Handmade Paperweights

Hey guys, how ya doing?

via shine

The Winter Olympics are on-going in Beijing and I found out that instead of fresh bouquets, the winners receive hand-knit flowers created by Shanghai grannies. The bouquet includes roses, Chinese roses, lilies of the valley, hydrangeas, laurel and olive branches. These flowers symbolize friendship, tenacity, happiness, unity, victory, and peace. Apart from the medals, I think these are such nice (hooray handmade!) and long lasting souvenirs.

Now, on to our craft for the day. 

I found these paperweights at a store many years ago and I took a photo for inspiration. "Maybe I can craft something similar?" I told myself.  

The paperweights are gold-plated and have a bit of heft. One spells "love" and another spells "cheers"...very celebratory don't you agree?

In my head, I was planning to use alphabet cookie cutters to spell them out and find a way to connect the letters together.

But then I found this at a home store and what's even better, it was on clearance! I just love a good bargain. The universe was conspiring with me to bring this craft project alive!

 

This "love" cookie cutter measures 9 inches by 3.5 inches, making for a big cookie. I can't wait to make that with shortbread or sugar cookie dough, but for now let's use the cookie cutter for crafting.

First, I made some salt dough. All you need are: 1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 cup salt, and 1/2 cup water.  Mix these together in a bowl with a wooden spoon or with your bare hands until it comes together in a ball. If it's too wet, add a little flour and if it's too dry, add a little water. Remember: small amounts. The goal is to get the consistency of Play Dough or pliable clay. 

I took about two handfuls of salt dough (and kept the remaining salt dough inside an air tight container to keep it from drying out). I rolled out the salt dough using a small rolling pin until it was flat and about 1/4 inch in thickness (you can go thicker if you like).

I rolled directly on the baking tray lined with a silicone baking sheet (or parchment paper). I did this to avoid unnecessary transferring of the dough that can cause it to lose its intended shape.

Then I pressed the cookie cutter into the salt dough.

I removed the excess dough that formed on the sides of the cookie cutter. I used a cake tester (a skewer would work, too) to get into the corners.

Bake this in a pre-heated oven (250 degrees Fahrenheit) for about 2 hours.

 

Once cool, apply acrylic paint in your preferred color. Use three to five coats while letting it dry in between each coat.

And here it is, my handmade LOVE paperweight...TADA! It doesn't have the gloss and sheen of the original design but this matte gold works for me.

Use it to decorate the dinner table for a special feast at home.

Or for engagement parties, bridal showers, weddings, baby showers and other LOVE-ly parties you plan to throw. 

Don't you LOVE how we turned some plain salt dough from "blah" to "TADA?"

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Little Love Pouches

How's it going everyone?

Today, let's transform fabric scraps from "blah to TADA!"

Before deciding that fabric is "trash" let's use our imagination to give it new life. We can add embroidery to it, use block printing, and even decorate with brush lettering...TADA!

For these sheets of fabric, I sewed them into little pouches and attached some iron-on patches. I also added a ribbon for color and as a closure mechanism...TADA!

I can use it to wrap handmade jewelry, friendship bracelets, crochet brooches, or keychains. 

I can also fill it with candy or chocolate.

It will please both kids and adults alike.

The hearts on these pouches are just right for Valentine's Day but can be used any time of the year because isn't gifting always a love language?

May you be thought of kindly this week and may you express some thoughtfulness, too!

By the way, you may subscribe here so that you don't miss any "blah to TADA!" blog posts.

 

A Butterfly Wall Hanging

Hello there!

Around this time of year, I always make a butterfly-themed craft in honor of my Mom who passed away on January 31, 2017. 

Whenever I see a butterfly, specifically a Monarch, I know my Mom is making her presence felt, assuring me that she's okay and that everything will be okay.

There is a quote that goes, "Being proactive about remembering is essential to healing." Both crafting and seeing butterflies have definitely helped my healing process. 

 

I have a wide collection of craft stamps and I knew I had to add a set of butterfly stamps to the mix. 

Here's what else we'll need for today's project: craft stamps, an ink pad, and an acrylic stamp block to support the clear stamps. 

Let's also include a twig (foraged from the backyard), twine, and pendants made from salt dough. You'll find the tutorial here. 

