It Doesn't Always Have to be Storebought - Handmade Gifts

Handmade gifts are always best & I have a few from friends & family.

A friend made these metallic painted handmade little clay creations for the tables at her wedding (pictured with the green background). (An artist in her own right.) She wanted something original that she made to be a part of the decorations. They had natural variations in the process of hand forming each one. (Some of them has little hearts with her husband-to-be's initials. Mine is not one of them.) It's great to catch little things like rings and earrings or a delicate necklace. (Some of them had had little candles in them.) One of the best things about these - she did something her way and celebrated her art, incorporating it into her special day.

I grew up involved in community based groups (such as 4-H and Girl Scouts), that often put a great importance on volunteering and being a positive part of the community. It may sound corny or idealistic to some, but I would like to think it did help shape elements of my ideals and instill a sense of responsibility.

Napkin Holder

As a Girl Scout, one of these involvements included "adopting" a "grandparent" at a local nursing home we often visited. (Pretty typical community involvement project.) I got a feisty woman who liked to work on plastic canvas needlepoint, including a house design napkin holder (pictured) that she gave me. It's something that years later, I still have and still think of her fondly when I see it. It was something she shared with me.

The photo album was a birthday gift from aunt this year. She has really gotten into scrap booking projects and card making. She embellished the cover inside and out for a personalized birthday present (to go along with a handmade card and cookies from a nearby bakery).

Photo Album Cover

Inside Cover of Album

The Backside

We sew. We stitch. We embroider. (Well, at least I do.) But most never look at the back of their needlepoint (whether embroider or cross stitch) except to check something, start a thread, or end one.

I don't know why, but I am one of those people that is often fascinated with the backside of my needlework; the part not meant to be seen, the part that is often not seen, the part often overlooked. I look at the backside of something I've been working on or something I've finished, watching the colors and the lines that connect the images or words on the front, such an important part of a finished piece, yet... How often do we notice? How often to we look? How often do we even think about what is on the other side?

There are so many thing in this world that make up not just a creative process, but life, so many things that are below the surface or on the other side. Many sometimes we just need to stop and look or at least give them a thought without letting ourselves get stuck there.

Decoupage Accessories

Decoupage is a great way to personalize a bit of your world; whether it's a notebook or journal, a pen/pencil cup, or a jar to hold little things (like straight pins or notes). Using Mod Podge, doodles, old magazines, discarded ads, stickers, bits of scrap fabric or ribbon, I've added my own personal touch (and helped others do the same) to notebooks (often used as journals), cleaned out cans (that would otherwise be thrown out), jars, and boxes. I have a few decorated cans and jars in my sewing/craft room help keep my things organized and to hold everything from pens & pencils to markers and scissors and sewing notions.

This is a great way to personalize all sorts of things and appeals to multiple ages from elementary school kids to teens and adults. It was super popular at camp in the Craft Hall with campers, counselors, and adult staff of all ages. We decorated containers as well as pieces of wood for wall hangings. Decoupage can be done with thinned down glue or using something like Mod Podge (which available in most craft departments and at craft stores). to secure everything and give a smooth finish.

Personalize your world.

Felt Doll

This felt doll and her clothes were made using a pattern I found on Martha Stewart's crafting site, with a few adjustments of my own. I had found the pattern and decided to use what I had on hand to try out the pattern. I used brown and gray felt for the body (there wasn't enough brown so I used gray for the legs), black yarn for hair, embroidery floss for the eyes and a heart on her chest, and some pieces of material for the shirt and pants.

Most of this was done by hand.

Camp Crafts - 4

As part of an interview at the first camp I worked at, I took examples and pictures of things I could make, had made, and ideas I had to grow on. The picture here was one of those including a paper box, a small God's Eye, Worry Dolls, and a couple friendship bracelets (also popular worn as anklets). I even took an apron dress I had made without use of a pattern and then tie dyed in a rainbow pattern.

The God's Eye is something I learned years and years ago in Girl Scouts usually involving yarn and two sticks. This one was a small example I made using a couple pieces of broken wooden skewers and embroidery floss I had one hand. It hangs in my craft/sewing room now.

Worry Dolls, the directions included in a previous post.

Friendship bracelets, using various knots and macrame techniques were favorites among campers, counselors, and staff. There are tons of techniques and styles out there, the ones pictures using a half knot and a mix of colors of floss and embroidery floss. Camper would often start the knotted jewelry in the Craft Hall, then take them with them to finish during quiet time in bunks or other downtime through the night and evening. They would attach the end loops to toes, nails, pinned on jeans or shoe, or anything else available, including their friends.

