Freebie for Swag

Yesterday was the deadline to turn in 40-50 promotional items to the Craftacular team. All the items from members will be split into eco-friendly bags, and given away to the first 50 customers at each day of the show.

Lemme tell ya.... those bags, will be NICE. I kinda wish I could have one. Okay actually I REALLY wish I could have one.

Anyways, this is what I came up with, being that I don't really have an easily mass produced and cheap to make product. It's a magnet that I digitally designed, to show everyone that you "Give a HOOT!" about recycling. I tucked it into the front of a cheery yellow envelope, which has an info card inside about my blog and what I make.

I printed the envelopes with my blog name, then hand stamped this fun tree from the Friendly Forest (<3) collection on each one.










And I'm also giving away the graphic file for this sticker! You can print it out or display it on your website. Enjoy!

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jannypie hearts

A new round of things I have been loving online lately!

pleated purse - pattern

via my spare time along with other fantastic tutorials and crafts


comma shaped felt necklace

etsy artist shupg


thrift store plate mirrors - tutorial

from CraftyNest


cupcake planters - tutorial

a whimsylove creation


bird & branch silhouette sofa

Ami McKay on poppytalk


paper mache blue birds - tutorial

on ultimate paper mache


simple button up window shade - tutorial

from Woman'sDay.com


scrapbook paper wall mosaic

this dollar store crafts project would look great in a craft room


birch tree pleated purse

from a new favorite blog, Karlee Fuchs


bluebell the jackalope plush

by girlsavage on flickr


sterling silver swallow ring

a flickr frind from bbel-uk


layered flower clips - tutorial

the layering of different kinds of flowers creates a beautiful image, from a feathered nest

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My turn at being Green

Happy Earth Day all!

So, here is what I have been working on very hard for the past few weeks. Our Columbus Etsy street team challenged its members to find ways to make their crafts more eco-friendly.

At first I thought "Well shoot, I don't make anything green." But then after a bit I realized that there were things I already make that I could tweak just a bit, and be better to the Earth!


"Ryan Rhinovirus" cause of the common cold


Last fall I made up a lot of Scented Science guys- yummy aromatherapy felties. I thought they were funny (I still do); guys that look like diseases you'd normally get breathing them in, only they smell yummy and encourage you to sniff them.

Well, there ARE things I can do to make them eco-friendly.

1) I switched from polyester craft felt to wool felt or recycled felt from plastic bottles.

2) Stuffed them with rice, which is renewable, rather than plastic beads or poly fiber fill.

3) I replaced synthetic fragrance oils with plant based essential oils. It turns out, essential oils are more fantabulous than I ever knew, and have all kinds of natural healing and relaxation powers!


And THAT led me to researching more about actual aromatherapy, and mixing essential oils and all kinds of things. I'm really excited and interested in it all now :)


Scented eye pillow I made from Dollar Store supplies


And this is where I am now


My own 100% natural mixture


My own mixture of rice, flax seeds, tea leaves, and dried orange peel, and scented with a blend of lemon verbena, tea tree and cedarwood. It's heavenly. Most people who make these use either rice or flax. I decided to use a mix of both, because the flax seeds give a nice pressure on the skin but can produce natural oils that stain the fabric if there are too many, and the rice gives a perfect heaviness.


And now I have gone from almost 100% synthetic materials, to 100% natural!! I am so pleased, and it is a great example that small changes can really make a big impact. So, if YOU think there's no way to make your arts green, just give it a second thought and see what you can REALLY do.

Gooooo EARTH!

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Playing with Photoshop Actions

Photoshop makes pictures look pretty. ♥ I am always amazed at how different the same image can appear, and evoke such varied feelings.


Original photo, taken yesterday at Goodale Park in Columbus, Ohio. Magnolias are beautiful trees, and one of the oldest species of trees in existence.


With Feivel's Center of Interest Gothic Glow action


With Feivel's AlabasterPortrait action


With Kalifbane's Cross Coloring Medium action


With Pioneer Woman's Fresh & Colorful action


Gavinfree's Toned

These next three all started with the same action applied, which I layered back over the original photo and changed the layer settings. Three very different effects, even from the same action!


