Three Thoughts for May

Welcome to the merry month of May!

A month of warmer weather, flowers in full bloom, and daydreams of slowing down or planning adventures...what's not to love?  May is also a time to celebrate some very important people: 

Here in the U.S., Mother's Day is on May 11. Why not invite your Mom or a special mom in your life to a relaxing activity: a yummy meal, a massage, or a long drive. If your Mom is far away, maybe you'd like to make a Mother's Day card like this one, or this one, or this one. Show them how much you appreciate them with little gestures of kindness. It will turn their day from blah to TADA!

May is also graduation season...TADA! To all the graduates of 2025, congratulations on this milestone. Bravo also to all the parents, family members, and the community that supported you. You all deserve to be celebrated!

In May, we have Memorial Day (last Monday of May). On this day, which is also a holiday, we remember all deceased service men and women. Most towns have parades and in national cemeteries, American flags and flowers are placed on each grave. Personally, I love watching the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS that's filled with heroic stories and uplifting music...it always makes me tear up. 

It's good to pause and remember all who served for their bravery and sacrifice, even if we don't personally know them. And for those who continue to serve, I have a special craft next week that we can do together. It's a little way to say thank you for their service.

Have a memorable May!

Five Things for May

 Hey, hey, it's May!

One of the things I look forward to is seeing peonies bloom! Peonies are one of my favorite flowers because they can be as big as cabbages and their colors are vibrant, they unapologetically declare, "Look at me!" When I see them in a neighbor's garden or as bouquets at the supermarket, I really stop and admire them...TADA!

On May 12, we celebrate Mother's Day here in the U.S. Above is quote from the book "The Expatriates" by Janice Y. K. Lee, a book I thoroughly loved reading (and is now a drama series). Doesn't this sentence capture the essence of a mother?

To all mothers and mother-figures, thank you for your deep love and sacrifice! You all deserve a long rest on Mother's Day.

Apart from Mother's Day there are many other occasions in May. Did you know that there is a Lost Sock Day, Paper Airplane Day, and Talk like Yoda Day? You can find the full list of May celebrations here. I wonder who comes up with these? They definitely turn an ordinary day from blah to TADA!

Do you like washi tape? I have a collection and I like using them for my paper crafts. I thought this was a clever idea to keep tape rolls organized (c/o Yoseka Stationery). It's a wooden rack for plates or cooking pan lids but repurposed to house washi tape...TADA!  

Speaking of washi tape, does it ever happen to you that the washi tape has stuck to the roll, the edges are ragged from the effort of detaching, and you don't get a smooth peel? Many of my washi tape rolls suffer this condition and I found out that you can loosen the adhesive with concentrated heat. In this photo, I'm using an embossing heat tool but you can use a hairdryer, too. Apply direct heat to the tape for a few minutes (I hold the washi tape with a pair of tongs so that my fingers don't scorch) and set aside to let it cool. Magically, they heat loosens it up and it will be good as new...TADA!

Wishing you all a memorable May!

Transform Glass Jars into Flower Vases

Hey, hey! I hope you're having a good start to your week.

I don't think I'm alone in admitting that I keep a bunch of empty glass jars in my cupboard so I can turn them from blah to TADA! In the past, I've used these glass jars as floating lights, terrariums, beverage glasses and storage containers.

Today, I'm turning some glass jars into flower vases, very useful for the flowers you'll be receiving or giving away this Mother's Day. 

I'm going to show you three ways to turn these glass jars from blah to TADA!

The first is a simple speckled jar. I used a small paint brush, dipped it into acrylic paint and randomly dotted the jar in different colors. Let it dry and fill it with flowers...TADA!

The second option involves a base coat of white paint.

Once dry, draw some shapes with a pencil.

Then fill in the shapes with paint. I'm happy with this color block look...TADA!

The third option also requires a base coat of white paint.

Once dry, I added two coats of matte orange paint. 

Then I painted on some leaves and flowers...TADA!

Why buy vases when you can make your own using glass jars and paint? 

Just a few easy ways to turn glass jars from blah to TADA!

If you'd like more crafty ideas like this delivered to your inbox, please subscribe here. 

Wreaths from Oatmeal Lids

I am so glad you're here!

Do you like oatmeal? It's a staple in our pantry and we like to eat it for breakfast in the form of overnight oats. I also like it as an ingredient in baked goods -- as a topping for homemade bread, an oat crumble for cobbler, or as oatmeal cookies.

The recipe on the back of the lid is an old reliable. 

I try to buy the oatmeal in bulk (from the warehouse club) and decant it an empty oatmeal container. For a time, I've had several empty oatmeal containers so I challenged myself to turn them from blah to TADA! 

In the past, I made the empty oatmeal container into a gift box... 

And even as a headband organizer.

Here is another idea:

This is the oatmeal lid. I cut out the paper portion leaving this plastic ring.

I wrapped some green yarn all around the ring. I knotted the yarn ends and tucked the tails for a neat finish.   

