I went to London: Custom Cards

I judge a really cute outfit by how badly I want to doodle it. The doodability factor also applies to purses, haircuts, shoes, inanimate objects-whatever strikes the old inspiration chord. 

 A co-worker of mine just returned from London. She went to the Cath Kidston store while traveling abroad {be still my heart--I cannot imagine how pretty this place is!} and came back with this.

You can have one too-they ship to the US!

 

She modeled her bag for us, shared her tales, and my "inspired chord" was struck.

She was my doodle subject for the evening.

 

She's mentioned more than once that she'd like a copy of her doodle so I got to work.

 

I turned her doodle into a little gift.

 

A few little note cards packaged in a clever envelope made just for greeting cards--I'm sharing, don't you worry.

 

The "envelope" tutorial is right here. Thank you, Nicole!

 

And just in case you don't have any time to doodle, I've created a download for Meg's card that you can just print on cardstock and cut.

 

 

{Download Here}

 

{You may use for personal use only...Art karma. It's really a bitch.}

 

I hear Cath's website calling my name.

Chic, Rhymes with Geek

The Doodles

A free Saturday is like winning the lottery over here. I choose to use mine with a sharpened pencil, some pinterest inspiration and a blank piece of paper.

I've been OBSESSED (yes, all capitals are necessary) doodling really cute outfits since I took a skillshare class. (We've talked about this class before-but seriously for $20 you get to learn from some of the best!! Go search or sign up--not kidding.)

DIY-Talk Nerdy to Me

DIY-Eye Love You Valentines Card

I love eyeglasses and nerdy girls. I also love handmade anything and the fact that there is a day devoted to professing it to all those that you love.

 I started to sketch and was reminded of those little sewing cards from the 70's--the ones you use shoelaces to outline an image on a card. 

So here we go:  Easy instructions to DIY one of your own.

Supplies: embroidery floss, a needle, the template, and paper

I printed (and designed, really) for this particular paper: You can find @ Michael's and probably at any craft store. If you can't find, you could just use any piece of cardstock--you may just have to do some trimming.

The template is right here: download and print it. (I'll wait for you.)

If you are having issues printing, I've included instructions in the file. Otherwise this is pretty easy to do.

Mine in progress....

The back of the card--If yours resembles a messier version and it bugs you, cut a heart from some scrap paper and cover it up. 

I've made a bunch--you could color this little lady or leave her alone for your "love" recipient to color.

On my final, I used a rounded corner punch on the card, added a few gold hearts, and lined the envelope. A little nerdy love is on it's way.

Enjoy!

A DIY Gift-a-palooza

What I've been up to is no longer a secret. (Not that it ever really was but..)

A dear friend had a little holiday boutique and asked if I had anything to sell..well, of course.

The above is a little sampling. I love a good diy gift, so I thought I'd share. You have something like 30+ days until Christmas. (No pressure.)

A pillow made from my stash of feedsacks, some scaps, and a Stampin' Up set I've had forever. No tutorial really, but google diy pillow and a million results will come back. Takes about 1/2 hour to sew.

An oilcloth change purse, I used this tutorial.

Again, easy peasy.

DIY Gift wrapping kit; a few deco-d clothespins, some bakers twine, and tags.

(Did I mention I loved kraft paper wrapped presents?)

Tags are pretty simple but you download mine here.

As a self-titled artist, I love this quote by Joyce Myers:

"A #2 pencil and a dream can take you anywhere."

What a simple gift for your artist friends, a teacher, an entreprenuer, or a plain old doodler.
I altered some pencils (here's a great tutorial using paper) with a bit of washi and glitter tape, and made the envelopes.

You can download the envelopes here.

Don't get me started on washi tape--I'm sooooooo addicted.

Try etsy, or http://www.cutetape.com%20if%20you/

(...consider this your warning on pretty tape addiction.)


Acrylic paint has never really been on my radar. That is, until I ran across this class.
I loved the original, and mine turned out great. I want to make a million more.

A great girlfriend gift.

{It's official. Now, I'm a Brave Girl addict, too.}

And of course, I try to journal on a weekly basis...page 13 in progress.
This pages is about stitiching and life. A 16 square life sampler...

You can make your own art journal too. (Link to the class I took...)
I'd love another filled with someone else's thoughts.

Get crackin'--you can do this. Make something.

Geek Girl Artistry

{Get your very own printable version here.}

Very much still in burn-out (or on the verge of anyways) mode.

