Flower Pillow for Mom

I made this pillow awhile ago for my mom and decided to share it.

It's a round pillow embroidered with a flower. Each petal represents one of my mom's kids (five kids = five petals) with miltiple hearts in the center. Around the edge is embroideered the phrase "The Power of a  Mother's Love is like an ever-blooming flower."

Jewelry Bowls

We are surrounded by things that can be given new life and made into something else. I made these jewelry themed bowls, the perfect size and theme to hold rings, other jewelry or change on your dressing table or dresser (I love little things like this).

One of the best parts - everything was from stuff I already had around the house. (And it's even recycled! How can you not love?)

This is a rather easy project that uses paper mache' techniques to create, with drying time taking up the most of the time. Just a little patience is all it takes.

Supplies
* a glass bowl or other container, any size (to use as a mold) - (for this project I used small glass bowls from our cupboard that are were about four inches across and often used for dips or fruit in out house)
* plastic wrap (to cover the mold)
* white glue or Mod Podge (something that will dry clear and secure everything together smoothly)
* old paint brush (for use with glue) - paint brushes are awesome to use with paint or decoupage
* desired paper such as magazine pictures or newsprint (I used magazine pictures of jewelry and gem stones from magazine ads)
* scissors or craft knife (as needed) 
 * OPTIONAL: desired embellishments (such as glitter, pearl wire, beads, ribbon, or whatever inspires you) and something to attach (such as the white glue from before or a hot glue gun)

(1) Start with laying plastic wrap across the bowl that you are using as a mold. This will keep the finished project and glue from sticking to the bowl. (You can use other types of plastic, but I preferred the clear plastic wrap so that I could see through as I worked.)

(2) Start layering the paper with glue inside the mold, using the paint brush to spread the white glue or Mod Podge evenly across the pages. Using the glass and clear to position the images on the outside of the creation. Build this up to desired thickness placing multiple layers of paper and glue. I positioned the inside with images like the outside to create a design. Using the paint brush with glue make sure there is a nice smooth layer of glue or Mod Podge to secure the outside edges and give a smooth outer layer. (You don't have to worry about the edges being uneven that an be taken care of later after everything is dry.)

(3) Let dry.

(4) Once the bowls are more set up you can remove from the mold and gently peel off the plastic wrap. Let dry completely.

(5) Apply more layers of white glue or Mod Podge as needed to seal securely. Spread glue on the outside to secure and seal outside edge.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LIBERALLY USE YOUR WHITE GLUE OR MOD PODGE TO REALLY SECURE AND SEAL EVERYTHING INTO ON PIECE.

(6) Trim edges with craft knife or scissors for a lean edge.
 Let dry completely.

(7) One everything is COMPLETELY DRY embellish edge as desired. In this case I used a white glue around the edge then dipped in colored glitter for a couple then pearl wire attached with a hot glue gun. (You could leave plain or embellish with whatever you have on hand such as ribbon beads old jewelry pieces or whatever else.)

Great for gifts or to catch your bits and pieces around the house. The options are endless - you an use any size bowl, attach a few together, add legs or another base. Experiment. Decorate. Share. Enjoy. And never forget to let your imagination run wild!

Painted Birdhouse

From a family reunion Craft Station. (Who would figure with my family... )

Creativity = Rebellion

Rebellion means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. The merriam-mebster.com online dictionary defines rebellion as

               1: opposition to one in authority or dominance

               2 a : open, armed, and usually unsuccessful defiance of or resistance to an established government  

                  b : an instance of such defiance or resistance 

I find a  sense of truth in the art of peaceful rebellion. True rebellion does not seem fed from destruction but from the creation of something whether something tangible or a concept. We create and therefore we take a stand against or for something, even in the smallest forms. We rebel against a world that might otherwise take away our individuality or our sense of self. We create and something new emerges, even in the creation of a new version of something else We create because we chose to grow and because we chose not to destroy. We create because it fills us with pieces of ourselves and our abilities.

In honor of this mind set check out this article about entitled A Rebellion of Substance and Style: The Arts and Crafts Trail.

