Cynthia Shaffer

Stitch . Craft . Create

Have you seen the latest edition of Stitch Craft Create?

You may remember that the first edition featured my quilted trees on the cover ... And today, they are offering one of my pieces on the Stitch Craft Create blog as a free project!

So cute, don't you think ... a quilted cozy for a bouquet of flowers, just in time for mothers day. You can find the post here along with the list of tools and instructions needed to make this cozy.

Here's a peak at a couple of the other projects I have in this latest edition ... free motion stitched infinity scarf,

A simple rolled rose necklace ... but the best part about this project is that the roses are interchangable.

The sky is the limit here with the different color combinations.

I'm so happy for the good people behind this magazine and Shannon, the editor couldn't be more professional and just really great to to work with. Congratulations F + W Media Inc. on another successful publication!

 

Carving Rubber Stamps : : A Duet With Jen Osborn

I've been carving rubber stamps lately, something that I thought I would NEVER do ... but I have to tell you, it is SOOOO much fun. 

Yesterday I woke up to a text message from Jen Osborn, we are friends on facebook and from time to time we chat back and forth ... I love her art. There weren't any words in the message, just a photo of her 2 latest paintings. 

So fun don't you think? 

I got inspired ... and I loved her barn, tree and of course her signature skeleton head ... I decided to carve some rubber using her images as inspiration.

I know, I know ... the barn is falling over ... oh well, it happens.

So simple and yet soooo Jen!

 

Of course I couldn't well enoguh alone ... out came the Glimmer Mists.

 

So sweet don't you think? Love this one ... I couldn't stop stamping ........! 

Here's what you do:

Find a simple image that you like and simply sketch it out onto an eraser or this pink rubber. Next, using the smallest carving blade, outline the image and then cut out the details.

For larger shapes just use a scissor or a craft knife and cut out around the image, then carve out the interior details.

Thanks Jen for the inspiration! 

Happy carving.

 

Uniform Project : : The Making of the Little Black Dress

After a little bit of brainstorming, I was off and running, searching for the perfect black/dark gray fabric to make our uniforms from. 

We decided on the middle fabric that I found at Fabric Land, my local high-end fabric store. Here's a couple reasons why we loved this fabric ... First we all liked the deep dark color and secondly, the fiber content is a polyester and rayon blend. Easy to wash and wear, and that poly will make the dress industrial strength and the rayon adds a little bit of fluidity and swing.

After taking Jenny's measurements, I then drafted a pattern for her, referring to a little sketch I had drawn and shared with everyone. OH how I love to draft patterns. It had been a while since I had really drafted a pattern and had to use my skills from my days in the garment industry. I loved it then and love it now. There's a bit of creativity in drafting a pattern ... your brain needs to be able to think in 3D terms and there is also a certain amount of math and science involved, which I also love! 

After cutting all the pieces out, I then over-locked or serged all the edges and did a quick stay stitch around the neck front and back and marked the center front with a long hand sewn basting stitch.

Next, I pinned all the pieces together and then basted all the seams together, yes, I run over the pins with my sewing machine!

This dress can be worn forwards or backwards and the insertion of this little pleat in the back or front, depending on how you are wearing it, really gives the dress that extra little flare.

After fitting the dress to Jenny, little to no alterations were needed, so I sewed over all the seams and then pressed them open, set the sleeves, dropped in the facings, marked the buttonhole placement and then stitched the 10 buttonholes! Yes, 10 ... count them. Oh, then came the buttons ... I decided to just use a random assortment of vintage and not so vintage black and gray buttons that I found in my black button mason jar.

And then to finish the dress ... the hem!

Check out Jenny's blog today and check out how many people are receiving fresh clean water! 

She's got this dress all dolled up and ready for a day out!

 

Japanese Candy Wrapper Collage : Tutorial

My Husband just called to inform that he will be traveling in the upcoming months ... It's Japan again ... my favorite place!

