Valentine Box

This was the easiet box I made this year.  I got it from you know where...!

Valentine's Surprise!

So, I decided that this year I would live on the edge and make valentine boxes for the girls to take to school.  I'm not sure why I decided to jump right in and make them but it was worth it when the girls woke up to their boxes!  The ideas came from Pinterest of course.

They loved them!  I even made some $1 shirts into Valentine shirts with a little felt and fabric glue.  I used cheap headbands, covered them in felt and cut out some hearts to glue to the headband.  I like how they all turned out.

Let me know what you think.  What did you do for Valentines Day this year?

Oh Baby!

Here is a card I made for a friend of mine.  Her brother and his wife had just had a baby.  And because the new mommy is Asian she thought an Asian influenced card would be a nice card to send to them.  So, this is what I came up with.

It was the first time I had tried making an envelope.  I just thought a plain white one wouldn't do the card justice.  I stamped both with a cherry blossom stamp I got from Garden Ridge back in the day when they had scrapbooking supplies.  I still love that stamp! Then I inked the edges.  For the baby onesie I made a hanger from scraps of metal wire.  See, it is good to be packrat! ha

-Jasmine

Teachers Rock!

Now that school started I thought I would post some things that I have done for teachers over the years.  It really doesn't take much to make something pretty, simple and inexpensive for a teacher, a janitor, school secretary or other school staff.   I made all of these with things I already had. 

My son really loved his kindergarten teacher, so for his 1st day of school in the first grade I made a bag to put his old teachers gift in and let my son write a note to his former teacher.  She loved it and was happy to see him.

 I gave both teachers a flower pen.  This one was for his new teacher.  She got a flower pot to put her's in.

 This one was for his KG teacher. 

 And the other bag.

 I found this chalkboard in the clearance section at Target.  It was a SUPER markdown...don't you love it when that happens?  I chipped off the shamrock that was in the middle and modpodged some cute "teacher" paper that I had from HL.

 This was a little gift set I made with a pad from the $1 store.  I had a craft box and pen and covered it with paper and filled the box with printer paper that I cut into squares to fit the box.  I added a flower pen and two card set I made and filled a bag with it. 

This was a teacher appreciation gift for a school in my neighborhood.  Although none of my kids attended there I thought I would appreciate them anyway.  I made a few batches of cookies and they were left in the front office for the teachers to come and grab throughout the day.  It was tedious to tie each bag with a tag and ribbon but well worth it.  The tag had a punched star and said "just for you."

So, some time this year have your child write a note, make a little treat, or write a note yourself to a teacher you appreciate.  And because I have 4 tikes and have worked with teachers up close, I know that not every year (or teacher) is all roses and cupcakes ...but a little appreciation may just go a long way.  

Have a great Thursday!

SCORE!!!!!!!!

For those of you who know me you know that I am a hard core garage sale, thrift store kind of girl.  I enjoy finding great deals on things that have great possibilities. I once bought my kids winter wordrobes at a thrift store when ALL, yes, ALL kids clothes were .99cents.  That included jackets, coats, jean and sweaters.  I stocked up on some practically brand new name brand clothes for .99!  That did mean some patience and willingness to look through every single item of clothing, but in the end I did really well.  

I have found some of my most favorite craft items at thrift stores and garage sales.  I have a cool side drawer thing that I bought for $5 that I use for my stamps.  (I will post it one day) I have a china cabinet that I used to store my crafts that I got for $25.  And the deals just go on and on! (gotta let you see that, too)

Last Friday I stumbled upon a garage sale where I found tons of FIMO polymer clay for .25cents each.  MY pic just doesn't do it all justice because I have every color in the rainbow as well as some khakis and browns. And if you are familiar with using polymer clay you know that most projects don't require much clay. I also scored a rolling pin type tool to flatten the clay and an embossing tool. I also was able to finally buy a toaster oven to bake my clay.  I have been practicing with my clay but have many unbaked pieces because I'm paranoid about baking clay in my family oven. Something about mixing food and a strange material in the oven I use to cook food for the fam.  It wasn't the cleanest oven but for $10 bucks...I didn't mind one bit!

 And once the garage sale owner learned that I love all kinds of crafts she said "let me show you something."  I really wasn't sure what she would pull out but I was so excited when I saw these...

Yep. She pulled out a box of acrylic paint, some thinner, and some really great quality paint brushes.  Plus, she had some foam brushes that I will use for applying mod-podge, and some heavy duty zip dots.

