| .: Our Store :. |
| Two Old Crows
|
| .: Etsy :. |
|
|
|
| .:Artwork :. |
|
|
|
http://www.2oldcrows.com/_borders/primbuttonad.gif
.: Our Blogs :. |
|
|
|
| .: Quote of the Month :. |
"What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come."
~ Oprah Winfrey
|
| .: Craft Tip :. |
| Mirror Mirror If you're interested in seeing your creations - graphic or otherwise - in an objective way, hold the item up in front of and facing a mirror from a distance of 3 to 5 feet.. You'll be better able to critique your item and tell where another detail may be added, or another color repeated, or an area needs to be broken up with an addition of something.I rely on this method with everything I make and it never fails to give me success!
|
.: Newsletter Signup :. |
| Keep informed each month about what's happening at Two Old Crows Just takes a Minute ! Get great crafting tips, recipes and special sales by just clicking on Mailing List and signing up today
Mailing List
| |
| |
| How to Rust Items for that Primitive Look |
| Monday, October 30, 2006 |
Rusting Items
This recipe will nicely rust safety pins, jingle bells, or anything else you want to 'age' for your primitive creations.The most important thing to remember about rusting, is that you will want to buy the cheap brand of pins, safety pins, bells..ect that you can find. The more expensive brands have a shellac coating on them that you will have to sand off before rusting. Makes sure they are NOT brass either -brass will not rust.Do this outside away from children and pets.....the fumes are terrible !
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup bleach
1 teaspoon salt
Directions :
Combine the ingredients in an old quart jar.
Add items you want to rust and cover loosely - place in a safe spot and let set for at least 2 days.
Line a tray with a couple of layers of paper towel and remove the items with an old fork from the mixture. place in the sunshine .......the items will begin to rust as they dry. Move them around so that they dry on all sides.
Perfectly rusted bells, pins, and any other item you wish to rust.
Caution: do not throw the mixture down the sink- dispose of properly where no animal or child could come in contact with.
For more great crafting tips visit us at Two Old Crows Labels: crafting, crafts, how-to, primitives, rusting, rusting bells, rusting pins, rusting safety pins |
posted by Debbie- Two Old Crows (www.2oldcrows.com) @ 11:57 AM   |
|
|
|
| How to Make Grungy Candles |
| Wednesday, October 18, 2006 |
Grungy Candle
Grungy candles are very easy to make and just take a little time and patience
Supplies:
Pillar or regular stick candles - I look for these on sale or at backyard sales.
Spices such as cinnamon, crushed cloves,ginger,allspice, grated lemon peel, grated orange peel (use any mix of these spices you like)
Fragrance oil such as cinnamon ( you can scent these or not)
Paint brush
Wax paper
Directions:
Carefully melt your wax adding the fragrance if you like
Place wax paper on your table and add any mix of the above spicesPaint one strip on the candle and then while the wax is still hot, roll that part into the spices. Continue until completed.
Let your candle dry for at least 48 hours before using.
Try very hard not to get the hot wax and spices on your candle wick. But, you can apply extra wax on the candle to look like candle wax is melting down the candle.
A word of warning: Do not light these candles they are for decorative purposes only. If you are going to sell these or give them away be sure to include a warning with them
For more great crafting tips and techniques visit us at Two Old Crows Labels: candles, crafting, crafts, grungy candles, how to, primitives |
| posted by Debbie- Two Old Crows (www.2oldcrows.com) @ 2:55 AM |
|
|
|
| How to Make Sweet Potato Garland |
| Saturday, October 14, 2006 |
Sweet Potato Garland
Sweet potato garland is a wonderful accent to primitive or country decor. Stringed sweet potato garland is perfect for hanging on a primitive tree or as garland on a fire place or doorway. I don’t suggest putting it outside unless you don’t mind the varmit and birds eating it.
Supplies:
Sweet potatoes ( you can use regular potatoes)
Instant coffee
Spices- nutmeg, ginger and cinnamon
Cotton string
Needle
First make your coffee staining mixture
3 heaping tablespoons of instant coffee (I have found that the more expensive coffee gives a deeper stain)
1 cup of boiling water
Mix the two and let steep for a few minutes
Stain your piece of cotton string with this mixture by dipping it in and letting it dry ( I would not do a garland more than 6 feet long) dry this completely.
Do not peel the potatoes but just cut into 1 inch cubes
Mix equal amounts of your spices together in a pie pan
Soak the cubes of potatoes in the coffee mixture then roll them in the spices covering thoroughly ( I like to roll them all once and then roll again)
Tightly string the cubes together because they will shrink while drying
You can let these air dry or place in a 150 degree on a cookie sheet. Be sure to keep checking and scrunching them together as they dry to prevent gaps. ( Have found they are impossible to move on the string after drying)
These are a wonderful addition for fall decorating
For more great crafting tips and techniques visit us at Two Old Crows Labels: crafting, crafts, fall, fall crafting, garland, how to, primitives, sweet potatoe garland |
| posted by Debbie- Two Old Crows (www.2oldcrows.com) @ 7:14 AM |
|
|
|
| How to Make Rag Garland |
| Friday, October 13, 2006 |
Making Rag Garland
Making a rag garland is so simple and a great way to use up all of those fabric scraps you have lying around. They are great to use as swag and on trees. You can even do this on strings of lights instead of the the twine to make them even more festive
Supplies:
Scraps of homespun and other types of fabric
Twine
Scissors
Directions:
Cut a piece of twine 5" longer than the length of the finished swag you want
Make a fold at each end about 2 1/2 " long and tie it into a knot, leaving a loop for hanging.
Cut fabric strips 2" x 6". Each strip will take up about 1/4" of space on the garland so the length of the twine will determine how many strips you will need. For example for each 12 " of garland you will need 48 fabric strips. You can experiment with the strips to make it more or less full to your liking
Tie each strip of fabric into a knot around the twine, centering the knot on the fabric strip. Repeat for each strip of fabric
This takes some time but is great project to do in the evening watching tv. The possibilites are endless with the different fabrics you use.
For more great crafting tips and techniques visit Two Old Crows
Labels: crafting, crafts, how to, primitives, rag, rag garland |
| posted by Debbie- Two Old Crows (www.2oldcrows.com) @ 6:58 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
