Category: Crafts

It was nice this year to have a few moments to be able to create some unique gifts for our loved-ones.

For Tabby’s beloved babysitter, we gave her this plant. It has a cut out of a Tabby holding a (photoshopped) sign saying “Thanks for helping me grow!” It was easy to make and the most expensive part of it was the plant. We just took a photo of Tabby holding up a book. A little photoshop later plus some hot glue and that’s it.

And these are the ornaments that we gave to Tabby’s loved-ones on her behalf. We took a piece of wood from Home Depot ($8, I think) Matt cut it into cubes (got 11 out of the piece of wood) drilled a hole in each and then we covered them in green paint except for one side which we painted white. Tabby got to do her painting thing white side and then we put photos of her on the other sides. A coat of polyurethane and a bit of ribbon and they were finished.

Tabby had a lot of fun painting the blocks and she also chose which of her paintings would go to each person. We wrapped them in seasonal Chinese take-out style containers (phoned that one in!) and they were a big hit, I think.

We also did photo calendars …. used Shutterfly this year … great calendars at a great price … and I painted ornaments for our “nephews” and also a mug from Tabby (she has yet to open this, so I haven’t photographed it yet).

Now I’ll have to start figuring out what to do for next year …

Newsflash, people. I actually did a project. Strange, but true. This weekend, while watching the Donkeys Broncos actually win for a change (thanks to another last second field-goal by Jason Elam), I cut out a couple of freezer paper stencils and decorated the cheap-o tote bags that I bought at Hobby Lobby for $2/each. BTW, do you see the bluish outlines around the owl? That's cuz my felt-tip pen bled through. It made a kind of nice effect, but I opted for pencil when I traced the other one.

I found the two stencils I used on the web and made another one which hasn't been completed just yet. I kept running into this stencil, featuring W as our “worst president.” This may or may not be true, however it is sort of cliche by this point. So as an ode to this concept, I'm considering doing a stencil of William Howard Taft as our “Phattest President.” But perhaps only I (and those I explain this to) would get it. Of course, maybe that's part of the charm.

Some Freezer-Paper Stencil Links:
* loads of great stencils
* and a few more
* flickr pool with what others have created
* good directions
* more good directions

Before I sent my first book mooch, I was trying to figure out an economical way to package the book. What I really wanted was one of those little sleeve things that Amazon uses when they send out books and other small rectangular objects. But all I had was some cardboard … here's what I did:

Gathered up all the stuff … cardboard, book, tape, utility knife. Continue reading “Recycled, Cheap Book Mooch Packaging”

This is a project I've been wanting to do for a while now … I've had the supplies lying around for a while, but I've been kinda busy. So when Matt asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day, I said I wanted this project done. He completed it per my specifications and I LOVE IT. Instructions on the craft page.

Well here are our finished pumpkins in all their glory. Mine is the one on the left and the other two works of art were crafted by Matt. He loves carving pumpkins. Mine was created by drilling holes in the pumpkin (a surprising amount of fun) and putting those little gems from the craft store (the kind you put in flower arrangements) in the holes. Matt's were created the old fashioned way with lotsa tedious hard work. Loki's little bite doesn't even show too much.

Happy Halloween, everyone! Don't get too sick eating all the yummy candy.

Don't you just love all the creativity going on out there? I stumbled upon this set of photos where someone has dressed up Mr. Potatohead to look like … well … you'll see. My faves are Dr. Zoidberg, Homer, and the Yellow M&M.

Also in the creativity realm … the makers of Make zine are publishing a new zine … a sister zine called Craft. I have yet to pick up a copy (it is at the bottom of a rather lengthy to-do list), but the table of contents looks promising.

Now don't flip out, y'all. I am NOT having twins (so far as I know, knock on wood). My mom's cousin, however, did recently have twins and my mom's doing a shower for her. I was rather pleased with how the artwork for it came out, so I thought I'd share.

I've got to go back to the court house again tomorrow for more jury stuff … but I'm not on a jury yet. But it's looking more and more likely. Here in CO, we don't get any pay for the first 3 days (employer pays regular wages) but get $50/day for each subsequent. So sounds like we make out pretty well in the scheme of things.