He travels there often and always returns home with some very interesting candy for my kids. We never know what it will be and I have to tell you, I have only actually tried a few of the 'sweets' he has brought back.

Why you might ask ... well here's why ... I learned early on in his traveling days that a lot of the Japanese candies are made from bean paste ... and I love beans, but here's where I have an issue ... I can not wrap my brain around the idea that beans are a sweet treat. To me the are salty, savory and are often slathered with onions and cilantro. So ... do you understand my problem?

Here's a funny story ... so my mother had a Japanese foreign exchange student named Yoshiko come to live her for a year. We introduced her to all of our favorite foods, including refried beans ... she tried them and nearly spit them out on her plate ... she could not wrap her brain around the idea that they were not sweet! 

Japanese Candy Collage and Doodles

The wrapping and presentation is a feast for my eyes ... I love all the color and love the attention to details.

Japanese Candy Wrapper Collage:

 Unwrap and flatten colorful candy wrappers ... feed the candy to your children!

Cut out random shapes and swirls from the wrappers.

Using a glue stick, randomly adhere the pieces to a panel of watercolor paper.

Free motion stitch the wrappers in place and then onto the card in swirls and loop patterns.

Add some color with watercolor pencils and doodle shapes with a black marker.

Here's to Japanese candy, happy and safe travels for my husband and crafting and doodling!

Bokeh LOVE : : Fun Filter Tutorial

It's all about the bokeh these days ... you know the blur you get in the background of a photograph when you open up the aperture on your lens and then focus in on a subject that's pretty close. This works best with a focal length of 50mm or more and a wide open aperture! 

One important element that helps to accentuate this effect are twinkling lights in the background. It doesn't need to be twinkle lights really but just bits of light shinning through trees will help you get that effect also.

With a little bit of patience and practice you can add some really fun, cool affects to your photographs.

While focusing on a particular subject can be a little challenging, the look is just way to fun to not keep playing till you get a photo that really speak to you. LOVE this love photo!

Ok, how much fun is this photograph? The only thing missing are raindrops on the flower petals.

So ... here I'm purposely out of focus to accentuate the bokeh shaped raindrops.

I love this filter I made. Can you imagine photographing a church or an outdoor wedding using this effect? BEAUTIFUL if you ask me!

Here's what you do:

Trace the lens cap onto a black piece of card stock and cut out circle.

Using a light colored pencil, draw a small shape in the center of the black circle and then cut out using a craft knife.

Cut a strip of black card stock the circumference of the circle and then snip into the strip.

Wrap the clipped strip around the black circle and tape in place.

Now ... go play and experiment!

As you can imagine, the sky is the limit here!

Here are a few other bokeh filters I made. I shot all these at night ... forcing the bokeh effect with the twinkle lights that are hanging from my back patio all year long!

If you're new to this whole photography thing and want to take that DSLR out of auto mode ... You might want to consider taking this class I'm teaching ... Photography 101: Shooting Beyond Auto Mode. I know that the february date is nearly full, but there are still a few spot open for the March 17th date!

Inkodye : : Apron, Ink, Doodle

Ok so, I have been crafting for lots of years, and tried lots of different products that do lots of different things, but when it comes to something quick, simple and super fun ... Inkodye is it.

So i was moving fast here,not wanting to spend too much time on an apron that is going to get used while I'm painting ... in other words ... there will be paint everywhere on this apron in no time.

First off, I just painted the apron with a red and orange, blending the colors a little. The ink goes on sort of clear, so blending can be a little difficult. Next I place this stencil on top of the apron, the placed it in the window sill for just a few minutes.

You see, the ink is light sensitive, so when it's exposed to sunlight the color develops right before your eyes.

And here it is after I rinse, washed and dried it .. so fun!

Next I tried it on a file folder with this alphabet stencil ...

So fun ... to be used in a future project.

