I haven't posted many projects 'round here lately, but thought this one definitely has a 'CRAFTSTER'fied attitude to it.

Base is scraps of colorful patterned paper bits, collaged to cardstock and sealed.  Then I spraypainted the alphabet on with red paint and stencils. 

Last, I used my new collage sheets to cut out the letters and glue those suckers down.


just shut up & let me CRAFT!

(not that I would SAY that, but sometimes I want too, ya know?)

It's a 4x4" piece; cause that's my favorite size lately.

ABCs are Made from these collage sheets:

(I call them RANSOM notes, 'cause they are old school).

Rock on with your Craft supplies!
OY

Another of my funky spunky art dolls, this one has big crazy ribbon hair like a peacock!  For a friend who loves the combo of blue and orange together.



She has a felt/lace/ribbon pin by her too, for the friend (not the doll!)



She is weighted on the bottom, so she won't tip over.

I've been in a rut (read:depressed) lately and it totally stumps my creativity.  I had a flash of an idea today, so I sat down and made this little funky girl, on a whim. 



Funky, Spunky, a bit Goth, with lots of attitude, and heart as well.

This doll is a OOAK doll; both Machine and hand stitched.
Bottom is flat (not weighted) so she will sit still on the shelf. Stands 10" tall. Combination of black, grey, and red fabrics give a polished, modern style. Red ribbon 'mohawk' and 'pierced' eyelet nose ring; too cool!

Variation of my popular 'Tip Top Doll' line; first of her kind.

So, what do you think?  Her nose ring is my favorite part!

An art group I participate with is looking for a nice, modern, still life photo that everyone can use as a reference to draw and paint from.

If you are a photog and want to offer suggestions of your work to share, please post the links here!

Looking for:
-simple background (nothing complicated or outdoor scenery)
-a handful of items (vase, or fruit, or flowers, etc.)
-non-standard items welcomed (skull, stack of books, etc.)
-not too much fabric.  some members are phobic of it...

Basically, just a cool photo of a group of items.

Simple Examples: 

 
like that, but BETTER.  Those are my quick and silly examples.  I don't really have an eye for this!

Photog must release photo to group with and surrender rights to artist's own works based on it (make it 'royalty free' for us).  Basically, if I paint a work based on your photo, I want to be able to sell it if possible.  That isn't the GOAL of this exercise, but that's why we dont' want to use a random pic from the internet.

Got still life? Post your photo in this thread for us to see!  We're looking for something inspiring.

Thanks!

P.S. we will be doing future exercises, so if you want your work to be considered for possible use when we explore other subjects (people, architecture, animals, etc.) feel free to post a link to your Craftster photos, blog, flickr gallery, etc.

My house looked a bit sad when I took down all the colorful holiday decorations, so I decided to start early to put up some color for Valentines.



I put this in Paper Crafts, since this can easily translate to other holidays, or be made to match any decor.  I'm going to make an 'Americana' red/white/and blue one for my Mom's Classroom, and then I think I'll make some for my craft and sewing room next!

First, I made a template that would print 9 fat hearts to a page.
I printed them on white and other colored cardstock.



I layered tissue paper, torn doilies, book pages, paint, rubber stamping, and lots of tiny bits of paper and such.  Then some got glitter, machine stitching, or paint pen decor.



Cut them out (after gluing to another sheet of cardstock for sturdiness)
  

I added a piece of ribbon, strung through holes in the sides (my new Crop-a-dile was handy for that!) and tied them together!

   

I heart them.

There are many more pics of the process and the garlands in my Flickr.

I'm hoping to swap them with friends that make ATCs, each of us can send a few to each other.  I think that would be really fun!



ETA: I made a webpage with the template in both Microsoft Word and as a PDF, download it, print, and make your own!
Check the page and let me know if it works for you:
http://originalyouth.com/HappyHearts.html

This should be easier cause everyone can get it without emailing me.
I'd love to see if any of you make some!

Random Title, I know.  I'm a random girl!

I made a delicious new pillow cover for our master Bedroom.  We are transitioning to a chocolate brown and turquoise color scheme (from Burgundy and black).  We've wanted to do it for a few years, but I figure re-doing an entire room shouldn't be done more than every 5 years, or it can be wasteful.  Times up!



Before, a velvety burgundy pillow.

Cut some brown fabric:

(one piece to size, another several inches longer, for an overlapping pocket)

Find all your pretty trims:


Cut them to the right length:


Then, ask your husband if there are any he DOESN'T like, and remove those.

Start sewing stuff on!

