Painted Votive Candleholders

In preparation for the spring craft show season, I decided to add some accessories to my product line.  I needed something, quick, easy.  I had already decided to add a few shabby chic rose votive holders:

Get the instructions here!

but still felt I needed something more.  I decided to try my hand at painting some glass jars.  So, I gathered some paint, sponges, glass jars, and these amazing stencils:

Plaid Peel & Stick Stencils

Word to the wise, I think these stencils work best on flat objects, not rounded ones like I used.  These stencils have enough tack for up to 20 uses and are washable. I found them extremely easy to wash between uses then put back on the plastic until I was ready to use again.

For the flower pot votive candle holders, I used the long stencil on the bottom:

Dabbled with two or more colors (here's the stencil in reuse):

Each took less than five minutes. Here are some finished products:

I also used the larger flower stencils on some roly poly candle holders:

Another project I tried but did not feel quite as successful was to create "stained glass" candle holders.  Using the flower pots and two colors of paint, I painted vertical lines/squares in one color and horizontal lines/squares in the others:

I like the blue version, but am not fond of the red and yellow. Maybe my Chi Omega sisters would enjoy!  It's ok to let the streak lines appear - they add to the direction the paint was used.

So, we'll see how these work next week, when I hope to participate in the first show of the season. Wish me luck!

*Votive candle holders, Libbey Glass Outlet
*Paints and stencils, Plaid from Hobby Lobby
*Votive candles, D'Lites by Dorene

Don't have time to make your own? Please email me for information on custom orders!

Christmas In April

I have to share with you this photo of my gorgeous Christmas cactus. Yes, it's April and the plant decided to bloom. Not that I mind...I always enjoy having flowers in my home!

Why it's blooming now, I can't say. Something in its chemistry, in its environment, makes it happy right now.

I was never interested in gardening growing up. In fact, it would be more accurate to say I had a true disdain for the activity and wanted nothing to do with it. So imagine everyone's surprise when I developed the proverbial green thumb.

I don't know how I developed a skill.  I do read some, and I've always learned by the trial and error method. Along the way I've picked up two tonics (and one variation) that I use when watering my plants:

1. Coffee water. Yep. Mother introduced me to this one. I add the leftover morning coffee to my watering pot then top it off with tap water. I highly recommend diluting the coffee and not pouring it straight onto your plants. Otherwise your plants will smell like...well...coffee. (If you like a coffee fragrance in your home, I can introduce you to a lovely Hazelnut Latte candle!)
2. Tea water. This is a variation of coffee water. If you're a tea, not a coffee drinker, start with tea as your base then top off your pot with tap water. I've found tea water best to use when the tea is too old to drink.
3. My secret tonic water. Actually, I was introduced to this "recipe" many years ago when I used to watch the Lynette Jennings show on the Discovery Channel. Take a used steel wool pad and drop it in tap water. I use an old plastic coffee can and used SOS pads. Let the water cure for at least a week before use. Add one cup of the tonic to your watering pot before topping with tap water.

All three tonics will be brown, and you'll wonder why in the world to use such a yucky combination on your plants. Trust me, they work!

What are you favorite tricks for your garden or your houseplants?