popsicle sticks

If you are ever at a craft store and see popsicle sticks on sale, buy them. Today, I found a bag of Popsicle sticks in a craft bin. I forgot I bought them last year. I have only ever really used them for waxing my eye brows. (Why do they only give you one stick in a container of wax? It makes no sense. Do you wash the stick? Hence an entire 2.99 bag of sticks.) A bunch of little girls and Thor were here, and I was pulling out craft bins, thinking about things I can make with little wooden sticks, besides a miniature Eiffel Tower.

First, I decided to make some Ojos de Dios, or Eyes of GOD! Apparently, they are a craft from the Huicol Tribe of Mexico. I just found that from the astounding powers of Google. They also symbolize the power of seeing and understanding unknown things. To me, they looked like they symbolize the four elements, and the four points on a compass, and they just looked cool, so I glued two popsicle sticks together, then started with an ombre yarn. Basically, you cross the yarn over two side (the 90 degree angle), then go under and over to the next 90 degree angle, then under and over to the next side, etc. etc. etc. It is very easy and they look cool, even if my photography is terrible. Bea made the one of the top left, then we made the red one together, then I made the rest for her and her friends, and then none of them wanted them. I liked the feathers, Bea added them for extra Eye of God mojo. Then she made those two feathered magic wands with yarn, popsicle sticks, glue, feathers and MAGIC!

This is what the back looks like, which looks cool too.

Then, Bea asked me to draw her some animals, and then cut them out, and as I was doing it, I was thinking that popsicle sticks would also become useful for the cut out animals. She colored them all.

We made puppets. The one of the right is named Beatrice. The cat is called Stripe. And the little boy stealing fruit is named Thor, not really, but for this exercise, he is named Thor.

She told me the story of Beatrice and Stripe, and I showed her another way to use her puppets--SHADOW PUPPETS! Flashlight and kids = Hours of Fun! We initially did this in the bathtub. It was awesome. The three of us fully clothed in the bathtub with a flashlight and popsicle stick people.

I think I have other stuff, but I cannot remember. I have been lax on my posting on this blog, so I just have to cut the crafts from all summer and start from here. This summer I have been studying a lot about crystals and metaphysics, so I'm not sure I am going to share that stuff on here, or the cool Magical Sabbatical I am on. 

dream catcher

Quite a long time ago now, I mentioned that we made a dream catcher for Beezus. I'm not the kind of person who ever owned a dream catcher. It's not that there is anything wrong with them, but there are certain Native American objects that new age people, I guess I include myself in that category, co-opted as part of their spirituality. Not that there is anything particularly wrong with that. I am a pluralist, and I believe that bringing in many spiritual practices is part of what makes American religion unique, and what works for our family. But I suppose the idea that people played at being Native American by hanging a dream catcher on a rearview mirror made me uncomfortable for a long time. Granted, I also lived in Arizona, which seems to be the place where dream catchers, turquoise, Kokopelli, and El Caminos go to die. And people come to dress up like cowboys and Indians. It is a strange place indeed.

At any rate, when Beezus began having nightmares and ending up in our bed a few months ago, I felt stumped on how to comfort her. Holding her all night was incredibly beautiful the first night. My baby still needs me. And I can give this to her. After that night, perhaps after a week, my numb arm, and bruised thighs needed a break. She needed a break. We both needed our sleep. I was plagued with nightmares and insomnia as a child. Being awake and afraid many nights is a terrible way to grow up. And I can only hold my children so long, they need to soothe themselves, and find their own path of turning their fears over to God, or the universe, or the angels, or the fairies, or whoever and whatever gives them comfort.

I did a little research for a ritual to help her manage her nightmares. I explain, which I always explain, how important sleep is to our health, how vital it is for our body to have its own space to rejuvenate. When I thought  about a dream catcher, I had to stop and wonder if this is reappropriating a Native ritual for something exploitative, but I came to a place of peace. This gift of the Lakota and Ojibwe people is this sacred object. We can use it to pretend we are Lakota, which we are not going to do, or we can use it for its intended purpose--to protect our sleeping children from nightmares. We treat it with deference as a sacred object.

