Monday, December 27, 2010

Let the recycled fine art begin!!!

After taking a trip to the contemporary art building at the National Gallery of Art in Washington last month, I got a little inspired! I found this recycled art on a website and I think I might try it out! Easy steps on how to do this are below. It's very easy and you just have save your plastic bottle lids!

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Materials:

- Canvas or wood scraps
- Plastic bottle lids (from water bottles)you can layer of lot of lids
- Paint brush
- Acrylic paints- black and other assorted bright colors
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Aleene’s® Super Thick Tacky Glue ™
- Assorted jewels, flat marbles, small glass mosaic tiles

Instructions

1.Use pencil and ruler to measure and mark sections on canvas.

2.Glue one plastic bottle lid into the center of each section. We glued every other lid reversed. One up, one down, one up, one down. On the small canvas, we layered all sorts of sizes and shapes. Let glue dry.

3.Paint the entire canvas and plastic lids with black paint. Let dry.

4.Using photo as guide, paint each section with a different color. Note that some of the black paint is left to show through the color. Paint each plastic lid with a different color. Let dry.

5.Glue a jewel, flat marble, or tile into the center of each plastic lid. Let glue dry.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Wool scraps into flowers!



I've been looking for a non-cheesy, yet easy (of course) wool fabric flower tutorial. I think this one will suffice. I believe I shall try this one out while the children are off at their friend's houses over Winter break. Yes, I shall try this with some old wool scrap fabric. I will post my results after I try it out. Meanwhile, have a look-see for yourself at how easy and pretty these little flowers look. I'm sure they'd look cute with felt, too.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Cute donuts!


I found these on fabric.com's blog. I'd never have thought to use yarn as frosting. ;-)

I tried making the rolled fabric flowers - TRIED being the exclusive word. Word to yr mother.



Okay. I'm a dork. I didn't even read the tutorial that I POSTED carefully enough. I was supposed to TWIST the fabric as I wrapped. Well, I didn't. I just wrapped and even though they are pretty, they probably will look better once I twist them and ACTUALLY follow the directions posted here. MAYBE ONE DAY I WILL LEARN TO READ DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY AND NOT SKIM THEM. Ya, right. ;-)

Thursday, December 16, 2010

My friend's upcycled girly shirts!


My friend Deb, has a few upcycled girly tops for sale on her blog. Click here to check 'em out!

Monday, December 13, 2010

Rolled flowers - once again, easy to make and way cheaper than Target! ;-)


I wanted to buy a headband at Target this weekend with this type of rolled flowers on them. They were charging $9.99 for one headband!!!! FORGET THAT. I found a tutorial to make my own dang headband. All I have to do is rip strips of fabric, roll the fabric, use my glue gun and glue them to a skinny, CHEAP .99 headband from the dollar store. I'm NOT paying $9.99 for something I can make in 45 minutes.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE EASY TUTORIAL!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Snowflake designs using DOILIES. Mah favorite!

I know I already posted this idea, but it's so awesome and EASY. You can even bleach onto patterned shirts/dresses/pants!!!

1. Soak a doily in bleach and water.

2. Make sure to put a piece of cardboard or wax paper in between the front and back of the shirts so the bleach doesn't soak through to the other side!

3. Experiment on how long you wish to leave it...you can press it with books.

3. Don't forget to rinse or wash it alone before washing it with all your clothes!




(Pics from Craftster.org)

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Sale - Free Shipping on $5.00 small alligator hair clips

Visit my picture gallery on my Paper & Twine Facebook page to pick out the color you'd like! Email me at: paperandtwinecraftydesign@gmail.com and I'll mail you a handmade hair clip (bottle cap, sparkles, stickers and lace) for a nice little gift for that special lil' girl in yr life! ;-)


Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Got some t-shirts with stains or holes? Alter them!

I keep finding SUPER EASY, FAST tutorials to salvage our "old" stuff or worn stuff and to create something new and super cool!!! Reduce, Re-use and Recycle! Yaaay!!!

Just click on this image and zoom to read/print out the super EASY instructions!



(tutorial from Jennifer Juniper)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Zipper flowers! I love EASY tutorials and here's another one!



Easy! CUTE CUTE CUTE! Here's the link to watch the tutorial online, or you can read it below:

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/zipper-flower-pins


Tools and Materials
36-inch Zipper
Scissors
Hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
Scrap of felt
Brooch or hair clip
Needle and thread

Zipper Flowers How-To
1. One zipper makes two flowers. To begin, cut the zipper stop and plastic reinforcement off the ends of the zipper. Open the zipper to divide it in half.

2. Place a dab of hot glue onto one end of the zipper, on the fabric part, and close to the teeth. Fold in cut edge; press down to secure.

3. Roll end of zipper into a very tight "bud," securing with another dab of hot glue, and spiraling downward so teeth do not overlap each other.