I love to design. And I love to learn. Hmmm...learn design.

Today, I set out on trying to learn how to use a clipping mask in my graphics program.

(I don't have Photoshop. Santa, are you listening?)

I run across tutorials for PS and then I have to try and figure out a way to do the same things in Paint Shop Pro. (The ghetto version of PSP--only because I think the license was $47 vs. $470.)

So Ghetto Graphic Designers, your geekery for today:

-a clipping mask tutorial for Paint Shop Pro.

{The word "fork" in the above was a sucess in clipping mask action.}

&

-a lesson in installing/using PS .abr brush files in PSP.

Besides that....

I've been creating a little......"Paris" (it's an oldie, but a goodie)

And the "Found & Bound Workshop": An e-course in Art Journaling..

I think you can still sign up for the class--there's a little banner on the right side of this blog to take you to the "guru of art journals."

{Page 10..."Smart girls are beautiful." Especially when they wear their glasses.}


{Page 4. The first page I ever did....I feel like this 6/10ths of every day.
I hear the song..."Take me away..to a better place..." every Monday-Friday when I enter my very grey cube.}

{Page 9.."Free of Blah, Blah, Blah...especially like the blue lipstick, (or hair :)}

{The cover--bound by yours truly with waxed cord a la some ancient Japanese bookbinding techniques.}

I'm off to do some more geekery....and meditate.

Inspired Mini-Book

After I read this, I promptly added it to my list of "to-trys". If you didn't click the link, it's a little mini book of art.

Last Sunday, I pullled out my scraps and got down to business. Cutting and pasting business.
I thought I would share with you my version...Click the photo to get a bigger look.

Once, you cut, print, and fold (according to these directions), you have a little 4 page book that measures about 2" by 1.5". Blue Girl's was birthday themed, mine is to remind me of a few things I sometimes forget.

On a completely separate note:

I value humor. It's essential to my survival. I sent an email to a friend the other day. We share electronic quotes back and forth and a serious love of Glee.

Our last email ended this way....

"P.S. You think there’s a job out that there that needs an obsessed quote regurgitator?"

His response:

"Actually that job was filled- magnetic poetry. "

Happy Weekend-do something you love. Or, laugh. Better yet, try both.

October, November Life Musings.

October, November Life Musings.

It’s been a hell of a long time, so let’s see how I can pick back up. Because I’m not really into disappointment, the following will contain, as is customary, complete un-relevance to any one topic:

-It’s starting to change seasons here in the Midwest and since it’s already cold and dark before supper time, my motivation has taken on the same characteristics as the sun. Non-existent, short lived, and lacking in warmth.

Eat your heart out Emma (Glee fans, you know Emma).

This one turned out and I want to make 100 more. Here's the tutorial if you'd like to give it a shot---and here's my version below.

Completely obsessed with this shirt ever since I saw this episode: (I did die.) The bow tie reminds me of Chanel. Maybe it is.

And this, the entire ensemble:
Believe it ladies-Kmart. Say what?

And recreating this entire catalog: I mean really, why is this necklace $178??

What else?

Oh, I whipped this up the other day--there was a Liberty of London wallet at Target that I didn't buy when it was available and now I could seriously kick myself. This is not feeding the want...but

Oh, and here are our pumpkins from Halloween. Everyone was just "over" carving pumpkins ("over" being said in the sassiest teenage voice), so big Mister and I just did it anyway. I think little mister was regretting his decision to be too cool since he asked me if I needed help about 10 times and didn't leave the table the whole time.

These are also a testament to our marriage and personal styles. His is on the right--always has to pick a huge pumpkin, and elaborately carve some art. I, on the other hand, love a white pumpkin and something both easy and recognizeable to carve. A semi-twisted traditionalist and a perfectionist.

Huh?

Again, random as ever. I'm off to take a class in jewelry making-with Miss Persnickety. Another great combo (sarcasm, here)--- she loves good quality metal, real pearls, and chunks of gems that I won't even begin to try to spell. Then there's me,the ghetto girl, who loves anything plastic, gaudy, rusted, or rhinestoned.

She'll probably want to kill me or at least educate me in the quality of sterling silver (again) by the end of the class...I'll share.

Tata fir now.

Me

Where are you?

I'm here. I am. Just immersed in my little corner of the world. The laundry may go undone but there is ALWAYS time to make something.

A few weeks ago, I took a jewelry class at a bead store in the area. There has never been a single iota of desire in me to create jewelry. That is, until I learned about resin.

