Inspiration

Erica Gillingham (http://highwaysandanchors.blogspot.com/) inspired me to do a creative project titled “something I will make you.” Earlier this year, she wrote a facebook note. She said she would make something for the first five people who responded. I was one of the fortunate five. This summer I received a chapbook that I like a lot.

Digression: Ryan

When I first received the package, I did not open it. Then I received another package from Ryan and did not open it. Ryan called, asking if I had received his package, and I told him that I was not opening packages because I felt like I did not deserve them. What can I say. It was a strange summer. He told me to open them. Ryan’s a good friend, one of my best friends. Recently Ryan sent me another package and I opened it right away. These were the contents:

Score! I’m a so excited to read these. Also, Ryan sent me these because he knows I really really want to read them, which is so thoughtful. I’m lucky I know Ryan and if you know him, then you’re lucky too. Of course, if you know him, then you already know that.

something i will make you: part 1

So I wrote a facebook note quite similar to Erica’s, inspired by her, and Christina Galante, 826LA Retail and Store Manager, was the first person to respond. If you do not know about the 826LA Time Travel Store, then you should go here: http://826la.org/store/. I met Christina because I am an 826LA volunteer. I remember her being interested in finding an affordable place to practice yoga on the East side, so I figured I’d make her something that had to do yoga. I ended up making her a little note card.

Another project finished just before Christmas.

 I love the lacy look of this shawl and the beads added to it give it the sparkle for the Festive Season. This pattern was challenging as I had to really keep a close look on what row I was on. I also thought I had chosen the wrong yarn to work with. But in the end I think it look very stunning. I may try to make another one in a black lace yarn in January. After all my Christmas wishes have been completed.

Now I am looking forward to starting my next project….so many to choose from.  But I have to work on some more of the Fingerless Gloves before that.  Then, I may complete one of the Entrelac pattern Scarves.  Will see……hope to see you back soon.

Posted for Mary Ayers

This no-cook paper mache paste recipe is a good one to make with kids because it is easy to make and does not require heat.
Materials Needed:
*Water
*Flour

Instructions:
To make this paper mache paste, simply mix together 1 part flour to 2 parts water. You will want it to be the consistency of thick glue, but you also want it to be runny and not thick like paste. Add more water or flour as necessary. Mix well to remove any lumps.

A few helpful tips I have read in regards to using this paste are:
*If you live in an area with high humidity, add a few tablespoons of salt to help prevent mold.
*If you don’t like the smell of the glue mixture you can add a few sprinkles of cinnamon or
cinnamon to sweeten it up!
You should be able to store this glue in a covered bowl or jar, in the refrigerator, for a few days.

Find out how to create a cute penguin using a light bulb, paper mache techniques, and a few other supplies.
*Age Guideline: 8 Years and Up
*Time Required: 30 minutes
The above age and time guidelines are estimates. This project can be modified to suit other ages and may take more or less time depending on your circumstances. For best results, read through all of these steps before you start making this craft.

Before you start any project it is easiest to gather together all of the supplies. For this project you will need:
*Light Bulb
*Newspaper
*Paper Mache Paste
*Acrylic Paint
*Wiggle Eyes
*Craft Foam
*Fabric Scraps
*Craft Glue
*Paint Brush
*Scissors
Now we can start…

Start by putting a few paper mache layers on the light bulb. Let the paper mache layers dry completely before moving on to the next step…

Paint the entire light bulb white. Let the paint dry.

Use black paint to make your light bulb look like a penguin’s body.

Glue two small wiggle eyes onto your penguin.

Cut a beak and two webbed feet out of orange craft foam and glue them in place.

Optional:
Cut a piece of scrap fabric, about 2″ x 3″. Using the photo as a guideline, wrap it around the top of the Penguin’s head to be the hat. Glue it in place

Cut another piece of scrap fabric, it should be about 6 inches long and only about a quarter to a half an inch wide. Wrap this around the extra fabric sticking out over the top of the light bulb and tie.
Make small snips in the fabric gathered above the tie so it looks fringed and resembles a pom-pom on top of the hat. Your penguin is now done. You can display your Penguin on a shelf or even a ribbon for hanging.

For more ideas, be sure to check out a book on paper mache or another great craft idea from the library.

Enjoy!

For the past couple of months I’ve been growing another blog by the name Too Many Talents. It’s a blog for my many creative hobbies and interests. As part of that blog I’ve been doing a weekly segment called Business DIY. Sadly I am having trouble finding new craft projects associated with business for each week. Instead I’ve found myself posting business tips and practices, which would fit this blog better than the other blog. Therefore, I have decided to move such posts to this blog.