4. Roll three more times, tacking down each roll with a dot of hot glue.

5. Continue rolling, making looser coils. Once the bud is about the size of a nickel, make a petal by forming a loop perpendicular to the bud; secure with hot glue.

6. Make your next petal by swirling the zipper to create a figure eight; secure with hot glue.

7. Repeat until you reach the end of the zipper. Sew a heart-shaped piece of felt to a brooch pin or hair clip. Hot glue to back of flower.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

And the winner is....


Today was the free pair of barrettes drawing, so I had my stepson draw the name and it was my lovely art teacher from High School!!! The irony...;-) Haha!

Here's the pair of owls I'll be sending her! Thank you to my friends/family for visiting/posting on my business FB page! http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Paper-and-Twine-Crafty-Design/110941588942342

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Girly Barrettes!



I didn't mean for these to be Halloweened-themed, I promise! I started on this pair a month ago and just got around to finishing them tonight. Post a msg on my FB Paper & Twine Crafty Design page before Tues and be entered to win a pair of free barrettes! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Paper-and-Twine-Crafty-Design/110941588942342?ref=sgm

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

I'm going to my first sewing class on Saturday! YAY!!!

My daughter is still deciding on whether or not she's coming along...She's thinking of joining me so she can use the TINY LITTLE sewing machine I bought her to make Barbie skirts with. It doesn't work great, but she is just using it for simple stitching...it's super small. This is what it look like:



Here's info on my first sewing class! Join us, if you can! They are providing sewing machines for us, so that's awesome. It's this Saturday in Cincinnati! Here's the 411:


Beginners Sewing Workshop 10am - 2pm, Saturday 10/23

www.facebook.com/purdyeveryday

Monday, October 11, 2010

How to Make a Pop Tab Bracelet




All you need is 20-25 pop tabs and a ribbon or elastic string and scissors. It's super easy. I never post hard craft things - NEVER!!! If I don't have the time to make them myself, I don't post about them. I got this tutorial off Lolly Jane Boutique's blog....Just click on the instructions and zoom in on them in your browser. Happy weaving!

Friday, October 8, 2010

Boats Recycled into Sheds


I found this off Craftzine.com. The PHOTOGRAPH itself is just GEORGEOUS, much less the awesomeness of recycyling/reusing something like this. How cool!!!


The fishing community on the English tidal island of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, has found a wonderful channel of employment for their once seaworthy vessels. By simply turning them upside down and adding doors they are upcycled into sheds! So cool I wish they were converted into little studios instead. Photo by Kevin Wakelam. [via Teagan Tall]

Thursday, October 7, 2010

I thought this looked easy and very beautiful, so I had to share!

Easy Tutorial - Inspirational!




I found this on favecrafts.com. Looked pretty easy & inspirational!


Materials:

•12" x 12" piece of chipboard, or a page from a blank board book
•Assorted colors of mulberry tissue
•Assorted lightweight handmade papers
•Matte Gel Medium
•Die-cut letters and desired embellishments
•Paint brush, wax paper, brayer

Instructions:

1.Tear your tissues and papers into random sized pieces. Trim out any interesting shapes and images too. I like collaging with torn lightweight papers because they layer and blend together nice and smooth.

2.Choose an inspirational word and spell it out with die-cut letters. My letters were white plastic that I painted with alcohol inks.

3.Arrange your tissues, papers, images and letters however you like on your board BEFORE adhering them.

4.Move your arrangement aside carefully, and brush a thin coat of medium to your blank board. Do one small area at a time.

5.Apply the first piece of paper immediately on top and smooth it down slowly with your brayer. Place wax paper in between to prevent the tissue or paper from tearing and to keep the medium off your brayer. Roll the brayer from the middle of the paper outward toward the edges.

6.Continue with each piece of your arrangement until your board is covered. Allow pieces to hang off the edges of your board, then trim it flush to the edges later. Layer pieces on top of each other for different colors and transparent effects.

7.When the board is dry, gently brush a light layer of medium over the whole top. Start where you want to place your letters - use this coating of medium just like glue and press your letters into place.

8.While the medium is still wet, adhere other embellishments as desired, such as rhinestones, glitter, or mica flakes.

9.Trim the edges and display your inspiration board where you can see it all the time!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Buttons! Buttons! Buttons!


I was just excited and had to share...my friend who is 84 gave me some buttons. I only took a pic of the whites/yellows cuz I picked out the reds, blues, pinks and oranges to start making stuff with 'em. Buttons are the BESTEST!!!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Recycled Water Bottle Bracelets


All you need is a some felt, glue, scissors and water bottles to make these cute bracelets! I love 'em! CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO VIEW IT IN A BROWSER AND ZOOM IN TO READ IT.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

I got press! I got press! Woo-hoo!



This is for the 2-day festival this weekend on the Westside! Yay!

Sunday, June 6, 2010

She's acting kinda squirrley...


