This isn't my typical craft post, but as I stated in my profile, one of my hopes is to inspire people. I wanted to share a website with you. Debbie, who is one of my friends and former sports marketing co-workers, had a dream. She always wanted to open up her own retail shop. She didn't just do this on a whim. She was patient, strategic and waited for the right place and the right time. She was smart. Well, I am thrilled to say that she did it. She made her dream a reality. Orange is officially open and has been for a couple of months! Hooray! She has a storefront in Valrico, FL (near Tampa) but you can also check out her website and take a virtual tour. It is so cool. The name, concept, merchandise and her clever little tag lines are so colorful. She is an inspiration to me.
I too have a vision and a dream. I want to write a Do it Yourself craft book. There, I said it. It is officially out there in black and write print for any and all to see. I already have the title and a number of fun projects to share. Watching Debbie has made me realize and believe that it can happen. I just need to be patient, plan and continue to pursue my dream.
So, please take a minute and surf her site. If you are in the area, stop in her shop and tell her MB sent you. I can guarantee that you will find top quality merchandise and top notch customer service.
Congrats Debbie! I am so thrilled for you.
Sweet dreams,
Madame Craftsalot
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Monday, February 19, 2007
Woodworking Toy Chest Project
I am in the middle of taking a woodworking class at the local tech college. Today was the first official day in the shop. I had a hard time trying to find a project to tackle. I finally chose a toy chest for my older son's bedroom. I got the free woodworking plans from the Georgia Pacific website, just scroll down and look for the toy chest PDF. I went to Lowe's with the two page print out in hand to get all of my supplies. I learned a lot in this visit. One, don't trust the staff to give you the right stuff. He over sold me two pieces of 4'x8' MDF (medium density fiberboard) sheets. That is A LOT! About $40 extra. I think I could have just bought 1 sheet of MDF, vs. the three they suggested. I showed him the plans and he estimated what I needed. I took his word for it. I learned that since these plans didn't total everything up and tell me what I needed that I should have figured it out myself. I just didn't know what size the MDF came in. But, once I did find that out I should have done the calculations myself. They had to cut the MDF to fit it in my Durango so I can't return it. Bummer! Lesson learned. I still like Lowe's though, but just be sure that you know exactly what you are getting. The sales staff is very busy and may not be able to give their 100% attention to you.
I also learned that MDF is VERY heavy. Even though the project called for MDF, I could have substituted plywood, which is a lot lighter. My final piece is going to be very heavy. I don't think I will be able to lift it. (Thank goodness for my hubby!) And finally, I also learned that MDF isn't as strong as plywood in longer lengths. It is NOT good for making long shelves b/c with a little pressure, it can just snap. So, hopefully my project still turns out OK. I think it will. I plan to put wood letters on the top spelling out my sons name to keep him from standing on it. It could handle his weight now but maybe not so much down the road as he grows. I don't want the top to snap so by adding the letters it will not only look cute but may prevent him from standing on it. We shall see. I will be sure to post a photo when I am done. I have another class on Thursday and get to use the table saw for the first time. Exciting and scary all at the same time. Wish me luck!
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
I also learned that MDF is VERY heavy. Even though the project called for MDF, I could have substituted plywood, which is a lot lighter. My final piece is going to be very heavy. I don't think I will be able to lift it. (Thank goodness for my hubby!) And finally, I also learned that MDF isn't as strong as plywood in longer lengths. It is NOT good for making long shelves b/c with a little pressure, it can just snap. So, hopefully my project still turns out OK. I think it will. I plan to put wood letters on the top spelling out my sons name to keep him from standing on it. It could handle his weight now but maybe not so much down the road as he grows. I don't want the top to snap so by adding the letters it will not only look cute but may prevent him from standing on it. We shall see. I will be sure to post a photo when I am done. I have another class on Thursday and get to use the table saw for the first time. Exciting and scary all at the same time. Wish me luck!
