Tutorial: Pictures and Frames

 Hey there!

I decided to add in a tutorial for the Salem Witch Academy frames just in case there is someone who needs a little help with that.

Whether you have a frame or pictures first, it is helpful to know what size they are. So get out that ruler and measure the inner dimensions of the frame.

If your picture is larger than your frame you can use the insert for the template to cut the picture, or the glass if it didn't have the insert anymore.

The frame is slightly smaller than the picture.

 

I used the insert that came in the frame as a cutting template to make it the correct size.

While the frame is all apart it's a great time to give the glass a quick clean and spray paint frame the desired color!

Then place the picture on the glass then add the cardboard and close the holder pins.

There it is. That one was easy! I actually took this one back apart and spray painted it black to match the theme.

  

Here is another example of an oval-shaped frame.

Repeat steps as above. 

Then I have one more example that has multiple pics in one frame.

The frames I used held three 4 x 6" pictures.

I cut the pictures to the correct size making them slightly larger than the 4 x 6" mat and used a glue stick to attach to the back of the cardboard frame. Then I painted the white mat black and inserted it back onto the glass and frame.

I had three pictures that fit stacked and three that were side by side. 

Happy October, Witches!

April

FriggleFraggle

Who's that Witch?

 Hey there!

This year's Halloween theme is The Salem Academy for Witches. I've already started decorating and have lots more to do but wanted to share some with you as I go along. I will be adding tutorials when I can.

Today's post is "Who's that witch?"  

For the Witch Academy, I wanted to display pictures of current and former students and staff. I rummaged through my basement and found some old frames that I have been saving for projects, repurposed some other, and purchased a few more at the dollar store. I painted most of them black sticking with the Haunted Mansion feel and hung them gallery-style on the wall in the stairway and threw in some keys, candles, and mirrors.

I found pictures online that I thought fit perfectly so I printed those in black and white or sepia and sized them to fit my frames. I made a small how-to tutorial for pictures if you need help.

Another picture I wanted was of the school that would be the Academy for Witches. I made a how-to tutorial on this as well because I had a very large frame that I wanted to put it in as a focal for the landing wall so I needed to make it BIG!

See ya tomorrow.

Happy crafting Witches!

April

FriggleFraggle

It's October Witches, Happy Halloween!

 Oh look, another glorious day...Makes me sick!

Ahh, October. That means Halloween and Halloween makes me Happy!

Get out your decorations (if you haven't already) and start decorating with me.

This month I will be posting what I'm doing in my house for Halloween along with tutorials and anything else that I can think to share.

I've already made a post about this year's theme The Salem Academy for Witches.

 I will be transforming my house into an alternate version of Hogwarts :)

Here is a sneak peek of my stairs.

Happy Halloween,

See ya tomorrow Witches!

April

FriggleFraggle

Halloween Theme This Year is...

 Hello there!

When the weather starts to change and whispers of Autumn can be seen I feel the need to start decorating for Halloween! 

Since moving to Canada it has started a little earlier than when I lived in the southern states. Some people think I am crazy but my friends know me so well they tip me off to the shops that are already displaying Halloween items so I can begin my shopping.

Every year I pick a theme. From Harry Potter at Hogwarts to Ghosts and Goblins, I enjoy many themes but save most of the gory, bloody stuff for the haunted houses.

This year I have decided to have a Witches School theme, not Harry Potter wizards more like Salem witches! So I began by collecting ideas with my kids on a Pinterest board as you can have collaborators so everyone can add ideas. After a few days be sat together and scrolled through the ideas until we agreed on

  the Salem Acadamy for Witches.

I have begun on projects and have lots more in the works. I like to give myself plenty of time to make them because, well, life is busy and I want to enjoy this! So, I will be posting as I go along with some tutorials if I remember to take pics along the way.

Stay tuned to see how the Salem Acadamy for Witches turns out.

Happy crafting Witches!

April

FriggleFraggle

12 Tutorials for a Bloody Halloween

Thirty-One Days of Halloween 

Day 9

Bloody Halloween

Happy 9th day of Halloween!

Only 21 days left until Halloween.

Have you thought of Having a Dexter or Vampire Party?

Here are some great tutorials for a bloody party.

Bloody Halloween Candles

Awesome tutorial by House of Dewberry

I have made quite a few of these. Many varieties, not just Halloween style.

Another fun craft using free products from around the house.

If you would rather have real candles 

Use a red waxed candle to melt bloody drips onto a white candle.

Bloody Cookies

Just melt some White chocolate and add red food coloring

-or-

use Wilton chocolate melts

then dip 1/2 the cookie then turn the dipped side up and let the chocolate run down.

Place on waxed paper to dry.

