International Tarot Day Blog Hop - Crafting with The Knight of Swords
 | This week we are taking part in an international "blog hop" through the 78 cards of the tarot. How does a blog hop work? Ideally you start at the very first blog in the "hop" and as you complete each post there is a link to the next one in the series. It allows for lots of different voices to offer their unique take on a subject. ​For this blog hop I was given the card KNIGHT OF SWORDS. |
In the Animal Totem Tarot the Knight of Swords is represented by a rook (a member of the raven family) seated on top of a chess piece. The Knight symbolizes grand adventure - so the immediate connection for me was to the Game of Thrones series. Anyone familiar with the series knows that ravens are a large part of the GOT universe.Â
Now the Knight of Swords also is good at taking what is around him and making it work for him. This makes our rook here a perfect spokesperson for being crafty. I have chosen a couple of my favorite Game of Thrones craft ideas that you can make. Â Where appropriate I have added in Amazon links to supplies.
Now the Knight of Swords also is good at taking what is around him and making it work for him. This makes our rook here a perfect spokesperson for being crafty. I have chosen a couple of my favorite Game of Thrones craft ideas that you can make. Â Where appropriate I have added in Amazon links to supplies.
Dothraki Inspired Lamps
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Materials
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Instructions
1. Remove labels and any glue residue from the glass jars and allow them to dry completely.
2. Apply the gold dimensional paint in various patterns. You can use the applicator tip to create small stud-like dots, draw various decorative patterns or push around the paint to create solid areas of gold. Let dry.
1. Remove labels and any glue residue from the glass jars and allow them to dry completely.
2. Apply the gold dimensional paint in various patterns. You can use the applicator tip to create small stud-like dots, draw various decorative patterns or push around the paint to create solid areas of gold. Let dry.
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3. Pour a small amount of glass paint inside the jar and use your paintbrush to drag the paint up the sides of the jar, coating all of the jar’s interior. Let dry. 4. Your lanterns are now ready to enjoy indoors or out! Simply fill them with candles or add loops of fine-gauge wire to the tops for easy hanging. |  |
House Sigil Pins
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What you will need; Shrinky Dink Paper (printable) An Oven​ A Brooch Back Paint (can be spray paint, nail varnish or something else) Glue |
First of all decide what you want on your brooch and find images online. For these I simply found a shield outline, and the 3 animals on the Game of Thrones Sigils. Remember, we can paint these afterwards so it is really just the outline that is important. If you had really good images I suppose you could just print them directly onto the shield design. But I decided to print them all separately, so they would have a 3D effect.
Copy and paste the images into a word document or another computer program, and print out onto your shrinky dink plastic. Then you will need to be patient and cut out each shape. Make sure you get in all the detail, it may take a little while but it is well worth it!Â
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To get an idea of the size they are likely to come out, my shields measured 4.8cm by 6cm at their widest points when I printed them. Once they had been in the oven they measured about 2.8cm by 3cm. So make sure you make your images big enough. (my advice - do a test run on regular paper first!) Â Here's the size before and after;
Copy and paste the images into a word document or another computer program, and print out onto your shrinky dink plastic. Then you will need to be patient and cut out each shape. Make sure you get in all the detail, it may take a little while but it is well worth it!Â
​
To get an idea of the size they are likely to come out, my shields measured 4.8cm by 6cm at their widest points when I printed them. Once they had been in the oven they measured about 2.8cm by 3cm. So make sure you make your images big enough. (my advice - do a test run on regular paper first!) Â Here's the size before and after;
Now follow the instructions on your shrinky dink packet. Â Mine told me to make sure all the pieces were separate and put them on some baking paper. They took between 3 - 5 minutes to cook, and you could tell when they were done because they would curl up, and then flatten out. When they were flat again they were done. It was actually really interesting to watch!
Once all of your pieces are cooked you can think about what colors you want to paint them. When these are completely dry, glue both pieces of plastic together, then glue the brooch back on too.  Possibilities are pretty endless - you could also punch holes in your shield before you shrink it to make charms for earrings, necklaces, key rings, etc... I can't decide! Which house would you pick?
Once all of your pieces are cooked you can think about what colors you want to paint them. When these are completely dry, glue both pieces of plastic together, then glue the brooch back on too.  Possibilities are pretty endless - you could also punch holes in your shield before you shrink it to make charms for earrings, necklaces, key rings, etc... I can't decide! Which house would you pick?
Spend the next few days brainstorming some creative projects - they don't have to be Game of Thrones. This is the time to embrace that creative energy and make something out of nothing! Remember...winter is coming! (Perfect your crafty skills now and have some kick-ass gifts to give at Christmas!)Â
I hope that you have enjoyed this stop on our blog hop! Please visit Lisa Frideborg's blog HERE for a look at the Queen of Swords!
I hope that you have enjoyed this stop on our blog hop! Please visit Lisa Frideborg's blog HERE for a look at the Queen of Swords!