The paper box is great for storing worry dolls or gift giving of friendship bracelets.

The instructions for a Paper Plate Drum was made while working with camping families with small children. I don't know that anyone ever used it, even thought we made a few of them.

Paper Doll Cut Outs

Most of us made those folded paper cut out dolls. We'd take paper and fold it a few times before taking a pair of scissors to it to free the row of hand holding dolls. I'd play with couples and ladies in big dresses to the best of my cutting abilities, sometimes taking little bits of tape to connect multiple strands of the faceless little paper dolls to string across my room. There is nostalgia attached to the images of these and images of strands of them in a girl's room or strung across a Christmas tree. I don't remember how I learned or who taught me, it was something that little girls did.

While I do not remember learning, I do remember very clearly a little girl that I taught. I was spending my summer living and working at a summer camp that catered towards families and groups with kids. A little girl of maybe 9 or 10 was there for the week with her dad and spent part of each day doing crafts with me. In the beginning her dad came with her, but my the middle of the week he would often came and pick her up. One day she had came to visit and at some point I realized that she had never seen anyone cut this strands of paper dolls that I remembered so from childhood and did not know how. Folding some construction paper I cut a strand of the simple dolls and then a few more to show her different forms. She was mesmerized and I watched her attack the new project with gusto (and a pair of scissors). By the time her dad arrived she had a whole collection of strands laid out around her. It was something so simple, but something that she couldn't wait to share with her dad and something that made her day.

I realized again that day the reminders that come often when working with people and the importance of the simple joys. I didn't solve world hunger or end war or poverty that day, but in that simple act I realized how important I was in that little girl's eyes at that moment. I could have taught her anything new, it wouldn't have mattered, what was important was that I took the time teach her something and that I just took the time. I also got to see the joy a parent can have merely by basking in the light of his child's excitement and celebration.

Generation before me cut out strands of simple paper dolls and hopefully generations after me will as well. Maybe I served a part in keeping that going, a continuing strand... much like the simple little dolls themselves.

Coloring outside the lines is a fine art. ~Kim Nance

The Gift Of Jewelry

Peace Sign Necklace from C.

I not only give handmade gifts, but sometimes I receive them from friends and family as well. Jewelry has been a part of it.

A friend dabbled in jewelry making and made me a bead and wire necklace with a peace sign (somehow it made her think of me) and a few feathers.

The ring is braided wire soldered together. I don't remember exactly where it came from, but I think it found it's way into my collection while at one of my camps.

The Heart Jewelry set was bride's maid gift from my cousin's wedding, complete with a silver wire heart pendent on the necklace & earrings and a matching blue and silver bracelet. The Bride designed the jewelry with a jewelry making friend from her church and we were given them the morning of the wedding. Our dresses were an ice blue and we wore the jewelry for the wedding. (The mothers of the bride and groom where also given bracelets.) The clasps are magnetized (making it a bracelet I can can actually clasp on my own).

Wire Ring

Heart Jewelry Set

Sculpted Mermaid

This mermaid, painted with green fins and seaweed was made from salt dough (I had some extra leftover from the napkin rings and started playing around) and baked in a 200 degree oven slowly until dried through. (I also turned her over after I knew the top was dried to help evenly dry her out and dry the bottom.) \

She was painted with acrylic paints, letting each layer/color dry before starting the next one. (The salt dough absorbed the paint quickly with the first layer and I had to be careful of the paint "pulling" the not yet dry stuff as I added more or with details.) I didn't have flesh colored pain, so that had to be mixed. Once the green fins and black hair was painted and dry I added details of red seaweed through her hair and across her body, then little flowers of orange-ish and white buds.

I love, love, love mermaids and keep trying to perfect my abilities to create them as well as find new ways to utilize them in my creations. I'm sure they will show up again... and again... and again. There really are not enough mermaids in crafting, art, or life.

Bring on the mermaids!

The Ladies Who Craft - Part 2

 

These are just a few more of the things we've done with the nursing home ladies. We often try to do seasonal projects and take into account not just the things I plan, but also things they have an interest in doing or sharing, just as the Indian corn pins made from triangle beads, pipe cleaners, a little raffia for decoration, a pin back, and a few drops of hot glue. Very festive fall pieces that can be worn or altered for other Thanksgiving/Fall decoration. (My grandma loved them and I still need to make her one for next fall/Thanksgiving.)
 
We painted little birdhouses, the added a touch of craft moss and faux birds and they are ready to hang in a window or sit on a table or dresser.

