Fill one plastic cup with 1 oz of alcohol, set aside.
You are going to need space to work in
and separate space to store the mess you are creating while they cure.
Lay your matt, then a plastic cutting board and paper towels.
Make sure you have a second area to place the filled plastic cups
Step 2. Start with lighter colors first. I did not :) You really should!
My suggestion light pink or yellow and go from there.
Take cap off the sharpie, but do not discard.
With pliers the nib off the marker. DO NOT wiggle the nib or you will break it.
If you break it, don't worry we can rescue it.
Place nib in the 1 oz alcohol you set aside in a cup in step 1.
Step 3. Get the filter that is inside the gray sharpie tube -
that is where the ink is!
Place pliers on front part of markers case, the section of the marker that holds the nib. It is usually the same color of the cap. Firmly wiggle it and pull at the same time. Some are tighter than others...don't be shy, go for it. The plastic parts will be wasted anyway so don't worry if you break them.
If you broke your nib in step 2, use the back of you exact knife to push it from behind. This will give you enough nib to pull it out - do not wiggle it. Place nib in the cup with the 1oz of alcohol.
Step 4. The filter! Place filter on paper towel and slice it along its length with an Xacto knife. You can even flip it 180 degrees and do a second cut.
This will allow the ink to get out easily.
Step 5. Bring the cup with the 1 oz of alcohol in it in and cut the filter in half.
Place nib, and the cut up filter in the alcohol cup.
Step 6. If you saved the markers cap.
Place the caps on the brim of the cups, easier to identify colors!
Your new concoction needs time to cure, so wait a few hours, between 2-4.
Step 7. Time to transfer your new mists from the cup to the spray bottle.
You may use a funnel for this - I tried, but did not like it.
Very important: REMOVE EVERYTHING, only pour the liquid.
You should not add the nib or the filter to your spray bottle.
Trust me I did one and the sprayer plugged within minutes.
Not worth the effort if the spray bottle is not going to spray!
PS. Keep the nibs and filters, put them all together to get another shade of purple-gray. Really cute!
Step 8. Label your spray bottles so you can "see" what it will look like before you spray a project!
You can feel the positive energy & joy in the air! I love it!
As part of our traditions..
we have a pair of elves who visit us each Christmas
and I thought I would share with you some of their adventures.
Their names: Jolly (male elf) & Snow (female elf)
I have seen plenty of posts on facebook about people running out of ideas or being burnt out. Take it easy parents, here are a few Quick and SIMPLE ideas to help you get through it all. Remember your kids will love anything the elves will do - there is no need to have to build skyscrapers every day, unless you choose to.
Our elves are fun but simple, no elaborate scenes. Usually we spend 3-4 minutes on this. The elves do leave a note each night. It's a 3x4 project life card which I scrapbook.
To prevent burnout, think carefully about when they should arrive.
***Hint- our elves show up until the 7th or so - I think on 12/1 is way too early and the Christmas spirit is not yet in full swing. So give yourself a few days to recover from Thanksgiving.
Here are some of the adventures of Jolly & Snow:
1. Elves help make with the Christmas cards
I use an Apple based IOS APP called COLLECT to create the card on the right. I print them like this since I already added the journaling- easy to scrapbook.
2. Elves take a selfie
3. take a board game and use it. Ie candy Land, bingo, clue, monopoly
4. Play hide and seek - they leave note with a hint
- ours hid in the Christmas wreath!!!
5. Make north pole dinner - the yuckiest the better
6. Taco tuesday- an elf gets wrapped in a tortilla
7. Pancake morning- the elf takes the pancake box and put it in the Kitchenaid blender and promise to make pancakes (no mess, box is closed)
8.More toy playing ideas
9. Helpful elves. Our elves come to scout each day, so they are not usually mischievous, just funny and always helpful. Here the elves are helping my son with the Christmas counter.
10. Elf tries to get in kids back pack
11. Elf takes toilet paper roll and makes a snowman with a marker
12. Elf draws funny faces on milk and juice jugs
13. Elves let us know we are out of paper towels!
14. Love hiking? Elf climbs the tree
15. Elf gets caught in an upside down glass
16. Els draws family portrait on the 24th as a goodbye
17 elf gets stuck in stocking
18 elf folds laundry- their way
19 elf gets pinned under tower of folded laundry
20. Elf tries to vacuum and it gets sucked in - just place elf under the vacuum.
21. Round some toys and have a toy meeting
22. Elves reading kids book
23. Elsa from FROZEN freezes elf - you can place elf in water and then in freezer. No damage to the doll (ideas from facebook)
24. ELf tries to help wrapping and gets tangled up in the wrapping paper
Have fun and enjoy the magic of Christmas
and your kid's smiles just by seeing that the elves moved!
