No, not finally, that this is the last post/entry to ThingADay 2011, rather that I finally mastered the origami paperframe, that I challenged myself with. A how-to in Korean (guess who do not speak Korean) where I had to rely to pictures, several papercuts later (must be Band-Aid's biggest customer right now) and I got this... this part is over, now I need to attache the picture and then... |
Some days ago, I started this project. I had hoped to do more than a prototype today, but 5 cards and some domestic must-do's took more time than expected I found the pattern last year on Anjie's blog and quickly bookmarked her post for a to-do project. I opted for a prototype in "plain" yarn (sock yarn actually) as I was a bit worried about attaching the beak, the eyes and the sewing. The beak needs a little more adjustment when it is to be attached to future chicks. Already knitted the body of 3 fluffy chicks that are now to be sewn etc... and they are only the beginning :0) |
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Used and old pattern from CraftCreations - something I saw back in 2003 and saved on my computer for later use. Dug into the box with crafty leftovers and found some burgundy and green "paper" with a velvet-like surface - applied them to white plain card stock. I made 10, all slightly different - will make a box and buy a small black inkpad and two stamps with the words "invitation" and "thank you" - then they should make a fine little present to somebody, who is usually not crafty. My day had some nasty thorns - and I just realised the comparison, when I took photos of todays creations. |
Browsed through some books today to get additional inspiration - have plenty ideas already for cards, but some of them need the "finishing touch". Deecided that today was about trying out some new techniques. "Winding Cards" was one of them |
...two skeins of BigWoll and size 12 (mm) needles - and then about 3 hours of knitting :o) Easy pattern bought on a trip to Sweeden - did not take much translation, and now I own a loop that can help me keep warm in this **COLD COLD** weather. |
If I just made this: How can it be reused? Well made a similar one a couple of weeks back - only difference between then and now is, that I added a sentiment. Card is to be given to one of my oldest friends who are stopping by my city tomorrow. |
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Struggling to come up with the "right" idea for a card challenge involving folded frames - I suddenly remembered, that just maybe a folded frame could be the top decoration of a folded box. Maybe the colors aren't exactly matching, but I like the outcome - and things being to machy-matchy can be a bit booring. |
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Ever had the feeling, that you believed, that you had one particular source of inspiration... that is until you realised, that something you've forgotten all about was the true inspiration? Well since I saw this challenge, Crazy 4 Challenges C4C74, I wondered, if I could make a card for it. I subscribe to the Martha Stewart Newsletter - Craft of the day - and I couldn't resist this idea. Red ribbon, a Fiskars hole punch & eyelet setter, while cardstock, copics, red ink and a heart stamp from a no-name stamp set from Tiger and I was on my way. Enlarged the stamp on my copier and got the draft to the heart. When I had almost finished the card, I realised the true source of inspiration: a cheap heart necklace bought 6 years ago in London - sadly it makes a weird coloring on my skin now, so can not use it any longer. I have hold on to it, as I hope, that I one day can afford, that a jewelery maker can make one exactly like this in silver..... |
When you wake up with an English nursery rhyme like this, you know, that you should make birthday muffins for your colleagues (yep another year) to bring to work tomorrow :o) The recipe is one of the easiest ever - and since you use oil and not butter, it is not as heavy as some muffins are - and where berries is mentioned, you can use whatever you want like chocholate chip, nuts, fruit etc. My favourite is either apple+cinnamon or chocolate chip. 200g (7 ounces) berries 150g (5,2 ounces) sugar 1 large egg 1 tbsp. vanilla 1 dl (½ cup) sunflower oil 1½ dl (3/4 cup) milk 2 tbsp baking powder 250g (8,8 ounces) wheat flour If you are using berries, make sure that you drain them for juice. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then gently add the berries. Use paper cups (chose some who match the occation or opt for a not so cheap batch from stores like DollarStore, Tiger, PoundEmporium etc. - mine was found at Ikea for a bargain price) Bake 20-25 minutes in preheated oven at 180 Celcius (350 Fahrenheit) - a batch makes 12 muffins. Cool them off before eating. Just looked up the nursery rhyme, and it is actually mentioned in a Jane Austen book - is that a hint, that I should spend time on my couch reading something by her? Something only a few of us realise - a muffin in the old English days was nothing like the cake we know so well. Needless to say - I made more than one batch, so I will treat myself with one now. |
Ok.... I put a project aside today - it simply would not come out as I wanted it too....Buhu....Need to think a bit more, on how to do that one - I put it aside to let the idea mature. Instead I started doing a bit of knitting for... well that is to be revealed later, as I need to buy some items to complete it... at least I did some knitting today. |