Grand garage sale total for all these goodies????  $25!!  I might have done much better if I was a haggler, but that is probably my least favorite thing to do or to have done TO me.  If I don't like the price, I usually just walk away or I pay what they are asking if I think the price is fair.  So, considering what my total would have been at my fav craft stores....it was a SCORE!!!!!!!!!

I will post what I make and bake soon!  Have a great Thursday peeps...

Wood Craftin Away

 

 

 I was excited because my neighbor (who builds marble counter tops)  had just left a bunch of nice sized wood pieces that he didnt just want to throw out on my front porch.  What an awesome neighbor, eh? 

I knew I would think of something great to do with them and I finally did, well sort of.  So, I covered a piece of wood from some of my all time favorite paper...ain't it purty?   And with the rosettes that I learned to make over at Little Birdie Secrets I was able to add a nice touch to it.  I really like how it turned out.  Just don't know what in the world I will do WITH it. ha. But I must say though, I do enjoy just looking at it very day.  

Do you have any ideas?

 

 

So, one day I was at the dollar store and found a set of wood carving tools...Who knew?   I have to say I didnt have a clue how to use them but did that stop me?? I THINK NOT!  I sat right down in my craft room and dreamed up a picture that would be easy to carve.  Or so I thought.  

I started chip,chip, chipping away at my drawing and came up with this:

 I really didn't want to paint it because I really liked looking at it how it was.  I knew it was missing something so I eventually painted it.  It still seemed plain so I added more dots...

 I guess I went dot crazy.  If I could go back I might add less paint to the seeds. I'm a first timer though and I like it. I will probably put in my classroom someday.  Until then, it has a place of honor in my kitchen window.  Sure hope the sun wont fade it. 

Hope you enjoyed my wood craftin fun.  I would love to see the cool things you have done with wood!  Have a great day you guys.

Crafty Madness!!!

Over the past few weeks I have been full speed ahead in order to have some crafty goodness to sell at my craft shows in November and December.  Me and pal Leah have some great ideas for our boutique and I cant wait for our big day!  I have been dealing with a strong case of crafty madness and I thought I could share it with you! 

First I discovered a cool rosette craft over at Little Birdie Secrets that I just LOVED! I quickly whipped up some for my baby girls and then some to sell or put on my crafts. Check out her tutorial (and blog) as soon as you can. I was able to use them for all sorts of crafts:

 Here are the first rosettes I attempted. Pretty good if I must say so and not hard at all. I used denim fabric and lace that I already had.  I bought the polka-dot fabric at WalMart for a $1 in the sewing section.

Then I decided to put them on some other crafts.  At this point, I was on a roll and wanted to make them both large and small!

 

Here is one on a box I found at HL for $1.98 in the clearance section. (yep, I bought all 4) Then I painted it pink and added green polka-dots. The rosette made it simple and chic...

This "cherish is from Making Memories I think and I got a steal for .98 at Target a few years back. I mod-podged paper onto the letter and cut it out with an exact-o knife. Added some strips of lace and some mini rosettes and ...voila!

 (a closer look)

 I bought these mirrors a while back when HL was doing their 50% off in that section. I painted it gold and painted on polka-dots...again, then added a little rosette.

And then I made this headband out of a t shirt I meant to give to my son. (I decided to cut it up when I noticed I bought a brand new t-shirt at the thrift store that said "drink til you like me" or something like that. I hid it in my closet for a while cause I couldn't bear to throw it out.  I thought I would make a cool patch or something for it but I never got around to it.  I eventually was so embarrassed that I eventually cut the words out and ended up using it for these headbands. I made the rosette like normal then cut a piece of the arm of the shirt (from the upper arm), added the rosette with thread and there you have it.

Then I decided to finally finish some wood words that I bought from the dollar store years ago.  Trust me, when I saw them I knew I could think of something...and only 2 years later...HERE THEY ARE!

Then I thought it would be cool to get around to making some magnets from all those root beers my hubby drinks. (still haven't figured out why he likes the glass bottle over the plastic bottles but...more caps for me)

I started by spray painting them with some paint I got from the Micheal's clearance for .99 cents.

Then I cut out a circle to fit inside the bottle cap.  I added the Glossy Accents, added the circle and then added another coat of the Glossy and a sequin.  Then I let it dry a while and added a magnet to the back.

So, thats the end of my Crafty Madness.  I did a bunch more but I will share more soon.  

Hope you enjoyed it!

Peace...Love and PAPER... 

I'm Inspired!

