Super Mario Bros. Cross Stitch

Today I made this little Mario cross stitch. It took about 1.5 hours to do (while I was "watching" tv.) It's something I will probably end up adding on to at a later date, but for today we'll call it done. It was fairly easy to do, since the original image was an 8 bit pixelated video game. I'll be honest, It's kind of a hybrid of two much more complicated projects I had planned for this month that I ran out of time to finish (one cross stitch, and one with Mario).

So look forward to much more crafty goodness in March.

Here is a closer look at Mario himself. He's probably not as nice as he could be, but I like him all the same. It's a nice little throw back to the original Nintendo system, makes me wish I still had mine.

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.

Make Your Own: Rubber Stamps

Today I decided to make my own rubber stamp. Above you will see all the tools I used to create it: linoleum cutting tools, a 2.5" x 2.5" Artist Carving Block(they are like those worthless white plastic erasers you used to be required to buy for school--at least I was required to buy them) stamping ink and paper. Start with any image you like (it's easiest if it has bold lines or is black and white. Carve out the negative space (the space you don't want to be inked on the paper) if you use words, keeps in mind you will get a mirror image of what you carve, so plan accordingly.

Here is my final image. I did a little tornado landscape kinda thing. I was pretty uninspired, but it turned out kinda cute, I'm just glad I don't live in that lonely little house that is about to get eaten. NOM!