While I was on an apron kick, I decided to use masking tape to mask off strips ... The colors are sooo rich and yummy.

And here it is after I rinsed it and peeled off the tape. I love the way the tape worked ... possibilities ... endless!

Oh, No, I couldn't leave well enough alone ... no, no ... out came the black permanent marker for a little doodling.

Then I white permanent marker , just to pop some of the doodles.

I love the quick transformation of these very simple aprons. Possibilities ... unlimited.

What a great thing to do at a kids party ... they would think it's all so magical!

 

Scrappy Wool Scarf : : Tutorial

The weather has definitely taken a turn around here and in fact it is down right cold out, all the time it seems ... well, not Minnesota cold, but cold for California. And, when the wind picks up a bit, and I'm outside watching a baseball game ... a wool scarf is about the only thing that really warms me up to the core.

Here's what I did to make this quick scrappy scarf:

• First I gathered a couple of wool sweaters in coordinating colors. I found these 2 sweaters at my local thrift store, and the pink one had been felted, just slightly.
• Next, I dusted off my serger and then just dove right in and serged the bottom rib, cutting off about 1/4 inch as I went.
• To make the knit ruffle, all you have to do is pull or stretch the sweater as it is going under the machine foot. If you want the serged stitch to be dense than shorten up the stitch length on the machine.

• Then, I just started cutting out panels from the 2 sweaters. Each panel measured about 8 inches wide and as long as I could possibly get. I even opened up the sleeve and found a nice long 8 inch wide piece there too.

• After I had several segments cut, I lined up the pieces the way I wanted them and then started serging the seams together. Note: If you look really close at the above photo, you can see that I have serged the brown piece to a non-ruffled pink piece, then placed a ruffled pink piece overlapping that seam but meeting at the top of that non-ruffled piece. 
• Now seam the 2 or actually 3 pink pieces wrong sides together.

• Piece the scarf together until you have about 70 inches total in length.

Ok so, as you can see these are pretty darn cute and so simple to make and makes really cute Christmas gifts! Needless to say, the cost was minimal as well ... let's see, I think each sweater was $1.90 and I still have lots of the brown sweater left to make a second one in a different color way ... 

Enjoy and Stay Warm!

 

Mustard and Gray Houndstooth : : Knitting for a Rainy Day

I LOVE rainy days.

Not only because all my plants are getting a nice drink of fresh water, but also because it gives me permission to stay home with my pups and do what I love to do ... KNIT!

When the weather changed to chilly and breezy a few days ago, and knowing that lots of baseball and rain were in my future, I took a little field trip to my local craft store and scooped up this yummy wool yarn.

Having no real plan or pattern in mind for this yarn I did remember that in my knitting group my friend Anna was trying out a new pattern that slightly resembled houndstooth and I have always loved houndstooth.

So I quick like knit up  a swatch to check my gauge and to work out the pattern and soon realized that I loved the look of the high contrast and that it did look like knitted houndstooth but much more simple than reading a chart and tracking your rows ...LOVE IT!

Look how simple ...

1. Starting with the gray yarn, cast on an odd number of stitches. the amount you cast on will depend on what you're knitting. (Think scarf, prayer shawl or skirt.)
2. Knit 2 foundation rows. 
3. Add the mustard yarn and K the first stitch, K the next stitch along with the loop right below the stitch that's on the needle.
4. Knit the next stitch.
5. Repeat #3 and #4 until you get to the end of the row.
6. Next row ... all K.
7. Now bring the gray back up .. K 2 then knit in the pattern described above, except when you get to the end of this row, K the last 2 stitches.
8. Knit the next row.

Here's to rainy days, yummy yarn, fab houndstooth and sweet pups!

Soldering + Glass + Pearls = Homecoming Corsage and Boutonniere : : Tutorial

Another high school dance has come and gone and guess what ... the corsage and boutonniere still look as good as the night they were worn!