The Ojibwe believed that the dreamcatchers filtered out the bad dreams, allowing only good dreams in through the hole, and slide down the feather into the child's dream. The bad dreams would evaporate in the light of the next day. Another way to see it is that the bad dreams drift up and through the hole, and the net keeps the good dreams around the child. Either way, it is supposed to allow only good dreams.

I made this object from simple instructions on the internet. There are a ton of places to find how-tos. I can't quite remember where I got the one I used. First thing we did was buy an embroidery hoop. Traditionally, dream catchers are made out of willow. The intention is for them to wither as the child grows and outgrows their need for a nightmare catcher. But I thought Beezus might like one that is pink. We also bought some pink, brown and white yarn for the web. The Chippewa think you should use red yarn. My photographs suck, I'm sorry.

To tie the yarn onto the hoop, and begin weaving.

You really need to cut a length of yarn, because you cannot weave your dream catcher with the ball. It is too big. So, first you tie, then you basically go under the hoop, over the top, and through the yarn hoop you just created. Leave some slack, but not too much. Try to leave an even amount of slack in each yarn hoop. Do this all the way around the hoop, when you get back to center, link to the first row.

Then you continue until you have gotten to the center. I used the last string to hang the feather, so it would have some weight. I haven't decided if that works or not.

We cut some other lengths of string to tie beads, and a feather on it. We told the story of the dream catcher to Beezus. We also made a dream pillow with lavender and rosemary.

Anyway, here is the final dream catcher. It hangs above her bed. Beatrice claims it helps her catch her bad dreams. Now, she just comes into bed in the middle of the night because she likes to be with everyone else, she says.

koi kite

We are having work done on the house this week, so I am trying to keep the kids occupied. The carpenter is lovely and very patient. Still, searching my bookmarks for crafts that might be fun. This morning we went to the aquarium to watch the hippos and sharks be fed, then we came home. One hour killed.

This craft I archived a while ago, and thought it might be perfect with these little squares of tissue paper I bought a few months ago. I kind of remember mentioning it, but can't find the post.

We use quite a bit of tissue paper, but when you buy larger sheets, then you are stuck to the colors, and cutting and all that crappizzle. So, I saw this at Lakeshore Learning Store, and on a whim I bought it.

It is awesome. When the kids are in my hair, I give them cardstock and glue and they go to town. This project, though, calls for half circle cut tissue paper. Yeah, I didn't cut these, I used them as it. This project is called Koi Nobori Kite, or Japanese Carp Kite. It was super easy, fun, and looks very cool. You start with construction paper. The craft directions are 11"x17", but we used a normal size paper. I think it turned out cool. Beatrice wanted an orange fish and Thomas wanted a blue one. I poured some glue onto a paper plate, and they painted on glue. You layer tissue paper like scales.

Bea didn't want to layer like bricks, so hers are all over the place. It still looks rocking cool. Then we cut a piece of black construction paper to make a head. (Scales on the body) And she cut two circle eyes. We glued all of that on.  

Now the streamers. We grabbed some spare crepe paper from the basement and cut long pieces, flipped the paper around and Beatrice glued them on the bottom of the paper.

We then stapled the fish into a circle and attached a string like a kite.

And Ta-da!

We hung it in our new playroom. (So long, guests. You are SOL! We have a need to play!)

Yarn-wrapped vases

"So I totally saw this on Pinterest and had to make them."  Yes, it's become my catch phrase.  But I totally did see them on Pinterest and I totally did have to make them.  So easy and really this doesn't need much of a tutorial.  You will need to gather these supplies...yarn, tacky glue or any glue, really, that dries clear, mod podge, fine, you get it...empty, clean jars, cans, whathaveyou.  Paintbrush and something to put the glue into.  Scissors.  Put something down to work on so you don't get glue on EVERYTHING YOU OWN!  Or you could have fugly formica like me and not give a crap.