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Inkjet printing on fabric
I was watching B Original the other day and the very unique and talented Michele Beschen showed a quick and easy technique using your ink jet printer to print on fabric, such as table napkins, remnants, etc. It is pretty easy. You just need the following materials: freezer paper, iron, ironing cloth, fabric to print and of course your inkjet printer. You can get freezer paper at your grocery store, it is just standard freezer paper. You will want to cut it down to the typical size of printing paper which is 8 1/2 x 11. If your printer can take larger paper than you can obviously make it bigger. Next, take your fabric and cut it a little larger than the freezer paper. Make sure the fabric isn't too thick of a fabric. Keep in mind that the fabric will be adhered to the freezer paper so they will need to go through the printer. Lay the freezer paper on an ironing board, with the shiny side up. Be sure the shiny side is up or else it won't adhere properly. Place your fabric on top, with the wrong side facing down; the side facing up will be the side that is printed. Cover with a piece of thin ironing cloth, muslin works well. Using a Hot Iron (no steam) press over the piece for about 45 seconds. The fabric should be securely adhered to the freezer paper. Make sure to get the edges and corners to ensure that they're stuck tight. You don't want the fabric to get jammed up in the printer. Trim away the extra fabric so it is the same size as the freezer paper before you try to print on it. Now you are ready to print your desired image on the paper. One extra tip that Michele didn't mention is that you may want to change the paper setting on your printer to something a little thicker vs. the default plain paper setting. Every printer is different so it may be under page setup or you may find the option to change the paper source once you hit print. You could pick a matte photo or anything else that is thicker than plain paper.
I think it would look really cool to take white cloth napkins and put a black and white image on it. This technique is an easy and inexpensive way to create some art work for your walls. Just add a frame and you can have a unique piece of art!
Happy crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
I think it would look really cool to take white cloth napkins and put a black and white image on it. This technique is an easy and inexpensive way to create some art work for your walls. Just add a frame and you can have a unique piece of art!
Happy crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Great Books to read
I am getting ready to take a PMC (Precious Metal Clay) Class next weekend at the local art center and can't wait. So, I went out and bought a book just to get prepared ahead of time. I found this great book called Metal Clay and Mixed Media Jewelry by Sherri Haab. WOW! There are some awesome tips, techniques and finished pieces in it. Just beautiful! Sherri is so talented. She has another book called the Art of Metal Clay. You can find it on the link above. All of the links are to Amazon.com which has new and used copies but there are plenty of other places to buy the books. Anyway, I am so excited for my class and to be able to tackle my first project. I think I am going to really like working with PMC. I have never done it before so I will be sure to report back to you on what it is like and how my project turns out.
On that note, I started thinking of some of the other books that I have and love and wanted to share them with you. Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay by Irene Semanchuk Dean. I have to be honest and say that I haven't done any polymer clay projects, which is why I bought this book. She has great ideas and instructions on creating cool looking effects for your projects. Look out clay, here I come. Actually, I just remembered something. I took a clay class in high school just to fill an empty slot. I wasn't into art at the time but thought it would be an easy way to get an A. My best friend and I got selected by the teacher to represent our school at the local "Clay-a-thon" competition. It was quite funny because we were not real serious about the class at the time, one of the few who weren't going on to be art majors. I don't remember what kind of clay we used, but I have worked with it in some fashion. Man that was a long time ago. My sister told me that she remembers one project that I made. It was a clay tissue box with a lid. The handle on the lid was a big, fat nose. How funny is that? I have to find it. I bet it is up in my parents attic. What a treasure that would be. Moving on... Photocraft: Cool things to do with Pictures you love. Another one of my hobbies is taking photos ever since I purchased my first digital camera years ago. I love using photo editing software on the computer to manipulate and enhance the images I have taken, whether scenic or of my two beautiful kids. The Photocraft book does exactly what the title indicates. It shows you how to do a lot of cool things with your pictures. I like projects that you can actually use and there are plenty shown in this book. The Paint Effects Bible: 100 recipes for faux finishes by Kerry Skinner. I took a Faux Painting class at a local tech college so this was a great supplement to that course. I tend to forget the steps to all of the techniques that I have learned so this book/bible spells it all out for me. It has detailed instructions and great photographs so that any level painter can achieve the effect that they want. The Complete book of Floorcloths by Kathy Cooper and Jan Hersey. I took a painted floorcloth class at the local art center and was hooked from the start. I am always looking to improve my creative skills and expand my knowledge so I bought this floorcloth book. (She has another one too but I forget the name). It teaches you everything you need to know to create a beautiful work of art for your floor from start to finish. I had the privilege of meeting Kathy Cooper at a local art show. She is so talented and offers classes at her own studio and at the Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston Salem, NC. I have taken a number of classes at Sawtooth and they have opened up a whole new world of creativity for me. Check out Kathy's website and you will see how talented she is. I just love her whimsical designs and use of bright colors. Very bold! I personally do a lot of Olde World designs and will have my version of a painted floor canvas as one of my projects down the road, so stay tuned. The Olde World theme suits the style of my house better than the bright colors but the opportunities for color and design on floorcloths is endless so you can do whatever suits your style. So much fun! The Mom Inventors Handbook by Tamara Monosoff. Someone once told me that "wherever there is a problem, there is an invention". This has been a blessing and a curse because now I look at everything that is broken, or that frustrates me, etc. and try to figure out an invention to fix it. This constant brainstorming has caused many sleepless nights for me. I have a ton of ideas that I am not quite sure what to do with so I bought this book to give me direction. It is a wonderful resource for anyone with an idea and aren't sure what the next step should be and it is a pretty easy read. Better Homes & Garden Paint: Ideas & Decorating Techniques is a helpful book if you plan on painting any rooms in the near future. It offers tips on colors and a variety of decorative painting techniques. Salvage Style: 45 Home and Garden Projects using reclaimed architectural details is such a unique book. It takes architectural details and turns them into cool new pieces whether it be art, furniture, etc. I love to re-purpose items, it is very fulfilling to recycle or reuse something that it was not originally intended to do.
