Initial Boards and Craft Night with friends

I realized something the other night as I was hosting a craft night with some of my friends, there are a lot of last names that start with "B".  Earlier in the day some of us were at a little antique/consignment store and we saw a simple board with an initial glued to it.  I was so cute that we decided to have a craft night and make our own version.

We collected supplies, most of them we already had at our houses.  One friend had an old board that she cut into pieces (I love a girl that uses power tools).  If you don't have scraps of wood they are easy to get from the hardware store.  I like to have my husband dumpster dive where there are new houses being built.  It's like Christmas for me but free and I am recycling. I pulled out my collection of house paint samples and odds and ends burlap pieces. The colors were mismatched but we made them work.  I recommend that you only use house paint if there is a possibility of these going outside.  Regular craft paint does not hold up well in humidity or you can buy a sealer that is specially made for outside projects.  The only thing that really cost anything was the initials and they were a few dollars from the craft store.

They turned out to be adorable!  The plan is that sometime in the future, we will drill holes and run jute or burlap ribbon through the top so they can be hung.  Maybe that will happen, probably not. 

 

It was a great night with an easy and inexpensive project and lots of laughter.  I can't wait to see what we come up with next.

If you wondered, I have started the background on one but my scrap board is a piece that I have been saving.  It is a couple feet long and I plan to paint a mixed media painting on it and prop it against the brick wall at my front door.  I'll post a picture of it when I am finished.

Reusing Spiral Notebooks

Are you at the part of the school year when you child comes home and tells you that she/he needs a new notebook the very next day, so you run to the grocery store and pay twice the normal amount for a sad little notebook?  No one wants to be the bad parent who sends their child to school without supplies.  And then do you repeat the exact same thing the next week?   I know I can't be the only one.  Right?!?!  Please tell me I'm right.


Do you have a stack of partially used spiral notebooks stashed away in a closet that came home from school at the end of the year?  Do you try to talk your little angel into using one of those old notebooks before you pawn your wedding ring (okay, I may be exaggerating a bit) to buy the overpriced notebook at the grocery store down the street?

Do you have a box of odd and end scrap booking supplies that you can't get rid of but you probably won't use?  Or, are you like me and buy scrap booking supplies but never scrapbook?

If you answered yes to these questions then grab your Mod Podge because I have the solution for you!

This little gem was the result of  "Mom!!!  I need a new Science notebook for school tomorrow!!"  I wasn't about to leave the house without my bra on and I wasn't putting on a bra to go get another stinkin' notebook. Don't judge... the sun was down and my jammies were on.  I checked the old notebook stash and remembered that when we moved I painstakingly dismantled all the old spiral notebooks so they could be recycled... but I found an survivor.  I located a vintage notebook from when my husband was in college about ten years ago.  JACKPOT!  Take a look at what we made with a paper bag, scrapbook supplies, and Mod Podge.  She loves it.

Discover - steampunk banner

It started out as Christmas craft with the kids...

I found a ton of cute paper clay sculptures on Pinterest and decided it was a craft I would have to try.  During down time on Christmas break I brought out the paper clay and gathered the girls around the table for some mother-daughter craft time.  Greta didn't last long but Gigi and I stuck to it and decided to make steampunk inspired pendants... and a few birds.

We started by rolling and cutting out the clay into mostly squares.  I had some adorable little "cookie" cutters in the shapes of squares and circles that I bought when I picked up the paper clay.  I also had a bunch of steampunkish bits and pieces that Gigi and I found on a late night trip to Micheals Arts and Crafts, and when I say a bunch I mean more than I will ever use in a lifetime.  

We made our basic clay pendants and arranged the steampunk pieces into the clay.  After that was finished, we took a break for about... two weeks.  In our defense, the clay had to dry and we all know that crafts dry better when they are left on the kitchen counter and forgotten.  Just a note, very few of the steampunk embellishments stuck in the clay and most of them had to be glued to the pendants after they were painted.

Then one day while cleaning, I decided that was impossible to truly clean my kitchen unless I stopped what I was doing and painted the clay pendants.  Isn't that how all crafty people clean?  So, I transferred all the tiny little clay and metal pieces to my art studio and started smearing paint on them.  I literally used my fingers and smeared them with watered down black craft paint and then started rubbing them with a dab of different colored metallic craft paint.  I love the outcome.

