my middle name is procrastination

Okay, that's not really my middle name, but I've been really, really, REALLY good at it for . . . well, my entire life.  (This probably isn't news to some of you - like my high school Spanish teacher who recently began following this blog.  Hi Mrs. Maxwell!)  And my utter success at procrastination has been really shining through on this tenth craft till Christmas.  After all, perhaps you've noticed that it's March 21, and I have yet to post even once about this elusive craft since my initial tenth craft post the first week of March. 

I've had a few people ask me how it's going, and I have reluctantly confessed my lack of motivation.  But it's true, ever since I posted about the tenth craft, I've had zero desire to actually work on it.  I've turned to wood and paint and anything with the word "roll" in it, but I just couldn't muster up an ounce of excitement over something called Heat n Bond . . . maybe it reminded me too much of my rocky start with fusible interfacing.  

Well, tonight I got over it.  I looked at the calendar, realized that I had only ten days left until the end of the month, and got to work.  I wasn't jazzed about the idea of working with a towel, so I decided to create my own little craft that involves fabric scraps, Heat n Bond, and a picture frame.  I'll post more about it later this week.  

However, in true Elizabeth-form, my initial experience with Heat n Bond did not go according to plan.  There were many flops and flubs and failures tonight.  This picture is case in point.  

If you've been journeying with me since January, you know how I love to play guessing games.  So . . . here's another one - this one is eeeeasy!  What's wrong with this picture?

Craft on!     

saturday spotlight - rolling pins aren't just for baking

This is a first for Saturday spotlight . . . I'm highlighting the craftiness of someone I don't know.  Although I didn't plan it, my posts this week had a common theme.  See if you can guess the theme.  On Monday, the girls and I used toilet paper rolls to make rain sticks and binoculars.  And on Thursday, I finally made a craft for myself, a friend and a giveaway - a travel roll-up.  

Yep, that's right.  Both posts find their common bond it some kind of roll.  I felt compelled to use my Saturday spotlight to continue the theme, and I found this amazing idea Amy at Craft Chi for making a unique print with a rolling pin.  Super creative!  Actually, I plan on trying this tomorrow night for our kids' craft night.  I'm going to make it a bit simpler for kids to do by using foam stickers that we have on hand.  I look forward to posting about our attempts tomorrow night.  Stay tuned and . . .

craft on!

make it: a make-up brush travel roll tutorial and giveaway

I've been making a lot of stuff for kids lately, so I thought it was time to make something for the adult friends in my life.  Okay...the truth is that I wanted to make something for myself.  Yes, that's right, this little project was born from completely selfish motives...although I did make three of these little roll ups - one for myself, one for a friend's birthday and one for you...or at least one of you.  Leave a comment below by Monday, March 29 at 11:59 PM (give-away is now over, but stick around and learn how to make your own), and my oldest daughter will randomly pick a number to determine who is the super lucky winner of a super amazing travel roll.  (I figure if I use the word "super" enough, you will start to believe that this travel roll is indeed super.  Did it work?)  So let's begin.  

Things to grab before you begin:

*2 - 11 x 8 inch strips of fabric (one for the front and one for the back of the main body of the roll)

*1 - 11 x 8 inch strip of fusible interfacing (this will be sandwiched between the front and back strips)

*1 - 11 X 9 inch strip of fabric (this is for the pocket)

*1 - 20 inch length of ribbon

Step 1-

Iron on fusible interfacing to the 11 x 8 piece that the pocket will eventually be sewn to.  This is a great project to use up that jean material you've been saving from a pair of jeans you no longer wear.  However, I did use a really thin dark jean material.  (My relationship with fusible interfacing got off to a rocky start in January when I first worked with it, but now I've grown to appreciate it's unique role.  If you are unfamiliar with fusible interfacing or how to use it, click here for a little more info.)  

Step 2- 

Fold the 11 x 9 piece in half wrong sides together (the sides that you don't want to show are touching one another) to make the piece 11 x 4 1/2 (or almost 4 1/2).  Iron this piece.  This is the pocket piece.

Step 3-

Use a disappearing ink pen (find this at your local sewing or hobby store . . . LOVE IT!) to mark the lines you will sew on the pocket.  If you are someone who can sew straight lines, then you can skip this.  If you, like me, couldn't sew a straight line if your life depended on it, then the disappearing ink pen is your best friend.  You will want to vary the width of each space based on the brushes or tools (i.e. nail clippers, tweezers, cotton swabs, etc) you plan on putting in this travel roll.  I used a variety of widths - 1 1/4 inches to 3/4 inches.  Make sure the two end widths allow for the seam.

Step 4-

Sew this pocket piece to the bottom half of the front, or inside 11 x 8 piece that also as the fusible interfacing ironed on it (this is the piece that you will not see when it's rolled up) by sewing over the disappearing ink lines you marked on the pocket.  Make sure to backstitch at the beginning and end of each line.

