This is what I made:
Had I known that we would have taken the full two weeks' leave, I would have mailed it. Oh well, we'll just hand deliver it when we return. At least I am getting it shared sooner rather than (six months) later...
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Thank You Heart
I mentioned in my last post that Shaun's father has recently passed away. We've been off work the past couple weeks on bereavement leave, but our bosses at work (we work at the same place) sent us flowers on the second day we were gone, so of course I wanted to make a Thank You card for their kindness.
This is what I made:
This was a card that was available in the "Make it Now" projects from Cricut called "Thank you from the many colors of my heart". (I believe it is user submitted because I could not find a link to the image, but here is the card on Pinterest.) I changed it somewhat but it has the same feel. And you can't see it, but the heart does have texture.
Had I known that we would have taken the full two weeks' leave, I would have mailed it. Oh well, we'll just hand deliver it when we return. At least I am getting it shared sooner rather than (six months) later...
This is what I made:
Had I known that we would have taken the full two weeks' leave, I would have mailed it. Oh well, we'll just hand deliver it when we return. At least I am getting it shared sooner rather than (six months) later...
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Beers to You, Dad
Considering Shaun's Father just passed away on July 13, this post is bittersweet to share. But I did say I would be sharing a lot of different things, working backwards and somewhat randomly. What better place to start than with something that was made for someone we've both been thinking about?
This is the Father's Day card I made for Shaun's dad this year. Unlike in previous years (where we weren't sure if he did or didn't get it), this year we know he got it because he called us when he did and thanked us for it. So at least he got to enjoy at least one of my creations we've sent...
This card is a Cricut image that was available. I made some changes to it, to make it look more like Paul's favorite beer, Pabst Blue Ribbon. (For Comparison, here is what the original card looks like.) Since I couldn't make it exact (obviously), I made what changes I could. And the card is can-shaped, which is perfect.
Here's the inside of the card:
And the card next to the inspiration source:
Overall, I am really pleased with it and Shaun loved it. And Paul seemed to have liked it, so that makes me happy.
This is the Father's Day card I made for Shaun's dad this year. Unlike in previous years (where we weren't sure if he did or didn't get it), this year we know he got it because he called us when he did and thanked us for it. So at least he got to enjoy at least one of my creations we've sent...
Here's the inside of the card:
And the card next to the inspiration source:
Overall, I am really pleased with it and Shaun loved it. And Paul seemed to have liked it, so that makes me happy.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Sewing Desk Makeover (A tutorial, too!)
My Goodness, I have been a bad little crafty girl. I have been making things, but not sharing them here. Naughty, Naughty! I would like to be better at that but it's hard because I often get sucked into the internet and do not do what I even came to do. I'll probably start sharing things, working backwards or somewhat randomly. But for now, I really wanted to share my most recent project, and my first real DIY....
My Lovely New Desk:
Isn't she pretty?! She certainly is now, but definitely didn't look like this when I got it.
Before:
Pretty beat up, right? The desk was missing some hardware (one drawer pull, as you can see), was missing some of the trim, and was pretty scratched up. But I saw potential. And for $10, I was willing to try.
When I went to Goodwill a few weeks ago, I wasn't even looking (much) for furniture--I was actually there to drop off clothes we had sitting around--but I figured I may as well look to see if there were any good deals on any storage items I could use. I saw this and thought: "That would make a good sewing desk." So I brought it home (which was an ADVENTURE in itself, let me tell ya), and pondered the possibilities and what I wanted to do with it.
I knew I wanted it Pink, but my friend Samantha suggested Black drawers, and I thought that sounded interesting but couldn't picture it. So I drew a general desk shape and colored it on my computer and tested a few ideas, and decided that the black drawers WOULD be nice. I originally drew it with black hardware on the bottom drawers (I had already bought the pink knobs for the top so had included them in drawings), but Shaun asked about white. So I changed the design and it looked nice. So I guess you could say that even though I did all the work, this project was a collaboration. :)
Here is the process, if you were curious or wanted to do something similar.
Step 1: I Removed the Hardware. (Not Pictured, but it is as easy as taking a screwdriver and unscrewing it.) I also removed the trim from the inside since it was missing it on one side. I contemplated getting something like some molding medallions to replace it/even out the space, but after I took off the other trim, I decided it didn't really NEED it, so let it be.