And just like that, I made a basic wreath from an oatmeal lid...TADA!

But what is a wreath without the flowers? Let me present a few options:

Option Number One: flowers that I made with watercolor.

Once dry, I cut around the flowers...

And attached them to the wreath using a glue gun...TADA!

This can easily be hung on a nail or hook to add some bright garden vibes in your space.  

Option Number Two: crochet flowers. 

I made a few crochet leaves, too.

Then I attached the crochet flowers and crochet leaves onto my wreath, also with a glue gun. It does have a shabby chic vibe, don't you think? 

Here's what it looks like hanging on a door...TADA!

By using different craft techniques, we were able transform something meant for the trash into something we'll treasure for a long time. And since Mother's Day is on May 8, maybe you can make something similar for your Mom or a special mother-figure in your life. Your thoughtfulness will turn her day from "blah to TADA!"

If you haven't yet, please subscribe to my newsletter for more crafty ideas delivered to your inbox. 

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!

A Round-up of Easy Crafts While We Are Social Distancing

How are your feeling? This Coronavirus has undoubtedly thrown the entire world a curve ball, leaving us vulnerable. We are encouraged to stay home to avoid getting or spreading the virus.

To keep you occupied and productive, I'd like to share a list of crafty ideas.

I've combed through my archives and chose the easy ones using materials that many of us already have at home. Do these crafts alone, with your kids, and even roommates. They help to distract from anxiety, keep the kids busy, and in the end, you'll have created a little piece of art to use or share.  

1. Paper Flowers

This is a Japanese Kusudama flower fashioned from pages of an old book, but you're welcome to use whatever paper you have available. The repetitive folding can be very relaxing and the flowers that you make can be used as decorations or tokens for your favorite gals for Mother's Day. You can find the instructions here.  

2. Pompoms

If you have some yarn handy, why not make a few pompoms? This tutorial makes use of empty ribbon spools but you can use cardboard or a fork. Use your pompom to embellish a beanie, create a bag charm, or use it to make your gifts pretty.

3. Ribbon Embroidery

If you have fabric (ex. cloth napkins, old t-shirt, etc.), needle, thread and ribbon, try your hand at ribbon embroidery. Frame it and display it, or use it to make greeting cards.

4. Stencil-decorated T-shirts

You might have some plain t-shirts in your closet. Give them new life with paint, a paintbrush, and stencils! Here is where you'll find the instructions. The same technique can be applied to bags, pouches, and folders. 

5. Tie Dye T-shirts

This project requires more specific materials like white t-shirts, rubber bands, gloves, a basin, and fabric dye or a tie dye kit. In case you have these on hand, you can make t-shirts for the family. You can find the tutorial here. 

6. Bookmarks

One of the things we can do while we're at home is to read. Get through that "To Be Read" pile or re-read your favorite books. And why not make a few bookmarks? These are made from recycled cardboard, stickers, washi tape, and string. 

7. Recycle Your Broken Crayons

Do you have broken crayons? Well, broken crayons can still color! If you melt them in the oven and use a mold, you can produce these colorful crayons in unique shapes.

8. Make Your Own Oven-Baked Clay

This is a simple recipe for Salt Dough. You can use it to form a jewelry dish, and many other things like jewelry, ornaments, and more ornaments.   

9. Make Your Own Jewelry

This was made from an old necklace. By painting the beads a new shade, I gave it a more modern look!

10. Make Your Own Gift Bags

This one uses a plain brown paper bag and markers. Hopefully, life gets back to normal soon and we can gather, go to parties again, and give presents inside these homemade gift bags. 

11. Sketch and Paint

Find inspiration at home or on-line. Use the materials in your drawer: pencils, markers, crayons, paint, a Sharpie, a notebook. Sketch something daily to calm you down. Use colors to express your frustrations. Draw the little things we take for granted but are now very grateful for.

12.  Pressed Flowers

Go to your garden or backyard and pick some flowers and leaves. Press them in between books and use them for greeting cards, gift tags, and pendants. 

13. Blackout Poetry

Try blackout poetry: take an old book or page from a magazine, find words or phrases that appeal to you and block out the rest of the text with a black marker. The words that remain reveals your poem. More samples here. 

14. Brush Calligraphy

With just pen and paper, you can master brush lettering and calligraphy. Practice your penmanship using a mantra like "This, too, shall pass" or "We will overcome". Write down a favorite song or prayer that helps you keep positive.

15. Put Together a Happiness Box

Fill a box with little treasures. They don't have to be expensive but they must have great value to you -- the ones tied with good memories, the ones that make you feel safe, make you feel giddy, make you feel confident. Fill it with more things in the years to come. Whenever you open the box, you'll feel a surge of happiness and hopefulness.

The quote, "Making time to make things is good for the soul" is from the book "Craftfulness (Mend Yourself By Making Things)". Let this period of community quarantine and social distancing become our permission to try something new, revisit old hobbies, or begin a project we've always wanted to start...this way, we can turn blah to TADA!