The jeweled fall leaves were a great fall decoration for windows or bulletin boards and super easy to make.

Jeweled Leaves

The Plastic Canvas Needlepoint Calenders were something the one of the ladies had done before, getting the pattern from someone she had been in another home with. We used the one she had as our original pattern. Each one was a different combination of colored plastic canvas and yarn (I preferred the fire colors pictured). It was something we could start together and then be worked on in the down time in between. I worked on mine at the hospital when my grandpa was in. (There are slots on the back not pictures to store the extra months and other pieces when no needed.)

Needlepoint calender

Charm Hemp Necklace

This is just hemp charm necklace is an example of something fun I was playing around with. The charms were made with tiny bits of white Sculpey clay and bits of twisty ties inserted into the clay before they were baked (according to the direction on the package). I made a flower, a heart, a rose, a flat disc (to be used as a peace sign), and a small ball (to be used as a small globe).

They were then painted with acrylic paint (the globe with green bits, a peace sign on red, an orange and yellow flower, a yellow rose, and a black heart).

Once dry, the charms were used in making the hemp macrame necklace, made using an equal combination of simple half and square knots. (I used twenty of each in the pattern.) The clay charms were attached to the central strand in an equal spacing as I worked. The end is made from a loop and a button to act as the clasp.

Macrame is one of many of the retro 60s crafts that were the most popular at camp. I taught macrame knots pretty much every week to campers and the knots are often used in making friendship bracelets or anklets. I had a hemp and bead anklet my supervisor at my first camp made me and other staff members.

"Sweet Dreams" Pillow Cases

This is a set of embroidered pillow cases I made for me. Growing up, I saw embroidered pillowcases a lot more, but over the years I have seen less and less. (Probably the result of fewer people knowing how to needlepoint.)

I used pre-printed pillow cases I found at a local craft store and embroidered the flowery "Sweet Dreams" across the ends of both pillow cases. I entered one in our local county fair & took first place.

(We're never old for ribbons.) I even had a friend who called to tell me she saw them and to comment on how pretty they were.

There are certain "old fashioned" things that never seem to really go out of style & some of those things that are nice additions to personalize your world.

Easy Sewn Clutch with Geisha

This Easy Embroidered Clutch was made in one evening and made from scraps of material I already had on hand. The exterior was made from a sturdier material (leftover form place mats I made my sister on year). The lining was made a a velour-like red (leftover from a Mrs. Santa type costume I've been working on). The button and red bias tape loop were both from my assorted notions.

The Geisha was embroidered with black embroidery floss BEFORE the pieces were sewn together. I used a simple running stitch to hand embroider her.

It was super simple, but I still included the basic instructions. I've been wondering if my needlepoint gets enough use for things that are more personal to me. See, needlepoint isn't just for your Grandmother. (Actually, I don't think my one Grandmother has ever done needlepoint.)

Paper Box - How To

I love making paper boxes of all different sizes as they make great gift boxes, the smaller ones for trinkets, worry dolls, or homemade jewelry and larger ones for cookies, cupcakes, or other bits. I've been making them for so long, I don't even remember learning. They might have been something my mom taught me and/or something from my Girl Scout days (my mom was my leader for a long time). When working & loving at camp it was something I often taught kids, especially to store worry dolls, jewelry, or just for fun.

They can be made from plain, colored, or decorated paper and are a great way to recycle & reuse newsprint, comics, brown paper bags, doodles, or old wrapping paper. Versatile and can be made in all sorts of sizes.

Flowered Bottle Necklace

Happy First Day of Spring!

In honor of this wonderful time of year, I was inspired to find a new project for some things I had sitting around here. Recycling some little bottles I had on hand I came up with this flowered bottle necklace that I am considering filling with wildflower seeds to wear carry with me. (Or to give to a friend to carry with them.) Sometimes, a person just needs to have some flowers to share with then world, even in the most powerful form of a seed. This is a super simple project that definitely helped me celebrate the coming of Spring and all it's beauty.

 I started with small glass bottle, I had left from candy making at Christmas time. (Every year I made hard candy for Christmas.) I have a small stash of these small bottles that the flavorings for the candy come in, cleaned and the labels removed. (So don't be surprised to see more projects utilizing these.)

Using acrylic painted I attacked a couple of these small bottles with greens and flowers, letting them dry between layers and then again at the end. (Of course, any theme could work.)

