Art Journaling: Supplies

I know a lot of people who list journaling as something they'd like to do. Sometimes it is even a New Year's resolution. These same people usually talk, at length of how they started out pretty well, but eventually puttered out. Maybe "dear diary" journal writing just isn't your style! With one successful series behind me (on embroidery techniques) I have decided that March will be the month of the art journal! There will be lots of other projects too, but for those of you interested in journaling, and specifically art journaling: get ready for some awesome ideas, tips and tricks to make this a successful year (or month at least) in keeping a journal.

I have compiled this little list of supplies that you may want so you can follow along in March with all the great journal ideas I have for you!

To start, you will need the journal itself. I typically opt for some sort of sketchbook. To make it something I use more regularly, a small size that can fit easily into any bag, purse, etc is key for me. I also like my journals to have a coiled wire binding. This way, I can fold the whole thing open and lay it flat on a table, hands free, if I paste in a recipe or project idea I want to look at while crafting/baking etc. later on. Don't limit yourself though, If you want to paste your ideas into an old book (I'm a fan of science type journals: botanical survey books can be great!) feel free. The beauty of an art journal is you can be as free with it as you like! Just have some kind of book. You can even hole punch paper and use loose binder rings to fasten it together as you go (great if you like using varieties of paper for different media--you can insert watercolor paper just as easily as graph paper or copy paper).

Next, and especially if you have had trouble sticking to any kind of journaling in the past, find supplies that make you WANT to journal. I found these great woodless colored pencils the other day and I can't wait to use them!

I also typically have gel pens in several colors around the house, I love the way they feel in my hand when I write, so I want to write a lot! I also recommend making yourself a decorative (as well as protective) book cover. I like to use felt or other fabrics, in bright colors. Keep your journal where you will see it and the bright color will draw your eye and remind you to pick it up and write! SO pick out a fabric, felt or decorative paper you would like to see on your cover (you can also recycle the cover of an old hardcover book from a flea market if you'd like).

Have a large stack of magazines you have been meaning to get rid of, but you just can't bring yourself to do it because you know there was something in there you had to keep? Well, flip through them, tear out the things you wanted to keep and save them aside. We'll be adding these to your journal in several fun ways :)

Pick out at least one art or craft supply that you have never used before but would like to try. I purchased some stickers and my first roll of Washi tape the other day at collage and plan on using some of the tape to embellish pages throughout my journal. This is a great time to get a sample set of oil pastels, paints, stamps, stencils, etc and try them out!

Have a variety of papers to incorporate. I always get scrap book paper and cardstock when I find it on sale. Often, I have so much I don't know what to do with it: Embellish pages in your journal, make envelopes to add to pages as pockets, cut out fun shapes and more!


Some optional supplies you may want:

markers
graph paper (especially handy for quilters/embroidery buffs)
various glues
rulers
scissors
crayons
pencil sharpener
binder clips (make some fancy ones like these!)
paper punches (edge and corner punches can make your finished journal look extra cute with decorative edges)
Ribbon (decorate pages or use it as a bookmark)
tape
stickers
stamps
ink pads
paints
paint brushes
Buttons, velcro, etc to make a closure on your cover (there will be tutorials on this stuff later)
needles and thread (you can sew paper too!)

Gather up your supplies and get ready for some fun! Tutorials start on March 1st!

Candy Colored Binder Clips

First off, I'd like to apologize for not having a food craft this Friday. I think my cooking skills got all used up on my special Valentine's Breakfast posts, but fear not I will be back with more yummy food for you next Friday.

In the meantime, I'd like to address my borderline unhealthy addiction to cute office supplies. In particular, binder clips. They are absolutely my favorite office supply. Regular paper clips, even in fancy shapes, just can't hold a candle to binder clips. So I decided to break out the Mod Podge and some paper and fabric scraps to pretty up some of my favorite office supply!

All you need to do is make sure you have clean binder clips, and then brush a think coat of Mod Podge onto your binder clip, place on your paper or fabric then seal with more Mod Podge. I'm thinking or painting my binder clip edges (the parts still in black) with some nail polish to make them even more awesome!

What do you think, should I keep these in a dish instead of candy? Do you have any serious obsessions with office supplies (I'm also a fan of colored staples and tiny notebooks)? Have you ever tried to make an office supply extra pretty? I'd love to hear all about it!

Scrap Project Roundup

I have been trying to finish up all of my Holiday crafting, so I got behind on my scrap fabric projects last week. To make it up to all of you, here are a bunch of super cute scrap fabric projects I found on Pinterest! Above you will see a fabric scrap Memory game, found at Babble.