 When Gigi got home from school I had to have her remind me where the different steampunk pieces went on which clay pendant and then we glued them in place and enjoyed our accomplishment.  We had a pile of pendants that we loved but didn't know what to do next.

A bolt of lightening struck and we decided to make a banner.  So after the completed pendants relaxed on my desk in my art studio for another handful of days, I came up with an idea for a banner.  It only took an afternoon to put together and now it proudly hangs in her room.  All the pendants on the banner are the ones that Gigi designed.  It is absolutely one of the coolest things we have made together.  

We still have pendants left over for other projects.  I have a purse that Gigi and I designed to show you next... which uses more of her steampunk pendants.

Good Ideas, Procrastination, and Advent Cards

 I blame Pinterest!  I am telling you, Pinterest has helped me fine tune my procrastination skills.  Each year the girls get one of those cute little store bought Advent Calendars.  You know the ones,  you pop open a door, pull out a piece of candy, and count down the days until Christmas.  I have a funny story!  One year we tampered with Gigi's and replaced her candy with raisins.  Good thing that kid has a sense of humor.  Gene and I rolled with laughter.  In fact, I am laughing now just remembering her face.  Back to the Advent Calendar... I couldn't find one this year that was Christian based.  I mean really!  It shouldn't be hard to find an Advent Calendar that focuses on Baby Jesus?!?!  Hello, people.

 

I decided to search Pinterest and make my own (this was several weeks ago).  I guess it's not fair to blame Pinterest because if I am honest I would tell you that I never even looked for one.  I always get distracted and find myself looking at other pins - especially the ones that are designed to help you stay focused and organized.  Oh, the irony.

 

 

I think at one point or another each member of my family reminded me that there was not an Advent Calendar to be found in our home.  I was also reminded that I have been forgetting to read the Nativity story out of the Bible in the evening.  The plan was to travel through story of the birth of Jesus Christ as Christmas approaches.  Hmmmm,  I'll catch up.

 

 

 

I read my friend's blog, It's all Good, today.  She talked about making Advent Calendar cards and sharing them.  In the blog she mentioned that there are still 12 days of Christmas left if you didn't start your calendar on the first of December.  Brilliant!  I decided to make my own advent cards for the girls.

 

 

I had a short amount of time before my oldest was due home from school so I got right to work.  I searched Pinterest for Nativity Bible verses, copied a few, and cut them into sloppy strips.  I taped them on a card and wrote a coupon on the back.  the cards and envelopes are similar to library cards.  Remember those?  If I had more time, organization, and supplies, I would have spruced up the cards.  As they are, the girls will be reminded daily of Baby Jesus, I will get at least two trips to Culvers, and we can enjoy our countdown.  I think the girls will love them.

The Busy Holdiays and Holiday Bazaars

This post is just a bit of thoughts - no pictures - just funny thoughts I am having over my coffee.

The past three weeks have been so very busy.  I've participated in my first craft bazaars... three to be exact.  The first one was supposed to be the big money maker.  Last year it was packed with vendors and people.  To prepare, I made inventory like crazy.  I had over 150 items.  I was sad to see the folks trickling in  - maybe a few customers walked by every 30 minutes.  A friend came by to see me and told me that there were FOUR other craft fairs that day and she was going to them all.  Hmmm, that explained a lot!!!  Needless to say, I have extra bags, wallets, and other wonderful goodies left over but I am thrilled to say that we made a enough to pay for all our Christmas purchases and maybe have a bit left over.

Gene was great.  He set up at each one and sold the daylights out of my stuff.  I love to create but I hate to market.  Gene just lights up and turns on the charm when the tired Mom, who is lugging around a few kids and baby, comes by our booth.  Gene cracks me up... he said he would much rather be manning the booth than be one of the depressed husbands being dragged to the craft fair.  ha ha

It was interesting to see what people would spend their hard earned money on.  I sold out of iPad totes but could barely sell a large tote.  It is easy to look back and see that customers did not come to the craft fairs this year to spend more than $20 on an item unless it was something specific they wanted.  Good to know for next year. 