You may remember this post last year when I announced to my son Corry and his girlfriend Dylan that I was pretty much done purchasing flowers for the dances when I discovered that they take them off when they get to the dance anyways!

This is what this years handmade "flowers" looked like. Of course they would be soldered ... that seems to be what I'm into these days and if I say so myself ... I think they turned out pretty fab!

Here's what I did:

• Using tinned copper wire, I first created a large heart shape and then another loop, just to make it look a bit abstract. 
• Then using fine silver wire I strung fresh water pearls, glass beads and some silver beads, twisting each bead in place on the wire. 
• Next I wrapped the thin wire around the heart shaped tinned copper. 

• After the heart shape was wrapped, I wrapped the curly ends and then went back and secured the center area. (Notice that at this point the red floss in the middle is gone ... since I was designing as I was going, not all the photos are super accurate and things change and I forget to re-shoot some steps.)

• Next I glued a little square of text from a Bible onto a 1" square of glass and then glued a little red heart onto the text. 
• Then I soldered just the top and bottom edges of the glass squares.

• And to anchor the wired heart to the glass, I soldered just a small spot at the top.

• Then sandwiched the wired bundle between the 2 glass squares and then soldered the outer edges several times.

• And to finish off the corsage, I cut a portion out of large jump and then soldered them to the sides.

• Then I  finished it off with a couple of lengths of cream rayon ribbon to wrap around the wrist then tied.

• The boutonniere was of course, much simpler. First I made a heart with the tinned copper wire, then wrapped the beaded silver wire around the shape.
• Next, I soldered the center to secure the shape.

• And to finish it off ... a short length of rayon ribbon wrapped around the center and a long pearl pin.

Photos of the lucky couple ... to come!

 

 

 

Upcycled Sweaters + Pony Pack = Hanging Plant Pouches

Look what I made!

Just playing with some thrift store finds. Sometimes I get an idea and I just have to act on it right now!

 

A week ago or so, my car was in the shop and so I was without a car. I had to go to the thrift store that day so my husband kindly dropped me off on his way to work ... I than walked home.

Well, little did I know that I would be walking home with bags of wool sweaters and suits!

 Plant pouches ... so fun, super simple and look how cute they are on a chain linked fence!

Here's What You Do:

• Gather or purchase old wool sweaters.

• Toss them into the washer. Wash the sweaters using really hot water and a little bit of laundry detergent and start the washer. 

• Check on the sweaters every 10 minutes or so. You don't want the sweaters to over-felt and become super thick.

• Hang the sweaters out to dry or lay them flat on towels. This could take a good day or so!

• Next, cut out a portion of the sweater that measures roughly 6 x 15 inches.

• Overlap the seam and whip stitch it together with a large eye needle and yarn. Machine stitch across the bottom seam, then add a running stitch to the bottom of the pouch.

• Embellish the pouch with hanging buttons or dotted with buttons all over the pouch.

• Cut a length of steel wire approximately 24 inches long. Poke the ends of the wire into the sides of the pouch and twist together. Make sure the wire is secured about an inch down from the top of the pouch.

• Snip small holes into the bottom of a sandwich bag. I really like the ones that have the extra heavy zip lock tops. Makes it easy to add the soil and the plant.

• Fill the bag with potting soil, and then slip the bag into the pouch just to make sure it fits. Take the bag out of the pouch and pot your pony pack plant or two.

• Slip the potted bag back into the pouch and arrange the stems and flowers around the wire hanger. Hang and display anywhere you'd like!

 

• Note: You can water the plant while it's still in the pouch if you have them displayed outside. Excess water will just drip out the bottom, though some water will get absorbed into the wool.

Hop on over to Lark Crafts and check out other felt projects, as they continue to celebrate the release of their latest book, Stash Happy Felt! Flip through the book and see a couple of my projects in there.

Oh and ... I had the good furtune of photographing that book as well!

 Now go pot some plants in those felted old wool sweaters!

