Crafting, costumes, jewelry, fashion, DiY grown fresh daily!
And welcome 2011! This first year of blogging (seriously) has been a great one, and I’m looking forward to all the creativity that will come out next year! Here’s just a quick image of what’s happened this year!
Thanks for visiting, and see you next year!
Finding myself with a little extra time over the break, but no money, I decide to take the path less traveled this year regarding our holiday cards to friends and family. I pulled out my collection of scraps, ribbons, baubles, and Wonder Under, and proceeded to make a collection of hand crafted Christmas Cards!
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This is a very individual endeavor! Feel free to use any resource or technique you like best; I focused mostly on the fancy stitches on my new sewing machine and strengthening fabric with Wonder Under. I used several techniques for messages. In some cards I simply used double sided tape to secure a paper message. In others, I sewed in a pocket or corner catches. Any of these options make these cards totally reusable!
Everyone seemed to love their unique gifts! What were some of your successful holiday projects?
One of my gift requests for this holiday was a food processor. I’m an inefficient chef at best, and anything that will make my construction easier and more consistent is a friend to me! I received a Cuisinart from my parents and tried it out immediately upon my arrival home yesterday! Here was my result!
This is my darling apple tart! The apple slices were done in the processor with the slicing blade, and the pastry dough was made in the processor also! Both ingredients were included in the recipes in the instruction manual, but they’re pretty basic. The dough consisted of a little flour, salt, sugar, butter, and water. The apple filling involved nothing more than the apples themselves and a little brown sugar and cinnamon! It was a nice little treat! Also pictured is my new silicon cookie sheet; this was instrumental in creating the 4 dozen cookies we brought to dinner!
How’s your holiday cooking going?
My Christmas consisted of snow crab legs, cookies, and a lot of tissues as I inherited Nick’s cold, but it was delightful nonetheless. I enjoyed the company of my family and the special delight of my nephew in his gifts. I was also gifted a special present that I requested – a food processor! More on this tomorrow for NOMday!
My 30th birthday approaches quickly, and I can’t wait to reach that goal! Happy Holidays and safety in your travels and pleasures.
I saw the new Tron: Legacy movie this weekend and LOVED IT! I may need a Tron costume in the future… but in the meantime, I went looking for cool EL wire projects. EL wire, short for electroluminescent wire, is a copper wire coated with phosphor that produces a 360 degree unbroken line of visible light (rather than points of light such as in a LED rope light). It’s a neat product that’s accessible for a lot of projects, including a costume I created, Juliet here. I used EL wire in the hem of the dress and in the swirly hat (as well as some fiber optics added to my wig!).
There are a lot of costumes out there that use EL wire – particularly the Tron costumes, but I wanted to take a look at what other projects were out there! Take a look as some of these amazing artworks and craft projects!
Loving this glowing jellyfish, created by Jason Eppink. I can totally see this reproduced for a lighting feature – it’s gorgeous!
Fantastic EL wire spider web by rogueg at Instructables! It’s delicate and still really functional as a light feature… or even just as a work of art by itself.
Okay, so I’m not totally over the Tron thing yet… Here’s an awesome and easy mod for a bag from Lady Ada!
What’s your favorite use for EL wire?
Nick has declared this recipe the best one yet in our MyRecipes.com experiment.
I made a few edits: replaced red onions with shallots – a good idea, but fresh shallots are VERY pungent. Tread carefully! We used watercress instead of arugula because we had it on hand; spinach seems like it would suffice very well. Finally, I used a frozen tortellini instead of fresh; it was just cheaper, and it tasted just fine! Create your own edits and enjoy!
My five-year-old nephew is on a serious cowboy kick lately, and I was asked by my mother (his grandma!) to make a ‘real cowboy vest’ as a gift. However, as I am completely tapped out on funds by this point (thanks student teaching =p), I wanted to see if I could manage to fanangle this out of nothing and air. And maybe spit.
