Bulb Fail

Back in November I painted/glittered up some clear bulbs for the Christmas tree.  I simply took some acrylic craft paint and swirled in the various sized bulbs and let dry.  When we took down the Christmas tree (the tree came down the first week of January - not now!) I noticed that almost every bulb had done this...

It literally looks as if the paint cracked away from the glass.  I thought a minute... was it because it was near a vent? Nope.  In direct sunlight? Nope.  Did the lights on the tree do this?  I doubt it because I felt the bulbs and they didn't even get warm.  So why did this happen?  My paint was new, I liberally applied it so it wasn't a "thin" layer, and I let it dry for two weeks almost before putting on my tree.  

I was going to attempt to make additional ornaments similar for a Easter tree.... but I don't want to waste my time if this might happen.  

Does anyone know what could've happened? 

More Ornaments

I'm still giddy about making Christmas ornaments for our "Yellow-Christmas Tree" and I can't believe it because right now my thumb is still sore from crafting parts for a garland.  As I have already let everyone know I am ditching the traditional Christmas colors and going with a yellow themed Christmas.  When I decided this I never realized there are ZERO yellow ornaments, this shouldn't have surprised me,  I usually pick the things that are the hardest to find.  I was (and still am) up for the challenge.  So without further adieu here is my inspiration (again found from Pinterest) for my next batch of ornaments....

Ness Lockyer's website is SO inspiring.  I wish I had a kiln that I use to make my own version of these clay beauties but I am thinking I may be able to replicate something similar for my tree from modeling clay or home-made dough (memories of elementary school now).  I highly recommend checking out her blog and website.

 A Tree isn't a Christmas Tree without garland right?  Mi Avril creates these gorgeous strands of color that pop out for all occasions.  Check out everything she has to offer here. 

Doesn't this one scream "I need to be hung in front of a mantle for Thanksgiving" ??  No?  Am I the only one that thinks things talk to me like that? (sorry)

This is just one of 20 Abbey Hinderickson created in her challenge last year.  I think she vetoed this design in her challenge but I just love it.  I love that is isn't "perfect" and looks real.  I hope to take this inspiration and create some black and white cuties of my own.  I would like to think my blog compares to her blog and passion for art, crafts, and magazines. 

Last but not least - lets not forget to put all those wine corks I have to good use.
Found here since yellow tassels are nonexistent mine will have to have something else, or nothing.

Right now our DR table currently is a hot mess - I'm willing to bet this is the messiest it has been since move in.... we typically keep it cleared off except for mail on one corner.  I'm sure in the back of T's head he is thinking that I have bit off more than I can chew but I'm still going strong and plan to have it completed with ease (at least that is what I tell myself over and over).

 After about ten minutes of "punching" I took a break to make dinner.  My goal of the night was to fill up the ramekin. 

 It's much easier to punch if you cut the paint chips that have three colors into individual strips.

 The beginning

 In case you are wondering I purchased an off brand 1" diameter punch from Michael's.  Sorry Martha, yours just cost about 50% more.  I pulled (and possibly broke) the plastic guard off so I didn't have to stop so frequently and get the circles out.

 I remembered to buy the modeling clay.... and forgot the cutter.  Back to the store... 

I had to work late tonight so another trip to the store isn't going to happen.  I will let you know how things turned out this weekend with all my ornament adventures. 

Late Pinterest Challenge

So I'm a little late.... better late than never right?  

This year I decided to switch it up a bit, we have had the lime green and red themed Christmas for a few years now.  In our last place there was a lot of green and red decor so it just fit in and made sense.  Now that I am sick and tired of red I decided to go with something with our new decor.  Hello Yellow!  I have seen plenty of Christmas stuff out already, even before Halloween, this bothers some people but it just gets me excited!  Of course there are no - zip, zero, none - yellow ornaments.  Now I thought I could spray paint my current stuff but then I thought.... wait red is classic and I will probably go back to it in a few years, so I don't want to ex that out permanently.   So I found this glitter bulb project on Pinterest. 

Found here

After seeing this I figured this woman was my savior to Christmas because T HATES glitter getting everywhere.  I secretly think he is just self conscious about going to work with glitter on his face and what people would think of him.  I have to say that using the Pledge Floor wax is SO much more cost effective than purchasing the stuff "made" to do this project from a craft store, I think I paid about $5 for the Pledge at Wal Mart (Yes, I had to go there b/c Target didn't have it... sad face).  

Here are my supplies.  I purchased more than enough glitter because i had a hard time finding yellow (not gold) glitter.  

 I purchased two different types of glitter.  Martha Stewart in Lemon Drop and Recollections in Sunflower.

The blog I found this project on didn't recommend the larger size glitter like the Recollections I purchased but I found it still worked well and that way it gives some contrast in the bulbs.   I thought about mixing the glitter, but I didn't.... figured I would rather just have two different looking contrasting bulbs on the tree.

 These four probably took me about ten minutes, it probably could have taken me less time but I was also watching Parenthood.

 After those four medium sized bulbs (from Michael's) this is how much glitter I had used (I was surprised it wasn't more)

 After about 45 minutes, I completed 15 bulbs (one large one not pictured).  Not bad considering I was multitasking :)

The picture doesn't do it justice, but you can see I switched the glitter up and the difference between the two will look AMAZING on the tree.  

I still have 23 more bulbs to go.... and I will probably purchase more.  The Pledge will get on your hands and it does make a little bit of a mess.  I didn't waste too much glitter (the first one I didn't have the funnel all the way in the hole of the bulb and I had some spillage).  I was ready for bed and to make sure they were going to dry like they did for the bean before I did them all.  Another thought I have sprung from Sherry at YHL is to use her paint idea on half of the bulb and then *attempt* to use the glitter method on the other half.  I just need to go purchase some yellow craft paint and try one out, I figured if the Pledge reacts with the paint bad I could rinse it out and start over right?  

I'm also thinking of other ornaments I could make or paint yellow.  I know I plan to use white and gold or silver as accent colors.  They will be easier to find!