t assume, and always get it checked out.  I waited until I was due for my next mammogram.  Not a good move! My cancer was very aggressive, a little like me.

Don’t give up. Laugh, and turn it over to God. Let him handle the stress. I did and it worked for me. Can you guess what I did in my spare time while recuperating? I crafted of course! Painting is one of my favorite hobbies. I became very creative with FolkArt paints.

Love my job, and Plaid!

Libby

Tuesday Huesday: An Elegant Halloween Wedding

Usually when most people think of weddings, Halloween is not the most common time people choose for their big day. Although it may be an uncommon time of year for a wedding to most, many people do get married on or around this holiday. Halloween can be very elegant, and decorations don’t have to include spiders, monsters, or ghosts. Take a look at this reception room, that was decorated for a Halloween wedding. This is very nice, and unique. If you are looking for new and different Halloween decorating ideas, use this room as inspiration to plan an elegant event during Halloween. Do you know anyone who has gotten married on or around Halloween?

We created this color palette using FolkArt Acrylic paints, #938 Licorice, #440 Violet Pansy, # 2480 Metallic Royal Gold, #413 Pink, and # 427 Ivory White.

Make it Monday: Elegant Halloween Wreath Decor

Project created by Julie Lewis

Halloween has always been a favorite and fun holiday. It’s not just for kids anymore and Halloween crafting and décor is fast becoming a seriously hot trend. Pairing elegant with Halloween takes crafting in a new direction and this hanging wreath shows what levels you can go to.

Here is what you’ll need:

FolkArt® Acrylic Paint – 479 Pure Black, 660 Pure Gold, 741 Glazed Carrots, 2577 Toasted Vanilla

FolkArt® Extreme Glitter™ – 2786 Gold, 2793 Orange, 2797 Black

FolkArt® Crackle Medium – 696

Wood bird cut out, 3” wood disk, 14” paper Mache or wood wreath, Black feathers, Glue, #1 Liner brush, ½” Flat brush,

Pencil, Black/Cream damask ribbon, Wire, Scissors, Antique gold purse/drapery ring, a Ruler

Gather your supplies…

Basecoat your wreath and bird with Pure Black.

Let dry thoroughly.

Generously apply Crackle Medium to wreath in a slip slap motion.

This is what it will look like when completely covered. Set aside to dry while you go on to something else. It should lose its shiny appearance when dry.

Apply Black Exteme Glitter to bird. Let dry between coats and apply as many coats as desired for maximum glitter.

Paint your wood disk with Glazed Carrots and when dry, apply Orange Extreme Glitter. Extreme Glitter is awesome anytime but, it’s especially awesome for Halloween!

Now let’s crackle! It’s no secret that I love crackle so I have to use it again here. Apply Toasted Vanilla in the same slip slap motion all over the wreath.

Try not to overlap where you started as it will already have crackled by the time you get around the wreath. It’s so cool to watch!

Ta da!

Paint the inner and outer lip with Pure Gold.

Now apply the Gold Extreme Glitter.

Rub your pencil over the back of your flying witch pattern.

Trace onto your glittered disk. Press hard as the surface will be slightly rough.

It will be slightly hard to see but, there will be enough to go by.

Paint your witch with a liner brush in Pure Black. Keep your pattern handy to refer to if any parts are too hard to read.

Paint a few starburst shapes and you are done with the moon!

Paint accent lines on crow with liner brush. Create eye by using opposite end of brush dipped in paint.

Starting at sixteen inches, cut lengths of ribbon descending in size to about nine inches.

Fold each length in on itself and glue at the center.

When all your loops are glued, stack them and tie in center with wire.

Fan the loops out to create bow.

Glue a small piece of ribbon around center to hide wire.

Cut two lengths of ribbon and glue back to back for hanger.

Glue feathers to bottom end of wreath.

Glue bird and moon in place.

Glue bow and hanger ribbon in place.

Thread ring through loose end of hanger and secure at desired length.

Originally elegant!

Celebrate Craft Week Beginning October 3rd with The Martha Stewart Show

Tune in to “The Martha Stewart Show” on the Hallmark Channel beginning Oct. 3, 10 a.m. (eastern) as Martha herself introduces Plaid’s new Martha Stewart Crafts™ products while celebrating Craft Week!

Martha and her crew will be creating with a selection of Martha Stewart Crafts products, spotlighting her multi-surface acrylic craft paint on both Oct. 3-4.

To recognize the products’ premiere, Michaels Stores are offering some super daily deals: Shop on Oct. 3 and get 50% off Martha Stewart Crafts paint; on Oct. 4, the daily deal will be 50% off Martha Stewart Crafts paint mediums.

A variety of Martha Stewart Crafts products will be shown later in the week and periodically throughout the season.

Enjoy wonderful inspiration from Martha, then visit your local Michaels store to stock up on Martha Stewart Crafts for all of your holiday and everyday crafting needs!