One of the best parts was... for the first time... I made my paintings available for sale.  They were a hit and that makes me so happy happy.  It is hard to put something so personal out there for the public to critique or walk past without even a second glance.  Plus, I really enjoy painting mixed-media paintings.  I may enjoy it more than sewing but I still love the practicality of sewing and knowing that I may be helping keep the earth clean.  Let's ban plastic bags!  Who's with me?  ha ha

In conclusion, (can you tell I have been helping the girls write reports for school?)  my house is a disaster.  I have all these beautiful Christmas decorations up but we can't see past the chaos to enjoy them.  As a result, I am forbidden to enter my art studio.  I must clean, finish laundry, blah, blah.  My only question is... do I shower first.  I'll have to have another cup of coffee and watch one of my on-line art class sessions, The Art of Wild Abandonment 2.  Then I'll start cleaning.  I promise!

Braided Headband Tutorial

I can never find a headband that fits me or doesn't squeeze my brain.  I love the way they look but my huge head, which Gene calls a wrecking ball, just isn't the average.  So, I had to make my own.

Really, this is so easy and made with scrap material.  It takes about 15-20 minutes to make one - less time if you don't have a cat batting at the strips of material as you braid.

You will need:

three strips of material 42 inches by 1/4 inch

one ponytail holder

one safety pin

a lighter (optional)

Take three strips of material - mine are 42 inches long and 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.  It doesn't have to exact.  I make mine extra long because I like the "tails" to hang out.

Tie a knot in the end and then try to keep them away from your cat.  Oh ya'  I apologize for the lighting on the pictures.  I don't know why the turned out with so many shadows and I don't have the photoshop on this computer yet... that will be added a.s.a.p.

I safety pin mine to the top of the recliner because is makes it easier to braid.  If you are worried about putting a pin in your furniture you can also pin them to your jeans or tape it to a table.

Here is a picture of the braid half way finished.  Note all the little strings coming off of the edges?  If you don't like that look you can snip them off and then use fray-check or burn them off with a lighter.  I always use the lighter method because it is quick and I have yet to set anything on fire or set off a smoke alarm.

The last step is to tie the ends to your ponytail holder.  I measure this one based on my daughter's adorable head.  You could also just tie it around your noggin but I like mine to be easy to slip on and run out the door.

Admittedly, the ponytail holder isn't too attractive if you are a Neat Nick but it doesn't show when your hair is down.  If you want it to look more "finished" you could always sew it together neatly and cover it with material... if you are motivated.

Art Journal Catch Up

 Prompt:  Control

Song Only Girl

Technique:  Lipstick

 Prompt:  What's the Deal?

Song:  Running Up That Hill

Technique:  Playing Cards

 Prompt:  Vertigo

The Song:  Right Round

Technique:  Circles

 Prompt:  Really?!

The Song:  Tell Me Something I Don't Know

Technique:  Speech Bubbles

The Prompt:  Love

The Song:  Not Broken by The Goo goo Dolls

Technique:  Silhouettes

Prompt:  Promises

The Song:  Run Devil Run by Kesha

Technique:  The poison symbol

Prompt:  Broken

The Song:  Mama's Arms

Technique:  Kisses

Sometimes I get lazy and let my creativity fall to the wayside.  A Year In The Life of an Art Journal helps keep me on my toes.  It provides art journal assignments twice a month.  They include a prompt, a song, and a technique to help inspire the picture.  You can use one or all three and interpret them any way you like.  I like doing mixed media art so most of my pages are made with craft paint, watercolor paint, paper, pictures, sharpies and anything else I can find in my art box.  I'll paint with a brush, my fingers, q-tips, cardboard, bubble wrap, etc. Nothing I ever make is very precise, just a lot of confusing layers.  I recently purchased some water-based inks so I am looking forward to making a mess with them.

The move put me so far behind... almost two - three months behind. I have more free time living in a small town so I finally caught up.  Here are a few of them.  Some I just couldn't  to post because, well, they were ugly and you may want to poke your eyes out if you see them I didn't like them.  The pics that I am posting are mostly fun but all are  personal.  That's what an art journal is all about... expression. 

Reusable Sandwich Bags, Tote, and Clutch

The reusable sandwich bags are so fun - and earth friendly. My girls use them in their lunchboxes every single day for things like sandwiches, grapes, and crackers. We just wipe out the inside with a soapy washcloth. They can also be thrown in the washing machine and air dried if needed.