Another day - another card challenge. Inspiration (sketch) came from the blog The Sweetest Thing I had put down a copy of the sketch challenge in my moleskin notebook, and forgotten all about it until this morning, when watching the remaining 15 minutes of "The Jane Austen Book Club" movie - I fell a sleep on the couch yesterday when watching it (it was getting late) The first meeting of this bookclub took place in a Starbucks Coffeeshop and that somehow inspired me to this card - and I just realised, that I have been using the same stamp series from Taylored Expressions all week. |
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How do you even show your friends, if you pass by something that you really want to share with others.... but alas - you forgot your camera ??!! Well in my case I have to remind myself, that I am actually always carrying a camera, as my iPhone has one :o) I passed by this confectioner's shop and saw this wonderful handbags, that you actually want to eat...... Bon appetit! |
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Today does not have to do with scissors, tape, paper etc. But flour, oil, sunflower seeds, dried pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, wheat flakes, salt, baking powder, linseed... Would have been cheaper just to buy Wasa crip bread at the supermarket - but this way I can decide exactly what goes inside.... and it helps my stomach being on the right track. YumYum :o) |
Inspired by the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes + a blog request from last year, I suddenly realised, what theme to use to a "Get Well" card. I actually do not know the recipient, but his roomie is a fellow crafter. I folded a few paper cranes, and decided to make an additional one of paperscraps and use it as main embellishment on the card... I found a picture, that I have saved from a magazine a while ago, and decided, that I would be perfect for the background |
Behind the Smile - Encore
The quiet courage
so many MSers show
just leaves me in awe.
People have no clue
how much sadness lies hidden
behind a bright smile.
This challenge is tough.
We all make the best of it.
Sometimes it's too much.
.... or maybe not ?! When you learn something as a child, you automatically believe, that it is something the whole world know how to do.... It is not until years later, that you face the reality. Foliding a paper star - Fröbel Star - is something you can do in less than 5 minutes, granted you know how to do it. When searching the net to find the how-to-instructions earlifer today, I learned not only the real name, but also that it was an invention of Friedrich Fröbel, that believed in challenging the mind of the child when learning something new - he was the one who invented kindergarden. The silver one is folded of bought paper strips (smaller than those I usually use) - and the other one is my attempt of making my own paper stripes out of paper (the coin for size comparison is the US coin, a dime). In the process, I discovered two things. 1) The thicker the paper, the wider the strips need to be, 2) Make sure, that both side of the paper will fit the purpose, as both sides will be revealed when folding it. Hmmm....and now I will be on the lookout for suitable paper to make my own paper star strips. |
Remember, when you were a kid, at the most fascinating thing about some presents was actutally the wrapping/boxes they came in? It even warms my heart to this day, when I see family or friend's kids react the same way. As an adult, I have actually realised, that I can still be exited about the wrapping.... "Oh I need to save this - it could be very good in some creative project some day" - sounds familiar? Well was about to throw out a catalogue, when I realised that there were some cool full page pictures inside that wouldl be perfect for that pillowbox stensil, that I bought last year, but hadn't used.... until now that is :o) P.S. Found out, that I didn't submit this yesterday, I must incidently have hit the draft button instead... Mr. Sandman did the entertaining last night after a very looong day at work. |
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Can't upload this directly on the posterous site - so I have to email it...yesterday the picture came out really bad on the website, so I only had the chance to edit it here. Well enough about site problems - today I opted for a card for the upcoming Skt. Patrick's Day.... Couldn't find a template for a good trefoil, so I created my own. Hope the recipient will like it, as Skt.Patrick's Day is her day. |
Day one of the Thing-A-Day challenge... I have decided, that I have too many projects that all suffer under my procastination - the excuse: Well I can always do that - it really takes no time, and I rather challenge myself with a bigger creative idea. Last X-mas I created the gift tags in very last minute - using rubber stamps, paper and copics.... well not exactly something that showed me, except for the fact, that they were homemade for the occation. This year is going to be different so I already started doing something X-massy... sorry... but this idea has been luring in the back of my head. The inspiration is from Sweet Paul's blog - but spiced up with a personal touch. The pictures are taken by me during the second half of 2009, and I added some rivets and instead of the plain white string - I went for something typical Danish (the red/white string) and I might blame it on my genes :o) It came out even better than I hoped.... going to create some more of these and give them to some friends, who might want to use them. |