Step 5-

When you've finished sewing the various-sized pockets, take the ribbon and fold it in half.  Pin the ribbon to one of the sides of the pocket piece at the half way point so that the ribbon lays on top across the piece with just a little bit of the fold hanging over.  Well, that was as clear as mud.  I clearly didn't explain that well, so check out the picture.   

Step 6-

Take this newly constructed pocket piece with the ribbon pinned to it and put it right sides together with the other 11 x 8 piece. (This means that the sides you want showing when the piece is finished should be touching so you can't see them.)  Pin these two pieces together.

Step 7-

Sew these two pieces together with a 1/4 seam, but leave about 2 inches unsown for turning.  (First picture - notice the 2 inch gap.)  I highly recommend leaving the 2 inch gap somewhere at the top of the roll - in other words, not where the pocket fabric is...although the roll is upside down in this picture so it looks like the gap in at the bottom.  Clip the corners to take of the point of the corner.  (This is a wonderful suggestion that I had no clue about until an expert sewer told me about while working on one of my first sewing projects.  This takes the bulk out of the corners.)  Turn the roll right sides out.  (Second picture - again notice gap in top left hand corner.)

Step 8-

Fold in the two inch gap and iron.  Then sew around the roll 1/4 inch or less from the edge, closing the 2 inch gap up. 

Step 10-

Immediately plan a trip to some exotic place...like Des Moines, Iowa...so you can use your travel roll to keep your brushes, nail files, clippers, etc. in order.  (If you have no idea where Des Moines, Iowa is, then this joke will be lost on you.  I can assure you that it is not an exotic destination, but it is a place I've been often.) 

It's highly likely that something in this tutorial doesn't make sense or is unclear.  Please let me know if anything could be more clearly explained or if you have any questions and...

craft on!

**I'm working on a little bag to go with this.  That's been a little more difficult for my non-crafty hands to figure out though, so it will probably be a week before I have that tutorial done. 

crafts for kids: we're on a roll!

A few weeks ago I began collecting toilet paper roles.  I'm not sure why.  I guess for the same reason I have a box full of egg cartons, coffee filters, old macaroni, check register boxes, the little tabs that keep bun bags closed, etc. - in hopes that they will all become something more in the hands of my children.  Tonight these toilet paper rolls found new life in two fun projects: shakers/rain sticks and binoculars.  Also, let me say that if you have time, both of these projects can be so much more.  Tonight, we only had about 30 minutes for craft time, so what you see if what you get with 30 minutes, one four year old, one two year old and a box of odds and ends.

First, let's make shakers or rain sticks.

Get your hands on:

*toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls or (my favorite because they are made out of thicker cardboard) the long rolls found in tin foil, plastic wrap or wax paper. 

*markers, paint, crayons, crayons, colored paper, glue, ect.
*wax paper or parchment paper - cut into two 2 by 2 inch squares for each shaker
*rubber bands

*rice and/or macaroni

Let each child decorate their own roll.  As much as I tried to get my kids to cover their rolls in colored paper, they were not interested.  They just wanted to color their rolls with markers, but the decorating options are endless.  My oldest tried to make it into a person.  She drew a happy face on one side and a frowny face on the othr side.  Then she decorated the middle like a shirt or top. 

After the decorating is complete, take one wax paper or parchment paper square and place it on one end of the roll.  We almost painted the wax paper brown for hair, but with the time crunch we left it white.  I told her we would take it off and paint it later.  Conform it to the circle end and secure it with one or two rubber bands - perfect headbands if you are making people shakers.  

Dump a handful or two of macaroni or rice into the roll.  We used macaroni for the musical shakers and rice for the rain sticks.  

Take a second wax paper/parchment paper square and secure with a rubber band or two.  Again, we will be painting this later because it is the shaker person's skirt.  The rubber band makes a nice belt.  

Done and ready to make beautiful music!

Second, my girls made some fabulous binoculars for all the imaginary nature hikes we go on in our house during these rainy and foggy days.  

You will need: 

*toilet paper rolls - two for each set of binoculars

*makers, crayons, stickers, paint, etc.

*paper hole punch

*narrow stapler

*yarn cut to easily fit over the child's head 

Decorate the two rolls.

Staple the two rolls together by putting a staple or two one each end of the pair.

Punch holes - pick one end of the binoculars and punch one hole on each inside edge of the binoculars (two holes total).  Don't punch the holes on the outside edges because the yarn will then go right in front of the eye holes. 

Place yarn through holes and tie.

Binoculars finished and imaginary nature hikes begin.

   
So start saving those toilet papers rolls and craft on!

wood craft week: a lesson from the wonder pets!

My kid's are watching "The Wonder Pets" for a special pre-bedtime show.  There aren't too many shows they get to watch at our house.  (I know, I know...I'm such a mean mom.  I've already heard these famous words from my four year old, "But mom (insert friend's name here) gets to watch (insert just about every kids' show here).  How come I don't get to?) 