I will continue to do the Business DIY segment on my Too Many Talents blog, but I will change it from a weekly segment to an occasional segment depending on when/if I can find appropriate material.

To catch up with what I’ve written on my other blog, here are the posts:

- Get an Online Portfolio – Here I talk about a great website called DeviantArt.com that provides artists with an online portfolio. I too have an online portfolio at http://sindy-chan.deviantart.com/

- Extreme Business Cards! – Now this is what I was intending with the Business DIY segment – business associated projects like these awesome and useful business cards. There’s much less chance of the customer throwing these away.

- Conservative Halloween Costumes – Hehe. This one was fun. Every once in a while I might throw in something to do with office fashion since that is something I’m interested in.

- Recycled Magazine Business Card Holders – Another one of my favorites. I love recycling, and the idea of making something so useful and unique as a conference handout is great (if I do say so myself).

- Free Fonts! – I love fonts! They are so expressive. And free fonts are the best. I also talk about a program for making your own font.

- Selling Your Ideas – Now here’s where I get into the not-so-much-crafting ideas. How to sell your ideas is great, but it has little to do with a crafting or DIY hobby.

- If You [Present it Right], They Will Come – Okay, not the best word-play, but the basic idea is that you can have the best product in the world, but if you don’t present it right you’ll get very little or no business at all. And sadly there are too many business people who don’t understand this.

Today it is raining. Knowing how playful and busy my boys are, I keep a few creative kid friendly and fun projects in mind for days like these.

Today we went through the toy box and gathered all the small toys that never seem to get enough attention anymore. You know the type, they end up in the bottle of the toy box forgotten. Sometimes they are pieces who have lost their place, or pieces from all those birthday party bags. Many would call them junk. Most people would probably just throw them away, but we have a better idea. We gathered some simple, cheap, household items and threw them all together. Reusing the toys we were able to make a whole new toy that is keeping my busy boys busy and entertained indoors on this wet day.

I believe it is probably excellent for development as kids learn and explore different textures, ect. Not to mention the items you need are so cheap and easily available. So next time you think about throwing out those small tinker or odd ball little toys, try reusing them into a new game or toy! You could use this rice box as an everyday toy or store it away for those rainy days to offer your kids a fresh not so often played with game.

For our portable, storable, rice box or table (if you are handy with building, or have a table box ready) we used:

• 1- 20lb bag of rice (we used 4/5) whatever is remaining can be used to top it off if the rice gets low.
• a pile of odd little toys to bury in the rice.
• Smooth Rug for underneath *optional* (I highly recommend this, as the rice will most likely end up outside of the box, a non thick, no pill rug will work best so- you can just pick up the rug fold it and slide the rice back into the box when playtime is over)

SistersLuvCrafts is having an Open House!

Come join us for Christmas cookies and fun! Give homemade one-of-a-kind gifts this Christmas! Check out our many great gift items just in time for the holidays! There will be many items in stock, as well as special order options. Items for everyone on your list! New items as well as the ones listed in our Etsy shop! FREE gift wrap! Prize drawing!

No pressure to buy the night of the party– keep us in mind for future birthday, baby shower, anniversary, or holiday purchases.

When: Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Come when you can!

Location: Alicia’s house (I’ll give you directions when you RSVP)

Who: Ladies of all ages!

RSVP: Email–SistersLuvCrafts@gmail.com or leave a comment!

We’re also going to have a prize drawing for all who come!

Examples of the prizes:

Baby bibs (check out pics on our fanpage of examples)

Jewelry

Natural Lipbalm (one of our newest items!)

Even a purse!

There are many different ways to be entered (the more tickets the better your chances!).

1. Blog about the party! Let’s get the word out!
2. Email, text, or facebook at least 2 friends about the party!
3. Bring a friend to the party!
4. Write a review of a product or let us know about your favorite product on our Facebook fanpage!

Keep an eye on our facebook page for a sneak peak at prizes + new products for sale!!

• sistersluvcrafts.etsy.com

11/30/09 – Scarecrow – Finishing up the Thanksgiving patterns with this scarecrow design. Fall and scarecrows just seem to go together. This little guy would make an adorable pin for a friend, or fuse it into a platter for some Thanksgiving treats. Add some patches to his pants or shirt using either scrap glass or Glassline paints if desired.

Late last night I was looking through Mod Cloth and found so many wonderful things so I need to put them all in a post so that they are no longer hundreds of open tabs on my browser! So here they are:

1. Hello Kitty Cutie Wallet – cutest wallet ever!, although knowing me it would get rather dirty in a matter of days in my handbag.

