In My Tool Box: Elastic String

Hi everyone!

I've accumulated quite a number of things in my craft arsenal and I thought I'd share them with you. Maybe you'll find some ideas to start a project, or possibly a solution to a crafty conundrum, or maybe you've seen something similar at the store and not quite sure how to use it.

For today, let me tell you about elastic string or stretchy cord. You'll find it in the jewelry section of the craft store and it comes in different widths and colors. My preference are the white or clear ones because these easily blend in or become invisible. 

Here, I'm making a bracelet using wooden beads. With the wrist (child or adult) as reference, measure the elastic string the size of the wrist and add two to three inches. Cut the string then add the beads. Close the loop with several knots and hide these knots by tucking it into one of the beads. 

An easy to assemble bracelet even a preschooler can make...TADA! 

This one uses a thinner elastic string and smaller beads that can be embellished with tassels, pompoms, and even charms...TADA! 

For a more mature look, I've strung amber beads on this one. It can be worn as a stack of bracelets or as a hair tie...TADA!

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Here is another idea:

I made a bowl cover...TADA!

It's made from scrap fabric. I measured the circumference of the bowl and multiplied that number by 2 to get the size I needed.

Then I cut the fabric.

I sewed the outer ends onto the fabric to form a pocket where I inserted the elastic string. I pulled the string (so that the edges gathered up) and tied a knot. I think I'll make a few more of these covers to match the bowls I own. That way I can re-use them and in the process, I am able to avoid plastic wrap.   

I also made a bigger fabric cover for my stand mixer. When not in use, I store the attachments (ex. whisk and paddle) inside the bowl and the cover protects the inside of the bowl from getting dusty...TADA! 

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Elastic string is also useful to make accessories.

This is a hair scrunchie cobbled together using floral fabric with a strip of elastic tucked inside. 

During the height of the pandemic, I made a few face masks using old t-shirts and elastic string.

Here's another face mask decorated with floral embroidery...TADA!

As you can see, elastic string is a good addition to a crafter's tool box. How about you, what are the ways you use elastic string?  

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New Life for Old Notebooks

Hi! I'm happy that you're here.

I've been tidying my workspace and I came across a few old notebooks filled with ideas for this blog. Since they've been published here, I tore out the pages, put them through the shredder, and I'm left with these:

Surely I can turn the notebook covers and spiral wires from blah to TADA!, right?

Just as I did for this handmade notepad, D.I.Y. list pad and note on a rope, I'm making new notebooks out of old ones.

Start by untwisting the spiral wire from the empty notebooks.

Take several sheets of blank paper (I'm using colored card stock) -- we'll turn these into the pages of the new notebooks.

For the cover of the notebooks, I'm using this cute sheet of scrapbook paper.

Decide on how big you want the notebooks and cut the blank paper accordingly. You can also choose how many pages you'd like to have.

This notebook's size was dictated by the cover (cut from the scrapbook paper). 

I decided on 14 holes for my notebook with the aide of a hole punch. Depending on the thickness of your paper, you can stack the paper and punch in one go. Just make sure that all the holes align so that it's easy for the wire to go through. Repeat until you've completed all the holes. 

Take the spiral wire and trim it down with a wire cutter. Have a pair of pliers handy to unfurl any twisted ends.

Count 14 spirals to correspond to the 14 holes on the paper.

Neatly stack the cover and the pages, align the holes together, and thread the open end of the wire through the first hole, moving the spiral wire through all the holes. Curl the end of the ends of the spiral wire for safety by using a pair of pliers.

And look what we've got -- a sweet little notebook ready to be filled with new ideas.

Make as many as you like to keep or share. This is a pretty and practical way to turn old notebooks from blah to TADA! 

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Ring Storage Ideas

Howdy crafters! 

Do you wear rings? Where do you store them?

I call this a "ring saucer" made from a jar lid and decorated with scrapbook paper and ribbon...TADA!

This jewelry tray is made from an empty box and tissue paper rolls...TADA!

Here's a jewelry dish made using polymer clay...TADA!

This cute bunny is a ring holder, too! I'll show you how I formed it.

It's made from salt dough. To make it, we need 1 cup of all purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/2 cup water. Mix these in a bowl until it forms a dough. If it's too sticky, mix in more flour, a teaspoon at a time.

Take a piece of the salt dough, about the size of a golf ball, pulling up to shape the ears. Keep the base round and flatten the bottom so it'll be able to stand on its own. Put this on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, and bake it in the oven (preheated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 2 hours (it has to be dry and rock solid after baking).

 

Once it's cool, use paint to add color to the ears and cheeks. Use a permanent marker to make a face. Now, all we have to do is stack on the rings. It's an adorable way to organize and we turned salt dough from "blah to TADA!"

Happy crafting and you're welcome to subscribe here so you don't miss any of my future posts.

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!

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A Sketchbook Practice

Thank you for visiting today!

How do you improve your craft? Like all things, it takes practice. Personally, I try to make something creative everyday. It's a specific item on my bullet journal and I only get to cross it off if I made something -- a watercolor painting, calligraphy, a simple sewing or crochet project -- stuff I can do in 30 minutes or less. It allows an escape from work, encourages me to be mindful and to squeeze some artistic juices. Sometimes, I like to read a craft book or attend a class.

Early last year, I tuned into the Creative Retreat Live featuring a session with visual artists Peggy Dean and Lisa Congdon. It was such a good discussion, I felt like I was eavesdropping on a conversation between two friends! They talked about their creative process, the art materials they like to use, and the importance of a regular sketchbook practice. 

Lisa showed off some of her sketchbooks (you can see her trademark style and use of color here). She has other sketchbooks that memorialize her travels, record repetitive doodles, and are a place to make collages. She admits that her sketchbook practice has been a springboard for her professional and commissioned work.

The session made me think about how I use my sketchbooks and that I don't use them as often. But looking at what I've made over the years, I realized the recurring themes and colors: 

I love to paint flowers and I like pastel and vibrant colors (even if the mood I'm in is sadness and grief).

As an alternative to a store-bought sketchbook, I found this book at a thrift store. I used the pages for more sketches:

I like the layered look of words and paintings.

Sometimes I add paper cutouts to add some dimension. 

Here is another way I altered some of the pages:

I covered the page with white paint while retaining the existing drawings.  

"Rosy Colored Sky" is the title of this piece. The flowers are made from rubber stamps, a black ink pad and colored pencils.

"Spring Awakening" uses the same materials plus collage using a page from a magazine.

If you're intimidated by the blank page, here are some of Lisa's suggestions: 

(1) Label the sketchbook "Ugly sketchbook" or "Messy sketchbook" so that you don't feel the pressure of perfection.

(2) Allow yourself to just play and think PROCESS over product.

(3) Work with limitations (ex. use only three paint colors or have a time limit to make a piece).

 

Lately, I've been experimenting with these sketchbooks and altered books even more. It's how I turn a blank page from blah to TADA!

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