We all know that there is a full moon once a month but every now and then there is a blue moon. Actually it's not blue, it's white. What makes it special is that it's the second time the moon is full in the same month. It doesn't happen very often (only once every 2 or 3 years) so that's where we get the phrase "once in a blue moon." This month we are blessed with a blue moon on the 31st. For this "event" I decided to create a Blue Moon Nightlight.
I created my nightlight out of an acrylic box so it can also double as a treasure box. If you don't want to make it into a box you can make it on a flat piece of acrylic and create a "stained glass" window hanging.
Supplies:
- Clear acrylic box
- Modge Podge – gloss finish blue and clear
- plastic craft beads
- dark blue glass gems (found in the floral section)
- white glitter LED tea lights
Instructions:
- Brush a thick layer of Modge Podge on one side of the box.
- Arrange the blue plastic beads in a moon shape.
- Gently apply more Modge Podge on top of the moon and sprinkle glitter on the moon. When it comes to crafts and glitter I'm of the school of thought that the more glitter the better.
- Place blue glass gems around the moon to create the night sky.
- Use the clear plastic beads to fill in the gaps as stars.
- Apply Modge Podge in places where it looks like things may not be as secure as you would like. The Modge Podge will dry to a high gloss finish so it doesn't matter if you get it on top of the glass gems or plastic beads. However, the more Modge Podge you apply the longer it will take to dry.
- Little hands can help with brushing on the Modge Podge and placing the glass gems and clear plastic beads. I found that creating the moon shape needed a steady hand so that part is best done by an adult or older child.
- This craft is a little lesson in patience as you have to wait a few hours for the Modge Podge to dry before you can turn it on its side and work on another side of the box. You can create a night sky on the lid right away by repeating the Modge Podge, place gems, Modge Podge process.
- When Modge Podge is dry enough to where the gems don't move around if you wiggle them (you can speed up the drying process by placing it in front of a fan) turn it on its side and continue to decorate with Modge Podge, glass gems, clear plastic beads and more Modge Podge.
- Continue the dry, wait, turn, Modge Podge pattern until all sides (except for the bottom) are decorated.
- If you don't want to spend the time waiting for it to dry to continue the craft I suggest doing this on a piece of flat acrylic or the glass from a picture frame. If you do the picture frame route, make sure to mark where on the glass the picture frame over laps. If you apply beads all the way to the edge the glass will no longer fit into the frame correctly. Once your night sky is dry, glue the glass to the picture frame (discard the backing) then hang in a window so the light can shine through.
- I put two LED tea lights inside the box to create a nightlight.
This craft was fun but more work than just cutting out the phases of the moon or making a paper plate moon mobile. But Modge Podging crafts only come around once in a blue moon in my house so I thought this was appropriate.
Find more from Stephanie at www.hugskissesandsnot.com.
