Browsing Tag

michaels

DIY

Abstract Painted Bowls

If you’ve ever shopped for dinnerware on a budget, chances are you own the same plain white Ikea set that I have. Literally EVERYONE I know has this set and I don’t blame them – it’s cheap! But eventually you start to get very tired of the same old boring white plates and long for a new look. This is why I was tempted to spruce up these bowls after having them for two years. I researched what method was best to make painted bowls + how to make sure my design would stay on the bowls, and found that enamel paints would do the trick.

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Now that I’ve made these painted bowls and successfully so, I’m afraid I’m going to have to paint all of my dishware now if someone doesn’t stop me. But hey, those could make for some more DIY posts in the future. Looking for a DIY way to update boring kitchenware? Read on for more!

 

what you need:

  • Enamel paints( I like these ones the best)
  • paint brushes
  • plain bowls
  • newspaper to protect your surfaces
  • optional: acrylic spray sealer

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the how-to:

step one: make sure your bowls are clean and dry.

step two: starting with your lighter colors, paint random brushstrokes all over the bowl.

step three: paint brush strokes and smaller patterns using your darker color(s)

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step four: allow to dry for about 10 to 15 minutes. place in an oven (to “set” the paint) at 150° for 5 mins.

step five: remove from oven and allow to cool and you’re done!

Optional step: the paint is already pretty secure but if you want to make it more durable spray some clear acrylic sealer on to the bowl, making sure to avoid the inside.

The best thing about this paint and the technique is that you can literally paint any of your dishware. It works on mugs, plates and glasses too – so the possibilities are really endless. I see myself painting some champagne glasses in the future.

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Another thing; right now I can’t say whether or not these painted bowls are dishwasher safe but I’ve washed mine twice so far without an issue. I’ll update you on how they do, but for the meantime please hand wash only!

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DIY

Colorblock Birchwood Clock

I’ve been looking for  simple projects to update my space, but I also wanted to make something that would be practical and serve a purpose, which is how this colorblock clock came about. My apartment has started to look an unintentional shade of clinical white because I started to overdo the whole “clean space” thing so I decided to make a minimalist clock with a pop of color. The whole thing cost me about $10 to make (I bought most of the stuff on Continue Reading

DIY

Mini Donut and Macaron Keychains

My obsession with donuts continues. What is new however, is my obsession with little things – I mean look.at.how.cute. I recently attempted a DIY woven key chain, but it was quite the ugly creation, and unfortunately I couldn’t post a tutorial. I’m going to try that again, but in the meantime Continue Reading

DIY

Iron Transfer Tote Bags

Easy-To-Follow directions to make these über cool tote bags with Beyoncé lyrics. Click through for the full tutorial || Essie Does Summer

Have I ever told you my one true talent is quoting Beyoncé lyrics whenever appropriate? In this case Beyoncé lyrics were the only acceptable phrases to be DIY-ed onto these tote bags – especially the hot sauce one. I discovered this technique from Pinterest (my new obsession) and although iron-on transfer pens are mostly used by embroiderers to transfer designs onto fabric, it can be used in so many ways! I especially love this DIY because it requires so few materials. Keep reading for the easy-to-follow tutorial to make these über cool tote bags that will have you feeling like a queen; Queen Bey to be exact. Continue Reading

DIY

African Mudcloth Easter Eggs

I fell in love with mud cloth years ago and my infatuation is still going strong. These fabrics originally originating from Mali feature unique and intricate hand drawn prints Continue Reading

DIY

DIY: 3D Christmas Cards

Here’s another handmade Christmas card project! I actually made this one weeks ago and completely forgot about it, but as I sat behind my books studying into the night yesterday, I remembered that I did. Because that’s what studying does to you right? You forget the very thing you just read but you can recall Continue Reading