Turn Candle Wax into Wax Seals

What's up guys! Are you ready for some crafty recycling?

In a previous post, I tried my hand at making some wax seals.

What made them unique was the wax I used -- instead of using ready-made wax sticks, I recycled some candle wax...TADA!

The candle wax was a little tricky to work with (compared to wax sticks) because it had a more runny consistency when melted and a more transparent finish when the wax set. It took me several experiments to get it right. The wax seals I made are perfectly imperfect but I had the best intentions -- to recycle old candle wax.

Let me show you a few ideas on how to put these wax seals to good use: 

The first is how they are traditionally used -- to seal an envelope. The design stamped on the wax is usually the family crest or an identifying mark of the sender. If the wax is broken that means the envelope has been opened and the contents read.

I glued on a pressed flower in addition to the wax seal...TADA!

This is an envelope that I made using a supermarket flyer. I addressed it with calligraphy and a dainty wax seal...TADA!

I love sending out Thank You cards to thoughtful friends. It's a kind gesture and the expression of appreciation never goes out of style. Sometimes I even make my own Thank You cards. This one is made of different kinds of scrapbook paper with a wax seal as an added detail...TADA!

Finally, here is a gift box dressed up with scrapbook paper, a message created with rubber stamps and an ink pad, and a wax seal.

It's a simple way to wrap a present yet is full of sweet sentiments.

These are just some of the ways I transformed wax seals (made from old candle wax) from blah to TADA!

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Dried Flowers: Hydrangea

I hope you are feeling great!

I've been doing a lot of projects involving dried flowers and flower pressing. These treasures from nature are quite inspiring and don't cost anything if you already have the materials on hand. I also like to do it because it preserves a moment in time that I will never get back. 

 

During the summer, I pick up hydrangeas from the park. I flatten it in the flower press and frame it afterwards. I like that the lilac colors of the petals are still vibrant. 

In the winter, you'll still see some hydrangea bushes around but the flowers turn into these petrified specimens. Their color and soul seem to have disintegrated with the cold. But hey, let's give them a chance.

 

I took some dried hydrangeas home and put them in my flower press.

I also separated the petals in smaller clusters. 

I sandwiched the flowers in between layers of paper and cardboard.

I screwed the lid on and tightened it every day for a week. 

This is what the flowers look like after pressing...TADA! 

Let me show you some crafty ways to use these dried hydrangea flowers:

I got this clear locket from the craft store. I gently placed the pressed hydrangea petal inside the locket and closed the hinge.

A necklace charm with antique and sentimental feels...TADA!

For the next craft, let's use dried hydrangea flowers to add flourish to our cards and letters.

I've seen calligraphers do this trick. They add dried flowers like baby's breath at the center of the envelope.

Pour a bit of melted wax and emboss a wax seal to keep the pressed hydrangea in place.  

Such a romantic touch! But these should be hand-delivered because the dried flowers will never survive the mail. But if you'd like to mail them, put these inside a padded mailer envelope.

For the final craft idea, here's what we'll need: pressed hydrangea flowers, a mason jar with removable two-piece lid, scrapbook paper and acetate (both cut in the size of the mason jar lid).

Sandwich the elements in this order: (1)flat bottom of mason jar lid, (2)scrapbook paper, (3)dried hydrangea flowers, (4)acetate, (5)screw-on mason jar lid. Use one finger to hold the elements in place while you screw the lid onto the jar.

It makes for a nice memory jar. Fill it with souvenirs from a trip (ex. small rocks and shells) or use it to wrap small gifts like jewelry.

Note that even without a flower press, you can still press flowers using heavy books (just position the flowers in between layers of paper and cardboard to protect the pages of the books).

These are just a few ways I turned dried hydrangea flowers from blah to TADA!

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Faux Gold Leaf

Hi everyone!

Gold leaf is used in so many crafts from artwork to furniture. It gives any piece a golden glow and elicits the reaction, "Wow, that's expensive!" Gold leaf comes in thin sheets and is applied on objects with adhesive and a paintbrush.

In the spirit of transforming the "blah" to "TADA!" let's play with faux gold leaf.

In a previous post, I wrote about making my own illuminated bookmark using a Gothic-style font and gilding it with gold leaf. Except that I didn't use gold leaf. I used gold-foil chocolate wrapper.

The foil used to wrap chocolates. Yes, that's the one.

I cleaned it with a damp towel and allowed it to dry. I also weighed it down with a few heavy books to flatten it. It will have creases but that's okay.

I got so excited over this material! It came free with my chocolate and the sheen definitely adds life to my crafts. 

Here are a few more ways where I used this faux gold leaf:

I used faux gold leaf to embellish a plain greeting card...TADA! I added other elements, too, like stickers, sequins, punched-out paper, and glitter glue.

I really like the gold sheen it gives to the card.

Here is another card that I made. I decorated it with punched-out paper, washi tape, rubber stamps and an ink pad, plus a strip of the faux gold leaf.

I think the faux gold leaf bring some "you are extra-special" vibes to the card.

This envelope was once packaging for a delicious bar of chocolate. It was printed on heavy, textured paper and had gold details, I just had to keep it for crafting purposes.