This is the cutest chalkboard necklace! We got it at the craft fair yesterday from The Lovely Teaspoon! CUTE!!!!

Friday, June 4, 2010

Come to a FREE, local art fair tomorrow with the kids!

There will be AMAZING artists there!!! It's free and if you live in Cincinnati and have kids - I'm sure this art fair will be supah fun for all!!! See you there!!!
FREE NORTHSIDE CINCINNATI ART FAIR

Friday, May 28, 2010


I love the word, "Refashion". It's like "Recycle+Fashion" and that's what I've been doing with demin lately! This girls dress I found on Flickr was "refashioned" from an apron into a dress. Totally vintage, totally timeless.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

How I got started making my first appliques!


I started thinking about making my own patches/appliques after I saw this advertisement from CONVERSE about 5 or 6 years ago. Pretty cool that I got my first "mini-applique-making" lesson from an advertisement! ;-)

Friday, May 21, 2010

I need girls to model our jeans! Model for our website and get a free pair of jeans or a skirt or a pair shorts!

Hi girls, moms, grandmas, aunts and everyone out there!!!
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I need more girls to model for Paper & Twine Crafty Design's jeans/skirts/shorts, for our website! All shapes and sizes of girls that wear girls sizes 2 - 14 are needed!!!

If you are interested, please check with your parents to make sure they are okay with it. I'll use your photos on our site and in print!
_______________________________________
All I need from you is:

1. Your parents permission.
2. Email me your size and style and I'll hand-decorate a skirt, shorts or jeans that will fit you.
3. Email me some days/times you are available for me to stop by to take some pics!
4. If you like the jeans/skirt/shorts that you model in, you can keep them for FREE and get your next pair for 50% off!!!

Looking forward to hearing back from all of you awesome girls out there!!!

Love,
Jen

Hand-decorated Summer Girls Jeans - $25.00


The new Summer jean skirts I've been designing look SUPER CUTE with leggings! I can make sizes girls 2 - 14. Order yours today! Your daughter/grand daughter/neice will LOVE them!!! Machine wash on gentle inside out, air dry and they will last forever! One-of-a-kind, every time! Have a great weekend, everyone!!! ;-)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Cincinnati Flower Training


I picked some wild daisies on the side of the road and put them on the table, then my stepson brought in a huge, beautiful pink, fluffy flower and stuck it in the middle of the daises. I was like, "Ohhhh, pretty! Where did you get that huge flower?" And he was all proud of himself and said, "From the neighbors yard!".....um.....So, we had a talk about picking other people's flowers vs. picking wild flowers on the side of the road. ;-)

Bad Hair Day


We visited an alpaca farm last Saturday with the kids. My daughter spent 4 weeks of her allowance on an alpaca doll with real alpaca fur. The farm owners said the lighter the color of alpaca, the softer the fur (silky). The farm just shaved the alpacas right before we got there and this alpaca was having a bad hair day. Even animals have bad hair days. ;-)

Monday, May 17, 2010

Latest Summer Skirts


Here's a sample of one of the new jean skirts for Summer! I envision these being worn with knee-length leggings! Super cute!!!

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Button - Early bird gets the worm!


I found this on a vintage button site - it sells for $35.00! I was watching Antiques Roadshow and they were selling jars of vintage buttons for hundreds/thousands of dollars. I can't watch Antique Roadshow because I can't just shut it off. Once it hooks you - you trapped watching the whole thing. Good thing it's only 30 minutes!

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Cute buttons!!!


I LOVE these buttons so much I want to kiss them!!! I found them at Joanne's on sale last weekend in Indianapolis, while I was visiting my aunt. I love buttons ON SALE!!! Actually, anything on sale is pretty sweet. K & Company makes them. I'm going to use them on girls jean shorts/skirts for this Summer!

Friday, May 7, 2010

I already dig through the trash for plastic and recyclables for projects...why not iron plastics together?


Copy/paste this link to watch HOW to fuse plastics!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNeIKdlY3Ss&feature=related

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Gettin' Organized!


Spring-cleaning!!! Time to get my crazy craft room organized. I have about 30 rolls of ribbon and twine. So far, I've been using a old wine rack to spool them off of...but it's a PAIN to take the entire spool of twine off if I need to.

Anybody have any suggestions on how to get these things more organized with these rolls?

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

My first blog ever!!!


There's a first time for everything! Here's my first blog post! I know, I'm a latecomer to the Internet blog-a-mania...

I had my first craft fair here in Ohio last Saturday. Got a few good pix of the booth. I met some great fellow vendors and we traded a few tips with each other. It was a rainy day, so not many people ventured out to the fair.

I hate to complain, but I think the gal that was "advertising" it didn't do a great job getting the word out to the community. It was a great vendor turnout, but not a great shopper turnout. I'm planning on attending another local fair in June. I hope the organizer has it more on the ball than this one did. More details to come...

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