It's That Time of Year Again!

While the holiday season moves full steam ahead, I have fallen way behind the pack. I've managed to get our tree up this weekend but that is about it. Most of my shopping has been done but another trip to the mall is still in order. I keep telling myself not to stress, but you all know how that goes!

Amongst the chaos, I did take some time to make toffee. It tastes divine, if I may say so myself. You can find the recipe HERE if you'd care to give it a try.


I am currently in the process of organizing my craft supplies. I have managed to accrue quite a bit of scrapbooking related items this year and my craft room is about to explode. I have decided that it is time to get rid of some of my old stuff in order to make room for the new.

This is my paint in it's before state. Over time, I have managed to collect over 300 bottles and it was taking up way too much space.


It is much lighter now after tossing over 100 bottles.


I have taken all of my glitter and placed each of them into clear glass salt and pepper shakers. I've placed all of the shakers onto a lovely silver platter.


I love the reflection of the glitter against the shiny glass and the silver platter.


There is still so much more organizing to do. My goal is to have it done before January 1st. Nothing like starting the year with a clean slate, or at least a clean craft room.

Thank you, everyone, for stopping by and for leaving me such sweet comments. I hope that you are all doing well and aren't stressing too much over the holiday hubbub. I'll be back soon with a holiday-themed tutorial!

Take care!

Aloha,

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

May your tummy be filled with all things yummy!

Have a good one!

Aloha!

Rosette Gift Tags

It has become very clear to me after doing several rosette projects like this and this, that if I wanted to continue making more, I would need to find an easier way of doing so. The old ruler and stylus scoring was getting old and tedious and took way too much time. I just couldn't see going on this way.

While doing some Internet shopping, I decided to order the Martha Stewart scoring board. I had hoped that it would be a dream come true for a rosette lover like me. And it was!

I adore this thing. It is so easy to use and makes very straight and even score lines which is an added benefit to making pretty rosettes.


Here are my gift tag prototypes that I put together this morning. With a little polishing of my technique and changing things up a bit, I can see that this is going to work out great for me.

If you are wondering, the big white space in the center of the berry on the left is going to be used to mount the gift recipients photo. I thought that this would be a fun way for them to identify their gift.


The use of a lattice paper edger adds a lovely, frilly border to the rosette. The edger was used after the lines were scored.


Here is a glimpse at the backs of some of the tags. They are very simply done with the aid of a scalloped paper punch, rubber stamps, and ink.


I just love it when I find something that makes my life a little easier and really does work as the product advertises.

Over the past week, I have done quite a bit of Internet shopping for craft supplies. Because shipping can be costly, I was wondering if I should just wait until the early part of next year to continue my quest for more supplies when I visit Las Vegas. I am wondering if anyone knows of any good craft related shopping in Las Vegas that is in the vicinity of Downtown or The Strip as I would be accessing them by taxi. I would love to get my hands on some of the Prima and Tim Holtz product lines and also see them in person before buying.

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you have a fantastic day!

Aloha!

An Interesting Adventure

After months and months of actively looking at photos on the Internet of well organized craft spaces and finding out that many of the organizational pieces used were old items found in thrift shops, I decided to venture into the world of thrift store shopping.

At the end of the day, I walked away with 5 interesting pieces. After a thorough cleaning, I was very excited at the possibility of incorporating these pieces into my craft room.

When I found this piece, I knew that it had a definite function in it's first life. There are holes that were once used to organize something and the top level spins. Hubby thinks that it was once used for holding test tubes. Of course, thinking like a true crafter, I thought that it once held craft supplies. Either way, it was in tip top shape with little sign of wear.


The next step was to figure out what to do with it. Even though the investment of $2.99 was minimal for this piece, I knew that it had the potential to be of huge organizational value to me. So, there it sat on my table for a few days while I thought of every possible item that would fit into those 7/8-inch holes.

A couple of years ago, I emptied my collection of small beads into these bead organizers.


I was left with a slew of empty bead containers. To my delight, they fit perfectly in the holes.


