20 July 2011

FAN-tastic!


This week, I'm rounding-up inspiration to
dress up blank walls in any living space.

Today, it's all about items with a practical
purpose but assigned with a more
noble calling, of becoming art.

A dear friend sent me this card from her trip
to South Korea. It's a fan and I think it's pretty.

I positioned it in a frame and TADA!,
it's artwork!

Here's another fan made of paper that I bought
in Chinatown. It was only $1.00.

I like how it folds compactly to the size of
a pen. I also like the art on it
inspired by nature.

It deserved to be framed too!

Can you tell, I'm a big fan of fans?

19 July 2011

Framed Greetings


Hello there!
Blank walls can be blah but there
are many easy and creative ways
to make them TADA!

I bought this greeting card from

I really like the message.
Don't we all hope and work hard
to have a happy home?

It's so special, it's worthy to be framed.

Some experts say art should have meaning to you.
I couldn't agree more!

18 July 2011

Affordable Art


Do you have empty walls in your home or apartment?
Let's face it, artwork can be expensive
and not a lot of us are ready to make
the investment.

This week, I have a some suggestions
on dressing up those blah walls.

This is a postcard I picked up at a department store's
carpet section. It advertises British fashion designer
Paul Smith's wall hanging called "Love Too".

If you're a fan of Sex and the City, you'll recognize
the actual wall hanging in Carrie Bradshaw's
renovated apartment {from the first movie}:



Here's another one called "Love" also
by the same designer.

Here's a coaster I found at the Renegade Craft Fair
from the Sesame Letterpress booth.

Here's how I turned them from blah to TADA!:

I trimmed the postcard to fit a frame.

Same for this one.

I removed the glass from this frame and glued
the coaster on scrapbook paper. There's
a 3-D effect going on.

Arrange the frames on one wall for a "love fest"
or display them in different parts of your home...
because it's always nice to spread the love.
TADA!

15 July 2011

Name Plates


Happy Friday!

This week's stars are these alphabet cookie cutters
that I bought for less than US$5.00. If I got a
brand new set, I would have spent at least $10.00.
When I was paying for it, the shopkeeper asked,
"What would you use these for?"

Well, If he visited my blog, he'd have many
answers. And I didn't even use them
for baking cookies.

Today's craft, lovely name plates, again makes use
of salt dough. You can find how to make the dough in
I made these rectangles by cutting the dough with a knife.
I also cut out letters {spell out names or favorite words}
using the cookie cutters. Attach the letters to the
rectangle with water {applied with a fine tip paintbrush}.
With a toothpick, I made holes on the four edges.

Place these on a cookie sheet and bake for two hours
in a preheated 250 degree oven.

After it cools, you're ready to paint:

Make sure to hit the nooks and crannies
and apply several coats of paint.

Here's how I would use it:

Sew it on a plain canvas bag.
This is an easy way to stay organized -- make one for
each member of the family. One that he or she can bring to
daycare, school, the office, the gym, dance class or art lessons.

Instead of names, you can also assign tasks like
"laundry", "toys", "books" or "knit & sew".

I hope you liked my ideas this week.
Have a wonderful weekend, okay?

14 July 2011

Golden Pendants


How's it going?
I hope you're having an excellent week.

Today, I've lined up these thrift shop-find cookie cutters
for another task.

Similar to yesterday's TADA!, we're using
salt dough to make some pendants.

After the salt dough has been rolled out, I cut out
some circles using a 3 1/2 cm diameter cookie cutter.

Then I cut out a few letters.
It's important that you dip your cookie cutters in
flour before putting them into the dough to avoid
these from sticking.

I apply a little water {with a fine-tip paint brush}
to the back of the letter and lay it on the circle cutout.
This process makes the letter adhere to the circle.
I make a hole on top of the circle with a toothpick.

The circles sit on a cookie sheet, then baked for
two hours in a preheated 250 degree oven.

This is what they look like after baking.

Once cooled, paint them any color you wish.

I'm using metallic gold again so
they resemble real jewelry.
At least 3 coats of paint is necessary.

Add a ribbon {or chain} through the hole,
make a knot and TADA!, you've
got yourself a pretty necklace!

Use this as a party favor for older children, teens or
your best girlfriends!

13 July 2011

Faux Ceramics


Ready for another craft project?

All this week, these alphabet cookie cutters are
showcasing their versatility. I got them at
a bargain price while treasure-hunting at

Remember the holiday cards I made last year?
Enclosed is a heart-shaped ornament that can
be hung on a tree or around a door knob.
I made it out of salt dough and today,
I think it's time to play with salt dough again!

Here's how:

We'll need these ingredients.

Mix ingredients together until a dough is formed.
Add more water if the dough isn't coming together or
add flour little by little if the dough is too sticky.

Knead the dough on a floured board until it's smooth and elastic.

Roll out the dough with a rolling pin dusted with flour.
Roll until the dough is 1/4 inch thick.

Cut desired shapes with a cookie cutter dipped in flour.
Today, I'm using circles, 7 cm in diameter.

Then make indentations in the center with
your favorite letter {dip cutters in flour}.
Slowly take out the cutters.

I'm making small bowls with the letter
used as a monogram.

To achieve the "dome" of the bowl,
carefully transfer the dough circle to the back
of a small tart tin or the back of a muffin tin
{should be smaller than the dough circle}.
Make sure to grease the back of the tins with
vegetable oil so the dough doesn't stick to it
while baking. Also, the monogram should be
facing the back of the tin.

Put these on a cookie sheet.
Bake in a preheated 250 degree oven for 2 hours.
When done, allow to cool.

Here's what the mini monogram bowls look like. TADA!

I painted them in a metallic gold.
They're quite imperfect and lopsided, almost like a
beginner made them on a potter's wheel.
It clearly tells the recipient it's handmade.

This makes a thoughtful anniversary present
where the couple can rest their wedding bands.

It holds the jewelry you wear everyday and you can
take it when travelling because it's light & unbreakable.

12 July 2011

Petit Gateau


Thanks for coming over today!
This week is all about these cookie cutters,
the latest treasure I found at the

When I'm hunting around at thrift stores, I usually look for
books, things for the home and lonely objects waiting
for a blah to TADA! make-over. Cookie cutters like
these are unexpected and even surprising that
they're in good condition & a complete set at that.

Here's what I'll use my cookie cutters for:
It's easy to use with professional looking results!

If you've never worked with fondant, it looks &
feels like clay. Pull out a piece and roll it out with
this special rolling pin that has rings to control
the fondant's thickness.

Take out the cookie cutters & punch away.
Make sure to keep the excess fondant in a zip-top bag
or air-tight container.

Doesn't it lend a special TADA! touch to a home-baked,
home-decorated cake?

It's a personal cake for a lovely birthday girl named Zoe.