Just a few samples we made in class. Now nothing is safe from being frozen in the crystal liquid.

If I could put little miss and mister in resin, I would. See the cupcake "non pareils"- I want to eat it.

They have these 2" bottlecaps at the bead store. I love the size and the possibilities are endless, don't you think?

Since resin crafting is a considerable time commitment, I also look for quickie projects to relax. Some people drink after a long day, some veg out in front of the tv-I glitter wooden beads.

The tutorial for this is here--along with lots of freebie graphics. Cathe is a crafting fairy.

Sometimes just looking at something can make you happy. Case in point, these little pieces of plastic send me to a very happy place.

Vintage stacking flowers..Get yours here. Or here.

Get to your happy place. now.

Disbelievers and Freaks on a Whim

Christmas is over-I have a food, snow, and cooped up in the house hangover that I've been nursing with a needle, some fabric, and a little bit of fire.

Google Reader has been overflowing with blog goodness from all the "crafties" I adore--their projects and handmade gifts, the glitter, the bling. I couldn't stand it. These few days off would never come...Ah, but yes, they did.

My reward for wrapping all the presents was to allow myself the time to make these. Tutuorial here (yes, fire is involved.) These are so much better than pulling artificial flowers apart--you get to pick the color and the shape.. You get to play regular old Mother Nature for these.

I added tulle in between the layers of some of mine and of course, not complete in my world without some vintage bling for the middles.

I had a hard time parting with this rhinestone button. I often wonder what the original garment looked like that this was salvaged from.

The green looks sage in these photos--in the real world, it's a vibrant silky lime color.

I've been a sucker for rosettes on anything for the last year or so--if there are flowers, it automatically visits my closet.

I am fortunate (or unfortunate depending on how you look at it) to have some very close family (Sarah, this is you) and friends who- I'll just say it-think I am the biggest freak ever. (A freak in the most loving way, but still...)

They are just people who need to have a reason for things. They have no use for "pretty" without a purpose. Things cannot just "be"-they must have function.

I, on the other hand, have purchased dish soap for the fragrance, really gross salsa because it had a cool label, pounds of paper just because I loved the design, and a magazine subscription for a magazine written entirely in French (which I don't speak) strictly for the pictures. Yes, you can say it, f-r-e-a-k.

Well, for my loving sister who was sporting a Kum & Go sweatshirt (apparently, this is a gas station chain in Iowa) and reluctantly, my flower pin for good measure this Christmas AND my practical friend who just needs minor usage inspiration-a bit of help....

Yes, that's the First Lady sporting a flower pin, and the lovely Sarah Jessica Parker. JCrew also believes me and so does Anthropologie. These are definitely not "matronly"---(Sarah's word, not mine) little sister. Where did I come from?

If the flowers weren't bad enough, you can about imagine what Sarah would think if she saw these? I actually spent time "glittering" clothespins.

The uses are many--to hold your wishes. (Be careful what you use it on...)

A book marker? (Is that one word or two?)

A magnet to hold a favorite photo?

Pretty can have function or just be--it's possible. It's also possible that I may have a small freakish problem with aesthetics.

See you soon at the Market-wearing and believing in pretty.

A Christmas Tour....

I've been so busy running here and there-getting the shop ready for December sales, that I got a very late start decorating my own house. So much that the Christmas tree sat un-ornamented until very recently.

As always, we hang all the oraments we have collected throughout the years--not matchy-matchy, not professionally coordinated, not full of glamour and glitz. To anyone else's eyes, it looks like a cluster of junk, a hodgepodge of hand-me-downs. But to me, our lives are hanging in this 9' artifical pine.

A few of my favorites....

This first year we moved to this little town.....

...we left that little town.

Litte Miss trecked her way across Europe, brought her mama back a momento.

Little Mister's kindergarten ornament, love this lumpy little thing.

Our first Mexican vacation with the kids.

There are a ton more but I won't bore you with my sentimentality. Agh, where do the years go?

If you have a free moment, you too, can have a book wreath. Made from an old book (or a new one if you must..) and some styrofoam.

Ran across this tutorial out in blogland (Living with Lindsay) and was compelled to give it a shot. The texture it adds is amazing and it looks great pinned in the middle of our entryway mirror. (Yes, Urban Market shoppers--this was hanging in the shop this December.) Easy peasy, give it a shot.

Have a blessed holiday season--enjoy the magic.