Craft Test Dummies

So I’ve mentally committed to doing RAKs…Random Acts of Kindness for my CPS Yahoo group sisters. So far I’ve made bookmarks, altered bobbins, felt needle cases, and now I’m on to charm-y thingies. I just mailed out my April goodies, which consist of a hand-made paper bead w/ Chinese characters on them, Chinese coins, and red beads for good luck. I’m not sure what the recipients might do with them, but I figure they would be fun on an art quilt, shrine or assemblage. I was in my paper-bead making frenzy, and I thought they would be fun.

I’ve also started my May ones, and now I’m on to bottle caps! (Of course, I’m testing some ideas out for a new class, and I needed to play a little.) Here’s what I got so far, but I intend to poke some holes and hang some danglies. Ohhh, they are so fun!

I’m really loving these, and for this batch I just used Paper Glaze…. but I’m beta-testing liquid polymer clay for a jewelry application.

But back to the RAKs…. maybe I should mount these onto tags, or 3X3’s, or maybe make them into little dolly people. Anyone have an idea? I’m up for comments!

OK, so we didn’t really swap fabrege eggs… we made Artist Trading Cards inspired by them. I got these last week on Wednesday, right before we headed out of town for a funeral. I apologize for being late to my wonderful swap-ees, Trish, Katherine, and Agnieska (from Poland!) These are gorgeous, and now I have to find a clever way to display them next Easter.

I only hope that my swap partners were as pleased with my polymer clay ATC’s. Usually my CPS yahoo group sticks to cloth and paper… not too much clayin’ going on there. Maybe I’ll start a trend!

Since last week was so hectic with the Sewing Expo, I didn’t get to share some of my birthday goodies.  One of my favorites was from my dear friend Jenna, who for 11 years was my co-worker and cohort in creative arts therapies escapades!

She is the art therapist who loves music and plays guitar; I was the music therapist who made art and loved making musical instruments. We were yin and yang, and people have asked it we were sisters on more than one occasion.

So Jenna came by with her dear daughter for a playdate, and brought me birthday goodness. This year, she made me a mini book called “The Nine Muses of Jenny.” (Yeah, it’s confusing; she’s a Jennifer and I’m a Jenny.) Anyway, in this faboo handmade book, she recounts each muse by name, and then describes how that muse applies to me.  Or IS me.

I can’t tell you how thoughtful, poingnant,  and sometimes funny - this book is! For example:

Urania, muse of Science - She is  the explorer of frontiers, unknown territories, uncharted questions, and mysteries. She endeavors fearlessly to uncover, discover, and recover what is lost, forgotton or unimagined! She is a seeker. She tests out multitudes of new products and techniques, and her dining room table is under there somewhere!

Oh, how true!

She also acknowledged the loss of both of my grandmothers in one year, along with giving up my job to be a stay-at-home mom. Yes, it was my choice, but still I mourned that loss of identity and contact with my patients. I loved being a music therapist and sharing musical experiences.  It was Jen who saw those losses and gave honor to them.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you Jennifer, for sharing, support, and being my soul sista!

I was doing my regular surfing, and ran across this GORGEOUS paper bead necklace from Mazel Tov Jewelry. Really transcends paper beads into high art. Tell me it’s not fabulous and I’ll call you a liar!

I’m home with baby girl today, making green applesauce and hoping that the parade is going to be televised.  I do have some crafty goodness to share, though.

I received two St. Patrick’s Day cards this season. One was from Katherine on my CPS group. She send out this lovely card that has an Irish Blessing inside.  (PS: that link has multiple Irish blessings, if you ever need one!)

The other is from my dear Mom, who found great uses for her heart punches and paper crimper. I think she also used some Pearl-Ex to highlight the texture. Go, Mom!

I, however, am totally lame. I was so busy sewing blogging that I totally forgot to make St. Patrick’s Day cards. I guess that means I’m on the hook for some totally awesome Easter greetings. Better get crackin’!

One last vintage image to leave you in a cheery mood!

I had a little 1 on 1 swap with a few of my CPS sisters. Being a musician, I have lots and lots and lots of sheet music and music books I’ve collected. And, quite frankly, some if it is useless except as an art medium. I put the call out that I’ve got sheet music and books available to trade for little hand-made goods, and Ginny Ballou took me up on the offer. She sent a plethora of goodies- some handmade, some collage materials. So many goodies!

So I’ll put it out there, again, too: if you’d like some sheet music for crafts, I’ll send you a stack or a book for free- I’ll even pay for postage! Just send me back an ATC, postcard, or some other handmade goodie.

I’m all for recycling, and I’d rather give it away than throw it out. Leave me a comment and I’ll e-mail you back.

I was “stumbling” today - newest obsession/timekiller - and I ran across 27 things, a site with a tutorial for making your own bubble mailers. Just brilliant! And easy, too. All you need is cardstock, decorative paper, bubble wrap, and some rubber cement.

These may come in handy with my RAKs (Random Acts of Kindness) that I’m sending out to my CPS sisters. I’m considering sending out beads next month…and the cost of mailers was holding me back.

Quite the “a-ha” moment here….

Happy Leap Day! What better way to celebrate then with some great froggy art….. (I’m thinking of you, Diane!)

Jennifer Strachan does frogs in mosaic tile….Roman Sock does them in crochet…

You can make them out of origami… or make frog beads, like Renee Beads. or out of beads, like on ArtsyFartsy…

Jangling Jack does metal ones, Tamara Dozier does polymer clay, and there are hats and socks...

So many crafty froggies….. have fun with it!

So, I’m still on my Random Act of Kindness crafting kick. Our dear moderator Diane reminded me that March is rapidly approaching, so I got a-thinkin’.

My challenge to myself is to a) create a handmade item b) using what I’ve got in my studio c) can be duplicated a dozen or so times, and d) can be sent in an envelope requiring no extra postage! Really, quite a tall order, if you think about it.

Now, I’ve made bookmarks and needlecases so far, and I wasn’t ready to duplicate. So I decided to seek inspiration by cleaning off my worktable. As I was excavating - er, cleaning up, I ran across some DMC cardboard embroidery floss bobbins. Got lots in a package, they’re flat and envelope-able, so I got crackin’.

I came across some scrapbook paper that was begging to be used up, a piece of really crappy sheet music, and a-ha! An idea was born. I dug out my little flower punch and some brads, and made these.

I thing these will make nice little doo-dads for folks to incorporate into their altered books, art quilts, cards, etc.

To see my RAK needlecases, click here.

So you knew this was coming - Valentine’s day cards with heart yo-yo’s on them! I used the smaller heart yo-yo maker, and whipped up two for my cards to Mom and Sis.

I used some Strathmore cards (just watercolor paper card blanks) and a smudged on some chalks to create the background. I also dusted on some pearl-ex gold powder to add some shimmer to it. I added some felt lace and photo corners, and then cut a 2 1/2 square window. I affixed the yo-yo with button embellishment to the “inside” of the card, so it’s still there when you open the front cover.

It’s not a very fancy card, but charming nonetheless!

To see my review of the Clover Heart Yo-Yo maker, click here.

To see my other Yo-Yo Crafts, click here.