With Gavinfree's Softly action, layered back over the original photo with Overlay layer style


With Gavinfree's Softly action, layered back over the original photo with Lighten layer style


With Gavinfree's Softly action, layered back over the original photo with Multiply layer style


I think the Gavinfree Softly and Lighten is my favorite of the bunch, but they are all so pretty.

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April desktop background

Well, the month is half over (or is it half begun?) but here is your free April desktop background! Earth Day is next week!


Desktop size 800 x 600 pixels
Desktop size 1280 x 1024 pixels

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made today

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Here's a crafty tip:

Ever thought about buying a craft book, but weren't sure if you would like the projects inside? Try this cheat: go to Flickr and search the Groups, to see if the book has a following. Many craft and hobby books have organized groups for members to share their own creations from their ideas. You won't find the patterns or instructions, but you'll get a much better idea of the projects included!

Here's a list of 10 popular hobby books on Flickr to get you started!

1. Bend-The-Rules Sewing by Amy Karol

2. In Stitches: More Than 25 Simple and Stylish Sewing Projects by Amy Butler

3. Seams to Me: 24 New Reasons To Love Sewing by Anna Maria Horner

4. Doodle Stitching by Aimee Ray

5. Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects by Lotta Jansdotter and Meiko Arquillos

6. Sew What! Skirts: 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics by Francesca DenHartog

7. Stitch N' Bitch books by Debbie Stoller


8. Sew Darn Cute by Jenny Ryan


9. Bead Simple: Essential Techniques for Making Jewelry Just the Way You Want It by Susan Beal

10. Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects by Betz White


If you find a Flickr craft book group not listed, please leave a comment with the link!

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STFU! FREE Digital goodness

I discovered some new Photoshop tricks and just sort of stumbled upon this cute effect, so I put it together to share! The felt texture and appliqued edges are 100% created from scratch by moi. Fun!

I request personal use only, but include a generous public use allowance described in the Terms of Use, so be sure to read it!


CLICK HERE FOR GOODNESS!

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In progress

Mushrooms in progress

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Dollar Store craft swap

This was a fun activity- I signed up for my first craft swap on craftster.org. It is a Dollar Store theme, with a spending range of $6-12 and the items had to come from dollar stores specifically (not discount stores or dollar areas). We had to create two small items and one medium item, and ship them to a partner with whom we were matched.

The craftster swap system is excellent excellent. They are posted as formal swaps, with sign up periods, check-ins, and even a feedback system. For anyone who's ever gotten the empty mailbox end of an internet swap, you'll appreciate it. People who have gotten negative feedback for poor communication or flaking on sending their half aren't allowed to participate in the future. Good motivation for not dropping the ball. I will definitely be signing up for more in the future. Get more details on their swap forum.

The first small item I made was this little owlie. My partner has a wist list full of owl things! (hello, perfect!!)

She is made from a two baby dresses, a stuffed pillow, and a felt Spring banner. I tried out the decorative stitches on my new machine too, and gave her some scalloped feathers on her belly. It was fun! I love the effect. Takes up a lot of thread, though!

The second small is this scented rice eye pillow.



My partner's photo of it.

The fabric is the other side of the two baby dresses, with stitched on felt flowers. I scented the sachet my mixing rice with a packet of tea and a tiny drop of lavender essential oil from my own supplies. It smells woooonderful. I almost kept it for myself. But I figured I can always make more.

And my medium item was a purse!!


I made the outside and strap using several placemats with this pattern that I am head-over-heals for.



The inside is made from a soft, white, jersey t-shirt. Instead of a clasp (not available at dollar stores), I used the ribbon strap and metal ring from the baby dress (again!) and made a bow to tie it shut. (I should have taken "before" pics of all of my materials, darn)



The pattern is derived from several like designs on Etsy and other blogs, but with my own adjustments: I made it a bit larger, so that it can hold a long wallet or journal easily (I always carry a note pad for 'To Do' lists). The band along the top is wider, which makes snapping and unsnapping easier and balances the larger bottom. I've also changed around the pleats, the strap attachment, pocket, etc etc to suit myself.
Some other pleated purses I love on Etsy are here, here, and here and of course the buttercup purse.


And since I know you must be wondering, here are the items I received from my partner in the swap!




I had a great first experience, a very helpful partner and as I said, I would definitely participate in another swap hosted by craftster.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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