Step 2: I Gave it a sanding. How much you need to sand it depends on a few factors such as how beat up it is, what you're going to be doing with it (paint/stain, etc). I sanded the surface scratches away, and decided that some of the gouges gave it charm so didn't worry about those other than to sand the sharp edges. (If your piece has gouges and it bothers you, you can always use wood putty before sanding to fill it. I chose not to take extra steps.) And the spray paint I used was Paint + Primer in one (I used Krylon's ColorMaster), so I didn't need to prime--so I only sanded enough to smooth surface scratches and to remove the shiny varnish top layer.
Step 3: Next, I painted the Drawers.
Step 4: Now it's time to paint the desk! Once you have drop cloth/painting station set up, don a mask--highly recommended-it's one thing to paint small drawers without one where you can escape the fumes a few minutes later, but not a whole piece of furniture. Now, shake that paint like a Polaroid Picture and follow directions on the can to paint your piece. This part look a long time over a couple days.
Step 5: Relax on the couch after a hard day's painting. You earned it.
[Hubby wanted a picture because he thought I looked cute, but hey, now that my lounging is a documented step, may as well include it. ;)]
Step 6: I cleaned and pained my hardware. Originally, I wanted to replace ALL the hardware and make it more modern, but I could not find hardware that fit the mount screw holes since this desk used non-standard mount distance of 2.5" and standard is 3"--which I learned from spending way too much time looking in Home Depot and online and only coming up with 3"--and since I didn't want to have to extra steps of wood putty, etc., AND I had already painted my drawers, I said "FIIINE, I'll use the existing..." But not without cleaning it first. It was NASTY.
To clean it, I soaked it in Apple Cider Vinegar (but white vinegar would work too, I just didn't have any on hand) for a couple hours and then took an old toothbrush to it to scrub off the remaining tarnish/dirt. This picture shows before-ish (but still after soaking) and after cleaning. That alone made a huge difference, but it still needed a face-lift. Enter white spray paint.
Step 7: Replace Hardware and put drawers back, and TADA! New Desk is complete.
Before and After:
What a huge difference! It's not perfect (but you have to look for the imperfections), but I am really pleased with the result-a great new sewing desk for me. For my VERY First DIY like this, I am very proud of myself and the result. Now... to rearrange things so I have a place to put said desk...
And just in case you were wondering, this does NOT have to be too expensive. Here's a break down of what I spent, not counting sand paper since that can be used for other projects:
-6 cans of Pink Spray Paint: $27.44 (One can was bought at Michaels a week or so before the project, $5.99 after 40% off coupon, all the rest were bought from Fred Meyer for $4.29 each.)
-1 can Black spray paint: $3.99 (On sale at Fred Meyer, normally $4.29)
-1 can White spray paint: $3.99 (On sale at Fred Meyer, normally $4.29)
-3 Pink "Crystal" knobs on top drawers: $1.50 (on clearance at Michaels for $0.50/each--this actually worked out well because I had seen them for several months at $1.50 each and never bought them because I didn't have a use for them, but the day I was there, they had EXACTLY 3 left. FATE!)
-Desk itself: $10
Total Project Cost: $46.92 Not bad for a total revamp and for something that I love and suits me well!
Hopefully you're feeling inspired! I'd love to hear if you're taking on any DIY projects, too. Thanks for stopping by!
My Lovely New Desk:
Isn't she pretty?! She certainly is now, but definitely didn't look like this when I got it.
Before:
When I went to Goodwill a few weeks ago, I wasn't even looking (much) for furniture--I was actually there to drop off clothes we had sitting around--but I figured I may as well look to see if there were any good deals on any storage items I could use. I saw this and thought: "That would make a good sewing desk." So I brought it home (which was an ADVENTURE in itself, let me tell ya), and pondered the possibilities and what I wanted to do with it.
I knew I wanted it Pink, but my friend Samantha suggested Black drawers, and I thought that sounded interesting but couldn't picture it. So I drew a general desk shape and colored it on my computer and tested a few ideas, and decided that the black drawers WOULD be nice. I originally drew it with black hardware on the bottom drawers (I had already bought the pink knobs for the top so had included them in drawings), but Shaun asked about white. So I changed the design and it looked nice. So I guess you could say that even though I did all the work, this project was a collaboration. :)
Here is the process, if you were curious or wanted to do something similar.
Step 1: I Removed the Hardware. (Not Pictured, but it is as easy as taking a screwdriver and unscrewing it.) I also removed the trim from the inside since it was missing it on one side. I contemplated getting something like some molding medallions to replace it/even out the space, but after I took off the other trim, I decided it didn't really NEED it, so let it be.