Start painting the glue onto the jar or can.  If you are using a jar or bottle with a lid, and want to use the lid (maybe you are going to use this yarn-covered jar for storing herbs or buttons or whatever), do not put yarn on the threaded neck of the jar.  And you will want to paint the lid to compliment the color of your yarn.

I didn't even take the labels off.  Deal with that.  I knew I wanted to use these for vases so I put glue on the threaded part.  Now start wrapping your yarn around the jar.  Keep your beginning yarn end down and start wrapping it under the yarn wrap. I did this in sections so my hands didn't get all glue-y, except they still do.  Wrap the yarn so you can't see any of the jar.

Keep doing this until you get to the bottom and add a little glue to the end of your yarn.  Then you will become obsessed with doing this and make many, many yarn-wrapped jars.  I put flowers in it, then I put a candle in the other, then I put them downstairs and then upstairs.  And now I am making more.

"Someday, I'll be a button flower."

creating stickers/transparent images

Well, this weekend, after doing the canvas image transfer, I was reminded how much fun, how easy, and how cool it is to make transparent stickers from magazine pictures. It is not exactly the same process, but it has some similar elements. Also, you need very little in the way of supplies or art equipment.

Once you have the transparent image, you can then transform them into stickers or use them in mixed media work. I wanted to show you how I created a meditation piece for my art studio out of one  issue of Tricycle.

First, find a cool image to transfer, from a magazine or newspaper. This process only really works well with magazines/newspaper print. Inkjet printers are water soluble and you are going to be submerging this in water. You are basically transferring the ink to a piece of plastic, so you need to have a kind of substance behind the ink. I wanted to do a meditation piece for my studio, because I often do tonglen meditation and paint. But like all meditation, my mind wanders, and I think about groceries or people I love. So, I wanted to hang something front and center to remind me to focus.

I used this issue:

I ripped out pages with images that interested me. I like how this x-ray of the Buddha looks exactly like that small Buddha on another story. I cut and used both of those. I also dug the picture of Darwin.

First you cut out the image that you want to use.

Next use some packing tape. The transparent type. You pull out enough to cover your image.

Put your image face down onto your tape. You can use a burnishing tool, or anything really, so get it all up in the sticky of the tape.

After I did this, I decided I just wanted the Buddha head, so I cut the rest of it out.

Then you submerge the entire thing in water. Just dunk it in there. Swoosh it around. Obviously, bigger pictures need bigger vessels. Or patience.

You can keep it submerged for a few minutes. Then you rub the paper off the back.

Or peel, if the paper is willing.

And then, you have a transparent picture.

You can add glue on the back to stick it anywhere.

I also used that x-ray Buddha picture. For this one, I used two pieces of tape, because I wanted to split the image in two.  To do that, it take lining up the tape, so they don't touch. I could have also made one large transfer by overlapping the tape. This is before the water submersion.

This is after. I put it on paper towel, so you can see the transparency. I like how the dark ink areas get a little worn away. It gives it a really cool effect of antiquing or something.

Here is the final meditation piece I created. I used canvas paper. The base layer is a red/purple/white acrylic combination. Broad strokes. I did want the piece to be vertical. Then I used gold acrylic on a brayer, or an ink roller for print making. Just a few dabs directly on the brayer and then on the canvas. In the same issue, I found a shot of six Japanese calligraphy brushes made out of human hair. I made a transfer on that too. I then found a headline that read "focusing". I just cut out the focus. I used the x-ray Buddha head to head, but it makes it look like one of those optical illusions. Is it a woman, or two vases? I just don't know. After the brayer, I covered the canvas in gel medium, and just fiddled with the placement of these pieces. I love the way it turned out. Art makes me happy.

Oh, and I also made a transfer of the Darwin, because I just thought I could use a Darwin sticker some day.

I just have to say, I love the way these look when you are using animals. I really thought about making Valentine's cards with these and wild animal pictures that said, "I'm Wild about You." Just an idea. Go ahead. Steal it. Hope this helps. I would love to see what you do with this technique.

canvas transfer.

