Anthropology Inpired DIY Fabric Flower Necklace

I get the Anthropology catalog, I have a store very close to me that I wander around in, I never buy anything.  because it's too pricey for my budget (o.k. I'll give them credit for some good sales).  Wandering around upscale stores, thrift stores, even hardware stores for inspiration and then going home to make it, yeah, I'm that person. In high school I fell in love with some bait in a fishing tackle store. They were adorable little painted wood fish with feathers on them. They became earrings.
This charming little piece of eye candy was made by hot gluing rolled fabric flowers to a felt backing. Hung with a gorgeous piece of seam binding, subtly died with Heidi swaps Color Shine Sprays.

Here I am wearing my new favorite necklace.

Ceramic Dragon Incense Burner, Bowl, and More

This past summer, my son asked me (yes, he really asked ME) if I wanted to take a ceramics class with him. A chance to spend a couple of hours every Sunday with my 17 year old? Of course! I couldn't imagine anything more fun.
Here are a couple of the finished works.

Rupert with A Book of Runes

I can't take credit for the idea of a dragon incense burner. I saw one at the Bristol Renaissance Faire.
This next project took so much time to figure out. I wanted to re-create a honeycomb paper decoration. You know, the kind that come packed flat and then you open them up and attach the two sides together. They come in bight tissue paper colors. Anyway, very challenging to recreate in clay.

 

During the class, I remembered why I never liked throwing on the wheel back in my art school days. It's HARD!
I do like glazing. And I enjoyed carving a design around the sides of this bowl.

Finally, I was attempting to make this piece look like it was very ancient, dug up from under a lost city. The technique was fun because I simply pressed a wood cut block into a slab. The I cut the slabs and pressed them together. It's actually not glazed, it's stained with a brush-on, wipe off technique.

I haven't posted my son's work here, at (his request) He is so talented at this, his work is really amazing. You can see it on my Pinterest page. Just click on the "Follow Me.." tab at the top of this page.

Scrabble Tile Door Hanger or Ornament

I saw this cute idea on an episode of My Craft Channel which I watch EVERY morning, really. (I have applied to become a My Craft Channel SuperFan and I'm crossing  my fingers they pick me!)  
This was a Xyron sponsored video. I took it a step or two further by turning the ornament idea into a door hanger and adding a bell (12 for $1 at Dollar Store) to the bottom. Call it a "Green" personal door alarm!

I used goop glue instead of Xyron's sticker machine because I knew that hanging on a door would take a lot of bouncing around, and Goop or E6000 hold the best.
I also inked the edges of the scrabble tiles, and added a spray mist for *sparkle*.

Recycled Coffee Sleeve Gift Notebook

Oh my gosh, this Holiday season has already been a whirl wind of events ans parties! I've been so busy wrapping, crafting, and trying to squeeze my actual job in on my spare time. This is a quickie cutie gift that can be made in a snap. Give it with a gift card, or a nice pen set.

I chose to keep the Starbucks logo on this one because the gift was for a coffee lover, but I have made them covered with a pretty paper.  Just press a coffee sleeve flat, and cut in half, or cut to desired size. trace around onto plain paper that will fill the inside of the book. If you don't have a Zutter binder or other binder, punch holes and tie together with ribbon (see my gift card holder visual clue).  I have inked the edges of the cover and of the paper for a vintage look, also sprayed the cover with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist. 

Up-Cycled Wool Baby Booties

Ho Ho Toes Baby Booties

These sweet little booties used to be an "ugly sweater". After felting the sweater by washing and drying it several times, I cut out the wool just like a fabric. Lucked out again at a rummage sale where I found the adorable pompons for the toes. I blanket stitched around the edges and added pearl buttons. I also made a pair with cashmere, but it didn't felt as well as the wool and they slipped off of the baby (craft fail ) I would have taken pictures for a tutorial, but I didn't have a blog when I made these last winter. I would be happy to send directions if requested. This baby is going to have a little sister or brother soon, so I will be making more.

Felted Wool Jewelry made from Ugly Sweaters

Sushi Beads

I know! don't they look great? I made these beads out of old ugly sweaters that I cut up, rolled and felted.

Yes, it took a long time, but this is a gift for my sister. I think the presentation is really great too (yes I am bragging). This was my 4th attempt.









The Licorice Allsorts necklace is a beauty as well! For my British mother, Allsorts are a candy favorite.
This was my 3rd attempt.

Second attempt at felted wool beads

First attempt at felted wool beads

DIY Gifts

It's that time of year! Actually, for me, it's gift giving time all year! I love making gifts for family, friends and students. These are examples of gifts or "extras" that make a gift special.

Scented Key chain

It's SEW easy to make these key chains. I have made them with lavender, but for this season I've stuffed them with crushed cinnamon scented pine cones.
Pine cones (Purchase at any craft store, one bag fills tons of key chains. I chose not to make the pine cones myself due to lack of time)
Scrap 2 inch wide, 8 inch long ribbon
Eyelet
Key ring
Tool needed- Crop-a-dile or an eyelet setter.


