SMASH Journal Cover

I confess to being obsessed with K&Company's SMASH journals..... I have 4 now and can't wait to get the newest styles I just saw on their website.

I decoupaged the cover with tissue paper then added Industrial Chic elements to the chain. My first real foray into mixed media and I was pretty happy with the results.

Handmade cards for PIF tree from CraftyBitch

I've been keeping busy lately crafting - I'm getting close to depleting many of my supplies so I'm looking out for new things to craft that will utilize what I have on hand. A friend just gave me a bag of clothes and there were lots of wool skirts so I'm thinking purses might be next in line....

But right now I'm making lots of cards. I've been bugging my FB friends for their address and have quite a stack to send out. I have lots of extras and would love to send them out to you! There are friendship cards, cards with quotes about home and what I call tea for two cards - they include 2 Uncle Lee organic teabags and a cookie recipe.

I have 5 set aside to give away for Crafty Bitch PIF tree. Reply to this message and I'll send one of the 5 cards off to you. Be sure and let me know which type you'd prefer and if you like the card and envelope to remain blank so you can use them yourself!

Been awhile I know......

In my defense, I haven't been very crafty lately....... except for the fingerless gloves I made. The camera needs new batteries, they don't hold a charge long enough for even one picture, so there are no pics to accompany this post - but there is one of me wearing them taken by a friend.

The new house we live in now is heated with electric - and we pay for it - so naturally it's been pretty cold. I don't mind so much except for my hands. I wanted a pair of fingerless gloves and my husband actually found a pattern online for making them form a pair of socks. So, off to the dollar store I went and instead of socks, I found some leg warmers. It was quite easy to transform them and hopefully you find the instructions easy to follow.....

So, you'll need one pair of leg warmers - you should be able to find them at your local dollar store. There were several colors and material choices available. I'm not sure if the photo really shows it, but the ones I picked are a fluffy, chenille like material.

Cut off one end, just a bit longer than your thumb as you'll lose some length in the sewing. Stitch up the end to secure the raw edge. Cut the bit you've cut off into two strips - these will be your thumb sleeves. Using your thumbs as a guide, stitch a tube that fits comfortably.

Lay a leg warmer on your hand to gauge where you'll want to to fit on your hand and make a small slit where your thumb will come through. Turn the warmer inside out and stitch the thumb tube into the opening you've made. If you stitch the raw edges together, you'll have a nice finished edge for the end of the thumb tube. Attach thumb tubes to both warmers and tada, you have a warm cosy pair of fingerless mittens. You can shorten the warmers to your taste. I left mine at the original length so they could slide under my shirt sleeves and keep my arms warm as well.

Hope the directions made sense..... I tend to be bad at proofing my own instructions because I know what might be missing and never spot it..... I plan on making some more when I get back to the dollar store. I even sleep in these, very cosy!

The adorable little dog I'm holding is my buddy Ziggy - he came to spend the weekend when his folks went away. He's a shi-poo and I'm madly in love with him!

Craft tips and trick.....

It's been said that necessity is the mother of invention and that's how I came up with many of my little crafting tips. As soon as the batteries are recharged, I'll take some pictures..

Painting tips....
-when painting small pieces, use sticky tack to stick the piece to something for hands free painting. I'll often stick small wooden pieces right to the top of the bottle of paint. As long as you aren't painting the back, it's great - especially for painting sides

- minimize drying time with a blow dryer on cool. Keep in mind this doesn't cure the paint, just dries it quickly. Ideal for base painting.

- save paint when painting small details or pieces by using paint in the cap of the bottle. Shake well and you're good to go!

- designate a bottle for leftover paint. Great for base coating where coverage and not color is important.

- skewer sticks are a must! Use for blending paints, holding some items for painting and drying. I used them when painting shells from the dollar store - stuck the shell on one end, painted, then jammed the other end into floral green for drying.

General........

Dollar stores and thrift stores are amazing places for supplies. Don't look at something just for what it is but what it could be. Is it the design or the components that are ugly? I snagged some butt ugly beaded tassels at the dollar store and took them apart. A little time and now I have a lot of awesome beads!

Yes, you could pay silly amounts of money at the store for a bag of pine cones.....or you could go to the park and collect them for nothing! Really want that cinnamon smell the ones in the store have? Easy! Buy a small bottle of cinnamon oil, place a few drops on a cotton ball. Put ball and pine cones in plastic bag, tie up and leave for a day or so. Or you could just dab the pine cones before or after the craft is finished!

I'll be adding as time goes on. Right now I'm off to take some pics! I'll have some new crafts posted in the next few days!

This is so annoying......

....ignore this..... I'm just trying to take up enough space so the intruder image isn't covering up the real post I made earlier..... here's a shot of my Jinx...

WTH?????

I don't know why this image has hijacked my page but as soon as someone posts an answer it will be fixed!

Noriko Purse adaption....

Above is the purse I made for my sister-in-law- Jonna for her birthday. I probably shouldn't have photographed it in front of the green and white bag holder, but I'm learning.





What shoes are to many women, bags are to me. I have bags whose main purpose is to hold other bags. And since I also love to craft, I'm always looking for cool patterns. This bag was adapted from a simple pattern I found online - http://tinyurl.com/nw7l9l . The finished bag is much smaller than I'd anticipated. I added the front flap and added the straps with buttons on the sides. I also gathered the sides slightly, something the original did not call for. The outer bag is made from different panels, but the interior is lined in a natural cotton.

I was pleased with the end result and so was Jonna! Right now I'm working on a bag for myself. It's still very much in progress and right now I am struggling to come up with the perfect strap....... stay tuned!