Star Wars Snowflakes

These are the neatest snowflakes ever. Not only elegant, but truly embrace creativity at the highest level of geek chic! Hats off to Anthony Herrera Designs for allowing such creativity to soar with this.....

Star Wars Snowflakes

http://anthonyherreradesigns.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56:star-wars-snowflakes&catid=34:anthonydesign-blog

All About Sock Monkey

My Dad loves Sock Monkeys. They seem to be popping up everywhere nowadays. Here are some cute and creative crafts having to do with sock monkeys!

Kim

Learn How to Sew Your Own Sock Monkey with a Pair of Socks http://www.craftbits.com/project/sock-monkey
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Sock-Monkey

How to Make A Sock Monkey Costume
http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2010/08/diy-sock-monkey-costume/

Knit a Sock Monkey
http://www.favecrafts.com/Knitting/Sock-Monkey-Knitting-Pattern-from-Red-Heart#

Make Sock Monkey Cake Pops
http://sewellphotography.typepad.com/weblog/2011/03/domestic-diva.html

Big Bubbles

In my life experiances, I have found the secret to making the best and biggest bubbles lies in the pharmacy! A simple bottle of glycerin will strengthen and increase bubble size for maximum giggles! Here is one special recipe below..

Big Bubbles Recipe

1 Cup Slightly Warm Water
2 Tablespoons Liquid Detergent
1 Tablespoon Glycerin
½ Teaspoon Sugar

Stir together all ingredients.
Use bubble wands, toilet paper tubes, etc. to gently blow large bubbles!



Happy Crafting!

Kim
Check out my crafting books, patterns and more

Adventures in Batik

So my latest crafting adventure is Batik. What is Batik? Is that a specialty store that you go to for designer clothes? No! Its a beautiful Indonesian artform used to put some bold and intricate designs in their cloth. The crafter puts a resist of some nature, usually wax, upon the cloth in a design and then applying dye to the cloth. Wherever there is no wax, the cloth will be dyed, but where the cloth is protected will remain the original color.

Honestly, the approach that I am coming to favor is a bit different. My children are still young and enjoy crayons, which means they enjoy BREAKING crayons! I had pure white delicious cloth and a bunch of broken crayons. There was a small metal paint tray with little divits for the paint in my crafting drawer. Perfect. I broke up each crayon into little pieces and filled several divits. Warming the whole tray in a steamer basket double boiler on my stove. As soon as I achieved liquid wax, dipping a paintbrush in and painting quickly I achieved a beautiful and colorful desgin. They key was to do it in very short strokes so the wax would stay very HOT upon the brush. After the wax cooled, I placed the cloth between newspaper (I keep a roll of newsprint paper purchased cheap from my local newspaper)and cardboard and then used my iron to warm the wax,wicking it onto the newsprint. It took several changes, but finally I had bold colors and beautiful designs.

I have tried adding pariffin to the crayon for a more diffused color and using just straight clear paraffin resist and dying the cloth too. I plan on picking up some beeswax from a local beekeeper and trying that for a resist! All of the methods are fun, easy and relaxing adventures in crafting!



This is going to be one bold new way to allow MY creative spirit to fly..

Kim
Check out my crafting books, patterns and more

Embracing your Creativity!

Creativity is a vital pulse of our lives. It can touch every aspect of our very being. We interact with someone's creative spirit from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep. From inventions to art to music - every aspect of our existance was someones exciting idea at one point. At night we play in our own playground of imagination.

We should strive to live our lives to embrace our own creative spirit. Express ourselves through crafting, music and the arts. Either through appreciation or through active creation!

Many people look at the accomplishments and creations of others and think "I could never do that!" when in truth, they could if they would just move their egos and own doubts out of the way. Will it be perfect? Maybe, maybe not. Will it be grand or fall flat? Who knows! But the important part is that it was CREATED. That you embraced your inner voice and allowed it to shout out loud THIS IS ME!!!! I am FREE to touch the stars, soar in the clouds, walk the thick green grass or dig deep within the cool fresh earth.

Creativity is more then making something or appreciating something. It is about allowing yourself to have the freedom of a voice.

Let your voice sing.

Kim

Check out my crafting books, patterns and more