All of these books have inspired me to explore and try new things. I invite you to check 'em out and share your thoughts!
Happy crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
On that note, I started thinking of some of the other books that I have and love and wanted to share them with you. Faux Surfaces in Polymer Clay by Irene Semanchuk Dean. I have to be honest and say that I haven't done any polymer clay projects, which is why I bought this book. She has great ideas and instructions on creating cool looking effects for your projects. Look out clay, here I come. Actually, I just remembered something. I took a clay class in high school just to fill an empty slot. I wasn't into art at the time but thought it would be an easy way to get an A. My best friend and I got selected by the teacher to represent our school at the local "Clay-a-thon" competition. It was quite funny because we were not real serious about the class at the time, one of the few who weren't going on to be art majors. I don't remember what kind of clay we used, but I have worked with it in some fashion. Man that was a long time ago. My sister told me that she remembers one project that I made. It was a clay tissue box with a lid. The handle on the lid was a big, fat nose. How funny is that? I have to find it. I bet it is up in my parents attic. What a treasure that would be. Moving on... Photocraft: Cool things to do with Pictures you love. Another one of my hobbies is taking photos ever since I purchased my first digital camera years ago. I love using photo editing software on the computer to manipulate and enhance the images I have taken, whether scenic or of my two beautiful kids. The Photocraft book does exactly what the title indicates. It shows you how to do a lot of cool things with your pictures. I like projects that you can actually use and there are plenty shown in this book. The Paint Effects Bible: 100 recipes for faux finishes by Kerry Skinner. I took a Faux Painting class at a local tech college so this was a great supplement to that course. I tend to forget the steps to all of the techniques that I have learned so this book/bible spells it all out for me. It has detailed instructions and great photographs so that any level painter can achieve the effect that they want. The Complete book of Floorcloths by Kathy Cooper and Jan Hersey. I took a painted floorcloth class at the local art center and was hooked from the start. I am always looking to improve my creative skills and expand my knowledge so I bought this floorcloth book. (She has another one too but I forget the name). It teaches you everything you need to know to create a beautiful work of art for your floor from start to finish. I had the privilege of meeting Kathy Cooper at a local art show. She is so talented and offers classes at her own studio and at the Sawtooth School for Visual Art in Winston Salem, NC. I have taken a number of classes at Sawtooth and they have opened up a whole new world of creativity for me. Check out Kathy's website and you will see how talented she is. I just love her whimsical designs and use of bright colors. Very bold! I personally do a lot of Olde World designs and will have my version of a painted floor canvas as one of my projects down the road, so stay tuned. The Olde World theme suits the style of my house better than the bright colors but the opportunities for color and design on floorcloths is endless so you can do whatever suits your style. So much fun! The Mom Inventors Handbook by Tamara Monosoff. Someone once told me that "wherever there is a problem, there is an invention". This has been a blessing and a curse because now I look at everything that is broken, or that frustrates me, etc. and try to figure out an invention to fix it. This constant brainstorming has caused many sleepless nights for me. I have a ton of ideas that I am not quite sure what to do with so I bought this book to give me direction. It is a wonderful resource for anyone with an idea and aren't sure what the next step should be and it is a pretty easy read. Better Homes & Garden Paint: Ideas & Decorating Techniques is a helpful book if you plan on painting any rooms in the near future. It offers tips on colors and a variety of decorative painting techniques. Salvage Style: 45 Home and Garden Projects using reclaimed architectural details is such a unique book. It takes architectural details and turns them into cool new pieces whether it be art, furniture, etc. I love to re-purpose items, it is very fulfilling to recycle or reuse something that it was not originally intended to do.