This is a great wall art project using fabric scraps and embroidery hoops, from The Purl Bee. While this project just uses fabric swatches, you could certainly do some embroidery on your scraps to add even more visual interest.





Here are some garden flags from Design Sponge. I think these are adorable. Use toothpicks and the same idea to make cupcake flags!




A fantastic fabric mosaic, as wall art, by Cart Before the Horse. You could also Mod Podge fabric to a piece of furniture for the same mosaic effect, just make sure to seal your final piece.




This vintage chair rehab with scrap fabrics is absolutely gorgeous! I've recovered a chair before and it's hard work, but this is just amazing! Found at Dornob (they have several scrap fabric recover jobs, I highly recommend checking it out).




You can also use your scraps to make a cute pillow case, like this one from Cluck Cluck Sew.



What are your favorite projects to do with scraps?

Scrappliques!

Here is another easy scrap project: appliques. These can be permanently fixed onto anything you like, or you can turn them into pins, brooches, etc. and put them on something temporarily, you can even stuff them to make a more 3-d pin! They can also be made in any shape you have scraps big enough for: I chose a mustache because I had the pattern handy from my Portlandia Potholders.

To begin, select the scrap fabric you will be using. Make sure it is large enough to fit your applique shape.

I didn't do such a great job of step by step photos on this one, but it's pretty easy to explain anyway. I used no-sew Heat n Bond and ironed it onto a piece of felt to start (I use eco-fi felt which is made from recycled pop bottles. It is also washable, as opposed to wool felt which will get yucky if you wash it a lot). I would recommend using white felt, but so people can see what I'm doing in the tutorial, I used yellow-orange. The great thing about Heat n Bond is it has a paper backing that you can use to trace your image onto, it makes it easy to cut out later on. I chose to cut my image out of felt and then iron it onto my final fabric. If you wanted you could iron Heat N Bond onto both sides of your felt, then remove the paper backing on one side and iron on your scrap fabric, then trace several images onto the paper still in place, cut them out and iron them onto your final piece.

Here, I have cut out my mustache from the felt first, and then ironed it onto my fabric scrap.

Then, I cut out my mustache! Now it can be sewn or pinned anywhere. I think these would be adorable on some onesies for a baby boy (let's be honest though, I'd put it on a girl with no shame in my game).


Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a bag of scrap fabrics on my Giveaway Day post.

Scrap Lampshade

Hey everyone, in keeping with my scrap fabric projects this week (inspired by my Giveaway Day giveaway), here is a great project I saw at The Pleated Poppy. Wouldn't this be great in a craft room? I see myself trying it out once I get a lamp with appropriate shade, thrifting this weekend perhaps?

I will have another tutorial with one of my own projects this afternoon, but hopefully this tides you over :) If you haven't already, go enter for a chance to win a bunch of fabric scraps from yours truly on my Giveaway Day post right now! Then you can make all of this week's fabulous projects yourself!

Scrap pincushions

These little pincushions are super quick and easy to make! They use the same idea as my paper gift bag ornaments, only they are fabric (thanks to Cameron for the idea)! You can use scraps that are either rectangular or square, and as long as you can manage tiny work they can be as small as you please! They are great to stick into sewing kits as well (fill a mason jar with a pincushion, tiny scissors, some thread, needles, buttons, etc and you have easy, cute readymade gifts!).

To begin you will need a scrap of fabric, cut to a square or rectangle. The example shown is approximately 4"x4".

Next, fold it in half, wrong side out.

Sew shut on two sides as pictured below (sides A and B should be stitched shut).

Next, fold your third side together so points C and D overlap in the center of your fold. Pin and sew from outer edge, to point where C and D meet.

Turn your pincushion right side out and stuff with batting as desired. After stuffed, sew shut by hand or with machine.

I think these are super cute on their own and often keep extras I have made in a little bowl or candy dish. They'd also be great displayed in an apothecary jar, which I have yet to invest in but think they are great.


More scrap projects coming up, stay tuned!

DIY Gift Card Envelopes

Hey everyone! I have been taking a bit of a mental health break this week (off at both jobs!) but I decided to share a quick and easy craft with you today because I just can't stay away! These are cute little office style envelopes for gift cards. There is a template available at the bottom of the post, feel free to grab it and manipulate it to any size you want in your favorite image program. While I make these to wrap up gift cards, they would also be great to make a little larger and gift recipe cards to your friends any time of year. If you have a lot of gift cards you send out at the holidays, now is a perfect time to get started on a little stash to have on hand as well. When making your template, I recommend printing it out on card stock as it is easier to trace around and will last longer than printing on regular paper. Also, the gift card envelopes I made are 2.25 inches x 3.5 inches final size. One of these days I will learn how to upload pdf files so you get things the right size to start, I swear! However, these envelopes are great for not only gift cards, but regular cards, thank you's and, as previously mentioned, wrapping up tasty recipe cards as well, so you will likely want to adapt it to any size you want.

