Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Concrete creations!

They're dry!!!
This one is the biggest one.  I used a box and it didn't fair too well.  I wrapped the box with duct tape and as you can see it came out looking like a round bag instead of a box.  I still like it and I'll put it in the courtyard with a plant.
 
 
These are the ones I used jewelry boxes with lids.  I really like the way they came out.

 
 
 
I painted the round one with a metallic purple and it's okay but still not what I have in mind. The box creations worked so nicely as candle holders don't you think? 


 
 
 
 I found some more boxes and still looking for more plastic containers.  I'll be making more. I bought some gold and silver metallic spray paint to use and I also think I may put a wax finish on them. 


Sunday, August 25, 2013

Okay, I couldn't wait 24 hours!

I checked on my concrete creations!  I couldn't help myself and had to remove them from the molds.  Turns out not a really good idea.  There's a reason you have to wait 24 hours.
 
Some of them crumbled!

I dropped it when I tapped it.

These are adorable!
Once I broke a few I left the rest alone.  I'll be checking them in 24 hours.  I'm gonna have to go through the recycle box to find more containers to use as molds!  I have a half of bag of Quikcrete to use up!!  I think onto something here.....

An idea that grabbed ahold of me like a rock hitting my head

Concrete Concrete Concrete!
 
 
I saw these on Pinterest and thought what the heck I can make these, I love concrete and have some experience with it. 
 
 
Basic tools - bucket, gloves, and a mixing stick.
Basic items - plastic containers, cups, paper boxes, glass votive holders, etc.
I used Quikrete concrete and that shit is heavy a solid 60lbs!


 
I scooped the mix into the bucket and added water.
 

What I realized after mixing is the texture, not as fine as I would like, but then I can't judge until the final product.  But you can see the pebbles/stones in the mix.  Haha kinda reminds me of refried beans.



I sprayed the various containers with vegetable oil.  I poured the concrete into them and then set the interior container which I also sprayed with the oil. 


Most of the container were small except for this one.  It was a box and it didn't hold up as well as the smaller boxes or plastic cups.



Now to let it all set up for the next 24 hours!

Javier & Anne's reception invites...all done.

This is the drawing I came up with after talking to Javi & Anne.  I touched it up some and rearranged them so they were standing more evenly.  The paper is cream puff shade from Cards & Pockets.  I love the texture of their card stock.
 
I added a red border design and a banner.  I really really like the outcome.  I used my drawing and found the Brain Flower font that was perfect for their invites.  I'm digging the font.  I was able to get two invites to a card stock sheet.  I love my printer Canon Pro 9000, makes printing easy.
 
printing
 
cutting

scoring
 
final score with bone folder
They like the Mexican papel picado banners.  I found one on the internet I was able to use on their envelops.  I finished with printing their return addresses on the back.
 
 printed envelopes
 
Congratulations of Javi & Anne.  Now on to reception decorating ideas and projects....heading to venue this week.  They're having their event on a rooftop!
 
Tip - using the right tools makes the job easy, but investing in the best right tools is smart.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Progress

First, my ankle is so much better.  Lots of rest and ice packs.  I'm in the middle of a wedding invitation order but have a few days before I have to print, cut, assemble since I'm waiting on my paper/envelope order to be delivered.  I've been dreaming up all these projects, painting something...maybe some chairs, lots of chairs need painting by the way, I would love to build a potting shed out of all the wood I have laying around, I have these really cool windows I got in California years ago and also windows from my old high school and I've been dreaming of all the cool things I could do with them, I also have two really really neat metal gates I should do something with them, I still have jewelry pieces to finish, but the biggest thing I've been dreaming about is making Christmas stuff!  I sewed burlap stockings last year and they came out so cool, I want to make more, I also painted xmas signs on wood, I always make my cards and for some reason I have the bug to sew, maybe aprons, maybe some altered art journals, maybe some wire art, maybe maybe maybe...  Okay, I'm back to my senses....finish some unfinished stuff before I start anything else.  Time to sit down and make my gotta finish list.  Should still be fun.
 


 

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Travel Photo Album gift

I had a series of photos for my young friend Erin from my trip to the Boston area.  I wanted to put them together in an album for her.  I went to my local craft stores and really couldn't find anything I liked.  I decided to make her an accordion style book.
 
 
 
I used 8 1/2 x 11 white card stock and cut it in half length wise.  I needed three sheets for the number of photos I wanted to use.
 
 
I scored them to make 5 1/2 x 6 size pages
 
 
Folded them in half.
 
 
I used 1/2"  blue masking tape to put the pages together to make one long series of accordion pages.
 
 
 

 
I added photos and grouped them in order of the events we did together.  Visiting Salem, touring the Constitution and hanging out in Marshfield and the beach.
 
 
 
On the back page I added a ribbon under the back page so it can be tied together.  I'm very happy the way it turned out.
 
 

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Ouch...

I sprang my right ankle Saturday night and have no funny or interesting story to tell you how it happened! I was standing in line for the dollar dance and I moved out of someone's way and I twisted my ankle but no biggie, I didn't loose my balance, I didn't hit the ground & I pretty much danced the rest of the night away.  But, when I got home my ankle was swollen!  Ice & elevate, right.  Well it's Tuesday and it's swollen & hurts....no bueno! So I'm back on the couch with my ankle elevated with a ice pack.  Watching cooking shows is making me hungry, I might need to put a movie on instead. I'm not good at doing nothing so this sucks!!

Monday, August 12, 2013

On to the next project

I'm working on wedding invitations with the Day of the Dead theme.   I did some research and there are a million skeleton images.  It's endless the designs out there.  I took different parts from different on line clipart/images.  I plan to add a three dimensional embellishments to the final invite.  I'm liking what I have so far.
 

Wedding gift full of hearts

As you may remember I've been helping with a library themed wedding reception.  Their wedding was yesterday and it was wonderful.
 
Beautiful couple
I decided to make them a gift using hearts stamped out of their love paper.  The colors were ivory and navy.

Punched hearts out of their love paper and navy card stock.



Added two hearts with their names and wedding dates.
 
I mounted the hearts on a piece of beautiful ivory card stock that has a metallic sheen to it. 
 
I had seen these types of framed heart artwork on line and they can be pricey, but I found the white square shadow box frame on sale at a good price.  I had all the card stock, heart punch and glue dots, so the gift mainly took time.  I was really pleased with it.  I wrapped it in brown grocery style paper and used more hearts to write our names on it.  I forgot to get a photo!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

I'm back ....

It's been awhile.....

I'm back from vacation and struggling to get motivated to do anything creative.  But, this is what I've been doing this past week.  Sam & Victor's wedding is right around the corner! 
 



This is the wedding gift card holder... a mailbox!  I painted it with navy chalk paint and hand painted "p.s. I love you", I'm happy how it came out.


btw, loved the movie

 This the way I'm suggesting they display the place cards

Using a drawer from my vintage Singer sewing machine cabinet


Coming up with an idea how to display the table numbers,  my suggestion is this wire holder.... I saw something like this on Pinterest,  I love it how it came out.  I got the go to make them, so that's on my agenda tomorrow .... wire stands... twenty or so.





It's good to be back but I need to take a walk through the art museum and some galleries.  I need to wake up my creative soul.