So, I have been a computer person for a long time.  But in the past I never really connected crafting with the computer.  It all started with a search for card making and I hit the jackpot!  I found dozens of card blogs and they each had a link to other blogs. It was amazing. So, over the years, I basically search the net for the crafts that I have done or want to try.  And this leads me to where I am today...well, the end of last week to be exact.

There were tons of pieces of 2x4 left in the basement of our house and I had dreamed up crafts for weeks that I could do with them but wasn't sure what I would make.  I decided to search mod podge and found a really cool site named Mod Podge Rocks!  They posted some FANTASTIC ideas that got my creative juices flowing!  And, as usual, while there I found lots of other links that linked to other blogs and sites.  Somehow, I ended up on How Does She? and among other things I found a craft for 2x4's!   So, needles to say the girls over there had me at 2x4...I was inspired! 

I got started right away.  She had links to a ton of places on her site and one that even perfected my mod-podging!  I was as gitty as a school girl I tell ya.  It was awesome to see that something I dreamed up had actually been done by someone else. How Does She? has so many other craft ideas and projects, and advice I can use in my busy life that I think I will likely stop by there every day if I can.  Just to get my creative jolt!

So, after seeing the cool 2x4's they did, I tried my own. I don't have the cool tools they have (but a girl can dream cant she?)  so, until then, I have my great neighbors and friends! They helped me out a lot. (even let me borrow their tools..nice!) Love you guys.  And this is what I came up with.

I started out with my regular supplies but found some really helpful techniques.  So, if you desire to be mod-podge perfect check the link out.   I started by tracing the blocks onto a cute piece of paper.  Then I cut the pieces out.  Next I mod podged the pieces onto the block.  And after all the sides were on I sanded down the sides.  I don't guess you have to sand it but it helps with any pieces that are too long (you can pull it off with scissors) and gives it a cute country, worn look to it. 
I finished by brushing a thin layer of Hard Coat Mod Podge on top of the paper and let it dry. Its easier if you hold the block on the two unfinished sides and rotate it to paint the other 4 sides.  After you let it dry for 1-2 minutes you can mod podge the remaining sides.  Then voila!

I came up with a calendar.  And of course you turn the blocks to display the proper date.  I haven't added the months yet because I'm really not sure how I want to do it.  I thought, at first, that each of the 3 lower blocks could have 4 months on each.  But then that meant that 2 other months would be showing at the same time...(too confusing)  So, I think I will either make removable months and attach them with magnets or I will get those little round hook things that screw in and hang the months on the front...does that make any sense?  If you have suggestions on how to hang the months, let me know.   Until, then, my block calendar will be month-less.

Here is a side view.  I decided I liked having paper on all the sides so that if its displayed in a variety of ways (ie a desk, teachers desk, etc) the calendar looks good from any view.  If you have any cool 2x4 crafts let me know.  I would love to see your ideas! Enjoy.

Big Ticket Invitation

I made this sample for my friend Brits bachelorette party.  The theme was Night at the Movies. I think it turned out well.  I adjusted the lines so that they weren't cut off for the final product. We were pleased with them.  The Admit One was the front side. I did this in Word so I'm certain it would have been better with a better program. Or maybe with a Mac. What do you think?

I LOVE CRAFT FAIRS!

So, I havent blogged in a while but there was good reason...School is BACK in session. I know you can understand. But, if there is one thing that is great about the school year starting it all the craft fairs, craft shows and bazzars that are sure to be right around the corner. My dream would be to do 5 in one year. Is that too much to ask? Maybe so for now. But I am hopeful. I know that when I am ready that exactly what will happen. Until then, I wont "dispise small beginnings."

Here are some pics of my craft booth last year. I really tried to step it up a bit and look more professional. I think I did alright. I hope to get better each time I give it a go. If I would make a list of somethings I would like to improve it would be:

1. Make a list of things I plan to bring before the show and use it to mark what I sold.

That way I can look back later and see the exact items I had and what buyers bought

2. Listen harder for suggestions on what buyers wish I had

I think people love to see practical things and sometimes buyers are the best inspiration.

3. Bring something to work on at my booth.

I wont be staring at them as they shop and they can see that I do actually make my products.

4. Work on props that would lift my products to eye level.

I dont think customers like having to bend too much to see things at a booth.

5. Work my display by making it look homelike and inviting.

I want to be the booth that cathes someones eye and they just have to come over to get

a closer look.

I have tons more that I want to do better but I'll share them another time. Let me know what you like and dislike and what you think I could change about my booth.