March 31, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Envelope #84
March 25, 2014
Testing out some new Sharpie markers (Brush Tip markers) and color matching the different nibs associated with each color (chisel vs. fine vs brush vs ulta fine tips).
Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #6--String Heart (Project 12)
It seems to be the easy challenges that always trip me up. This Iron Craft Challenge was dedicated to string. Once again, I tried to make a friendship bracelet and couldn't even make the simplest version. So I decided to look through my craft supplies and found these paper doilies left over from Valentine's Day.
I took red and white Baker's Twine and threaded it through some of the openings to give it some dimension. i then mounted it onto pink card stock and then cut around the shape. While it isn't perfect, I will use a similar technique in the future. I will mount it onto a folded card base and print a greeting on the inside--something like : You hold the strings to my heart.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Friday, March 21, 2014
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Envelope #79
March 20, 2014
I was going to add another layer of doodles on top of this background but I liked the background so much, I just stopped.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Monday, March 17, 2014
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Crafting in Simpler Days
The Spirograph had been in my family for awhile and I never saw one until I was adopted into my family. When I started to use it, I fell in love. I would play with the set endlessly for hours. I even had a little journal that I would draw every single pattern--one pattern per page--and would meticulously notate which wheel/spool, which circle and which hole that I would use to create each design.
First, it was a modern miracle that all of the pieces were still intact. The set had been stored in the attic and was only found when we were digging out the Christmas decorations. This is the ONLY toy that I still carry with me wherever I go and has traveled with me everywhere.
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| Original Drawing Board (although I never used it) |
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| Everything still in its place (although the pens no longer work) |
The second toy from my childhood that I remember was a Candle Making Set. I loved candles and I enjoyed making them ever since I made one for an art project in high school. I took a parfait glass and layered candle wax to similar a Strawberry Sundae. That Christmas, I had pined for a Candle Making Set and thought that my dreams were going to be crushed by not receiving one. One night when everyone was asleep, I unwrapped all of my presents under the tree to find my "surprise." I rewrapped all of my gifts using the same paper and same tape (which is where I learned to love gift wrapping as well). On Christmas Day, I held up the package (using my best acting skills) and said--I hope this is a Candle Making Set. Boy, was I "surprised" when it was.
I don't know whatever happened to my Candle Making Set but I still have my Spirograph.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Iron Craft 2014 Challenge #5--Thinking Ape Cutout Card (Project 10)
Iron Craft Challenge #5 was brought to us by Sesame Street and the Letter "A" or so it seemed. At least for me, it felt like an episode because I must have gone through every word that began with the Letter A. I really struggled with this challenge because it has been a very hectic week because I started working at the theater (at nights) so I am still getting used to working both jobs and fitting in all of the blog work and crafting.
This is a cutout card design that I have been saving for a while. It is originally a pumpkin carving design from Stoneykins.com. The original thought was for me to cut the stencil and then make a t-shirt out of it. When I first saw it, I thought it was a monkey but I was corrected by a friend and was told it was an ape. I said but it looks like a chimpanzee and he said--Exactly. Apparently, chimps are apes and no one told me. So my "thinking chimp" card really is a "thinking ape" card and therefore qualifies for the Letter A challenge.
Now, I just have to find an occasion to give the card to someone.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Egg Decorating 2014--Silk Egg Dyeing
This year, I wanted to share some new techniques for Egg Decorating. These will be new techniques for me and I will share the prototypes and finished projects with you. The first technique is Silk Egg Dyeing. It is a hot dyeing process and requires that you use 100% silk for the process. This technique was made famous by using old silk neckties.
So, for the prototypes, I used some old silk ties that were being discarded at a local Salvation Army. Since the ties were so out of style, the manager gave them to me. She told me that she got tired of having them around and only be used for Halloween or 70s costume parties. One of the ties that she gave me has been bought and re-donated twelve times.
For the prototypes, I decided to use raw chicken eggs (as opposed to blown out eggs). For the final project, I will use blown out eggs. I will share a tutorial with you later this week but wanted to show you some of the finished prototypes.
As you can see, only some of the pattern transfers. Regardless of how hard I tried to get the fabric to lie flat against the egg, I still got white or missing patterns. Once I tried and failed on this single issue, I just decided to embrace the imperfections as part of the process. To lessen the effects of this lack of transfer, I decided to overdye the eggs with standard cold dyeing techniques. Afterwards, I really like the way the eggs turned out. I tried to overdye with a coordinating color.
In the detail photos below, you can see the pattern transfer on each of the eggs.
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| Silk dyed eggs (using old neckties) |
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| Egg Detail (the yellow egg is a simple cold dyed egg) |
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| Egg Detail |
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| Egg Detail |
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| Egg Detail |
I am especially proud of the brown eggs (which is an extremely difficult color to achieve without it looking like mud). I learned another interesting technique this year as well--the sheen on the eggs is a thin coat of vegetable oil.
As mentioned above, I will share the tutorial later this week and will share more final results.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Project #9--Moleskin/Passport Holder--SUCCESS
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| Project Success |
After some new calculations, I decided to attempt this project again. Rather than use book cloth, I decided to use some scrap paper that I had. I have presented this paper before on the blog; it is a paper backed treated paper that is embossed with a reptile design.
For this prototype, I decided to keep the corners square rather that try and cover the rounded corners. The boards were kept the same size but the gap between the boards was increased to 1/2 inch rather than the 1/4 inch used previously. Usually, the gap should equal the thickness of the pages (signature). Yet, for this project, the extra width was needed.
Also, rather than have the elastic wrap above and below the hinge, I cut two slots so that the elastic could pass through the hinge. Hopefully, this will prevent the boards from warping due to the strain of the elastic on the hinge. Another change was the height of the hinge--it is now cut to the height of the boards. The final change was to use a 1/2 inch turn in on all sides rather than the standard 3/4 inch turn in.
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| The case and hinge |
After gluing everything in, the adjustments seemed to work well. The case was not warping and there seemed to be less strain on the hinge due to the added width and added length. The only step left was adding end sheets. I decided to use some left over marbled paper that I had.
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| End sheets add |
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| Finished project |
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Project #9--Moleskin/Passport Holder--FAIL
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| Moleskin Cahier Notebook |
One of my bosses uses a pocket notebook. He uses his notebook to make notations about things that he doesn't want to forget. I have always admired him because if he writes it in his notebook, he gets things done or gets answers. I decided that I wanted to give him an Opening Night gift of a set of Moleskin Cahier notebooks and a portfolio to hold his notebook. This was my first attempt. AND--it was a major FAIL.
Since this was the prototype, I decided to use materials that I had readily at hand. For the finished product, I plan on wrapping the boards in leather. For the prototype, I decided to use book cloth.
First, I cut the boards to size. I also decided to round the corners of the boards to mimic the rounded corners of the notebook. The structure that I decided to use was a hard case pamphlet style book. Rather than sew the signatures into the hinge, I will sew a piece of elastic into the hinge so the notebook can slide under the elastic band to hold the notebook in place. The width of the gap between the two boards was measured to be 1/4 inch.
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| Dry measuring the boards |
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| Rounded Edges |
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| Bottom side of hinge (the side to be glued) |
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| The top side of the hinge |
The hinge was too short. While the notebook fit, there was too much pressure on the hinge and the it started to pull away from the book boards.
The elastic going over the top and bottom of the hinge didn't work either and caused the boards to warp.
Finally, the width of the gap wasn't sufficient for the book to close.
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| Major FAIL |
So back to the drawing board to figure things out. Another prototype is needed.
Monday, March 3, 2014
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