Thursday, March 28, 2013

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Blackboard Valentines

 
 
I have been working on Teacher Valentine gifts...I first thought about making banners, but they take tons of product and time, so I decided to make just single heart hanging decorations...after I got started I thought the backsides were too plain {just chipboard} so while scrounging in my craft room I came across a can of blackboard paint!
 
What could be more appropriate for a teacher gift but a blackboard heart?
 
So let me show you how how made these cuties...

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Queen of Hearts

 
Today I completed two easy Pinterest Projects!
 
The first, Valentine bookmarks for my son's 4th grade class, was so easy...in the Pinterest project there were small hearts punched out along the side, however I don't have that size punch so I was going to stamp the hearts....but my ink just smears....maybe I will do a glitter heart instead.
 

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Be Mine

Back in the fall I received a Restoration Hardware catalog in the mail...I love catalogs...and this one is gorgeous...and huge! However, the items are so pricey, that its not really even a good dream book...I don't dream of $20,000 couches, just regular ole Pottery Barn couches are good enough for my dreams. And even those are out of my reach, as every stick of furniture in my house is a reclaimed castoff....quite a bit from the roadside. I looked through this Restoration Hardware several times, but it quickly went to the bottom of my catalog dream stack.
 
So during my after Christmas cleanup, I came across it, and started to toss it...but I just couldn't. I mean this book is huge, I just thought, "Wow, I wonder what can I do with all this paper?" The pictures are beautiful, but actually quite artsy, mostly greys and whites, {I guess there isn't much color needed when you have a lot of "green"}. As I thumbed through the catalog, I decided I would use the paper in some of my Valentines, going for a simple glam look, with the black, grey, and pages as backgrounds and red glitter accents.
 
 
Here is my first project, a "Be Mine" Banner created with the catalog paper cut into 2 1/2 inch by 11 inch strips and accordion folded...each rosette takes 2 strips of paper glued together end to end, when you push it down flat this rosette forms, then just simply hot glue the center to hold it together.  I then used red glitter glue all around the edges, and red glitter letters....{the "e" letters were green glitter, I just re-glittered them red to match}
This was an easy project, very easy on time and product...I have tons of black and white paper...I am maybe 4 sheets of paper shy of being on a Hoarder reality show! But because I am not working and therefore not craft shopping, I am hording all my "good paper" lol.
 
My next project, is something I saw on Pinterest...a banner made with cards and red ribbons!
 
 
xoxo
PK
 

Monday, December 31, 2012

Happy Crafting

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
 
Well, I have been happily crafting away while on break from school...my kids are running wild around the neighborhood, while I putter around in pj's pondering ribbon and paper combos!
 
I will post a few pictures of some things I've made...a few got away without being photographed!
 
 This cute snowman was made for my sons extra credit math project, he is a polyhedron-thingy
This was made with another son for his math project, I have no idea what this shape is called, but it involved perfect circles and equilateral triangles...harder than it looks, lol!
I tried several Pinterest projects, this cute Christmas tree from old book pages...and I also tried cooking the chocolaty cupcakes made with brownie batter, snickers, and cookie dough...well they tasted better than they looked...Snickers melts with yucky looking white goo...my sons classmates didn't like them at all...
 
 


 More Banners! I made several book page banners this season...


 
This banner was so fun to make, it is constructed of all reused items...The snowflake letters were part of a banner I got on sale last year, and the rosettes are made from old sewing book pages; the tinsel came from my Aunt Jane.

This are just a few of the Christmas ornaments I made. Sorry for the poor quality picture, it was taken with my blackberry right before they were given away... 
 
Now I have moved on to Valentines Day projects!!
 
 
This refurbished candy box was done as a gift for my mother...I am going to fill it with pictures of her children and grandchildren as toddlers.
I have always wanted to do one of these, so this was my first Valentine project, lol I had been saving this candy box for years! I used "My Minds Eye" papers and embellishments.


 
This is an almost finished banner...just waiting for the glitter glue to dry so I can string it together.
It is for a very special girl in son number 4s life. I hope she likes it!
 
 Pinterest projects...




Button bracelet...I love old buttons!
Valentine Bookmarks made from paint chip samples! Next planned project...
 
 
Well hugs, kisses and Happy New Year!
PK

PS: The Valentine Box was shared on I Gotta Create Wildly Original Link Party
Stop by and check all the Wildly Original links, some pretty cool stuff over there on Christinas Blog.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Taking a break from Studying!!

Hello Blog Friends!
 
Busy semester, mid terms are over...so I took a craft break
 
 Here is what I have been up to...
 
 I created this soldered charm with my Grandmothers button collection.
I slid it on a simple leather cord, and wear it every day.


 These charms show my learning progression, soldering is fun, but takes alot of practice!
The charm on the right you can see is soldered too thin, it has sharp edges and rough spots.
 
The middle charm is a little better, however you can't see the major problem in this pix, which is that I used too much heat, causing the foil to rise, letting the flux leak through,which ruins the paper.
 
The charm on the left, while not perfect, is much better. The solder is more evenly applied, which makes it smooth and shiney!




 These two pix above are of Christmas ornaments I am making.
I used several types of ribbons above, trying to see which looked best...I'm thinking
a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order for silver ribbon!
What do you think?



I have also been spending quality time with my 3 year old grandson and granddaughter!
 
Budding Artist





Some very creative play going on here, playing in the mud!
 



And picnicing at the park!
 

 
 
Luv ya!
PK


Saturday, September 15, 2012

Hello!

Hello Blog Friends!
 I want to say a big THANK YOU to all my followers!
It is thrilling to see visitors and comments!
 
I have been on an unplanned bloggy break!
 
Lol, the start of the new school year has really blown me off course creatively.
I am enrolled in our local university, as some of you know, pursuing a new direction, career wise.
 
My goal is to become a Speech Language Pathologist.
I have learned some interesting things about language. Phonetics, tongue placement, articulators, and the pharyngeal cavity and I are on intimate terms.
 
My favorite class is American Sign Language. I come home and practice on my kids!
 
 
Hopefully, soon I will have a creative streak and have something to post!
Until then I invite you to check out my Pinterest Board Mixed Media Inspiration
 
xoxo
PK