Post-It Book Tutorial

Just because Greetingarts has posted this tutorial (via Folding Trees...I love that blog)  on how to make adorable notebooks using sticky note pads and scrapbook paper does not mean that you have an excuse for office supply theft.

Designing Fun With Polyvore

"What is Polyvore?" you ask.  Only the best time suck for the wanna be artist, designer, or procrastinator ever.  To quote from the website, " Polyvore lets you mix and match images from anywhere on the web, to create outfits, interior designs, or any kind of collage."

In other words, you can literally spend hours searching not only the Polyvore site, but the ENTIRE world wide web for  components for practically any kind of picture you'd like to make.  Below, you'll see my first attempt.

One warning, (besides the obvious that you shouldn't start this if you have an addictive personality and somewhere to be in the next hour):  Polyvore still has a ways to go in developing the tool to make it its best (it's only been around since sometime last fall).  Cropping and rotating images are limited/non-existent, and it's a huge hassle to deal with changing things from foreground to background images.


Still, it's far too fun not to check out!  There's also a Polyvore Facebook group, for those so inclined.

I'm Loving...Bokja {haute bohemian}

Although I do sort of object to the phrase "haute bohemian," I love the beautiful furniture designs from the Lebanese company, Bokja {haute bohemian}, which I found via decor8.  The colorful patchwork style is just so amazing.  Exactly the sort of thing for which my blah walls and beige carpets are calling. 

Unfortunately, this stuff is filed under "not cheap," since at least some of their chairs sell for around  2900 euro.  There is apparently an American distributor, ABC Carpet & Home.  I think I'll probably stick with feeling inspired by the beauty of this amazing handcrafted work.

July is Etsy How-To Month

Etsy is hosting over 25 live tutorials this month on how to do any number of crafts (actually, they've already hosted a couple, so act fast or you'll miss more). So head on over to Etsy and view the schedule of classess. Monday, from 4-8 pm (all times are EST) they will host an origami-making class that I hope to catch. Via Craftzine.

Happy 4th of July!

Fourth of July Drink Charms

Need a last-minute craft to make your 4th super patriotic?  Plan on having folks over for so many drinks that everyone will be confused?  Then this instructables tutorial on how to make drink charms using printouts of classic American posters is for you:

Craftapalooza

Here are a couple other projects I've done recently:

Satin Pillow (I love the remnants section at the fabric store).  I designed it to be a "mood pillow."  If it's vertical, it means, "Beware; stormy mood ahead."  Horizontal means, "You may approach.  She is friendly."  Haha.  It's only been vertical so far for its photo shoot.

Newspaper strips + Cardboard + Permanent Marker Contour Drawing= Random Artwork for Kitchen

Less craft and more disaster.  This picture shows most of the parts for the dresser I ordered.  I'm still not completely done assembling it because one of the dresser drawer sides was lacking in holes, and they are sending a replacement part.  Maybe one day I'll share the finished product.

DIY: Easy Felt Makeup Bag Tutorial

Okay, so now my excuses for non-regular posting have dwindled.  I was sick for a few days, which meant mostly sleeping in.  And I have been doing more crafting, which takes time away from blogging about crafting.  But, I'm gonna turn over a new leaf.  And I'll start by doing a couple of immediate posts.

The following was a 15 minute craft project (from a kit that was on sale at Barnes & Noble).
  

 To do it yourself:  Just grab some felt.  Cut out 3 squares of a different color felt.  Sew them on by hand.   Add a zipper (I attached with a sewing machine, but it would be easy to do by hand too).  Unzip the 2 sides of the zipper, and sew up each side of the bag.  Done.