Friday, February 26, 2010

February fairy ornament story

Robin, my swap partner for the Year of Enchantment ornament swap received her package so now I can show you all. February's theme was the fairy...oh the fairy!! Now let me give you my personal history on the fairy...

I grew up with a mother who was a HUGE crafter, particularly porcelain dolls. Dolls soon led to porcelain miniatures and related miniatures, miniatures soon led to enchanting miniatures...mainly miniature fairies. What I'm getting at is that this month's theme, the fairy, was one I was too familiar with. So familiar that I could have SO EASILY created a porcelain fairy ornament since I had all the supplies at hand (or at least, at my mom's house in her stash). Well, me being me, wanted a design challenge, so I searched for something different and not so easy (or at least something I could create using my OWN stash. After all, I did join the Destash-Along 2010 challenge for myself, not for my mom.) One day while blog surfing, which I occasionally do when I'm looking for an idea, I came across this tutorial for a sarubobo doll. I thought PERFECT! The idea for the flying sarubobo would be perfect to turn into a flying fairy! So, having created a flesh colored sarubobo from muslin, I altered the "look" to be that of a fairy and this is what I created:My orange fairy prototype! It took a few days to figure out the wings, I played with several different ideas, wired ribbon, plastic printed butterfly wings, different fabric. Nothing seemed as good as the white tulle. So I played with a few different shapes. I still don't think it's my favorite idea for wings, but with a deadline, I went with them anyways. She also features a silk flower skirt, ribbon trimmed waist (or in prototype fairy's case, ric-rac trim, the rest will be ribbon), yarn hair, acorn hat, and a green beaded necklace with the center beades matching her skirt. A few more colors will be coming to my Etsy shop soon, so be on the look out.Here's the yellow fairy talking to her dragonfly friends on top of the purple and green wonky log cabin quilt block that I created for Robin. There was a GREAT online tutorial for the wonky log cabin quilt block here. I haven't created a quilt block since I was a teenager, it was a lot of fun! I've been wanting to get into quilting FOREVER! I just need a better rotary cutter and board. I was using my cutting mat from college for exacto knives and matte board (you know, for building models of your design if you're an architect or interior design major)...yeah...that's what I had, so apparently that type of cutting mat is not as self healing the way a quilting one is. :) Note to self, need new cutting matte, old one has many cuts through it now. Here's a larger pic of the quilt block and other goodies I sent to Robin:I also added some Leavenworth postcards and a package of chocolate covered red vines from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory that's in Leavenworth. Mmmm-MM! This months challenge was to use glitter...hee-hee...here's where the glitter went...
That's some fancy pair of underpants Miss Yellow Fairy!!

Next up...my A Fairy Went A Marketing Swap creations...due in THREE DAYS!! There's a sneak peak of my prototype here in my Flickr pics. Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Leavenworth, Washington

Well, we're off to another craft retreat weekend with my mom, aunt and grandma (and of course my two boys). This is what we'll see tomorrow and all weekend, at least when we look outside our room. I wonder what I'll create this time?? Here is what I created last time.

I'll also me mailing my Year of Enchantment package from Leavenworth...after I stuff some Leavenworth goodness into it! Get ready Robin, my fairy is flying to you!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Happy (belated) Valentines Day!




I thought I would share a cute little crafty tutorial for some sweet magnets to make with your little ones. My three year old and I made a set for each of the grandparents.

Supplies needed:
-bottle caps
-acrylic paint
-varnish for acrylic paint (optional)
-paint brushes
-various felt colors
-printed pictures
-sheet magnet or old refrigerator magnets
-craft glue
-scissors

FIRST: Clean and dry the bottle caps of any stickiness. Paint inside of bottle cap with acrylic paint, allow to dry in between coatings. (I applied two coats to hide the brush strokes.) Final layer could be the varnish, it just makes it shiny, but is not required.
THEN: Cut out desired pictures into a 1 inch diameter circle (or a tad smaller) and cut out heart shapes from felt. Cut 1/2" square pieces of the magnet. (I bought sheet magnets only to realize that I could have used the old calender sheet magnet that was on the fridge.)
AND THEN: Glue magnet to back side of bottle cap, or if sheet magnet, peel paper and stick.
FINALLY: Glue pictures or felt heart shapes to inside of bottle cap that was painted. Allow to dry, then wrap them up and give them to the ones you love!

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Twinkle Little Star...

In case I haven't explained before, Grosgrain has done a lot of THE MOST adorable little girls outfits I've seen. Lately she's been doing a lot of "refashioning" from dresses she finds at St. Vincents or Goodwill. WOW! Great transformation on this piece! I just love how she explains her thought process for reworking the dress.

Twinkle Little Star Refashion Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Monday, February 8, 2010

GROSGRAIN is just AMAZING!

Check out her latest giveaway...

Cherry Pop Refashion Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Her designs and the way she recreates clothing is just AWESOME! I wish I had the know-how and knowledge to refashion clothing for myself. I've always lacked a style in clothing, I'm all about comfort and live in t-shirts and pajama pants, unless I leave the house, then I change into blue jeans. I've never worn cute, hip, fashionable, "whatever you want to call it" style of clothing but I've always wanted to. Until then, I am always inspired by what she creates and how cute it always turns out.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Really cool giveaway idea...

Only the Best of Etsy Sample Packages GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

What a super cool idea!! I must learn more about it, but for now, I'm blogging about it to enter the giveaway. Check it out if you need something to brighten your day!