I covered up the branding with paint and turned it into an envelope...TADA!

As additional embellishments, I added faux gold leaf, old book pages, and punched out paper in collage-style application. 

Here is the back-side of the envelope...TADA!

I can fill it with little cards and personalize it with a dear friend's name.

And there you have it -- handmade cards decorated with faux gold leaf. That's how I turned plain paper from blah to TADA!

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Ziptop Envelopes

Hi there everyone!

A few years ago, I made this envelope using scrapbook paper remnants:

Apart from the cute paper and adorable contents, what's unique about it was its zipper top.

I rescued the zipper slider from some food packaging, rinsed it, and snipped off the bottom portion of the bag.

I glued on the zipper slider on one side of the scrapbook paper to make a different kind of envelope...TADA! You'll find the full tutorial of this ziptop envelope here.

Well, I thought I'd make a few more. They are all made from scrapbook paper and embellished with stickers, ephemera, and rubber stamps: 

And all of them have these resealable closures! They make for a quick gift wrapping solution.

That is how I turned zipper tops from food packaging from blah to TADA!

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Easy Gift Ideas for Father's Day

Hello there! It's Father's Day weekend.

If you're lucky to still have a dad, make sure to give him some extra loving this week or this entire month.

Give him a call if you live far away. If it's easy to visit, spend a day with him and take him to a special place from your childhood -- a coffee shop, restaurant, store, movie theater or where you watched or played sports.  

Buy him a coffee and use these ideas for an extra-special touch:

Write a message on the coffee cup using a permanent marker...TADA!

Decorate a blank cardboard coffee sleeve with brush lettering.

Brew your dad some coffee and pour it into a reusable coffee tumbler (that can be a gift for him to keep and use regularly). The coffee sleeve will relay your message...TADA!

Maybe your dad prefers a beer. That works, too! The cardboard coffee sleeve works just as well for a bottle or can...TADA!

Whether it's your dad, father-in-law, brother who's a dad, cousin who's a dad, friend who's a dad, make sure to turn their day from blah to TADA!

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A Pressed Hydrangea

Just as daffodils and forsythia herald springtime, hydrangeas are nature's way of saying, "It's summer!"

Southern Lady Magazine

I love hydrangeas and their big, bulbous buds. Just one stem is enough to fill a regular-sized vase.

They're still pretty when they wither and I thought I might try pressing it.

Good thing it fits my flower press!

I sandwiched it in between layers of paper.

There's a layer of cardboard, too.

I positioned the top piece of my flower press.

And screwed on the wing bolts.

Every day, I tighten the bolts to flatten it evenly.

After a several days in the press, here is my hydrangea...TADA!

Lift it gently and position it on a floating glass frame (I centered it on a piece of cloth to accentuate the petals and this also adds thickness in between the glass for a snug closure).

Secure the top glass and lock in place.

Display it in a favorite spot so it will feel like summer all year round...TADA!

If you don't have a flower press, you can use heavy books instead. It's fun to try out especially if you want to save sentimental flowers that you've received. 

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In My Tool Box: Elastic String

Hi everyone!

I've accumulated quite a number of things in my craft arsenal and I thought I'd share them with you. Maybe you'll find some ideas to start a project, or possibly a solution to a crafty conundrum, or maybe you've seen something similar at the store and not quite sure how to use it.

For today, let me tell you about elastic string or stretchy cord. You'll find it in the jewelry section of the craft store and it comes in different widths and colors. My preference are the white or clear ones because these easily blend in or become invisible. 

Here, I'm making a bracelet using wooden beads. With the wrist (child or adult) as reference, measure the elastic string the size of the wrist and add two to three inches. Cut the string then add the beads. Close the loop with several knots and hide these knots by tucking it into one of the beads. 

An easy to assemble bracelet even a preschooler can make...TADA! 

This one uses a thinner elastic string and smaller beads that can be embellished with tassels, pompoms, and even charms...TADA! 

For a more mature look, I've strung amber beads on this one. It can be worn as a stack of bracelets or as a hair tie...TADA!

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Here is another idea:

I made a bowl cover...TADA!

It's made from scrap fabric. I measured the circumference of the bowl and multiplied that number by 2 to get the size I needed.

Then I cut the fabric.

I sewed the outer ends onto the fabric to form a pocket where I inserted the elastic string. I pulled the string (so that the edges gathered up) and tied a knot. I think I'll make a few more of these covers to match the bowls I own. That way I can re-use them and in the process, I am able to avoid plastic wrap.   

I also made a bigger fabric cover for my stand mixer. When not in use, I store the attachments (ex. whisk and paddle) inside the bowl and the cover protects the inside of the bowl from getting dusty...TADA! 

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Elastic string is also useful to make accessories.

This is a hair scrunchie cobbled together using floral fabric with a strip of elastic tucked inside. 

During the height of the pandemic, I made a few face masks using old t-shirts and elastic string.

Here's another face mask decorated with floral embroidery...TADA!

As you can see, elastic string is a good addition to a crafter's tool box. How about you, what are the ways you use elastic string?  

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