17 May 2021

Crafts Inspired by a Floral Arrangement

Hey guys, I'm glad to see you today!

Not too long ago, a dear friend sent over this floral arrangement:

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I am smitten by her thoughtfulness and how this generous gesture says, "I'm here, I'm thinking of you, and I wish you well." The flowers definitely brightened my day and turned it from "blah" to TADA!"

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Here is it in a different angle. I always take a photo so that I'll forever remember it. There are roses, hydrangeas, tulips, orchids, eucalyptus, and some leaves.

Of course, this floral arrangement has inspired me to make some crafts.

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First, I made two paintings (these are watercolor paper remnants that I did not want to waste).  

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The size is ideal to turn into a bookmark or it can also be framed. I mailed one together with a thank you card to my friend who sent the flowers. 

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Roses dry well so I hung them upside down (tie a bundle with a rubber band and use a hook to hang on a cabinet handle). Notice that these roses are still in fresh shape? The petals remain intact and the color keeps a lighter shade when hung to dry at this stage. 

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Here's what they look like after leaving them to dry for a week. The petals are crisp and any moisture has evaporated.

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I put them inside my bunny vase...TADA!

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I also left the eucalyptus stems to dry (same process as the roses) and even when dry, they have a faint minty scent.

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I made another arrangement using an empty bottle for a vase...TADA!

Flowers fade and wither but through these simple crafts, I was able to extend their life. I am able to hold on to their beauty a little longer and turn even their dried versions from "blah" to "TADA!"

I wish you all an exciting week ahead!

10 May 2021

A Do-It-Yourself Recipe Box

Hey guys, I'm happy you were able to stop by! This is today's crafty inspiration:

It's a recipe box made by Rifle Paper Co. and they've got other designs like this and this. Aren't they beautiful? Designer and owner Anna Bond really does a great job with her floral and botanical gouache paintings. 

I'm using this idea to turn blah to TADA!

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I'm a big tea drinker and a recent acquaintance had recommended this British brand to me. 

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I bought it and I liked that this special edition came in a reusable tin.  

Tea Tin transformation, tea tin crafts, how to repurpose a tea tin
The tin provided an air-tight seal and kept my tea fresh until I consumed every single bag. 

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Now that it's empty, I would love to reuse it as storage.

Here's what I did:

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I cleaned the tin inside and out with a dry cloth (moisture will cause it to rust). Then I painted the outside with acrylic paint.


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I painted on several coats, allowing the paint to dry in between coats.

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This is my painted tin...TADA!

Tea Tin transformation, tea tin crafts, how to repurpose a tea tin
Because I love flowers, I drew some, too. 


Tea Tin transformation, tea tin crafts, how to repurpose a tea tin
I opted for flowers that traditionally grow in an English garden: roses, peonies, Japanese anemone, hollyhocks, and bell flowers.

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Tea Tin transformation, tea tin crafts, how to repurpose a tea tin
To make it my own, I used watercolor (instead of acrylic or gouache).

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 I let the paint dry for a few minutes...


Tea Tin transformation, tea tin crafts, how to repurpose a tea tin
...before putting more layers, definition, and details.

Then I added this adhesive metal bookplate that I got at an office supply store many years ago. If you can't find it, a sticker label can be a good replacement.


By the way, I got to practice my hand lettering to make the label...TADA!

Here are just a few ways I can use my spruced-up tin box as storage:

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As a recipe box -- though most of the recipes I use are stored on Pinterest.

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To store packets of food mixes like gravy, dips and sauces...that way they stay neat inside the pantry or cupboard.

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As a box to store receipts for a small business. Inside, you can add monthly/quarterly dividers made from card stock.

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I hope you liked this tea tin transformation. Have a good week ahead!

03 May 2021

A Gift for Mom

Mother's Day is this Sunday!

Thinking of a handmade gift for your beloved mom? I've got this craft just for you.

The idea came from a coloring book.

As I rifled though the pages, I found these fun flowers.

I painted the page using watercolors. Have you tried your hand at coloring books? It's very relaxing and brings you back to your childhood.
 
I detached the page from the coloring book.

And cut out the flowers.

I fashioned a few stems and leaves. I made them using white cardboard that I painted green.

I assembled the flower-stem-leaf combo and attached everything with glue.

Now I have a handful of paper blooms...TADA!

I used a glass jar as my vase and arranged my flowers.

And with a some calligraphy, I wrote a few messages:



A bouquet that mom, grandma, sister, cousin or best friend can enjoy for years to come...TADA!

If you don't have a coloring book, draw a few flowers instead and cut them out like what I did here.


And that is how I turned a coloring book page (and a glass jar) from blah to TADA!

26 April 2021

Block Printing Basics

Today, let me tell you about Indian Block Printing, a craft that I learned recently.

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Block Printing is like stamping, but instead of rubber stamps and an ink pad, wood blocks and paint are used. It's an ancient handicraft that finds its origins in India and the skill is not learned in school but passed on from generation to generation. 

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I learned the basics from a class at our local library. 

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Each participant was given this Block Printing kit.

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Here are the contents. Notice the little stamps (bird, tree, border)? These are the wood blocks. They are hand-carved using teakwood or rosewood and treated with linseed oil. I'm in love and impressed with the intricate details! 

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Due to the current pandemic, the class was done virtually. Our teacher Seema enthusiastically showed us all we needed to know. 

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The first step is to cover your work surface with a few layers of newspaper. This will protect your table and functions as a cushion when stamping.

The next step is to prepare the paint (water-based like watercolor or poster paint). Put a small amount of paint on a plate or plastic food container. If the paint is too thick, you can add a tiny amount of salt to make the paint runny. Don't use water because it will only water down the color. 

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On top of the paint, position a small piece of the printing pad (sponge). Using one of the wood blocks (design facing downwards), tap the sponge gently all around so that the paint lifts to the surface of the sponge.

This will be our ink pad.

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Keep tapping the wood block on the sponge until the design is saturated with color.

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Test the print on a piece of paper. This will tell you where you need to apply more paint.

Do the same process for all paint colors you intend to use.

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Once satisfied with how the print registers on paper (ex. color is even and details are visible), we're ready to print on fabric.

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This handkerchief was also part of the kit. Seema says cotton is the ideal fabric to use. Now is a good time to plan your design. Will you have a pattern (ex. linear or alternating) or will it be a repetition of a single print?

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When you're ready, find the center of the fabric and start from there. Apply the freshly-inked block print, press down a few seconds, gently roll to the side and lift up. Keep repeating the design, making sure to ink the wood block before making a new print on the fabric.

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With the first print as reference, stamp alternately from left to right so that we end up with an even number from the center.

No need to use a ruler, just eyeball it. The imperfections add charm. 

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This is how my design came to life. 

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With the art of block printing, I turned a plain piece of cloth from blah to TADA! 

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It's my first try and I can't wait to keep practicing. Thank you for hanging out with me today!