To make your own gift card envelopes you will need:

Scrap book paper in your favorite patterns (one 12"x12" sheet will yield you 4 envelopes)
Embroidery Floss in your favorite colors
Needle
Scissors
Xacto Knife
Pack of small buttons, various colors
Glue (any glue will work for this, so use what you have on hand or just buy a cheap all purpose glue. I generally spread mine thin with a paint brush, so a cheap one of those helps too but is not necessary)
Ruler

If you don't want to buy paper, I would recommend using magazines or store catalogs. These often have at least some pages that are thicker, but if you like the images on the very thin magazine paper, I suggest using a piece of tape on the backside or your envelope where you will be sewing your button into place to help avoid tearing your paper (you could also glue multiple sheets together but that makes this project much more complicated than it needs to be). The magazine paper is an extra cute idea if you make your envelope go with your gift card: card to Pottery Barn? Make it out of one of their ads or a page from their catalog, etc.

Once you have your paper cut out in the size you want, I generally use my Xacto knife to score my folds (very gently, I really don't even push, just drag the blade gently across the paper). I score the "pretty side" of my paper, not the back. A ruler helps to keep your lines straight, if you don't trust yourself scoring the paper, you can also line up your ruler and fold against it to keep your folds crisp.

Then, I select my buttons (I generally use matching buttons on each envelope, but it is not necessary) and my embroidery floss. Sew your button into place as marked on the pattern. If you have small grommets, you can use card stock circles and grommet them into place, but again, not necessary. I try to buy special equipment as rarely as possible. When sewing your button onto the top flap you will want to sew it securely, tie it off and then rather than clip your remaining thread, sew back through to the outside of your envelope and tie a knot around the base of your button, then leave the remaining string so you can fasten your envelope shut.

Once you have your buttons attached, you will need to glue your two side flaps together. To do this, I use a small paint brush to apply a very thin layer of glue onto the back side of the shorter flap (the one with the button sewn onto it). I then fold the envelope closed, long flap down, shorter flap on top to secure them. Be sure not to use too much glue as you don't want it seeping out and sticking your envelope closed to the point it is unusable. Then, with a small amount of glue, close the bottom flap over the two side flaps. You will use the buttons and string to close your final envelope (yes, it is reusable!).

I hope you all enjoyed this tutorial and have fun making these little envelopes yourselves! If you have any questions, let me know, as this all makes sense to me I would love any feedback on steps I could make clearer or if more images are needed to illustrate the process. :D

Happy Crafting!

Luggage Tags

I'm going to be taking a trip soon to visit my brother and his family in Wisconsin. While it's no tropical beach, it's a vacation nonetheless and I made myself this little luggage tag to brighten my bag up. I just used some of my leftover vinyl from this project, and some felt. There is a little slot opening on the back to slide in a business card. You could also use this little tag as a reusable gift tag, a little photo frame or hook it to your messenger bag or briefcase and keep your bus ticket inside.

Tiny Gift Bags

That's right everyone, it is February, and starting off the month full of projects are these cute little gift bags!

I have a few birthdays coming up this month, as well as Valentine's day, and these bags are perfect to fit a little something special in for the lucky people in your life. (They are also a great way to use up your smaller pieces of fabric). They will easily fit jewelry, a small bag of candies, lip gloss, a watch, cuff links, etc. and can be made with any fabric or ribbon you want. I happened to have a couple complimentary patterns with blues and greens, and leftover red ribbon--I think it adds a nice contrast.

Each bag measures about 4 inches square (I started with fabric scraps that were about 5.5"x9"). I folded a flap at the top and sewed it down so a ribbon tie could be used, then sewed the bottom and side shut(leaving the holes open to insert my ribbon). I generally use a safety pin when making a tie like this, just pin one end of your ribbon and feed it through the hole to the other side and pull it through.

These bags could also be fancied up by using two fabrics and making the bags reversible, but for such a tiny gift bag I decided not to over complicate things and stick with one pretty side (you're stuffing it full of treats anyway, so the inside will probably be overlooked by your recipient).

I hope you enjoy these little gift bags, and remember every day this month I will be featuring another fun craft project!