All of these books have inspired me to explore and try new things. I invite you to check 'em out and share your thoughts!
Happy crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Monday, February 5, 2007
Project 1 Recycled Diapers and Wipes Tote
OK, this is a super easy first project and shouldn't take long. It is a fun little idea that I came up with to help recycle something that would normally just be thrown away. There are a few different options for you but the final end use for this particular project is to carry diapers and wipes. There are cute ones on the market right now (Diapees and Wipees is one of them) but why not get crafty and make your own?
What to use? The vinyl and/or plastic packaging from the following: (some have zippers, some don't)
- Plastic/vinyl package from new pillowcases
- Plastic/vinyl package from curtain panels, valences, etc.
- Plastic/ vinyl package from soccer shin guards
Click on the link above for an example of one that I am selling on Etsy. I entered it in the Upcycle contest. I decorated it using a left over gift bag that I received at my baby shower. I included a photo.
Other potential ideas and uses for this packaging are to hold maps in your car, retail store coupons - larger ones like Bed, Bath and Beyond easily fit, a mini restaurant tote for infants/toddlers that holds a disposable place mat, wipes, bib, small snack, toy or something to entertain, etc. , or even a take-out restaurant menu holder. I may add to this as I go as I think of more uses, but this is a good start anyway.
What is upcycling? It is a new trend that I love. According to information posted on Etsy "The word Upcycling was coined by William McDonaugh and Michael Braugart in their book on ecologically intelligent design, Cradle to Cradle. In the simplest terms, upcycling is the practice of taking something that is disposable and transforming it into something of greater use and value. In this contest we challenge all Etsy users to create an object to sell on Etsy that is comprised of materials that would have otherwise ended up in the trash heap. "
Don't you love this idea of upcycling?? I seem to be looking at everything a little differently. So go ahead, get creative and find a use for this great reusable packaging.
To quickly summarize this project:
Materials:
- a recycled plastic/vinyl package as mentioned above
- embellishments: wrapping paper, stickers, gift bags, photos or whatever you have at home and want to use to decorate it
- *Glue - my packaging had pocket sleeves in it already (it was where the company puts the paper insert with the product info. (photo image, size, color etc. of the pillowcases or curtains from when I bought it) so I didn't need to use any glue
- Diaper and wipes or whatever you plan to use this for in the end.
* I didn't need it but you may.
Steps: (If I can even call it this b/c it is so easy)
- Embellish the package with personal photos or any of the ideas/items mentioned above and simply fill it with whatever you are using it for. Voila. You are done! Couldn't be any easier but it is a great way to save a few buck instead of buying one.
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Stay tuned for the next project: Hand painted Time-Out mat for kids
Friday, February 2, 2007
Bi-Weekly Project
I plan to post a project for you the first and third week of every month. That will give you at least two weeks to complete it. That may seem like a long time for some but if you have kids, a two week period seems to fly by before you know it. This will also give me time to test out my project plan if it isn't one that I have already tackled. I will offer a variety of projects that will include techniques such as painting, decoupage, photo transfers, scrapbooking, etc. I like to try to recycle or re-purpose materials and use something a little out of the ordinary in a lot of my projects. I am not afraid to dumpster dive so be prepared. Turning trash into treasure is very gratifying to me. I hope you enjoy my projects and will try to create things that you can actually use. Please feel free to comment or email with questions.
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Collage Book to check out
I wanted to pass along the name of the book from the artist that I mentioned in my Photo Transfer post. A big thanks to the "Naughty Secretary Club" for passing along the info. about Josie's book in her comment to me. The name of the book is: Collage Lost And Found: Creating Unique Projects With Vintage Ephemera (Paperback) by Giuseppina Cirincione. If you click on the link above it will go directly to Amazon where they have new and used versions available. I haven't read it yet but will say that Josie is very uniquely creative and talented after watching her on Craft Lab. Her instructions were very easy to follow on TV so I can't see that being any different in print. I am going to check it out!
While you are at it, check out the "Naughty Secretary Club" blog. Wow, what a great source of information and inspiration. There are a ton of great links to explore...I am off to do that now before I have to come back to reality and make some dinner! I wish I liked getting creative in the kitchen as much as I like getting creative in my studio.
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
While you are at it, check out the "Naughty Secretary Club" blog. Wow, what a great source of information and inspiration. There are a ton of great links to explore...I am off to do that now before I have to come back to reality and make some dinner! I wish I liked getting creative in the kitchen as much as I like getting creative in my studio.
Happy Crafting,
Madame Craftsalot
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