Ssssssh, this is a gift for my husband for Valentine's Day. We don't usually exchange gifts, but I wanted to try this project. He never reads my blogs, so don't worry.

I used this tutorial from Elsie Larson.

I really wanted to do this with a wedding picture of ours. It seemed antique enough to match up with this technique. So, first you print a picture onto photo paper. I think you need an inkjet printer. Not totally sure on that, but I have one, so that is cool. I printed this one, which is one I love, but got overexposed in the corner, so I can't use it very much.

I printed this on 8.5" x 11" photo paper, then trimmed it to 8" x 10" I bought a simple, cheap canvas at Michael's. I think it cost me $5.99.

I used this Utrecht acrylic--matte gel. I had bought some a long time ago, and really have never used it. You cover the canvas in this. Make it a rather thick coat. then press the picture into it, lining it up. Now, remember that your image will be reversed. There is a feature on many basic photo programs that allows you to mirror flip your image. I think you can do this in MS Paint. So, if you want to do it the proper way, you can. I didn't care.

You allow this to dry to several hours. I did overnight. Then you get a spray bottle of water, and spray the back. Now, I have done a similar technique for art journaling to make stickers. (Hey, should I do a sticker tutorial? Does everyone know how to make stickers?) I am just warning you that this part is very time consuming, messy, and tedious. But I like the results. This is what it looks like when you first start rubbing and start seeing your image.

Now, remember that the rubbing is a kind of rough process, and yet, you don't want to rub too hard, because you will rub off your picture. So, find a kind of middle road of rubbing. (Oh, geez, like you know what that is.) You'll see what I mean. Unlike me, start at a corner that can bear to be rubbed to the canvas. Once you see the picture without a film, stop and move to another area. I rubbed some parts of my photo off, but it actually makes it look very antiqued.

And the finished product:

Hanging on a wall.

Which looks exactly like the one on the desk. Awesome. I forgot to mention that you should put a layer of gel medium on top of the picture after you are done rubbing to protect. That is all.

crayon valentine's cards

We received a note in the pre-K folder last week that said we could start sending valentines on Monday, and that there needed to be either one for everyone or none. Which makes sense. Nothing stings more than being Pig Pen with one valentine, or worse, Charlie Brown with none. This being my first year as a mother of a child in school, I was scrambling. Do I make? Do I buy? What the hell?

I checked out Pinterest and saw a lot of tutorials for homemade valentines. I preferred doing that, but also didn't want it to be insanely hard. Beezus and I looked through a lot of ideas together. She did wonder why so many people post pictures of boys on Pinterest. Yuck. Boys.

We do like to riff on other people's ideas and create our own thing. So, go ahead. Open up your Valentine!

Shoot, kraft paper came with the sticker. Sorry about that.

Yes, that is a circle crayon. (I couldn't find heart-shaped silicone pans. DAG! I am too impatient to wait for Amazon on this one.)

ANYWAY, this valentine was so super easy to make, and really a lot of fun to do with Beezus. This morning, we made swirly circular crayons. The tutorial for that is right here. Those take half an hour at the most. And that time is mostly removing paper from crayons.

Basically, you need the crayons you are attaching. And this:

I found those felt heart stickers at Michaels in the sales section for 15% off, or something. I thought it would be a good sealer for our valentine. So, I cut cardstock Kraft paper into 4" x 6" rectangles. I created a very simple document that read "color the world with love. happy valentine's day. love," and printed it on construction paper. I used red, but I think it would have looked great with black ink. I liked the organic and faded feel of the construction paper. It looked earthier, if that is possible, than the bright cardstock I had. I did have to trim the construction paper before loading my printer. I printed four copies for each sheet. I then cut them to 3" x 5". We then glued the paper to the kraft paper with glue stick. Now, we just dotted each corner, which was important for attaching the crayon.  Then, we attached a foam sticker to attach the crayon. The crayon bottom was a little concave, so that is why only gluing the four corners was helpful. We could press the paper up into the crayon. Then pretty much we were done. Bea signed her name on each of them. I did half and Beezus did the other half. So this is definitely a craft that you can prep and then have kiddos help. I cut everything while Beezus was at school, and we put them together when she got home. As you can see, she inherited my sense of balance.