Embellished Compact

I love all sorts of forms of creativity and arts, including theater. I have been active in theater, on and off stage, for years. For a recent show, I needed a personal prop that was fitting for my character. One option was a plastic compact that was difficult to use with my gloves and not very cute. So, what's a theater bug to do? Embellish a plain one herself, of course.

The glue didn't have quite the lay I wanted, but it shouldn't read from stage and I might try another to give a different appearance.

I started with an old, empty compact that would otherwise have been thrown out. I washed the remnants of  face powder from the compact and let it thoroughly.

Using my beloved low temp hot glue, I made a raised design on the top of the compact and let cool completely. (Don't worry about the colors, just the raised design.)

With a can of gold metallic spray paint I thoroughly painted both the top and bottom outside of the compact, using more than one coat. Make sure to get the edges, hinges, and clasp. You don't want the under color to show through when it's closed. Let paint dry COMPLETELY.

I decorated the inside for my own benefit, because it won't show onstage. For the inside I decorated a circle of paper with the characters initials and colors being used in the costume. I attached this to a cut out piece of cardboard, cut the same size to fit in the powder place. Secure inside with hot glue (or any other glue). I used the piece of cardboard and hot glue for the inside instead of just decoupaging straight to the metal because I wanted a flat appearance instead of the lines int he metal. 

Using what I hand, I sealed the paper inside with a clear top coat nail polish I already had. It sealed the paper/cardboard base and gave a clear finished looked to it.

It's ready to go.

A Clown or a Scarecrow?

In honor of "The Ladies Who Craft" I share my clown scarecrow. He didn't start out as a clown, but he ended up as one. Sometimes things just evolve.

Cross Stitched Feminism Pillow

We can find power and celebration in many things. We can turn old fashioned skills and arts into an expression of something else. I find some sort of strange comfort from turning something that used to symbolize much of a woman's bonds into something that can symbolize what we are capable. A woman doesn't have to reject the arts of her grandmothers to embrace the ideals of equality and feminine power.

For this project, I used the female symbol, cross stitched in black and red to embrace the ideals of feminism and equality.

I started with a template made on graph pattern for the pattern. The lettering and phrases around the edges were mostly just to get a template for the letters not for the final placement.

Using black and red embroidery thread, I cross stitched my female design with phrases around the edges that emulated the theme. "Never let the hand you hold, hold you down." "History and Herstory." "If your not outraged your not paying attention." "A woman's life is a human life." "I am not your Barbie Doll." "The meek are ready." "Proud to be a feminist." "equality.""I resist." And so on. I then embellished the sides.

When the needlework was completed I cut a square of a red velvet-like material (seen in a few other projects) for the backing. Instead of sewing them right sides together, I opted to sew them wrong sides together.

Wrong sides together, I pinned the edges securely, especially taking into account the stretchy nature of the red backing fabric. Then, using a strong backs titch hand-sewed the two sides together with black embroidery thread, using the stitches along a clear straight line as part of the overall design, but making sure to leave a small gap to stuff.

Using the opening I left, I carefully stuffed the pillow to the desire fluffiness with some poly-fil I had on hand, being careful not to rip open the stitches around the opening.

Once full, I pinned the opening (once again being mindful of the stretchy nature of the red fabric for the backing), and sewing it securely shut with black embroidery thread and the back stitch. I pulled the loose thread from the fabrics to give a fringed edge to the small square pillow.

A pillow to make any feminist proud. (Take ye inspiration where ye may.)

A Puppy from my Past

Years ago (no need to get exact with numbers & ages), I learned a little about ceramics by making a ceramic puppy for a Girl Scout fair entry. It was exciting to make something that wasn't out of popcicle sticks or salt dough.

I got to go to the ceramic shop and pick out something, then take it back to the house where my aunt taught me how to clean up the edges and paint the eyes. I even got to learn to a painting technique of dry brushing to accent the brown with white to make it look more like fur.

I don't what or if I placed on it when I entered it in the county fair that year, but I remember it being a chance for me to take on something new and to learn new techniques. It still sits on one of my shelves, initialed and dated on the bottom.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Looking for some ideas for Cinco de Mayo?

