Monthly Archives: March 2010

Graffiti Rose Urban Corsage

22 Monday Mar 2010

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As I was making the Graffiti Rose Hair Clip I blogged about here that I found on The Swell Life blog, I thought about also making a corsage using the same basic principles. As I mulled the idea over, I realized that I could make the Graffiti Rose Hair Clip that I made multifunctional by attaching it to some kind of wrist strap, thereby creating what I’m calling an Urban Corsage. I made a couple of prototypes that I’m giving to my friends Lauren and Adrienne. After making them, I realized how I could make them better, although what I came up with is pretty spectacular, if I do say so myself!

This is what the Graffiti Rose Urban Corsage looks like on my wrist.:

Here is how it’s attached…by wrapping a ribbon that’s sewn on around a button:

The hair clip is what keeps it on:

And here’s the label I made using bias tape, transfer paper, my computer, and iron:

I’m pretty pleased with how this turned out, and I  like the concept. I’m thinking about other ways that the wrist band can be made and other uses for it.

As a reminder, here’s how the hair clip looks in my hair:

Embellishing a Hat

18 Thursday Mar 2010

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Todd’s coworker JD has a black hat with tone on tone skulls on it. He wanted some of the skulls to show up a little more, so he asked Todd if he could embroider on it to make it “pop” a little more. It didn’t take long for Todd to do this, and it made the hat look a lot better.

Here’s what the hat originally looked like:

Peter Grimm Skull Cadet Hat

Here’s what it looks like after Todd added embroidery:

A Day at the Dog Park

17 Wednesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Family, Pets

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The weather here in Northern Illinois has been gorgeous the last several days…sunny and mild – all the way up into the 60s! Because it’s so nice, we’ve taken “the girls” (Mina and Zuzu) to the Canine Corners Dog Park at Searls Park. The dog park is a great and inexpensive place to help exercise and socialize your dogs. In Winnebago County, Illinois, all you have to do is go to the Park District office or Carlson Ice Arena to purchase tags for your dogs to wear (or, in the case of Zuzu, who’s so little that she doesn’t wear a collar, for you to wear for her). The first dog is $25 for a full year and subsequent dogs are $15 for a full year. You can also purchase single session or half season passes.

We’ve rarely had problems, although we have had some. Last year another dog decided he didn’t like Mina and attacked her. She now has two small scars on her head from where that dog bit her. There have also been instances where bigger dogs have gotten rough with Zuzu. In those instances, either Todd or I will scoop her up and tell the dog/dogs to go away. Mina will also intervene by ramming those dogs, and in some instances, nipping them to get away from Zuzu – Mina is a great big sister! In almost all instances, however, the owners of the dogs are right there to discipline their dogs.

We’ve only ever been to Searls, but it’s perfect for us. There’s a small covered area when it’s a bit too windy, a big grassy area where the dogs can run and play, and a newer path system through a small forest that is our favorite. Below are some pictures from our visit today.

Graffiti Rose Hair Clip and Pin

11 Thursday Mar 2010

Posted by in Craft

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Yesterday, on the Crafty Chica’s Facebook, Kathy posted a link to a neat graffiti rose hair clip/pin project on The Swell Life Blog. I’ve always liked flower hair clips, but I’ve never had one. I got all of the paint supplies from Michael’s, then went to Hobby Lobby for the silk roses because they’re having a sale where all fake flowers are 50% off.  I got two sizes of roses, because I wasn’t sure which I would like better. I couldn’t find any black tulle at Michael’s, so I got black sheer ribbon instead.  I think it would look better with the black tulle, like the original.

The one thing I would have done differently is that my colors weren’t coming out very vibrantly, so I ended up having to spritz on the paint four extra times.  Unfortunately, I had already taken off the letters, so some of them were covered over.  If I were to do this again, I would leave the letters on until I was finished with all coats of paint.

My finished roses are below.  You can find the supply list and instructions on The Swell Life Blog here.

Small Rose for My Hair

Large Rose that I’ll use as a pin

Close up of the large rose’s graffiti

Small rose in my hair

Close up in my hair

Book Review: Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

10 Wednesday Mar 2010

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This is the book review I posted on Amazon and Barnes & Noble for Kathy “The Craft Chica” Cano-Murillo’s newest book, “Waking Up in the Land of Glitter.”

The Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo has been writing books for years instructing her fans in various crafty techniques. Her latest foray into writing strays from the instructional path to a novel, and it’s my opinion that she has created a whole new genre of fiction: Crafty Fiction. It’s a novel like no other that I’ve read. Kathy melds her love of crafting with a beautiful story of love, friendship, loss, and hope. She’s artfully created characters that you come to care for throughout the novel.

There’s Estrella “Star” Esteban, the main character. She’s free spirited, fun, and artistic, but a bit flighty…at first. She’s done something terrible, and she needs to prove to her parents, friends, and most of all herself, that she can be the person she envisions herself to be.

Her best friend Ofelia is a craftaholic who doesn’t seem to have any real talent at the projects she attempts until she takes a long, hard look at herself and finds her calling.

And there’s Chloe Chavez, a local TV reporter locally known as Crafty Chloe, who has grand plans of becoming a crafting mogul. The only problem there is, though, is that she hates crafts, and the life plan she’s created for herself isn’t her own.

The supporting characters of Star’s parents and boyfriend, Ofelia’s husband, daughter, and mother-in-law, and Chloe’s work associates and boyfriend help to round out the characters in a cohesive manner that adds life and vitality to this book.

For several years I’ve followed Kathy’s career through her books, TV appearances, and on the internet. Her good nature, encouragement, and belief that anyone is crafty have been an inspiration to me. I hope her fingers are ready for more novels like this one, because I’m one of many fans who want to see more!

Waking Up in the Land of Glitter

You can find the book on Amazon here. An on Barnes & Noble here.

Kathy’s website is CraftyChica.com

You can find her on Facebook here.

You can find her on Flickr here.

Remembrance Shrine to Ripley

10 Wednesday Mar 2010

Posted by in Craft, Family, Gifts, Pets

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Ripley has got to be the best cat that my family has ever had. We got him in 1992 from Winnebago County Animal Control, and he was estimated to already be a couple of years old. We had discovered that we had a field mouse problem in our new house, and we needed a mouser. In the spring and summer he’d go out in the morning and come home at night. We did that for a few years until Ripley became too good of a “provider” for our family. Every day we’d open the door and there’d be a dead and decapitated animal on our door step. He was just trying to take care of us by providing meals for us. This became too much for my mom when my dad was traveling a lot, so he then became an indoor cat. He seemed to be okay with being indoors all day so long as he had a comfy spot to look outside.

I think it was in November of 2006 that he had to be put down. He was very sick and couldn’t keep his food down anymore. He had spent 14 great years with my family, and probably lived about 16 years total. It was a sad, sad day when he wasn’t in our lives anymore.

I made this Remembrance Shrine to Ripley for my son Logan, who had a special bond with Rippers, as he was sometimes known. I kept it somewhat simple, considering he IS a 20 year old boy, but I couldn’t stay completely away from the glitter.

Remembrance Shrine to Ripley

Materials used: cigar box, wooden balls for feet, paint, Melody Ross paper, glittered black card stock, blue rick rack, Crafty Chica glue and blue glitter, black chunky glitter, Jim Holtz idea-ology token, and Me & My Big Ideas embellishments.

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