Crafts 4 Happily Ever Afters

Weddings are a celebration of TRUE love. Love that is going to be nourished and treasured.

and these crafts do just that. They celebrate the couple, and nourish the lucky ones involved

This first picture is of the pew flowers I made for the ceremony. Here they are clustered.

CLose up of the couples monogram. One M and C hangs below each

Individual pew flower. Each aisle seat will be graced with one.

Close up of the flowers. I was inspired by the tutorial @

http://dearlillieblog.blogspot.com/2011/04/crepe-paper-peonies-tutorial.html

These were major life savers at a few weddings this summer. Bridesmaid AID kits and of course the BRIDE gets some Bride AID to :)

Essential Items Included:

Gum (6 pieces was a good amount, and perfect for sharing too)

Tissue (at least three)

Band-aids (a few different sizes)

Safety pins (a few different sizes again)

bobbie pins (a few)

lip chap (1)

wet nap for after dinner (1)

always wips (1)

floss stick (1)

Q-tips (2, good for make up too)

Advil

CUDDLE time

Throughout the years I have collected t-shirts, many of which I wore for years... and years (I swear I have one from when I was 8, and it grew with me). One day I realized most of them did not fit right but I was not ready to throw them out or give them away. They were my proud collection. I wanted to remember all the amazing times in them. THE CONCERTS. My friends and all OUR stories. That's when I knew to making a quilt out of them was the ONLY option :)

It is now my personal blanket scrapbook...it's a flawless cuddler, and perfect for sharing.

These are the amazing instructions I followed, YOU CAN DO IT TO:

http://www.straw.com/quilting/articles/teequilts_how.html

OR -> If you have any questions leave a comment, Happy Cuddling :)

OR --> For a basic idea READ BELOW. Only 4 steps.

Step 1: Cut out a cardboard square 15 X 15... with this you will trace a square on all shirts so that all patches are equal size.

Step 2: Determine how big you want your quilt to be (mine took 20 tshirts). Once all squares are cut, iron on some interfacing to the back of all patches. This will ensure durability when sewing and will help your quilt last.

Step 3: With some fabric of choice cut long strips, first sew 15 inch strips to the bottom of each shirt and sew the strip to the next shirt, in the end you sh

ould have long strips of shirts. Next sew long strips all the from the top to the bottom of the t-shirt strips. Next sew all together

Step 4: Sew boarders on to the quilt and sew on the batting and back material of the quilt.

Life and ART are ONE

I hope everyone Made blissful vAlentines memories this year, iT is one of my favoriTe days for an excuse to craft something for someone you love

I was pretty busy this last month so I decided on making a quick sketch for the ones I love...I glued it together with some dainty scrapbook paper threw them into these frames from the dollar store... and BAM! One says I love you more than cupcakes, and the one of my true love says 'I love you more than a 360 six string rickenbacker' <--- his dream guitarFor us valentines has become a special day when we talk about artsy dreams and compile ways of achieving them (haha actually kinda sounds like everyday) but most importantly we set goals like new years resolutions about dedicating ourselves to each other and our art form. This year we decided to read The Artists Way together. It is a short course on creativity and spirituality. In it Julia Cameron suggests starting every morning with something called 'morning pages' in which you just write three pages on whatever is on your mind.

This is the notebook I crafted up (one for each of us) to further inspire us to be dedicated to the morning pages and of course creativity. I wrote one of my favorite quotes on the first page... 'LIFE AND ART ARE ONE' and stamped it with a stamp Matt made of our kitty cat :)

Keep on arting!

setting up your craft space: part II

Tune into your thoughts, find your rhythm, and find what works for you to keep your space organized. Make it easy and totally accessible for when you need to find that fuel!

When I sit down to create I like to work on multiple projects throughout the session... I feel most productive this way and don’t waste time fussing over what my finish product will be (as soon I start to fuss, I know its time to put it aside and move to the next project). We all create differently so it is important to find your rhythm and be in tune to your creating style. You can do this easily by paying attention to your emotions and self talk as you are arting. For me when I start to think negatively or stress about my project I know its time to move on. In the past I used to stop at this point, but I have learned I have a lot more energy to channel and by moving onto another project I don’t allow negative energy to eat away at my work or well being.

Essential to your craft space is organization, which I am huge fan of! As I mentioned I have multiple ongoing projects and for each one I have a binder. This way whenever I have something that inspires me or a completed project I can file it accordingly. My binders are catalogues of works in progress which I continuously add to (my big dream: they will be published one fine and dandy day).

Maybe your not a binder gal, and prefer boxes filled to the rim with scrapes and odd ends, or maybe you have different sketchbooks for all your amazing ideas. Either way organize your creativity. One thing I can recommend, keep a little journal with you at all times, I have a small one (from the dollar store with no lines) and I record all my random creative thoughts, simple sketches, lists of things to get, or lyrics from songs that make me tune into certain emotions, or little tidbits from my day like a quote from yogitea. Sometimes I journal in it too, but mostly its what my high school teacher (Tim) would describe as a proper sketchbook, “it is as if your brain threw up on the page.”

Finally, my latest addition to my craft lab, a little inspiration above my planning zone "Never Never Never Give up!"

QUESTION for you: How do you organize your projects? What do you do to channel your creative energy?

A lab for crafts

For any one ready to take on their creative side, I know exactly what you need! A creative space to call your own. It is essential to make it convenient and inspiring... you want to be drawn to this place and be able to access your creative juices instantly. I made mine in my basement and revamped some old furniture to make it my own. As with all crafts you don't need to spend a lot money to make something fabulous! I found an old white shelf, and with some drawer lining sticker sheets. I covered the back of it to make it feminine and artsy (Bought at home depot for under $5)


As my first creative project in my new craft room I made the peg board. Its super easy to build and its soooo convenient to keep your space organized. I bought a peg board at Home depot (it came in white but you can paint them any color you want) and got the board cut to size for FREE at the store. I also got some base board and cut it to size at home, and then glued it on with wood glue (I clamped the edges to the board overnight). I got a combo pack of hooks, made a simple shelf, and got some doweling for a ribbon holder. To hang it up I got some spacers and long screws (with safteys). It is important for the board to be secure, and also have enough room to change the hooks. This project cost about 40$ all together. It now holds my various utensils to cut, paste, and create, as well as a magnet board to hold things to inspire me and remind me why I love life :)


Lesson of the day: Find a space, make it your own, fill it with inspiration, CREATE!