I raided the fabric stash and got really lucky finding a great faux leather pillow cover (from the pillow project earlier this summer) that provided JUST enough base material for this mini-sized vest. I copied and shrank a vintage vest pattern that I’ve been saving for making Sarah from Labyrinth, and I had all the supplies I needed, already on hand! No worries there!
Because the leather-like material was such good quality, I decided to do a really authentic look and lapped seams instead of doing a regular seam. I stitched each one twice for durability as well as for a more authentic rustic look. That made construction really easy and really attractive. Finally, I top stitched all around the outside and the sleeve openings of the vest for a finishing touch.
I’m delighted with the finished product, and I hope my nephew will be as well! This is a sturdy little garment that should last for years... at least until he outgrows it!
What’s your favorite handmade Christmas costume?
Copper is one of my favorite materials, both as a jeweler and a decorator. It’s warm, glowing, and rosy, and can compliment so many palettes, from equally warm colors to bringing a sparkle to cooler choices (give me a copper and amethyst necklace any day!). Gold and silver are the traditional Christmas metals, but what about this versatile color? Let’s see what’s out there!
Adorable copper cookie cutter from Sur La Table. Talk about multitasking; make a few tree cookies and then hang this little guy on the real tree!
Other-than-green Christmas trees are all the rage this year, so how about this glittering copper beauty (best buy at Amazon.com). It’s also prelit, saving you precious holiday time.
These punched copper gingerbread men (running, of course) from Etsy seller tinworks are a staple from my own childhood as well! I recall creating these as a very young child, and my own still grace my tree to this day. DiY with some copper sheeting and nails, or pick these up from tinworks!
Even though Hanukkah is over for this season, the menorah is a delightful decoration in copper as well! This lovely woven metal version is available from Traditions Jewish Gifts. What glitter and glow are you enjoying this holiday season?
This is an American Standard "Rib Cage" or "Needle" Shower. Okay, so it’s chrome rather than brass or copper, but WOW! What a look! From the Antique and Artisan Center.
…of a pink Christmas! Maybe a little girl you know is insisting on a princess theme… or maybe you just love pink! Check out this inspiration for a pink Christmas theme!
Sources: Lacy paper snowflake tutorial at How About Orange. Pink “Dream” Bird at Fancy This! Pink Glass High Heels at Trendy Tree.
Oh, and why not a few pink decorations for yourself, like this pink ostrich feather bangle? And of course don’t forget your pink tree and all kinds of pink flowers! Pink it up this Christmas! Why not?
I REALIZE that I need to put a little more focus on costuming because, hello, that’s a thing I do. Crafts are so distracting, augh! So on Fridays I will try to focus on some aspect of cosplay or costuming. I am sewing, after all! I didn’t buy that awesome new machine for nothing!
One of the neat things about this website is the cross-referencing features that can help you find photos of your costumes. By searching by tags of your name, the convention you attended, the character or series your costume is from, or any combination thereof, there’s a good chance you’ll find a photo you haven’t seen yet. I love to use this to reminisce about fun cons of years gone past, like in this photo from Anime Central 2007 with some of my favorite peoples! “What’s that over there?!” Ha!
There are also several levels of membership that you can purchase for yourself or others can choose as gifts. Really love someone’s stuff and want to encourage them more? Pick up a Celestial Membership for them! Believe me, it’ll really make their day!
ACP has grown and evolved alongside the cosplay community since their creation in 2000, making good on their motto of “A Site for Cosplayers, by Cosplayers." With them as a supporter of the community, the last decade of cosplay has proven to be a great one for everyone! Thanks for all the great memories, Wayne and Genjitsu! We love ya!
There are so many gorgeous decorations out there… I expect I’ll be spending a lot of time in the next few weeks sharing some of my favorite finds! Many of these will be DiY and very inexpensive – or at least have the potential – because of course we need to go a little easy on our wallets! Enjoy!