Step 2: I Gave it a sanding. How much you need to sand it depends on a few factors such as how beat up it is, what you're going to be doing with it (paint/stain, etc). I sanded the surface scratches away, and decided that some of the gouges gave it charm so didn't worry about those other than to sand the sharp edges. (If your piece has gouges and it bothers you, you can always use wood putty before sanding to fill it. I chose not to take extra steps.) And the spray paint I used was Paint + Primer in one (I used Krylon's ColorMaster), so I didn't need to prime--so I only sanded enough to smooth surface scratches and to remove the shiny varnish top layer.
Step 3: Next, I painted the Drawers.
Step 5: Relax on the couch after a hard day's painting. You earned it.
Step 6: I cleaned and pained my hardware. Originally, I wanted to replace ALL the hardware and make it more modern, but I could not find hardware that fit the mount screw holes since this desk used non-standard mount distance of 2.5" and standard is 3"--which I learned from spending way too much time looking in Home Depot and online and only coming up with 3"--and since I didn't want to have to extra steps of wood putty, etc., AND I had already painted my drawers, I said "FIIINE, I'll use the existing..." But not without cleaning it first. It was NASTY.
Step 7: Replace Hardware and put drawers back, and TADA! New Desk is complete.
Before and After:
What a huge difference! It's not perfect (but you have to look for the imperfections), but I am really pleased with the result-a great new sewing desk for me. For my VERY First DIY like this, I am very proud of myself and the result. Now... to rearrange things so I have a place to put said desk...
And just in case you were wondering, this does NOT have to be too expensive. Here's a break down of what I spent, not counting sand paper since that can be used for other projects:
-6 cans of Pink Spray Paint: $27.44 (One can was bought at Michaels a week or so before the project, $5.99 after 40% off coupon, all the rest were bought from Fred Meyer for $4.29 each.)
-1 can Black spray paint: $3.99 (On sale at Fred Meyer, normally $4.29)
-1 can White spray paint: $3.99 (On sale at Fred Meyer, normally $4.29)
-3 Pink "Crystal" knobs on top drawers: $1.50 (on clearance at Michaels for $0.50/each--this actually worked out well because I had seen them for several months at $1.50 each and never bought them because I didn't have a use for them, but the day I was there, they had EXACTLY 3 left. FATE!)
-Desk itself: $10
Total Project Cost: $46.92 Not bad for a total revamp and for something that I love and suits me well!
Hopefully you're feeling inspired! I'd love to hear if you're taking on any DIY projects, too. Thanks for stopping by!
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Some BLUE-tiful Shoes! (Glitter shoes tutorial.)
I have been really slacking on sharing projects I have made lately (which maybe I will get caught up again soon), but this one has me so excited I just could NOT wait to show it off.
Guess what I made?
That's right! Glitter shoes! I am in love...
Here are the before:
Some really old, used-to-be cute shoes that are now really scuffed and...well, let's face it...ugly! Which made them the PERFECT specimen to experiment on the first time.
Would you like to make a pair of glitter shoes for yourself? Lucky for you, I took pictures of my process. Here's How:
You will need:
-Shoes of your choice
-Glitter of your choice (superfine seems to work best, but you could probably use other.)
-Glue (I used a Micheals-brand Mod Podge type glue.)
-Paintbrush
-Embellishments (optional)
-Hot Glue (if you use embellishments)
-Sealer (I use a spray paint Acrylic sealer. I believe it's called Crystal Clear, but any brand will work as long as it's clear.)
(Click on pictures for larger images.)
Step 1 (Not Shown): Give your shoes a good scrub down. I took a wash cloth and hot water and washed all the dirt and gunk off.
Step 2: Remove any existing embellishments if your shoes have them. I used a craft knife to cut off the bow.
Step 3:Put something inside the shoe to protect it from getting sticky or glittery. I used plastic grocery bags, but really, anything lying around would work. You may want to tape off the bottoms of the shoes or parts you don't want to be glittered, but for this pair, I didn't bother since the soles are so small anyway.
Step 4: Use the paintbrush to coat the shoe in glue. I learned after the first one, it's better to do it in sections so you still have somewhere to hold on the shoe.
Step 5: GLITTER!!! Generously apply glitter all over the glued section, and shake/tap off the excess. (Put the excess back in the container when ready.)
Step 6 (Not Shown): If you choose to use some, Secure your embellishments into place where you'd like. I used hot glue because I just had a few small things, but you may need to use other adhesive, depending on your embellishments.
Step 7 (Not Shown): Spray your sealer on your shoes according to directions, and wait for them to dry/set. (Mine took 2 hours.)
And.... Voila:
These pictures don't even do them justice. They are seriously sparkly and just beautiful!
I love that I took some old, dead shoes and not only breathed new life into them, but that they have been reincarnated to be BETTER than before. I can't wait to wear them. I could hardly tear myself away from them to come post this!
