At the Hop (Blog Hop, that is...)

Are you enjoying the bunny trail so far? This is stop number ELEVEN of seventeen for the Penny Wise Arts Blog Hop. Make sure you see them all!  If you're hopping along in order, you've just left Stamper's Quest Magazine and are hanging out with the Accidental Artist for a few minutes. I'm so glad you're here!


My project includes both original art and two sizes of clear glass microbeads from PWA. I like unusual projects, and so I decided to created a nightlight with glimmer.

The nightlight itself came from a craft store. The "lamp shade" was even sticky.

I began with a photograph I took of an iris. I played with it in Photoshop Elements 7.0 until I was happy with the "artsyness" of it. I then created a new letter-sized document and put three of the iris images together.

Several months ago I discovered a product called "Bubble Jet Set 2000" that would allow me to print on fabric without making the fabric super stiff.  I prepared several pages of fabric at once so that I had them ready to go when I needed them--like for this project!

I printed the three irises onto white cotton fabric using my ink jet printer. (This printer does a TERRIBLE job with photos, but works well on fabric--go figure.) I trimmed it using the lamp shade pattern and put it in place.

I used the pattern again to cut an "O'So Sticky Tape" sheet that I put over the fabric. I poured the regular size clear microbeads over the entire shade and then poured a layer of mini-microbeads to fill in some spaces. Once I pressed the beads firmly into place, I edged the top and bottom of the shade with craft glue and added the fun fibers that I got from a dollar bin at a craft store. Assemble the nightlight, plug in, and voila~soft light with sparkle~and all original art!

Before you run out to buy your materials for this fun project, hop on over to my friend, Michele Aiello-Zendejas, and see what wonderful ideas she has for you!!!  (She's a genius--you're sure to love her creation!)