written by special guest, Rheney Williams
If you put your ears up against your windows and listen closely, you might even be able to hear the distant notes of the Olympic anthem as the orchestra rehearses for the Opening Ceremony in Sochi.
Ok, so not really, but there’s no denying that the anticipation is rapidly building for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games!
And while we’re waiting for the big event, why not take advantage of some of this down time and gear up for the Gold by hosting your own ‘Craft Olympics’ with your kids?
With a few basic materials and a free afternoon when you’d be stuck inside anyway to avoid the bitter chill of the outdoors, you can make your own Olympic ‘medal’ sun catchers to hang in your windows and remind you of the impending competition.
And if you have sons and are worried about boys not wanting to take part in ‘arts and crafts time,’ just make it a competition (hence the ‘Craft Olympics’) to see who can make the most medals, or who can make the ‘best’ medals, or who can come up with most countries who have the particular colors in their flags. Whatever you decide to ‘test’ you can be sure that no boy will shrink away from the challenge!
So create your individual events and let’s go for the Gold!
I had some mini glass ornaments leftover from Christmas that were the perfect vessel for this project and I ended up making six of them: red, white and blue plus gold, silver and bronze.
The goal is to make these ornaments sparkle and shine from the inside out – literally – so you’ll also need:
- Liquid glue adhesive: I used different colors of glitter puffy paint as the base but I’ve also seen crafters use liquid floor wax, Mod Podge and acrylic craft paint.
- Super fine glitter in assorted colors
- Funnel: I made mine by wrapping a piece of paper into a cone shape and taping the top to keep it together.
- Shimmery ribbon for hanging the medals
- Long Wooden Skewer or Dowel
I also used a white metallic craft paint by itself (no glitter) to demonstrate the different sheens you get by using a metallic paint alone versus using the glitter puffy paint plus the glitter but the application process is the same.
Pour (or squeeze) a small amount of the paint into the ornament and turn it over and around to fully coat the inside.
When you’ve coated almost the entire inside, place your thumb over the top of the ornament and carefully (yet vigorously) shake the ornament around to coat the top.
Here’s the same base coat from using the glitter puffy paint.
Working with one ornament at a time, use the funnel and pour the corresponding colored glitter into the ornament and follow the process of turning it around and then covering the opening and shaking the ornament to finish the job.
The extra glitter will create a much deeper/opaque color than just the glitter puffy paint alone (you can see how the gold ornament above is very translucent before you add the glitter) and this step really pays off when it catches the sun’s rays in the window.
From here, place them upright in a container to dry overnight.
When they’ve dried completely, reattach the silver metal tops and cut various lengths of shimmery ribbon.
I cut 2 long, 2 medium and 2 short ribbons to create a tiered ‘Olympic podium’ effect when you hang them all together in a row. Tie off each ribbon at the end.
Using two long wooden skewers, I hung 3 medals on each. Thus, I lined up gold, silver and bronze on one and red, white and blue on the other.
Since the skewers are flat and I hooked them into the edge of my wood window blinds, I wasn’t worried about the medals sliding around but if you desire, you can tie off the ends with separate ribbons to keep the medals on and tie in between each medal to keep them from shifting on the stick.
If your casement windows do not have blinds, you can tape the stick to the top of the casing so the medals hang freely in your windows. Just be sure to clean the surface before taping them up.
Can’t wait to cheer on Team USA in Sochi!
What fun ‘events’ are you going to create as a part of your Craft Olympics with your shiny medal window sun catchers?
Rheney Williams enjoys sharing her DIY crafting experiences with others. Rheney writes about her doors and windows projects for The Home Depot. Her craft décor interests often center on projects that parents can create with their kids. Home Depot’s doors and windows can be found here.
Oh my gosh… how cute for the olympics. Red, white and blue. Gold, silver and bronze. This is such a great idea.
Those are very pretty and would look beautiful hanging from my windows–but there is one major problem I would have–My CAT–she would be drawn to the shimmering glittery balls and bat them around until they broke or at least fell–in which case she would bat them all around the apartment!!
LOL, cats are quite the trouble makers! When we decorate our tree, we have to put all plastic along the bottom. If I hang stuff high enough, though, they usually leave them alone.
These are seriously cool! What a fun craft that I can do next time I’m looking for something to hang in the window! I imagine you could do these for each holiday but change the colors.. SO COOL!
They look so beautiful. You did a great ob doing this. I’m no good at crafty stuff but I’m loving this. Thanks for sharing .
What a super fun idea for the kiddos! I bet they would have fun not only making the decorations but celebrating the olympics too!
I love those! They look like so much fun to make too! I will have to get my girls to help me make some!
This is cute and looks so easy to do – love to try this out – have to buy some of the things I don’t have but it seem so worth it! love how it looks!
wow this soo mice to do i really like it
I am SO not crafty & I am sure I would find a way to mess it up, but you did a great job on these. I absolutely love them.
how lovely and so easy i so want to do this with son and hang them in my window not sure the cats would approve
This are so cute! I’m going to have to do them as a craft project with the kids!
Those are so cool! What a creative idea.
Okay, these are just too cute! I’m all about glitter, too…especially when it’s contained like this and I’m not constantly vacuuming it up LOL
Fun idea! It does seem like your idea would work for boys and girls!
You are so crafty! These are absolutely beautiful. Thank you for sharing this awesome idea.
Your idea of a challenge to get the boys involved is awesome. My grandsons are not always as enthusiastic about crafts. But they never pass up a challenge. I love the suncatcher theme.
What a simple idea, but it looks so cute! Plus, all these ornaments were recently on sale for 80% off at Michaels. I picked up a box for myself.
I wonder if there are any more of these type of balls on clearance at Michaels. That is such an easy project and I love the looks of it.
Those are beautiful … such a neat idea and way to celebrate the Olympics and get kids involved!
OK, so that is pretty cool! I love the Olympic theme you put with these suncatchers! They turned out so beautiful.
Such a cute and fun diy, I pinned it on my “diy” board! Love it!
I love your sun-catchers… really beautiful. It seems like only yesterday when we had the last Olympics. Sochi here we come!
Eliz
What a fabulous way to show your Olympic spirit! I just packed up my leftover glass ornaments. I will have to dig them back out now!
These are really pretty and they really spruce up your decor. The sparkling is what caught my eye.
I love these i like the fact that it is done from the inside and they really sparkle
Can’t wait the Winter Olympics to start! The suncatcher ideas is brilliant!
That’s such a fun way to get into the spirit of the games. I want to make them too!
What a great craft> I love the olympics and am sad that it isn’t popular here in India. In fact, they can’t even have an official team this year.
This is absolutely brilliant and what a great idea! The Olympics are my favorite!
Such a great idea, they turned out beautifully! I must try this method this year.
This is such a neat idea! Now where to find those kind of clear glass round ornaments..
AC Moore and Micheal’s usually have them year round! That’s where I got mine for a similar project.
thanks so much for ypur post . im so happy when i found some articles like this . thanks again and keep writing
Thanks for sharing such a good idea, post is nice, thats why i have read it completely
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What a neat idea!
that is an awesome idea! i will let my friends know how to get their kids into the spirit!
Awesome craft on a proud day for Canada! Should be red, white and gold!
Such a great idea! We will be trying this for sure.
What a cute idea! And so simple…
Sucj a cute Idea!! Way to capture the Spirit!
What a great idea, looks super fun and easy too!
GREAT IDEA
great yet simple idea to spend some time with the kids
Those are really beautiful! I’m going to remember this for Christmas!
These are so pretty, and a great project to do with the kids!
These are so pretty in the window. I can’t wait to make mine. Thank you.
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