I slowly developed a plan to pretty up my newly acquired organizer. I wrapped the tubes in pretty scrapbooking paper to hide the labels that were securely attached to the tubes. I used ink on the edges of the paper to give it an aged feel, and tied ribbon to the holes in the top of each of the tubes. Since the handle of the organizer was black and teal and was made of rubber, I knew that I couldn't paint it without the paint eventually chipping off. Ironically, the colors of the tops of the bead tubes were teal and lavender. So, by default, my color scheme was born.


This is the base of the unit. The plan was to paint it and to give it a crackle finish. Although I haven't painted anything in more than a decade, I think it turned out pretty well.

Going for a vintage look, I inked a paper doily and decoupaged it onto the center of the base. Ink and shimmer stained lace glued around the perimeter of the base seemed to be the perfect addition and completed the look perfectly.


I am sure that you already knew what was coming. Flowers, of course. I decorated the top of the unit with handmade flowers and embellishments.


I used lots of ink, shimmer mists, and a gold paint pen to add color and highlights to the flowers.


I love the bright, luminous effect of the shimmer spray on the flowers.


This is the finished piece. It turned out even better than I had imagined it would.


Now, to figure out what to put into each of the tubes.


Hmmmm.....I think that this may be the perfect organizer to hold my embossing powders and Perfect Pearls.


Something tells me that this organizer was originally made to hold these bead tubes as they fit so perfectly inside the holes.

What do you think?

I hope that you're having a fantastic weekend!

Aloha!


Post edited on 11/21/10 at 5:51pm

Almost There

Hello my friends! I do hope you all have been doing well. I am still here. I haven't combusted (stress!!!) and disappeared into thin air yet. Just one more week until this flurry of making things is over. The Pineapple workshop has been progressing at marathon speed. I'm overwhelmed. Calgon, please, I beg you, take me away!!!!!!

Containers are being stacked in every place possible. Hubby is very kind and never complains about it. Gotta love him!


Here is a bin of hair pins that I've recently completed.


Yummy yo-yo key chains. A colorful feast for my weary eyes.


Sorry for the quality of my pictures. I am in a rush (not unusual) as I am expecting my nieces baby to arrive any minute. Baby sitting is very trying when you're busy-out-of-your-mind, but that is just how it is sometimes!

Have a wonderful day. See you soon!

Aloha!

Progress

Just finished putting the final touches on my fabric tissue covers a couple of hours ago.


They're all stuffed full of tissue packages and are ready to go.


One more down and it's beginning to feel like I am finally accomplishing something!

Have a nice day!

Aloha!

Hmmmm........

The possibilities, endless. Who knew these little orange knitted pieces could be so versatile. Smurf parachutes, baby bonnets, golf club covers, nose warmers, booties, Peruvian hats, jock straps, sling shots, gnome hats, cushions, and baby blankets. Whew, the one thing that I can say, hands down, is that creativity abounds in Blogland!


Used as a golf club cover, one would never be at a loss in determining if the clubs belonged to you.


I think they look better when viewed from the other side.


Cute, but something isn't quite right.


A view from the side...I'm not diggin' it.


Kinda reminds me of the leather football helmets that were worn in the early 1900's, but with a fluorescent 60's kind of flair.


Nose warmer. Maybe. Along with your nose, there is enough room left over to fit your compact, a tube of lipstick, and an afternoon snack.


Jock strap. It kind of gives me the itchies just looking at it.


Uhmmm.....NEXT!


Cushions...baby blankets...a very good possibility.


I don't care for how high the leaves are raised (approx. 1-3/4"). Kinda reminds me a bit of the dorsal fin of an orca in captivity. You know, kind of slumped over and floppy. I must say that this has possibilities though.


Thank you to everyone, everywhere, (including the wonderful women in the care home) for your creative suggestions. You have saved twenty-two people from humiliation. I mean, wearing a fluorescent orange bra in 2010 is so, uhm, 60's!


Sorry that I have been missing in action lately. I have been working my fingers to the bone, but yet have so little to show for it. I stare daily at random piles of fabric pieces that end up overwhelming me. I can't seem to concentrate on any one task to completion. Harumph!


A finished project. One down, so many more to go!


Have a fun-filled Autumn day, everyone!

Aloha!