Getting Crafty

Have you been coming here in search of fresh new content? If so, please allow me to apologize. I’ve been quite sick with a cold (the changing of the seasons always gets me) and this week is particularly busy as I will have been working 8 days in a row by Sunday, a couple of days I worked at both my full time job and my part time job. Shockingly enough, that sort of schedule is not conducive to either crafting, or writing about crafting.

I’d hate to leave you without some neat things to do so I scoured the web for some cute crafts that you can do very quickly. I came across J Caroline Creatitve! and when you check out her beautiful craft tutorials (which you can do here), you’ll see why I’m so enamoured..

(I was going to “borrow” pictures from the site but to avoid potential copyright issues, you’ll just have to go there and see for yourself.)

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I had the pleasure of teaching some children in Sunday School yesterday, and one thing that is really inspiring about the younger children (ages 2-4) is even though they know that grass is green, or the sky is blue, or clouds are white, or dirt is brown (and I know they know this because I asked), they will colour things in whatever way they wish.

Clouds will be pink, the water will be red, the sky will be green and to them, it’s beautiful and possible and fine.

What a lesson this is to those of us who struggle to do art the “right” way! Is there really a right way? Is there only one way of interpreting things? If there’s one place where we should feel free to be a bit silly, exaggerate or omit things, it’s in art.

Challenge yourself to do something the “wrong” way today. Do something unexpected and see just how much you like it!

Vanna White crochets…who knew?

Well, Michaels did and now they’re carrying Vanna’s Choice yarn, made by Lion Brand (Trivia: Vanna has been their spokesperson for 13 years!). With over 20 colours to choose from so far (I have my eyes on a baby pink), there are lots of colour combinations to choose from!

Yarn snobs, avert your eyes: although the VC is a premium yarn, it’s a worsted weight acrylic yarn, which is perfect for making those hats, mitts and scarves for your most rough and tumble customers, but not so ideal for some of the more delicate knits.

See all the available colours here!

Vanna White, knit, crochet

For a limited time, Michaels will be carrying Rockstar scrapbooking papers from DCWV!

This cardstock paper is not your ordinary paper: expect to see pages with flocked metallic accents, shine and shimmer. I haven’t seen it “live” but from what I’ve heard, none of the pictures floating around do it any justice:

(Image “borrowed” from here)

For inspiration on how to use this paper, check out this altered frame.

Here’s a craft that I haven’t tried but I think would be really neat.

Get yourself a smooth piece of board, perhaps two or three inches high by 12-18 inches long.

Cover it with magnetic paint, the existence of which I just discovered today. I found the picture below here.

Use regular paint to paint a pretty border around the edges of your board.

Attach it to a wall, preferably around your dresser, maybe under a mirror you have on the wall.

Attach all your dangly earrings to it.

Voila–an earring holder!

Taken by me in early August

Are you itching to take up photography? Check out these sites to get inspired.

Andrea Scher
Andrea holds the distinction of being one of the first people I added to the blogroll of my personal blog that I had never communicated with prior to adding her (or since, might I add). I have read many of her entries, including most of her archives and I find that her words speak to me just as much as her pictures.

Ross Oscar Knight
I first found out about this Atlanta native’s incredible talent when I watched the slideshow of an engagement that he spent eight hours taping. From photos of weddings to casual family pictures, Knight became the second stranger I had to add to my blogroll.

Denise Andrade, Boho girl
I found her blog through Andrea’s, and I discovered that she has a separate photography site now, Boho Photography. I love how, like Andrea, boho girl includes a picture with each entry. As if the pictures aren’t beautiful enough, her words speak loudly to me too.

I know, Christmas is not for another few months but it can’t hurt to get a headstart on cardmaking! I whipped up this cute little card in less than five minutes.

Materials
Cardstock
Jewel-like brads
Ruler (optional)
Black pen/marker

Directions
Start with a folded piece of cardstock.

Using a pen or marker, draw (freehand or otherwise) the skeleton of a tree, or any other figure that you can dress up with brads.

Poke holes randomly through your tree (or other figure). Attach brads where the holes are. Add a written message of cheer, or rub one on.

Cut a smaller piece of contrasting paper for the inside (to cover up those unsightly brad remnants!

Voila!

While crusing around on Craftzine, I came across the following cool looking craft ideas:

Silkscreening - looks complicated to me…I love the tealy blue of the result though.

Halloween origami - You could make these as cards for coworkers or classmates

Lunch bag - it’s so cute that it might make me decide to start packing a lunch to work, just so I can use it…or maybe I’ll just use it to carry my lunch money.

I have a desire to learn webdesign and become a quasi-graphic artist. Having no formal art training except for two years of art class in highschool, and during that time I discovered that I’m no natural. I like to measure and organize things too much to be truly free…although I am trying to learn this freedom.

I spent a large chunk of time (sixteen hours solid) working on the web page for my personal site. It’s nothing special but I am proud that I built it from the ground up.

Working on the header (or banner) was the part that challenged me the most creatively: putting together colours and a pattern that I liked into something pleasing to the eye…that was a bit of a challenge.

If you are a fan of photography in headers/banners, you must check out Boho Girl’s work here. If I had the money I’d definitely love to see what she can do on my site!

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Don’t forget: If you’d like to win the set of six marble magnets pictured at the end of the entry here, just leave a comment!