Hot Looks - With Hot Glue!

What crafter doesn’t love their hot glue gun. Here is a new idea that will leave your friends and family wondering how you did it.

Supplies for wall décor

• hot glue gun
• hot glue sticks
• silver, gold or copper leaf (found at any craft store)
• A soft paint brush
• Metallic pens for touch-ups (optional)
• paint of your choice
• a piece of glass or Pyrex baking dish
• vegetable oil cooking spray
• spray adhesive

Additional supplies for jewelry

• stones, plastic or crystal rhinestones, glass marbles, buttons or any cabochon
• wire or any bail or connector
• beads, chain or existing necklace to hang pendant

First you need to start by preparing your surface. Lightly spray glass with cooking spray. After glue gun is heated, squeeze out various patterns of your choice. It may be helpful to place a pattern under glass as a guide, however it is not necessary. Free form and unstructured designs will work best. If desired you can add marbles or rhinestones when the glue is still hot. When cool enough to handle, (glue will start to become slightly opaque) immediately place leafing on top and burnish with fingers or paint brush. Be careful not to get oil on surface to be leafed. If any spots remain, patch with leftover leafing or a metallic marking pen. Turn deign over and spray with adhesive and apply to painted wall.

If you don't desire a metallic finish, skip the leafing procedure and glue, directly onto the wall. Next paint over the entire surface, and highlight to make objects "pop."

This technique can be applied to furniture, frames, candleholders, scrapbook covers, finials-you are only limited by your imagination!

For jewelry, simply make a puddle of glue, and press stone into it. You can add extra swirls and embellishments with the glue. When done, immediately apply the leaf. If you are not pleased with the results, simply peel glue off before it cures, and try again. Add wire wraps, rhinestones and beads for interesting effects. Once dry, bend of piece of wire into a loop or eye pin, and glue to back of your project. Finish back with leafing. Once complete, you can add this to a chain, choker or use in a beading project. This technique would also make beautiful pins or hair barrettes.

Thank you for all the wonderful e-mails I have received. I always enjoy feed back from the show. If there is something you would like to learn to do, let me know your ideas. Watch for my new ideas every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month. I hope this project inspires you to look at your hot glue gun in a new way!

Introducing…

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

In the comfort of your own home!!

Do you desire to be creative, and just don’t know how? Have you started projects and don’t know how to fix them? Have you moved into the house of your dreams, and decorating has become a nightmare? I am here to help! So many people desire their home to be a beautiful place to come home to, but don’t know where to begin. Sometimes just a little help or encouragement is needed. I will come to your house and help you pick colors, window treatments, whatever you need to create a home. I can show you how to do faux finishes on your walls, reclaim old furniture or design a fantasy room for your child. Perhaps I could paint a mural, while you faux finish the other walls. We can also work side-by-side on projects until they are completed.

If you planning a party or special occasion I would love to help! I can create, or show you how to create, unusual flower arrangements and décor that will have your guest remembering that party for years to come! Here are some other projects I could assist you with.

• Faux finishes and unusual wall treatments
• Color and fabric selections
• Furniture placement
• Children's fantasy rooms
• Furniture updating
• Mosaics
• Decoupage
• Flower arrangements
• Simple window treatments
• No–sew or simple sewing techniques
• Jewelry design
• Party planning
• Hand made unique party invitations and decorations
• Day of party set-up and decorating
• Food garnishes
• Any of the techniques you have seen me do on the show
• Girls night-out craft night!

This is just a list of some things we could do at your home. If you want to do something not on the list, contact me and chances are we could do that as well! I am also available for group lessons.

As always, call Joanne at Arrowhead for a schedule of upcoming classes, or me through my website. This Friday, September 23, is the jean embellishment class. I will be also be doing another domino jewelry class, due to popular demand! Next month I will start my series of jewelry design classes, from beginning level to advanced classes. I will be scheduling Christmas polymer clay, which should be a lot of fun. I hope to see you there!!

Joanne at Arrowhead

623-334-9114