Crafties In Progress

Sweet Pea at itsawhimsicallife started her "spoonful of creativity a day" campaign. I thought it sounded like a great challenge. Click here to read all about it.

Then, I got sick and didn't post any of the little crafties I worked on. So, here goes:

This is my first attempt to make a little felted witch. She'll be perfect for a swap I'm in.

Inspiration came from Julie Collings absolutely amazing book Pretty Little Felts. If you don't have it click on the title to link to her fabulous etsy shop. This book is filled with inspiration for hours!!! Then I started working on Christmas ornaments.(Also from Julies book)These ones aren't quite finished.

Every year I like to make ornaments to give to my family and friends. I love to be able to go to their homes during the Holidays and see little pieces of my heart hanging on their trees from years past. I did manage to finish a bunch of these. Now, all I need to do is add a copy of a vintage baby picture to the centers and ribbon to hang them.

Yeah!! ONE thing I can cross off of my enormous Christmas list. Back to Halloween! I started work on these. They will be adorable Holiday felt rings for my girls(and maybe a swap or two) when I'm done. These are ALSO from Julies book. (see what I mean about inspiration for hours.) The next day, a super friend of mine asked me if I could make the crepe paper flowers I sell in my etsy shop HALF of their size. She has been in love with them for awhile but didn't know what she would use them for. Then, she joined an ATC swap and realized these would be the perfect accent if they were only smaller. So, here they are (in progress). I can't decide what to put in the centers. A normal hole punch is too small. I don't have enough tiny vintage mother of pearl buttons for them all either. If you have any suggestions, I would LOVE to hear them. After I figure out the centers, I'll be listing some of them in my shop.

Oh yeah, black ones are on their way too.

Then, last but not least, I got an urge to spruce up a little composition book.

I just love these! I love the size, the weight, just everything!! I used vintage sheet music, vintage trim, vintage mother of pearl buttons, seam binding ribbon and a super funny vintage french pharmacy label. I don't know if you can read it but, roughly translated it says "The big, cheap, pharmacy." and the pharmacists name is Armand PAIN!!! I don't know if I would go to that pharmacy.

I really enjoyed the challenge of creating something new, with different techniques, everyday. I'm sure I'll keep doing it. I'm just not sure I'll be able to post everyday. So, I'll post when I can.

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I've been up to. Please give me some suggestions for the crepe paper centers.

Thanks, enjoy the upcoming weekend,

Cari

Sally Jean Soldering Workshops

Yeah!!! I got a spot!!

When I first found out about Sally Jean having soldering workshops in San Diego I got so excited but I hesitated so that I could check the finances with hubby.

Boy was that a mistake!!

All the classes were full :-(

So, I put my name on the waiting list and then thought positive thoughts, prayed, thought more positive thoughts and POOF!!

Sally Jean added more classes!!

I told hubby, and he booked me a class.

I feel so lucky.

There might still be a few spots available.

She just announced the added classes today.

Check here

It would be so fun to be able to meet some of you lovely ladies in person.

Good Luck!!

Tussie Mussies

I have always been enamored by Tussie Mussies (or cones).

I love them.

I have always wanted to make them.

I finally did!!

First, I was inspired by Halloween. I love this German Silver Glitter.I added a vintage Chandelier crystal to the bottom and some velvet ribbon and a chenille stem.

Then, of course I had to make a pink fru-fru one.

I took a piece of vintage floral wallpaper and framed it in this premade silver frame.

I think it turned out sweet. I had to line the back edges with velvet ribbon because they stick out away from the cone and you could see the glue.

I didn't want any nasty bits showing.

I accented my Tussie Mussie with some vintage lace, vintage velvet flowers, and vintage rhinestone chain. Voila!!

I don't know why I waited so long. These were so quick and easy.

I guess sometimes we make things seem bigger in our heads than they really are.

If there is something you've been wanting to do for a while, do it!!

You'll probably be surprised at how great it works out.

Have a super weekend,

Cari

A Christmas Treat in August

A few weeks ago Michelle from lifeonthisgoodday hosted a Christmas in July blog party and had a wonderful giveaway. I was lucky enough to win one of your fabulous prizes (She gave 3 different items away).

Look at the amazing goodies I got. See the vintage doll head pick?

She was even nice enough to contact the winners to find our their color preferences. Isn't she just the best!! She is such an amazingly talented artist and such a sweet and wonderful person.

So, anyway, after I won, I couldn't wait. I got so excited!! I checked the mail everyday full of anticipation. It came yesterday!! Yeah!!

25 for Christmas Day!!

I was able to calm myself enough to grab the camera and take a few pictures.

This is how beautifully packaged it arrived. I did not want to open it, but, I sooooo wanted to open it. Well, of course, I opened it!!

Love, love, love the Reindeer!!

Look how sweet it is all set up. I GASPED!! Even my daughters swooned a bit which is saying something because it's not always easy to impress teenagers.

Look at the yummy ribbons, some crotchet lace, and some velvet rick-rack.

