Summer Lovin'

Hi there! Can I share a photo from my weekend?

It was taken at a Barbecue Block Party in Madison Square Park. There was food, music, and lots of lounging around. Summer has finally arrived and I can't wait to do more of these!

I discovered a new book and we'll be crafting from it beginning tomorrow. See you then!

Painted Jars

Hello Everyone! A day of spring sprucing in the kitchen has yielded these:

Empty glass jars that I cleaned with hot, soapy water. I also soaked the labels in water and peeled them off. If there is still some residue left, a product like this can make the task quick and easy. 

I love crafting with jars as seen here, here and here. And it doesn't stop there. Here's a project I spotted on Pinterest, I just had to try it myself.

A glass jar and paint are all we need.

Pour some paint into the jar and swirl it around.

The goal is to coat the sides of the jar. Keep pouring more paint in small amounts as necessary. If it helps, adding a tiny spritz of water will make the paint more runny, making the color spread faster.

Once the walls of the jar are tinted, invert the jar onto a paper plate or an old foam tray and allow the excess paint to drip out. Let the jar dry overnight.

And here's what the finished jar looks like...TADA! 

I experimented with other colors. I think they're adorable!

They make beautiful vases for these paper flowers.

I wish you all a colorful week! 

Pressed Flowers

Good day dear friends! Where I live, the barren trees of a long, hard winter now sport bright green leaves.  Warmer temperatures have arrived and flowers abound. Spring is in full swing!

While photographs and watercolor can somehow preserve these blooming beauties, there's another alternative: pressing flowers.

 These are cherry blossoms.

Here are some carnations.

And these, daffodils.

Pressing flowers is quite easy to do. A kit like this would come in handy {and you can take it whenever you travel}.

But pressing flowers and leaves in between old phone books or heavy boxes is widely acceptable. Just make sure to sandwich the blooms in newspaper. Also, allot a few days to several weeks to get the perfect press.

I've selected these pressed flowers as a memento of this year's spring.

I mounted them on card stock using Mod Podge {any all purpose glue will work, too}. 

I'm ready to tack this onto my bulletin board or framing it in a shadow box is another fun option. This way, I have flowers in my work space all year round. TADA! 

Printed Parcel

Hi there! Early this week, we had a little washi tape fest. From small crafting projects to decorating the home, this printed masking tape has proven its versatility.

It's no surprise that it brings out one's hoarding tendencies. Two or three are never enough!

Before the week ends, let me share another idea to use washi tape:

I recycled a blah brown paper bag to make these small paper bags.

With this as a blank slate, it's tape time!

To add a new dimension, a few designs using some rubber stamps and an ink pad. Plus pinking shears to add detail to the edge.

A floral embellishment won't hurt, right?

Here's another version using a red theme.

Add a stamped image.

And a silk flower for good measure! Just add a gift and seal with more washi tape. Isn't that blah to TADA!?

Have a delightful weekend and a Happy Memorial Day {the unofficial start of summer, woohoo!}.

Crafting with Washi Tape

Yesterday, I had shared with you an on-going pop-up called "Taped" at three Anthropologie shops in New York City: Rockefeller Center, Chelsea Market and SOHO. If you're in town, try to stop by to see a showcase of how washi tape is used and even purchase a few rolls. It runs until May 26. 

On the day the event opened, there was a craft station set-up at the Chelsea Market store. I just love creative sessions like these!

There were cute cupcakes.

And mini water bottles appropriately dressed in washi tape.

There was a generous supply of washi tape and plain white boxes in different shapes.

All we had to do was pick a box.

Then choose the tape we wanted to use. 

I really went wild with the colors!

I based my design decisions on the patterns I was drawn to: floral and stripes.

Here is my box all assembled...TADA!

Here are a few more that my fellow crafters made:

And here's another shot of my gift box:

An ordinary box turns from blah to TADA! with tape!

The Wonderful World of Washi Tape

Hello there! I know that a lot of you are smitten by Japanese masking tape. Also known as "washi tape", it's named after the strong yet thin washi paper it is made of.

The designs are irresistible and offer a lot of versatility in its application. Just seeing them on display already brings joy!

I was practically doing cartwheels when I heard of this washi tape event at Anthropologie.

It was cool to learn its history: 

Since long ago, paper masking tape has been used industrially in all kinds of ways. Kamoi Kakoshi in Japan has been making specialty paper adhesives for almost 100 years. In 2006, the company received an email from 3 women in Tokyo who were using their industrial tapes in beautiful craft projects. Amazed by this surprising and wonderful usage, Kamoi Kakoshi invited the women to visit their factory. This visit inspired the development of an entirely new and original category of tape, MT brand washi tape, colorful tape which is easy to tear by hand and reposition on nearly any surface. MT washi masking tape is now sold throughout the world in hundreds of colors and patterns. MT has become a part of daily life, adding a little color everywhere.

Here is just a sampling of washi tape's many uses.

It can turn anything from blah to TADA!

The event was also a pop-up shop with washi tape for sale.

Plus a few special edition ones like this one of Central Park.

A new member of the family was also introduced: MT Casa. These are bigger sheets that can be used to decorate interiors. 

From large areas like stairs...

And walls, and even smaller surfaces like lamp shades and furniture. Just imagine the possibilities!

In case you're in the neighborhood, the event is called "Taped" and is on-going in three Manhattan branches of Anthropologie until the 26th.

Tomorrow, I'll share with you a craft we made using washi tape.