Category Archives: crafting

30 Days of Creativity: Day 10 with Crepe Paper Flower Tutorial

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Day 10: Create something today inspired by nature!

We had a few days of fantastic weather, but over the last few days, it’s been cold, damp and gloomy. April showers bring May flowers, right? Well, I thought I’d make my own with some party streamers from our stash of supplies. They’re easy and fairly quick to make!

Supplies: Party streamers, pair of scissors and/or Martha Stewart fringe scissors

  1. Cut 6″ lengths of one color for the center of the flower, then cut 36″-40″ lengths for the main color of the flower.
  2. Using your fringe scissors or regular scissor, cut fringe about 2/3 of the streamer width. Crepe paper is delicate and difficult to work with. I found using regular scissors was quicker than the fringe scissors, but I like the texture of the fringe scissor cut better. If you cut the streamer from bottom up, you may have an easier time.
  3. After cutting the fringe, roll the inner section then add the outer section. Keep rolling until complete.

For a little variation, I like layering two colors.

To finish them off, use floral tape or a little glue. You can either make into flowers with thick floral wire or even bamboo skewers. I strung them on some covered wire…

Happy crepe paper flowers from party streamers

Happy Spring!

30 Days of Creativity: Day 5

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What artists do you seek out for inspiration?  Create a small something based on your source.

That depends on for what I’m seeking inspiration: card making, sewing project, kid art project, home decor, event planning (details, it’s all in the details)? Sometimes it’s a matter of finding inspiration where you least expect it… I might be trolling the net for recipes, find a picture of the chef in his or her kitchen and see a kick-butt poster or a cute apron in the background. There! Inspired.

My problem, if you can call it that, is that I find it so easy to see bits of creative influence in everything I see… like inspiration ADD. Then I want to make everything I think about when clearly there’s just not enough time right now. *sigh* But, I do just love looking around at all the possibilities.

There are a few artists (professional or not) whom I like to go to when I’m seeking some uuumph in my creative ruts: Donna Downey, Sark, Patricia Zapata… all these women have strong personal styles that shine through their work. All very different, and I love that.

This past weekend we had a few birthdays to celebrate, so I didn’t create something specifically based on these sources, but had a great time wrapping presents with leftover fabric as ribbons and making my own paper bow. And, you can’t forget birthday cards! Love using my i-rock tool… There’s something I picked up from the hardware store, too. Can you spot it?

Embellishments and papers from Imaginisce

Sending peaceful wishes

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Origami cranes

You’ve seen these little paper cranes that grade school children might learn how to make in art class, or sometimes adorn a display case in an Asian gift store. A long time ago, I bought a package of 100 two-inch paper squares at an Asian art display with the intention of making 100 cranes for my, then, unborn child to decorate his or her room. The folklore around it was sweet, paper cranes for good luck and long life, and if you folded 1000 paper cranes, a wish would be granted.

When my daughter was born, I spent many hours in my beloved gliding rocking chair nursing or rocking her to sleep, sometimes listening to music. I could have watched television. There was no e-reader then. Instead, I wanted to be crafty, and chose to skillfully fold origami cranes, mostly with one hand. The cranes in the picture are just a couple of them… they all live in a crystal container that we received when Abby was born. Now my daughter is nine years old, and she is every bit of what I could possibly wish for and more.

So the news of the horrific events in Japan came last weekend, and it keeps coming with mostly unfathomable scenes and situations but some uplifting stories. I was telling my husband about a local Japanese school, children and their parents worried about their relatives in Japan. Then he says to me, why don’t you make paper cranes? He comes up with some great stuff, doesn’t he? Crafting for a cause. Well, sometimes, we can’t always offer monetary support, but what about thoughts for heartfelt wishes of strength, rebuilding, renewal… I pledge to make at least one hundred cranes. And, if maybe some of you would like to join me and make some, I would love the opportunity to present a Senbazuru (one thousand cranes) to the local Japanese school to show our support. Leave a comment or e-mail me if you’re interested.

I’ll try to post my instructions for origami cranes as soon as I can.

Much love to all,

Julie

UPDATE

30 Days of Creativity: Day 3 and 4 challenge

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What words or phrases do you find inspiring and why?

Wordle: Inspire

Hard to say why I find individual words inspiring… it’s the feeling it evokes. Pumps me up, conjures up strength and confidence, if only for a little bit. Here are some favorite quotes, too:

  • Be the change to wish to see in the world. Gandhi
  • If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams
  • The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen. Frank Lloyd Wright
  • Do what you feel in your heart to be right- for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.Eleanor Roosevelt

Do some doodling… share it and write about it!

I haven’t made time to doodle much lately. Catching up on some laundry this weekend, I was staring at our mattress cover, speckled with feathers from our feather-top.  I asked myself, “Should I sit here and pluck them all out before I throw this in the washing machine?” The afterthought was, “What would Martha do?” And, that was the inspiration for my 3″ x 3″ doodle. WWMD. Not my favorite, but it might just be what I need to start up again.

If you’re looking for more crafty goodness, hop over to Craft Critique for lots of products and my recent review on the Martha Stewart Large Circle Cutter.

30 Days: Day 2 Challenge

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Just a small amount of apprehension as I begin to post again. I haven’t figured out the whole backup system yet. But here we go, no sense in stopping life… glad to be back.

What colors are meaningful to you and why?

Bad picture of Halloween 2010 costume

At first I thought it read, “What colors are inspirational…” The following colors are definitely meaningful, because I can be such the sentimental person. I’m just not sure they are inspirational colors for me right now.

Forest green: My elementary school uniform was a forest green plaid. My friends and I disliked it so much we called it “booger green” for a while. Later, around mid-1990s, I was really into dark forest green and burgundy. It seemed sophisticated at the time (college).

Navy blue: This was a color in our wedding and the bridesmaids’ dresses were a dark navy, almost midnight, blue. It is one of the colors from my college alma mater and elementary school, too.

Champagne beige (aka shimmery light khaki): The color of my first car, a 1995 Nissan Pathfinder

Yellow: One of my mom’s favorite colors, though I think she likes gold. Each bedroom I had growing up was yellow. Light yellow, but not cheery, as if it had a tint of gray in it. Didn’t like it all that much. Not my choice.

Thanks for all the messages about the blog debacle, friends, and welcome new readers!

In Other News

  • Recent food columns :: posted.
  • Craft Critique has plenty in store this coming month! Join weekly Tweetchats on Wednesday afternoons, 1 pm – 2 pm. Schedule is on the main website.
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Pillowcases for Gifts

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Amazing what can be done in a relatively short amount of time, and if you don’t have many interruptions. (I have lots, so it takes me much longer than I normally estimate.) I thought I might be over my pillowcase craze, but it’s hard to stop. This doll pillow and quilt for my goddaughter was made with just some muslin, scraps, a repurposed baby receiving blanket and essentially 1/2 yard of fabric.

The receiving blanket, the thin kind that comes in three-packs, became the quilt batting. After quilting, I threw the blanket in the washer and dryer, to get that vintage-y feel.

Perfect for that special doll or plushy… this one is Sally, the Webkinz collie.

Made this cute Envelope Pillowcase for Valentine’s Day.

Jo-Ann Fabrics has some whimsy graphic prints. My girl is really into the peace sign…

I’m considering the pillowcase project again for the local hospital, but this time, enlisting some help early on. Eventually, it might be something that could be a partnership and not just during the holidays. Just food for thought.

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