Tuesday, February 26, 2013

WIshing you a Happy Birthday

Someone told me today was a special day.
They mentioned that on this day the world became a better place because you were born into it...
 
Let me take a moment and wish you the happiest Birthday
ever and to show you how special I think your are
 
Here is a card I made with you in mind.
 
Hope you like it.
 
 
I am linking this up to the following challenges:
 
broken box stock - Happy Birthday
card makin mamas - birthdays
chocolate coffee cards - buttons & bows
creative card crew - birthdays
celebrate the occasion - girls birthday
 
xo
 
 

Monday, February 25, 2013

No Sew Lampshade

Well hello, again...I am back from a small blog break and have tons to share. First is this fun and way easy, although time consuming - BURLAP lampshade...

I while ago on my ventures of thrifting I found this most amazing metal based lamp shade...for $5.00 --- ridiculous!

 
Nice right?

 
I took some burlap and cut strips larger than the individual sides of the shade and began to add glue to the metal itself and stretched the burlap to fit tightly around and wrapped it...I did that all the way down the metal frame.

 
I did every other panel this way and when I got done I had to figure out a way to finish the other panels since I didn't have a space to wrap them around any more. I decided to wrap the top the edge and then folded down the raw edges of the burlap and glued it right down on the (non-showing) metal frame...as seen above

 
then I had the bottom of the frame left and not much burlap left so I decided to wrap the bits left showing with the remaining burlap - glued and wrapped as I went...as seen above
 
 
Here she is in all her lovely burlap glory....I am in LOVE!

 
An up-close shot of the wrapped edges

 
and to finish her up I made some small and very minimal rosettes to add to the corners and hide some funkiness
 
anyway, it was my first attempt at covering a lampshade and I fell in LOVE with the process - I think I may add some French text to one of the sides - we'll see.
 
Got lots more to share to please come back soon...Have a wonderful & crafty week...
 
I am sharing my idea at the following parties:
 
 
xo
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

LOVEly gift bags

In an effort to be relevant and up to DATE...seeing as I haven't posted anything crafty in a while - I thought I would share my SCRAPPY gift bags that are being used to house all the goodies for my kids for Valentine's Day...
 
If you scrapbook or card make then you probably have all these items at your home already or some variation.
 
Things you'll need:
 
White gift bags (2 for 1.00 at dollar tree)
 
 
 
scrapbook paper,

 
adhesive, chipboard letters, tags

 
I cut some free hand hearts out of the scrapbook paper and adhered them to the bags in an overlap pattern

 
I used papers from K & Co - so these papers and the tags were all part of the same coordinating kit and come double sided so use less paper that way. 

 
Those white chipboard letters didn't pop enough for me so I spray painted them with red paint then just added them to the front of the bag and used some fun bakers twine for the tag to hang of the side.
I think the "GIFT bag" came out pretty darn cool...can't wait to fill it and give it!
 
 
I'll let you know what their reaction is....
 
Happy Valentine's Day
 
xo
tina
 
I am linking this project up to the following parties:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Vintage VALENTINE Banner

I am a hoarder collector of vintage paper and ephemera - the cuter the more sacred. I mean I love it so much I HATE to use it - which I think is the definition of a hoarder...keep adding without getting rid of...sigh...
 
 
I decided this year I would start using IT or get rid of IT. Just because I save it and have intentions of using something doesn't mean it'll happen. Intentions don't work unless I put them into action.
 
So in an effort to try and USE up some fun vintage goods I decided to make a fun valentine banner.
 
 
Isn't she cute? I used some chipboard triangles I had the hubs cut out then covered in some fun scrapbook papers.

 
added some vintage laces & ribbon

 
used some vintage images and some wall paper 

 
fun cards and stickers

 
and what I created was a cool vintage inspired kitschy Valentine pennant banner.
Note to self: it's ok to use up your stash
 
Well now I think I have convinced myself to get crafting using some of my favorite and prized pieces...it's time to make a mess- a crafty mess
 
 
I am linking this up to the following weekly parties:
 
 
XO
HAPPY CRAFTING
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Monday, February 4, 2013

needle & thread

I consider myself a VERY crafty person. But like every good super crafty hero I do have a nemesis and that is: needle & thread crafting. You know sewing, pattern reading, crochet, knitting and embroidery. I try and for the most part I can make "something" but it doesn't resemble the piece I was TRYING to make. I can sew straight lines on a sewing machine but my goal is to make a top or t-shirt for myself. But for now I will stick with my pillows and aprons...another thing on my to do list is to make a SAMPLER - which consists of fun embroidered art patches...but in the mean time here are some of the things I have been playing with
 
 
I know this is WAY TO SIMPLE but yet it is still not perfect.

 
I even made an ANTI-VALENTINE heart - would you dare wear that out in public? I don't think I could...besides for me LOVE absolutely doesn't suck - I love being in LOVE!!!
 

 
Since it is so easy I thought I would share the tutorial for it of
 which is super self-explanatory...
 
cut out 2 heart shapes out of felt
on the top heart "embroider" with needle & thread a letter or a saying and just do the basic back stitch
 (see how on you tube)
when you are done with the top -  blanket stitch the edges - leaving a small opening to stuff with poly-fil. then close up
add a pin back or barrette clip to put on and wear.
 
super simple and these would make a fun gift to give to your pals --- just attach them to a fun embellished tag and you got a cool handmade gift.
 
So many fun blogs sharing lots of cool Valentines Day crafts: sharing my hearts with the following parties:
 
 
have "LOVE-LY" week
 
xo, tina