Guess what I made?
Here are the before:
Some really old, used-to-be cute shoes that are now really scuffed and...well, let's face it...ugly! Which made them the PERFECT specimen to experiment on the first time.
Would you like to make a pair of glitter shoes for yourself? Lucky for you, I took pictures of my process. Here's How:
You will need:
-Shoes of your choice
-Glitter of your choice (superfine seems to work best, but you could probably use other.)
-Glue (I used a Micheals-brand Mod Podge type glue.)
-Paintbrush
-Embellishments (optional)
-Hot Glue (if you use embellishments)
-Sealer (I use a spray paint Acrylic sealer. I believe it's called Crystal Clear, but any brand will work as long as it's clear.)
(Click on pictures for larger images.)
Step 1 (Not Shown): Give your shoes a good scrub down. I took a wash cloth and hot water and washed all the dirt and gunk off.
Step 2: Remove any existing embellishments if your shoes have them. I used a craft knife to cut off the bow.
Step 3:Put something inside the shoe to protect it from getting sticky or glittery. I used plastic grocery bags, but really, anything lying around would work. You may want to tape off the bottoms of the shoes or parts you don't want to be glittered, but for this pair, I didn't bother since the soles are so small anyway.
Step 4: Use the paintbrush to coat the shoe in glue. I learned after the first one, it's better to do it in sections so you still have somewhere to hold on the shoe.
Step 5: GLITTER!!! Generously apply glitter all over the glued section, and shake/tap off the excess. (Put the excess back in the container when ready.)
Step 6 (Not Shown): If you choose to use some, Secure your embellishments into place where you'd like. I used hot glue because I just had a few small things, but you may need to use other adhesive, depending on your embellishments.
Step 7 (Not Shown): Spray your sealer on your shoes according to directions, and wait for them to dry/set. (Mine took 2 hours.)
And.... Voila:
These pictures don't even do them justice. They are seriously sparkly and just beautiful!
I love that I took some old, dead shoes and not only breathed new life into them, but that they have been reincarnated to be BETTER than before. I can't wait to wear them. I could hardly tear myself away from them to come post this!
Sunday, February 14, 2016
A Squirrellytines Day Card
Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you are enjoying the day and sharing the love, and of course getting prepared for my favorite day in February: Half-Priced Chocolate Day! (TM)
Here's the card I made for my Very Special Somepony this year:
I recently found some woodland themed stamps with cutesy love sayings associated with them and I just HAD to have them. And of course, I had to use at least one right away. I think it's a super cute card!
Here's the card I made for my Very Special Somepony this year:
Saturday, February 6, 2016
(How to Make) Yarn Wrapped Valentine's Wreath
It's almost Valentine's Day! You know what that means?! An excuse to put hearts everywhere (not that that I needed one) and a chance to make some fun crafts!
For me, that fun craft was a wreath. I decided a while ago that I wanted to make a Valentine's wreath, but did not know what. I am very into wreaths lately all of a sudden-which is actually pretty random because I never use to care either way for them before. (And I still need to share both my Halloween Wreath and my [second] Holiday Wreath from last year.)
After trying for a while, and failing, to find a heart-shaped wreath form for the project, I finally decided that I would just go ahead and make a round one. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so bought some hearts and flowers stuff, and decided I really liked the idea of a yarn wrapped wreath, so that's what I went with. I made this in about 2-3 hours a couple weeks ago.
I am really pleased with how this turned out. I just love how it's so simple, but at the same time, so charmingly perfect. We joked that it looks like a little life preserver, and Shaun called it a "LOVE Preserver". So now that is its official name in our house.
If you would like to make one, too, here's how I did it. I am sure most of it is self-explanatory, but just in case:
1. Gather up your supplies.
You'll need:
-A Styrofoam wreath form (I found this small one at the dollar store back when I made this wreath, and just grabbed a few-it's about 9 inches across)
-Yarn in color(s) of your choice
-Things to decorate the wreath if you choose (not pictured)
-Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue
2. Decide on a pattern for your yarn.
You don't have to mark on the Styrofoam like I did, but I did find that it helped me keep it (mostly) even sectioned and to make it easier to remember what I was working on. I actually made the yarn balls because one of my colors was tangled and after I got it sorted out, I made this size ball, and it turned out to be just about perfect for my project, but this is not necessary if you don't want to-you can just cut long lengths of yarn to work with at a time.
3. Hot Glue the edge of the yarn to the back of the wreath, and then wrap the yarn around the section for that color. Make sure to keep the yarn tautly wrapped around the wreath so it stays in place. Remember to hot glue the end down once you get to the end of that section.