Fold ribbon in half and sew all the way down the sides. I prefer grosgrain ribbon because it doesn't slip in the machine. Stuff with lavender or other scented stuffing, sew closed about 1/2 inch from the top. Punch hole , set eyelet, add key ring. I added an ice skate charm to this because it is for one of my skating students.
They look really cute on packages and give it thet extra special something.

Skating Students' Gifts

Iv'e been teaching figure skating for a very long time. Every spring and winter I give a little something to all of my girls(ages 9-14) for working so hard. because I have to give to so many girls, it could get expensive so I have become very creative. This year I am giving a "mini-spa treat" which includes a little bottle of lavender oil, a lavender filled sachet and a battery powered tea light. The sheer sachet bags, the gift box/bags, and the tea lights are all from The Dollar Tree.  The white boxes are found in the wedding section. I used Heidi Swapp's AWESOME "Color Magic Spray" in mint green and chartreuse to add a little sparkle and shine to the boxes and the ribbon. (This is the first time I have used Color Magic and I think I'm addicted. I ordered a starter kit from "My Craft Channel" and I can't wait to play with it more!)
I used some silver washi-type tape with inspiring words around the candles. I hope the girls will enjoy them.

These photos look a little funny because the acrylic reflects back, and the paper is ModPodged to the back. They awill be a gift that was inspired by both a Theresa Collins and a Lori Allred (Inspired by Pinterest) demo on "My Craft Channel". If you haven't checked out that daily web-show yet, you are really missing out!  I found a huge box of these acrylic 7"x 9"clip-boards at a local rummage sale for a few bucks. You can purchase then at office supply stores, I just got lucky. I used ModPodge to glue double sided paper to the back side of the board. Then addded assorted ribbon and bling on-hand. I'm lucky to have a crafty husband who made stands for them so that they can be used as a display for a picture calendar, or notes. I used hot glue to attach the ribbon and bling.

 We are going to give them with a 2013 calendar (free printable on-line at calendarlab) and a photo greeting.

For these I used  Graphic45 "Bird Song" papers. 

Re-Cycled Coffee Sleeve Gift Card Holder

Yes, this awesome gift card holder for my hubby used to be 3 cardboard coffee sleeves. 

1) I glued the bottoms shut with Tacky Glue.
2) When I made this back in July, I didn;t have spray inks or glitter yet, and I sprayed the sleeves with inks that I made myself. (One pack of Koolaid, spray bottle, water). Now after using, I prefer the both Tattered Angels and Heidi Swapp Color Shine mists.
3) I covered the cover with paper and added paper embellishments and notes inside with Scrap Happy Glue.
4) I then punched two ribbon punch holes and tied together.
5) I slid a gift card into each sleeve and put a little flip flop sticker back to back with a matching sticker on the top of each card so they could be pulled out easily. He loved it!

DIY Angel Candle Decoration

Here is one more quick and easy Dollar Store Craft.

Supplies; 5 glitter Angel ornaments
One large led pillar candle and 2 led tea light candles
One small piece of transparency film or velum.
Alcohol markers (sharpies would work as well)
Hot glue, and E6000
With utility scissors, cut off hanging loop on plastic ornaments. Trace around one on to a piece of transparency/velum. Color on the velum however you want to. Cut out, and glue with Goop or E6000 to the back of one ornament, then make a sandwich and glue another on top.
Hot glue the other 3 ornaments at wing tips all the way around.
Take bottom off, and guts out of the large pillar. Replace with a  tea light in the base, and a tea light on top. This gives it a luminous glow all over.

Miniature Christmas Scene

This is a variation on the "Winter Under Glass" decoration. I added a little mood lighting on the inside with a blue led light from a craft store. It gives it a nice glow.

Winter Under Glass

I really had a lot of fun with this month's Dollar Store Crafts Challenge. I have always loved miniatures, so these two projects were a joy to make.
Supplies: Large glass bowls/jars
A few miniature figures and trees
A mirror
An Ornament
A battery powered tea light
A glass tea light holder
Snow felt fabric
Foam square
Artificial flower
Artificial Bird :)
On Hand- Goop, E6000, Tacky Glue, hot glue.

Trace around mirror on to snow felt then cut and glue to mirror. I use Tacky Glue. Then add your figures as you like, I use Goop. While setting to dry, place bowl upside down and use E6000 to glue tea light holder to top, and hot glue for plastic ornament to glass tea light. (It is so important to use the right adhesive for the right material! I'm thinking about adding a blog that;s just about which adhesive to use for what.)
Glue top to base with E6000. (Open a window when you use E6000, it has a strong odor.) If this is a gift, left it air out a couple of days before gifting.

Pazzles Inspiration Project

I wish I had taken a picture of this before I framed and gave it as a gift, but I didn't have a blog, or a Pinterest page back then! It is a layered paper cut project that I cut with my Pazzles Inspiration machine. It's from a photograph of my girlfriend and her sweet best friend, Lilly. I uploaded the photo, edited it, vectorized it, and cut several copies out of 4 different colors of paper. Can't wait to try this again, the results were wonderful.