 We created a lot of different color combinations. Purple/pink/peach, orange/red/yellow, green/blue/teal, magenta/purple/pink. And in the same way, we used different color construction paper and matched them up with the crayons as best we could.

I thought I would do a close up of the different color combinations.

Then we sealed them up with a kiss and sent them to school.

Button, button, who's got the button?

I have been struggling to start this introduction, because I am just so dang excited. So, as most of you probably know, I have an identical twin sister named Sweetie Pumpkin Kitty, SPK, otherwise known as KellyAnn. You may have seen her comments around town. I am blessed to share my life with someone who loves crafting, art, sewing, and finding funky shizzle as much as me. We have literally been hitting thrift stores together since we were walking. (Thanks, Mama!) We are always collaborating, talking craft, getting together to do stuff, and bouncing ideas off each other. Interestingly, she and I have very different styles that intersect beautifully. We like much of the same stuff, but have totally different aesthetics. For example, we noticed that in her house, she has a lot of curved furniture and items, and everything in my house is straight lines and boxy. Hmmm...genetics are cool. ANYWAY, since I started this blog, I have been trying to convince her to share her cool crafts on here. So, today, I am so excited, because my sister finally finally agreed to share something on this blog. I'm hoping she will do this more regularly, but for now, I'm just excited about this one. Please give her lots of love and a very warm welcome.

Hey Y'all...Ang told me I should guest blog and do a tutorial for my infamous button flowers that I totally ripped off from Pinterest, which let's face it, is the whole reason Pinterest exists for me...inspiration and blatant thievery.  So I love love love flowers.  Let me just put that out there.  Except that most everyone in my family is allergy-ridden.  I buy flowers every week from Trader Joe's and 7 times out of 10, someone is allergic.  Sigh.  What's a flower-loving hippie to do?  Well, I say break out those buttons and let's get to it.

Yeah, that is what it looks like now, but how did it get that way?  Okay let's start with the very easy button/paper flower...find some interesting paper.  I used some old collage paper I had.  I was trying to do a black and white theme, but there is no reason not to use whatever appeals to you.  I cut all my flowers into four petals, but I think it would look great as a circle or pointy petals, really this ain't science.  Whatever works for you.  I cut a piece of floral wire about 6 inches long.  It's kinda pointy so I just stuck it right through that paper.  Kinda angry like.  It was freeing.

Now, Audrey, my daughter and Angie's spirit animal, and I picked some buttons in white and some in black and stacked them.  I tried to use interesting buttons that looked good together.  But one cute button will work as well.

Then you bend the floral wire and poke that sucker through the other hole of the buttons and through the paper flower.  

Now that the wire is through everything, twist it tightly around the longer piece of wire.

Now here is where I decided to go a little different.  By all means you can be done with your flower at this point, but I bought these really cute floral stems at the craft store.  They were all wrapped in a pretty green paper, and they were really sturdy.   So at this point I got the floral stem and made a loop.

Then I twisted the floral wire around the loop so the flower was secure and standing up on the floral stem.  As far as the fabric covered vase goes, Audrey and I found an old, empty Pringles can sitting around so we washed it out.  We found some pretty black and white fabric to go with our flowers.  We measured the can and added a half inch to top and bottom to fold it under so we wouldn't have fraying.

Then I applied some Mod Podge around the can, and wrapped it with the fabric.  Then I added some hemp rickrack with fabric glue because I love me some rickrack.  Small, large, pink, hemp.  It doesn't matter.  If I can add rickrack to something, I generally do.

And done...pretty button flowers for all those sneezers out there.  Unless you are allergic to adorable!!!!  Thanks, Angie for letting me share!  And thanks to Cooper Satterfield for taking pictures for me!

"Someday, I'll be a real flower."