30 March 2015

Dreaming of Paris

Happy Monday! Let me tell you where my day dreams are taking me lately -- to Paris. I would love to rent an apartment, visit the markets, get lost in the museums, and try out a new patisserie each day. 

I guess I don't have to explain. Paris is magic. 

And while I can't pack my bags and leave, I'll let a crafty session take me there for now. 

I'll turn this blank card from blah to TADA!

I'm using some watercolor...

...and my newly acquired alphabet punch set.

I like it a lot because it gives me neat letters. 

And more importantly, I can use it to recycle scrap paper.


Tweezers are a handy tool to apply glue and place letters onto the card.

"Happy Birthday" in French.

 Fill it with sentiments and lots of amour.

Here's another version in fashionable black and white.

And a cute way to say  "Many Thanks".

In case you're working on a Parisian-themed craft, you might want to join this contest (it ends tomorrow). The prize is a trip to Paris!

23 March 2015

Insta-Bunting

Hi there! I found another way to turn an old book from blah to TADA!

I turned the pages into a bunting:

Over the weekend, I taught a craft class (we made Easter t-shirts). I thought it would be fun to decorate my work space. It not only told participants the venue, it attracted new kids and their parents to sign up for the class.  

I made this with pages from a old book, punched out hearts from construction paper, and letters that I painted on. I used baker's twine to hold them all together.

Maybe this will serve as inspiration for a sign you can use for your next event, craft fair or bake sale.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

17 March 2015

Look Ma, I'm Weaving!

Yesterday, I showed you a craft that I was working on. I'm proud to say I've finally completed it and so delighted to try it for the first time.

I learned how to weave!

I got the inspiration from the pages of the current issue of Uppercase Magazine. And lately, I've been seeing a lot of weaving projects around the web like here, here and here.

I followed this tutorial on Etsy.

I like the simplicity of materials. I didn't have to buy anything at all. Cardboard turned into a basic loom, kitchen twine, and colorful yarn from my stash...all blah to TADA!

A popsicle stick acted as my needle to weave the yarn up and under the twine.

I used my fingers to secure the loose ends and also to push the rows tightly together.

I secured my handwoven tapestry onto a twig for a more natural look. 

TADA! I can't wait to make more.

16 March 2015

A Work in Progress

Hello there! I hope you had a restful weekend.

Today, a little peek at a craft I'm currently working on:

Can you guess what it is? If you can stop by tomorrow, I'll show you the process and the completed project. Have a happy Monday!

09 March 2015

Books in Bloom

Hello there! Last week, I shared an idea on how to turn blah book pages into TADA! by making inexpensive art.

Along those lines, here's more inspiration:

I'm transforming an old book into a gift for a friend. To help me out, I'm using paint, an ink pad, and a rubber stamp.

I'm using the book page as my canvas.

Time to add a design.

And fill in with some color.

Then I drew a collection of flowers, added some color, and defined the flowers' edges with a fine tip pen.

Can you see what I made? It's a blooming letter B for my friend Barbara.

I put my humble artwork in a frame, ready to be wrapped and mailed to her for her new home. TADA!

02 March 2015

Pretty Pages

Happy new week and happy new month!

Here's an idea if you're ready to spruce up your place for spring:



They're images printed on old book pages and then framed. I spotted them in a restaurant and I just had to take pictures for inspiration.

They're easy to reproduce by photocopying, sketching directly on the page, or making a collage. Tuck them into a picture frame and TADA! -- inexpensive art!