(Re) Chic

Let's be honest, sometimes things just don't go as planned.  Like when you have this brilliant idea to do screen printing on the cheap and your ink runs everywhere.  Ink bleeding everywhere Or when you melt the fabulous tote bag you were working on.  Melted Mandala Sometimes you just have to admit that you don't know what you're doing and Google it.  And that's what I do.  So look out for some tutorials in the near future of things that I've probably screwed up previously and finally gave in and Googled how to do.   What sort of things have you failed at recently?

So you know how there are those websites that do Pinterest projects that failed miserably...well this is one of my craft fails...not from Pinterest but the concept is the same.  Something that seemed simple...that did not go well, that I hope you can learn from.  I "rescued" a bird bath from the curb that had a hole in it.  I thought "no problem, I'll mosaic over it and the  hole will be covered and it will be prettier."  Seems small enough to cover Lesson 1:  in mosaic-ing-or any other any craft project. Have the right materials.  You should not try breaking pieces with a rolling pin...you'll just dent your rolling pin Quick-drying is not what you want for a mosaic-art takes time! As you can see from some of the above pictures I did not have the appropriate materials.  I had purchased some plates from the thrift store to break for my mosaic, but I couldn't find a hammer so I proceeded to smash them with a rolling pin.  Th...

To take my mind off Ethel's demise I'm working a craft show today. Of course since everyone expected snowmaggdeon there is no one around so we're not doing great. But the good news is I made a few more new things I love.  It's been suggested I start an Etsy shop but I'm not sure I'm ready to pull the trigger yet. So come visit me in person until then! 

I know I missed last week but I promise I'm working on this blogging once/week thing.  I am working on some new stuff for a craft show this coming weekend so stay tuned for my second craft show experience and some new things to show off.  In other news my car is going into the shop tomorrow, so send good juju my way so that Ethel gets to feeling better soon!

Let's get to work...we need to do a little better this month!   1. Get a new job  I have been really missing working a job where I can make a difference. I really want to light a fire under myself to focus on applying and interviewing for a job where I can really affect change.  2. Read 2 books Ideally I want to read one self-help style book and one more fun book.  So we'll see what is calling my name.   3. Work on my knitting I would love to give my mom a scarf for Christmas!  4. Put a dent in my current craft project I'm working on a t-shirt quilt! 5. Keep up the once/week blogging I want to get myself in a habit of keeping this up! I think we'll settle with 5 this month, since I didn't do so hot last month.  

So for those of you who don't know I'm obsessed with Pinterest.   And there has been a lot of crayon art pictures popping up like this one: via Light & Spoon And I've been really wanting to try it, but so many of the silhouettes (like the one above) are overly cutesy and romantic, this one has him proposing , and I wanted something more inspirational so I saw this and decided to combine the two.   Via Too Much Time So here's how I did it...and how it turned out:   The Finished product.           All the colors were lined up and the words added and now for the fun part! It melted super slow...even with my blow dryer on the highest blast possible, so it certainly took a lot of patience.   It looked pretty cool just like that but I really wanted to see what it would be like if I removed the letters: Since it was hard to read plain like this I went in with a Sharpie and tried ...

So I think my glitter flats are not going to make it. Even with some extra sealant the layer of glitter that I put on them is slowly peeling off from the bottom up. So unfortunately they're not going to make it. But stay tuned...I have a plan to revamp another pair of flats! Today's KIND-ness Today I did my monitored calls at Suicide Prevention Services and talked to 3 different people and I really felt like I made a difference.  I love volunteering!

I was inspired by a pin a user posted from We Are Not Martha  (a great crafty site by the way) I found to revamp some really pathetic looking flats that were falling apart to try and create my own glitter flats. Here are the before photos of the world's saddest-looking flats So I pulled out some old silver glitter I had from my RA door-dec making days, bought a new jar of Mod Podge and started glittering!  Below is the picture after adding the first coat of Mod Podge and glitter.  Crafter's tip: mix the mod podge and glitter together before applying to the flats-that will keep you from leaving a trail of glitter behind you when you walk.  After applying enough coats of glitter to ensure that all the turquoise color was covered I went ahead and applied two extra coats of Mod Podge to seal any stray glitter pieces that think they can escape me!  Last coat of Mod Podge! And then I slipped them on to wear to Katie's Grad...

I feel like I spend 90% of my life at work, so I've decided that a lot of my KIND-ness should be spent there. Last night I noticed one of my coworkers had to stay late because she was still on a call with a customer. So today I wrote her a "BRAVO" card to tell her how awesome it was that she had the patience to deal with someone that long. Because I think its pretty impressive that she can have that kind of patience with someone. Especially when she's ready to go home and make dinner. In other news today I'm starting a craft project with one of my favorite things...shoes!  So look out for a post about that soon!

So for those of you who know me you have probably realized that I pretty much completely failed at my April goals. Go to the gym- 0 times Deliver my sister's birthday gift- SUCCESS!  Get my seedlings in the dirt- Done!  AND I repotted them! Get my apartment respectable- Done (barely within April but done!) Blog once/week- Or never.  Complete crafting project- I don't think I even started one... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- May goals:  1. The KIND Project-one kindness everyday.  2. Word Count Blog-a-thon 3. Plant seedlings in garden plot 4. Take the "pump" test at work to get upgraded to CSR Level 2 Today's KIND-ness I sent my sister a Mother's day card.  I know it sounds silly to send one to your sister-but I read this card today and it was too perfect.  So I'm sending it to my sister because I know it will make her day.  

Wow! April really snuck up on me! I had almost forgotten that it happened today...I probably would have had it not been for going to work.  So of course its time to take a look at March and see what was/was not accomplished.  1. Go to the gym (I really am going to get there eventually) -I went once... 2. Finish unpacking and/or at least make my floor walkable if I can't empty EVERY box. -the floor is definitely walkable...so I think that's a win! 3. Plan my garden and start my seeds (I put down my deposit on my community garden plot!) -I have a tentative garden plan AND all my seeds are started!  On top of that I went one day and cleared my plot out of all the old dead stuff and got it ready to plant as soon as my seedlings are strong enough! 4. Complete my desk corner in the spare bedroom -I would say we're 75% there.  The desk is all set-up but I think I'm going to need some shelves or something for additional space (although the seedlings are living there...

I've been catching up on my Google Reader feed with some crafty blogs that have some great projects. Here's a few things I really want to try out: 1. Fabulous plant waterers I love the champagne bottle!  I found this on Love and Trash's blog and you can read the article here.   Not only does she link to where she found the idea but she also links to another blog who creates them using light bulbs and a ball point pen! I'm going home tonight and sticking as many wine bottles into my potted plants as possible!  2. Mason Jar Chandelier The one shown was created by Love and Trash but the full tutorial can be found from Kara Pasley Designs.   I'm not sure about the Mason jars (because I could be canning in them) but I love the idea of using old glassware to create my own chandelier because I've been DYING to have one for my dining room.  So feel free to send me ideas on what I should use to create my own! 3. Worm Com...