Tin Can Caddy #2 :: Tutorial

I am so in love with the first tin can caddy that I made ... way back when ... that I just had to make another. 

When I first started out making this one, I thought I would use papers, old maps, new maps, ledger paper, and subway diagrams, but then reality set in. Paper and Mod Podge don't like wavy, bumping outer can surfaces and I ended up with a puckering mess. So I ditched that idea and went back to the original technique that I know works like a charm.

You gotta try this. And on a Lazy Susann, it dosen't get any better. Oh, and yes, again I tried putting the cans at different heights and while it looks super cute and all, I'm a practical gal and really like that space on the Lazy Susan under the cans.

Here's What I Did:

• Gather a variety of cans in different sizes, one being a large coffee can.
• Cover the cans with fabric panels using Matte Mod Podge. 

• Punch holes in the small cans and in the coffee can, using an awl and a hammer.

• Then load it up with all your crafting supplies.
• Don't forget the Lazy Susan ... such a great idea those Lazy Susan's are!

Here's the original Tin Can Caddy with an even better tutorial ... Enjoy!

 

Shrink Plastic Projects : : Tutorial

I just can't seem to stop ... I'm in love with this darn shrink plastic. Check out some of my recent projects ...  this sweet little 'Art Saves' brooch.

 

Or this oh, so cute necklace ...

And why not ... on a simple white card?

Or ... glue it on to a card and embellish it with pearls and wire.

I just love the simplicity!

Here's What I Did:

• Sand a panel of white shrink plastic with fine grade sandpaper.

• Grab your favorite stamps and black StazOn ink, and stamp the image on the shrink plastic.

• Add a wash of color with chalks or pastels and pom poms and Q-tips.

 

• Add some dots and doodles with a black permanent marker.

• Punch hole in the piece to add beads and jump rings.

• Heat according to the directions on the shrink plastic package, or use a heat gun and a pie tin.
• Watch the plastic curl up, shrink, then flatten.

• Embellish with pearls and beads and add jump rings to hang as a necklace or glue on a pin back!

Way too cute if you ask me!!!

Hope you take some time to craft and play this week!

 

More Felt Fun : : Mug Rug : : Tutorial

You'll have to hop on over to the Lark Crafts site and check out today's post on some super cute  Mason Jar cozies I made for their month long felt party!

Here's another quick project a whipped up to help celebrate their felt month. A Mug Rug! What great gifts these make!

 

Here's what you do:

 

Gather a few skeins of leftover 100% wool and knitting needles to match. Cast on about 45 stitches and just start knitting. Change colors now and then to stripe your piece, but don't think too much. Cast off when the piece measure about 13 x 9 inches (This will vary depending on your yarn and how big you want your mug rug to be). Do not take the time to weave the ends in, but do trim them down to about 4 inches. After the piece is felted, the ends can be snipped off.

Toss the knitted panel into a lingerie bag and then into the washer. Set the washer on HOT water and add a little laundry detergent and start the washer.

Set a timer for 10 minutes and run and check the felting as soon as the time goes off.

Be careful to not over felt the piece. There's a point of no return, when the piece could get super stiff and bulky. If more felting is needed, toss the piece back in the washer and continue washing, again for just 10 minutes at a time. Wash the panel until it measure about 6 x 10 inches. 

Rinse the panel with cool water to get rid of the soap, and stretch or block the piece to the size and shape you desire. Dry on towels ... for what will seem like forever ... maybe a few days! Or, to speed up this process ... roll the mug rug in a towel and squeeze the heck out of it.

Bind the outer edge with a raw-edge binding in a bright patterned fabric.

Embellish with a few scrappy hearts and words.

And ...

ENJOY your coffee and whatever else you want ...

There's plenty of room for a slice of apple or blueberry scone!

 

Felt Flower Brooch : : Tutorial

Just a little something I whipped up a few nights ago.