I LOVE this simple, elegant, informal willow and eucalyptus wreath from Seahorse. Unfortunately, it’s a UK product, so hard to get to the US in time, but why not do up this one yourself?
Hello? How about the old classic, paper cut-out snowflakes? Make bunches and bunches of them for this intense, festive statement! And the cost? Pretty much free!
These absolutely charming ornaments are something I know I’d love to give or receive. Using metal stamps (like the ones I use to create my wordspell pieces), you can share messages and wishes on antique silverware. No time for that? Pick these up from the Hammermann shop at Etsy!
Advent calendars are one of those charming and oh-so-easy touches that I often sit here going, “Why didn’t I think of that?” I love this effortless, timeless example from Rachel!
What’s your favorite frugal project this holiday?
One of my absolute favorite things about the holidays is the FOOD. I have a wealth of delightful memories of huge family gatherings (I have six and seven aunts and uncles on BOTH sides of my family… I don’t even have a count of my cousins anymore!) filled with games, gift exchanges, and wonderful foods.
Egg nog is one of my favorite holiday treats. I’m partial to my mother’s recipe, which to me is smoother and lighter than the store bought version. It’s also SUPER EASY to make, with just 5 ingredients (plus some nutmeg!).
Holiday Egg Nog
2/3 cup of sugar
4 eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
8 cups milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
nutmeg to taste
Separate the egg whites and yolks and set whites aside in the refrigerator. Mix the egg yolks, sugar, salt, and vanilla in a large pan until smooth. Add milk to yolk mixture slowly, stirring or whisking constantly. Heat slowly! Once heated, set aside to cool. Make meringue with egg whites and 6 tablespoons of sugar, if desired. Serve with a dollop of meringue and a sprinkle of nutmeg! WARNING: the meringue is made with raw egg whites, prepare at your own risk!
I remember with delight how my mother used to set the pan of egg nog outside in the snow to cool, when there was no room in the refrigerator. How wonderful it was to poke my head out into the cool winter night to bring the cool pan back inside and then enjoy the cold egg nog!
What’s your favorite holiday treat?
It’s a mantra we use as teachers that really applies to good teaching strategies that we can learn from others and then use… but I think it has good applications for crafters, too! I’m taking a few cues this holiday season for my décor from fellow blogs!
I’d started out with a classic gold and silver theme, and then while taking a walk down the floral aisle, I caught sight of the fruits and veggies pictured to the left, and I had a brilliant idea! A fruit-filled and fluttery tree filled with faux fruit and birds of all colors and sizes. I also added in the element of white flowers to fill in the lacking spaces in my somewhat sparse (and secondhand) tree. I’ll also include some of my keepsake ornaments that were handed down from my parents.
I like that both of these are not limited to the winter holidays. A lighted branch is a lovely accent any time of the year, and faux fruit can be a great part of everyday décor or specifically for Thanksgiving.
I admit… I’m a fan of the winter holiday season! I love all of it, the decorating, the parties, the lights, and just the overall feeling of wonder and delight. Oh, and did I mention winter vacation? Gotta love it!
What fun projects are you finding in the blogosphere this season?
Wow! The gorgeous and oh-sew-talented Miss Marisa at New Dress A Day has completed her year-long journey of sewing and editing. New Dress A Day began about a year ago with 365 dollars and 365 days, and each day Marisa edited a $1 secondhand garment into a gorgeous new creation!
Hers is one of the most inspiring blogs I’ve read this year, and I can’t wait to see what else she creates in the future! Congrats on meeting your goals and inspiring thousands! We love ya!
I’ve been on a lovely break since Wednesday, enjoying time off from school before the last stretch toward the finish life of this semester. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal with friends yesterday and enjoyed their company and the amazing cooking skill of my friend Imee.
I’m so thankful this year to have a wealth of friends and family supporting me, as always, and I’m so happy to be closer to starting my career as a teacher. I’m looking forward to what this next year will bring for my career, my creativity, and my life! Thanks, all!