I'm using the stamps to decorate these pendants made from salt dough.  

Attach the clear stamp onto the acrylic stamp block and dab this on the ink pad, picking up an even and generous amount of ink. Do an initial test on a sheet of paper before inking again and applying the design onto a blank salt dough pendant. Press firmly for about 30 seconds and peel gently, making sure the butterfly print registers well. 

One side has my butterfly-print salt dough pendants and the other side has the test prints that I can use later on for making greeting cards or for scrapbooking...TADA!

Allow the ink to dry and string on the twine on each of the salt dough pendants, tightly knotting the ends.

Attach the other end of the twine on the twig. Do this for all pendants, arranging them in graduating heights. 

Then add another strip of twine on the twig as a hanging device.

I now present our handmade butterfly wall hanging...TADA!

In this craft, very simple materials were transformed from "blah to TADA!" Plus the butterflies hold so much meaning for me. May this inspire you to make something similar...and please share what you've made!

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New Uses for a Broken Shelf

Hey guys, thanks for dropping by today!

You may have heard the line, "One person's trash is another person's treasure." Sometimes you may have to really look at the trash pile to find that treasure.   

For me, the treasure here is the wooden shelf. It's clearly broken, the shelves missing. 

But if you pull it aside, can you see its potential? It's a free-standing ladder!

With some images from Pinterest, here's how I would transform it from "blah to TADA!":

 

via awedbymonica

I would turn it into a leaning shelf to keep throws and blankets tidy.

via urban outfitters

I can use it to display accessories like hats, bags, and scarves.

via Pinterest

I can mount it on the kitchen wall and use it to hang not-too-heavy pots, pans and other cooking utensils.

via Pinterest

I can use it to dry herbs and flowers.

via Ikea

Or hang some small potted plants using hooks.

via Pinterest

By bolting it to the ceiling, it gives a room character and an additional place to hang macrame planters.

via Pinterest

How about a greenery chandelier in the bathroom?

via Pinterest

For the outdoors, I'm totally loving this DIY light fixture.

How about this idea that I sketched out: a lighting and storage solution that's perfect for a reading nook. The top rung of the ladder is outfitted with a plug-in overhead light with Edison bulb. One rung is transformed into a shelf for paperbacks and a small plant. Another rung is a place to hang a favorite throw. Just add a chair and it's ready for cozy afternoons and evenings...TADA!

Before you get rid of your furniture, find a few ways to turn them from "blah to TADA!" But if you really must, please do so responsibly. To keep them out of the landfill and help those in need, donate them to charity: Salvation Army, Goodwill, Housing Works, Habitat for Humanity ReStore or at a thrift shop in your town. Consider selling them on Craigslist, Facebook Market Place or share on a Buy Nothing group.

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Handmade Birthday Cards

Hello lovelies!

I'm a big fan of sending out birthday cards because it's my way to celebrate those I love. Sure, it's easy to write a text or leave a message on their Facebook wall. Nothing wrong with that. But a birthday card means you went the extra mile -- choosing the card, writing a message, and mailing it; and doing these things in advance so the card arrives on time. 

I found these blank cards in my paper stash. I got them from the Target Dollar Spot a few years ago. There are eight cards and matching envelopes and the design reminds me of a chalkboard.

I found some embellishments in this book given by a dear friend. I love it because it's all about yummy things and paper crafts!

I zoned in on these adorable images.

They are die cuts that I'll use as stickers.

I put a dab of glue on each one and attached them to a card.

I played around with the orientation of the card, some vertical and some horizontal.

Then I took a white gel pen and did a bit of hand lettering:

"Buen Provecho" means "Enjoy your meal" in Spanish. What an appropriate greeting for any birthday, don't you think? Food and feasting are clearly the theme and inside, I'm writing personal memories of the meals we've shared and the food-centric gatherings that I look forward to in the years to come. 

I always add a signature at the back so that the recipient knows it was crafted especially for them.

That's how I turned a few plain cards from blah to TADA!

If you want some ideas on what to write inside a birthday card apart from a simple "Happy Birthday," you'll find some suggestions from the greeting card experts here and here. And if you'd like to subscribe to my newsletter, just add your e-mail here. 

Whether it's your birthday or not, I wish you all, Buen Provecho!