Back to "The Wonder Pets"...I have to admit that I love this show.  There's something inspiring about these two gals, Linny and Ming-ming, and their friend, Tuck.  They are always working together to creatively get the job done.  

This week I've been working with other people to get the job done too.  With the advice of some other crafty friends, I've been experimenting with different ways to paint those little wood bobbins, balls and wheels that brought me so much frustration this week. (Click to catch up on previous post.) 

I'll write more about my mode of success later in case there are a few of you out there who would also like to make these colorful little lacing beads for a tot in your life.  But to top off a great wood crafts week - a much needed break from sewing, I just wanted to show off the success after the failure.  So check it out and

craft on!

saturday spotlight - a house full of blessings in wood form

It's amazing how much I take for granted the things I see every day.  For a while I had an opportunity to live in London.  I worked in a mental health facility there, and five days a week on my way to work I walked through the courtyard of St. Paul's Cathedral.  Saint Paul's has been an important part of London's landscape since 1697.  On my first day to work, I remember thinking, "Wow, I can't believe I walk through the courtyard of this amazing building on my way to work!"  I gazed longingly at each and every detail - soaking it all in.  By month three of walking through that courtyard two times a day, five days a week, I barely even looked up - as if I was walking past a newspaper stand.  The once-beauty of this amazing cathedral had become commonplace.

That brings me to this week's Saturday Spotlight.  First, let me say I don't dare propose that my house is anything like St. Paul's Cathedral in historical significance and architectural beauty.  However, there are many things that sit inside these walls that - at one time - I gazed longingly at, soaking in each and every detail.  Things that people  made just for me or members of my family...things made out of wood by the careful and creative hand of friends, family, loved ones.  At some point, these beautiful gifts became commonplace.  However, in honor of wood crafts week I've shaken myself out of this commonplace stupor, and looked once again at the beauty inside these walls.

The headboard and dresser were made by my grandpa many many years ago.  This bedroom set has been used by my grandparents, my dad, my uncle, me and now my daughter.  This is a true legacy gift. 

These two bookshelves were made for my girls.  They have unique names with special meanings, and these personalized bookshelves are wonderful gifts and beautiful additions to their rooms.  The women who made these has got major talent and skill. 

This rocking horse is so special to us - it could never be commonplace.  It was made by a special family that plays an important part of our lives on a daily basis.  Each family member played a role - wood working, sanding, painting, staining, etc.  Mark, the man who did the wood work, was incredibly talented.  His hands were inspired.  He passed away, but his memory lives with us in this special gift. 

This wonderful little chair is another one of those gifts that we cherish because of the person it represents and reminds us of - Ray.  We actually have a couple of gifts from Ray - a nativity, a sled, this chair - that help us remember a man who loved to use his creative gifts to bless others.   

Be inspired and craft on!

wood craft week: celebrating failure...again!

If you've been journeying with me for a while, you know that I'm a big fan of failure.  My membership in the failure fan club started at an early age after falling when learning to walk, running into the garage while learning to ride a bike, getting in an accident shortly after learning to drive.  Somewhere along the way, I realized that failure can be a good thing - if you let yourself learn something from it.  

Since starting this crafting gig, I have earned a platinum membership in the failure fan club.  (Hence the reason for starting my flickr page to celebrate failure.)  Wood craft week has not disappointed me...it has left me plenty of room for failure.  You don't know how many times I had to paint over mistakes on my wonderful little painted people.

And then there's these little wooden gems.  (Sorry about the picture quality...just another failure to add to my celebration list.)

If you read my first post for wood craft week about painting people, you will remember that I also purchased wood bobbins and balls in hopes of making them into people.  I abandoned that hope when I realized I would have to glue them all together and my laziness won out.  

So...what's a gal to do with 20 wood bobbins and 36 little wood balls?  Hmmmm...make lacing beads?  Yes!  I picked up some wooden-wheel shaped pieces and decided that I would paint the bobbins, balls and wheels in bright colors, pair them with some new shoelaces and place them in a little container of some sort...voila...fun lacing beads any toddler would enjoy.  A great addition to my twelve crafts till Christmas.  

And that's where failure comes in...

Monday night I sat down to paint - starting with what I thought was going to be a great light green and bright pink.  It took me about two coats of paint and hands covered in green and pink to realize that I would need about ten coats of paint of light green and five coats of paint of bright pink on each little bobbin, ball and wheel.  

If you've come to know me at all, you know I'm not patient enough to go to all this trouble.  So I've ditched the wood beads until I can either a) find thicker darker paints or b) get some primer.  I'm assuming primer would help eliminate the soaking in of color and the need for so many coats.  Can anyone validate that assumption for me?  

Bobbins, ball and wheels are back in the craft box; failure is celebrated because I learned something; and tomorrow I will...

craft on!