Ghostly Candles

As I took a work break this evening to tidy up the living room (yeah, I take fun breaks like that), I saw this:


In this picture, ignore everything but the candles on top of the piano. (My camera battery is charging and I just so happened to have taken this pic today to show someone the fireplace and its need for TLC). So, the candles…

They were THISCLOSE to being taken upstairs and added to the “we need this when the power goes out” stash. Then, I saw ghosts. Well, kinda….

Not in a Sixth Sense kind of way—in a ‘hey, those might make cute ghosts” kind of way

I went in search of something black that I could cut up. No dice. I thought about the trash bags, but didn’t think Dustin would be too keen on that idea. Especially since I needed about a 6inch square piece. So, I whipped out a piece of computer paper, a pencil, and a Sharpie and got to work, old school style.



I drew them with a pencil and then got high on Sharpie fumes colored them in with Sharpie.
With a little clear tape balled up, they stuck like a charm (that spray adhesive is still MIA) (which shouldn’t surprise me since I haven’t looked for it)

 
And, there you have ‘em. Spooky, scary, 4 minute candle ghosts that can head back to the top of the piano for another month, week, and a day.

Should it creep me out that the camera battery died as SOON as I took the ghost pictures?!

Jar O’Lanterns

This project just happened to kinda fall into place this evening.

I decided to take a work break… well, my internet decided for me. I had something in mind, but it morphed as I went along.

These were going to be completely painted solid jars to look like pumpkins. They were also going to be made out of the chipped canning jars that I can’t use to can with (nor could I locate a single one of them when I gathered my supplies)

Apparently, I was too excited to take a pic before I started anything. This project started with three jars. Two were different sizes of old olive jars and the other was a smallish pizza sauce jar.



I started by making the faces with tape… bad idea. It was a PAIN. Then, I cut them out of newspaper and planned to use my spray adhesive…. that I couldn’t find. So, I pulled out Plan C, which worked perfectly:

 

I cut the shapes I wanted out of PressN Seal, pressed and sealed them onto the jars and gathered my paint. I think it's cool that it looks etched at this point.


I just happened to have these two cans of Krylon. One from a baby room project and one from a desk paint job gone bad. Before I found these, I had already gathered my craft paint and was planning to mix up my own orange… these were PERFECT… the one is even “Pumpkin Orange”!



I gave them all three a coat of the Baumaus Gold first (I had more of it). Then, they got a coating of the orange. I also wanted an uneven color job. (See that coffee can in the background… that’ll have to get finished this week). And, because I can’t leave well enough alone… I also had a can of redish Krylon primer that I used on the coffee can. I gave my little pretties a quick spritz of it and ended up giving them a slightly freckly look.. just like their momma.

 

The PressN Seal worked like a charm!It came off easily and left fairly decent paint lines. I wasn’t too picky about that though… they are recycled used jars I’ve had since last winter, afterall..
The tops did need something… but it wasn’t too much that some sisal and jute couldn’t cover.



I was going to just do one or the other but decided to just do them both and the same time.


Their debut in front of my pumpkinless pumpkin centerpiece that the dog ate.

I thought about putting lids on them, but didn’t in case I decide to put real candles in them. For tonight, they have battery powered ones to show their errie spooky jack o’lantern selves off.



Totally FREE! :)

*Why do my jack o’lanterns either look dopey or scary? I couldn’t get just ONE cute one out of the bunch! :)

**Check out the linky parties I’ll be taking these bad boys to! They are on the top under Linky Party Love.

***And, stay tuned! After the emails I got from my hot Dr. Pepper and lemon post, I’m thinking about hosting my FIRST linky party. So, pull out those gross sounding family recipes that are surprisingly delicious! :) We’re gonna be having a “What do you eat when no one is watching?” par-tay coming soon.

**** Have I mentioned that my one year of blogging is quickly approaching? And that I'm working on some great giveaways for October? No? I haven't? Well, get ready!