(oops, a bit crooked so far....I covered it up later though).  Kristie and her Grandma would be disappointed that I didn't measure and pin!
I used some Turquoise tulle here, it worked GREAT for extra sheen under the ribbons!

When done, trim to size, hem the back flaps, pin right sides together, and voila!



Backside (needs to be ironed, oops!):  and a Random EDGE shot:
           

And, a scan, for the button detail! (and my wonky stitching).


A lovely cushy pretty, OOAK pillow.  It's not entirely cozy, but it's intended to be a pretty one, not a comfy one.

My hubby says it's hard to buy jewelry for me, so he has taken to just buying the pendants for me, and letting me design a necklace around them!  Here are the latest 3, all from pendants I had first.   I made each of them this week.



The first pendant is from Blue Moon (found at craft stores); it's metal and enamel with tiny rhinestones.  I used chain to keep the metal look, and bent a mismatched post earring (a dragonfly) into a little charm to hang at the top of it.



The next pendant is black and irridescent Dichroic glass, purchased from: www.runonthesun.ets y.com


The last pendant is gorgeous pink Dichroic glass, from www.meran.etsy.com (she's a brand new seller, with high quality work!).



I hadn't made any necklaces in a LONG time, so it's great to work on them again!  They are just for me, too.   I find it hard to create for others sometimes, since I dont' know what they REALLY would like.  Anyone else have that problem?  Oh well.

Thanks for looking!

My mom was looking for those eyeglasses with the fake nose and 'stache to take some wacky family pics this week, and I reminded her that my shrinky mustaches are WAY cooler and more original.  So, then, I got roped into making them for the entire fam!


12 mustaches and 2 more sheets of shrinky film later, I got these:
Front SIDES (hero side)               
and  BACK sides (villian side!)

and a few, modeled by my children:


My son fell asleep, so he was a PERFECT mustache model!


All 11 of us will model them on Thursday when we get together for our Christmas; I'll post action shots then.

Anyone else make some?
Here is the first Craftster post I made where I showed my first one.

[Supplies:]

....yes, I said 'awesomeness', because I love these!

I took a jumbled mess of ribbons, and turned them into these lovelies.



Supplies:
-wooden plaque bases(these circular pieces were .50cents each at Hobby Lobby)
-wooden dowel rod (I'm pretty sure these are 1/4" ones).  One 4ft. length makes 4 12" ribbon holders.
-Glue (wood glue or something similar and sturdy
-Paint (optional)
-Sandpaper recommended

Tools:
-drill with a bit slightly smaller than your dowel rod (for a snug fit)
-ruler and pencil (if you like to measure to make sure they are centered)  A real Craftster just goes for it.
-small saw to cut the dowels

1) Drill a hole in the center (NOT all the way through) and make sure you put a piece of junk wood underneath in case it DOES go through...


2) Cut your dowels to desired length (I went with 12", which is great!)

3) Test the fit
4) Sand the edges of the dowel and the base (you dont' want your pretty ribbons to catch on anything...

5) Paint them (if desired)

6) Glue together!  You can use a level to make sure they are straight...

Pimp out with ribbons, by taking THIS:

Tidy them all up by winding the spools and pinning them:


To THIS!



I heart these so much!  I think I need more, and more ribbon to make them pretty...
Feel free to ask any questions

My sister (she's 15, which is exactly 1/2 my age) and I really want to get the 'moustache tattoo', cause we like to talk in a funny 'foreign moustache man' voice.  Here's the tattto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finger_mustache_tattoo
and, for lots of funny examples: http://fingerstache.ning.com/

In the meantime, what's better than a big funky moustache, always at hand, in the form of a necklace?  See, it's a moustache, disguised as a necklace, to disguise your face!

See, here is your preview:


Step one:

Cut the 'stache from a piece of Shrinky plastic, I used the entire 8.5" length

Step Two:


Step Three:

Decorate with sharpies, colored pencils or paintpens (my choice).  I only colored it on one side, so it has a brown side and a black side!

Step 4:
Punch a hole in one side (or 2 if you want the chain to connect both. I didn't, I chose one)

Step 5:
Put it on cardboard, and a baking sheet, and bake

Step 6:
Get mad when it curls up

Step 7:
Flatten with a spatula and finish baking

Step 8:
Let it cool, then try it on for size!
Brown side:


Black side:


Then, make a mustache treasury on Etsy, and roar hysterically when it makes the front page!


Step 9:
Tie on a ribbon, chain, etc. to make it a necklace!  I used lime green ribbon.

Step 10:
Package (make a cute tag or card) and gift!:



Seriously, the easiest, cheapest, and funniest gift you can give ALL season!

Now, go make one and ROCK your 'STACHE!