So cute don't you think? And let me tell you ... it's super easy to make and the fabric came from an old suit I bought at the second hand store. But not just any suit, it was a Pendleton wool suit in a black and white herringbone! Thankfully is wasn't my size, so I had no qualms about cutting up the skirt to get a nice chunk of fabric to play with.

 

Here's what I did:

• First I cut the outer skirt away from the linning, and cut around the pockets, saving every scrap.

• The wool was pretty stiff and I knew that by just washing it in super hot water would soften it up and even felt it a bit. 
• Next I cut the skirt into a few chunk.

• Next I heated up a pot of water on the stove and just before it started to boil, I added some liquid Rit dye.
• Then I added  a chunck of the wool skirt and let it simmer in the dye bath for about 10 minutes, checking on it every few minutes to make sure it didn't get too dark.
• When the color was just right, I took the wool out of the dye and rinsed it in really cold water, trying to encourage the felting process.

• And then hung the pieces out to my clothesline to dry.

• While the wool didn't felt up and get all chunky, it did become much softer and a bit fuzzy.

• So to make the brooch, I quick like drew a large flower, about 5 inches in diameter and then cut out the shape.

• Traced the flower shape on the dyed wool and then cut it out.
• Using a running/gathering stitch and a hand needle and thread, sewing in a circle at the center of the flower.

• Draw up the thread and secure with a knot in the back.

• Then cut out a circle from the black and white wool and pinch it together at the center and sew it to the wool flower. Repeat for the center little circle.

• With a large eye needle and perle cotton, add a running stitch to the outer edges of the flower and the larger circle.

• Sew a pin back to the back of the flower.

• Or, tack it onto a braided bracelet.

Easy Peasy!

 

Stamped, Collaged & Watercolored : : Journal Tutorial

I recently enrolled in a super fun on-line class taught by Roben-Marie Smith. Her class is called Mixed Media Mayhem. You may have already heard about her class but in case you have not ... let me tell you ... it is GREAT! 

While I was waiting for some of the sprays and paints I ordered to arrive, I decided to dive in and watch the first few videos. Her technique is loose and uncomplicated ... don't think too much and just start. I love that! And the one thing that I found myself totally in awe with ... the movement and motion of her hands ... very inspiring!

 Here's a glimpse of what I've been working on since watching Roben-Marie's videos. This is not exactly what she is teaching in the on-line class, but this what I was inspired to make on my own. I'll post my work from her class at a later post.

Here's what I did:

• On a panel of watercolor paper, smudge and swirl a couple of colors of watercolor paint. Let dry.

• Using a rubber stamp (Stitches and Dots) and brown ink pad, stamp the image randomly on the panel.

• Dribble water onto the stamped image and move the ink around to smear. Dab with a paper towel to soak up the excess water.

• Add gesso with a paintbrush or your finger and randomly smear it over the stamped area.

• Using stencils, brown ink and a sponge, mark up the panel , then smear stencil image with water. 

• Add another layer of gesso and let the panel dry. (Use a heat gun to speed up the drying process)

• Using Letter stamps (Best Life Alphabet) and the brown ink, add letter and words to the panel and again, smear with dribbled water.

• Adhere an image from an old book page and a scrap of inked paper.

• Using a sewing needle and thread, stitch a running stitch through the panel.

• Continue to add more watercolors and gesso to the panel and sprites and splatter inks.

• Using a fine tip permanent marker, journal thoughts and words and then swipe it with another layer of gesso.

• Ink the sides of the panel and using your finger, smudge and smear the edges.

• Add small accents of bronze metallic acrylic paint.

After I have a bunch of these panels collaged and painted I'll be stitching them into an art journal ...

Stay Tuned!

Masking Tape & Art Journaling

As I continue my art journaling experiments, I have found that what's lacking in this whole process for me ... texture. I'm a texture and color kind of girl and as most of you know ... a minimalist I am not ... more is more!