This is a new pattern that required a learning curve. I really like the combination of fabrics and details.

This clutch is from combination of different patterns which I altered until it was just right. It holds a diaper and small container of wipes perfectly- or - paintbrushes and markers for on the go projects.

Sewing lately has been very slow. I injured my arm and had to take it easy... something about scar tissue developing from over use. Now I have to stretch my arm before sewing and other projects. Ah, the perils of the crafty American housewife. It feels good to be healthy again.

Sihouette Fun

I gifted myself a Silhouette as an early Christmas present (thanks to an awesome Cyber Monday deal). I have been having so much fun with it. Here are a few examples...

This sign was made out of scrap stuff I had lying around... probably purchased for a project that was cast aside when a more exciting idea came along.

The shirt was saved from the trash. I have what Gene lovingly calls the "Drop Zone." After a few wears most of my shirts develop a stain right below the neckline on my... well you can picture it. With the Silhouette I can remake my t-shirt into something cool and stainless (and save a few pennies).

Note: I have worn my shirt a couple of times and realized that the dryer is not my friend. The heat causes the letters to peel off a bit - but they are quickly ironed back on.

Did I mention that I am really enjoying this new toy?

Gift Card Holder

Happy Birthday! or Happy Anything!

Here is a cute little gift card holder I made for a friend on her birthday. I think the yellow polka-dots are my favorite part. However, I'll have to wait a few days to post... don't want to ruin the surprise.

It was quick and only took two 6"X7" pieces of material, some Velcro, and ribbon for a bit of pizazz. I think I want one for myself to hold change... or lipstick... or my cell phone... or gum... or anything else that is little and easy to loose.

Art Journals

Current Book: Artful Journals by Janet Takahashi

this beautiful journal was found on etsy - but I am sorry, I don't remember the artist's name

My current obsession is art journaling. I have decided to start taking my creative self to the next level. It is a big part of my life that gives me joy. So why haven't I embraced it more fully? I know why... when I make something I put myself on the line for criticism. What if they don't like it? which translates to What if they don't like me? I've got to grow up and just get over it.

How do I go about doing that? I am starting a year long project of art journaling. A Year in the Life of an Art Journal provides twice monthly prompts to help get your creative neurons firing. The first prompt is "vision."

What is my vision for the year?

I have also been pouring over Artful Journals by Janet Takahashi. I have been wanting to make my own mixed-media art journal for several weeks but I didn't know how to correctly make one. This book gives you step-by-step instructions and definitions of the technical language. Did you know that the middle section of a journal is called the signature?

My creative light bulb is on bright.

Normally, I use a little notebook to make notes about the day, keep track of information, and keep my "to do" list. Why don't I make my own journal?

I had been thinking about my journal and I knew I wanted it to be made of recycled repurposed paper; however, I didn't know where I would find enough paper that was interesting enough to make the cut. I know now... I am going to use all those beautiful pictures that my girls draw for me. You know the ones... they are so creative but you can be gifted 5-6 a day and you can't keep them all.

This meager little journal will be a great keepsake as well as a daily record of this time in our lives.

The girls better get to creating! I have a big "to do" list waiting for a journal.

Bookmarks & Mixed Media Fiber Art

These two are extras. I think I will have to keep one for myself.

I chose a word that best describes the person and their job at the school. I only wish I had a set of small font stamps to do the lettering. Squirmy material is difficult to write on.

Felted wool rosettes.



I have this growing obsession with mixed media art - fiber and textile art in particular. If it is a bit vintage and grungy, (is that a word?) it is for me. I pour over the Sew Somerset magazines. Their whole line of publications rock but they are a bit pricey. Hmmmm, I should ask for some for Christmas.





Back to the topic on hand... the bookmarks



I still have scraps of left over from my attempts at felting... and tons of material scraps... and tons of ribbon scraps... even some pleather scraps (I know, who has scraps of pleather sitting around? Now you know.)... odds and ends buttons... I could go on and on. So, I made bookmarks to give as Christmas gifts to the "extra teachers" at school.



My next project is a handmade sewn journal. I am still working out the kinks and trying to find all recycled material. I have to hurry on this one because the journal/day planner I use now is filled to the brim. I started writing in the margins yesterday.




Oh ya', I threw in a picture of the felted rosettes I made. I don't love-love them but they are much cuter on something.