Once dry, I attached hemp cord securely around the neck of the bottle, knotting. (It has a nice earthy look and feel.) Using a bead pattern, I knotted the cord every so bit and added earth tone pony beads, securing the beads with the cord. I finished the end with a knot, leaving the cord long enough to slip over my head without needing a latch. (You could use any jewelry making technique, macrame knots, braid, or selection of beads. The one pictured is just the one I chose this time.)

Now, they just need to be filled with flower seeds and are ready to go. (Maybe give Mother Nature a bit of help spreading her colors.) Bring on Spring! Bring on the flowers!

(Of course, it also could be used for scented oils or something.)

Bleach Bottle Pig Planters

With thoughts of spring and planting...

I've making bleach bottle pig planters since my early days as a Girl Scout. We would make them in multiple sizes, depending on the available bleach bottles, then plant them with flowers to sit on porches or in flower beds.

The strip of pictures are from a Craft Day at the nursing home. (See references to 'The Ladies Who Craft.')The piigs were cut, painted, googly eyes attaches, and sprayed with an acrylic sealer. Once everything was dry the potting soil was added and ivy planted in each. Perfect for window sills.

The instructions below were written out to be used as an example for recycling projects out of everyday things that would otherwise be thrown away. They don't need any special supplies since pain and a a craft knife or scissors are both items most crafters have readily on hand and they are a nice size for most flowers, herbs, or other plants. Most important remember that the emptied bleach bottles must be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed to get rid of any lingering bleach as it WILL KILL ANY PLANTS in the planter otherwise. (Unfortunately, this was not something we were able to do at camp for lack of enough bleach bottles. It can take some time to save up enough for a group.)

You can cut the ears any way you want, just make sure they have the notched flap on the bottom to help keep them in place.

Check out on CutOutandKeep too!

St. Patty's Table and Dinner

Cheers! Another St. Patty's Day passed. Check out the table settings all put together and the menu served on it. (The boys were a little late for dinner, but everything held and it ended up just as yummy and just as nice as they devoured the feast in their typical record time.)

The Table Settings

Menu
An Irish Inspired Stew
Peas (we have to make the separate since not all of my brothers like them)
Pot of Gold (or Cheddar Beer Soup) (with some alterations since I am vegetarian and have no interest in a meaty stew, including using vegetable broth instead of chicken)
Deep Fried Battered Pickle Chips (not b/c they are Irish, but I like them & they are green)
Traditional Soda Bread
Apple Cider
Beer
Shamrock Cut Out Cookies (from a favorite local bakery)
Rainbow Cupcakes
Brownies

Rainbow Cupcakes

It's been a  busy day of baking and cooking to getting ready for tonight's St. Patty's dinner. For a special treat, I made rainbow cupcakes. (They're going to double as part of the center piece.) I started with mixing a white cake mix batter (in this cake I just used a boxed cake mix that was already in the cupboard) according to the directions.Then divided it into six bowls and colored with the colors of the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple.

 I layered each color in paper lined cupcake pans. The large cupcakes have a bit of every color, the small cupcakes have at least three colors or more each. I like mixing the regular sized cupcakes with the small bit-size ones. Then into the oven to cake (according to the recipe/directions) until done. (Usually sticking a toothpick in and coming out clean is the best way.)

Let cool. Ice and decorate. (I used a white cream cheese frosting with some green sugar sprinkles. I looked for shamrocks, but had trouble finding them.)

I don't need to a rainbow for luck... I made my own. Sweet, yummy, and might lead to a treasure all it's own.

Bottle of Irish Spirit - Video How To

Check out my video for the complete how-to, from just en empty bottle start to finish project.

Bottles of Irish Spirit

Still in the prep work for my St.Patrick's Day dinner I knew I needed some festive centerpieces for the table. So, I came up with these festive Bottles of Irish Spirit.

Using an empty and clean green bottle, I removed the labels, then dried thoroughly. (In this case I used bottles from Hard Cider that were in my recycle box.) Using a white and shamrock ribbon I attached a "label" with my hot glue gun (a wonderful invention). Then embellished the bottle by attached a fabric white rose I made before hand and ribbon to the front, again with the hot glue gun. (Find the instructions for the Fabric Rose here.)

Inside the clean bottle (no cider remnants here), I stuffed some green shamrock decorative wire I had left over what something I wore to a St. Patty's Day party last year. (Don't worry there was more involved than just the shamrock wire.) Then topped the bottle off with a green felt circle and a little bit more of the white ribbon with my hot glue gun.

The whole project cost nothing extra, using things I already had here, empty bottles for recycling, and scrap fabric from the place mats I already made and took very little time. And they are going to look great with the rest of the St. Patty's goodies for my table.