PRIMITIVE NIGHT LIGHT from Metal Food Can

I have been using/recycling these metal/tin food cans for a while now into my crafts.

Usually just by making them into a display can for magnets and such.  Here's a previous pic of how I used one:

                    DIY PRIMITIVE SNOWMAN LID MAGNETS:

The tin can also is great to hold extra stock inside!

But for today's craft, I used the metal/tin food can as the craft. I first had spray painted it black. Then I just punched the can with a nail, to make a shape of a star.

And I took a flat, large screwdriver and hammer and punched out the bottom of the can. Just big enough a hole for the night light bulb to fit through.
 Then I used some E6000 glue and glued in around the base of the can to secure it.

And after it sat and dried for 24 hours it was ready to go. That's it!

Happy Crafting & See ya'll next time,
~Lisa

DIY TOBACCO STICK TREE with CHICKEN WIRE

Here's a cute craft I like to make, a Tobacco Stick Tree.

I've made various styles through the years, 

(click here to see,) 

but I really like this one because I found a way to incorporate some cute chicken wire and stars.

I started out with some old tobacco sticks I have laying around. I keep them in a trash can, out of the weather so they won't rot.

Used a nail gun and secured the top three together.

And then formed the bottom shape by cutting some pieces of the tobacco sticks to fit a bottom.

Got the basic shape 

 

then I started to decorate it with some pieces of chicken wire .

I bought a roll of it at the store called Rural King. Southern States stores and Tractor Supply stores also has this type of wire. You don't need much.

Then I started to tie some strips of it to the inside with thin craft wire.

 Just keep tieing it in place until you get a good filling to the inside.  Then tie on some rusty craft stars if you have some.

 

I was going to add those orange, silicone dipped light strand that you see there, but I didn't think they looked right in the end. It looked better without lights.

And here it is all finished up.

What do you think? Cute enough to sit out on ya' porch for Fall decorating?

See ya'll next time,

~Lisa

Ps.

Here's a pic of my all time favorite, full length tobacco stick tree I think I ever made.

SNOWMAN LID ORNAMENTS

Hey Ya'll, Morning!  

And warning, photo overload of snowmen!

I was lagging yesterday in the craft making department.  That is until I saw this craft made from metal jar lids and I immediately wanted to make some. So I got started and ended up making around 60. Yep, I'm tired of painting snowmen faces for a few days now. ;-)

Here's how I made them in case you want to give it a go.

I started out with a bunch of plain ole, metal Mason Jar lids in two sizes of

Regular: 2 2/4"

Wide Mouth: 3 3/4"

Some were new and shiny, some old and rusty. It doesn't matter to me.

And I spray painted them a base color in various shades of green and maroon that I had on hand.

The white was used for speckling (snow) only because it's a cheaper can and doesn't cover good.

Here are the Rustoleum and Valspar that cover great in one coat:

After they dry, they are a flat, softer color. Then we're ready to get started painting with craft paint.

My favorite brand is Folk Art but I do have a lot of Apple Barrel on hand too.

Just start by making various circles for the basic face shape of the snowman. 

I use Antique White as the color.

Sometimes I dab my brush, sometimes swirl.

Then just on to the dots for the eyes, and carrots for the noses.

When you think of them all as dots and such, it's easier for me to paint, rather than thinking, "oh I have to paint a face." Dots and carrots come easier. ;-)

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY HELP PAGE on DRAWING SNOWMAN FACES

Dot by Dot

Oh and a I wanted to make a few in the cute blue that I had first found online, so I used a craft paint blue, in the closest color and just brushed it on for a few:

Here's a few more pics of the various ones I hand painted in whatever type of face came to mind at the time. 

And after what felt like a million snowman faces later,

a few candy canes,

 gingerbread men,

I decided to start adding the wire hangers.

I happened to have a metal punch on hand, but you can easily use a hammer and a nail to punch a hole in each side for a wire.

Two good hits, on a sturdy wood back is all it takes to get a good hole.

Here's the back. Oh yea, for some, I painted the backs a variety of colors, just to add a different, unique touch.

I used regular, thin gauge craft wire for the hangers. 

At first the wire was bright silver, 

but I didn't like it much, so after I cut it in strips, I spray painted them black.

I like the black much better.

And then after putting all the wires in and twirling the tips with a pencil so they wouldn't slip back through, I got out the homespun and pieces of Christmas garland.

And here is how they ended up turning out:

These are my absolute favorite of them all. The old blue looking ones.

These are now for sale in my local co-op craft booth and my ebay shop.

Happy Crating ya'll,

-Lisa

Update:  And here's the set of Halloween themed if you're interested.