Tutorial /10th Annual dg Christmas Workshop \"lantern\"

By now most odf you have received you package, some picking them up later but thought I would start the tutorial just in case some of you have time on your hand this Thanksgiving 😊

Did I wrap them well enough? You know me. The tape queen..hey you all normally call me the glitter queen and this year I didn't add any...could sprinkle a tad in the wreath though..I keep it quite simple because you can change the wreath to a spring/fall wreath..just need clear batterylights vs snowflakes.


STEP 1

I personally like staining my pieces only because it's easier to pain but when lightly sanding them you get more of the stain coming through vs unpainted wood..choice is yours

If you have problems breathing or have an allergy to stain I'd suggest having someone do it outside or different room.

Had I been doing these pieces for me and having the tools to work with I'd have added the plastic ties meant to hold the battery case when project was completely finished but because many of you don't have the tools I brad stapled them to the wood base so might be a bit more difficult..I had a c,ean cloth and had a bit of stain on ties so wiped it off...

Difficult to paint/stain??

I used an ear cleaner, the cotton ball helped go inside the plastic area

Remember now I've done quite a few so it all makes sense to me, if I'm not clear please ask for clarification

Looking forward to getting instructions. I will probably start on these this week end.

My friend from Manchester is coming up here and we will make them together. She is quite skilled with crafts so I know we will have fun. As a general rule, how long does it take stain to dry? Anything like paint?

Happy thanksgiving everyone, special day for all of you, know you've much to be thankful for! God bless you all..

Barb, better part of a day, depends on humidity/heat

Maybe with your breathing issues Barb you had best not do the staining, could make a wash with brown acrylic paint/water, consistency of stain.

Excited for you to have a friend join you, what fun it will be,, now I hope you told her it was a 'Primitive" piece

This message was edited Nov 24, 2016 12:06 AM

Her home is similar to yours Betty in that she loves Early American Primitive. Her husband and she used to make crafts to sell at the fairs just as you used to do. She has some of the loveliest pieces that he made for her.... He passed about five years ago and she moved back north from Florida. She is the woman who lived upstairs from me when I lived in Manchester.... We are really looking forward to it.

Then it will bring back happy memories .. Can hear you both giggling and ohh'ing

Sounds like you two will enjoy your day together.

STEP 2

time to paint, I wouldn't worry too much about sanding but if the pieces you received need it then go ahead..I like roughness because I love Primitive look and besides I will be sanding shortly

Did you buy your acrylic paint? If larger bottle hen it will do 2 smaller, you might be pushing it to get 2 done so I'd suggest 3, better to have more than not enough.

I usually do Primitive in 3 colors, Victorian blue, dark green and a red brown

For color ideas see next post

So here goes,

Smaller brush might help to go between the plastic ties..think on 1 or 2 I might have painted right over the ties on the base only, when all is said and done

STEP 3

Leave dry as sanding goes better when dry, if you are antsy then use hair dryer to dry. 😜

How much sanding to your pieces is entirely up to you, I like Primitive as I said so I sand quite a bit as you will see in my photo

How are we doing, now to go in search of jars

Can you tell me when I don't need mason jars they fill my cupboards and workshop area..need 10, can only find 5

My sister wanted a piece she saw at craft show, theirs were painted but she wanted one in DJ stain so big sister to the rescue, picked up wood Tuesday night, cut and stained wood, early this a.m a twitch of glue and Brad nailed and it's done, now to fill it..think I made it about 6" longer than that at the show but she says it will fit..so on the hunt for little jam jars so I can turn them into candle holders, well, I emptied 2 full jam jars to Tupperware containers to get the jars. Grrr. Where there is a will there is a way

Sharon my sister was to come crafting today, she is 1 1/2 hrs away and weather didn't cooperate, perhaps Saturday.

In the meanwhile I'll cut a snowman head for Melanie's wreath

Happy birthday to Thea! I hope you have a great day!

Mouth watering, best I go see what sweets there are in the house

Pretty fondue frosting cake! I've never tried to make one.

Hope today was just wonderful Thea. Happy Birthday!!!

Thank you for the birthday wishes!! Had a wonderful birthday...spend the day with my sister making fabric trees and evening we had a great supper together.

Perfect day Thea..they are Sooo cute!

Going downstairs when I finish my coffee to do step 4

Anybody started?

STEP 4


Have a few minutes before leaving for a funeral and some Xmas shopping but worried some of you are waiting on next step so here goes..