After playing a bit with masking tape, painting, pleating and stitching it ... I think I found some really fun ways to manipulate it to add just that little bit of interest and focus to my journal pages. 

Just that little bit of texture ... so needed. 

So simple.

Feels so right to me.

 

As I continue to  cover the pages in my journal that I started a few months ago, I just pray that I will know when to stop. 

 

 I pray that I will  know when enough is enough. 

Ok, so ... it's not rocket science, but here's a glimps at what I did.

First I torn off strips of making tape in a couple of different widths, then I stuck them to the shiny side of freezer paper. Next I painted and dripped acrylic paints on the tape and set them aside to dry.

While the paint was drying on the tape, I started playing with a few of my new found favorite art supplies, Grumbracher Opaque watercolors and these fab wax oil pastels made by Caran d'Ache.

What's so fabulous about these wax pastels?  It's like coloring with butter, super saturated in color and they resist the watercolors! Oh the possibilities are endless!

Happy Art Journaling!

Mason Jar Desserts: : Tutorial

With Sunday Supper @ Six, comes fun desserts that I love to experiment and play with. Oh sure, sometimes it's just s'mores, the old fashion way, and then sometimes it's individual desserts in mason jars!

First I tried the S'mores in a jar that I read about here. Looks so yummy and so easy to make.

The next Sunday I made an ice cream sundae with a chocolate chip cookie baked into the bottom of the mason jar. These were a HUGE hit with all the kids.

Here's what I did:

Chocolate Chip Cookie Sundae:

First I cleaned out the mason jars that were recently used to hold votive candles for my mom's 80th party, then I sprayed them with Pam.

Mixed up a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough ...

Spooned the dough into the jars and then placed the jars into a 9 x 13 inch pan, then added about 1" of water to the bottom of the pan.

Popped them in the oven and watched them turn golden brown and oh the smell ... there is truly nothing better!

After the cookies had cooled a little, I scooped out some vanilla ice cream and then topped it off with chocolate syrup! I had whip cream and cherries on hand but as it ended up ... this was the perfect combo, just the way it is!

S'mores In a Jar:

I changed up the recipe I saw on the Lark site and decide to use a store bought cake mix instead.

First I gathered and cleaned up the mason jars.

Next I sprayed the jars with Pam to keep the cake from sticking too much.

Next I mixed crushed graham crackers and then mixed it with melted butter and a bit of salt and pressed it into the bottom of the jars.

Then I mixed up the cake mix according to the directions on the package and then spooned it into the mason jars.

Before I put them in the oven, I place about a cup of water in the bottom of a 9" x 13" pan, then placed the jars in the pan, then popped them into the oven. (Notice the huge pans of baked zitti on the stove top. There was only a few pieces left over that night!)

As soon as the jars of cake came out of the oven, I stuffed them with 3 large marshmallows, then put them under the broiler for less that 30 seconds, just to toast the tops of marshmallow! After the jars sat for a few minutes, the marshmallows started to melt and became  gooey, yummy jars of heaven! Ok so .. truth be told ... If I do the s'more ones again I will swap the chocolate cake mix out for brownies!

So ... as you can imagine, the sky is the limit!

Just think ...

• Individual rhubard and strawberry cobbler with ice cream
• Brownies-a-la-mode 
• Ranger cookie with vanilla ice cream, raspberry sauce then topped with whip cream and pecans. (I may have to save this one for my Bible study group!)

 

Chalkboard Paint Art Quilts Part 1 : : Tutorial

I was telling a friend the other day that I think I may have found my favorite medium to work in ... well at least for now that is ... chalkboard paint, canvas and sidewalk chalk ... oh and of course scraps of fabric! I am in love!!!!

It feels like art journaling, not that I'm a big art journal-er, but that's how I approached these quilts. I just started without much thought or plan. Doodling, outlining, random words, my kids poem, or just whatever came to mind.