2. Panda-ora’s Bag – such a cute little bag, reminds me of an orange cat one that I own from Fruits Basket! I love the little leaf details on the zip pulls.

3. 23 Flavours of Fab Lunch Box – Dr Pepper – Im always a sucker for tin lunch boxes.

4. Arcade Parade Necklace – very cute retro game necklace, would prefer it in silver though, or colourful.

5. Modzilla Necklace – also comes in black!

6. Aesop’s Fable Necklace in Fox – amazing fox necklace! Reminds me of children’s fairy tales…

7. Camera Obscura Necklace – gonna see if my dad will make me one of these!

8. Time for Romance Necklace – very ornate fob watch, the back is pretty too

9. Friendly Robot Necklace – lovely robot necklace with movable joints!

10. The Poirot Ring – the funniest ring I have seen for a long time!

11. Urban Forest Rings – tiny ornaments on rings are fun, but I fear they will break off quite easily?!

12. Hello Tootsies Socks – love long socks, love Hello Kitty…

13. Winter Semester Socks in Marshmallow – they look so comfy!

14. Anything Bows Headband – I think this would look really cute in my hair.

15. Heartbeats Cuff – chunky cuff for your wrist, very bold design

16. Two Servings a Day Belt – I have been looking for a new belt, and this is so yummy!

17. A-Bot Time Keychain – I think I love robots!

18. Onassis Dress – plain and simple yet very wearable for me. I have an issue with dresses, as I dont own many and never did for many years, so I am forcing them upon myself!

19. Glimmering Girl Dress

20. Frock and Roll Party Queen in Sandy – I seem to love big bows on dresses…

21. The Christine Dress – so cute but out of stock

22. Auld Lang Syne Dress – big and puffy!

23. The Gilda Dress

24. Picture Day Jumper in Khaki – I would love to wear this with a comfy top on underneath

25. Creme de la Creme Sweater Dress – this is so me! If I had to pick one dress from this line up it would be this one.

26. Gettysburg A-Dress

27. Pump Up the Volume Dress – huge puff ball!

28. No Place Like Gnome Tshirt

29. Ele-fun Tee

30. Paradise Kitty Tank Top – its like your boobs are winking at you!

31. Frosting on Top

32. Kawaii Cuisine Bento Box in Giraffe

33. Coffee Nymphs Mug

34. The Vintage Home book – as I love inspiration

35. Apple of my Eye Mirror – would look great in the bathroom!

36. Pear-y Cute Bento Boxes

37. The Better to Bond with You Tape Dispenser – so so so so cute!

38. I See You Mug

39. Lovely Little Labbit Rabbits

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Two of the hamsters were fighting today so I had to separate them to individual cages. I got hamster blood on my hands, I was not impressed!

Myself and Ryan are off to Bluewater this evening, mostly to see Rick Stein and hopefully get a book signed in Waterstones, but also to do some shopping! I cant wait, it should be fun. I should actually be getting dressed but I’m eating left over pizza

Jenn x

I should begin by saying the ideas for these advent calendars are super cute.  My personal versions however, leave much to be desired!!!

Last year my friend ohAmanda linked up to one of the cutest Advent Calendars EVER – the Dentyne Gum Advent Pocket Calender.  I filed it away mentally as a reminder to make them this year.  They were a little trickier than I thought.  It took me a few extra cuts & folds and I’m still not completely satisfied.  The grandmothers & aunts got the first prototypes pictured below (sorry ladies!) and now that I’ve got the folds right, I’ve got just one day to finish up the ones for Evan’s teachers.  I thought that would be a fun & unexpected gift for the 1st day of December since it’s also his 1st day back at school after the Thanksgiving Break.  For the cost of gum, some leftover cardstock & a pack of stickers you have a fun, unexpected little gift for someone!!

The Gum Advent

Then Amanda once again found another one of the cutest Advent Calendars EVER – the Bubble Wrap Advent Calender.  Evan, like most any other little kid, loves Bubble Wrap … what an awesome idea to incorporate popping the bubbles as part of the Countdown to Christmas!!  This project didn’t cost me a dime!  I already had some bubble wrap from some Christmas shipments that came in.  I used an old frame that I had lying around.  And some extra stickers.  Super Cute & Super Cheap!!

The Bubble Wrap Advent

So, the overall moral of the story … if you’re not following ohAmanda then you should be!!  She does super cute things all the time & if she doesn’t do them, then she finds them for you!!  Thanks my friend!

I am pulling out all stops for Cyber Monday and turning it into Cyber Week for my ETSY shop. I am super excited about this.