Note..photo 2 is the 1st step

Put batteries in the battery unit (a no brainer) lol
You will notice a groove in the top piece of the bottom of the lantern
Place the battery unit with the on/off switch
Now place it on the bottom of the outside section in the ties and secure ties, secured but enough that the battery unit could be slid out if you need to replace batteries

once done cut the ends off




This message was edited Nov 25, 2016 12:15 PM

STEP 5


Some of you may have a wreath that isn't circular enough for the jar to fit in, what I did and may have done for some of you is look for the little wire, unwrap it, enlarge then wind the wire up again..sounds confusing but not..they were lovely wreaths and I bought at the candle place not realizing this step had to be done.

Take the light cord and pull it through the wreath, set it around the thick circle, put lights in your jar,me hike doing so make sure you set the cord in the groove,Melos keep the jar straight

This message was edited Nov 25, 2016 12:20 PM

Drats, got to run

Also have to drop off a few lantern to nieces who can't make family gathering on the 11th..pick up more wood for another coffee table piece

Will add next and final steps when I get home

Omg, not sure if I added right screws, hope the ones I sent are long enough for next step, if not guess you will have to raid hubby's screws or quick hike to the hardware store

Following and copying your directions. My friend won't be up until next Wed. We will do them together then....

Great, always makes me feel better when someone completes the project

Tired myself out today so will finish tutorial tmr

STEP 6

Now is the time to check if the screws I sent are long enough, if not raid someone's screw stash

Now you need a jar that is the right size, it has to sit on the bottom section, set top section on and the handles then has to fit on bottom circle to top of the larger circle on top, if handles don't meet then you need smaller jar..if it meets then wonderful..if there is a bit of play I use those felt pads you would put under legs of chairs, dollar store has them, on one lantern I had to use 2, one on top of the other.

Now here comes the hard part, always works better with 2 pair of hands

I stand above my work piece with battery casing directly to the back of the glass jar, before I put handles on I eye that they are evenly placed, mid centre of round disk..you might want to mark where they will go

Before I screw on the handles I add a titch of glue to the wood , makes the piece a rad stronger..but don't fret and go buy glue, yours will be ok without

With glee on end of one arm screw in place, then on to the other


This message was edited Nov 26, 2016 9:22 AM

This message was edited Nov 27, 2016 6:48 AM

Step 7

Handles on?

Get your wire and inset leaving a small tail to back of handles to bend wire slightly on the back and now add raffia and that's it

Those are beautiful. I wonder how the jar would look if I painted it with a frosty coat like last year's lights

I wouldn't Lindakay, but that is me
Frosting them would make them christmas'y
The other way you can change the wreath and leave out each year, different wreath for different seasons

Mel just went home, did her snowman wreath, just has to buy ribbon for a bow to go near his neck..she is pleased

Sharon working on her placemats and runner

Love the snowman wreath!

I do to. Very pretty.

Pretty sad when you have to plan cooking around your crafts
Although I made 10 lanterns need a few more, will cut wood this morning, stain tonight and put together tomorrow...no jars so off to Foodland went at 7am, making a spaghetti sauce so I could have jars. Lol

Shaking my head

Betty, you can buy canning jars for about what you pay for jars of sauce.

Likely, but canning jars are out in the fall, I'd be running heater shelter to find them..beside this is twofold..get supper and sauce for freezer and 4 jars I needed..just cut the thick discs, have enough for 6 so likely Melanie will want to do a few for her friemds

Worth it to get the jars. Lol

Did you start yours!

Not yet, working on getting our Christmas tree decorated. Doing it in blue and silver, for my Mom. She loved blue and silver, so for her 10 year anniversary of her passing, that is what I am doing.

What a nice thought Lindakay..

I got my last tree skirt quilted, came upstairs make sure my spaghetti wasn't sticking, grabbed the christmas throw Kyle had made me when he was young and cuddled in..can't wait for supper,think it's the best sauce I've ever made, maybe after having a nap I will have an early din din

Yeah, only crafters would understand buying a certain product so you can get the jar! I used to LOVE the squatty little "textured/quilted" jar the pickle relish came in. Yes, it was slightly cheaper per oz in the bigger jars but I wanted the jar! I used the squatty jars for packaging certain candies at Christmas time.

A true crafter Pat. Lol

This message was edited Nov 27, 2016 6:04 PM

Betty, did you get my payment?

*sigh* Thanks for understanding, NOW I know I'm among my own kind! Crafters around the world UNITE in behaviors that only other Crafters understand! LOL

Yes Lindakay, posted it as soon as I got it p, it's at the beginning of the registering thread

Back home again, our family Thanksgiving was wonderful as usual having a few days with family is a tonic for me.
I've not started the lanterns as yet, but my money is on the way. Hubby is going to think I'm nuts, told him to get me jar from garage, then had him take it back, "nevermind I won't need it after all". Think I'll just go look for one my self this time. LOL
I love that snowman wreath too. I could see me making a few of those.

Hope you didn't overdo Karen..glad you got to enjoy Thanksgiving with your family..