So, I was torn about taking it all apart but, I had to show you everything. Then, I packaged it all back up, put it back in the cellophane bag, and thumb tacked it to my inspiration board whole. Right in front of where I sit. I am just not ready to use it yet. I'll probably grab little bits out at a time and try to make the initial package "look" last as long as possible.

Thanks again Michelle!! YOU ROCK!!

make sure you check out her blog and store. Yummy!!

Back to School

Well, summer is officially over for me. Boo hoo!!!

Three of my babies went back to school yesterday.

Despite the look on my sons face, he is actually pretty excited to be there.

I got super duper lucky this year and got 2 of the most amazing Elementary school teachers ever!! My youngest daughter also got a rockin Jr. High schedule. All the classes she wanted and one of her best friends in EVERY class.

But, boy am I going to miss those crazy kids while their at school.

But, we had lots of fun this summer.

Here's a peak:
This is where we spent MOST of our time, even though it hasn't been anywhere near as hot as our summers usually are.

We spent tons of time here too. Disneyland is our favorite place and our one GIANT splurge during this time of doing without so many other things. We really love visiting the old cartoon room. Check it out if you get a chance. It's on Main Street, and it's a great way to wait out the crowd when a parade ends.

This was the other place we spent a lot of our time this summer. We usually go to Corona Del Mar with Daddy. But, this year I took the kids to the Balboa Pier area. More Boys!! Hey, that's a big consideration when you have a 16 year old girl. The lifeguards would put up a sign with arrows, and on one side were the "Skimboarders" and the other side "Swimmers". We would sit right on the line so the little ones can play on the waters edge and my oldest could check out the hotties at the same time. Everyone was happy!! (Which is really rare!)

We also did lots of "Free Movie Tuesdays"

Well, that's a wrap on our summer adventures.

We did lots of fun stuff but the best part was just being with the kids.

Now, on to crafting un-interrupted!!

A Fabulous Swap Opportunity

Harley at KoalaFuzz is hosting a 13 Days of Halloween Swap

She has rounded up some sponsors to donate prizes for her swap.

How exciting!! So, if you sign up for her swap, you not only get to have a fabulous partner and lots of goodies swapped. But, you also get the chance to win a fabulous prize from one of her sponsors.

Well, she found me on etsy and asked if I would be willing to donate. Of course, I said "Yes!".

Here is the little item that she asked if I would donate.

So, if you like what you see (heck, even if you don't), hop on over and sign up and check out the prizes from the other sponsors. I think some of them are offering discounts in their stores to participants. I know I am.

Sneak Peek at Halloween Treats Part 2

Here's another little peek at what I've been working on.

I made a few different garlands with spooky words on them.

Here's a super sweet Necklace with lots of vintagy goodness.

I'm adding several different ribbons perfect for Halloween crafting. I even found a really nice black velvet ribbon.

And, some super sweet little tags with vintage bits attached. The perfect finishing touch for your crafts.

I've got lots of other stuff to post too. But, some of my pictures just aren't up to snuff. So, I'm going to work on retaking them and hopefully I'll be posting goodies to my store tomorrow.

Have a great day.

Cari

Sneak Peek at Halloween Treats

I've been busy in my workshop.

This is just a sneak peek!!

I'll be showing more pictures and listing bunches of items in my shops tomorrow.

Accidental Gifts

Hi everyone!! I've been so busy around here lately but, I did want to take the time to show you some unexpected finds.

Look at these super neat maps from the 1950's. O.K, there's a long story that goes with them. I'll just give you the short story:

My father has decided to become a nomad. He bought a trailer and is going to move from place to place (forever I guess). Needless to say, he needed to clear out some stuff. He gave me a bunch of the old National Geographic that my grandpa had in his library forever. I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to do with them, they have sentimental value. So, I was browsing through them and look what fell out of one. I immediately searched them all and I got 8 amazing vintage maps from different areas of the world. Pretty cool unexpected surprise.

Here's another unexpected treat.

On Fathers Day my hubby and kiddos decided to go to my grandma and grandpas house. My dad was coming too. My kids just love my grandpa. He's turning 92 in August. I needed a vintage dictionary so I asked if he had any old books he didn't want laying around.

He did!!

Leave it to grandpa. He had all of these books lined up on bookshelves in the garage with price signs already attached from former garage sales. He was getting ready to send them to the Salvation Army. Ugh!! somebody missed these at a garage sale. He had them priced at .25c each. They are his old Hymnals (sheet music) from when he was a kid. His father was a minister. Lucky for me he had two of one of the books because I don't know if I could cut it up otherwise. All of these books are from around 1905. One is in such good shape the pages look almost brand new. Not exactly what you want for crafting but oh well, beggars.... ya know!!

Well, that's it as far as found treasures go.

I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer. I have less than 3 weeks till school starts back up. The girls already have all of their new clothes and all of the kids got their school supplies at Wal-Mart. Not normally my favorite place but boy do they have great specials.

I'll sure miss these crazy kids when they go back. I think I'll take them to Disneyland today.

Hope you stay cool and have fun.

Cari