3 Stained Glass Project Flashback

This is almost as far off-topic as this blog can get, but I was reminiscing about our stained glass project we undertook a few years ago when I was taking some 27 week belly pictures today in our bathroom.  I'm still so proud of the glass that I take guests in to take a gander!  So, I'm going to pretend you're my guests, and show you our master bathroom glass.

This project was two years in the planning. It hangs in our master bath picture window. It was a collaboration between my husband, (design) my mother-in-law K and my sister-in-law C (and I helped a bit, by doing the running around, and mostly being bossy, as I tend to be, and not in the least bit crafty.) I did actually do some of the cutting and grinding, coppering, and helping to place the pieces like a jigsaw puzzle, so anything that's wrong with it is generally my fault (haha.)

We ran into so many problems with the blue glass. Originally I had bought two full sheets, but we quickly figured out that that was only going to be enough for half the window, which measures 5' by 4'. We went back to Armstrong Glass for more, but they didn't have any more of that exact glass due to the production being moved to China. They had old sheets of glass, but they didn't totally match up, and it was extremely brittle and very hard to cut. We ruined so many pieces. Eventually we had to go back and buy smaller sheets for individual pieces because they just didn't look right color and pattern-wise.

When we finally were ready to install it, it didn't quite fit. So that required K to have to take it down on the floor of the bathroom and take the outer rails off and try to cut it down. She didn't have all the tools right then and there, so we were forced to put it back up for safety. I had about 12 inches of space between the glass window on the floor and the closed door/wall behind me. As we were getting ready to maneouver the window back into a safe place, I lost my balance and put my heel through the bottom! And as I was trying to get my balance back, I stepped onto it again, breaking another panel. In all, five pieces were broken and needed replacing. I wanted to pull my hair in frustration, but at least I didn't hurt myself.

We had to go back to the glass store yet again and search for pieces that not only matched in color, but were large enough to cut.  We found some, though not 100% perfect in color, and got the pieces cut, ground and leaded...again.  So, now for some in-progress pictures, in case you've never seen stained glass making before.

The original, bare window (before we painted the casing and the walls):

Original design line drawing taken from a design book (I have since lost the source, if anyone knows where it comes from, I'll link credit here):

My husband's Photoshop rendering of how we would eventually build the window:

Raw cut glass before grinding for smooth fitting:

Glass after grinding and leading:

Where I put my heel through and broke it!

Fixed and installed (nighttime picture)

Morning picture with overcast sky lighting:

Picture taken in stronger light:

Just look how closely the finished piece matches the rendering!

We have since painted all the walls in the master bathroom Behr Premium Plus Ultra in Deep Garnet, which complements the red in the glass beautifully.  I absolutely love this glass!  The colors change all day long depending on the weather and light, and stronger light coming through casts color onto our tiled floors.  Simply gorgeous and such a pleasure to look at every day. I'm so grateful to have such generous and talented family!

Thanks for looking!

3 Craft - Rainbow Coasters/Ornaments

We did a few really easy (this is essential for me!) and quick, non-messy crafts over the summer.  I'm sure everyone has tried this in some form or another, but we thought it was pretty neat!  If anyone thinks it's kinda lame to be posting a craft on a food blog, my defense is that I used my oven.  So there!

I have a huge container of these rainbow plastic beads from Ikea.  Really cheap.  We have tried unsuccessfully several times to string the beads, but they are just too tiny to get any yarn through.  The container was just sitting in the top of my office closet, taunting me.

I grabbed it down once more and cranked up the oven to 300, got out a baking sheet, parchment paper and some metal cookie cutters and got to work.

They took longer to melt than I had expected (about 20 minutes), but melt they did.

I let them cool for about 10 minutes and then just popped them cleanly right out of the molds.  Super easy, no little plastic pieces stuck.

Then all we did was clip any pointy bits, and voila!  Instant, fun coasters!  You could also string and hang them somewhere for a bright and cheery accent.

0 Morning Routine Chart

I have never claimed to be the craftiest mom out there.  I tend to get an idea in my head, run straight to JoAnn or Michael's armed only with a coupon, devoid of plan or logical process of just how exactly to get from point A to finished product, then I buy everything that I think I may possibly need.  This project was just such a lark.  My husband was my unwitting, thoroughly confused and exasperated partner.  When I explained that I wanted to make a morning routine chart for E, he whipped out his beloved graphing paper and suggested we use that.  I was disgusted with his lack of imagination and zero cute factor, and dragged him to the craft store.

