You Are A Badass

There are times when I feel a bout of insecurity or a slump of self-doubt. When this happens, I look for affirmations or what I call "power words" to help me get my act together.

I also read a lot of books. 

One of my favorites is "You A Badass" by Jen Sincero. The title alone brings back the self-confidence that levitates outside of my body every now and then.

One of the phrases that the author uses repeatedly is this:

I know, it's so basic. But sometimes we forget.

She repeats it before the end of every chapter and reminds you why:

Reading these words always turns my day from blah to TADA!

Crafting from the Book: How To Make It

One of the books I thoroughly enjoyed reading this summer is "How To Make It".

Written and photographed by Erin Austen Abbott, it gives a lot of helpful information if you are considering turning your creative hobby into a business.

There are studio tours, interviews, and lists of "inspiring songs from the studio" from 25 different creative entrepreneurs.

Plus, there are also different DIY projects like this one:

It's by Lauren Bradshaw, doll maker and owner of Walnut Animal Society.

I decided to make my own lavender sachet because I had the materials on hand, and it's something I've never made.

It's a clever way to use fabric remnants and easy enough to do even if you don't have a sewing machine.

I cut two identical squares out of my fabric.

Then pinned them together (with the printed side facing each other). I also measured a half-inch margin from the edges.

I sewed along the margin, all around the fabric, but left a two-inch hole on one end.

I turned my sachet inside out, using a pencil to push out the stubborn corners.

These are dried lavender stems I took home from a trip to a lavender farm. Surprisingly, they are still very fragrant!

I filled the sachet with lavender buds (use a funnel and pour these through the hole in the sachet) and I used whole stems, too (which is less cumbersome and adds shape to make it look more pillow-like).

Stitch up the open hole.

And here is my lavender sachet...TADA!

It adds a fresh and relaxing fragrance to a drawer or glove compartment. When the scent dissappears, simply replace with new buds.

How To Make It

I have a new discovery that I just need to share! 

It's this beautiful book called "How To Make it" written by Erin Austen Abbott. 

In the book, Erin interviews 25 creative entrepreneurs from all over the United States and Canada. They include stationery designers, leather crafters, painters, a party goods designer, and print makers, and they all dish out advice on "how to make it" from maker to business owner.

It's an easy read (I read it from cover to cover) with lots of pictures. Here are my favorite parts of the book:

A section featuring "A Day in The Life" because, hey, owning a business is a 24/7 job! It shows how they layout their day and how they achieve a work-life balance. 

They also recommend a playlist...I'm all for new music suggestions!

And there are generous pages filled with easy how-to craft projects if you're still at the "maker" part of the spectrum.

In the dedication page, Erin says, "This book is for all the makers, crafters, artists, and working creatives who get up every day and pour their hearts into their work because they simply love what they do. You are Making It."

Awwww.💕

Please stop by tomorrow...I'm making a craft from the book!

A Jewelry Dish

Hi and thanks for stopping by! A few weeks ago, I experimented with polymer clay. I had some clay left over to make a new craft.

I first kneaded the polymer clay and rolled it out. Some kitchen tools I used were a flexible cutting mat, a rolling pin, a round biscuit cutter, an offset spatula, and a sharp-edged tool (this triangle one is for fondant work) for detail.

 I cut out a circle with the biscuit cutter.

Then I embossed some ferns using a rubber stamp.

I let the clay sit on a cup of a muffin tin so that it bakes like a bowl instead of a flat plate.

I baked it for 25 minutes in a 275 degree Fahrenheit oven. The baking time varies depending on the clay's thickness. The clay has to be hard (not dough-like) when you take it out of the oven.

Here's what it looks like after baking. I like that the edges have a slight ruffle.

I painted on some blue watercolor with a brush but dabbed the clay with a paper towel which resulted to this marbled effect.

Then I added a layer of green paint in the center using the same technique.

And a final layer of yellow paint. Let the paint dry for an hour. 

And here it is, my adorable little jewelry dish. TADA!

Pretty Packaging Design

Last July, family visited and they came bearing gifts! One of those gifts is this artisinal chocolate bar:

It's carefully made in the Philippines by a small company called Tigre Y Oliva. 

This bean to bar chocolate is full-bodied, flavorful, and has a good snap. It was gone in one sitting!

And can we talk about the packaging?

The paper is from Italy and this particular one reminds me of colorful tiles on a wall or floor of a villa. Wrapping like this must not be thrown away.

Here's what I did to preserve this pretty package:

With this pack of self-laminating tags, I'm making my own luggage tag!

I carefully took off the sticker labels.

Then stretched out the paper.

Using the information card as a guide, I cut out a piece of the wrapper. 

I glued this onto the back side of the card.

Then I sandwiched the card in between the plastic (after filling out the information with a pen). 

Here's what it looks like.

My DIY luggage tag...TADA!

As an alternative, you can use a laminating machine or ID tags. 

I'm ready for my next adventure with this luggage tag that's sure to stand out.

Updating Clothes with Embroidery

Over the past couple of months, I've been seeing this trend on clothing and shoes. Have you observed them as well?

It's adding a touch of embroidery, instantly turning plain wardrobe essentials like blouses and jeans from blah to TADA! 

I think it's a cool way to update old clothes.

Today, I'll try the look with this shirt.

Because hand embroidery is a bit of a commitment, I'm using this iron-on patch instead.

The heat of an iron allows the patch to adhere to the fabric and can withstand many washes.

It's a cute and easy revamp. And yes, sometimes, I like to wear my heart on my sleeve. TADA!