Bloody Candy Apples

also seen here

A fun and unique way to make candy apples.

Edible Blood Slides

Tutorial by Forkable 

Great for a Dexter Party!

Bloody Lollies

Bloody Eggs

Nice tutorial by PigPigscorner

These make me think of dragon eggs for some reason ;)

Blood Splatter Nails

Paint your nails white and add red blood splatter using red polish.

Here is a picture tutorial

Fake Blood Recipes

Blood Drip Earrings

tutorial by the Crafty Chicka

Bloody Zombie Nurse Costume

Here are lots more Bloody Halloween Costumes and Ideas.

Ciao

April

~FriggleFraggle~

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13 Halloween Bottle Tutorials

Thirty-One Days of Halloween 

Day 8

Halloween Bottles

Happy 8th day of Halloween!

Only 22 days left until Halloween.

Black Halloween Bottles

Grubby Halloween Bottles

Awesome tutorial from Magia Mia here

Classic White Halloween Bottles

Nice tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets here

Harry Potter Style Potion Bottles

with printable labels from Over the Big Moon Here

I love the look of this bottle

I need one of these cabinets in my Halloween Kitchen!

Everyone needs a little Magic Box

These cute little bottles are made out of beads

I made some of these for the Harry Potter Party

Great tutorial by Dave Lowe Design

I made some of these for the Harry Potter Party as well

Great tutorial HERE

Here is a simple but creepy Bottle

using a rubber snake

Bottles and candles

Halloween Cloche tutorial by Crafts and Coffee

Start collecting your jars. You can use pickle, salsa, olive or any food jars that go thru your kitchen. Also some call for plastic jars and soda bottles. I love projects that reuse items that would normally go to the dump, although I try to reuse and recycle as much as i can.

Here is a quick way to clean your jars.

Soak them in warm soapy water- at least 10 minutes. Most of the labels will come right off but sometimes you have a difficult one with extra sticky glue. For those I use dish soap and a paring (flat blade) knife. After you have removed as much of the glue as you can put dish soap directly on the glue spot and scrape it off with the side of the paring knife. I can usually remove the glue after a few scrubbing times.

Here is a link to my pinterest boards for bottles and labels

I have pinned loads of ideas and free printable labels

I had fun crafting these. I know you will too!

Ciao

April

~FriggleFraggle~

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DIY Jewelry Diplay

DIY Jewelry Display made from things you have around your house

 I like reusing things that might have ended up in the landfill if it hadn't been saved. I like jewelry. I make jewelry there for I have lots of it. I needed a place to display my bracelets not only for when I am not wearing them but for when I do a craft show.

Here is a tutorial on how to make a jewelry display made from things around your house.

Materials:
Tube from wrapping paper, foil, plastic wrap, paper towel and toilet paper
  *You will need 4 sizes -15",  12", 6" and 3"
Piece of sturdy cardboard - 9 1/2" x 5"
Exact o knife
Scissors
Pen
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Chop Sticks
Fabric


Start with a sturdy cardboard base, cover the top in your choice of fabric leaving just enough fabric to wrap around and hot glue to the bottom. Make sure you do not make it bulky.

Some supplies

Cut your tubes to make the following sizes: 15", 12", 6" and 3". The 15 and 12 will be used as the top and the 6 and 3 used as the base to hold them up.

Cut tubes and connect

Cut a slit in the center of the 15 and 12  tubes just long enough to slide the smaller ones in. The 15" will have the 6" as a base and the 12" will have the 3" as a base.

Ready for fabric

Cover the smaller base tubes with fabric first wrapping around then securing with hot glue. Then move on to the longer tube trimming where necessary. Leave about 1/4" extra on the ends so you can fold the fabric over and glue to the inside.

Fabric covered

Using a pen hold your tube end on the back of the fabric and trace around it making a circle to cover the end. Apply a small amount of glue around the tube and place it down on the table on the circle. Trim the extra bits.

Trace and cut circle for end cap

Glue end for cover

Cover ends

Using a measuring tape, line up where you would like to position your tubes, draw a circle around them and trim the fabric in the area just inside of the circle you made.

Trim area for attaching base

For sturdiness I added a wooden chopstick to the center of each post having it go through the bottom and trim so it is flat. Hot glue the chopstick and the tube and place on the spots you trimmed.

Add chopsticks for support

There it is! You have made your own jewelry display out of materials you had around your house! Way to go you! Re-purposing always makes me feel good :)

Finished Product

Now to show off your bangles and bracelets at home or in a craft show.

Front View

Side View

Back View

Thanks for stopping by. I will be adding many more repurposing and DIY craft tutorials. Follow me to keep up. Also, if you  have any questions I will be happy to answer them.

Ciao,  April
~FriggleFraggle~