One hour and $38 later, we returned home with a piece of painted metal, a bunch of magnets, and several packages of random stickers, which I'd pored and agonized over for the better part of our shopping trip.  How come there are no packs of scrabooking stickers that depict daily routines?!

Anyway, I had E help me pick and choose our stickers and placements.  She is really excited about using it. This morning was our first run, and while she got hung up on certain items (there is no sticker for going potty, which delayed the entire process, and her hair was in French braids, so she didn't know if she could put a marker by the comb icon.)  I'm really hoping this helps get her to move through the morning routine quickly and efficiently from now on!  Otherwise one or more of us may not survive until the end of the school year!

After every week of successful, stress-free mornings (please, oh please) she gets to choose a small prize from my special prize basket.

Brush Teeth
Wash Hands & Face
Get Dressed
Eat Breakfast
Put on Shoes, Socks & Coat
Do Hair (slightly mis-placed in order, but oh well)
Get Backpack/Lunch

The bottom two are for after school:
Do Homework
Clean Out Bag and Lunchbox

4 Plantable Recycled Flower Paper

This week our school is celebrating Earth Day, and we've been doing special activities to learn about how we can be more environmentally conscious by reusing and recycling everyday items.  I prepared a really neat center last Wednesday with recycled newsprint and we made hockey puck-like plantable shaped flower paper. It was pretty simple, and extremely inexpensive.  

You'll need:

Shredded newspaper (or any non-glossy paper.  Printed paper will yield a grey product, and white paper...white, etc.)

water

food processor/stick blender/blender

strainer/colander

flower seeds (I used a wildflower mix I got from Target for $1)

towels 

cookie cutters (optional)

Pictured below were some of the items I was bringing with me to school, some leftover shredded newpaper, the seeds, towels and cookie cutters

First, put the shredded paper in a large container.  There are two ways to do this.  One is a fast way which involves boiling the paper for a while until it starts falling apart, (which is what I did and will be describing) or a slower method which involves soaking the paper overnight, but might be harder on the pulp-ifying kitchen electric you've elected to employ.

Boil with the lid on over about medium heat for a couple hours. (EDIT:  Please, add water first.  Enough to cover it two or three inches.) Yes, I realize this wastes energy, but I didn't want to totally ruin my stick blender.  It's a trade off.  I want to mention that I was irrationally fearful of the whole thing catching fire because it was PAPER in there.  Nevermind that it was completely soaked in water. I would start watching TV, and then all of a sudden the alarm in the back of my mind would start going off, and I'd jump up to check to make sure the kitchen wasn't in flames.

This picture was taken just before I decided to blend it.  It looks pretty good and soggy.

Next: blend.  I used my aforementioned stick blender with no ill effects, barring the grey film that covered it afterwards from the soy inks.

During blend.

After blend!

Grab your colander and carefully strain the water out.

Yep, it's a big, grey, pulpy mass.  I flipped the mass over a few times and let it drain.

Next, I used my wooden spatula and pressed some more water out.

This is pretty much as far as you need to go.  I went ahead and vigorously squeezed the rest of the paper out by hand, but discovered it actually needs some water content and had to add some water back in, so just stop here.  You don't want it sopping wet, but you do want it to be mixable.

Now, here's the fun part for the kiddos.  I gave each of them a cup and a fork, and had them add some flower seeds and mix it in.

They each chose a small cookie cutter shape, and scooped the pulpy, seedy mass into it, and pressed it down with their fingers.  Here's where the towels come in.  After it's pretty flat from the fingers, you now use a towel to press down and squeeze as much water from it as you can.  If it's left too wet...well, the puck will sprout.  Which may be cool, if that's what you're going for, but we wanted them to dry out and be plantable later.  For faster drying, I placed a towel underneath the mold while pressing the top with another towel.

Pretty neat, huh?  The teachers reported that they had all dried over the weekend, and will be ready for planting whenever the kids want.  You can also punch a small hole and thread a string through with a tag explaining what it's for and how to plant, and give as a neat, earth-friendly gift!