4. Do this a few hundred (or thousand?) times... Seriously, it looks nice, but does take a while. Your wreath will start to look like this:
5. And then this...Yay, you're getting so close! You could even stop here if you like just the yarn-wrapped look.
6. Hot Glue any decorations you'd like to use onto the wreath where you like. (No Pictures for this step.) For mine, I used hearts that came in a roses stem that I found at the dollar store-one from each of my red and pink-and for the leaves and the curly-cues, I took off of some of my Christmas floral picks. (The nice thing about those types of things, they weren't specifically Christmas related so YOU can decide what you do with them.)
And.... Voila! You have an adorable yarn wrapped wreath to enjoy!
Mine is currently on my cubicle wall at work so it can bring me joy and be showed off. It does its job well, and everyone who walks by has told me it is really cute or that it turned out well. So I am pleased.
Here it is on our wall with a cute sign I got from Michaels about a year ago:
What Valentine's Crafts are you working on? (Or probably have finished by now...)
For me, that fun craft was a wreath. I decided a while ago that I wanted to make a Valentine's wreath, but did not know what. I am very into wreaths lately all of a sudden-which is actually pretty random because I never use to care either way for them before. (And I still need to share both my Halloween Wreath and my [second] Holiday Wreath from last year.)
After trying for a while, and failing, to find a heart-shaped wreath form for the project, I finally decided that I would just go ahead and make a round one. I wasn't sure what I wanted to do, so bought some hearts and flowers stuff, and decided I really liked the idea of a yarn wrapped wreath, so that's what I went with. I made this in about 2-3 hours a couple weeks ago.
I am really pleased with how this turned out. I just love how it's so simple, but at the same time, so charmingly perfect. We joked that it looks like a little life preserver, and Shaun called it a "LOVE Preserver". So now that is its official name in our house.
If you would like to make one, too, here's how I did it. I am sure most of it is self-explanatory, but just in case:
1. Gather up your supplies.
-A Styrofoam wreath form (I found this small one at the dollar store back when I made this wreath, and just grabbed a few-it's about 9 inches across)
-Yarn in color(s) of your choice
-Things to decorate the wreath if you choose (not pictured)
-Hot Glue Gun and Hot Glue
2. Decide on a pattern for your yarn.
You don't have to mark on the Styrofoam like I did, but I did find that it helped me keep it (mostly) even sectioned and to make it easier to remember what I was working on. I actually made the yarn balls because one of my colors was tangled and after I got it sorted out, I made this size ball, and it turned out to be just about perfect for my project, but this is not necessary if you don't want to-you can just cut long lengths of yarn to work with at a time.
3. Hot Glue the edge of the yarn to the back of the wreath, and then wrap the yarn around the section for that color. Make sure to keep the yarn tautly wrapped around the wreath so it stays in place. Remember to hot glue the end down once you get to the end of that section.
4. Do this a few hundred (or thousand?) times... Seriously, it looks nice, but does take a while. Your wreath will start to look like this:
5. And then this...Yay, you're getting so close! You could even stop here if you like just the yarn-wrapped look.
6. Hot Glue any decorations you'd like to use onto the wreath where you like. (No Pictures for this step.) For mine, I used hearts that came in a roses stem that I found at the dollar store-one from each of my red and pink-and for the leaves and the curly-cues, I took off of some of my Christmas floral picks. (The nice thing about those types of things, they weren't specifically Christmas related so YOU can decide what you do with them.)
And.... Voila! You have an adorable yarn wrapped wreath to enjoy!
Mine is currently on my cubicle wall at work so it can bring me joy and be showed off. It does its job well, and everyone who walks by has told me it is really cute or that it turned out well. So I am pleased.
Here it is on our wall with a cute sign I got from Michaels about a year ago:
What Valentine's Crafts are you working on? (Or probably have finished by now...)
Friday, February 5, 2016
Monochrome Hearts and Flowers Thank You Card
I just used whatever card layer scrap I had in my stash just to test it out, but once I cut it out with the Cricut, I really liked it, and decided to make a card with it right away.
Here's what I came up with:
I ended up giving this to a coworker just a few days after I made it, and she really liked it. (I think I am actually getting a reputation for my cards at work, too!)
I am really loving that having my Cricut is making it easy for me to be creative. That was one of my goals for 2016, to be even more creative, and it certainly seems like I am doing that. It's nice to be able to be inspired when I may otherwise not have ideas, but to also have something that is there but builds on my creativity. I love seeing what I come up with for it. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)