CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--SNOWFLAKE TRIVETS

Snowflake Trivets

Hot snowflakes? Oxymorons aside, that’s what you’ll have when you stencil snowflakes onto cork trivets. I first featured this project in the early days of Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers back in 2010. I'm repeating it today for all our newer followers.

Materials:8” x 10” plastic stencil sheet
permanent ink marker
X-acto knife with new blade
repositionable adhesive
7” round cork trivets
stencil paint in your choice of color(s)
stencil brush
clear satin acrylic spray

1. Enlarge the snowflake pattern to 6”. Tape to underside of plastic stencil sheet. Using permanent ink marker, trace pattern onto stencil sheet.

2. Carefully cut out snowflake. If you make a mistake while cutting, you can repair the stencil plastic with tape and recut. When you’re finished you’ll have two stencils, one a positive image of the snowflake and one a negative image.

3.  Apply repositionable adhesive to the back of the stencils. Allow to dry.

4. Place stencil centered over cork trivet.

5.  To stencil, dip the tip of the stencil brush into the stencil paint. Remove excess paint by tapping the brush onto a folded paper towel. Hold the brush perpendicular to the stencil and dab the brush in an up and down motion over the cutout edges of the negative snowflake stencil and around the cut edges of the positive snowflake stencil.

6. When stenciling is complete, carefully lift the stencil from cork. Allow the paint to dry 24 hours.

7. Spray surface of stenciled cork with two coats of clear satin acrylic. 

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA-- FABRIC STENCILED HEN WREATH

FABRIC STENCILED HEN WREATH

Materials:
3” x 8” blank stencil plastic
X-acto knife
permanent ink marker
repositioning adhesive
rust colored stencil paint
stencil brush
15” x 72” muslin, pre-washed to remove sizing
6” x 45” brown cotton fabric
12” Styrofoam wreath form
masking tape
iron
basic sewing supplies
air or water soluable fabric marker
coping saw
low-temp glue gun

1. Enlarge the hen pattern so that the 4 hens measure a total of 6” in length. Tape pattern centered to underside of plastic stencil sheet making sure bottom of hens are parallel with long edges of stencil material. Using permanent ink marker, trace pattern onto stencil sheet.

2. Carefully cut out hens with X-acto knife.

3.  Apply repositionable adhesive to the back of the stencil. Allow to dry.

4. Fold muslin in half lengthwise. Press crease. Crease will become outer edge of ruffle.

5. Open fabric and tape to flat, covered work surface. Position stencil on fabric, lining up top of stencil with fabric crease.

6.  To stencil, dip the tip of the stencil brush into the stencil paint. Remove excess paint by tapping the brush onto a folded paper towel. Hold the brush perpendicular to the stencil and dab the brush in an up and down motion over the cutout edges of the stencil, working toward center of cut-out.

7. When stenciling is complete, carefully lift the stencil and reposition it. Continue stenciling down the length of the fabric. Allow the paint to dry 24 hours.

8. Heat set the paint by ironing on a cotton setting.

9. Turn under and hem short ends of fabric 1/4”. Fold fabric in half lengthwise, right sides together. Using 1/4” seam allowance, stitch long side of fabric. Turn right side out. Press. Stitch 1” from hemmed edge to form interior ruffle.

10. Measure thickness of wreath (about 6”.) Add 1/4” to this measurement. Divide in half (about 3-1/8”.) Using fabric marker, mark this measurement from stitching for interior ruffle. Sew along marked line.

11. Using a coping saw, slit the wreath on an angle.

12. Slip the fabric covering onto the wreath. Glue the slit together with glue gun. Redistribute gathers, covering the slit in the wreath.

13. Fold bow fabric in half lengthwise. Using 1/4” seam allowance, sew along raw edges, leaving an opening for turning. Turn right side out. Press. Stitch opening closed.

14. Tie fabric into a bow. Pin or glue to wreath, covering the ends of the ruffled wreath.

CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--STENCILED SNOWFLAKE HOT DISH TRIVETS

Hot snowflakes? Oxymorons aside, that’s what you’ll have when you stencil snowflakes onto cork trivets. And this craft is so quick and easy that you can whip up a few in no time for that spur-of-the-moment holiday get-together.
Materials:
8” x 10” plastic stencil sheet
permanent ink marker
X-acto knife with new blade
repositionable adhesive
7” round cork trivets
stencil paint in your choice of color(s)
stencil brush
clear satin acrylic spray

1. Enlarge the snowflake pattern to 6”. Tape to underside of plastic stencil sheet. Using permanent ink marker, trace pattern onto stencil sheet.

2. Carefully cut out snowflake. If you make a mistake while cutting, you can repair the stencil plastic with tape and recut. When you’re finished you’ll have two stencils, one a positive image of the snowflake and one a negative image.

3.  Apply repositionable adhesive to the back of the stencils. Allow to dry.

4. Place stencil centered over cork trivet.

5.  To stencil, dip the tip of the stencil brush into the stencil paint. Remove excess paint by tapping the brush onto a folded paper towel. Hold the brush perpendicular to the stencil and dab the brush in an up and down motion over the cutout edges of the negative snowflake stencil and around the cut edges of the positive snowflake stencil.

6. When stenciling is complete, carefully lift the stencil from cork. Allow the paint to dry 24 hours.

7. Spray surface of stenciled cork with two coats of clear satin acrylic.

Tie together a set of two, one positive image and one negative image, with natural raffia to give as a hostess gift whenever you’re invited for dinner or to a party throughout the winter. Everyone always needs a couple of extra trivets, right?

Do you have any quick and easy projects up your sleeve? Let’s hear from you. We have a very crafty giveaway this week from our special Book Club Friday guest author. Leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. -- AP