My first promotion is FREE SHIPPING on all items.

My second promotion is giving away these lovely created Holiday candles with any purchase from my shop. The present on the front is a box of matches!

My shop is – http://ping.fm/XZddS

I have a great many Christmas decorations on my site now as this will continue to grow throughout the week – http://ping.fm/iuYVn?section_id=6508217

And as always my loveable animal security blankets: http://ping.fm/00MYA?section_id=6345276

This week’s project was picture frame ornaments, chosen by MaryAnn at Stirrin It Up.

This is a really simple craft that would be great to do with kids. You print out the template, trace onto card stock and them glue and glitter them, after punching a hole at the top. Once the glitter dries, you make a cut out in one of them and glue a photo in it and then glue the back on. Very, very easy. Even I could do it.

In full disclosure I used Martha’s glitter glue and glitter that they sent me. I have to say I was quite pleased with the quality of both. The glitter glue has a brush attached inside the lid – just like rubber cement jars and I found that to be very convenient. Martha’s glitter was, as always, very nice.

That strange knitting commission I mentioned in October has come back to haunt me. Masha and her friends want me to knit a pair of pants for a particular cat, like the ones on this cartoon character.

She just sent me the cat’s waist circumference — 59 cm! That’s 23 inches. This is like knitting pants for a child, except that the legs are a lot shorter. No wonder this cat is on a special diet.

I asked her whether they’d taken the measurements correctly, pulling the tape snug around the “waist”. Indeed, they had. She did warn me that he’s a very big cat. Apparently the colour isn’t critical, so we agreed on bright red.

Bath Salts

You’ll Need:

• 2 cups sea salt
• 1/2 cup epsom salt
• 6 drops lavender EO
• 4 drops orange EO
• 3 drops ylang-ylang EO
• large mixing bowl /NOT metal
• plastic spoon
• air-tight container

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Pour mixture into container.

To Use:
Pour 1/4 cup into warm bath
Yields 2.5 cups of Bath salt

* feel free to adjust amount of Essential Oils to suit.*

Ginger Cinammon-Salt Body Scrub by "AJ"

You’ll Need:

• 1 cup sea salt
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup almond oil or olive oil

Mix all ingredients together, then place in pretty containers to give as gifts…

To Use: Gently rub over your damp skin (except  your face) to slough off dry skin. Rinse with warm water. This body scrub has the fresh, invigorating scents of both ginger & cinnamon!!!

Herbal Soap Balls
Wystira’s Herbal Journal – orginal author unknown

You’ll Need:

• 1/4 c. boiling water
• 5 drops essential oil (Chamomile, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Sage or Thyme)
• 2 c. Ivory or castille soap – shredded
• Plastic wrap

Pour boiling water over herbs.  Add 5 to 6 drops essential oil. Steep 15 minutes.  Reheat till bubbly and pour over soap.  Mix well with hands and let stand 15  minutes.  Mix again and divide into 3 or 6 parts, rolling each into a ball.  Place on plastic warp and dry for 3 days.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader’s personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Fair Use Notice: This page may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. This website distributes this material without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. We believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107.

Now I know I’ve got a bit of a obbession but how cute are these giant buttons? I just love the simplicity of these ceramic dishes from Have You Met Miss Jones, wouldn’t they look great on the wall?

And how lovely is this embossed button card, from Present & Correct? far too lovely to send I’m thinking

And while on the subject of buttons here are a few more of the little ideas with buttons that I shot for Ideal Home, if you missed my previous post and fancy downloading some cute posters to customise with buttons, check it out here

     It’s been two years since Dear Hubby has gone hunting.  Two years ago, he had the flu and was too sick to go.  He tried to go last year but became quite ill and had to come home before hunting season even began.  You see, last year his pain management doctor had put him on Fentanyl patches for his MS pain.  Little did we know that those patches were faulty at the time and were later recalled.

     He almost died from a cumulative overdose.  To say that it was frightening would be an understatement.  

     He loves to go hunting and I do hope that this isn’t his last year for it.  His gait is poor and he tires easily.  If he wasn’t with his best friend, I’d be worried.  However, I know his friend will look after him.  They’ve been friends and hunting partners since Junior High.

     DH doesn’t trophy hunt.  He hunts to put meat on our table and when he gets a deer, it saves us a great deal of money at the grocery store. 

     In the meantime, the pups and I are keeping each other company.  There’s nothing quite like having two 65 lb BTs join you on your lounge chair.  I’m that squished bit under the two dogs.