You could get a pinata' (or make one, of course), or find a number of festive things at many stores. Here are a few things to try out of things you might have on hand (tissue paper, yarn, string, embroidery floss, string, stick, twisty ties, or bits of fabric:

  

God's Eye 

(A camp favorite! Hang on wall or spice up your serving table. You can make them in all shapes in sizes.)

Festive Tissue Paper Carnation 

(Mix and match colors to add color to any table setting or as festive gifts for friends. Layer tissue paper to create more festive blooms.)

Worry Doll/Quetzel Dolls

(Make a few or a whole bunch for yourself or share with friends. You can make them to look like yourself, your friends, or or family.)

Rain Stick

(Bring the soothing sounds of rain to your control.)

Enjoy the day!

God's Eye

I learned to make God's Eyes with sticks and yarn many many years ago as a Girl Scout. It's one of the ultimate camp crafts and also a great Cinco de Mayo project and decoration. Over the years I have made them with yarn, craft sticks, Popsicle sticks, sticks from outside, and even toothpicks with embroidery floss for little ones. You can use any mix of colors you like and add tassels or a string to make it easier to hand.

All you need is some yarn or string and a couple of sticks.

And, because I can't resist: Don't forget to take a moment to look at the other side. We don't remember that often enough.

Tissue Paper Carnation

April Showers Bring May Flowers - and I'm going to get those flowers even if i have to make them out of tissue paper.

(My mom taught me how to make these years ago in Girl Scouts.)

Simple supplies: Tissue paper (any color) and something to secure (string, yarn, wire, twisty ties, floral wire, pipe cleaners, even a stapler will work). I used twisty ties in this simple tutorial

4-H Woodworking

Bulletin Board

Book Shelf

I grew up doing woodworking, I took a cedar chest to state fair, I helped with 4-H State Fair judging, and I taught woodworking basics at camp. It seems the carpenter bloodline showed through. 4-H gave me great opportunities to build things and to learn new woodworking skills. It also let me build things for my room at the time, many of which I still use.

The blue bordered bulletin board was a 4-H woodworking project that I made for my room in elementary school and now use in my Craft/Sewing Room. At any time it can be holding any selection of instructions, patterns, sketches, projected (completed or in process). It was made with my woodcutting advisor in his wood shop, using the same pattern his daughter had used to make one before me.

 The year I made my bookshelf, most of the kids in that project had made a full size bookshelf, but I had a small bedroom and limited space. Instead, my advisor helped me come up with a smaller shelf that could hang from the wall or sit on my head board. (My bed at the time at build in bookshelf as the headboard and the width was perfect to sit this shelf on top of it.) I got to learn about making drawers. The shelf now holds many of cookbooks and herb books, a treasured piece that I use everyday.

The basket was a Club 4-H project on trees. We did all sorts of tree projects and activities; that included tree planting, trips to see the process of apple cider and maple syrup, and creating something from wood - in this case it was making baskets from wood strips.

Wooden Dove

The wooden dove is from a pattern of my grandpa's. He made them and he helped us make them.The wooden dove is made from one piece of wood with a small wooden heart attached with clear fishing line. I have two that he helped me make that hang in my windows. They serve as a reminder that we need Peace on Earth everyday.

Blowing Out Eggs

I've never been a fan of hard boiled eggs, whether by them self, in salads, as deviled eggs, or any other way people devise. It was always hard growing up for my mom to find ways to use up the Easter eggs she had hard boiled for us to decorate. Plus, the hard boiled kind can't be saved for the next year and have to be kept in the refrigerator to keep them from going bad. Need a solution. Blow them out! (You can use the egg white in yolk for something else... I used them for my traditional Easter quiche.)

You Need:
Raw eggs
Needle (I used a yarn needle)
(Opt) Thin straw
Bowl (to catch the insides)

Pierce Egg gently one both ends

Using the needle, make holes big enough to blow egg through.

Gently blow yolk and white through egg into container. (It may be helpful to use the needle to gentle break up the yolk inside the egg.)

I found a narrow straw to be helpful in blowing the egg through the bottom, especially the last bits.

Gently rinse thoroughly to remove any bits of egg white or egg from the inside. Let dry.

Decorate!