Ornamental fun

I've been making ornaments!

I joined the Blu Penny ornament exchange this year and I've been getting crafty. Sometimes, you need an excuse to get messy. Well, I gave myself one this year by joining in the fun, and I'm so glad I did.

Happy Holidays!

Holiday craft projects

Enchanted Learning

I am a huge fan of craft projects for kids, but I especially like the ones that are simpler but provide a great measure of individual artistic license. I've been very into Pinterest these days which has definitely helped stoke the craft fires. It sure is pretty to cruise through, too. But I was looking for a resource that was more than just a pretty face, and a one-stop-shopping for cool, easy-but-fun kids craft projects for the holidays. I happened upon Enchanted Learning and knew I had found what I was looking for. Though it's not all "Pinterest"-y pretty, it DOES provide a variety of projects along with some REAL step-by-step (...dare I say foolproof?) craft "recipes". I did some of these when I was a kid, and I loved them! So, tried and true is one of the keys here. Then, some of them are new to me but look just as enticing to try. In fact, the kid inside me wants to give them a spin.... and again, they're so painless to put together, hey I just might! Want to join me?

Craftiness

Scrapbooking

Polymer Clay

These are two of the crafty hobbies I enjoy working on!

Nowadays, I don't really spend that much time on them, as I'm busy illustrating. But from time to time I take out all my clay and tools, and make little characters with the kids. They love making them.. I have yet to find good quality, long lasting. child play proof polymer clay because they usually end up loosing the little tail or breaking the tiny foot of the wonderful little creations they make.

Fortunately, there is the always ever so handy... crazy glue :o)

craftiness

Have you ever made your own Cinnamon Playdough? How about Whipped Soap Flakes? Or maybe some Clean Mud or Shaving Cream Paint? Sound fun? Well, then this is the book for you:

Make your own Playdough, Paint, and Other Craft Materials, by Patricia Caskey.

It truly is a treasure trove of craft recipes and projects (over 100!! ) all using common household ingredients. There's even a chapter titled Goop and Glop. What child could resist checking out a recipe for Goop? And of course, I'll be standing right next to that child peeking over their shoulder, because I can't resist this stuff either. (sheepish grin)

I had the pleasure of illustrating this book of craftiness. The blue illustration (above) is from the book - It's a photo holder made from pipe cleaners, string, and homemade playdough.

weekly theme- craftyness

I enjoy making crafts but have noticed that it has gone by the wayside now that I use crafty materials for my illustration work. I do try to participate in the "pincushion challenge" whenever I can, though.

If you're interested in creating the sunny wrist pincushion, there is a tutorial on my blog here. It's quick, simple and a lot of fun!

Craftiness!

ACEO's are pretty darn crafty...

I've been doing a few of them lately (ACEO's, that is -- it stands for Artists Cards - Editions and Originals) and they are fun to create, and a nice outlet. Perfect for me because crafty-wise because it's a sort of crafty thing to do, but it is still drawing and painting, and I don't knit. :)

This one is not painted in yet, but I call it "Wild West Doggies". Or maybe I should call it "Get Along, Little Doggies". Well, either way, it's doggie - focused and it's wild-west fun. Enjoy!