I am a HUGE fan of these delightfully easy projects, especially around this time of year! Projects like this one over at Apartment Therapy are not only great for your home, but make wonderful gifts as well! Like the pillow project, this table runner can cost as little as NOTHING using fabric remnants you already have.
What are your favorite free projects to create?
As crafters and creators, we tend to be messy people. We also have stuff all over. Where are my scissors? Oh nuts, they’re on the floor under that pile of fabric (not that you knew that until after 20 minutes of searching). An easy solution? The versatile, useful apron! As both a fashion statement and practical tool, the apron serves as both protection and storage while you’re busy being brilliant. Check out these fine specimens!
The totally adorable “Pink Chocolate Flirty Apron” apron, for about $30 at overstock.com. Definitely a must for the party hostess, this leans more toward fashion, but still serves the necessary purpose. Also, I cannot say no to chocolate and pink, not to mention the stripes and polka dots! So cute!
How about this witty waist apron? The “Grania” style apron over at Retro Electro is a play on the cocktail apron style, with just the right amount of smarts and whimsy to make them perfect… Perfectly sassy, that is! What else would they be stating “How about a little drinkie winkie?” on the pocket? There are several styles at about $36 each.
The vendor apron may perhaps be the handiest for crafters – I even know teachers who wear these to keep supplies always at hand! What a great time saver! Check out this adorable one at Etsy!
Or you could always whip one up yourself from the over 51 free patterns at Tip Nut! What’s your favorite?
Get it? Like fondant? Yeah, I know.
I came across this in the blogosphere this afternoon and I HAD TO SHARE IT. IT IS SO AMAZING. I periodically steal Nick’s new Droid phone specifically to play Angry Birds, so this just blew me away.
It is an Angry Birds cake! And man, is it right on! Anya Richardson created this amazing sweet thing, and while I don’t have any personal experience with cake making, based on all the crazy cake challenges I’ve watched over the years, it is tough stuff! Fantastic work!
What’s your favorite fun cake?
I had a play kitchen as a kid that I loved and used all the time. So seeing this delightful repurpose of a TV stand into a beautiful play kitchen was just irresistible!
…into…
This!
This gorgeous project was completed by Giggleberry Creations’ folks for their granddaughter, and it is just so incredibly charming. All the little details like the window, curtain, and kitchen utensils make it just gorgeous and totally unique. Check out the process over at Giggleberry!
What’s your favorite amazing repurpose?
Wallpaper: H&W. Bedding from Pottery Barn. Dresser & light: Anthro. Mirror & Rocking Chair: Target. Headboard: Sundance. Chest: Greybills. Pillows: Room & Board. Accessories: Etsy sellers willowpillow, mementoretro, dahlush and Urban Outfitters.
Why, because of Halloween, of course! I’m always appreciative of these two holidays falling within proximity of each other because they share a good portion of the décor. The warm colors, fallen leaves, and gourd-based accessories are easily shared between the two events. Even (more permanent versions of) jack-o-lanterns can be turned about to their featureless sides. All those orange candles? Still great! Check these out!
A beautiful fall floral and dried display outside a barn. Appropriate for any harvest-time celebration.
Pumpkin plates can share your favorite of each of these holiday foods. Ours held candy for trick-or-treaters during Halloween, and now displays some seasonal gourds for Thanksgiving!
Pick up this cute set of stacking boxes from Oriental Trading! One side of each is printed with a thankful message, but turn them about for perfect Halloween containers.
What other décor do you love to reuse?
Me, with the puns. I know.
These are my Anne Boleyn initial replica necklaces! They’re one of my favorite little jewelry projects to work on, and several have marched through my Etsy store and the Charmedseed website lately (I wonder where that came from! Did I make a blog I don’t know about?). Sort of elementary cutwork, I saw each of these letters out of sheet metal, then polish and finish them. Pair them with freshwater or crystal pearls and you have the iconic accessory of Anne Boleyn.