A few weeks ago I met a lovely woman at my new favourite mother-meeting spot – Winslow’s Home, which seems to be a great place to bump into other people who like homely little stores and coffee with their babies.  It was a lovely sunny day, so we were all sitting outside, I was entertaining Kazuo and attempting to make a little more progress on the only thing I have managed to knit him this year.  She had an inquisitive two-year old who wanted to see the baby… and so we got chatting about our fledgling knitting skills.

I started really knitting last year after several not terribly successful forays earlier in my life, including the time Dianna helped me rather disastrously adapt a cardy pattern for myself, and the sleeves ended up with big bulbous bat-like underarms… NOT a good look.  And when I say I started really knitting… well, I do just mean dabbling in baby clothes.  Knitting for a newborn is encouraging as even a total slowpoke like me can pull something together in a few weeks if they really try.

It was lovely to have Kazuo in a few things I had made myself last winter – and he has been really lucky that my mother, her friends, my aunt and my sister have all click-clacked away on his behalf too… so no chance of him getting cold!  This winter I even had stashed away a cardy that grew as I knitted it (though think it will have to wait for next winter actually) and he even still fits a couple of the 3 – 6 mth jerseys and hats I made.

But I was determined to eek out a few rows here and there so that he would have something new this winter from me.  And here it is, finally!  I sewed it together today as he napped and he wore it out when we went to the Schlafly Bottleworks for a tasty lunch.  It’s a roomy pattern, so I am hoping for some winter wear next year too and the wool is 100% natural NZ wool… sourced by my Mother, from a charity shop in her town.  Yayy for freegan knitting!

My knitting at night causes a bit of concern for Akira, a film buff who (understandably, but don’t tell him I said that) finds my noisy hobby a little distracting.  But tonight I was so exhilarated by FINALLY completing this project that I just had to skein up some glorious blue wool our friend Dave’s fiancee Julia sent me in October… and start knitting a hat for the wee guy.  I don’t know when I will get it done, but it is actually kinda fun to have something ongoing on the needles, and I seem to have found my (somewhat slow) knitting mojo again now it is cold.  So I was grateful that Akira found us something to watch (This is England – grim… but compelling) that meant I could make a start.  Something to do on quiet moments (???) on the plane.

BiDM

BrisStyle Indie Designers Market

A collective of designers, artists and crafters

This is the fab group I am a member of here in sunny ol’  Brisbane

and we are having our final market for 2009

When: This Saturday, 5th December 2009 – from 9am to 4pm

Where: St Augustine’s Church Hall, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton

Lots of gorgeous goodies for you to buy

from over 60 stalls

I will be on the BiDM promotions and co-op stall this year

(the stall will be just opposite the entrance to the hall)

with a selection from my eclectic range of  jewellery, accessories & clothing

Hope to see you there!

]]> http://cardcatalog.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/a-lovely-rainy-sunday/ Mon, 30 Nov 2009 05:22:12 +0000 Megan http://cardcatalog.wordpress.com/2009/11/30/a-lovely-rainy-sunday/

i think i have discovered the perfect mix of activities to make a very cozy rainy sunday, indeed.

sewing. christmas presents completed: three. straight lines sewn: none. the secret of a perfect top-stitch remains safe with foreign sweat shop labor (not condoning, just admiring).

british movies. i want to go to there. um, again. the annual onslaught viewing of britcom christmas specials is also in the works. there’s a giddily-drawn-up schedule involved. because, obviously, it’s important to equitably distribute edie, the vicar, father ted, david brent, hyacinth, margo, audrey, mr. humphries & co., del boy, and blackadder over the course of the next few weeks in order to obtain optimal christmas cheer. it is an exact science.

hot cocoa. made in my lovely electric kettle from my fellow british-loving friend and sipped from my orla kiely pear mug. i just need a yorkie (seriously the third time i’ve blogged about this british confection. you wouldn’t think it’s excessive if you’ve ever had one).

legos. le boutique de jouets d’hiver is complete. there’s only about twelve (tiny) extra pieces. that’s normal, right? …right?

knitting. after recently completing a knitting project that literally numbed both my mind and my hands and swearing off yarn projects for a good long while, thank you very much, i cast on something else for someone else. because it’s not december if i don’t punish myself just a little bit.

macaroni & cheese spirals. this dinner (at 10:30 at night) is okay because i live by myself; because the yellow powder is good; and because tomorrow i will be eating extremely wholesome and yummy turkey, cranberry, and brie paninis (that’s not really a good reason, but i just wanted to let you know of the goodness to come. to me.).

and yes, i love the best $.99 app i’ve ever downloaded. i want to live in a polaroid world. and it makes the noise!