There's great freedom in working with the chalk. If I don't like the way it is looking I just swipe the panel with a wet cloth and start all over. 

Before I did anything, I cut a bunch of  panels of canvas and then slapped on some chalkboard paint. I set them aside, actually for several month, until the time was just right for me to dive in and experiment.

Here's What I did:

First I cut a bunch of panels of canvas ranging in size from 11 x 11 inches to 7 x 10 inches. I used a rotary cutter and a green mat but it's really not necessary. Next I slathered a thick coat of chalkboard paint on the canvas and yes the canvas does shrink and buckle ... I kind of liked it! 

And then I just started doodling away. I used the white chalk to sort of sketch things in.

And then I added the color, filling in the white shapes.  

But of course I couldn't stop here ... next came the blending of my limited colors of chalk. It feels a bit like the painting classes I took as a young girl. I have great memories of how I thought it was magic, laying two different color paints down on a canvas and then blending them to create a wonderful new color. It is magic!

So at this point there was no stopping me and sometimes that can get me into trouble. I started writing random words and phrases and before I knew it, almost all the black was fill in, which was not supposed to happen, but oh well ... it did and like it!

Next step ... cut a panel of batting slightly larger than the canvas and free motion stitch the panels together. Free motion doodle stitch in the panel as well.

Embellish with scraps of fabric, old book text, beads and perle cotton.

Chalk over any spots that smudged while stitching.

To keep the chalk from smudging, just spray the piece with several light coats of hairspray.

Stay tuned ... more chalkboard paint art quilts to come!

 

Macrame Elevated : : Bracelet Tutorial

I remember as a kid making things with macrame all the time. It was what we did during the hot summer months. I always had a project going ... I was obsessed. I also remember using some really icky yarn, rope or string and pretty ugly wooden beads.

 I was just playing around here ... grabbed my hemp yarn, some clear glass beads and hand dyed some rayon ribbon, and sat down to try and elevate the art of macrame.

Quick, simple and yet so sweet.

You may remember here where I mentioned this little macrame trim I made and glued onto the outside of my journal.

Here's what I did ...

Without thinking too much, or planning out my knots and pattern, I just start by cutting long lengths of the hemp yarn. I read somewhere that the length of the yarn should be 10 times the finished desired length of the project. Since I was aiming to make a bracelet, I cut these pieces about 60 inches. The ribbon in the center was cut at about 15" long.

Next I knotted them together at the top and clamped them down on this clip board. Notice I have marked the board at the 3 1/2" point. This gives me a mid point for my bracelet so I know when to repeat the pattern if I want.

 

You'll notice that every once in a while there's a little glass bead threaded on the hemp. To keep the bead from slipping around on the hemp I place a knot before and after the mid point of the outer loops. Here are instruction on the basic macrame knots.

And here's a little trick to making this open macrame more secure. I mix Elmer's glue with water, about 1/3 water to 2/3 glue and then paint it onto the back of the bracelet. I do wipe it off the beads, then shape it a bit and let it air dry!

Sky is the limit here!

Happy Macrame!

The Party Is Today! : : Birthday Invitaion Tutorial

Tomorrow is my mother's 80th Birthday ... but today is her party ... at my house!  Yes, her name is Betty and she is a 4th of July baby! 

Here's a quick peek at what the invitations looked like.

And here's what I did:

First I printed out the word Celebrate onto card stock and then cut them out.

Next I cut strips of patterned star paper, then punched out a scalloped edge.

Then a slathered a few old book pages with gesso and then tore the book pages into little rectangles.

Cut red dot fabric into strips.

I created the party details and information on the computer and cut out the panel.

Then I assembled the invitations all at once, then went to the sewing machine and started stitching.

Gathered star brads ...

Insert the brads ... and stitch the information panel to the inside.

Oh ... and here's the response card.

And ... the name tags!

Here's a quick shot of the Birthday girl and some of my helpers after a long day of work!

More photo's to come ...