Handmade Holidays Day 1 - A Wooden Spool Menorah

Welcome to Day 1 of Handmade Holidays!  Every day this week, you'll find unique art and craft ideas.    Remember that every post has a giveaway, and all the comments for all the days count!  I'll be picking all the winners after 11AM EST on Saturday, so make sure to check out all the Handmade Holidays posts!

Today, I want to share a handmade menorah. While I created this for our Hanukkah celebration, you can use this tutorial to make your own unique candelabra.  

Supplies:

Wooden spools (You'll need eight of one size, and one that's larger for the Shamas)

Balsa Wood Block 

Black Gesso

White tissue paper 

gold acrylic paint

Matte Medium

E6000 Adhesive

Stencil or Stamp- I used my Borders Stencil from Stencil Girl

3/8" hex nuts for the candle cups

Assorted bits and pieces from your stash.

1.  Paint the spools and the wood with the black gesso.  

2.  Stencil patterns on the gold tissue paper.  Then, using a wet paint brush, paint lines to "cut" the tissue paper.  Here's a video tutorial where I did just that.

3,  Use Matte medium to adhere your tissue paper to the wood, making sure to coat under and over the tissue paper.  When it dries, the un-stenciled parts of the tissue paper will become nearly translucent!  In the photo above, it was about 50% dry.

4. Add a bit of gold to your hex nuts and glue them on the tops of your spools using the E6000 or other strong glue.

5.  Glue the spools to the Balsa wood base with the E6000.

6.  Dig out items from your stash.  I added beads, some old keys, and pieces of charms I received at Art is You Mixed Media Retreats.

Hanukkah began on Sunday night.  May the lights we kindle shine peace, love and freedom into the world.

I hope this post gave you some fun ideas.  I am giving away one of my Art is You Trades to a lucky commenter.  

Remember, for extra chances to win, make sure to comment on all the Handmade Holiday posts!  I will pick all of the winners on Saturday morning, 11AM EST. 

Please leave your email address in your comment (like this: jessicasporndesigns at gmail dot com) to be considered for the giveaway!

And the winners are:

Corrine Gilman’s Brooch:  Lou Lou in Texas!  

Art is you Trade:  Suzie Q 23!  

Clay Ornament:  Karen!  

Hamsa Stamp:  Lisa Meyers! 

Three Trees Stencil:  Lu 

Make sure to check back for more projects and giveaways every day this week!

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!  

 

Three Ways to Get Ready for 2016

I know ... it's not even Halloween yet!  

I promise that I'm not trying to rush through the holidays.  

But as we wind down 2015, here are three ways to prepare for 2016.

Finish Up Old Projects:

If you're like me, you have unfinished art projects laying around.  Finish a few of them and you'll have a jump on holiday gifts.  I recently finished this work-in-progress.  

I had a 6" square canvas on which I had stenciled some icons from my Teacups and Teapot stencil from Stencil Girl Products.    

I painted in the stenciled images, added some Garden Flowers and Leaves and some marker and pen work, and done!  I already know just who the recipient is going to be! 

To see tips for creating painterly effects with your stamps and stencils, check out this post where I introduced the Krishna Stencil from Stencil Girl Products with a video about giving your stenciled designs your own hand.  

You can also watch Achieving Painterly Effects with Stencils on YouTube here. 

Learn Some New Tips and Techniques

Do you want 21 days of free creative interviews, tips and techniques?  Of course you do! 

Beginning November 2, get 21 days of interviews, tips and techniques, and giveaways from your favorite artists. And it's FREE!  Sign up here.   I'm one of the lucky 21 artists to be interviewed.  On my interview date, I'll have a giveaway for you too.

This is a great way to learn some new techniques, or be reminded of old ones.  Jot down ideas in your journal so you have no shortage of prompts and inspiration for 2016.

Update Your Wall Calendar

I always get excited about picking out a new calendar for a new year.  While I'll be sad to turn the last page of my 2015 calendar, I'm excited to unveil a new calendar for 2016.  Each image is suitable for framing when the year is done.    They are $20, which includes shipping. 

Won't You Vote for Me?

One of my creations is up for the Craftsys Awards.  It's a cigar box transformed into a treasure chest to be filled with notes of gratitude for everyday blessings. I would love if you'd vote for me. 






How do you get ready for a new year?  I'd love to hear.  

Your comments make me so happy and let me know you were here. I read and treasure every comment and will happily answer any questions as soon as I can.

If you don't already, please sign-up for my newsletter HERE, and follow me on Facebook, Pinterest, Bloglovin and YouTube, so that you never miss a giveaway, and always get the latest Jessica Sporn Designs News!