The best part is they’re really personal. For example, mine is copper with mint-green button pearls! Anything goes! They make great gifts, too! I know I’ve had at least one customer give one to a girlfriend, and she loved it! I even have an “Heirloom” version done on traditionally knotted silk. Definitely something to hand down.
Check them out, along with other handmade gifts for the upcoming holidays! Thanks for supporting small crafters!
Climbing into the costume closet, I returned with all the pieces of black clothing we owned and proposed a fitting Dia de los Muertos theme! I printed out these decorated skull images (or calaveras) and mounted them on cardstock and construction paper to create handheld masks for each of us. With a little coloring, they really popped! A few flowers borrowed from Ophelia completed our costumes.
The outfits were a big hit (and they go really well with the black and white floor at my friend’s house! Heehee!). I’ve seen a lot of similar costumes created with makeup and really incredible styling, so that’s another option you could go for! I liked this option for us because we didn’t have the makeup available, and we didn’t run the risk of scaring the host’s 8-month-old daughter. It’s also interesting to learn more about Dia de los Muertos!
How was your Halloween?
She’s done! In fact, she’s been done for a week, but I wanted to get a few nice photos. I had a lot of fun at Mile Hi Con, too, and took home 1st place in the adult category! Nick and I took these photos yesterday – so Happy Halloween, too!
I did all the beading in about 12 hours total, using about a dozen types of stones and glass: pearls, rose & crystal quartz, aventurine, amazonite, jade, jasper, garnet, labradorite, and others. I even got to use a friend’s great embroidery machine to add some much needed detail. I still have a little beading to do; my tiny pearls for the sleeves just got in this week. But overall I’m really thrilled with the outcome and I can’t wait to wear it again!
Well, the holiday is almost upon us! Nick’s family always sends a cute, fun-filled package for him to enjoy since they’re far away, and I wanted to share a few of the adorable items included! To the best of my knowledge, these come from Target’s dollar section or from dollar stores.
Cute mini-stockings with a Halloween theme! They’re just about 3-4 inches long, perfect for little snacks and candies.
Pumpkin bells – just like their Christmas cousins – jingle and look jolly with jack-o-lantern faces. They’re making a great appearance with some soy candles and snacks on my dining table, but they’d be equally charming on a Halloween wreath.
What are your favorite frugal Halloween decoration finds?
I purchased a new sewing machine, the Singer 7470 Confidence! This is the first new machine I’ve had in about 7 years (the last being another Singer that was a Christmas gift from my folks), and I’m truly excited about it! First, I saved a lot of money on the purchase by getting it from Amazon Warehouse. Items that are returned to Amazon are checked and then sold at deep discounts! Second, it’s a sewing machine that’s NOT OLDER THAN ME. Finally, it has a number of decorative stitches that I have envied in friends’ machines for years. Pretty scrolly leafy stitches, here I come!
It was a bit of a tough decision, but when I looked at what it would cost me to clean and tune up my vintage Kenmore, it would have run up to a good percentage of the total cost for this new machine. A lot of the automatic features, like the button hole setting, will also save me a lot of time and effort.
A friend and I gave it a good test out last night on her Halloween costume, and we had a lot of success!
Nick and I took a trip for groceries to Target yesterday after a little extra planning on my part. Of course I’m using myrecipes.com to create great menus and work with the ingredients I already have in order to save some money in that department, but I thought I’d try to take it a little further still. Target makes it really easy with their website coupon printer.
Hit “Coupons” at the bottom of just about any page and you’ll go directly to Target’s online coupon book. What makes this even cooler? You can search and print only the coupons you want (there is a program to download, but it’s very convenient and unobtrusive!). Last night I printed about 15 coupons and ended up saving myself around $20. All for about five minutes of browsing through the coupon printer. Best part about this? Target has coupons for their brand, too, Market Pantry. Savings on top of savings! We spent the dividends on dinner at the delicious L&L Hawaiian BBQ!
What are your easy ways to save?
