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[ Updated on May 18th, 2012 ]
Want to win a Martha Stewart crafter's clay nature starter kit? Click here.
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Martha Stewart has done it again. She’s come out with a new product that appeals to me on so many levels. From a crafting perspective the new Martha Stewart Crafter’s Clay is easy to use and provides wonderful results. And the fast air drying formula is perfect for an impatient crafter like myself.
I was so excited when
EK Success sent me the Nature Starter Kit to try out { as seen in the above photo courtesy of Martha Stewart }. The kit comes with white clay and four additional colors that allows you to mix an endless variety of clay color combinations. You also receive the molds, tools, floral stems and tape.
I have to say I had my doubts about those little silicon molds. Some of them are tiny with a lot of detail. I was sure I would be heading for a craft fail with bits of clay sticking to the inside of the molds. I started with a few flowers and leaves and was amazed at how easily the clay popped out of the molds.
Once the clay was dry, I glued them onto some painted miniature clothespins. They look so pretty and add a touch of spring to my memo board.
Since I was sold on the silicon molds, I wanted to try using some other objects as a mold. I grabbed a jar of shells and pressed the plain white clay onto the shells.
The clay picked up little bits of sand and ocean debris as well as the beautiful shell texture.
Next up, the oh-so-popular lace imprint that has been popping up around the crafty blogs. This is my attempt at a little free form dish. I know…it’s very “free form”.
The shape of the dish may be a little irregular but I love how the clay picked up the intricate detail of the lace.
Thank you so much to
EK Success for letting me try out this clay. I love the product and the creative possibilities.
Thanks for visiting.
Carolyn
I link at the wonderful parties listed here and
For a long time now, I’ve relied on a magnifying mirror in my bathroom to apply my make up. Funny how the regular mirror seems so far away the older I get. In my bathroom, I have a nice swing arm magnifying mirror but I also have a variety of handheld versions. I found this small 4 inch mirror in one of my make up bags and decided to give it a little facelift.
There’s nothing like a little beach décor or coastal crafting to really celebrate summer. Whether you live near the seaside or not, it’s fun to bring a little coastal charm into your home. Coastal Crafts (Lark, May 2015) by Cynthia Shaffer has over 20 projects that use seashells, ropes, sea glass and other nautical materials. Perfect for some summer fun.
Have you ever noticed play sand for sale at the garden center? When you do...be sure to buy a bag. Yes...it may be more than you need, but I'm pretty certain that once you have your bag of sand, you'll be glad you bought it (and it certainly won't break the bank). Plus, you'll find lots of ways to use that sand.
Shell Décor can include a few small touches or all out shell-a-palooza. Here are some beautiful shell decorating ideas.
There’s something about the anticipation of summer that not only energizes me but also calms me. Summer days mean a less hectic schedule, more family time and more time for creativity. Yay Summer!
Summer is winding down and beach, pool or outdoor days will soon be over. Every summer we try to get to the beach as much as possible and at the end of summer we wish we had gone more.
I’ve always collected shells along the beach and used them for projects here and there and then tucked the rest of them away. This year I decided to display them in little jars. 
I wanted a weathered vintage look for this jar and went to work “rusting” the lid. 
One of the fastest ways to rust metal is with vinegar. This jar lid had a brushed gold look so I sanded it with fine sandpaper to remove the gold layer. To start the rusting process, soak your lid in vinegar – I left mine in for about an hour. Place the lid on a paper towel so it’s exposed to air. The combination of oxygen and the acid in the vinegar will start the oxidation process. The photos above show the jar lid before the vinegar, at one hour, two hours and the next day. 
I found this broken sand dollar and it’s too fragile to put in one of the jars. So I just placed it on a small glass tile. It’s rare around here to find an unbroken sand dollar and I love this one even if it isn’t perfect.
Every summer our last beach day is spent with a group of friends. It’s a symbolic end-of-summer tradition and I’d love to have more of these tubes filled with shells for years to come.
If you don’t live near the beach, you can make summer souvenir jars with other items. Pebbles, sand, or other bits of nature that have meaning.
Do you decorate for summer? Beachy vignettes and nautical knick knacks are popping up all over the place. One of my favorite ways to add a touch of summer is with shells, coral and other creatures of the sea like starfish.
Starfish look so pretty propped up on a mantel or table. But if you don’t have a mantel or if you’re looking for a way to beachify a wall, here’s an idea to display starfish. Simply use an embroidery hoop and fabric to frame your beautiful sea creature.
A clean and bright white on white look. 
Or go nautical with navy and white stripes.
If your color scheme is neutral, use beige feedsack cloth. Braided white twine completes the beach look. 
Happy summer everyone!
